Authors Pre-Notes: I don't think I'll have any regular posting schedule...I have all of the chapters drafted up so it's just a matter of when I get to edit them. So, probably expect a chapter every week to once a week!

Kaehari - Thank you for the review and the friendly welcome to this fandom. I kind of thought it was a little slow-going but I don't mind. Sometimes, you just have to write, no matter what! I also like the idea of Yin and Hei, they are so cute 3 maybe that will be another pair for this fandom... Oh the ideas! Haha, hope you continue enjoying the story!

..::Song of Inspiration: Into You - Ariana Grande::..

^.^

School dragged on and on. I was thankful for my two closest friends, Tanya and Nika, because they helped break up the day. Even though we were all in an awkward phase of our friendship.

Tanya and I had recently discovered that we both liked Nika, a goofy, boy-next-door guy who was a year younger than the both of us. I knew Nika from the photography club, so we saw each other often. To say I didn't have a crush on him would be a lie. But, I knew too much about Nika, to the point where if we even considered dating it would be extremely weird. Plus, he was more head-over-heels about Tanya than he ever would be about me. Nika was cute though, the way most guys my age were, but I couldn't shake that feeling I got when I saw Li.

Li wasn't cute. He wasn't just a boy in my class. Li had smouldering eyes and a face that was so handsome, I bet he could be a model. Obviously he was much older than me, but he was definitely younger than my parents. So I would guess he was twenty, and in university.

I blushed as I thought about our hands touching, even though it was just a formal handshake. To think, I could see him everyday. Well, possibly everyday. I really was lucky.

After school, Tanya and I stayed in the female locker room. She wanted to make plans with Nika after classes were done, and brought a change of clothes to school.

"How do I look? Is it too much?" She spun around in a baby blue dress. It was short, probably mid-thigh but on Tanya it looked great. Everything on her looked great. The bodice of the dress was tight on her torso, and the neckline scooped down to reveal the slope of her breasts. She had started wearing a bra this year and I hadn't let her live it down, since she was usually so shy about anything to do with her body. It didn't help that she had at least an extra foot of height on me and almost every other girl our age.

"No, I think you look good," I smiled at her. Tanya was stunning in just a simple t-shirt and jeans. She had shoulder-length blonde hair that any girl was jealous of, and aquamarine eyes that you could literally drown in. She was definitely going to be a heartbreaker when she got older.

I turned away to gaze at my reflection as she continued rubbing a kohl liner on her eyelids.

The first thing people probably noticed about me was my fiery red hair. It was probably longer than Tanya's when I kept it out of the brad. But I hated drawing attention to myself, even the thought of letting my hair loose for everyone to gawk over made me feel queasy.

I had, what I thought, was an average face. It was framed by my bangs that seemed to make my green eyes even more noticeable. Maybe people noticed my eyes, which were so at odds with the clashing red of my hair. I wondered if Li noticed them - just like how I noticed his. I imagined his deep blue eyes staring back at me from within the mirror and I felt my face burn into a blush. It was confirmed from my complexion within the mirror, I was completely red. Quickly, I looked back at Tanya who looked incredibly stunning as she swung her purse over her shoulder.

Li would have probably noticed her, not only for her pretty face but her woman-like body. Or at least, she was filling it out much more than I was.

"Ready to go?" She asked in a honeyed voice and I nodded - tight-lipped. I had to stop comparing myself. It wasn't healthy.

We walked outside to the front gates where Nika was waiting. I could tell from the flush on his face, he had the same thoughts of Tanya that I did. He was absolutely red when we approached him.

"Y-you look great, Tanya." He kept his gaze at the ground before looking at me. "You too Suou."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Thanks," I said flatly.

"How about we go out for ramen?" Tanya suggested, looking at me for support. I nodded, plastering a smile on my face.

"That would be awesome, we could check out the new pop-up art store on the boulevard." Nika smiled at me, "I hear they have one-of-a-kind prints of the real stars, Suou."

I perked up at that, "no way! There haven't been prints of the real stars anywhere!"

