A/N: February right after January! What a funny update order XD. But then again it was an extra-long update with many chapters (mainly due to my terrible procrastination and lack of time). With this sorta schedule, maybe March will come straight after!
This entry was inspired by a story I read on here. Since I was kinda stumped for February ideas, I decided to try this and see how it goes. So no, I do not own the idea for this entry.
Till next time,
D.L.D
February (15 Signs your falling in love with your best friend)
15 Signs You've Fallen In Love With Your Best Friend
"I believe this applies to you, Captain," Diane brandishes a wide smile, passing her phone around her inner circle of friends. She'd been flicking through the internet, thinking of something to finally prove her theory correct, and as if summoned by the Gods this article appeared. The perfect article.
"Captain?" King laughed, drawing his gaze away from the phone. He shook his head, disbelieving. "And Ban? Diane, I think you might be reading into this a little too deeply."
"Yeah, as much as we all know Cap loves me, I don't think I return it," Ban snorts, also shaking his head. He deposits the phone on the table, allowing any other peeping tom to spot the article upon it.
"I don't think I'm in love with Ban," Meliodas chuckled, also taking the article to be a stereotypical piece of garbage. There was no way that thing was solidly accurate, it was too general. "Nice try, though, Diane."
"You know I'm not talking about Ban," Diane rolls her eyes, still glossing over the article. Grabbing her phone, she huffs, her cheeks puffing with frustration at the group of disbelieving males. Of course they would take her probing as yet another 'accurate' article. "You all know perfectly well who I'm talking about."
The group fall silent at Diane's words, knowing fully well who she really meant. Ironically, she was the only one missing today. However, the open subject between her and Captain was a question that had plagued the group's lives for a while now: "When were Elizabeth and Captain gonna start dating?"
It has been a while now. Too long. Everyone could sense it, could tell there was something, but the two were always circling around it. None of them ever breached the subject and grew to ignore people's pestering questions about their relationship status.
Plus, they always said they were best friends, nothing else. They just didn't plan to make it anything else - or at least, they made it very clear that they didn't want to date each other. Ever.
1. You text him or her all the time.
Meliodas: You won't believe what Diane tried to do.
Elizabeth: What?
Meliodas: She's convinced I'm in love with you.
Elizabeth: No way!
Doesn't she know about Mael?
Meliodas: Nope.
Elizabeth: What about the others?
Meliodas: Double negative.
She has selective hearing.
Elizabeth: Of course...
I'll try to talk to her.
The pair then proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon texting back and forth, the subject of Diane and her article lost in the hours-long debate about whether pigs really were pets or food.
2. You care about his or her happiness more than you do other friends.
One thing Meliodas knew about Elizabeth was that it was very difficult to upset her. Sure, she cried a lot and anything could set off her emotions, but she was rarely angry or sad. Most of the time, she'd wear a smile and laugh, even though she was crying, and would continue on as normal. So for Elizabeth to sad, let alone angry, you had to something so terrible, so fucked up, that she'd actually be upset at you.
So Meliodas couldn't believe the gall of whoever upset her today, bringing her to call him in a flurry of tears and half-sobbed words. It had come out of the blue, late at night, the blonde still being up because he'd decided to pull an all-nighter with his brother to see who could stay up the longest. They were watching a horror movie when he suddenly heard his phone ring and he'd ended up falling off the couch.
Naturally, Zeldris laughed his ass off at the sight and Meliodas was going to voice his annoyance to whoever decided it was a good idea to call people at three in the morning. If anything the call had scared the shit out of him because the interruption was entirely unexpected. But once he saw who it was, his annoyance died down and he answered as calmly as possible.
"Elizabeth?"
"I told him no," Her voice quivered, her sniff betraying the tears in her eyes. "I called it off."
Now at first, Meliodas had no idea about what the fuck Elizabeth was on about. He'd never heard anything about calling stuff off and telling people no before; then he remembered why Elizabeth had grown a little more distant recently. Her mother had been laying the foundations for some future plans she had for Elizabeth and the company. Something about it being good for Elizabeth to date Mael and uphold the perfect image of her family.
