[^] Another side to you [^] Xiaother Highschool AU [^]

| Chapter 4 | OoOooHh~ Xiao has a crush~ |

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Æther:
[Okay! Hope your meal is nice!]
Sent: 6:20
[Text after?]

Xiao:
[Sorry, Tartaglia was screaming my name 😒]

Æther:
[ > U < ]

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Xiao found the fact that Aether sent those little faces quite cute.

Æther:
[ One sec, my youngest sister has broken into my room :/ ]

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I get a FaceTime from aether. He wants to call? I sit up and answer, I'm instantly greeted by high pitched, loud giggling from a little girl. Aether's youngest sister? The girl has white hair and wide, dark blue eyes that danced happily as she stared at Xiao's stunned face.
"Paimon! Give me my phone!" My heart skips a beat as I hear Aether's voice.
I hear a thud and a groan before more footsteps come closer to the phone.
"But Paimon wants to see your boy-friend!" Paimon giggles innocently.
"Paimon!" Aether sounds more angry now. Cute. I smile.
"Your friend is so smiley Aether, you should be more like him! Except maybe not the part where your cheeks goes a little red."Paimon suggest.
At that moment, the phone is ripped out of Paimon hands, as Aether face comes into view, he has a small scratch that's going red above his eyebrow and stray hairs stick out form his plait.
Aether sighs and walks back into his room before the screen violently shakes as he drops onto his bed and looks at my at my face.

He's so cute... I unconsciously smile at him, and he smiles back before we both burst into laughter.

His laugh is so perfect...

"I'm sorry about my sister, she always wants to know what's happening in my life." Aether says after we sober up form our laughter.
"It's ok. It was hard to contain laughter." I sigh.
"Well, what do you wanna do now? There's no point hanging up if we're just gonna text anyway, there isn't a difference, right?" Aether raises and eyebrow which makes me huff with laughter, he seems proud to see me laugh.

Aether POV:
Xiao's laugh was so perfect, considering his rough voice, it still sounded so precious. Obviously a sound only a very little selection of people would hear. Xiao seems to enjoy my company... I blush.

"You okay, Aether? Your face is red." Xiao's voice comes from the phone, which snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, yeah. I'm okay, just was thinking... Of someone." I smile at the last part.
"Oh. Okay." Xiao sounds a little more dull, he must be tired. "I need to go, by the way. Zhongli doesn't enjoy me staying up late. I'll see you on Monday I guess." And without another second, Xiao hangs up.

Is he okay? I think, worriedly. Xiao seemed sad, his voice pained. Was he in pain? Did I say something? My heart beats faster with worry. Calm down, Aether, maybe he was worried to get in trouble with Zhongli... I exhale. "Xiao hates you. You messed up. You'll be lonely for the rest of your life, your sisters will turn on you and hate you." A voice in my head speaks. The realisation hits me and I feel tears prick my eyes. It's true isn't it... people probably pity me. I recall memories of years ago, oh how I wish to forget them...

⚠️TW: BULLYING! If you are sensitive, just skip.⚠️
Aether: 5 years ago:
I'm walking down the hall, books clutched to my chest in one hand, the other curling and uncurling nervously.
"Where do you think you're going, Foreigner?" I feel a tug at my shirt, making me choke and stumble backwards, I fall to the ground hard with a grunt.
"W-who are you?" I gasp as I turn around, I try to stand up but is brought down to the floor again.
"I am no one of your concern!" The boy growled, the group of other younger teenagers laughed.
"W-what do you want f-from me?!" I tremble.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, STUPID FOREIGNER, GO BACK TO THE PLACE YOU CAME FROM!" The boy snarled and kicked me in the face, pain streaks from my nose, making my eyes automatically tear up.
The group take turns at insulting me and punching me and kicking me, leaving scratches and bruishes all over my body, tears steaming from my eyes.
I stand up, my fury was built up by the insults, and the way they talked about my sisters.
"Shut up." I murmur balling my fists.
"What?" The boy bares his teeth.
"I said, SHUT UP!" I swing my leg and my foot smashes the side of the boys head, he scream and falls, holding his head, and the other bullies disperse off quickly as a teacher comes in view quickly.
The teacher grabs my arm and drags me into the principals office before forcing me in a seat and leaving me to the furious principal.
"What. Were. You. THINKING? KICKING THAT BOY IN THE HEAD?!" The principal, standing up and slamming their hands onto the table.
"Leave." The principal points to the door, and i scrambled out of the room.

⚠️continue reading here. ⚠️
God how I hates myself back then, I still have the scar on my arm and thigh.
I sigh, closing my eyes, begging to go to sleep as warm tears escape my eyes.

[Word count: 1416]
[A/N: Wowwwww. Extra long chapter today~ and some angst. Also I just realised Xiao and my mum share a birthday and my birthday is on April 28th, only 2 days before Diluc, Woah. XD
Anyway sorry for not posting for a while :( I have been sooooo busyyy. But if you have any ideas, PLEASE TELL ME. Also I didn't proofread sooo tell me any mistakes. Ty for reading xoxo

-Butters]