Don't Look At Me

"Why do you keep following me, you idiot?"

"Well, because I want to."

"That's a lame reason."

The young girl soon felt silent as she scowled at the ground, kicking the dirt beneath her. The watchful eye of the person behind was excruciatingly annoying. Kushina could practically feel his gaze crawl up her back and make her hair stand. Her fist clenched as she finally turned around, her temper fierce.

"WOULD YOU NOT STARE AT ME LIKE THAT?" She yelled, and the boy simply gave a smile, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Kushina. I just thought your hair was super pretty, so I couldn't stop looking at it."

Kushina blinked, then narrowed her eyes. "You don't gotta lie, Minato, ya know. I know those stupid friends of yours make fun of me and this weird hair."

Minato shook his head, surprise vigilant on his face. "What are you talking about? It is pretty! I always thought it was, no?"

Gazing into Minato's crystal clear, ocean-like eyes, she found immense integrity dancing in them. Kushina felt her face flush and she looked to the side, avoiding the boy's watchful gaze.

"Your eyes are pretty too. It's violet, right?  When I first saw them, they reminded me of my moms super brilliant violet garden." Minato rambled on, and Kushina felt her face get even hotter, her cheeks burning at the compliments. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt her fist curl up, her body trembling as she kneeled to the ground.

"And your face is really cute too. I dunno... I just think every single thing about you is so cool. I've never seen anyone-,"

"DON'T LOOK AT ME!" She hollered, feeling tears come down in anger. "Stop looking at me! I know you really think I'm ugly!"

Minato flinched but shook his head. He walked a little closer, and squatted down to her, staring at her brilliant red hair. The blonde boy merely sat down and tilted his head so he was facing her, and gave a slight smile.

After a few moments, Kushina turned her head slightly and saw Minato's blue eyes staring into her violet ones. His eyes sparkled with mischief and innocence. It reminded her of the pretty blue jay she saw this morning. The harmonious melody danced into her ears... just as Minato's gaze captivated her heart.

"You finally looked at me." He whispered, then chuckled softly. Kushina felt her cheeks become warm, and she nibbled on her cheek.

"Yeah... I guess. No biggie."

The boy quietly gazed at the girl for a few more minutes, then closed his eyes, flopping onto the grass a little. "I like this. I don't get to do this stuff a lot."

"We should go back, though."

"How come?"

"Well... fifth graders aren't allowed outside when the eighth graders are out. It's still lunch time for us."

"So?"

"So, we'll be sent to detention! Don't you use your head, ya know?"

"I don't care. I like being outside. And sometimes, it's okay to break the rules."

Kushina looked at Minato's lazy smile and felt her stomach tighten, and she felt her cheeks burn. I'm getting sick.

"Where did you move from, anyway?" Minato abruptly asked. "You came to Blakesley Hall five months before schools gonna end. That's such a weird time to transfer."

Kushina looked at her feet, her arms around her knees. "I'm from America, ya know. Where else would I be from, with my stupid accent."

Minato opened his eyes, that shone with excitement all of a sudden. "America? I've always wanted to go to America! Where in America? Chicago? New York? Detroit?"

"Nah, I didn't live in big places. I moved from a place called Cape May, New Jersey. Because my dad gotta new job. That's why all of you guys make fun of my Jersey accent. Not like you British kids, who sound so "brill" all the time." Kushina shot back, frowning.

"I think it's cute." She's funny!

"Yeah, I know you do. You think everything about me is cute."

Minato turned his head and sulked. "Do you not believe me?" In all honesty, the boy taken a liking to her on her since the day she was introduced to the class. The quality that struck him the most was Kushina's long, lovely, crimson hair.
Minato wanted to be her friend, and he couldn't stop thinking about it, or her in general.

But it seemed like no one else did. He watched her fight against everyone, to protect herself, and that made him fall even harder. But today, she was pushed around too much, and Kushina ran out of the building.

He didn't know why, but he wanted to run after. He didn't want to lose her.

What a weird thought.

"Of course. You're the most popular guy in the whole class! You're fast, your super, super smart, and everyone likes you. I just feel like... a shoozie, ya know? Like I'm just, not supposed to be here!" She retaliated back.

It was so embarrassing.

Leaving all her friends to go to a school, where all the stuck up English kids lived. Everyone hated her, and she was betting a million bucks that Minato was only out her to tease her and go laugh about it to his stupid friends.

"No."

Kushina glanced at Minato and squinted. "Huh?"

"Kushina, you are supposed to be here! I think... I think you're supposed to be here because I'm here!"

"HUH?" What the heck is this weirdo talking about?

"See... I don't have... good mates, huh?" He softly said. "And I think that you came here so we could be friends."

The girl stared at him, then burst out laughing. "THAT'S WACK!"

"Wack?"

"Meaning that's weird! I came here 'cuz of my dad's job." Kushina retorted, and Minato felt his shoulders sag and gave a fake smile.

"Of course. I was being... wack..."

"But, we can be friends. You seem like ya mean it, ya know?"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Minato felt his smile become real as he stared at the laughing violet-eyed girl, and all of a sudden, a blush came onto his cheeks. A friend. A real friend.

Right now, Minato made a decision that he vowed to keep. He would protect her instead of standing away, and defend her from the bullies. He wouldn't leave her alone. Relaxing in the sunny aura she radiated, Minato burst out laughing with Kushina.

Two ten-year-olds simply giggling in a field off the playground.

Both found friendship.

It's too bad they couldn't realize that it was actually love.

🌹⚡️🌹⚡️🌹⚡️🌹⚡️🌹⚡️🌹⚡️🌹⚡️

a beautiful relationship that showed real love.

thank you for reading my story.