c h a p t e r 8

"Auel! C'mon! We're having a chug contest!" Kira called.

I scowled, everyone ALWAYS interrupts me when I'm about to say something important. It just wasn't fair!

Stellar looked at me, blinking, "so… what did Auel want to say earlier?"

I shrugged, sighing, "never mind… I guess I'll have to ask you some other time…"

Stellar grew curious, since she went closer to me, "Auel can tell! Stellar won't mind…"

I grinned at her nervously, "some other time…"

She immediately pouted, knowing it got me every time. Her eyes began glossy and big, and her lips formed an irresistible pout, "please?"

I dared not look at her face, but couldn't resist when I heard her soft voice, "well… uh… I was just wondering if… you liked someone… well, loved someone."

She smiled at me, and then a louder and faster song came on, surprising everyone since everyone could hear themselves think awhile ago, but now they all ran to the dance floor.

I took Stellar's hand, then took her towards the back, with the rock garden, and it was much, much quieter out here. There was barely anybody, well, Fllay and Sting were still in the onsen together, and I could hear faint giggling from inside it.

Stellar turned to me, "Stellar does love someone."

I blinked, "who?"

"Stellar… can't tell yet."

"Why not?"

"Because… It's... embarrassing. He might not love Stellar back."

I grinned at her, "who wouldn't love you?"

"This person might not…" She looked away.

My heart skipped a beat, I felt like it wasn't me who she loved, but there was still a slim chance that it might be.

"Well, you'll never know unless you tell," I said, "did you meet him recently?"

"Well… not really…"

I sighed, "well, you can always tell me whenever you're ready or not… I understand," I said, feeling like it wasn't me, it might actually have been Shinn!

I turned away, feeling really, really depressed, then walked away. Ignoring her calling me, with a worried expression in her voice.

I walked back into the club, sitting down at the bar and ordering the strongest drink they had there, chugging it in a second. Athrun sat up beside me, "you look like something's up… but you know, you could've won that chugging contest," he said.

I shrugged, "I'm not in the mood for contests or competing right now…" I replied, ordering another one and downing it once more, feeling the liquid burn as it went down my throat.

"Something happen with you and Stellar?"

"Well… sort of… she likes this guy, and I have a feeling it's not me…" I said.

"Well, how can you be so sure?"

"I don't know… she said she didn't really meet him recently, like how she met Shinn, and she didn't really drop any hints that she would if she actually liked me…"

"Oh please, Auel. You don't know much about women, so I don't think that you would know who was on her mind right now."

Surprisingly, I didn't fight, "yeah… I guess," he said, then ordered another drink.

Moments later, and many drinks later, I had gotten drunk. I had my head on the counter, and was woozily murmuring things to myself.

Many girls tried taking advantage of this, but I just ignored them, much to their disappointment. Then, another girl walked up to me, "Auel! Stellar thinks it's really fun here!" She cried, happy.

I recognized the voice, and lifted my head from the counter top, my eyes glazed, "hey.. Stellar…" I murmured, and felt her hug me, "sorry about earlier, but Stellar will tell later, okay?"

"Yeah… sure…"

The blonde looked at me, "is Auel okay? You look… sleepy."

"He's drunk," Kira said for me, and I glared at him, then sighed, leaning against the counter.

"Why?"

"Because he's depressed about something," the brown haired said, and I stood up, "sheesh! Why do you have to tell her everything that's going on!? It's not a big deal! I'm depressed, so what! But you don't have to tell the world!"

Kira and Stellar were surprised at my sudden outburst in anger.

"Auel, there's no need to get angry, I was just-"

"Shut up! Just butt out of my business! You guys just don't know when to go away!" I shouted, glaring.

Athrun was now beside Kira, and Athrun was frowning, "what is wrong with you?" I just got even more angry, not controlling my rage.

"Nothing! But Stellar and you guys should all just leave me alone when I don't want to talk to anybody! It's just none of your guys' business!"

They were shocked that I was blaming Stellar for this as well, I would've been to, but I couldn't think straight, and right now, everyone was the enemy.

"Don't blame this on anybody! Why are you blaming Stellar? She didn't do anything wrong!" Athrun defended.

I had enough, and was clenching my fist, raising it and preparing to land a punch on Athrun's face. Before my fist hit him, Stellar was in front of him, preventing me from hurting him and protecting him.

"So this is who you like?! ATHRUN?! UGH! What has he done that I haven't done?! I was there for you all the time, Stellar! I cared for you, I stuck by you through the worst! And I put up with that stupid professor, Neo, that you care so much about!! I-" I stopped when I saw tears in her eyes, and I realized I had gone too far.

"Stellar is sorry… please don't hate me…" She said, then ran out of the building, tears streaming down her cheeks.

I blinked before I knew what was going on, and everyone looked at my sympathetically, I looked down, "I'm sorry… for all this crap," I said, then ran out after Stellar.

It suddenly had begun to rain, and it was getting heavier and heavier, picking up fog. I knew Stellar hadn't gone to far, but I couldn't see anything! The rain was much to heavy to even see the cliffs.

My eyes widened. The cliffs. If I couldn't see them, neither could Stellar.

"Damn it!" I began to run where I had hoped Stellar had gone, "STELLAR?! STELLAR!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!"

The drunk effects were still making me woozy, but I still trudged on, looking for her, and hoping I could find her before she found the cliffs.

