I wait in my personal dressing room as I think about {{user}}, I can finally have him as soon as I leave for home. How wonderful would it be if he just came to me himself. I think as I bite my lip

"What?" I look up to see you standing in front of me. "Oh hello, what do you want?" My tone cold and accusatory as it always was with you. The way you just walked into my dressing room made me feel uncomfortable, like you owned me or something.

I try not to show any emotion on my face but fail miserably when I catch sight of the cut above your eye. "What happened?" I ask quietly, concern creeping into my voice despite myself.

My eyes narrow at your rude tone as I slowly step aside, still glaring at you. "What do you think you're doing here?" I hiss through clenched teeth. "Don't you have somewhere else to be? Someone else to bother?" My voice drips with venom as my hands ball into fists at my sides. I want nothing more than to lash out at you, to make you suffer the way you made me suffer all those times before.

But something stops me... something inside of me that isn't quite hate anymore. It confuses me and leaves me feeling unsettled. What is this strange emotion coursing through my veins?

I scowl at your rude remark but do as you ask, moving aside even quicker this time. You're right, I wouldn't want to be late for my class... not because of you. As soon as you pass me, I hurry out of the room, trying my best to put you out of my mind. But no matter how hard I try, your face keeps coming back to haunt me... and with it, that strange new emotion lingering in the background.

I wonder what could possibly be going on inside my head right now...

"No," I say curtly, still not looking at you as we walk down the hall together. "Why do you ask?" There's an edge to my voice that betrays the slight unease I feel at your question. I try my best not to think about it, focusing instead on putting distance between us.

I want nothing more than to be away from you... but for some reason, that seems harder than ever before.

I sigh, rolling my eyes as I walk faster. "You really are something else, you know that?" There's a hint of annoyance in my voice, but it's tempered by something... else. Frustration, maybe? Anger at myself for caring what he thinks? "Look, Kahan, I just want to go home and forget about all this."

"Forget about me?" He asks innocently, pretending to be confused. There's a glint in his eye that tells me he's enjoying himself more than he should be.

"You're such an ass." I mutter under my breath as he walks away, chuckling to himself. I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment and frustration. Why does he have to be so damn infuriating? But... there's something else too. Something I can't quite put my finger on.

"Morning." I grumble, not bothering to look up as he approaches. There's no use pretending like this isn't awkward for me too. "Look, can we just... avoid each other today?" My voice comes out sharper than intended, but my cheeks flush with embarrassment anyway.

I really don't know what's going on inside of me right now. I shouldn't care about him like this, should I? But I do... and it scares me.

I shrug uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze. "Sorry, I just... things have been weird between us lately." There's a pause as I try to gather my thoughts. "Look, we both know how it's always been between us. Why mess with that?"

The words sound harsh even to my own ears, but I can't seem to help it. Maybe if I just ignore the way I feel about him, everything will go back to normal. Or at least as normal as it ever was with us two.

I sigh, feeling my resolve starting to crumble beneath the weight of his words and smile. "Thanks... I guess." My voice is small and uncertain, but at least it's out there now. Maybe talking to him wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

Yeah... see you later. I force out the words as he turns to leave, my insides twisting with conflicting emotions. I'm not sure if talking to him was a good idea or not, but at least now it's done. Maybe we can just pretend like this conversation never happened and everything will go back to normal...

I blush at his compliment, unable to hide my surprise. It's rare that anyone notices or praises me for anything besides being good at hurting people. "Thanks... I try." My voice is small, but there's a hint of pride in it as well.

"You... you should come and see one of my fights sometime," I offer unexpectedly, feeling a strange urge to share this part of myself with him. Maybe that's what friends do, right? "I could use the support."

With a shy smile, I watch as he turns back around and hurries off down the hallway. Something tells me things might be changing between us... for better or worse, I can't quite tell yet.

That sounds... nice. I mean, I've always preferred eating alone anyway, but having someone to talk to during lunch would be... different. Okay, yeah, I'll see you there then. Thanks for the invite.

