You sit in the car once you reach your house replaying the events of the evening. When you had left the house before the party, you wouldn't have imagined beyond your wildest dreams that this would happen. You sigh and keep your head on the steering wheel. Your brain was in overdrive thinking about every good and bad scenario, playing a million possibilities in your head. You turn off your car and get out, locking it behind you. You come back and run straight to your bed and plop on your stomach, crashing face first on your pillow. Today was too good to be true, it was a fairy tale. You didn't believe in stupid, sappy love stories, and yeah it was just a kiss but it was first time in forever you actually didn't feel like a reject. It was not like you were head over heels with Obito, you for a fact, were not. But there was a little hope in your heart - hope of moving on, hope of finding someone.
You check your phone to see a text from Obito.
Obito: Reached?
You: Yes, just.
Obito: Thanks
You: What for?
Obito: Chips and snacks
You: You owe me $12.42
Obito: Oh
Obito: I can send it now
You: Kidding!!!!!
Obito: Thanks for today. I had a good time.
You: Me too!!
............
Obito: Well, see you tomorrow. Good night ❤️
You: Good night ❤️
You stared at the phone screen for some time, staring intently at that ❤️.
It was unreal and scary.
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It was busy time in the semester, so you couldn't meet each other the next few days being busy with assignments and such.
You finally meet him the following Tuesday. You were sitting in the library as usual, Asuma-Kurenai were there, too but somehow it hurt less today. You finish your lunch and start looking at the assignment till Obito comes over with a coffee in his hand.
"For you", he says grinning shyly and keeps it on the table next to you.
"Is this going to be a thing, now?", you ask chuckling.
"No, I was just ..", he says and scratches the back of his neck.
"We should go in", he says and goes in without waiting for you.
He was acting weird for sure. You pick your things up and follow him into the study room and close the door behind you.
"So what are we studying, today?", he asks fumbling with his bag and books.
"Hey, are you okay?", you ask him settling down in your chair.
You are a little sad by his behavior at the moment, like he didn't want to be there, or didn't want to talk.
"Yeah I am", he replies without even looking.
"Hey", you say and hold his hand and shake it to make him look at you.
He slowly raises his face, pink dust on his cheeks. His eyes meet yours and he quickly looks away.
"I understand you don't want to talk about it, but you don't have to be childish either", you say leaving his hand and bringing it awkwardly back to your lap.
"Maybe it was a mistake", you add, sighing.
You open your book trying to find the correct page number to go to, but you feel your eyes starting to hurt and your vision gets blurry for a second. You quickly take a big sip of your coffee, you didn't wanna cry. Why were you even crying? You were not good with confrontations and arguments, it made you feel intense emotions that usually ended up with you crying. You didn't like it one bit, but well, it is what it is.
"It.. wasn't a mistake", he says under his breath after what seemed like an hour.
"Huh?", you say and look at him. He sighs and puts his glasses above his head and rubs his face.
"It wasn't a mistake, Y/N. I just, you are the only one I have, and I can't hurt you", he says still not looking at you.
"I don't know what you mean", you say squinting your eyes a little looking at him, he was difficult to read.
"I like you, I really do. I just don't know how to say this. Can we just be friends for a while?", he says, looking at you, his nervous hands running through his hair several times a minute.
"Sure", you say. Another friend zone but this hurt a bit more, or not, you weren't sure where this was going.
"Are you mad at me?", he asks trying to gauge your reaction but you have turned your face back to your book that you can't seem to read at all right now.
All you can see is random words, your brain was too preoccupied.
"I am not mad", you say quickly. A little too quickly.
"Y/N", Obito sighs.
"What?", you ask looking at him.
"Okay I am just going to say it. You are the only one I can talk to. That evening was special and I meant everything I said and everything I did and it wasn't a mistake but I kept wondering what if it is a rebound?", he says everything pretty quickly.
"Re-rebound?", you repeat mindlessly, but you remember they were your own words.
Does this count as a rebound if the earlier one was only a one-sided relationship?
Probably. But it makes me a little less sad. I am all for being a little less sad.
He restlessly taps his foot on the ground and run his fingers through his hair again, his glasses on the table now.
His hair. His scrunched up face. The crinkles on his nose. FOCUS, Y/N.
You were very easy.
But he said he was all for being a little less sad.
