"Uhm, what is this exactly?" Yamuraiha said as politely as she possibly could, when she was presented with what seemed to be a pile of dirty rags.
"It's kind of like a shwarma, but not really- trust me, it's good," Sharrkan advised her while taking a bite of a similar dish.
She poked the food with her fork: it seemed okay to eat. The smell wasn't terrible either, just the appearance of it was awful. "Well, looks can be deceiving," she mumbled as she took a small portion into her mouth.
"How is it?" Pisti asked, her tone a bit too excited.
Yamuraiha nodded with a smile on her face. "It's actually, really good," she said when she finished chewing. "Like really good," she paused, "what is it though?"
"It's like a tofu thing-" Sharrkan explained. "I was skeptical at first too, but Pisti made me try it once and I really like it,"
"Like it enough to become a vegetarian?" Pisti asked with her eyes sparkling and her hand folded together.
"Not a chance," he shot her down quickly.
"So after eating this what're we doing?" Yamuraiha questioned.
"Pisti wants to get her belly button pierced," Sharrkan said waving his fork around, "personally, I don't like that idea,"
Pisti shrugged off his comment. "Well I want to look extra cute during spring break in my bikini so I don't care if you don't like it," she flipped her hair sassily. "What do you think about it Yamuraiha?"
"Well, actually-" Yamuraiha lifted up her sweater ever so slightly that a small jewel could be seen on her navel.
Sharrkan quickly turned away.
"You didn't!" Pisti almost screamed. "I thought you'd be against piercings!" She leaned across Sharrkan. "I mean, wow how did your dad even allow that? Why did you even get it in the first place? So many questions!"
Yamuraiha covered her stomach back up. "I got in in the tenth grade. And no, my dad doesn't even know about it. I got one of my older friends sister to do it for me." She sighed. "Kind of a stupid and impulsive decision, really,"
"That doesn't explain why you have it though," Sharrkan stated.
"Oh that," Yamuraiha blushed madly. "Well, you see- I had this teacher that I really liked. And he was older and really cool-" she paused to regain her composure and muster up enough courage to finish her embarrassing story, "and one day he nonchalantly said 'navel piercings are kind of cool,' so I just thought that-"
"You didn't." Sharrkan interrupted her.
Yamuraiha nodded. "I did," she paused again, nervously laughing to herself, "and so I asked one of my friend's sister who did piercings- not in an actual boutique or anything I might add, but she was someone who had equipment. And I asked her to pierce my navel."
"So you did this just to impress your teacher?" Pisti raised an eyebrow.
Yamuraiha shook her head, "no I did it more for me. I was 16 at the time and looking back at it I felt the need to do something rebellious. I never even told my teacher about it. It was just something I did to please myself in the end,"
There was an awkward silence between them. Pisti and Sharrkan exchanged confused glances at one another while Yamuraiha's fear of them judging her grew.
"If you have anything to say spit it out," she said defensively.
"I mean," Pisti began, "I just never expected this from you!" Her expression morphed from a worried confusion to an approving admiration. "You like older men and got a piercing by some person who isn't qualified? And in the end you just did it all for yourself? That's so badass!"
Sharrkan cringed. "Eh, I wouldn't go that far, but it is pretty cool," he coughed, "for you I mean."
"Thanks," she sarcastically replied to him.
"It was a compliment," he said dryly.
"Albeit an underhanded one," Pisti added. "But anyways why did you like your old teacher though?!"
Both Sharrkan and Pisti leaned in closer to hear her answer. Yamuraiha didn't know what to tell them. He was the only guy she ever actually liked, and she didn't even know why did. He was just great, and that was that.
"He was really handsome and nice and smart." Her explanation was vague, but that was the gist of it. A lot of people in her class liked him. It wasn't as if she was the only one who truly wanted attention from him. "And when I was moving, he told me that I could visit his class anytime I wanted," she sighed, "it's a hopeless crush isn't it? To be in love with someone older is hard."
"Oh you don't know half of it sister, right Sharr?" Pisti said as she nudged Sharrkan, who looked as if he wanted her to evaporate in that moment.
"Yeah I wonder what Spartos thinks of that," he smirked as Pisti's smile was immediately wiped off her face. "I would just love to send him a message sometime,"
"Wait!" Yamuraiha lifted up her index finger as if to indicate the imaginary light bulb that went off above her head. "You like Spartos don't you Pisti?" A wide grin appeared on her face.
Pisti crossed her arms. "Me like that mess? Pfft," she laughed to herself. "I mean he's such a loser and not at all like any of the guys- or girls I've been with before and," she paused letting out a deep and defeated breath, "yeah I do, and I can't believe you haven't figured it out yet because it's so obvious to everyone, but him." She buried her face in her hands and leaned down. "Ugh, it's hopeless."
Sharrkan sympathetically patted her on the back. "There, there,"
"Why don't you just tell him you like him?" Yamuraiha suggested.
"Why don't you just tell him you like him?" Pisti said in a mocking voice. "Why don't I just tell the whole world that, that advice is the worst thing ever. Like honestly why didn't you tell your teacher you liked him?"
"Well he was older and it would be awkward because he was my teacher."
"Well this is my best friend!" she exclaimed, "that's like ten times worse!" she groaned. "Love is terrible and I hate it." She forcefully stuffed her face with her fries.
"I still think it's worth a shot to tell him you like him," Yamuraiha said. "I mean I wouldn't want to hold back, if the chance is there you should take it because there might not be another one," she took the final bite of her food. "I mean if Sharrkan hadn't convinced me to try out for the play I wouldn't have gotten one of the parts,"
"But this is different! If I tell him I like him he might not ever want to be my friend again- or worse he'll pity me, and all those years and memories down the drain because I couldn't keep my stupid feelings under control," she stuffed her face with more fries. "I'm such a mess right now!"
