Led by the Wind through the Sky

Not so Different

It was late at night when there was a knock on Rena's door. She got a shock when she opened the door and saw who was on the other side.

"Sky?"

"Rena... I'm stupid, so stupid."

Rena was caught by surprise again when Sky burst into tears. She pulled him inside and closed the door.

"What's wrong? Did something- woah!"

For the third time that night, Rena was taken by surprise as Sky wrapped his arms around her and cried into her shoulder.

She was confused. This was the first time that she had seen him since she told him the truth about why their friendship began. But none of that mattered right now. Sky was upset and had sought her out for comfort. That had to mean something, but for now, she stroked his hair as they held each other close.

Once he had calmed down a little, she moved them to the sofa. They sat down next to each other and turned in so that they were facing each other. Rena held Sky's hands and rubbed her thumbs comfortingly across them.

"I'm sorry for coming to you like this."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You can come to me anytime. I mean it."

"Thank you. You're so sweet, Rena."

She gulped and ignored the way her heart fluttered at his words.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"I'm not enough for P'Pai."

"What! Why would you say that?"

"I saw him with another guy."

"Where?"

"P'Pai had to stop at a party. He said he was just going to give his gift to the host, so I waited in the car, but he took a longer time so I went inside and saw him with some guy in his lap."

Rena winced. She had been invited to that party but hadn't gone. She was avoiding that whole crowd.

"Maybe it wasn't what it looked like. Maybe -"

"I watched long enough to see P'Pai not push him away."

She thought back to that night at the races when she had chased away one of Prapai's admirers. Rena had warned the racer then not to be so polite. Apparently, he didn't listen.

"I won't make excuses for him, but I think you should talk to him."

Sky didn't say anything but like look on his face told Rena everything she needed to know.

"Come on. It's late. Let's go to bed."

Rena still had one of Sky's t-shirts so he had something to sleep in. After the pair had gotten ready for bed they lay down in her bed side by side.

"I'm sorry it took so long for me to reach out. I meant to do so sooner."

"It's okay. I gave you a lot to think about. Are we... Are we okay? You don't hate me?"

"Hate you? I could never hate you."

Rena turned onto her side and Sky did the same so that they were lying face to face. There were only inches between them.

"Really?"

"You thought I would hate you? Rena, I was wrong to trust that P'Prapai was different. I shouldn't have chosen him. How could I forget that all men are bastards? I'm sorry."

"What - What do you mean? P'Pai loves you more than anything. You might feel differently in the morn-"

"You wouldn't hurt me like that, would you?"

"Huh? No, I would never hurt you, but -"

Rena was cut off by Sky's lips on hers.