Suddenly, that made her outburst a lot more logical than it first appeared to be. So for the next few hours, Meliodas solidly remained on the phone, leaving Zeldris alone to survive the night. He remained in silence mostly, letting Elizabeth rant about how she'd finally had enough and decided to break it off because she couldn't deal with all the exceptions and responsibility of it all. She was actually angry, for once, and Meliodas was actually stunned to hear her so annoyed.
In the end, they both ended up falling asleep on-call and Zeldris won the stupid all-nighter bet. By the morning, Meliodas woke up to see Elizabeth had hung up and it was nearly noon. He was meant to go out with Ban the next day - something about exclusive tickets to a rave - but he'll just cancel. Clearly, Ellie would need her favourite friend to cheer her up and he wasn't going to let her down. Not when she needed him most.
3. You can finish his or her sentences.
"How would you know this would cheer me up?" Elizabeth asks, raising a brow. The piglet beside her easily snuggled to her form, enjoying the small pats and pets she gave it along with the cheeky eggshell.
"You like pigs," Was all Meliodas said, the blonde sticking close to the barrier.
The pair were at a petting zoo, right where they kept the micro-pigs, and as much as Meliodas hated it, he forced himself to come here for her. He had never liked the pigs, with their stupid snorting noises and the way they all sniffed him and tried to eat his hair like he was some weird kinda treat. But Elizabeth loved them, she loved the way they all came directly to her and always sorta smiled when she showered them with affection and treats.
Whenever she was sad, Meliodas always took her here, to the pigs, because he knew that was what made her happy again. And every time, Elizabeth would ask how he would know. She would be surprised that he'd remember her love of pigs.
Hawk, the most annoying runt of the lot, barged directly towards Meliodas, snuffing and landing his trotter on the male's shin. Instinctively, Meliodas stepped back. He didn't want to hurt the pig, especially since today was about making Elizabeth happy, but he was pretty close to it. Hawk always liked to provoke him.
Meliodas shot the pig a glare, daring him to attack him again. Hawk snuffed in response.
"You know you don't have to come with me," Elizabeth laughed, watching the interaction between the two. She easily bribes Hawk her way, showing him a handful of eggshells. "I know you don't really like it."
"There's a lot of things I don't like but have to do," Meliodas shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He leans against the barrier.
"At least this is choice." They both fall silent, Elizabeth turning away with a burning face and Meliodas wearing a dumb, sheepish grin. Yep, they were thinking the same thing. When do they ever not think similarly?
"Jinx," The blonde says it before Elizabeth can even think to, his grin growing as she closes her mouth. "Now, I believe you owe me an ice-cream."
Separating from her piggy friends, Elizabeth rolled her eyes in defeat. Damn Meliodas for knowing her so well.
4. You can tell him or her anything without feeling at all uncomfortable.
Elizabeth had been in the bathroom for an uncomfortably long time. Usually when she came over, like all women, she took ages in the bathroom. But this time, a whole half hour was way too long for her. Sure, Meliodas got that women did a million and one things in a bathroom. They do their hair, they look in a mirror, they find ways to make things to do that waste time, but half a fricking hour was just inexcusable.
Something was wrong.
"Um...Meliodas?" Elizabeth's timid voice just about broke through the barrier of the door. She sounded embarrassed, perhaps even flustered, like she battling herself to even talk to him. That doesn't normally happen. Something was definitely wrong.
"Yeah?" Meliodas stood by the door, listening raptly for her response. Most likely she wanted him to do something, she usually got like this for stuff like that. Always being polite and gracious and such. If Meliodas had to guess Elizabeth's worst fear, it would be asking others for help.
"Can you - get me a...um..." She trails off, her words most likely eaten up by the blush that was no doubt on her face. He heard something shift behind the door, most likely her feet. Just what was going on in there?
Suddenly, he got a text, explaining the details of her dilemma.
*New Message* - From Elizabeth:
Elizabeth: Could you get me a pad?
Oh. Oh. So that was why she was taking so long in the bathroom. That makes sense. Plus she left her bag with her spares in his room, how he knows that? Well, best left unanswered - let's just say that Diane always talked way too loudly about her and Elizabeth's menstrual habits. But for once Meliodas was glad that Diane was always talking about periods and how much they suck because he knew exactly how to Elizabeth.
