Hating You

❑ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

"You wanted to talk?" Rio sat on her porch on the bench swing. It was uncomforting how familiar you were with her house layout. Just by thinking about it, you knew that the kitchen was diagonal from the front door, though still in the same "room" as the family room. The only hallway was on the right and a few inches from the front door. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small either.

Rio took out her ice cream pop and looked up from her phone. She unfurled her single leg that had been tucked in and stood. "Hey," she said, setting her phone back down on the bench swing—the throw pillows were still peach and light brown.

"Hi," you rocked on your feet, feeling awkward, which made you mad. You have never felt awkward before, not even in your previous fights, but you guessed it was a little weirder because of the distance.

"Come on," she motioned to the bench behind her, "let's sit."

You took up a seat with a throw pillow between you two, but Rio moved it and turned toward you on crosed legs. "I know I've been distanct latley, but its because..." she fiddles witht he pillow, now in her lap. "Well, its embarrassing. I–there's this guy I like, but he's completly–"

"Hold up–" you held up your hand, forcing ehr to stop mid-sentence, "who is this guy and why have I never heard o him until now?"

Rio smiled and looked down–was she blushing!? Rio Nakamura was blushing! This had to be the msot unexpected thing you'd had happened to you in your life so far. Rio? Crushing on someone? Yeah, never in this universe. At least that's what you would have said... if it weren't for her telling you to your face right this moment!

You turned to Rio, your leg almsot bouncing. You felt like no time had passed and this should be good. You should feel happy that this was the reason Rio had been sitancing herself, because she was embarrassed by her liking someone. It wasn't out of the oridnary–everyone your age thought someone was cute or was dating someone, well, you thought snidly, maybe everyone excpet for Asano... You snickered in your head at the thought of Gakushu Asano actually finding someone other than homework attractive.

Maybe that turns him on? You had to cover up your gigles at that thought. Kinky... You began laughing again, Rio watching you wih confusion on her face. You waved her off, butnow that you think about it.

If you thought about it long enough, it could be possible for Asano to have attraction to an actual person, but you didn't want to think like that. It made your head hurt. Then there was the feeling of hopelessness. What if the person Rio had a crush on was Akabane–not that you would care much, or that you should. But you had your doubts and if she did, well then what would that do to your sort-of friendship with Akabane? You couldn't help but worry, but then you felt guilty. You shouldn't keep Rio from liking or pursuing someone just becasue you had some mixed feelings.

Anyway, this was Akabane you were talking about. There was nothing more than friendship offered between you two. There was that and nothing more, although...no. You had to stop it. Every time you thought about it your heart jumped out of your chest and you couldn't bring it down to earth. Your mind scattared. This would jsut end in heartbreak–for both you and Rio. You needed to control your emotions. You would be a horrible friend otherwise.

"Y/n?" You looked at Rio, raising an eyebrown, trying to act as if you hadn't just been prepping yourself to accept the fact that she–your beautiful, angelic best friend–had a crush on evil incarnate.

You smiled brightly, "yes?"

"The boy I like, you might know him actually..." she played with the hem of her longsleeve. Here it was, she was going to confess to you right here. Why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel as if something inside you was breaking, there was one way you could end it though. You could tell her, it ahd been eating you up inside since that day in the classroom, since he had appraoched you about that stupid important cup. You ahd seen a different side to him that day–but no! He was still evil incarnate. He couldn't be anything more than that. But what if he was?

Ahh this was more ocmplicated that calculous!

"Oh, have I met him then?" You tried to play the teasing best friends, instead of the crushed lover.

She nodded, her blush intensifying. "He was at the pool party..." Oh gosh, you heart–something was definley wrong. Hey–why were tears pricking your eyes? You needed to calm yoruself down. Calm down! You kept shouting at yourself, it was late and you were having a conversation with your best friend–whiom you ahven't seenin practically ages! So, why did it feel like you were being drug through the mud? Like someone was purposefully ripping out your heart?

"Is it..." You didn't have the heart to finish that sentence. You can't imagine you ever will.

Rio nodded, a smile one her face, "yeah. Itona–the boy with the bandana..."

"THE DELINQUENT?"

Rio was startled by your outburst, but you were more starlted by the realization. "He's not a delinquent!"

You tutted, and a lightness you hadn't known before settled over you, "does this mean you don't like Akabane, then?" Even so, you just... you had to make sure.

Rio's blush quickly faded and she stared at you like you were crazy, "of course not, where would you ever get that idea?"

You waved your hand in her face, "oh... no where... I was jsut curious..."

"Yeah," she scoffed, "never in a million years... although..." She looked at you sucpiciously and you gulped. You felt uneasy under her steady gaze so you tuend to look at the sky, "Karma had mentioned you a little more. And they aren't neccessarily bad–well I guess now tha tI think about it," she put a hand on her chin, "they aren't bad cooments–at all. Strange."

She fixwed her gaze back on you andyou looked away. Akabane was tlaking about you? To Rio? You had to know what he'd said, but if youa asked. You chanced a glance at Rio, yep, she was staring you down. You looked away again and said, "well. I should get going. It's getting pretty late–don't want to miss school tommorow, do I?" Heh...

"Yeah, sure..." she narrowed her eyes, "see you tomorrow?" You gulped and nodded, standing upa dn wlaking down the porch steps.

"Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."