Boys

Chapter 10. The Truth Hurts

I stood in silence after the others had walked to one of the many stalls and stared out at the glitter of lantern light along the dark waters surface. It was like looking at stars floating away into the vast open ahead, but honestly the stars were not as beautiful as the lights on the ocean on this evening. I smiled at the thought getting lost in the view until a rather strong arm wrapped around my waist in a tight embrace.

"It's about damn time..." the familiar voice murmured softly against my ear.

"Hi Rin..." I greeted not bothering to look back at him.

"Nathan right?" he asked me with uncertainty.

"Yea."

"Well now that everyone knows who you really are, you need to tell him how you feel tonight while you have the left over confidence..."

"I already lost my confidence standing here and playing through the most likely outcome..."

"Nathan, He liked you as a girl I'm sure he'll like you now as a boy."

"What if he doesn't Rin?"

"Then to hell with him cause frankly I want you to myself... I have for a really long time," he admitted burying his face in my neck.

I let his words sink in and felt my cheeks heat up knowing that they were probably a light pink about now. I took in the breath I had apparently been holding and turned in the gingers arms to gaze into his serious crimson orbs... I smiled softly at him, because for a while I truly did have feeling for Rin, but when he moved away I had fallen head over heels for one of his rivals...

"Thanks for the pep talk Sharkie... I'll go find him right now," I confirmed pressing my lips to his cheek in a friendly manner.

He chuckled softly at my gesture allowing me to pull away from him. I offered a wave and made my way past him to find the Iwatowbi swim team sitting at a sushi stand. Nikki was laughing while Blaze attempted to use her chopsticks to pick up the raw fish causing my blood to suddenly run cold.

"Seriously using these is like trying to forge for food with number two pencils..." Blaze grumbled dropping the sticks and picking the fish up with her fingers.

I decided then that there was no way I could I tell him the truth... Especially knowing it could ruin this wonderful friendship we had all mutually established with one another. So with that I had turned to leave the group once more, but a firm hand gripped my wrist stopping me in my tracks.

"Nathan-Kun? Is everything alright?" Nagisa asked with worry laced in his words.

I nodded my usual response, "Yes... I uh... I actually had something to say, but it can wait..."

"No don't leave... What's up?" Makoto asked tilting his head in curiosity.

"Well I uh... I really like someone from our group of friends and well I decided that it was time I said something," I explained, looking over at the boy in question. It was time to confess, but as I stared into his emerald eyes it became harder and harder... "Makoto Tachibana? I... I uh... I..."

"Nathan... " he trailed off frowning softly.

I stared at him waiting for something to be said, but he just looked down avoiding eye contact with me. Instantly I felt the sting of rejection as it gathered my heart in its' clawed grasp. I knew he wouldn't like Nathan... I told Rin that he wouldn't like Nathan... Despite knowing though it still killed me on the inside to get this answer. I grinned weakly at the group and pulled my wrist away from Nagisa's now slack grasp. I was disappointed, but I had to hide it and continue on as if nothing was wrong.

"Nathan?" Nikki asked reaching out for me knowing that I was breaking inside.

I took a step back to distance myself and continued to smile at them. Nikki stood up to grab me, but I had already turned around and began to run as far away from the group as I could get.

Why is that the truth always hurts?