Tanya grinned, but I could tell she wasn't thrilled I would be joining them. She had meticulously planned this evening for them. "That would be awesome, I would love to check out this store too."

Reluctantly, I agreed to go but I felt bad. I knew Tanya would have preferred I had declined the offer, she was just too nice to say it. The two of them walked in front of me and I instantly felt like a third wheel. It was awkward and I suddenly didn't want to be that person, or friend, who clung to them in moments like these.

When we reached the restaurant, I stopped. "Oh, I - uh, I forgot my mom wanted me home right away to bring dinner to my dad at work." My father worked in a lab and it wasn't unusual for him to have to work late and need to be brought dinner. "I completely forgot, I have to go."

Nika frowned, "okay, we'll check out the store another time, Suou."

"Yeah, there will be tons of time to see it," Tanya chirped in. I tried to keep a smile on my face as I backed up. I sincerely doubted that I would even see any of the prints, if the rumour was true about this store selling authentic prints of the stars. It would most likely sell out fast.

I nodded in agreement, anyways. "Yeah, of course. You two have fun."

Without looking back I turned and began to walk in the other direction, towards home. Maybe I'll just take a look at the pop-up shop tomorrow… If it was around that long. Who knows, maybe it was only here for today. And, if that was the case, maybe there would be no more pictures left. I doubted I would be able to afford the pictures anyways, since they would probably cost a fortune. If I could at least see them… Yeah that's what I really wanted.

But, if I went back now, the two of them would know I was lying.

"This sucks," I mumbled under my breath on a quite overpass of the river. "I guess I'll never see the stars."

"Who are you talking to?" A friendly, and familiar voice sounded from behind me. My heart slammed into my stomach and I quickly spun around to be face-to-face with Li.

He blushed, "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I saw you leave the restaurant I was eating at and didn't know how to get back home. So I thought maybe I would ask if I could walk with you since I don't know my way around yet… But you moved so quickly, I couldn't catch up."

Li smiled down at me. He was even taller than I remembered. I also noticed he wasn't wearing his green jacket, and instead wore a fitted, white button up shirt. The first two buttons were undone from the top and the last button from the bottom showed off his smooth, lean stomach...

"Oh," I found my voice, blushing as I was caught checking him out. "I am heading home. We can walk together..I-if you want to."

"Thank you, Suou," the way he said my name… His voice was velvety smooth and for a moment it felt like my name had been specifically chosen just for Li to say it.

"You're welcome," I tucked a stray hair behind my ears as we walked side-by-side. Li seemed as if he were so close, even though he kept a respectable distance from me. We walked in silence and I searched for something - anything - to say.

In unison, we both said, "Do you - Oh."

"Uh, you go first, Li." I smiled up at him as he opened his mouth, probably to tell me the exact same thing.

Li chuckled and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. "Do you go to school around here?"

"No, not around this area at least." I gripped my bag. "I was going to hang out with my friends but… Things are complicated."

"Things usually are when you're young," Li grinned at me, politely. Everything about him was polite.

"I was just in the area because apparently a pop up store claiming to sell real photos of the stars." I don't know what was compelling me to talk so much. But, the words just kept flowing out. "It would be so cool if I could even see a picture of them. Seeing as I don't remember the stars at all. But, things are complicated with my friends right now so I can't go."

"That does sound interesting," Li agreed. "The pictures I mean. It would be nice to see this store."

"Yeah," I said, a bit sadly. We continued on our way and after crossing the river, we now walked along the side of a lush and green park. There was a large stone wall that seperated this side of the park from the traffic.

"What did you want to ask me, Suou?" He stuffed his hands into his pockets. Li angled his head, his blue-black hair shifting with the movement. Those blue eyes sparkled in the golden sunlight as he stared at me.

I hardly found my voice, and my question came out breathless. "Are you in school, Li?"

"Yes, I moved here to go to the research institute since I heard they have the best programs. I'll be in my first year."

So that must make him close to twenty. My guess this morning was right.

