[^] Another side to you [^] Xiaother Highschool AU [^]

| Chapter 2 | A text and an some comforting words.

I watch nervously, waiting to see if Aether responded. Did I text him too early? I press my lips together. God I'm stupid.

Xiao
[Hey.]
Seen: 4:00Pm
*Aether Is Typing...*
———

Aether:
[Hi! ^^]
Sent: 4:03Pm
Xiao:
[Do you know what nation we are doing for the project? Cause I was thinking of Liyue. ]

Aether:
[Ooh! Yes Liyue would be good. :D ]

Xiao:
[ALR, want to walk home with me tmr? We can work on the project at my house. my dad will be home.]

Aether:
[Sure ^~^ Should i bring cookies or something? ]

Xiao:
[Nah, my dad can cook.]

Aether:
[ Okay! Well i need to go, my sister will get in the shower before me otherwise. -_- ]

Xiao:
[Cya]

———

I cover my mouth as I smile. There's a knock on my door.
"Xiao?" My dad, Zhongli, open my door.
"Yes?" I put my phone down and sit up.
"How was school? You didn't talk to me when you got home. You just ran upstairs." He looked worried as he came and sat down next to me.
"Oh. It actually went pretty well, i got paired up with a new kid, he's very popular. You don't mind that he comes over tommorow, do you?" I realise that i hadn't asked Zhongli whether Aether could come over or not.
"Of course he can. He is you friend, isn't he?" Zhongli suddenly looked worried.
"Well.. He asked me for my number, so I assume so."
"Oh, good, well. I'll start cooking dinner, so when Tartaglia gets home he has something to eat." Zhongli stands up and walks off.
I completly forgot that Childe and Zhongli had a 2 year difference, Zhongli was 20, he graduated 2 years ago and took me in as a foster parent, him and Tartaglia kept their relationship secret, considering he's in my English class. Even if he's a year older then me. (Xiao is 17)
I lay down on my bed and go onto google.

| How to be better at communication. |

I look at the results.

Ask them stuff about them, like their favourite colours, foods, if they have pets, and favourite games. You might find something in common with eachother!

Pfft. Shouldn't be hard. I think to myself.
I put my phone down and put my arms behind my head, closing my eyes.
I hear another loud knock on my door, I open my eyes to see Childe smiling at me.
"Hey!" He grinned.
"What do you want?" I scowl.
"Oh nothing~ I just wanted to know if you and Aether have talked to eachother yet~" He hummed in delight, ducking into my room and plopping himself on my bed.
"We... texted, I invited him over so he's coming home with me tomorrow-"
"What? Really? How great! I was paired up with stupid Scaramouche, he's so rude, so i call him hat guy." Childe cuts me off.
I give him a bemused look. Karma for being annoying.
"You two, dinners ready." Zhongli pops his head in.
"Alright coming." Childe stands up and as he exits Zhongli sneaks a kiss onto his head.
Ew. I scrunch my nose at them.
As we are at the dinner table, Zhongli asks me a couple questions about the project.
"So what nation are you doing?" Zhongli asks me.
"Liyue" I respond.
"Good choice! Feel free to ask me questions, considering I'm from Liyue myself." Zhongli smiles.
"Me and scaramouche are doing Shneznaya, because we both know so much about considering we were both born there." Childe sighs.
"How unfortunate" Zhongli frowns in pity before turning to me. "If you tell Aether about me and Tartaglia, please tell him to keep it a secret."
"All good." I nod before continuing to eat.
Once I finish I exuse myself and go have a shower.

⚠️ TW: OVERTHINKING, PANIC ATTACK, MENTIONS OF S-H,IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE PLEASE SKIP⚠️

As the warm water runs down my body, I look down at my hands, I hesitate as I turn them, there are fresh cutis from a few day ago.
God I'm so stupid for doing this. I think, but at the same time, I liked the pain, I liked the site of my blood flowing down the drain.
I deserve it, don't I? I feel a small tear prick my eye. No, don't show weakness... I stop the shower and quickly wrap the towel around my waist before rushing into my room, i click my bedroom door shut as I get my pyjamas on, my hands are trembling as i struggle to button up my shirt.