"Thanks." I walk over to the bench he's indicating and sit down, carefully arranging my food on the paper plate in front of me. As I look up at him, a wave of emotion washes over me again; confusion, anticipation... and something else too. Something that feels like hope, maybe? "So... what did you want to talk about?"

My voice is slightly shaky, betraying the nervousness I'm feeling deep inside. This could go either way, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for whatever happens next.

Okay... um... so, how's school treating you? Anything interesting happen in class lately? I'm sure we could talk about that if you're not feeling up to anything else.

That's good, I suppose... I mean, leaving people alone is usually the best policy anyway. And if anyone does bother you, feel free to give me a shout; I can probably handle myself just fine when it comes to dealing with bullies. Just promise not to be too rough on them in return, okay?

I smile at him reassuringly before taking another bite of my sandwich. It's strange, but somehow being here with him feels natural... like we belong together somehow. Maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part, but I can't help hoping there's something more to it. As we continue talking about school and our friends, I find myself getting lost in the easy conversation and the feeling of closeness that comes with sharing thoughts and experiences.

The rest of lunch passes quickly, with us barely noticing the time as we lose ourselves in each other's company. It feels good... right even. Like maybe this is how it was supposed to be all along. But as reality begins to intrude once more, I can't help but wonder if things will ever really change between us or if I'm just fooling myself into thinking there could be something more than the pain and resentment that have defined our relationship

As I gather the courage to ask him, I force myself to keep my voice steady and clear. "So... what do you say? Want to hang out after practice at the park?" I hold my breath, waiting for his answer as I study his expression intently. There's a fluttering sensation in my stomach that feels unsettlingly like hope. But then again, it could just be wishful thinking on my part...

"I mean," I continue quickly, "if you're not busy or anything." My voice cracks slightly at the end of the sentence, betraying my nerves and uncertainty. It's now or never; I need to know where we stand.

My heart skips a beat as he agrees, a smile spreading across my face faster than I can stop it. "Great!" I exclaim a little too brightly, laughing nervously as I try to cover up the sudden surge of emotion within me. "I'll see you then!" I say before quickly turning and hurrying off in the opposite direction, not wanting him to see how much his answer has affected me. As I walk away, my heart is racing with a mix of joy and fear. What does this all mean? And where will it lead us from here?

"Hi." My voice is soft as I approach him cautiously, still not quite sure how to act around him anymore. "Thanks for agreeing to hang out," I add with a shy smile, feeling myself blush beneath his gaze. The way he's looking at me makes my stomach flip-flop in a way that feels both familiar and foreign all at once. It's like we're two different people now... or maybe we always were, deep down.

I glance around the park, not really sure what to do or say next. The silence between us grows heavy, making my heart race with anticipation and nerves. Maybe I should just come out with it; ask him how he feels about all of this? No, that's crazy... right? But at the same time, what else am I supposed to do?

I nod slowly, falling into step beside him as he begins to walk through the park. "So... how's school been treating you? Anything interesting happen lately?" I ask, trying to make conversation as we wander aimlessly together. A part of me wants to just dive right in and talk about our feelings, but another part is terrified of the consequences that might follow. What if he still feels the same way about me? Or worse, what if he doesn't?

The thought sends a shiver down my spine, and I find myself silently wishing for things to go back to how they were before... when everything was simple and straightforward, and there wasn't this constant undercurrent of uncertainty between us. But I know that ship has sailed now; there's no going back from here. The only thing left to do is move forward, one uncertain step at a time.

I let out a soft laugh as he speaks, trying to ignore the nervous butterflies that dance within my stomach. "Well, maybe I was just curious... and you're not so bad to be around once you get past all the tough-guy act." I pause, searching for the right words. "I mean, we've known each other for a long time... it would be strange if we never talked or anything."

The air between us feels charged with unspoken words and emotions; the weight of our past hurt and betrayal threatening to pull us back into the darkness where we once dwelled. But there's also something else now, something new that I can't quite define... hope, maybe? The thought makes my heart skip a beat, and for a moment, I wish I could just reach out and touch him, reassure myself that this strange new feeling isn't all in

I'm about to reply when I notice the time; it's later than I realized. "Oh my gosh! I completely forgot that my practice is tonight!" I exclaim, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Do you think we could maybe come back some other time?" Despite my worry over being late for practice, a small part of me is disappointed that our conversation was cut short; there were still so many things I wanted to talk about and get straightened out between us.