In record time, Meliodas went to his room and returned with Elizabeth's bag. Wordlessly, he passed her the bag through the door and locked it once more. Not once did he make a period joke - which he actually prided himself upon.
As Elizabeth came out, he leaned against the wall, "That time of month, huh?"
"That time of month..." Elizabeth sighs in defeat, her arms wrapped around her stomach. "You happen to have any painkillers?"
He smiles knowingly, "Follow me."
This isn't the first time this has happened.
5. In a crowd, you'll look for him or her first.
Ban was getting sick of him. Meliodas could tell. For the past while, he'd been checking his phone way too much to be normal and had more or less ignored every person who had come up to him to strike a conversation. He was waiting for her, why he didn't know, but he was waiting for her. Physically, he was here; mentally, he'd arrive when she does. It always worked like that when he knew Elizabeth was going somewhere he'd be, but today was a little different. Today he was more anxious than usual.
"Chill, Cap'n," Ban laughs, shaking his head as he passes his friend a cup of something. "You know she'll turn up."
"I know, Ban," Meliodas rolled his eyes, his leg jiggling up and down. It refused to stay still, his mind refused to stay still. "She's just been a little off all week."
To that Ban snorted, shaking his head as he downed his own cup. He swayed a little, leaning against the wall as also studied the entrance. He too was waiting was for someone, only he wasn't as anxious as Meliodas. He had a little more self-control.
"Per'aps Diane was right then," Ban mused, slinging an arm around Meliodas' shoulders. "Maybe you are in love with Elizabeth."
"And you would kiss Jericho," Meliodas retorted, taking a small sip of the cup Ban passed him. He needed the alcohol to settle his nerves - if that could even work with how alert his brain was right now. "It's the same sorta principle."
Tonight was meant to be something fun and carefree. Diane had planned it to try and cheer up Elizabeth and also drag King's antisocial ass out for something that wasn't quote-unquote 'boring'. But of course Meliodas' brain had to be anxiously hyperactive instead of relaxed and excited. If anything, it was more anxious than it had been all month, especially because of Elizabeth's odd behaviour. She hadn't spoken or texted him for a few days now.
"Yeah, yeah," Ban drawled out, shaking his head. "But seriously, Cap, if you care this much I'd suggest breaking off whatever you and that Zaneri chick have."
"And now you're drunk," Out of the corner of his eye, Meliodas spots Elizabeth arrive. His brain finally calming down, he grabs Ban by the arm and begins to drag him towards Elizabeth. As they get closer, he notices that like usual she appears a little nervous, so he kinda brushes it aside, but when he sees who she's with, he freezes in his tracks. Of course. Of course this happens now.
Looks like tonight's plans are out the window.
6. "I thought of you when..."
Meliodas finds himself staring at the pigs again, his hands dug deep into his pockets and his hood pulled over his head. It's raining today, so no-one's bothered to come to the petting zoo, and yet his crazy ass had decided to come anyway. He knows Elizabeth won't be there. She doesn't come here when it's raining, yet he feels a little closer to her when he's with the pigs. He feels like he's with her when he glares at Hawk and watches his siblings roll around in the mud.
What kickstarted this? Bacon. Yes, fucking bacon made Meliodas drag his ass out into the rain to watch pigs. Gelda had stayed overnight and decided to fry up some bacon for breakfast - something Zeldris had avoided doing this week - and from it Meliodas gained the grand idea of going to the see the pigs. The damned pigs he hated so much and yet were associated with her...
"You're a complete mess," Diane huffed, shaking her head. Her umbrella was held above the both of them, protecting them from the pelting rain. Her orange wellies were caked in mud. "I had a feeling you'd come here eventually."
"I think everyone knows I come here, Diane," Meliodas rolled his eyes, continuing to watch the pigs. He doesn't even bother to catch the expression on Diane's face, certain that it was one filled with disappointment and frustration.
His assumptions and proven true when she sighs, her head shaking her pigtails along with it.
"Look, I get that you're upset but you need talk to her," Diane says, her voice stern and strict. Everyone was growing a bit tired of Meliodas purposely avoiding Elizabeth, especially because none of them know what they fell out over. "Communication doesn't hurt, you know. We can't all be mind readers like you."
