Gacha Story (Mature Readers Only)

Girls Like You

Terra was shuffling sheets of music in her hands, green eyes scanning the lines, but not actually reading the melody that was written on them. She couldn't focus on anything, not for a long time, because every time her fingers reached for the keys on the piano, she would see the light falling down on the stage, Rhona appearing in the centre, so small and vulnerable, singing bravely at the front.

It was Terra that had prepared Rhona for it, but from the audience, it was different. The music could reach her ears; filling the vast room with heart and warmth of a summer's afternoon, out in the open. The gentle touch of the dancing notes of the song, flying out freely in the air, echoes of cries muffled by laughter.

Rhona was so brave, on her own, showered by different bright colourful lights raining down over the stage. She may have had back-up dancers, but it was Rhona out in the front, with millions of faces watching her, and Terra was only one out of a million.

All of this practice, reflected back in a single song, in a single syllable of a note.

"Terra?" A female voice interrupted her. "Are you okay?"

Terra stirred, piling her music sheets and putting it on top of the piano keyboard, turning around to see Rhona standing in the doorway. "Oh, hi, Rhona," Terra greeted her with a smile, standing up from her piano stool.

Rhona smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm just..." She sighed. "I can't get that song out of my head. The one you sang at the concert."

"Oh!" Rhona blushed. "I'm sorry!"

"No! Don't be! I mean it in a good way. I really liked your music and... I won't forget it. I'm glad. You were really singing from your heart and soul."

Rhona laughed nervously. "I guess... it might seem like it was down to me, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. Up there on the stage, I could remember our practice sessions, and I was just thinking about that, focusing on you, hoping my music could reach you..."

"Well, your music did reach me," Terra smiled.

Rhona smiled back, glancing at Terra every few seconds, anxious.

Terra noticed this and frowned. "What's wrong? You seem distracted."

"Just I... I need to ask you something."

"Oh... what?" Terra asked, clueless, green eyes sparkling at brown.

"Do you... will you go out with me?"

Terra said nothing for a few seconds, taken by surprise. Then, after recollecting herself, she replied in a calm voice, "Yes. I've always loved you..."

Rhona smiled. "If I hadn't asked you, would you have?"

"Eventually..." she replied nervously. "Well, that's not going to happen! We're together now, aren't we?"

Rhona nodded. "I love you."

"I love you too."

***

"Hi!" Crystal smiled at the girl with red hair and green hair bows tying parts of her hair in bunches at the back of her head. She wore green attire, matching her hair bows; green long shirt and a short green skirt, just below her hips. "How have you been, Cherry?" Crystal asked.

Cherry nodded and gave her a smile back. "Great," she replied cheerfully, her bright red eyes kindly looking back at her. "But uh, here's the thing... I've liked you for a long time."

"Oh," Crystal said shortly. "I thought we were just friends."

"That's what I thought too," Cherry said. "But then, my feelings changed and it won't go back to how it was before. I'm sorry, because I know you told me that you're straight, and I won't be surprised that you don't want to be with anyone after your previous history with boyfriends."

"But you're different," Crystal said quietly. "You're a girl."

"And you're straight. Look, I'm sorry. Forget I even mentioned it. It's just been bothering me and I thought that if I told you... well, I thought you should know. Now that you know, I don't expect anything from it."

Crystal stared into her red eyes, bright colours burning zealously, flame at its hottest. Yet, Cherry was anything other than something explosive or dangerous. "You've been my best friend for so long that I don't know if I'm ready to lose that to risk a relationship, and us breaking up. I rather keep my best friend."

"We won't break up," Cherry replied. "I promise I'll stay with you forever."

She shook her head. "That's what Avocado, Vann and Apple said. But they're gone. They left me. I don't want to see you like this, or do this to me, because you've been an angel all this time."

"Wait... this is your reason?" Cherry asked. "Are you saying that you aren't straight?"

Crystal laughed nervously. "I never felt straight. I was always questioning. I just told people I was straight to simplify things. I guess I'm bi."

"I can't believe you didn't tell your best friend you were questioning!"

"I could barely tell myself it!" Crystal laughed. "I'm still not sure about how I feel.

Cherry took her hand gently. "Look, we can take things slowly, and if you're ever unhappy, tell me, and we can go back to how things were. I don't want to lose a best friend either, but I have a feeling we can make this work. Girlfriend is still my best friend too, you know. What do we have to break up for?"

"Hmm... I don't know," Crystal replied earnestly. "There just seems to be something."

"Well, Avocado abandoned Arya and made her a psycho," Cherry started. "I promise I haven't done that. Vann Melon... he tried to kidnap Arya and kill your friend. I don't think I'll do that! Apple ditched you for his sister, but I can assure you, you'll be my first girlfriend. I have never dated before. So, what is going to break us apart?"

"Maybe it's me," Crystal said. "My exes... they can't all be bad. There must be something I do that makes things end awfully."

"You've done nothing wrong," Cherry said. "I can't think of anything that could possibly break us apart, but if it ever happens, I know that it won't be your fault."

"So there is a possibility that we'll break up?"

"No, I said 'if'," Cherry said. "Not that it's going to happen. Maybe if the gods pull some strings and make me the devil or something."

Crystal looked horrified. "I could never imagine you turn so horrid," she replied earnestly. "I'd rather see myself as the devil than see you become one."

Cherry smiled. "I've got the eyes to match," Cherry laughed. "Come on, I think we'll be good together. What do you think?"

"I want us to be together, but if I lose you, it's going to hurt more than my other exes, and Apple hurt really badly..."

"You know I could never watch you get hurt," Cherry said. "I'd rather hurt myself than let anyone be hurt, especially because of me."

"You really are an angel, you know."

"I'll be an angel to protect you, to save you from an unlucky past of lovers you've had. I want to show you that there's still good in this world, hope and luck that will bring you happiness, because you deserve some. You've suffered far too much for far too long - it's time for you to be with someone good, and I want to guarantee it for you. I wish this world was perfect, but it isn't."

"You're the closest person to an angel on Earth," Crystal said. "Just remember that, Cherry, no matter what happens in the future. You'll always be the kindest, most caring, and... and I love you the most."