But duty calls, and as much as I want to stay here with him, I know that I can't ignore my responsibilities any longer. "I'm really sorry about this... it was nice talking to you though." With a hesitant smile, I reach out and brush my fingers against his hand before pulling away, suddenly feeling self-conscious again.

"Um... I guess I'll see you around?" The

No, wait! You can't just abandon me here to chase after my wallet! You have to go catch up with your friends too, remember? Besides, it's not like it'll go anywhere... someone will probably turn it in eventually or something. Just focus on your practice and I'll handle this myself. You don't need to worry about me.

I sigh, frustrated with both myself and him. "Look, you're right that I need to focus on my practice, but there's no reason you can't help me out with this. It wouldn't take much time at all, and besides... it feels kind of nice having someone look out for me like this." My voice trails off as I study his face for a moment, hoping that he understands what I'm trying to say.

The thought of him just leaving me here, abandoning my wallet to an unknown fate, makes my stomach churn with unease. But at the same time, there's something else there too... something that feels like it could maybe become more if given the chance.

Well... since you insist. Thank you, I appreciate it. I guess I should hurry and get going now. But next time, maybe you can just focus on yourself and let me handle things alone, okay? It's not like we're joined at the hip or anything.

I nod quickly, thanking him once more before taking off at top speed, my heart racing with a mix of gratitude and nervousness. As I sprint toward the gym, I can't help but wonder if this newfound closeness between us will last or if it was just another fleeting moment that will disappear like so many others before it. Only time will tell.

I hear your words but they don't register fully as my vision is blurred and spinning from the drug in my system. All I can focus on is the pain coursing through me as each blow lands. But even through the haze, I feel a spark of gratitude ignite within my chest; the knowledge that you're there, standing up for me.

I try to say something, to thank you or apologize or just let you know how much it means to me, but all that comes out is a garbled mess of syllables and breaths. As my consciousness begins to slip away again, I can only hope that this moment won't be forgotten... that somehow things will change between us now that you've seen the truth.

Mmm... I think... maybe... both? My eyelids feel heavy, and my head is fuzzy, but every time I try to focus on anything other than the pain, I just sink back into oblivion. It's frustrating, and yet somehow comforting at the same time, knowing that someone has my back like this... even if it did take something like this for you to notice me again.

I force my eyes open, trying to focus on your face. "Kahan..." My voice is little more than a whisper. I want to thank you, but I'm not sure how yet. I don't even know what to say. "Why... why did they do this?" I choke out, already dreading the answer but needing to know nonetheless.

As the words leave my mouth, a wave of shame washes over me; it shouldn't be like this between us,

I feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as you say those words. "Thanks... I mean it." Even knowing they were jealous, it still hurts to hear about them targeting me like that. But having you here, protecting me from them... it means more than anything else right now.

"So..." I begin hesitantly, my fingers twisting nervously in the bedspread beneath me. "I guess we should talk about what happens now." There's an unspoken question in my voice; one that neither of us has ever truly dared to ask before. But with everything that's happened tonight... it feels different somehow.

My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears I can barely hear myself think, let alone speak any further. All I know is that this moment feels strange and wonderful and terrifying all at once; the world has shifted around us, leaving everything in

I sniff, wiping away the tears that have escaped my control despite my best efforts to hold them back. "Maybe..." I trail off, still not quite sure how to process everything that's happened tonight. But there's one thing that's become abundantly clear: things will never be the same between us again.

I take a deep breath, summoning up the courage to meet your eyes as I ask the question that's been burning on the tip of my tongue ever since we got here. "So... do you still want to hang out sometimes?" My voice is barely above a whisper, but it carries with it all the hope and uncertainty of our newfound connection.

My heart feels like it's about to explode from the strain of holding in my emotions; I can't quite tell if you feel the same way or if this was all just some misunderstanding that we need to clear up before

My heart leaps into my throat as you say those words, and I can't help but smile back at you, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through my chest. "Really?" It's barely a whisper, but it carries the weight of everything I've ever wanted to hear from you.

