My Mistake

Ch.3 - "Is This Love?"

Hot water blazing down my back hits me like the migraine courtesy of last night. The hangover hit me before I was awake, but remembering what I'd said jolted me from a drunken sleep. Every last word came back to me.

Every. Last. Word.

I push my head into the wall of the shower. Water is streaming down my body, but it's not enough to wash away the embarrassment I'm feeling. When I'm finally out, and when I'm in the kitchen, when I see Zoro, what will he think? I'm stuck living with the truth I let slip over a few drinks. Pathetic.

"Hey, Sanji, you almost done in there?" Nami asks through the bathroom door. I perk up at her voice, letting my troubles run down the drain.

"Yeah, sure! In a minute!" I answer, shutting off the water; I leave the shower to dry off. The powder room is hot with steam, and the mirror has fogged up completely. I feel a little lighter— maybe crying in the bath for two hours worked after all.

"Jeez, what took you so long?" Nami asks, hands on her hips with her lips pursed and eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh! Eh, it's nothing!" I say, taking short steps back to try and leave the conversation. Usually, I'd never pass up a chance to talk with Nami; but right now is a huge exception.

I've got to find Zoro, and fast.

"It would seem that Sanji had an erotic encounter with Zoro yesterday." I'm a marble statue to the cold hand on my shoulder. In a swift motion, Robin-chan has told Nami everything she needed to know. Her smile is unmistakable, and now both women know I'm gay.

Yep, God has abandoned me.

***

I'm frying fish for lunch in the kitchen with Robin and Zoro at the table. I haven't made eye contact with Zoro since last night, and I'm refusing to talk to Robin. Like the blushing of my cheeks that refuses to leave.

"Hey, Sanji?" Zoro speaking my name runs an icy shiver down my spine. I know what I want, and it's sitting there at the dining table, just waiting to be pegged by me.

"Yes?" I grill through clenched teeth. I've turned my attention away from lunch, and my moodiness is at an all-time high. Zoro halts for a minute, running a sexy hand through his hair—an action I've never once seen. Is he nervous, or does he know what this does to me?

Zoro speaks with his face as red as ketchup, "wanna go out?" Robin catches whiplash and gasps, eyes no longer glued to her book. We're on the same page, because both I and Robin couldn't have seen that question coming at all.

"Huh?" I interject with high eyebrows [or maybe just the one he can see.] There's no way Zoro would ever date a man—much less me. I nail down what Zoro had said last night. Some parts are lost—sure, but I cite what he'd said over the alcohol, and, for a brief moment, I'm starting to think what Zoro said and how he acted was true.

"Do you want to go out with me?" Zoro rephrases with character. My face is hot, probably pink or red. I turn away with furrowed eyebrows to avoid staring at Zoro head-on. Robin's got her nose in her book—literally. I'm guessing she's just as red, too.

"Zoro," I whisper, faint but loud enough to hear. My eyes wander to him.

I slip a hair clip from my pocket, pining a tuft of hair up so that both eyes [yes, eyebrows too] are visible. I've turned in Zoro's direction now: Robin's dropped her book, and Zoro's jaw is on the floor.

"I'd love nothing better than to date you," I tell. Robin's jaw drops too, and Zoro's failing to make out words [other than the inaudible mumbling].

"Let's go to the rose garden and have a picnic there; just you and me," I hit. Zoro may be frozen, but the look in his eyes says nothing but yes.

***

I've been dizzy ever since we arrived at the garden. My hand is in Zoro's, and we're walking past the roses, enjoying the scenery. I kissed him a couple of times, only on the cheeks, but each time left Zoro as red as the garden roses. I smile at his nervousness; it's cute in a way. He's cute—sexy, actually. After this date, maybe I'll get him in bed.

Zoro and I set up the picnic underneath an oak tree on a small slope. It's easier said than done when your hand to eye coordination is obscured. This is something that Zoro overlooks.

I can't keep the smile off my face when Zoro laughs or just talks about anything. The subject is inconsequential. I'd never noticed how desirable Zoro is as a person, and a partner, before. But, now that I'm viewing him up close:  sexy green hair, black eyes and subtle, irresistible features across Zoro's face.

Our lips meet in a passionate kiss—my tongue grazing Zoro's bottom lip. He softly whimpers, splitting his lips to let me slide in. My hands travel down Zoro's back, stopping at his haramaki. I pull away, softening the look in my eyes to give Zoro an innocent, yet seductive gaze. Zoro nibbles at his lip, placing his hands on my thighs. I gasp and sport a tenor moan. My hands dig at Zoro's back as I straddle myself on top of him.

A feeling in my stomach drops, and my vision goes completely blurry. I fall backwards with my knees locked. I can feel Zoro shifting around, probably startled. A pulsating pain sets in, and my breathing escalates. Zoro's shaking my body as my heart starts fluttering.

***

And then it stops.

***

Complete and utter emptiness sets in. A hole in my stomach is the best way to quote it.

I realise what this is, quickly pushing Zoro off. He's surprised, again, quick to question me; "You okay?" he asks. His voice is laced with anxiety, but my heart doesn't escalate. I'm looking down, and my face is flushed pale. My lip bleeds when I bite down on it for comfort, and my hands tremble like rocks in a landslide.

"Zoro, I don't love you anymore."

***

A/N: Maybe we have time to vote before these two break up.