Doki Doki Movie Club! - A SM AU Fanfiction!

28: Sharing With Radford! PT 0.3

"Alright, everyone!"

Ethan speaks up as he stands in a corner of the room with his usual smirk, the lines of his lips curled up calmly. "It's time to share scripts again."

I sigh. What Radford had said earlier was still on my mind, and I wasn't exactly sure how I was supposed to go about everything knowing something was wrong with him. At a pace that felt almost mechanical and slow, I went to retrieve my script from a shelf where I had placed it as everyone else went to retrieve theirs from wherever they had placed it as well.

Gripping my paper in my hands, I let out a wavering sigh—my eyes scanning across every line on the page that seemed almost mediocre to me. I wasn't sure how everyone was so nice about stuff I wrote when it didn't really seem any good compared to theirs. Or at least.. thats what I thought.

I then momentarily glanced up from my script. I saw Ethan from another corner of the room now staring back at me. And as we made eye contact, he gave me a simple smile. I immediately glanced away out of embarrassment. But..

I couldn't help but wonder just what he said to Radford earlier.

————

(IF ON RADFORDS ROUTE)

Radford glances over my paper with a soft, awkward yet wobbly smile curled up on his lips as his eyes scan over the lines of it. As he presumably continued to read over it, he let out a long sigh—and his grip seemed to tighten. I arched a brow, slightly worried.

"..is.. everything okay?" I inquired.

"Huh? Oh—yeah! Yeah, dude." Radford nodded rapidly. He then slowly lowered the paper in his hands, and handed it back over to me. His soft stare lingered toward me, and he stammered. "Its.. its a really nice script."

"..thanks." I awkwardly replied. Silence filled the air for a moment. I lifted my head a little to take a glance at his expression. His eyes appear to drift off into a lingering softness. I can see how his weak smile barely trembles.

I found a heavy feeling in my chest that I wasn't really sure how to describe. I could tell something was wrong. In fact, I knew something was wrong. But how exactly was I supposed to go about it when he seemed so.. reluctant?

"Are.. you okay?" I finally asked, feeling as if I were sighing out of relief once I managed to get the question out.

"Wh—What? Uh.. yeah! Everything's fine. Don't worry.." Radford rather quickly responded, a nervous smile quickly fading into his lips as he rather frantically waved his hands. "I think.. I just think I'm a little tired today."

"..do.. you need to rest or something?"

"No, no. I don't think I can sleep in a club I'm supposed to be participating in.." He then softly added, "Don't worry about me, alright? I'm fine. I promise."

"I.. well, okay.. if you say so." I hesitantly responded.

Radford paused, before then asking a question—his tone of voice genuinely curious compared to his more excited one he always used. "Hey.. I'm—kinda surprised about this myself to be honest. But.. why haven't you tried impressing someone like Kev's or Rick yet? I mean, I know you like them and everything, so.."

"Wh—What? No I don't! I mean.. yeah, I do. But.. I wouldn't go as far as trying to impress them or something. Not when I have.." I found my stare lingering upon him, and my eyes darted away as my face began to flush with warmth. "..ne.. nevermind. I just.. I don't see any need to impress them when I still have you by my side. You're.. after all, you've been my friend the longest. So.."

Jeez.. I really was digging myself into a deeper hole, wasn't I? I could feel my face become warmer, and I opened my mouth to try and correct myself this time, but.. then he spoke.