Nerdy

Extra Chapter

"Okay, I'm coming inside, Shion." said Itachi after many futile attempts at politely asking her if he could. He knew she was inside - because where else could she be ? - but she wasn't replying to him. He still waited to hear her say something, or try to stop him. When he still heard nothing, he sighed and opened the door.

The sight of her pink room never repulsed him. In fact, he found it rather cute. He loved her childish side. He was hit with a wave of nostalgia as he remembered the times he came over when they were still in high school. It was a time just before her parents got divorced. But they still were hardly around. Shion hadn't taken it quite well, but she knew she had to stay strong for (Name). Sometimes she'd call him in the middle of the night, unable to sleep because she felt so lost and then he'd come over and tell her that everything was alright and that she was fine.

He snapped out of his trance when he saw Shion lying on her bed with her back facing him. At first, he thought she was asleep. Then he saw her shoulders shaking so slightly that it was almost unnoticeable. She sniffed softly every few seconds.

She was crying.

Itachi rushed over to her side and crouched down to meet her eyes. Sure enough, there were tears running down her face. She had the palm of her hand pressed against her mouth to stiffle her sobs but seeing him had made her cry even harder.

He started at her wide-eyed. He had expected her to be angry with him too because he hadn't exactly been treating her the best. But he hadn't expected her to cry. She never cried. He couldn't remember the last time she cried. It was probably years ago when her parents got divorced.

Had he hurt her feelings so badly ?

"Why- Why are you crying ?" he asked her when he finally found his voice. He reached to wipe her tears away. He hated to see her cry. But she slapped his hand away.

"Stay away from me." she said. Her voice was hoarse and her eyes were red. She'd probably been crying for quite some time.

Itachi was taken aback by her gesture. She looked away from him and tried to turn on her other side. But she winced and stopped. Her arm hurt and she couldn't move her leg too well. Itachi was immediately on his feet and helping her sit up. This time, she didn't push him away. But she still didn't meet his eyes.

"Are you okay ?" asked Itachi. He meant about the fact that she'd been crying and about the fractures.

Shion narrowed her eyes at him. She'd stopped crying but by the way she was biting her lip and taking shaky breaths, he knew that she was trying hard to not break down again.

"So, now you care ?" she asked him, her voice barely a whisper.

Itachi stiffened at her question and frowned at her. "Look, you're misunderstanding something. All this time, I was really worried--"

"Stop lying !" Shion interrupted him. Itachi immediately shut up at the volume of her voice. She continued, but in a whisper again, "I'm so clumsy and I can't get so many things right. I can't even be careful with my own life. You're.. You're finally sick of me too, aren't you ?" She looked down at her hands folded on her lap.

Itachi stared at her speechlessly for a moment, taking in her little outburst.

"That's what you had been thinking ? You're wrong, Shion. I.. I could never get sick of you, ever." he said. But Shion didn't look like she believed him. She looked at him with a small smile which didn't look genuine. She opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it as she only ended up sighing. She looked down at her lap and then back at him.

Finally, she spoke. "You don't have to lie to me, Itachi. I get it. You want a divorce, don't you ?" she said with a sad smile.

"Have you lost your mind ?!" Itachi asked Shion. She flinched at the volume of his voice. Itachi never raised his voice at anybody, let alone Shion, so she realized she must have said something outrageous. Itachi immediately caught himself and lowered his voice. "I came here to apologize to you. I shouldn't have gotten angry and treated you that way." said Itachi as he took Shion's hand in his. "I was just so worried. I love you, Shion and I could've lost you. I was angry at myself for not being there for you. I shouldn't have been so harsh on you. I'm just so glad that you're okay. That's all that matters. I'm sorry I couldn't express it correctly."