Suddenly, I lost my footing, and I thought I was going off the edge of the earth or something, and found myself falling, my eyes widened in realization.

Looks like I found the cliffs.

I landed on the ground hard, and I was surprised I didn't meet water, but was too exhausted and hurt to get up again, I probably landed on a cliff, and I felt darkness surround me, I knew I was passing out.

'Stellar… I'm sorry…'

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Kira blinked, wondering where Auel was. They had found Stellar in the back, crying to herself and still haven't found Auel yet. The rain was still pouring, and a lot of people had decided to go home.

Auel's cousin, Kira, Shinn, Athrun, Meer, Lacus, Cagalli, and Stellar had stayed behind to look for him.

"Where is he…? He couldn't of run that far!" Shinn said.

"I don't know… but remember that he was drunk…"

Everyone nodded, and Stellar still had a few tears streaming down her cheeks, occasionally sniffling. Shinn had his arm around her, trying to comfort her, but her crying wouldn't cease.

"He got really mad… But I guess it's not his fault, he drank a bit too much, and drunk people are easy to anger, and with Auel, that probably intensified it," Athrun said.

"Yeah… and I guess we should butt out sometimes…" Kira added.

Cagalli snorted, "that idiot is probably run over by a car by now," he said, and Stellar looked down, more tears falling down her face, but she was silent.

Lacus frowned, "stop it, Cagalli! He's probably fine, but lost."

With that, Stellar ran out of the club, to search for him. She had immediately gotten soaked, but noticed it was getting lighter, and the sky was beginning to get lighter. It was probably turning into morning, they had been there all night long.

She ran, looking around and calling for him, "Auel!… Auel!" Suddenly, she had the urge to go look at the road, but didn't know why. She went there anyway, then saw that there were cliffs, her pace becoming quicker.

"No… Auel!!" She screamed seeing him lying on a ledge, face down and soaking wet, he stirred after hearing her cry out to him, but didn't move any further.

Immediately, without hesitation, she jumped down the long height of the ledge to him, landing safely. She crouched beside him, holding him gently, "Auel… Auel!"

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I opened my eyes, having trouble at first.

'Am I… dead?' I thought to myself when I thought I saw an angel holding me. No… it was just Stellar. 'Close enough.'

She looked at me with such concern, and I even saw tears brimming her eyes, "why… why did Auel have to go down here?"

I smiled, "I fell… that's all… I was trying to look for you… I'm so glad you're safe…."

"Auel… Stellar… is really sorry… don't hate Stellar… please…"

I looked at her, "no… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted like that… I feel like an idiot… I shouldn't of gotten angry at you…"

She smiled at me, then to my surprise, gave me a light peck on my lips, which made me blush intensely, "S-Stellar…?"

"So Auel feels better… kisses make everyone feel better," she added.

I wished she did that because she loved me, but I never knew, she might actually love him! I then sat up with what strength I had left, and found my lips touch hers, and I began to kiss her with such passion that I always wanted to.

She pulled away for a moment, "Auel…?"

I smiled, "Stellar… I love you… ok? It's okay If you don't feel the same… but my feelings will never change, I've always loved you."

I saw her cheeks redden immediately, then avert her eyes from me, "r-really?"

I kissed her again, "really."

She was probably surprised to see me so affectionate, but smiled, much to my surprise. I expected her to turn away and regretfully tell me that she didn't share my feelings.

"Stellar… loves Auel."

My eyes widened, and I blushed, "w-what? R-really? But... why?"

"Because… like Auel said, Auel was always there for me, and he's always so nice, and… Stellar loves Auel."

I grinned, "that works out nicely, we both love each other," my grin faded, "but what about Shinn?"

She blinked, "Shinn?"

"Yeah… he likes you, didn't you know?" I said, then saw her shake her head, 'no.'

"Stellar thought he just wanted to be best friends."

I laughed, "oh, that was far from his mind!"

I couldn't believe what was happening. I had gone to a club, gotten drunk, yelled at Stellar, fell off a cliff and survived, and now, Stellar and I loved each other! It was a nightmare then to probably the best thing that will ever happen to me.

I saw Stellar coming closer to my face, and I blushed, her lips landing on mine and I closed my eyes, kissing her back. She tasted so sweet, and I loved the feel, my heart was beating intensely.

We pulled away when we heard voices, "oh my god! They're down there!" We heard Lacus say, then saw her face appear from the cliffs edge, "are you two okay?!"

I nodded, "yeah, Stellar's fine, but… I think I'm hurt," I said, wincing when I tried lifting my arm, "I think my arm's broken."

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Soon, they had all gotten help and we were safe from that ledge, I apparently had gotten sick from being in the rain too long, and I had a sling for my broken arm.

Stellar was fine, much to my relief, and right now, everyone was in class, after that night, people were still pretty excited about how fun it was.

Athrun and Kira forgave me, much to my relief, and we acted as though nothing happened.

"Auel?"

I looked over from where I laid, and saw Stellar at my door, class was probably over. I smiled, "hi…"

She smiled at me, "hi, is Auel feeling better?"

I coughed, "eh… sort of, how about you?"

"Well, Auel is lucky, there was a surprise quiz today."

I laughed, "okay, good. I missed the thing I suck at, tests just aren't my thing."

She smiled, "yeah, not really for Stellar either."

I looked at her, my face turning serious and a blush reaching my cheeks, I was preparing to pop the question, and I only hope that she would say yes.

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TO BE CONTINUED!