"I'm not a mind reader," Meliodas scoffs, kicking at the ground. Instead of flying into the air as dust, it clumps and rolls limply into a mud-ball.
"Exactly!" Diane exclaims, exasperated. She catches Meliodas' eye contact directly, her frustration and annoyance evident. "So how the fuck do you know she's mad at you?!"
It hits him then, how pointless this all is. Elizabeth doesn't know about this. She doesn't know that he's annoyed at her for going back to an existence she clearly hated. She doesn't know that he's been avoiding pigs because just the thought of one reminded him of her. She didn't even know that he knows about her going back to Mael.
All of this is petty; he's being petty. Like Diane said, he should at least talk to her.
7. You feel jealous when he or she talks about someone else.
When Elizabeth had said she'd meet him to talk, Meliodas had not expected her to be accompanied. Usually, they'd be fine just meeting up alone, it was a habit of theirs, a tradition. No-one questioned it much and no-one suspected anything. But now, when he needed to talk to her alone, she had decided to bring an extra person along. Not just any extra person either - it was someone who'd make this whole conversation all the more awkward and off-putting.
Sitting in a cafe, across from Elizabeth and Mael, was the last thing Meliodas wanted to do this weekend. It was the last thing he wanted to do ever. So in the end, Meliodas ended up coming up with some stupid excuse of a conversation starter and left quickly. He couldn't bring himself to complain about it all, not when Elizabeth appeared pretty happy with Mael. So it was left alone. He decided that although he didn't like it very much, he would swallow his own reservations to allow Elizabeth to be happy. It was the least she deserved.
But that didn't mean he couldn't show his dislike towards Mael. Obviously, Meliodas didn't outright make it known that he disliked him, but it was pretty clear if someone looked closely enough. Just a few little glares, some snippy remarks - nothing much. But, of course, Elizabeth happened to be someone who could look close enough, well enough, to notice. Immediately, she had noted Meliodas' frosty nature and so decided to breach the subject once alone.
"I know I should've said something," Elizabeth sighs, sounding very tired and stressed out. "But my mother just pressured me into it. I doubt Mael even wants this to happen anymore too. We're both sick of it."
Oh, Meliodas doubted that very much. Mael appeared to be happy with the situation, or at least a tiny bit more happy than Elizabeth about it. Meliodas just couldn't name it, but there was something about Mael that made him tick. It made him feel as if he had to protect Elizabeth from Mael. He just couldn't name what made him feel like that. What activated this protection-mode he was experiencing.
"Isn't that kinda a good thing?" Meliodas asks tiredly, scratching his head. Honestly, he was a little tired of constantly talking about Mael and Elizabeth's endless list of expectations. "If you both hate it so much, you can break it off."
"Trust me, I've tried," Elizabeth's voice comes out as a monotone. "My mother is set on it happening."
"Hmm, too bad."
A small silence fills between them, neither party exactly hurrying to make the conversation last longer. Meliodas didn't particularly care as he didn't have much interest in this conversation. Elizabeth was more lost for words, confused as to how she could make Meliodas see things from her perspective. Then, it hit her.
"Meliodas, are you jealous?" The question is asked quietly, timidly, almost like an epiphany.
"Jealous?" Meliodas echoes, sitting up in disbelief. His hand unconsciously tightens around his phone. "I do not get jealous, Elizabeth."
"You are jealous," Elizabeth breathes, her realisation obvious now. "You didn't like it before and now you're even worse. You're jealous of Mael."
"Jealous of what?" Meliodas scoffed, rolling his eyes. He never got jealous. Never. "His height?"
"No, that I'll spend a lot of my time with him and not you," Elizabeth states, her voice leaving in a blank monotone.
Something deflates inside Meliodas at that, his chest feeling like a rubber band that had just snapped. He didn't know what snapped, what finally decided to break, but all he knows is that whatever it was made him angry. It made him want to hit something or at least storm out with rage and go missing for an hour. Perhaps it was outrage. Perhaps it was jealousy.
"You know what?" Meliodas finds his voice raising, growing a terse edge. "Why don't you go do that? I'm sure Mael knows you way better than I do!"