"You're here all by yourself?" I folded my arms behind my back, admiring the way the sun hit Li's hair and skin.

"Yeah," he said flatly. "It's just me."

Something about that comment sounded...sad. Did he mean he lived here all by himself? Or, did he mean that he was all alone with no family?

Just then, a black cat jumped off the large stone wall, onto the street we were walking on and stopped in front of us. Li's body language changed instantly, straightening and becoming more alert. I stopped when he did, watching the subtle shift in his entire being.

His smile faltered. "I remembered I have to pick up some things. I'll see you around, Suou." I suddenly felt as if his smile had been nothing but a facade this entire time, as if he had no reason at all to ever want to smile.

"Yeah," I muttered and watched him turn the other way. The cat also took off. I suddenly felt very sad for Li. Because, if it was true that he felt as if he had nothing to smile for..or that he truly was all alone on this world...that was just too sad of a thought for me to comprehend.

When Li retreated, I turned and made my way home.

^.^

It had nearly been a week since that day I bumped into Li, and I hadn't seen him since. I definitely tried to though.

I had luckily made it to the pop-up shop after school the next day, but just as I feared they ran out of pictures. I tried not to get too upset about it. Perhaps I could find them somewhere else. When I got home from school, both my parents were out.

It wasn't unusual for me to have the house to myself. I was used to it by now, and it was quite nice to have some alone time. After changing and making myself something to snack on, I went to the balcony to sit and take photos. We had a small patio table with three chairs outside. It was nice on good weathered days to sit and eat, but I often took pictures of the birds. We had a bird feeder outside that brought in many different types of birds, all in such beautiful colours.

As I sat in the chair, placing my food on the small patio table, I noticed I wasn't the only one outside.

I don't know why I thought hiding would be a good idea, but I instantly dropped down onto my belly and all fours on the ground.

Next door, I saw Li perched on the ledge of the balcony too. He was wearing a black tank top that showed off his strong arms and lean physique. I blushed, lowering closer to the ground and reached for my camera.

It looked like he was talking to someone. I couldn't be sure though so I took off the lense protector, looked through the viewfinder, and zoomed in closer. I leaned up just above the rail of the balcony so I could get a better shot of him.

There was a black cat perched on a tree, maybe a foot or so in front of him. Li was definitely talking quietly, because I saw his lips moving even though I didn't hear anything. Quickly, I snapped a picture. It was perfect, he looked as if he had been modelling for me.

He was angled in a way that his torso was turned towards the cat. Li was leaned against the short balcony rail, his hands casually in his pockets. I couldn't help but admire just how lean he was in that tank top… Or just how good he looked right at this moment.

My heart sped up as I quickly snapped another picture of him. Then, I zoomed onto the cat. As I was about to take a picture of the cat, it suddenly jumped out of the tree. Li moved so fast, pivoting towards our balcony and I pressed myself even closer into the balcony floor.

My body felt so hot, as if I was burning. I knew that feeling well, since once I had a sunburn so bad my skin literally peeled. It felt exactly like that in this moment, except minus the UV radiation. I felt so embarrassed, what if he caught me? I had just taken Li's picture without his permission - like some weirdo. I held my breath, counting in my head and focusing on slowing my thunderous heartbeat.

From the otherside, I heard the balcony door slide open, then shut.

I counted to ten before I slowly got up. Both Li and the cat were gone. My heart was pounding through my chest and I rushed into my room. I connected my camera to the computer and found the photo folder that had all my recent images on.

It wasn't a lie, I thought Li was very good looking. His hair was as black as a raven's feather - no darker. It was darker than black. Not only did Li have a handsome, strong face… His body was toned and lean.

I hovered on the delete button, staring at the pictures.

"I should delete these." I mused to myself. I knew I should, but yet, I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from the picture.

After much consideration, I deleted all of the pictures, except for one.

That one I kept for myself.

^.^

Authors Notes: I remember being weird like that when I was thirteen/fourteen with my crush. He was also older than me, so I have a lot of inspiration to draw from for this story! Poor Suou... :(

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AC