Best Friends? (NICKLOON)

Chapter 3 - Close call

"Nickel?"
"Shit... HEYYY.... BALLOOONNN... HAH..??"

I slightly stepped away, avoiding his eyes.
"Tell me the truth... do you like me..?"
He stepped closer.

...

I take a deep breath, recomposing myself.

"I.. no. I don't.. why would you think that..?"
"Oh... sorry... I.. thought you- just because.."
"Can.. you leave me alone for a moment...?"

That was terrible. Why did I say that? What if he did like me? Did I just crush his heart to pieces? I'm so stupid...

Why am I crying? It should be balloon who's crying.. wait no- he shouldn't be crying... ugh..
"I'm so stupid... why- why did I even say no?" I mutter to myself.
I grip my hair... I feel like ripping it out... I feel like stabbing myself repeatedly... I caused balloon pain, and for what? I'm so... useless...
Maybe if I was gone it would be better...

I sigh, feeling the tears roll down my face. Within a moment, I'm choking up. I just let it all out.. I'm the one at fault.. I shouldn't be crying... tough people don't cry... I'm just weak.. weak, stupid, useless, and rude... if I could go back in time, I would've told him I loved him, that he was my favorite person to exist, and maybe we would've even kissed... who am I kidding?... even if he had feelings, he probably lost them...

I feel a raindrop. Then another, then a light drizzle.. now it's full-on raining...

"I hope I get struck by lightning..."

I stayed all night in the cold, pouring rain, not even sleeping the entire time... hunger was gnawing at my stomach, but I just couldn't go back to the hotel... I just couldn't. Not with balloon there, no... I just hope balloon feels better than me...

BALLOON'S POV:

He hasn't come back for a day... he's been outside in the cold rain... I can't stand to even think that he's suffering right now. Hah, to think he'd like me.. why do I still care? I don't. We aren't even friends at this point. Am I overreacting?...

...

Nobody has seen him for the entire day... not even MePhone, who supposedly had eyes everywhere... WHAT IF HE'S HURT? IF HIS LEG IS BROKEN OR SOMETHING..? Was his nose bleeding?? Oh god... I have to find him...

I walk- no, RUN outside in search for him.. he couldn't have gone far, right??
I made an entire checklist for places to go... first, the flower field..(/ref)
He wasn't there at all... nowhere to be found. Guess that's crossed off..
"Balloon! What are you doing..?" Baseball shouts to me.

"LOOKING FOR NICKEL. I NEED TO FIND HIM..."
"Uh- you're seriously worried about him, huh..? I'm sure he'll be fine..."
"Easy for you to say.."
"What?"

I check at test-tube's lab.
There's a bottle of some liquid spilled on the floor. Not nickel. It was grey... it looked just like-.. DAMNIT! EVEN COLORS REMIND ME OF HIM!
I get out of there as fast as I can, the tears now flowing.
Why was I so worried about him? He rejected- well, basically rejected me... I'm so stupid, I should have told him I liked him first...

...

He's not even in the contestant grounds. I'm getting REALLY worried. Where was he? Did he...

...

"NICKEL!!!"
I call out, heading into the forest.
"NICKEL, PLEASE COME BACK TO THE HOTEL..."
...
"PLEASE!! I MISS YOU!"
No answer.
"NICKEL..?"