Well her mood certainly changed fast, Yamuraiha thought. She wanted to suggest something to her friend, yet she couldn't due to her own lack of experiences. Sharrkan probably wasn't able to say anything either since despite his experiences, she was sure he never had real romantic feelings towards anyone.
"Hey, it's fine. If you choose to tell him or keep your feelings secret, I don't think he'll think any different of you," Yamuraiha held her hand.
"No, you were right before," Pisti straightened her back. "You know what I'm going to text him right now," she took out her bedazzled phone and began typing. "I'm going to tell him that I like him in a romantic way and if he doesn't that's fine, but if he does he should definitely tell me."
Sharrkan reached for Pisti's phone, which she responded to by moving farther away from him and typing more aggressively. "Do you really think this is a good idea I mean-"
"Sent!" she said proudly. "Sent." she said again, except with more doubt and less smiles this time.
"Sent." she whispered with horror on her face.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Yamuraiha reassured her.
"How do I unsend it?!" Pisti panicked. She shook her blonde locks at the disappointment that was her impulsive nature.
"Has he read it yet?" Sharrkan asked.
"No," she mumbled, "he's at his chess club thing. They're having a mini tournament until 7." She groaned.
"How about we get your mind off of things and go to the piercing shop?" Yamuraiha suggested, her voice concerned. She wanted Pisti's crush to work out for her, she didn't want her advice to be the reason for her misfortune.
"What's the use?" she complained. "It's not like there will be anyone to impress."
"To hell with anyone to impress. If you want to do this do it for yourself!" Yamuraiha slammed her fist on the table. "Seriously if he doesn't feel the same way everything will be fine you know why?"
Pisti shook her head.
"Cause for the short amount of time I've known you the past couple of weeks and the very fuzzy memories I have of you, you have always been fearless,"
"Yeah I am that," Pisti said in a hushed tone.
"And you don't need someone to make you happy! You are reckless and wild and fun, and if he doesn't appreciate that it's his loss,"
"Hey, yeah I am great! And I'm not a coward I'm Pisti!" she exclaimed. "He's lucky that I even like him!"
"Yeah!" Yamuraiha pumped her fists in the air. "Now go get your navel pierced!"
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sharrkan sat beside Yamuriaha patiently while Pisti was getting her piercing in another room. She was reading one of the magazines left out for them on the coffee table and he looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse at the content.
"If you want to read it that badly you can have it," she rolled up the magazine and put it up to his face. "Here, read all about the amazing solutions to cramps," she teased.
"No thanks I'm not lactose intolerant."
"It's not those kind of-" she sighed. "Sure, okay." She put the magazine down. His disgruntled expression made her worried. "You've been really quiet, what's up?" She poked his arm. "What's going on in that brain of yours?"
He swatted off her fingers. "Nothing. I'm simply waiting in silence while my best friend gets a needle through the skin on her stomach, no biggie."
"That's what you're concerned about?" She laughed. "It's safe, don't worry,"
"Not just that," he paused, "what if Spartos doesn't feel the same way? I know you hyped her up to make her feel better, but I know Pisti well. And I know that she doesn't always show what she feels and that she's just like me and makes stupid jokes to cope."
"You either move on and get stronger or you freeze and wallow in your sadness. And Pisti isn't the type to wallow. I don't know her as well as you do, but I know that much,"
He scoffed. "You're right," he admitted.
"Hey," Yamuraiha took his hand. "It'll be okay." She smiled at him reassuringly. "I think it'll take a little more than a boy to get her down." She leaned in closer to him and pushed the hair out of his eyes with her free hand. "And you really need a haircut," she joked.
He took the hand that was free and pulled it down. "Yeah I do. I'm getting it cut by next week. How about you, you even going to do something with yours?"
"Maybe," she chirped. "I want to grow it out long, real long." She moved her hands out from his. "Do you like long hair?"
"I uh-" his voice became strained. "I mean it's okay. Hair doesn't make the person. Why would you ask me anyways?"
"Aren't we friends?" She scooted forward on her chair. "This may come as a surprise to you, but I value your opinion."
She valued his opinion? Nice information for him to hear, since he had always valued hers.
"Thanks and same goes for me," he smiled.
She wasn't looking at him, she was back to shuffling through a magazine. The neon white light in the waiting room illuminated her cheekbones and nose. She was pretty, he couldn't keep that fact away from his thoughts. And despite being a total pain sometimes she was kind and level headed when he wasn't.
He should follow in Pisti's footsteps. She confessed to a long time crush and even longer time best friend. That was brave. Especially since Spartos was impossible to read and oblivious towards people's affection. He had to ask her out- nothing big, but just the two of them hanging out alone would confirm his feelings once and for all.
"Yamuraiha I was wondering if," he paused when he saw the headphones in her ears and her eyes glued to pages. He took her earphone out. "I have to tell you something," he said seriously.
She took the other headphone out of her ear and turned to him. "What's on your mind?"
"I was thinking that maybe, we could- uhm, maybe we could uhh- go ou-"
"Guys I'm done with my piercing!" Pisti burst out with her shirt lifted up. "Take a look at this baby!" She pointed to the gold stud on her navel. "Pretty neat!"
Sharrkan sighed. Pisti flying out while he was in the middle of asking Yamuraiha out was a sign that he shouldn't even try. After all, she was older and so much different than he.
New chapter. Thanks for all the reviews and follows lately. I'm still away on 'vacation' but I wrote this in about two hours while I had nothing to do so here you have it! Please review if you liked it!