Work Text:
Akarsha calmly drifted through the library, skimming the shelves in a rare moment of peace. As much as she loved annoying her friends, there were times where it was nice to just take a break. Times like these she’d come to the library and study for a bit before looking for some interesting sounding book to dive into. This afternoon however, she was greeted with her favorite person sound asleep on the library's table, resting her head in her arms with an open book infront of her.
“Oui oui.” Akarsha whispered to herself, before heading over to where Noelle was sleeping. Upon closer inspection she let herself feel the cold breeze from the library's air conditioning, and came to the conclusion Noelle must be cold. She had three options here.
One, she could wake Noelle up, tell her she fell asleep, and walk her home.
Two, she could take the flannel Noelle always had but never wore and drape it around her shoulders, so Noelle could finish her nap without being cold.
But, Akarsha had a crush, so she went with option three. She peeled her windbreaker off, smoothed out her black t-shirt she wore under it, and draped it around Noelles shoulders. Then she grabbed her books, sat next to her friend, and began an attempt at studying.
When Noelle drearily opened her eyes, her first instinct was to panic.
Partly because, God, how late was it? But another part was because the first person she saw was Akarsha. She quickly sat up, wiping at her face with her hands, expecting to pull her hand away and see marker ink, or some equally dumb Akarsha thing. Instead, the girl next to her let out a quiet giggle, and made a shushing motion with her finger.
Noelle tilted her head. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Uhh..” Akarsha thought. “Forty-five minutes, since I came here at least.”
“You waited that long? What did you do?” Noelle spoke in an accusatory fashion, raising an eyebrow and surveying her surroundings.
“ Nothing - scouts honor.”
“You were never a scout.”
“Still! I just wanted to make sure you didn’t sleep too late.”
Noelle gave her a suspicious glare, and then got more curious. “Where’s your windbreaker?” Then, she turned around. “Oh-..?” Akarsha was annoying, and dumb, and stupid, and the devil incarnate. Noelle ran her hand across the sleeve of the hideous centerpiece of Akarsha's wardrobe and felt like she was gonna pass out. “Thank- thank you?” She stuttered, trying to process the situation. Her head was still trying to catch up with being awake when she heard a chair scraping and books closing.
“I’m gonna head out, you’re good to go from here, right?” Akarsha gave Noelle two finger guns, expertly dodging tables as she walked backwards towards the entrance of the library.
“Yes, I am- wait, you forgot your-” Noelle began, before looking up. Akarsha was already gone. “Windbreaker.”
albret einstong
FUCJ
FRENCH
🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
OUI OUI PSPSPSP
Noelle
?
albret einstong
ILEF R
AT TE LIVEARY
M WINDBREAKER :[[[
DO U HAV IT
Noelle
Oh, yes. Of course. Why wouldn’t I?
albret einstong
idk ur mean smtimes
Noelle
I know how important it is to you, Akarsha. I wouldn’t leave it to get lost or stolen.
albret einstong
awwwwe …
Noelle
Don’t get sentimental. I’ll return it to you tomorrow at school.
albret einstong
FRENCHMAN MY BELOVED THANK YOU
Noelle
Your what.
albret einstong left the chatroom
Noelle
What do I do with a windbreaker?
Diya
? What?
No way you actually got a windbreaker.
Right?
Noelle
I didn’t get a windbreaker.
I had one unceremoniously dumped upon me.
Diya
By who?
Before you answer
I have three guesses
Noelle
Very funny.
I just fell asleep and Akarsha must have lent it to me.
For whatever reason she did, I can’t say. I have a perfectly good flannel I keep with me.
Diya
Why don’t you ever wear it?
The flannel, I mean.
Noelle
Irrelevant.
She’s so confusing. Why is she so confusing??
Diya
what’s confusing? She probably just wanted to do something nice. Because you’re friends.
Noelle
I don’t quite understand.
Diya
You know how you do nice things just because you like seeing people happy? Akarsha is just doing a nice thing, because she wants to see you happy.
Noelle
No. What I do is different, and nice. What Akarsha is doing is weird.
Diya
How so?
Noelle
Because she’s nice to me right now, and there’s no peanut butter in her sleeves or any weird traps stuffed into this jacket. It’s weird. It’s not Akarsha.
Diya
Do you like it? Her being nice?
Noelle
…
I’m going to sleep on it. Goodnight, Diya.
Diya
Goodnight! :D
“I’m so weird!” Akarsha groaned loudly, pushing open the doors of the 7-11 and letting the breeze wash over her as she sat herself on the pavement outside the convenience store. Min followed, sitting next to her and sipping their slushie. “That’s such a girlfriend thing to do. Noelle’s gonna think I have a crush on her.”
“Don’t you?”
“That’s not the point!”
“You flirt with her all the time.”
“That doesn’t count, Min!” Akarsha sighed, taking a sad drink from her slushie. “Whenever I flirt with her it's obviously a joke. I mean, it isn’t but it sounds like one.”
“Akarsha,” Min began, putting a hand on her shoulder. “You and Noelle are both emotionally incompetent. If you won’t bring it up, she won't, and you both will forget about it forever until eventually you two are like, eighty, and go in your old granny voices like-“ Min adjusted herself, doing her best impression of an old withered Akarsha. “Remember when our bones moved without squeaking and I gave you my windbreaker? Good times, old lady Noelle, good times.”
Akarsha laughed, lifting her head. “There’s a reason we’re bros. Thanks.”
“Hell yea dude!” Min chuckled, holding their hand out for a fistbump. “Always and forever. I’ve got you.”
Akarsha completed the gesture. “But yea. Yea, you’re right. I bet she won't even mention it tomorrow.”
“Why did you give me this?” Noelle asked, placing the infamous windbreaker in Akarsha's arms. “I have a flannel on my waist all the time.”
“Ah.” Akarsha chuckled. “Why don’t you ever wear that, by the way?”
“Don’t avoid the question, Akarsha. You could’ve just left me.” Noelle crossed her arms, clearly awaiting an explanation.
“I’m in love with you, duh.” Akarsha stated bluntly, leaning against a locker.
Noelle felt something bubble up inside her and her frown grew. “Don’t joke about that.”
“I was just trying to be nice , Frenchman.” Akarsha continued. “Like, a friendly gesture, cause we’re friends? I just saw you and went, oh shit, Noelle must be cold. I’m such a nice person, I’ll give her my windbreaker. You’re welcome.”
“..Thank you...” Noelle finally said. “Genuinely. Thank you.”
“Of course.” Akarsha grinned, donning the windbreaker. “I’m your home.. your anchor.. the light at the end of your tunnel.”
“That last one doesn’t have positive connotations, Akarsha.”
“When the heart speaks its poetry, can we really tell what love brings, good or bad?”
“Goodbye.”
Noelle briskly began walking away, and Akarsha followed.
“Hey- no- wait!! Hahah!” Akarsha laughed, stumbling, but she didn’t really mind. She caught up, bumping shoulders with Noelle. “Is this how you repay someone who so graciously helped you in your time of need?”
Noelle covered her mouth. A weak attempt at hiding a smile. Akarsha knew better.
“Maybe it is.” Noelle scoffed, teasing Akarsha right back.