Be With Me Chapter 7: A change

Months went by and every waking moment was spent with Eijirou. Every afternoon he would come over and stay for dinner then you two would do your homework together and after another hour or so he would go home and you two would be texting and calling until all hours of the night. +

You had been over to his place and seen his mother again. She was just as excited as your mum had been that you two had found each other again.

One afternoon at school the firebell rang. Nobody seemed too panicked and filed out into the corridor that is, until, they saw black smoke billowing out from the stairwell. Then all hell broke loose.

Students were screaming and yelling and running in all directions. You pushed yourself up against the hall wall and wildly looked around, trying to figure out which way to go. You were about to make a move when a strong hand grabbed your wrist.

“ICKY!” A familiar voice called to you over the din of the panicked school members. “DON’T WORRY, I’M HERE! I’LL SAVE YOU!”

“Let’s play savings, Sharky!” You yelled back and he flashed you a big toothy smile before pulling you along behind him weaving his way through the crowd. The smoke was getting thicker and he took his jacket off and told you to hold it over your nose.

“But what about you?!” You said worriedly.

“Don’t worry about me, all I care is about you.” He said, re-taking your hand and leading you to a different stairwell.

“This way!” He called, pushing the door open.

You stepped through behind him but someone shoved you as you took a step and you tripped, stumbling towards the top of the stairs. Eijirou yanked you back towards him but your sharp tug on his arm, as you fell, knocked him off balance and he only just had time to wrap you in his arms as you both fell down the stairs.

He flicked himself under you so that he took all of the hits as you both bounced down the stairs. He didn’t care though he was happy he had you safely wrapped in his arms. You screamed as the two of you tumbled and bounced down the first flight, landing heavily on the flat landing spot before the next flight down began.

“Shark! Are you ok?! I’M SO SORRY!” You yelled, pushing yourself off him and checking him over. He was winded but otherwise ok. “Why didn’t you use your quirk?!” You quizzed him emphatically. “You could have hurt yourself really badly!”

“I…Couldn’t.” He choked out, still trying to catch his breath. “If I had…” he coughed a few times. “Activated it.” He coughed again. “It would have cut you.”

Your eyes widened as you realized he took those hit and didn’t think about protecting himself because it would have hurt you.

Your eyes welled up with tears and you fell into him to hug him. “Sharky.” You sobbed. “You’re too sweet, you didn’t need to take all that pain for me!”

“But that’s what best friends do.” He whispered back. Patting you on the head. “I need to get you out of here though. It’s not safe.” He said, pulling both of you up to standing. He helped you down the last flight of stairs and pushed the stairwell door open.

……

The paramedics treated Eijirou for smoke inhalation and significant bruising and you stayed with him in the infirmary until he was discharged.

You were still overwhelmed by Eijirou’s care of you and you called your mum to come and pick you both up from school, on the way home you told her about how heroic he had been and he blushed when he heard you gushing about him.

That weekend you hung out together as usual. “Hey Sharky, lets go to the new cafe down the road.” You said enthusiastically.

“Yeah ok.” He said, smiling at you. He didn’t care where you two went, as long as he was with you he was happy.

You both left the house and walked down to the cafe chatting as you walked.

He pushed the door open for you and ushered you inside. It was a cute little cafe with booth seats and you found a quiet little table and sat down, perusing the menu. A bubbly young waitress suddenly appeared at the end of the table and introduced herself as your waitress for the day and Eijirou fell silent.

You glanced up at him and he was just staring at the girl.
You cleared your throat. “You ready to order, Shark?”

“Shark?” The waitress asked with a little giggle.

“Oh, uh. That’s my uh, nickname.” Eijirou stuttered.

“It’s cute.” The girl responded, tilting her head to the side with a gorgeous smile.

“Wow….” Eijirou breathed. “You have a beautiful smile.”

“Oh thank you.” She blushed.

You watched on, confused. After you and he had ordered you asked him the burning question.

“What’s up with you?” You asked with a little giggle.

“Hmm?” He hummed in question, looking over to where the waitress had walked off to. “Oh sorry Ick!” He suddenly snapped back to your conversation. “What was your question?”

You raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you ok? You keep staring at her?”

“Oh really? Is it that obvious?”

You burst out laughing. “Umm yes! Like OBVIOUSLY obvious.”

“Oh sorry.” He chuckled with embarrassment, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s…Really cute.” He said, glancing back to where his new interest was working. The waitress had looked over at him and winked when she saw him watching her. He blushed and looked away.

You were amused but at the same time you felt a little bit sad. Why though?

The rest of your lunch at the cafe was a bit disjointed as all of your questions and comments seemed to fall on somewhat deaf ears.
Eijirou was absolutely smitten by the waitress and spent most of his time staring dreamily at her.

As you two were about to leave he asked you to wait for a second. You stopped and watched as he walked over to the waitress he had been admiring all afternoon. They had a short chat and she gestured to you. He shook his head and she beamed.

You crossed your arms.

<<< Chapter 6: Best of friends

Chapter 8: Depression sets in >>>