"Meliodas-"
She didn't get to finish; he hung up. For a long time, the remorse within his mind refused to settle.
8. You think about drunk texting him or her every weekend.
"Cap's actually drunk!" Ban's cackle sounded distorted in his ears, more wavelike than actual voice-like.
Meliodas can't make out much of anything right now. All he knows is that he is out with Ban and acting recklessly, the cares and inhibitions of yesterday buried under the joy and euphoria of right now. He can't remember why he agreed to go out with Ban, why he chose to get absolutely hammered, but he had a feeling it had something to do with his phone, with the girl who once changed his wallpaper to pictures of pigs.
His phone vibrates. Meliodas lifts it to his face. Even though he's drunk, he can make out the message, the person who sent it, and a moment of clarity passes over him.
*New Message* - From Elizabeth:
Elizabeth: I know you're mad at me, but I feel so alone right now.
I don't know what to do, so I think I might actually call it off for real this time.
His fingers sloppily slide over his keyboard, formulating the half-baked thoughts of his drunk mind into words. The next thing he knows, he's at home and passed out on his bed, Zeldris' grumpy ass voice mumbling something about choking on puke.
When Meliodas wakes up, everything hurts. Like crazy. He should've never gone out with Ban last night.
He groans, opening his eyes to see the world in a hazy blur. His head is pounding, like someone is drilling away at his skull, and he is certain that every inch of his body feels stiff. He can't remember much of last night; nothing he did nor said could come to mind. All he can think of was the text Elizabeth had sent him, the one about feeling alone and how he responded without even thinking and had left it at that.
He figured that his drunk ass had probably gone and ranted at her. That was what he usually did: vented out all the repressed shit his brain had to deal with. So that would explain the lack of response on her end. She was probably upset with him.
Well, she can stay that way. Drunk words are sober thoughts, after all.
9. Your entire family knows him or her.
"You look like shit," Zeldris randomly says one morning, frowning as he looks at his older brother. It was rare when Zeldris said something on Meliodas' appearance, even rarer when he referred to it as 'shit'. He wasn't a very verbose sibling, the sort to point out things. He liked to leave you to your own devices, to find your own solution in your own time.
So Zeldris' comment made Meliodas instantly sit up, wiping the crust from his eyes and staring at the untouched plate of bacon of eggs before him. If Zeldris was pointing out how Meliodas looked, then he truly did look bad. He thought Diane's comment about him being a mess was an exaggeration - Diane tended to overreact - but apparently it was true. Apparently, he'd been a wreck ever since his stupid argument with Elizabeth.
"Well, I feel like shit," Meliodas finally responds, his voice coming out a little more snappy than he expected it to. He pokes the bacon with his fork. He doesn't feel like he can stomach it - stomach being reminded of her.
"Is it about Elizabeth?" Zeldris continues, stirring his bowl of cereal. His green eyes pin themselves on his brother's face.
"No," Meliodas answers automatically, quickly, his eyes darting to the bacon on his plate.
"It is. Of course it fucking is," Zeldris rolls his eyes, exasperated. Slamming his fork down onto the table, he grumbled. "Just fucking apologise to her already! At least then I won't have to deal all this sappy crap all the time."
Zeldris then stormed out of the room, taking the whole box as well as his bowl of prized cereal with him. It appears that Meliodas would be stuck with bacon for breakfast.
10. Hugs are more than hugs to you...
Meliodas hadn't truly missed Elizabeth until he saw her again. Sure, he noticed she was missing, but the bitterness of his anger and remorse forced him to think that it was better that way. Elizabeth wouldn't want to see him after whatever he texted her; she wouldn't want to see him after his stupid outburst. All of their previous encounters were stupid and petty and pointless. If he was Elizabeth, Meliodas would turn away and never look back.
So he was surprised when she appeared out of the blue, Zeldris letting in her in as he knew Meliodas never would. Waiting for him, in the kitchen, she had a box of apology pie and the most shaky smile he'd ever seen on her face. The next thing he knew, she'd launched herself right onto him, tackling him into a suffocating hug.
