This Side of Paradise (Megumi Fushiguro x Y/N)

5

Y/N POV

Friday

[Y/N] How long was the reign of terror again????

[Megumi] September 5th 1793 until July 28th 1794

[Megumi] You'll be fine. Just breathe, sunshine

[Y/N] akjdfkjds

I put my phone away with a sigh. Art class is almost over, which means I am doing the retake. I asked for Megumi's number after yesterday in case I had any last-minute questions. He (reluctantly) gave it to me and fortunately for me, I've been spamming him with last-minute questions all morning. The bell rings and I take a breath. My phone buzzes. 

[Megumi] I'll be in the library when you're done. 

I smile, sending a thumbs up before making my way down the hall and to Gojo's class. Let's do this. 

+++++

I find Megumi in the back spot from yesterday. I stride over and drop my bag on the ground, causing Megumi to flinch in his seat, instinctively closing a book instead of his notebook this time. I pull out the chair and slump into it with a sigh, setting my head in my arms on the table.

"How'd it go?"

"My brain hurts," I grumble, turning my head to face him, still resting in my arms. "But much better than last time."

Megumi nods and puts his book into his bag.

"The essay question was hard but I think I used the right resources." I sigh, "thank you."

Megumi shrugs, "When do you find out the grade?"

"Monday!" I say, "I can't believe I'll have to wait all weekend. The suspense will kill me."

"You better not die after all that work you made me do for you."

I roll my eyes and bury my head in my arms again. The next test is already on Tuesday and because I've been so focused on the retake, I haven't even begun looking over the new material. I turn to look at Megumi. He's looking out the window and the light makes his eyes practically sparkle. I am so jealous of his eyelashes.

"What," he states, turning to look at me.

"Thanks again for the help, I really appreciate it."

It's quiet for a second, he narrows his eyes a little.

"...sure." He says. It's quiet again.

"So there's another test on Tuesday..." I start.

"I know..." he says after a few beats.

I huff and lift my head from the table. "What book were you reading?"

Megumi crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his seat. "None of your business."

"So it's erotic?" I ask.

Megumi eyes widen and he sits up straight, "no."

"It's okay, I don't judge. I appreciate a good smutty book occasionally."

Megumi's face turns a shade darker than it was before. "Stop. It's not like that."

I giggle, much to his annoyance. He's actually flustered. "Okay, I'm done."

It's quiet again. I watch Megumi's face return to normal as he stares out the window.

"Could you help me with the next test?"

Megumi throws his head back and groans, "I knew you were going to as me that."

"Please?"

He tilts his head towards me, eyes locking with mine. "What do I get out of this?"

I bite my lip in thought. "I could pay you?"

"I don't want you money." He says harshly. I feel myself shrink back a little.

"I could buy you more smoothies?"

"You already do that."

I pout, "I could help you with bio?"

"I'm not failing the class."

Okay ouch.

"My notes are really good. We could do review stuff? Nanami says the course is going to get more difficult soon."

That gets his attention. He considers me for a moment. "Fine. But I'm not babying you through it."

"You were babying me before?"

"No, I'm just saying. I'll help but I'm not going to just give you answers and shit."

"Don't think so little of me," I say, narrowing my eyes. "Treat me as a friend and we'll be fine."

"You think we're friends?" Megumi says, a weird, condescending tone in his voice. Okay, ouch again.

"Don't be mean," I whisper, feeling hurt. What is his deal?

He leans in, "What if I don't want to be friends with you? What if I like being alone?"

"No one likes to be alone."

"You'd know that better than anyone, wouldn't you?"

I narrow my eyes again, feeling anger swirl in my chest. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I glare hard and he glares back. I'm really starting to get pissed when he acts like this.

Megumi leans back, slumping in his seat, an unreadable expression on his face. "We can meet Sunday," he says. "To do the bio packet due Monday and start studying for history."

His attitude is different than it was seconds ago. He's smirking like he knows something I don't. I take a deep breath and look away. My brain feels jumbled and confused.

"We can meet at my house?" I offer.

"Let's meet somewhere else." He starts, "you know where Hollow Purple Coffee is?"

"Yeah."

"Let's meet there. 11."

"Okay."

"Okay." He repeats, grabbing his bag and standing up. He starts walking away and I quickly get up and follow after him. He takes out wired earbuds and pops them in his ears. I huff and storm after him and when I catch up, I grab the sleeve of his crewneck, stopping him immediately. He gestures with his hands, exasperation on his face.

"What?" He says.

"This isn't going to work if you're going to act like a jerk." He narrows his eyes in a stern glare and I glare right back. "It's not nice to treat friends like that."

"We're not friends."

"Well too bad! We are now whether you like it or not."

"If you're going to be friends with me in the same way that you are with your little popular posse, then I don't want it." He says with a scowl before pulling out of my grasp and continuing out the main doors.

My blood boils as I let him walk away. Who does he think he is? I unclench my fists and make my way to my car. Once I settle into the driver's seat, my shoulders slump and instead of lashing out, I want to get into bed and hide under the covers. I sit in my car for a few minutes, replaying what he said. I take a deep breath and start my car. If he's going to be a jerk, then fine. But I am not going to let him say stuff to me as if he knows me better than I know myself. He's so infuriating! I pull out of the parking lot. I just need to get my grade up and then we can both go on with our lives.

And that day can't come soon enough.