The Sweetest Fruit ( Tomboy 🏳️‍🌈Love Story )

30.a piece of each other

Sonia

The afternoon sun was warm on my back as we walked down the pavement toward the cafeteria. My stomach growled loudly, making me groan.

"I'm so hungry," I complained, rubbing my stomach.

"You're always hungry," MJ teased, her voice light and amused.

I laughed, the sound echoing between us as her hand rested across my shoulder. It was such a casual touch, but it made my stomach flip in ways I still wasn’t used to. These public displays of affection didn’t make me squirm anymore, though—they made me want to melt into her.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. MJ always looked so effortlessly cool. Her short, messy hair framed her sharp features perfectly, and her oversized hoodie, paired with ripped jeans, gave her the look of someone who didn’t care what anyone thought—but somehow, everyone noticed her.

She turned to me, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief. "What do you want to eat?" she asked, reaching over to pinch my cheek lightly.

The small contact sent a shiver through me, but I tried to act normal. "Anything," I replied, rubbing my stomach again. I'd skipped both breakfast and lunch, worrying about her.

When she reached down and intertwined her fingers with mine, my eyes caught on her knuckles—red, raw, and angry-looking.

"Why are your knuckles busted up?" I asked, frowning as I brushed my thumb gently over them.

She shrugged, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. "I may have spiraled after the episode with my dad."

I wanted to ask more, to dig into her mind and understand what she was feeling. She was such a mystery to me sometimes, and it drove me crazy.

"Did you fight with someone?" I asked, my voice softer now.

She smirked. "Not really. I punched a wall."

I sighed, half-exasperated and half-relieved. "That's good."

Her eyebrow shot up. "How is that good?"

I glanced up at her, meeting her amused gaze. "The fact that you didn’t fight someone. You could’ve gotten into trouble."

Her hand tightened slightly around mine, her body stiffening. "I can take care of myself," she said firmly.

"That doesn’t mean you can go around hitting people," I replied, keeping my tone as gentle as I could.

She rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yes, Mum."

I tried not to smile, but she always knew how to disarm me. I let it go for now. I’d bring it up again later when she was in a better mood.

The cafeteria was buzzing with activity when we walked in. Students sat in small groups, laughing and chatting over their trays of food. MJ slid into a seat beside me, her hand finding its place on my thigh. She started drawing slow, lazy circles on my skin, and I had to focus hard on not letting it show how much it affected me.

"Can we leave?" she whispered, leaning in close. Her nose brushed against my neck, and I shivered.

"Why?" I asked, trying to stay focused on the group around us. I liked being here with everyone. It felt like I finally belonged.

"I just want to be alone with you," she murmured, her breath warm against my ear.

I was about to respond when I realized I had finished eating. I stood up quickly. "I'm going to the loo," I said, giving her a small smile before walking away.