"I'm not lying."
"Lyn, just shut up. Tell me the real reason why you made me leave. Because I need a real answer."
"Because Kei. I'm a ticking bomb."
He stares at me, clearly confused.
"Lyn, what do you mean?"
"I have heart disease. And lucky me, it is the most deadly one. Coronary artery disease. I've been to the hospital for heart failure. And the last time that I got attached to someone….I had a heart attack and almost died."
Kei just stares at me. Then he starts to laugh. He laughs for a second and then pauses.
"Do you really think that I will want nothing to do with you because of that? Lyn, I want you even more because of it. It means that it would be meaningful, and I could help you through everything. Don't you get that?"
Now it's my turn to stare. Was I seriously this stupid? Had it just been one guy who messed this up? Wow.
"I.. Umm… wow."
He leans closer to me. All of a sudden, I can feel his breath against my skin.
"See, Lyn? It makes this all so much more fun."
One of his hands has become tangled in my hair already, while the other rests under my chin, lifting it up ever so slightly. I silently stare into his earthy eyes.
"I guess so."
He smirks before moving his hand in my hair to the back of my head. My eyes flutter closed as he slowly lowers his lips onto mine.
Just like normal, something, more like someone, interrupts us.
"Lyn! Tsukishima!"
I jerk away from Kei and look towards the source of the voice. Hinata stands there at the entrance to the library, his cheeks a bright red. He stammers out his next sentence.
"Wee… were all.. All… umm eating.. But I... I... if you're busy…I guess…"
I laugh nervously and move out of Kei's arms before turning to face Hinata. He is still standing quite awkwardly while trying to look everywhere but at us.
"Don't worry, Hinata, I'm always hungry. I'll go eat with the team!"
Kei snorts.
"Yes, Lyn, we know you're always hungry."
I turn towards him and slap his arm. Some days, he annoys the crap out of me, but other days…
"Umm, ok, well follow me then!!" Hinata zips out of the library as fast as his 2-inch legs can take him.
Kei laughs and turns to face me.
"We are gonna pretend that this," he waves between me and him, "never happened, right?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out!" I yell before sprinting after Hinata.
I finally catch up with him in the gym, where all the other players give me a sideways glance. Hinata seems to be extra fidgety.
"So, Lyn? Do you know where Tsukki is?" Yamaguchi calls out with a smirk.
"Yep. He's in the library. Or maybe he's trying to catch up with me." I shrug.
Yamaguchi smiles like he has more to say before going silent. Hinata looks at his feet before Tanaka walks over to me.
"So, you and Tsukishima were both gone, and also gone in the same place. Seems suspicious. Anything happening?" He raises an eyebrow, trying to look intimidating.
I laugh and shake my head.
"No, he's torturing me in algebra 2. I promise there is nothing else, Tanaka."
"If you're sure…." He walks away with a little smirk.
Coach Unki walks in, followed by a lot of people carrying boxes. Each of them sends off a fume of heavenly food.
"Lyn! I thought you were done here?" The coach called out.
"I decided to come back." I say with a smile.
Everyone's head turns to me. It seems like the calm before the storm. Then, not so shockingly, they all rush to me and swarm around me. Lots of chaotic "You're really staying?" "Wh,y though?" "What happened?" and lots of other things that get lost. It all stops when Kei walks into the room.
"Hey!" His voice booms, "What are all of you hulagins doing?"
They all part the seas around me, and he makes direct eye contact with me. I give a meek smile and then turn back to the coach.
"Umm.. let's eat?" I say.
"Let's eat!!" Hinata and Kageyama yell.
Everyone laughs and then starts to rip open the boxes, trying to find the best food. Kei and Yamaguchi just sort of stand off to the side, watching the chaotic team tear through food. I make my way over to them and stand by Kei.
"You know, you're going to pass out if you don't eat enough.." I mutter to them.
Both of them aggressively side-eye me.
"I'm not hungry." They say in unison.
I roll my eyes.
"Did I ask? No. So, you're coming with me, and we are going to try and get anything that is left over."
They groan and follow me to an untouched box. Inside are layers of different types of barbecue, accompanied by corn and rice. All three of our stomachs growl as we stare at the box.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" I smile.
The three of us sit down around the box and eat, very, very slowly. By now, most of the team has finished eating. Hinata and Kageyama are currently arguing about who is smarter, even though everyone knows that both of them are about as dumb as a rock. Heck, that was offensive to a rock!
After about thirty minutes me, Yamaguchi, and Kei are stuffed and tired. Only half of our box was even emptied.
"Hey, Hinata! Do you want the rest?"
The little red head dashes over and gobbles up the remainder in a matter of seconds. We all look at each other and laugh. Why is it not shocking that he ate it all? It must be where he gets all his energy! Hinata glares at us before waddling back over to Kageyama. I turn my head towards Kei to find him staring at me. His face flushes red as he glances away.
I stand up and start walking over to where everyone else is standing. Kei stalks after me.
"So, are you all excited to have me back?" I ask.
Everyone starts talking at once. That is, till Kei placed his hand on my head, ruffled my hair, and said, "Well, duh, little kid."
I smack his hand and turn to face him.
"What did you just call me!?"
"Little kid." He replies with a sly smile.
"Oh, really bean pole?"
"Why yes, little kid."
Someone in the back coughs.
"Get a room." Someone else, or maybe the same person, mutters.
I roll my eyes and turn back to everyone else. All of them are staring at me and Kei.
"I'm good." I say while scrunching my nose.
They all laugh and return to talking about some sort of volleyball match that they had talked about without Kei, Yamaguchi, and me.
Kei looked down at me and smiled. Something about his stuid smile was absolutely amazing.
"Do you need something?" I ask.
"We never finished your algebra.."
I smile and follow him out of the gym. He's walking at a slow pace, probably so that I don't have to rush with my little legs.
"Never mind, you're to slow." He stops in the middle of the hall ad turns to me.
All of a sudden, hes lifting me up in his arms and walking my to the library.
"Kei, what are you doing?" I laugh.
He smiles and keeps walking. Kei sits down on the library coach with me still in his lap. I glance at him, to see him intently staring at me.
"Can I help you?" I ask.
"Why yes, in fact you can."
"How?"
"You should already know the answer." His eyes flicker down to my lips as he grins.