Janiel Oneshots (Discontinued...Again)

103. Rainbow Eyes (Fluff)

Inspired by "Color of Love" by Larry_Lashton

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(Daniel's POV)

Everyone has something about themselves they wish they could change. Whether it be something small like the length of their hair, or something like their weight or color of their hair. If there's one thing I could change about myself, it would be my eyes. More specifically my eye color. You see, my eyes are different than anyone I've ever known. With every emotion I feel, my irises change. I don't have one natural eye color, I have nine.

I didn't know my eyes changed color until my first day of first grade. I was called a freak and weird. No one wanted to be friends with a colorful boy. I didn't have to tell anyone I was gay, everyone already assumed because of my eyes. To them, multicolored eyes automatically brand you as gay.

All throughout my school career, I was harassed for having different colored eyes. It felt as though everyone in my town picked on me, even the new kids! Almost as if there was a sign on my back just asking for people to harass me.

It was in my senior year when my luck seemed to be on my side. A new boy moved to town a month into the school year. Unlike everyone else in this school, he didn't start bullying me the moment he saw my eyes change. Instead, he left me alone. He became more of a silent observer rather than part of the "festivities."

"Hi, um. You're Daniel Preda, right?" "Yeah, why are you asking?" The chair in front of me moves as Joey Graceffa sits across from me. "My name is Joey, I'm kind of new here." "I know, I've seen you in the halls. You're the one who stays in the back of the crowd rather than join in on bullying me." He sighs "yeah, I'm sorry that I haven't done anything to stop it. To be honest, I don't even know why they're going after you." "You're joking, right?" I look up at him and as I expected, he gasped. "Y-Your eyes..." "yeah, yeah. They're weird, I know." Joey's jaw drops as I assume my eyes changed color. "Why...What?" "Can you walk away now? You got your answer."

Joey didn't leave me alone after that class. He followed me around, trying to make eye contact and watch in awe as my irises change color. "What does pink mean? I've never seen pink eyes before." "And I've never been more annoyed than I am right now." Joey stops "am I annoying you?" "Just a tiny bit. I'm not a circus attraction you can just ogle at all day every day. If I wanted that, I can just go over to that cluster of pricks across the hall." Joey looks down "I'm sorry. I didn't intend to make you feel like that. I just think it's cool that you have different colored irises. More people should be complimenting you on your pretty eyes, rather than tear you down."

I've been avoiding Joey. For some reason, it's harder than I ever imagined. "Daniel! Daniel, hey!" Ducking my head, I run through the crowded halls, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Just when I thought I got away, a hand grabs my arm. "Daniel!" Joey tips my head up, blue eyes meeting mine. "Why are you avoiding me? What does the color purple mean?" "Why can't you leave me alone?" "I just want to be friends with you, is that too hard to believe?"

It took a few days, but I've started to miss Joey. He gave me a bit of space after he chased after me, allowing me to think everything over. As annoying as he was when we first met, he was the first person to be nice to me. It would be nice to have a friend. "Hey, Graceffa!" I see Joey freeze up for a second before turning around. "Oh, Daniel. Hello." I feel a bit nervous under his gaze, moving my gaze down to the floor "h-hey. I just wanted to apologize for what happened the other day. I wasn't the nicest." "Look at me." Slowly, I met Daniel's eyes and he frowns "your eyes are orange, why are you embarrassed?" "H-How did you know..." He chuckles "the blush on your cheeks gave it away." I nod, looking down at the ground again "I'm sorry, Joey. If the opportunity is still open...I'd like to start over with you and possibly be friends?" He smiles "I'd love nothing more!"