"Meliodas, I'm sorry!" The tears started before she could get her hurricane of words out, most of them muted by the quaking of her sobs. "I should've listened to you..."
"It's not your fault," Meliodas responds quietly, easily resting in her hold. "I shouldn't have exploded like that."
Wordlessly, he snakes his arms around her form and enjoys the long-lost sensation of her being present. It felt nice for her to be back, for things to be close to normal again. He hadn't noticed it, but he'd missed her. He'd missed her a damn lot - stupid pigs and all.
They stay like that for a while, just holding each other in their arms. They only separate when Zeldris coughs and Gelda proudly brandishes a picture - more fuel for the avid Melizabeth shippers.
11. When something good happens, you want to tell this person first.
"Zeldris broke a bone," Meliodas speaks in the most neutral tone he can, withholding the snicker he's dying to release. He really shouldn't be so happy, not after rushing a half-passed out Zeldris to the hospital, but now, in hindsight, this situation was completely hilarious. He just had to share it with Elizabeth. "I'm at the emergency room."
"Is he ok?" Elizabeth asks, the panic in her voice evident. Meliodas knew that if he needed her to, she would come here with no questions asked. "How did it even happen?"
"He fell down the fucking stairs!" Meliodas can't withhold his laughter now, not after how he found out just how Zeldris broke a bone. "Fell right down a whole flight of them!"
"That's terrible!" Elizabeth gasps. No doubt she would be scolding towards his laughter. "You shouldn't be laughing, Meliodas." Yep, he guessed correctly.
"I know, but it's just - " His words are interrupted by a laughing fit, the blonde's face actually turning red. Tears pour from his eyes, fueled by his amusement and it causes a few faces to turn and look at him. "He fell because he got a pair of pink roller skates stuck on his feet and didn't want me to know. So the fucker slipped and got his head stuck in the banister!"
"No way..." Elizabeth giggles a little, most likely embarrassed by her own amusement of the grim situation. "Still, we shouldn't really laugh about this."
"No, we shouldn't," Meliodas agreed, watching as a grumpy Zeldris made his way through the crowd. His pair of crutches banged angrily against the floor, betraying his annoyance at having to be escorted out like a minor. He waits until they're in the car to turn on Meliodas, his murderous glare doing nothing to conceal the wrath boiling beneath the surface.
"One word of this to anyone else and I'll kill you," Zeldris grumbles.
"Too late," Meliodas grins, "Elizabeth knows."
Zeldris proceeded to strangle his brother - all of it audible to Elizabeth via the phone.
12. When something bad happens, you want to tell the person first.
"I did say you shouldn't laugh..." Elizabeth sighs, surveying the damage of Meliodas' black eye.
Luckily, Zeldris had not completely throttled him to death and instead was satisfied with hitting his brother with his crutch over and over again. Naturally, that still meant Zeldris was mad and Meliodas was lucky to literally walk away from that caged in battle, but in Meliodas didn't see it that way. He saw it as Zeldris attacking him for no reason, all because he wanted to tell Elizabeth about the 'Stair incident'. From just a phone call, Meliodas had gained a black eye as well as a massive bruise on his cheek.
"I can't live with that psycho anymore," Meliodas shook his head, wincing as Elizabeth prodded his cheek. "He beat me up for telling you about falling down the stairs."
Elizabeth only tsked in response, pulling out some rubbing alcohol and an ice pack from her med kit. Meliodas and Zeldris were always getting into pointless fights.
"To be fair, it was an embarrassing story," Elizabeth smiled a little, still remembering exactly how Zeldris fell down the stairs. According to Meliodas, he ended up getting stuck between the banisters. "He had every right to beat you up."
"He's done much worse," Meliodas retorts, pouting a little. He ignores the tugging he feels in his cheek. "Trust me."
"Like what?" Elizabeth muses, truly wondering what could top sharing such an embarrassing story.
"He kicked me out for the weekend."
"Oh, Meliodas..."
He ended up crashing at her place for the next two days.
13. You look at him or her for a little too long.
They still hadn't gone entirely back to normal yet. Texts hadn't really been happening, only the occasional phone call about some spontaneous accident - such as Zeldris' fall. So when Diane announced her giant secret engagement party for King, Meliodas felt a little antsy about it. He didn't really trust himself to be on his best behaviour at such an event, especially since it was some sorta casual formal event. But since Diane was a close friend, he sucked it up and went.