I'm so sick of myself. Why do I think I have a chance at being anyone's friend? Zhongli and Tartaglia probably only pity me, it's all my fault they died isn't it? I curl up against my door and let out a quiet sob. My heart races and I feel like I can't breath. I probably look like an attention seeker at school, People probably think I'm trying to be edgy and weird. Why can't I just say something. Why why why why why why why why why why WHY?! I accidentally let out a loud sob and I heart footsteps as my breath gets shakier. A knock sounds from my door behind me.
"Xiao..? Are you okay?" Zhongli's comforting voice comes from behind the door. "Xiao, please unlock the door."
My hands shake as i unlock the door, I then walk over to my bed and sit on the floor, leaning against my bed. My door opens and Zhonglis looks down at me. My knees to my chest and tears streaming from my eyes.
"Xiao.." he murmur gently before walking over and kneeling next to me.
He brings me into a warm embrace, stroking his fingers through my hair. He holds my hand and I wince, because the cuts on ky wrists still hurt, but my wince didn't go unnoticed.
Zhongli slips my sleeve up and his eyes widen in guilt.
"Xiao. You-You didn't tell me about this..." He says softly.
I just let out a sob, clinging onto his shirt.
"Was it my fault they died Zhongli? Do you think it's my fault?" I sniffle as Zhongli tightens his grip on me.
"Of course not. They protected you because you were young... You couldn't stop them because they loved you, Xiao, they loved you like I do now." Zhongli hums.
I lean into Zhongli's chest and relax, closing my eyes.
Zhongli picks me up ever so gently and places me in bed, bringing the cover over my shoulders, I hear a second pair of hasty footsteps enter my room.

"Is he okay?" I hear Childe whisper to Zhongli.
"Yeah... let him sleep." Zhongli murmurs before leaning down and giving me a kiss on forehead.
"I wish you could do that to me before I go to sleep." Childe huffs.
"Would you rather a kiss on the forehead then on the lips?" Zhongli chuckles, their voices become muffled as they walk out of my room and close my door.

⚠️CONTINUE READING HERE⚠️
As my alarm rings i groan, my eyes feel tired and my throat feels dry. Then I remember Aether is coming home after school and I'm filled with energy. I quickly clean my room of clothes and books. I get into some comfy clothes considering it's going to be a cold day when I checked the weather. I head off to school and by chance I saw Lumine and Aether ahead of me. I wonder what there're talking about. I decide to pick up my pace, I could hear them now.
"So, you're going home with Xiao today~" Lumine sneered to her brother, who went pink.
"Y-you're getting the wrong idea! It's to work on the project, we're doing Liyue. We were texting last night." Aether shrugged.
"Oh so you got his number~" Lumine giggled.
"Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I like every boy i talk to!" Aether growled.
Aether's gay?! I Widen my eyes.
"Aether!" I call out, pretending I only just saw him.
"I'm gonna run, cya Aeth." Lumine giggled as Aether turned around.
"Sorry about her, you didn't... hear anything... Did you?" Aether looked worried as I walked beside him.
"Uhm. No." I lie.
"Good." Aether sighs.
"Why do you ask?" I tilt my head and Aether tenses up.
"Uhm, it was personal family business." Wait, did Aether mean something else before I purposely overhead them?
"Ok. By the way, I wanted to ask if you wanna eat with me at lunch?" Aether smiles.
"O-oh! Uhm- Sure!" I smile back nervously.
Wow, so I really am his Friend!

[word count: 1438]
A/N: AHHH OMGGG SUCH A LONG JUICY CHAPTER HEHEHEHEHEHEH.
Anyway I just wanted to say please comment any mistakes because i didn't proofread this chapter, and Happy Australia Day! Woop woop!
Also tysm for reading this like actually, new chapter tommorow or later today~