Author's Note~

I want to thank everyone who followed this story! :D It really means a lot to me.

Please rate and review, and enjoy Chapter 2!

~*~Act 2: Butterfly on your Right Shoulder~*~

I sling my bag over my shoulder, holding it by the handle so it hits my back. I use my other hand to take out my black cellphone. I smile as I gaze at the little carrot charm for a moment before flipping open the phone and typing up a text to Rin, Teto, and Luka.

Gakupo-san came up 2 me in the hallway 2day. he told me he likes troublemaker girls, said I was cute, called me Gumi-chan, and then kissed me near the lips. Then he gave me his number and walked away. Wtf? Should I text him or no? Ur opinions?

Rin's the first to reply.

omg! red alert! hes a total player. he is playin u, gumi! but more important, did u tell teto yet? u shouldnt!

I raise an eyebrow, confused, but before I can reply Luka texts me. I check it as I start walking down the block to the school dorms.

Gumi, this is bad. Gakupo-san is a terrible flirt. You would do best to stay away from him. Please, listen to my advice.

I frown as she texts me again.

Does Teto know yet?

What does this have to do with Teto? I wonder as I turn a street corner.

As if sensing my confusion, a text comes in from Teto.

Wtf?! Gumi, why did u tell me that?! u know i like him! how could u let him do that to u?! u shouldnt txt him! throw away his #!

Uh-oh. This is news to me. We have the same crush?! Not knowing how to reply, I text her back a single line after a moment.

sry, I didn't know.

I take out the paper with Gakupo's phone number on it and type up a text to him, but hesitate. Maybe I shouldn't send it.

I frown and realize I've stopped walking. I'm standing in the middle of an alley. Cherry blossom petals drift around me. One twirls past my nose, and I stare at my phone screen.

My thumb hovers over the "send" button. Rin, Luka, and Teto – my three best friends – have all warned me to stay away from this guy. But Teto only wants him for herself, and Rin and Luka seem to be supporting her rather than me.

I hit "send".

Hey, Kamui-san! What's up?

I start walking again and check my conversation with Teto. No new messages.

I text Rin back, explaining that I didn't know Teto liked Gakupo. I also add that I'll try to get him to like her instead of me. I send Luka a similar message and get positive responses from both of them.

go 4 it, gumi-chan! thats what i like 2 hear! u r such a great friend 2 her! :)

That's a good choice, Gumi. I'd prefer if Teto had him over anyone else, honestly. She might be able to get him to settle down with her and change his flirtatious ways. They make a good match.

Luka's comment stings, but I have to remind myself she doesn't know I like Gakupo. I consider whether or not I'll actually follow up with what I told them, that I'll try to convince him to give Teto a chance.

Should I? I could always say, "Sorry, it didn't work." Teto would get over him eventually. Then again, she seemed really mad at me about what Gakupo did. I've never seen her this angry over a crush. She might hate me, and I can't afford to lose one of my only friends.

Is he worth it? I think. Is he worth losing a friend?

No.

Of course he isn't.

I flop down on my bed in my dorm. My roommate, Yowane Haku-san, won't be back for a week at least. She's visiting her uncle, who has cancer and will probably die soon. I feel really bad for her, especially since everyone always teases her about her white hair.

I turn up the music louder on my iPod. "After the rain has fallen, after the tears have washed your eyes, after the thunder's broken, still be loving the world..."

My phone dings and I pick it up, turning on the screen to look at the text.

hey cutie! sry it took so long to get back to u. had to stay after school making up some work 4 IA-sensei's class. what r u up to? ;)

I feel like I'm going to faint with happiness until I remember my promise. I sigh and type up a response.

Nothing much :/ Listening 2 music, u?

I'm trying to act like I don't really care about him, but I guess I'm just coming off as depressed, because he replies:

hey, u ok? :(

He likes emoticons.

Yeah, I'm fine. btw, do u like any1? like, do u love some1?

Where did that come from?! I totally didn't mean to type that, but my thumb presses "send" before I can stop it.

I set down my phone and and sigh. A new song starts playing. "Dear, I fear we're facing a problem, you love me no longer, I know..."

My phone dings and I grab it.

isnt it obvious? i love u, gumi

My cheeks burn. We're on first-name basis now?

Y?

Why?! What sort of a question is that?! But I have to admit, I do want to know. Why do you say you love me?

cause ur beautiful, u have a gr8 personality, ur funny, and u sparkle. I may be a flirt, but I'll change my ways for u :heart:

I squeak. I can see my reflection in the mirror over my dresser, and I see that my face is completely blood-red.

I screenshot the whole conversation and text it to Luka, adding:

Help me! What should I do?!

The song ends and another one starts. "Migikata ni murasaki chouchou kisu o shita kono heya no sumi de..." I absently hum along as I wait for Luka's reply.

My phone dings.

Gumi, what were you trying to do? Were you trying to get him to say he likes Teto?

I type a frantic response.

Yes! but he's freakin me out! I've never had a guy confess to me b4... do u think he's serious?!

I pick up my goggles that I always wear. They were on my pillow, but now they dangle from my fingers. I swing them back and forth a few times, dropping them once my phone beeps.

Probably not. He's a very big flirt, remember that. When he targeted me, he said some very similar things... though admittedly, it was to a lesser extent... but anyway. Don't fall for his lies.

I blink, staring at it.

He flirted with u once?! O_o

My phone dings again as I press "send", but the message isn't from Luka.

u ok, babe?

My face gets warm again. Who does this guy think he is? He's played Luka, now me, and who knows how many other girls he's led on? Why did I ever like him anyway? He's a jerk.

Dude, u r such a jerk. U have flirted with and led on Luka-chan and probably a bunch more girls I know. It's obvious ur only doing the same 2 me. I don't like u, but I know a girl who does. So maybe u should stop wasting ur time flirting with a girl who u don't like and who doesn't like u, and try talking to a girl who u actually have a chance with.

My thumbs hurt by the time I've finished typing this. As I hit "send", I'm convinced I no longer like Gakupo. Teto can have him to herself.

I check my messages with Luka.

-_- Is it really that surprising? Anyway, that's not the point. What did you say to him?

Gakupo texts me back.

i dont care about her. i love u, gumi. i swear. i've never felt this way about a girl b4. u shine like no1 else. i want to be by ur side 4ever. will u be my gf?

I screenshot those three texts, forward them to Luka, and don't reply to Gakupo.

Author's Note~

The songs she listens to are, in order of appearance:

After the Rain Has Fallen - Sting

Lovefool - The Cardigans

Migikata no Chou (Butterfly on Your Right Shoulder) - Rin Kagamine