YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING. HERE'S THE NEXT PART.

Okay, um, time for a bit of a twist. Normally, I have been saying "Ohh, this was one of my favorite oneshots to write~" and all that.. but this one.. I'm not particularly fond of. This was one of the more challenging oneshots for me to write, but it was literally the only thing that came to mind, and kept nagging to be written. In a way, I kind of like it, but I feel it doesn't convey the prompt too well. But, I hope you enjoy, regardless, and I promise I'll post a better one next chapter! So please don't abandon me for one mediocre oneshot.

Prompt Word #19: Forceful

Garry slumped on his mattress, trying to clear his mind. His arms wrapped around his pillow, inhaling the faint, lingering smell of tobacco. His skin tingled, craving the nicotine, so he reached to his nightstand and got a cigarette from the pack. He rolled to his back, staring up at the white, textured ceiling as he lit the cancer stick.

Taking a drag from it, Garry grasped the cigarette between his fingers and pulled it from his lips. The back of his hand flew to his forehead. He had just returned from walking Ib home for the day. The setting sun poured into his bedroom giving everything a nice glow, but despite the nice atmosphere, Garry still felt fairly exasperated.

Lately, Garry had been having excessive amounts of thoughts cross his mind. Thoughts that he would have to forcefully push away. Thoughts about Ib. And the bad part was that he was enjoying these thoughts.

Garry sighed, a plume of smoke escaping his lips. He recalled earlier today, they had gone out for macaroons, as they often did. Ib ate her first few in such haste that some bits lingered on her lips. Garry had to force himself not to take her by the shoulders to kiss and lick the pieces away. After that, they returned to his apartment, and as he let Ib walk inside first, he suddenly had his eyes on her skirt, watching as it swayed back and forth. Garry forced himself to look at the floor instead.

He took several puffs from his cigarette before he continued with his musing. Just what was wrong with him? Garry had never acted this way around Ib before... okay, that was a bit of a lie, but it was never this bad. It seemed like lately, he found himself forcing these thoughts out of his head more frequently.

You probably love her, a voice—his voice, except not quite—spoke to him in his head.

'Love? She's nine,' he responded.

Okay then. You have a crush on her, the voice retaliated.

'If anything, it's more than that,' Garry argued. Who was he talking to again?

Then somewhere in between. You do care for her, more than just as a friend.

Garry finished off his cigarette, putting it out on the ashtray on his nightstand and rolling on his side. He let out a sigh, still trying to organize his thoughts. A hand went to his forehead, trying to calm his headache. He did care for Ib. More than anything, really. And maybe he did have a crush on her—no that was absurd! She was only nine!

Love has no boundaries, the voice called to him again. Garry tried to force it out of his mind, but if you are so concerned about it, simply wait. She will grow up into a fine woman. And then you can have her.

'Maybe so,' he thought, 'but what if someone else gets to her first?'

That won't happen, the voice assured. The way she looks at you, the way she smiles..

'She's just a child!' Garry's internal voice was yelling now, 'even if she does like me that way, it's just like when a girl has a crush on a celebrity or something!'

You're a star in her eyes, the voice said. Garry could hear the smirk in its voice. But you can linger in doubt all you like. The truth is still clear.

'Just who are you anyway?'

Oh, me? I'm just you. Garry got a mental image of himself standing face-to-face with...himself. I'm just the part of you that knows what he's feeling, and isn't ashamed. I love Ib. So you love Ib.

Garry rolled over on his stomach, burying his face into his pillow. He didn't even respond the voice as he tightly closed his eyes and forced it out of his mind.

Who are you talking to, Garry? Haha. Yeah, I promise, promise, promise the next one will be better. How about "Proposal" next? That one was fun to write! Until then, take care!

edit;; good lord, I am so sorry for anyone who read this the second it came out (thanks to sharkoal for pointing it out to me).. but when I published the doc, fanfiction decided to take a massive dump on it, and space everything out all weird, so I had to go back and fix it. Sheesh!