Like always, Diane's event was loud and bubbly and warm. People from here, there and everywhere filled up the room and drank, and talked, and danced, and gushed about the engagement and how King was going to so surprised when he walked in.
Meliodas decided to stay towards the back at the room. So did Ban. The both of them were not the kind to mingle and gush and fawn. They'll wait until someone they know arrives, someone who they'll easily talk with and lose track of time with, before actually braving the middle of the room. There was definitely an annoying aunt there - god, she commented on everyone's appearance. Meliodas was certain she called him a strapping young man.
"So you finally made up with, princess?" Ban ruffles his hair, wrinkling his nose as a downs a flute of champagne. "Never knew you actually had the balls."
"Shut up, Ban," Meliodas nudges the taller male, rolling his eyes. "It was silly misunderstanding."
"Sure," Ban chuckled. "And my name is Ba-an."
Meliodas gave him a pointed look, signalling the end of the conversation. Ban was always throwing in those stupid sarcastic comebacks, as if they proved his statement. Most of the time they just showed his ability to weasel out of anything.
Then, like always, Elizabeth arrived and all heads turned in her direction. She arrived alone, late and flustered as always, her dark blue dress the same exact shade as the night sky. Meliodas found himself watching her, unable to look away.
Elizabeth was...stunning. Always was. She always knew how to turn heads without necessarily meaning to do so. Meliodas had noticed that about her. But today, it just felt a little different - like he was noticing her for the first time. Sure, he always knew that his best friend was pretty. Most of the time, he was the one defending her out in public from the creepy pervs of the city, but today was a kinda eye-opening version of that. It was like distinguishing pretty from beautiful.
Was he actually...attracted to her?
"You can't always avoid it, you know," Ban speaks softly, also watching the entrance. He nudges his friend, taking another flute of champagne from a passing server. "Your feelings."
"What feelings?" Meliodas frowns, peering up at his friend.
Ban only laughed in response, ruffling his friend's hair a little more.
14. This person really, really, really matters to you.
Elizabeth confides in him and shares that she is the one responsible for the ring. Diane had passed her the box, told her to handle it carefully, and so Meliodas helped her find a spot to place it where it'd be secure. The only problem was that they kinda forgot the hiding spot, their conversation making them lose track of time until Diane announced that King was five minutes away. That meant they had five minutes to locate the ring and join everyone outside.
"Diane is going to kill me!" Elizabeth's eyes were wide as she rifled through the limited contents of her purse. "She trusted me and I've already lost it!"
"We'll find it somewhere," Meliodas insists, checking the nearby tables. So far they had come up with nothing. "It can't be that hard to find a ring."
For the next three minutes, they search the entire room and come up with nothing. It was if the ring had disappeared, vanished, and both Elizabeth and Meliodas would be held responsible for its missing appearance.
"It'll be with my phone!" Elizabeth clicks her fingers, a sudden flash of remembrance filling her brain. It quickly fades into a dull realisation. "But...where is my phone?"
Meliodas sighs, already dialing her number. Hopefully this wasn't yet another dead end.
15. You actually picture yourself with this person.
After calling Elizabeth's phone a few times, they find it on a shelf below the counter. Figures. Both of them weren't looking properly. Beside it was Diane's stupid ring, the box tucked neatly to the side, but that wasn't what caught Meliodas' attention. What did was the notification that lit up with Elizabeth's phone, his own name being written in bold above a message.
To be fair, Meliodas had never actually thought to look back at that drunk text. He figured it was a rant, or some stupid gibberish, that Elizabeth had simply decided not to respond to. But now, when he actually looked at it, he now knew why she came to apologise to him. Why she had even forgiven his stupid outburst.
Meliodas: Whatever you do, I'm here for you
I love you.
Huh. Diane's article was right and strangely Meliodas didn't feel like denying it. He really did fall in love with his best friend. He really did love Elizabeth.
I think it is always best to go after what you want. If this person is really your best friend, then he or she won't judge your feelings.
You never know what could happen.
