Vulnerability of Friends

I place my test on the professors desk trying to rush out before Natsuo notices or catches up to me hoping I can go check up on Dabi before lunch. He's only accepted my excuses the first two days leaving me unable to check in with him all day other than text the past three. He's getting a lot better and will probably leave tonight when it's late enough not to be noticed. I want to spend more time with him before he goes, being a Friday there's no class today at 2 and I don't want to give Natsuo the chance to talk me into a party or something later. My hopes of avoiding him are dashed when he jogs up in front of me, curse his athletic build. "Are you pissed at me for something Y/NC, feel like you've been trying to avoid me lately." I look at him like he's stupid "Well, what the hell is it then?" I let out a long sigh "I just don't feel very social and it's the party time of the year, I have a hard time telling you no most of the time so I've just been trying to avoid the questions all together." He laughs pulling me into a hug. "So just say so dummy, I've got your back no matter what. Let's get lunch check on Ryoko and then you can go hide away little crab."

"I'm not hungry." He looks at me suspicious "Let's go see Ryoko for a bit then I'll head out after." He shrugs leading the way to the bus stop. I send I quick message to Dabi letting him know I couldn't shake off Natsuo and I'll be there in about an hour. "You know since you're not going to come out with everyone tonight you should ask your mystery boyfriend for a face pic. Maybe just send him one, bet he'll feel compelled to return the favor." I laugh "Yeah, I'll send a tit pic while I'm at it." He looks at me from the corner of his eye "you should. I can tell you like him so what's the harm in upping things a little, you talk enough he knows you're a catch by now, seal the deal by showing him you got the goods. Dudes would line up for three blocks for a date with you if they saw your body, it's nice you shouldn't hide away with your big ass hoodies and sweater." Not this again, he swears I hide everything about myself from everyone but him and that I'm some babe or something "I don't hide as much as you think I do." He looks at me seriously. "Yuri told everyone that you would only have sex with the lights off, you always kept a big tee shirt on, and you wouldn't let him touch your boobs in anyway." I'm going to kill that fucker he didn't have to tell the world about my insecurities, honestly I only had sex with him because I knew how sexually active he was and I hoped he wouldn't fuck other girls if he was getting it from me. The guys didn't bother me, I knew he was bi when we met and I get that a man and woman are very different.

"I sent him a pic of me a few weeks back wearing shorts and a bra, there happy now?" He widens his eyes "You little fucking flirt, why am I just now hearing about this, what did he do? What did he say? I bet he loved it." Fuck why did I tell him that "First he threated to find and murder whoever left bruises on my arms." He nods approvingly. "Then he told me he was adding it to his spank bank before we had phone sex." He's going to catch flies gawking at me like that "Have you at least gotten something similar in return?" I cover my face with my hands "Before I sent him the pic he sent me one of him with his shirt over his face." He yanks my hands down. "Annnnddddddd?" Dammit Natsuo why can't I keep secrets from you "And he's hot ok, like super-hot it's my favorite pic and I look at it all the time like some crackhead." He starts imitating smoking crack while cackling at the same time. "I'm glad Y/NC he seems like a nice solid dude, maybe more will come of it in time." I look down, he wouldn't say this if he knew who he really was. Then again I know and I haven't changed my mind even now I wish I were with him. When the bus pulls up we get on taking a seat, when Natsuo puts his arm behind my seat I burry my face into him and just cry for a moment. "I'm sorry Y/NC" He holds me petting my hair. "I know you don't like talking about such vulnerable things thanks for sharing with me."

Ryoko stands in front of me patting at her hair making zero progress at fixing it to get ready for work. I sit her in front of the mirror "I'll brush your hair while you fix your makeup" She gives me an embarrassed look that I return with a sympathetic one making no comment at the fresh marks on her neck as I move her hair behind her. I pretty much knew this would happen if we came to see her at home instead of waiting for her to be at work after our normal lunch time. If I've never understood how difficult it can be to hold yourself back around a guy you really like I really get it now. Changing Dabis bandages every day for the last five days has been driving me crazy, constantly reminding myself he's hurt and it's a bad idea for me to try anything. He's a lot better now and about all I can think about is how badly I want to kiss him at the very least before he goes. I wouldn't mind way more than that, he's thought about it for sure made a little joke about how I should bring condoms back since I didn't have any but I'm too embarrassed to buy any, yet somehow not embarrassed enough that I didn't seductively whisper in his ear that I have an IUD. I swear I'm possessed near him. Once Ryoko is ready for work we all head out taking the bus to the café, I say my goodbyes and head back to campus from there on foot eager to see Dabi.