5
I was attacked as I was walking through the school gates.
"Almaaaaaaaaaaaaaz!!" Saphire threw herself onto my back.
"Hii!!" I stumbled, fighting for balance.
"You didn't call me!" she proclaimed, squeezing her arms around my neck. "You meanie!"
"Ah, Saphire…" I laughed nervously at her. "I was… er, I got home kind of late, and…"
She gasped loudly, her green eyes shining. "You…!" Her voice lowered conspiratorially: "You went to his house again?" I nodded. "To his room?" I nodded again, my face reddening. She caught sight of it and grinned triumphantly. "Something happened, didn't it!?"
"Um, can we not talk about it here?" I glanced around at all the people passing us and giving us strange looks. I also saw members of the Princess Fan Club glaring at me darkly. I had the sinking feeling that I would most-likely be targeted by them after school today.
"Sure!" she slid off my shoulders and jumped around to stand in front of me. She was smiling, but there was something about her face that looked less cheerful. "You promise, right?"
"Huh?" I blinked. It wasn't like her to ask something like that. "Yeah," I nodded. "You know I will. I tell you everything."
"I know!" she grinned and twirled around, heading for the school. "Come on! We're gonna be late!"
"Ah!" I hesitated, then hurried after her. Something was up with Saphire, and it bothered me not to know what it was.
I ascended the steps to the roof slowly, thinking about how I should breach the subject about her unusual behavior this morning. Knowing her, she'd focus the entire conversation on what I was doing at Adell's house last night.
When I got there, I saw Adell lying on his back in the spill of sunlight painting the rooftop, his arms tucked behind his head and his eyes closed. I froze on the top step, my breath hitching in my throat and my eyes widening. Why is he up here? Is he upset about what happened yesterday, and he wants to talk about it? Maybe he's going to tell me that it was weird and to stay away from him… But all that frenzied thought was stilled as I looked at him lying there so peacefully. He's so beautiful…
I left my lunch on the little bench Saphire and I usually ate on and walked quietly to his side. Then I crouched, hugging my knees and staring at him. His skin didn't glow, like it did with the afternoon sunlight, but it almost gleamed, making him appear surreal. His hair kicked out and spilled haphazardly across his eyes and face, moving slightly in the almost-breeze. It looked as if it were fire itself, dancing and swaying fluidly. In sleep, his face lost all the lines of worry, frustration, and seriousness and smoothed out perfectly. It was a gorgeous face. My hand reached out to touch his cheek, but I caught myself moving and stopped, pulling it away hesitantly. What if he doesn't want me touching him? What if he's here to ask me to stop talking to him? Maybe he is uncomfortable, kissing another boy. I licked my lips, imagining the taste and the heat of his mouth there. I had been happy about it, and I know that he said he didn't mind, but… Maybe he's having second thoughts?
I wanted to ask him, to say these things first, before he said them and they hurt me, like swords piercing my heart. I wanted to say that even if it had been a fluke, just a random thing, it hadn't been to me. I wanted to tell him honestly how I felt, before he asked me to stay away from him… But I couldn't bring myself to wake him up. He looked so peaceful, so calm and beautiful. I needed to tell him in some way, though. How?
My eyes stole to his lips again. I nibbled on mine. Just once, I told myself, kneeling. Just one more kiss, and I will never bother him again. I leaned forward slowly. I will take one last, selfish, cowardly kiss, I braced myself over him, and I will leave you alone. I lowered my lips softly to his.
Saphire hurried up the steps, panting. She was late! Almaz might have gone looking for Adell by now, or something. No! He promised he'd tell me! She frowned, shaking her head. He promised! But, lately, she had felt that Almaz was drifting apart from her. He was being pulled into Adell's world while she was being left behind. It was a little upsetting, but she was trying hard to be happy for him. Almaz really did love him, and best friends supported one another.
…best friends, huh?
She got to the roof door and grabbed the handle, meaning to push it open, leap out, rush over, and tackle him. She looked out the window first, and stopped.
His lips are so soft, I thought belatedly, pulling away. I opened my eyes.
Adell was staring at me.
"HIII!!" I fell backwards in surprise. He was up in a flash and over me, his arms on either side of my head, supporting him, one knee by my hip.
"You," he said, an unreadable expression on his face. "Don't do that."
"I-I'm sorry…!" I choked out, still surprised. His words hit me deeply. I felt my hopes falling between my fingers like sand.
"How am I supposed to control myself if you act so damn cute all the time?" he frowned, his eyebrows tugging together.
"Wha…?" my mind stopped. This was not going the way I thought it would.
"Whatever," he shrugged. "You'd better take responsibility." And he grabbed the back of my neck, lifted my head, and pressed his lips hard to mine.
"Oh…!" Saphire watched Adell kiss her friend. She felt slightly embarrassed that she was watching such a private moment, but she was also very happy for Almaz. She grinned, and avoided her eyes for a few moments.
…two boys kissing was also, she discovered, pretty hot.
I couldn't think, I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. Adell was kissing me deeply, his warm tongue running across the inside of my mouth and lapping eagerly. My heart sped up, thudding so loudly, I was sure he could hear it. A few whimpering sounds escaped my throat. I think I kissed him back, I wasn't sure.