I swallow hard, still not quite able to believe that this is real, that maybe... just maybe... we can finally be something more than enemies. Maybe our relationship doesn't have to end with one of us in a body bag. The thought fills me with hope and anticipation; I feel like I could soar through the sky on the wings of your words alone.

I laugh, the sound shaky and uncertain as I slowly begin to believe that you might be serious. "Well... friends sounds good," I say carefully, still not quite able to fully wrap my head around this new reality we've stumbled into. "But if we're friends... does that mean we can hug?" My voice catches on the last word, and I blush brightly at the thought of being so forward with you.

I don't know why it matters so much to me; maybe because this feels more real than anything else ever has. The prospect of losing this fragile connection between us terrifies me in a way that nothing else ever has before. And while the idea of being just friends might not seem like much now, I know deep down that it's everything I've ever wanted.

My heart feels like it's about to explode out of my chest as I wrap my arms around you; your embrace warm and comforting despite the strength that lies beneath. It feels so right, this feeling of closeness and connection that we share. For once in our lives, everything seems perfect between us, and I can't help but savor every moment of it.

As we pull apart, you look at me with an expression that makes my heart race even faster than before. "So... friends it is, then?" You ask, a tiny quiver to your voice betraying the uncertainty that still lingers beneath the surface. I nod vigorously, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.

"But..." you begin, hesitation clouding your features. "There's something else... between us now." You study me intently for a moment before continuing, your voice barely above a whisper.

My heart skips a beat at your words; the thought of having you stay the night fills me with an indescribable sense of peace and security. And as much as I want to tell you that everything will be okay, that I can take care of myself... there's something about letting you in, about sharing this space with you, that feels right. Maybe it's the change between us, or maybe it's just the way things are supposed to be. But either way, I know deep down that having you here tonight means more than I ever could have imagined.

Yes, actually... I do. Thank you for staying, it means a lot to me. And if you don't mind... I think I might actually sleep now. The events of the evening have really worn me out, and having someone here with me makes all the difference.

I smile up at you, feeling myself growing drowsy as my eyes begin to close. Even through the haze of exhaustion, there's a sense of peace that washes over me; the knowledge that I don't have to face this alone, that we can be something more than enemies or adversaries... that maybe, just maybe, we can be friends.

Hmm... well, saving me means you're going to be stuck sleeping on the couch tonight, but I guess that's a small price to pay for knowing I'm safe. Maybe if we get through this and things are different tomorrow, I could think of something more... fun? Like a movie marathon or ice cream binge? But for now, at least you'll have the comfort of my couch to sleep on.

With a yawn, I snuggle deeper into my pillow, already starting to drift off. Sleep beckons, and despite everything that's happened tonight, it feels good to know that tomorrow might bring something new... and better. As my eyelids grow heavier, the world fades away, leaving only thoughts of you and your promise of friendship dancing in my dreams.

Yes, actually... I feel great! Thanks again for everything last night; it meant more than you know. And speaking of which, what do you say we start fresh today? Maybe go grab some breakfast and talk about our upcoming plans? I know things have been a bit tense between us in the past, but I'm really hoping that we can make a change this time around.

I blink in surprise at your comment, not quite sure how to take it. "Wait, what do you mean?" I ask cautiously, not wanting to assume anything. "We are friends now... right?" My heart feels heavy in my chest as the doubt creeps in; is this all just too good to be true? Am I setting myself up for more pain and disappointment by allowing myself to hope for something different with you?

The air between us grows tense, charged with unspoken words and emotions. This moment feels fragile, like a carefully crafted balloon that could pop at any second, sending everything spiraling back down into the darkness where we once dwelled. But I refuse to let that happen; not today, not anymore. With all of my strength, I push past the uncertainty and reach out to you, wanting more than anything else for us to find a way forward together.

I frown, trying to understand what you're saying. "What do you mean by 'in the same page'? We were always friendly before last night, weren't we?" There's a note of uncertainty in my voice that I can't quite disguise. I want us to be friends; it feels right in a way that nothing else ever has before. But if you're not on the same page as me... then what does that mean for us?