"Yes, rebound. Didn't you say it, yourself? What if, what if we are just being fickle? I..can't lose you", he says earnestly, looking at you.
You suddenly became aware of the uncertainties of your own feelings. Maybe you were right and you liked all this because you have been reeling from the sadness of seeing the one you loved with someone else for so long, that even little attention, a source of a little happiness, was making you grow towards it like a flower craving the sun.
What if you didn't feel the same eventually?
Your expression changes to a more knowing one, as it dawns on you, too. You didn't want to rush into something, after all you had literally bonded over how you both were being rejected.
"You are right", you say and give a small smile. Though sad, it wasn't fake.
"You think so?", he asks his face lifting a little.
"Did it really made you this happy?", you ask sarcastically.
"Yes, you are one of the only real friends I have, I know it sounds clingy, but I really cannot lose you, not to a stupid hasty decision. But it wasn't a mistake. Let's take this slow", he says holding both your hands in his. The touch of his hands feels weirdly intimate.
"And what does 'this' define?", you ask.
"Be friends, see where it goes. I don't want to force anything", he says squeezing your hand a little.
"Yes, I don't think I can be another napkin or a trashcan", you say with a serious face. He chuckles and leaves your hand and sits back in his chair. His body posture and face relaxed now and a faint smile on his lips.
His lips.
You turn your attention to your book once again. Trying to read.
It was better this way.
As time passed by, you both relaxed and went back to how you were before. The edge wore off, and it wasn't awkward anymore. He did ask you about four more times if you are okay as you left the library, grabbed a snack, hung out, bitched about others and went home.
The next few weeks went by the same.
Yugao and Hayate did notice Obito's name being popped up way too much in the conversations. You were definitely chirpier, didn't hang out with them all the time like before, studied harder.
Oh, I have to send this to Obito.
Let me take a picture, Y/N would love this.
You know what Obito said, yesterday...
I don't understand this chapter, I'll ask Y/N.
I have to ask Obito if he already watched this movie.
She probably hasn't seen this, let me tell her.
Obito is just a friend, what is wrong with you, guys?
She is nice, did you check my grades, Kakashi? She is a way better teacher than you are.
You both were pretty oblivious to this, the faint smiles on your faces with the mentions, the long hours in the library, the lingering touches while walking side by side or the endless talking, almost to all of it. You were friends after all. There was a new character on your Sims. The app was still locked.
One late night, you were watching re-runs of your favorite show while texting Obito about it. It was mostly in the background than anything. He was watching the same episode as you. It was raining hard, so both of you didn't leave the house that day.
You: Did you see that?
Obito : I don't get it.
You : But it is so funny?
Obito : How is this funny?
You : You aren't watching closely, Bito. It is funny.
**Notification**
SexySilver69 wants to send you a message.
You click the notification and see it was a guy from your class. You had vaguely seen him, you roll your eyes at his username. Such wannabe!
SexySilver69: Hey!
You: Hi
SexySilver69: You are gorgeous.
You: (weirded out) ok
SexySilver69: I mean it
(You leave on read)
Obito: I still don't get it.
You: Hey you know what just happened?
Obito: Yo, sorry I have to go.
Obito: Something is wrong with Kakashi
Obito: He is drunk mid week.
You: Woah okay tc.
SexySilver69: there?
You: what?
SexySilver69: Are you in CHM2532?
You: Yeah
SexySilver69: I need some help.
You: What help?
SexySilver69: I have this extra assignment, I need to pass this class.
You: Did you go to the TA?
SexySilver69: He said you would be able to help.
The TA was your friend, and you curse him under your breath for telling random people to come to you for help. You sigh.
You: See you before class, next week.
SexySilver69: Next week?
You: Can't spare time before that.
You were definitely not in a hurry
SexySilver69: I'll take it.
SexySilver69: You are the best, beautiful.
You: Stop with that.
SexySilver69: Ok
You are not certain who he is, but CHM2532 was your strong subject and you wanted to know what he needed help with. He was probably one of those guys, that sit hunched up in a group at the back corner of the class. You try to remember his name.
Hidan, was it?
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A/N: I hope you are liking the story so far. Please vote, comment if you do, I ll appreciate it.
Also please let me know if you have thoughts, comments or feedback! I love reading those.
Thanks for reading! :)