Unrequited Love Brings People Closer

Mai couldn't stand to be around anyone at the moment. She was heartbroken and being around Hana and all of the Normal Boots guys just continued to remind her of her heartache.

It felt wrong to feel so hurt. She should have seen it coming.

Mai should have known that Hana was straight.

She should have known Hana would fall for Jared, and Jared would share those feelings.

When Hana and Jared went to the flower festival she should have known that was only the beginning.

She should have known that she was going to get hurt.

Known that she would lose both of the people she had feelings for to each other.

Maybe if she had told them before...

No Hana still wouldn't be interested and Jared was creeped out by her. Plus, he was the object of most girl's affections. Jared could do better. He already was, with Hana.

Mai continued to sob. She'd skipped out on lunch just so she could be alone.

Hana didn't even seem to care. Didn't question when Mai made up some lame excuse about needing to go back to the dorm, or whatever she had said. Hana was too busy thinking about Jared.

They probably didn't miss her anyway. It was clear that all the boys only liked Hana, and that was the only reason they let her sit with them as well.

Everything hurt so much.

She didn't think anything could hurt worse than last year when Mimi had humiliated her for being bisexual and spread all kinds of horrid rumours about her, but somehow this did.

For the first time in a while, things were going well for her and she felt cared about, but it was all a lie. The Normal Boots club didn't care about her, and maybe as Hana became closer with them, she wouldn't either.

Mai wiped her tears, only for new ones to stream down her face. She was glad that she was alone, sitting under the tree enough away from the school building that most people didn't bother to walk up to it. Going to the dorm seemed like a bad idea in case Hana came looking for her. She knew hiding was childish, but her broken heart couldn't stand seeing her old and new crush together acting all lovey-dovey.

Lost in her thoughts, crying so hard, Mai jumped when someone approached her.

"Hey."

Mai looked up to see the one and only BrutalMoose, more commonly known as Ian. He looked concerned for her, and while Mai told herself she wanted to be alone it was a lie. She didn't know Ian that well and remember that she had been a little insulting towards him before, but the fact that he seemed to care about her made Mai think twice about her judgement.

"Oh, uh, hi?" Mai wiped her eyes and looked up at Ian in confusion.

"Is it okay if I...?" Ian gestured to the ground. He didn't want to leave Mai on her own, but he didn't want to impose on her.

"Yeah, sure," Mai sniffed, bring her knees to her chest so she could rest her head on them. She watched as Ian sat next to her. He seemed a little awkward in his movements, obviously unsure of what to do.

"Is-uh is this about Jared, y'know, being with Hana," Ian questioned, straight to the point. Mai had noticed Ian was like that. It was an admirable trait, and she was glad that he didn't try and make small talk instead.

"Yeah, I guess. It's, I dunno, it's complicated." Mai shrugged, not meaning to come across as dismissive but she couldn't find it in herself to muster the same enthusiasm she usually had.