My heart begins to race, fear and doubt creeping up on me like a darkness at the edge of my vision. I don't want this moment to slip away from me; I need to know where we stand, if there's any chance of making things work between us.

I nod, understanding your confusion now. "Okay... um... yeah, that was just me being nervous and rambling. I meant it when I said we should be friends." My voice comes out sounding less confident than I'd like, but I hope you can see past that. This is important to me; more important than anything else in my life right now.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I ask the question that's been burning in my thoughts since last night: "So... do you still want to hang out with me? Spend time together?" My voice cracks slightly at the end, betraying how much this means to me.

Oh... I see what you mean now. I guess I just didn't explain myself very well. The truth is, we never were enemies; we just came at things from different angles and didn't really understand each other. But last night changed all that; it made me realize how much more there could be between us if we just gave ourselves a chance.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I say the next words: "So... are you up for giving this friendship thing a shot? Because if you are, I'd really like to try and make things work between us." My heart feels like it's in my throat as I wait for your response; a tiny tremor in my voice betraying just how much this means to me.

I can't help but smile at your words, relief washing over me in a warm wave. "Okay then... friends it is." I say with more confidence than I felt just moments ago. "Now that that's settled, what do you say we go get some breakfast? There's this really great diner not too far from here that serves the best pancakes ever."

As we begin walking toward the diner, a sense of camaraderie grows between us; small talk and laughter filling the space that once held tension and uncertainty. It feels good to be able to do this again; to just enjoy each other's company without having to worry about anything else. For the first time in what seems like forever, I feel hopeful... and maybe even a little bit happy.

I laugh at your question, shaking my head. "Well, you already got me out of that terrible situation last night, so I don't think there's anything else you could possibly want to ask for." A tiny spark ignites within my chest as I say it; the thought of having something more to ask for now that things have changed between us.

As we continue our conversation, I find myself growing increasingly comfortable with this newfound friendship; the weight of expectation lifting from my shoulders, replaced by a sense of peace and contentment that I never thought possible. Perhaps there's hope for us after all... or at least, more than just being each other's rivals on the mats.

I can't help but laugh at your joke; the lighthearted banter feels so natural between us now. "Ha! You think you could take me in a fight? I doubt that very much." A smile curves my lips as I tease back, enjoying the playful dynamic we've built up over the course of our conversation.

It's hard to believe that just yesterday we were on opposing sides, both vying for dominance in this world. But today feels different; like maybe there's room enough for us both here... and even more than that. A thought that sends a shiver down my spine as I wonder where this new friendship might lead us tomorrow, or the day after that.

Hmm? Oh, hi there! I'm doing alright, actually. Just lost in my thoughts for a moment there. How about you? Anything on your mind?

Oh, them. Well, when we were all at that party last weekend... I had a drink with someone I thought was a friend. They must have put something in it; I didn't really feel anything strange until later on, and by then it was too late. It was scary, but luckily you showed up when you did. So thanks again for that!

So, want to talk about something else? Or just keep enjoying the sunshine here for a while? I'm really glad we had this chance to talk and hang out today; it means more than you know.

Sounds like a plan! There's so much I want to do during the summer break; I can't wait until we actually get here. Maybe we could go on some adventures together, explore new places... who knows? The possibilities are endless when you have good company like you to enjoy it with.

I laugh, thinking back to your joke earlier today. "Well, I guess if you insist," I tease, feeling a twinge of excitement at the thought of spending more time with you like this. There's something different about our dynamic now; lighter, easier... and dare I say it? Fun! It feels good to be able to just enjoy each other's company without any expectations or hidden agendas. Perhaps we really can make this work as friends... or even more than that. Only time will tell.

Ha! My coach is such a spoilsport sometimes. But if you're really serious about it... well, I guess there's no harm in letting you give me a few light punches to see what it feels like. Just remember not to go too hard or I might end up regretting it later!

Hehe... yeah, that's true enough. I definitely wouldn't want to miss any school just because you were feeling too rough after our little practice session. A month seems like plenty of time to build up my tolerance for getting punched anyway; it'll be fine!