Chapter 3

AN: Because the last chapter was so utterly awful, I'm putting up chapter three now by way of an apology. ^^ eheh.

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When Hayner woke up the next morning, he blinked a couple of times, trying to piece together his memories of yesterday. Had he and Seifer actually kissed?... No, he decided. It had to be a dream. Seifer would never kiss him. Not like that, at least. But then what had they done yesterday? Hey, maybe it was real after all. Not that he could exactly ask the others about it… But then they'd probably tease him about it as soon as he appeared anyway.

After waiting for sleep that never came for a few more minutes, Hayner kicked off his bedcovers and yawned, running a hand through his messy hair. He quickly pulled on his clothes from yesterday, too lazy to go in search of new ones.

Within ten minutes, he was on his way to the Usual Spot, finishing off a taco he'd bought back at the store. Suddenly there was a weight on his shoulders and a familiar voice yelled in his ear,

"Hayner!" Groaning, he unfastened the choking grasp around his neck and turned as Pence slid to the ground, grinning up at him.

"Olette…" Hayner began, cutting himself off with a chuckle at the slightly stoned expression on his friend's face. "What has he been having this morning and how much?"

"He's been eating those sherbet snap things that Vivi's been handing around*. I think Seifer musta spiked them or something." The brunette beauty replied, smiling fondly at the giggling boy on the pavement.

"Wouldn't put it past him." Hayner muttered, still unconvinced that the whole kissing thing wasn't a dream.

"So even though you both played tonsil hockey yesterday, you still don't like him?" Pence asked innocently. For a moment, Hayner felt the bizarre urge to throttle him just a little bit.

"We. Were not. Playing. Tonsil. Hockey." He growled through gritted teeth, his hands automatically balling into fists.

"BEEP Wrong." Olette grinned. "Denial. The first step of having a crush on someone you know you shouldn't. Then comes acceptance, then-"

"Oh, so you're suddenly an expert on 'forbidden love'?" Hayner scoffed, feeling the muscles in his abdomen clench as he tried not to get mad at her. He didn't even know why he was so angry.

"Well I'd say that was the first trace of 'acceptance', dear." Pence pointed out, getting to his feet.

"Since when do you call me 'dear'?" Hayner asked, flabbergasted.

"Ignore him; he's high." Olette dismissed his surprise offhandedly. "But seriously… you have too at least like him a little to turn a simple dare into a full-on make out session. Your hand was practically inside his coat- shirt… whatever it is, that's beside the point. The point is: you totally dig him." Hayner rolled his eyes frustratedly.

"In your dreams, yaoi fangirl."

"I'm just saying…" she shrugged.

"Hey, I know!" Pence bounced on the spot.

"I think someone's already discovered the theory of relativity, Pence." Hayner jibed good naturedly, feeling more at ease again now that the subject seemed to be on the turn.

"Let's go back to the sandlot and see if Seifer likes Hayner back!"

"Whaddayamean 'back'?!" Hayner demanded. "I don't like him first!"

"No; you're the uke." Pence chortled.

"Alright, that's it!" Hayner grabbed Pence and shoved him against a wall; not hard enough to hurt but just to wind him a little.

"I DO NOT like Seifer! I am in love with him about as much as I'm in love with my neighbour's dog!"

"Bestiality; jolly good!" Olette piped up and Hayner abruptly turned and ran off, glaring daggers at every innocent or not-so-innocent bystanding object.

Eventually (surprise, surprise), he ended up at the sandlot, staring blankly at the centre of the square, where the dare game yesterday had taken place.

"Back for a rematch?" a voice called genially. Hayner's head shot up and he saw Seifer staring at him curiously.

"Huh?" he asked stupidly. And he was most certainly not watching the older boy's flat, bare stomach as he came closer. Definitely not.

"No one decided who won the game yesterday."

"Well it was definitely either you or me." Hayner grinned shakily, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Well, duh." Seifer rolled his eyes. "Let's have a mini version. Whoever wins gets… I dunno…"

"Loser has to buy the winner an ice cream? Seeing as how Pence ate the one the winner yesterday was supposed to get." Seifer shrugged.

"Not very imaginative, are we today?"

"Well you think of something then!" Hayner snapped. He was still all in a muddle about yesterday, the edges of his weird dream blurring into reality so he wasn't entirely sure what had happened, other than their kiss.

"I can think of something much more interesting than some stupid dare game." Seifer snorted, crossing his arms and smirking in that cocky way of his.

"That was your idea in the first place!"

"Well now I have a better one; come on." Seifer grabbed his wrist and turned to drag him across the sandlot. The Hell? Seifer just… What the hell, I'm holding hands with my worst enemy! If Olette ever heard about… He snatched his hand back from Seifer, following him with a stony expression.

"Where are we going?" He asked irritatedly as he was led down one of the numerous streets that led off the sandlot square.

"You'll see." Was the taller blonde's only reply. Hayner was kind of regretting pulling his hand away from Seifer's, but shook such foolish thoughts out of his head. He didn't have a crush on the older boy. He didn't. At least, he hoped not… As he tried to get the idea out of his head, it seemed to get further and further lodged within his mind, refusing to be prised out and discarded. Hayner didn't even notice that they'd stopped, or that Seifer was staring at him in a way that, had he noticed it, would have made his heart thump like a rabbit's foot when it's scared.