When he finally took his mouth from mine and released me, I simply laid on my back and tried to remember how to breathe. He was breathing deeply beside me, and so I listened to that, trying to follow its example. He looked over.
"Your fault," he said. I nodded; I'd greatly take the blame for that.
She stepped away from the door, smiling slightly. Good for you, Almaz, she said silently to herself, then turned to find another place to eat.
"You're not going out there?"
Saphire jumped in surprise and looked up at the speaker. Rozalin was standing on the steps with her hands on her hips.
"No," she grinned, avoiding Rozalin's direct gaze. "You shouldn't either, though. Let them be alone together."
"Hmph," Rozalin tossed her hair and went to the window, looking out. A complex expression crossed her face, then she wrinkled her nose and just looked annoyed.
"I've always known that Adell liked Almaz-sempai," she said.
"You have?" Saphire blinked. Rozalin nodded. "Then, why do you still chase after Adell-kun?"
"Why do you still chase after Almaz-sempai?" Rozalin turned the question around. Saphire blinked, surprised.
"I…don't…" she stammered.
"Psh, please," Rozalin's iced-ruby eyes flicked up and down along the other girl's profile. "It's obvious, you know."
"It…is?" she felt her stomach drop. "Do you think Almaz knows?"
"Nah," Rozalin glanced out the window again. "He's too dense."
Saphire giggled. "Yeah, you're right. I've known him since we were kids—I should know that at least."
"I wonder what's taking Saphire…" I mused, looking up at the bright blue sky. From next to me, Adell made a noncommittal noise.
"You two are that close?" he fidgeted. I looked over at him, blinking. Is he…jealous?
"Well, yeah," I nodded, looking down at my untouched lunch. "We've been friends ever since she came over from America."
"She's from the States, too?" Adell lifted an eyebrow. I nodded again.
"Yes. Her Japanese was so terrible," I laughed a little.
"Did you end up helping her with it?" Adell asked.
"Yeah," I smiled slightly and looked down at the chain link fence surrounding the roof. "She got teased at school for it a lot, I remember."
"I came over from America when I was young," Saphire spoke, her eyes looking out the window, but seeing her memories instead. "I had a really hard time picking up the language, so all the other kids made fun of me a lot."
"The first time we met, she was circled by a group of bullies in the playground," I recalled.
"I couldn't do anything but stand there and cry," she laughed helplessly. "I was so confused and scared…"
"She looked so lost that I couldn't help myself," I chuckled a little. "I had to go and help her."
"He stepped in front of me and shielded me from those bullies," she whispered, placing a hand gently on her heart. "I think he told them to go away—I couldn't understand at the time—and then he said something to me…"
"I told her that I'd protect her," I grinned at my own childish naivety. "I don't think she understood me, but I'm sure she got what I meant."
"They beat him up," Saphire recalled sadly. "There were just too many of them. But they left me alone. When I helped him up, he smiled and said something else. I only understood one word, though."
"What was that word?" Rozalin inquired.
"Dummy," Adell bonked me softly atop my head. "You haven't changed much, huh?"
"No, not really," I laughed. "That's the day I asked Saphire to be my friend. We've been together ever since."
"'Tomodachi'," she smiled. "He asked me to be his friend. And we've been friends ever since. He helped me learn Japanese, and was always there to stand up for me and protect me."
"It's cute," Rozalin gave the other girl a little smile. Saphire beamed back.
"I know," she giggled. "I only realized my feelings after he confessed that he had a crush on Adell-kun. But, I had waited too long," she lowered her eyes, her smile fading. "I was so used to him being there beside me, that I couldn't even imagine myself without him."
"And what's stopping you?" Rozalin raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?" Saphire looked up, confused.
"I like Adell," Rozalin tilted her head to the window. "Nothing's going to stop me from telling him every chance I get. Maybe one day, he and Almaz-sempai will go their separate ways. I want him to know that I'll be there for him; I want him to see that I'm the perfect girl for him." She gave Saphire another grin. "Besides, it's a lot of fun to keep interrupting them. It keeps them on their toes, and keeps me entertained."
Saphire burst out laughing.
"Huh?" I glanced back.
The door to the roof banged open. Rozalin dashed out and nearly tackled Adell off the bench.
"Adeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell!!" She cooed, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tight, her chest pressing into his back.
"Gah!" he waved his arms wildly for balance.
Unexpectedly, it was my turn next.
"Almaz!!" Saphire pounced on me. I almost dropped my lunch. I managed not to fall over, and I looked over my shoulder at her. She was grinning broadly, happily. I smiled.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," I said with relief.
"Rozalin and I had a conversation that made me realize something," she smiled back, her eyes sparkling.
"What was it?" I asked her.
"Get off, please," Adell unsuccessfully tried to shake Rozalin off his shoulders.
"Nuuuuuuuuuu~!" Rozalin purred and nuzzled him.
"Almaz, I love you!" Saphire beamed and kissed the corner of my mouth softly.
"HUH?!" I flailed.
"HEY!!" Adell pointed angrily.
"Heehee!" Rozalin giggled, squeezing him tightly.
