𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓮 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 | 𝚅𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝐵𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓉𝓉 | 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟺

(Little warning for some slight sad stuff! It's not too bad tho :))

On that day, they made a sincere promise. A promise that they would never fall in love with another until they met again. Of course, the promise was kept. However, there was never a promise that another would not fall in love with them.

***

Lunch on that day was... different. Xiangling, Hu Tao, and I sat at our normal spot, by the tennis courts.

"Sooo..." Xiangling smiled, "how was the kiss?" I glared at her. Hu Tao giggled.

"He seems like a good kisser! Was he?!" Hu Tao leaned into me.

"You guys are so weird," I sighed, looking towards the door to the cafeteria. There he was.

"Oooh, it's the loverboy!" Xiangling yelled. Venti started to slowly jog to where we were sitting, and sat next to me. Too close.

He leaned his back against my arm, looking up to see my face.

"Did you like my art?"

"Of course not. It's warm today and I have to wear this stupid blazer," I said, pushing him away.

"Wanna wear mine?" He turned around, wrapping his arms around me to grab my other hand. Xiangling and Hu Tao looked on, wide-eyed.

"That wouldn't make me less hot, idiot," I laughed. He smirked.

"Nothing cou-"

"Woah, what's going on here?!" Xingqiu chuckled, sitting next to Xiangling. Chongyun followed close behind.

"Come on, you interrupted during the good part!" Hu Tao whined.

"What is this, a TV show?" Xingqiu jeered. Fischl and Razor joined us.

"Love again?" Razor asked.

"Always, with these two!" Xiangling pointed to us. I shoved Venti away from me. Something felt missing.

"Hey, have you seen Bennett?" I asked Fischl.

"My Auge der Veruteilung hath not seen him on this day," She replied. I started to worry, maybe he was sick.

"Well, I'll text him. He might be sick," I said, pulling out my phone to text Bennett.

Y/N
Where are u?!?!?!

BENNY
I'm home today, but wanna hang out later?

Y/N
yes!!! u okay tho?

BENNY
yeah, i'm fine! thanks, i'll see you laterrrrr!

I put my phone back into my pocket, looking up to my friends with a smile.

"He just said he was home today. He seems fine, I think!" I said.

"I hope so, he's seemed a bit distant recently!" Xiangling said. I glanced to her, eyes filled with concern.

"I'm glad you've noticed it as well," Xingqiu replied. Has he really been acting that strange?

"Don't worry, guys. I'm going over to his place later to check on him," I said, casting them a reassuring smile.

"Bennett don't act like this," Razor responded, voice quivering. He seemed more worried than the rest of us.

I had noticed it too, especially since Venti came around. He didn't feel as energized anymore. It could've been the seasons changing, but I wasn't so sure.

"It'll be okay. There's only one class left, so we don't have to wait too long to find out what's going on," I said, placing a hand on Razor's shoulder.

"Can I come?" Venti asked with a smirk, "Maybe he needs a song!"

I looked at Venti, considering it. Bennett probably wouldn't want too many visitors, and if Venti was the cause of his behavior, it would be especially unnecessary.

"No, I'm just going to go alone. He's my best friend, it'll be fine."

"Suit yourself, dear!"

Luckily, before Xiangling or Hu Tao could make a snarky response, the bell rang.

***
I was quick in walking to Bennett's house, which wasn't too far from the school. I knocked on his front door, to no response. He wouldn't mind if I let myself in, so I opened the door.

"Bennett?" I called out.

"I'm in my room!" He replied. I took my shoes off at the door and ran upstairs and into his bedroom. He was laying in bed, but sat up when he saw me.

"You okay? You've seemed off lately," I asked. He laughed in response.

"Don't worry about me, Y/N, nothings wrong!" He said. But I'm not dumb, and I could tell that was a lie.

"I know when you're lying, Bennett. I won't judge, y'know."

He took a deep breath, and only then did I notice that his nose was red as a cherry and his eyes were swollen. He must've been crying.

"This isn't like you. Being so quiet, I mean. You've just seemed so... distant. Everyone's been nice to you, right?"

"Yes! Everyone's really great! I love all of you a lot!" He replied, quicker than he normally would.

"What's really going on?" I asked.

"I dunno... I guess I've liked you for a really long time. Like-liked you. But I know that Venti-"

"Venti isn't important right now. But you're my best friend, you didn't have to be scared to tell me that," I tried to reassure. He smiled, but he still looked hurt.

"You know I care about you Bennett. But I don't know if I can see you as more than my best friend. I don't really think I can see anyone like that right now," I felt a pit in my stomach saying it, since I knew it was a lie. He knew it, too.

"Yeah, I guess. Thanks, Y/N," He smiled.

I had never really seen him like that, and it hurt to think about. I hated how hurt he sounded, even as we hung out normally. It was unusual, and I realized that Xingqiu and Razor were right. He was distant, and less upbeat than usual. But one thing bothered me more than anything else.

I lied. But it's not like he would know that.

***

Heyyyyy! it's been a while!

I've been working on a novel, plus schoolwork and extra-curriculars, so i've been really busy! idk how often this will be updated but i don't think i'm going to definitely stop!

also.... happy one year anniversary! and thank you all so much for being patient!

anyways, i love you all very much, happy holidays!