He did, however, notice it when a burning mouth was pressed to his. For a while, he was too stunned to reciprocate and just stood still while Seifer kissed him. When the older boy pulled away, looking somewhere between humiliated and hopping mad, Hayner shook his head and leapt into action, bringing Seifer's head down to crush their lips together almost painfully, his arms going around the taller male's neck, fingers tangling into his hair. Panting already, he parted his lips to slide his tongue into Seifer's mouth, playfully flicking the older teen's with his own. Abruptly, Seifer's arms went around his torso, pressing them together so hard Hayner had even more trouble breathing. The taller blonde forced Hayner's tongue back into his mouth, quickly following it with his own, asserting his dominance. Hayner was more than happy to let him be the seme for now, the feeling of those slightly-chapped-but-smooth lips on his own feeling like nothing on earth. He didn't even notice when a certain pair appeared at the end of the otherwise deserted street, slipping away with their eyes on stalks. After what felt like seconds, but must have been at least ten minutes, judging by the tolling of the clocktower, their lips parted and they stood, panting and staring at each other. Their arms tightened slightly and Hayner rested his chin of Seifer's shoulder, as did the older boy. As they calmed from their fit of passion, the hug became a little looser, so they could both breathe more comfortably. Hayner was more than a little confused. First of all, he'd just been making out with his supposed 'worst enemy', for the second time in two days; secondly, he didn't mind; instead he was fiercely enjoying it; and thirdly, now they were just standing in the middle of the street, hugging. Sure, the kissing and not minding were urges he'd felt before, albeit mildly, but he'd never really been the type for cuddling. And he'd never taken Seifer for that type, either. And yet there they were. And the thing was; he didn't even care if someone came along and caught them. So long as he could stay wrapped in that strong embrace, the rest of the world could just disappear.

Eventually, though, he pulled back to search Seifer's eyes; unsure of what he was looking for, but certain that if he found it, he'd know it. He found it. There was an odd kind of tenderness behind the coldness of those pretty grey orbs, at odds with the usual hard, unforgiving glare they bore. Bringing their lips softly together again in a chaste kiss, he sighed, almost wanting to melt into the teenager holding him.

"I think… I think I like you." Seifer breathed once their lips had parted again, looking halfway between embarrassed and challenging.

"Thinking's not good for you." Hayner's brain answered automatically and a smirk found its way onto his face.

"Dammit, I'm tryin' to be serious here!" Seifer growled, sending a shiver up Hayner's back. Well that's never happened before. Then again, love confessions didn't really happen before…

"I think I like you a bit, too." He murmured, brushing his lips over the taller male's, teasing. Just as Seifer was about to force their lips together again, he darted away, grinning. "I gotta go. The others'll be looking for us."

"Stuff them." Seifer's eyes narrowed and he made a grab for the younger boy, who raised one eyebrow before disappearing around the corner.

Seifer's POV: (OMG I actually did a Seifer POV!)

Damn that kid. Well, maybe not. But still. Why the hell's he running away now? Oh Gods, don't say he's one of those 'chase me' little kid types… Wouldn't put it past him, stupid Chicken Wuss. Who just happens to be a great kisser. Argh, dammit, why'm I even thinking about him like this? I mean, sure, it's obvious he feels the same, but… I never even thought I was gay. I'm not gay. Just… he's kinda different. Normally I guess you'd ask a girl for advice on this stuff, but somehow I doubt Fuu's gonna be much help. And there's no way in hell that I'm gonna ask that girl Chicken Wuss always hangs out with. Should I even be running after him? Damn, I must look desperate. Ah well. I'm already chasing him so there's not really much point in agonising over that. Besides, I can see him running towards the sandlot. If I go this way, then I can cut him off.

Well, finally he's stopped. Damn that chicken wuss, how can he run that fast? He's so scrawny… But still sexy- dammit, now the dirty thoughts are invading. Hmm, I wonder how far he wants to go with this… He's grinning and waving back at me. Cheeky bastard. I run at him and grab him again, but he pushes my face away. What? Oh damn! We're in the middle of the sandlot! Crap! I quickly let him go. Oops… thank gods there was no one to see that. Ok, now what?

"Ah, stuff it!" I suddenly grab him and kiss him again. I don't care anymore. He tastes so good… And we fit so perfectly together, 'like two pieces of a puzzle', as my mom would say. Well, not necessarily about us, but… His arms are so skinny around my neck, like twigs that will snap if I move too fast. You'd never guess he was strong enough to beat Rai's ass at that last tournament. Oh god, he's moaning. Damn that's hot! No, dammit, don't get hard! I pull away suddenly, and I can hear him panting. Jeez, why does he have to be so frickin' adorable?

"Oh my GODS WHAT THE HELL??!!!" Oh shit.

AN: Cliffy hanger, neh? Not a very good one, but… Who found them? Me no know yet, any suggestions? My sister wanted me to put 'Jeez, why does he have to be so frickin' shiny?' but I think that's too 'what the hell?!' ish.

*Oh wow, it's Vivi again!

Anyways, hope you liked. Any improvements and suggestions and flames and reviews in general are all accepted. And know that I love you all.