Chapter Text
"I like you"
Noelle was caught off guard.
They were walking down the street back to their home, and about to cross the crosswalk.
After Akarsha said that, both of them stayed silent for quite a bit.
"You.... you like me?" Noelle broke the silence.
"Well, no thats not quite right" Akarsha is struggling to find words.
Noelle breathes a huge sigh of relief (with underlying disappointment)
"I love you" Akarsha came back for round 2.
"I'm sick and tired of myself for running away when things don't go all my way, I've been running until Senior year, No, this time, I... i am committing myself to it, i love you, I just want to know if you like me back."
Noelle looked flustered and shocked, she was struggling to answer.
"Akarsha, even if i did like you, its not like i could date you.... we're graduating soon and what will our parents say and......"
"Noelle!" Akarsha grabs Noelle firmly "I'm not asking you if you'd wanna date me, I am asking if you liked me"
Noelle felt worse, she really didn't want to answer but she knew she needed to answer.
"No.... sorry Akarsha, I don't.... I don't think I like you."
"Woo! Thats all i needed, now I have no regrets"
Even if Akarsha said that, Noelle could see the sadness in her eyes.
"Welp, thanks for the answer, I'll get over it, Bye bye Frenchman" Akarsha puts up a fake smile and dashes away.
Yeah it was good that i answered that way, it was good, yeah? Yeah, being with her would've been insanely complicated and a hassel, I'm not even a lesbian right? Yeah so then. Why, why, why.
Why am i crying
Noelle cried, no, she bawled her eyes out. She drops to her knees crying uncontrollably.
I lied..... i lied, Akarsha didn't even mean for us to date, she just wanted clarity to a crush, and i lied. I LIED TO HER
*hick* I... i am so so sorry.
Noelle walked home with blurry eyes and a million thoughts rushing through her mind, the regret is written all over her face.
Later that night, she tried to rationalize what she had done. But she knew what she did, she knew she rejected a great opportunity for a boring and safe choice, a choice she didn't like or wanted.
The week after, Akarsha and Noelle didn't interact much, Akarsha's pranks slowed down significantly. Noelle felt, well lonely.
After 2 weeks, she came to a resolution, if Akarsha wasn't gonna live with regret, then neither would she. Noelle was gonna tell her how she felt, no matter what happens.
But then, when she came to school, she saw Akarsha holding hands with a guy.
Noelle's heart sank.
What was happening? What is... going on.
Turns out he asked Akarsha out just the day prior, and well, things happened.
Noelle buried it all in, she would tell her when they graduated she said. But a moment never came, those 2 would stay together all throughout high school, and on graduation day, those 2 stayed together at all times.
Heh, maybe she found love, thats... great, thats awesome, she moved on. Thats great, i mean, i did roundly reject her, so yeah.... she was able to move on, I hope shes happy, yes ....
Noelle would cry herself to sleep for many many nights. She would come to regret her indecisiveness for the rest of her days.
Until....