Archive of Our Own ^beta

Seele raises a brow at you as your phone vibrates for the umpteenth time. "Shouldn't you get that?"

You should; your recent hookup-turned-situationship has been awfully persistent about seeing you again, and you've been ignoring his texts all night. You shrug at her. "Probably."

Beside you, March snickers. "It's nothing to worry about. I don't think ignoring this boytoy will get him off your back."

Firefly makes a sound of surprise, and you roll your eyes as March eyes you. "Don't call him that, March."

The pink-haired girl scoffs. "Isn't that what he is?" After a moment of silence, her jaw drops. "No way. Did he get promoted to something more?" She gasps, pressing a hand to her chest as if to clutch at pearls that aren't there. "Do you have a b-word?"

"It's not like that," you respond, turning when you catch movement in your periphery. Bronya walks toward the four of you with a receipt in her hands, being ever the sweetheart and paying for your meals. You smile as you catch her eye. "Thanks, Bronya."

Bronya smiles back at you before moving to stand beside her girlfriend (who is still staring at you skeptically). Firefly trails after the pair as they leave through the restaurant's double glass doors, and you lag behind all of them, weighed down by a huffy March who clings to your arm and demands answers.

Your fond irritation drops off and gives way to shock when you spot a familiar motorcycle parked across the lot. You stop in your tracks, watching dumbfoundedly as the owner of the bike takes off his helmet and shakes his head side-to-side, turning his long dirty blonde locks into a mess. He hangs his helmet on the edge of one of the handles and turns toward the restaurant doors, his amber eyes scanning your friends before locking onto you.

When his eyes meet yours, he raises an eyebrow, as if chastising you for ignoring his messages. He crosses his arms across his chest and takes slow, leisure strides across the lot toward you.

March pulls at your arm sharply. You side-eye her just enough to see her jaw hanging open as she eyes the man approaching you. "That's your man?"

"I told you it's not like that," you hiss at her before freeing yourself from her grasp. You turn just in time to see him stop in front of you. He tilts his head to the side expectantly, and you clear your throat.

"I don't remember telling you where I would be tonight, Mydei," you state matter-of-factly.

He shrugs nonchalantly. "Phainon."

Damn it. You and your childhood friend have a tendency to get involved in each other's love lives where you really had no business being. You would have to get him back for this.

You smile a little too sweetly at him. "And you decided to show up?"

His gaze sweeps over you before sliding over to your friends standing behind you. "I wanted to see who you were with."

You force a laugh, a poor attempt to distract yourself from the way you flush red. "Why? You jealous?"

Mydei meets your eyes, and your heart skips a beat at the intensity of his gaze. He steps closer to you, lifting one hand in the air and letting it linger mere centimeters away from your hip. "Let me take you home."

You're caught off guard. Sure, you knew what you had with Mydei had turned into something a little more than just hooking up, but you weren't expecting this— had he really shown up out of jealousy? Did he think you were ignoring him because you were seeing someone else?

You look at Seele, whose apartment you were planning to head back to after dinner. "Do you still want me to—"

"Nope. Have fun," Seele interrupts, trying to leave the situation as fast as possible. She gives you a curt wave before turning her back to you, heading toward her car. "We'll see you tomorrow."

Bronya and Firefly trail after Seele awkwardly. March flashes you two thumbs-up and an ear-splitting smile before bouncing off after them.

You turn back to Mydei and sigh playfully. "You scared off my friends."

He hums in response, moving to stand beside you and wrapping an arm around your waist. "They've had your attention all day. They'll be fine."

"Someone sounds a little irritated." You lean your head against his arm and peer up at him, grinning. "Surely me not answering you didn't bother you that much?"

Mydei frowns down at you, before taking your chin between his hands. He leans down and presses his lips to yours in a surprisingly tender kiss, one so unlike the countless others you two have exchanged. Your heart leaps again at the unexpected affection.

You're a bit breathless when he breaks the kiss. "Don't play coy with me."

He looks away from you and across the lot, releasing his hold on your waist to take your hand in his. Dazed, you allow him to guide you toward his motorcycle.

Maybe it is like that.

And there's no doubt that your phone's newfound incessant buzzing is March rubbing it in your face.