Nischa Oneshots

Friendship bracelet (TW)

NOEL MAKES MISCHA A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET

TW: bullying, description of injuries

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It was a warm spring morning, and the third grade classroom was buzzing with excitement. Spring break had just finished, and the students were happily yapping with one another about their breaks.

Noel's eyes were locked on the door, waiting for a certain somebody to come through. He twiddled with the string bracelet in his hand, a soft smile making its way onto his face. He can already imagine the happy grin Mischa would give him once he handed him the bracelet. That was when he saw a familiar Ukrainian boy walk into the classroom

"Mischa!" Noel yelled, standing from his seat and running to Mischa. He wrapped his arms around Mischa's neck and gently squeezed him. Mischa laughed, which made their bodies vibrate.

"Ноель!" Mischa exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Noel's waist and hugging the shorter boy's back.

After a few seconds, Noel broke the hug. The two boys locked eyes, giant toothless grins resting on their faces.

"How was your break?" Noel asked as the two walked back to their connecting desks.

"це було добре. Я не зробив багато. мої прийомні батьки не дуже сперечалися, так що це було добре!" Mischa said, placing his backpack on the floor. He looked up at Noel, who had a confused expression.

"Ah, right, sorry," Mischa mumbled. "I said it was good."

Noel smiled at that. He sat down in his seat and pulled the bracelet out from inside his desk.

"That's great!" Noel stated as he watched Mischa sit down.

"What did you do, Ноель?" Mischa asked. Noel smiled.

"Well..." he said, fiddling with the bracelet. "Mommy taught me how to make friendship bracelets!" He exclaimed.

Mischa's eyes lit up.

"Wow!" He said. Noel happily nodded.

"And, well..." he looked down at the bracelet and then back up at Mischa, a shy blush covering his face. He held the bracelet up for Mischa to see.

"I made you one!" He said.

It wasn't the nicest-looking bracelet; it was only three thin pieces of string tied together, but to Mischa, it was the most beautiful thing in the world. The strings were red, black, and white. Those were Mischa's favorite colors.

"I have one, too!" Noel exclaimed, rolling up his sleeve, revealing the same bracelet on his wrist.

Mischa didn't know what to say. He never had the pleasure of getting a friendship bracelet, and he thought he never would, but here he was now with his best friend giving him a homemade one. Noel seemed to notice how silent Mischa fell, and he began to get nervous.

"You don't have to take it if you don't want it!" He exclaimed, preparing to put it back into his desk. Before he could place it down, Mischa gently grabbed his wrist. Noel looked over to Mischa, slightly jumping when he saw Mischa's face so close to his. He felt himself go cherry red, praying Mischa didn't notice.

"I love it," Mischa said, smiling. Noel felt his heart pounding in his chest. He smiled back and placed the bracelet on the Ukrainian boy's desk.

Mischa smiled and picked the bracelet up. He slipped it onto his wrist. It was a little big on him, but he wasn't complaining—at least he could wear it as he got older.

"I am never taking this off," he mumbled, staring at the bracelet.

"Me neither," Noel said, looking down at his own. Mischa made a fist with his hand and pointed it at Noel. Noel grinned and gave him a fist bump.

"You'll be my best friend forever," Noel said, grinning

——

"Best friend, my ass," Noel said with a groan. Mischa kicked him in the side once more, grinning as he watched the boy writhe in pain.

"You are pathetic," Mischa spat, bending down to Noel's level and lifting him by his hair. Noel's face was fucked up. Both eyes were bruised, his nose was definitely broken, and his mouth was dripping with blood.

Mischa was proud of his work.

"What the hell happened to you? You were so sweet when we were younger." Noel whispered. His talking made more blood gush from his mouth. He grimaced at the metallic taste.

"I changed," Mischa said, dropping Noel's hair. He stood back up and stared at Noel like he was a pathetic, dying dog. Noel's head hit the granite floor, and he let out another groan. He wanted to cry oh so badly, but he didn't want to give Mischa the pleasure of seeing him cry.

"We are not kids anymore, Ноель. None of it matters," Mischa continued. He bent back down and rolled up Noel's sleeve, revealing his friendship bracelet. Mischa scoffed, an amused grin on his face.

"You kept this shit?" He asked, fighting the urge to laugh. Noel didn't respond; he only looked down at the bracelet that was worn out from the years of wearing it.

"Pathetic," Mischa spat. He rolled up his own sleeve, revealing an empty wrist.

"I threw that shit out years ago."

Those words shattered Noel's heart.

"I—I thought you liked it," Noel mumbled, his voice beginning to crack. Mischa stood up and shook his head.

"I did. But, like I said, people change. You do not mean anything to me anymore, Noel Gruber. Same with your stupid bracelet."

And with that, Mischa walked away like he hadn't just beaten the shit out of his childhood best friend.

Noel groaned and slowly sat up. He leaned against the wall and threw his head back, allowing the tears he was holding back to spill. He glanced down at the bracelet, and a sudden bubble of anger flew through him. He hooked his pointer and middle finger under the three thin strings and lifted his fingers, ripping the strings.

The strings fell to the floor. He picked them up and threw them at the wall across from him.

He watched as the string hit the wall and fell to the floor.

He paused.

He was like that string.

He was loved by Mischa for years. Then, getting slammed against the wall and falling to the floor.

It was pathetic, really. Relating to a shitty bracelet.

But that bracelet was the last good thing he had in his life.

And now it had no meaning.