Chapter Text
>It's been a little over a month since the break, life going mostly the same. Gardening every few days with Stella, sitting through the same sleep inducing classes. But there's a fly in the ointment. A human-shaped one.
>He showed up, a new student, right at the start of the semester and at first I thought not much of it, just another student in the sea of faces. Less scales on him, though.
>He'd started coming to campus beautification, not on his own volition, mind you, but rather because he got into a... "spat" with Fang. I didn't get a straight answer from him, or anyone for that matter but from the rumors I've heard, some even from Stella, the two went at each others throat after the disastrous concert the first day back. Can't say I blame him much, Fang is quite a handful, their own life a swarm of problems but I do worry about both of them. Surely being a new Human in a Saurian filled school comes with it's own host of problems. I'd even brought this up to Stella at one point and she seemed ecstatic at the idea of talking to him more often, even floating the idea of inviting him to our table at lunch. Not a bad idea Stella, I made a mental note to talk to him at the upcoming beautification, as if his word is to be trusted, he'll be continuing to join in "until the heat death of the universe."
>The Saturday arrives, unceremoniously and I show up, bright and early eager to make some friends and rip some nasty weeds out. Figuratively and literally, maybe even.
>As I'm preparing the tools and getting the lunch I've brought into a fridge in a small room dedicated to the gardening club, Spears approaches me, making his presence known with a dry cough
>"Oh, spears. Buenos Dias." I beam at him "How was your morning?"
>"Wonderful, Rosa thank you." He shows a small smile "I actually need to ask you of a favor." he leads on
>"Oh? Go ahead." I say, inquiringly
>"...I assume you know of the bad blood between Fang and Mr. Mous?" he asks?
>"Si, senor." I state
>"Both Fang and Mr. Mous will be here today." he states dryly. "I can't ask you to mediate anything between them but please." Spears tone shifts into one asking a genuine, deep favor. "Please just don't let it get any worse between them." Spears asks, deflating
>"Oh, I'd love to Spears, sir." I say to him "I hate to see the both of them suffer like that." I admit to Spears.
>Spears jovial smile returns, a weight lifted off him "Thank you, Rosa. You're too dependable. Ah, before I forget here." Spears reaches into his jacket pocket, retrieving a small stack of papers.
>"These are forms for funding allocation. The latest visit form the superintendent left a absolutely glowing mark on the schools review, and as such I've bumped your monthly allowances." He says, handing me the paper
>I quickly eye the papers, realizing the "bump" spears mentioned was an almost 50% increase in funding.
>"S-spears sir I don't think I could possi-" I state before Spears cuts me off
>"Use it to treat your members to a meal or a day out." He says smiling.
>"But sir isn't that misuse of club funding?" I plead
>Spears guffaws and begins leaving the room "Just don't report it to me." He says waving his hand "Oh and this conversation didn't happen." He says, winking before fully turning away and leaving the room
>After taking a moment to parse the fact that Spears just bumped our club to full catering for every meeting I quickly scurry out to deliver the news to Stella
>The talk must've lasted longer than I'd imagined as there are students lined-up to receive Spears debrief, those that are veterans covering their eyes in response to the incoming ear-shattering speech
>As Spears gives his talk about beautification and manual labor being good for the character I shoot a text to Stella, letting her know that we've suddenly acquired some slush funds
>Her quick texts back lament not being able to eat my homemade cooking, but quickly rebound into joy at being able to eat out during the weekday meetings with the weekends still having the option of restaurant-level Rexican food. Her words not mine
>Spears finishes up his speech and I quickly pocket my phone, ready to assign partners.
>Most pair off quickly enough but as luck would have it, Fang and Anon are left alone, again. Sucking air through my beak I approach the two.
>"...well sorry you two, I know you aren't on the best of terms but please play nice for today, si?" I ask the two, pleadingly
>They both fire a burning glare at each other, no words spoken but both give a nod. I pray to Raptor Jesus I don't have to come back over here but a small part of me knows it's going to come to that.
>"...we'll take vine trimming." Fang says quietly, going towards the vine trimmers laid out next to the other gardening tools and gloves.
>"Si, grab some gloves you two and no, Fang fingerless don't count." Fang's expression doesn't change
>I turn away, returning to supervising the rest of the group with Stella and not even a minute later I begin to hear voices behind me, where I just left Fang and Anon. Dios mio.
>I whip my head around to see Anon, laying back in the flowerbed. Ass planted right on my Middlemist Red Camelias. As I begin approaching, anger rising at the idiotas trampling my hard work the scene becomes even clearer. Fang is stand over Anon, fist raised as if to strike.
>My pace triples, almost a full sprint as I shout "FANG. NO." Their face twisting up to meet my eyes, shock setting in as I plant myself squarely between Anon and Fang, peering down my snout into Fang's eyes
>"What the hell is this!?" I bark at Fang "I turn away ONE. SECOND. and now he's flattened in my Middlemists and you're about to HIT him!?" Fang shrinks at my words.
>"Explain. NOW!" I scream at them.
>"He grabbed my tail!" Fang explains frustratedly
>I glance back at Anon, face drained of color from shock. I peer into his green eyes, fear clearly dilating his pupils.
>"Explain yourself, chico." I say to him
>"I-it was an accident I swear." He stutters out as an excuse. "I was getting blinded by the vines and i just reached out an-" he's cut off by Fang's voice
>"BULLSHIT you pervert! You just-" Fang clamps their snout shut as I shoot a piercing gaze straight through them. If looks could kill I would have seared a hole straight through their forehead.
>"Fang, go find Stella. Follow her the rest of the day and if I hear one. And I mean a SINGULAR. bad thing from her, Spears hears about this." I order Fang
>"Y-yes ma'am." Fang says, eyes darting away from mine.
>I turn to face Anon, poor thing shocked beyond belief and borderline shaking. I reach down offer a hand, of which he slowly reciprocates and I pull him to his feet. I may have used a bit too much strength as I note he rubs his shoulder as he regains his footing.
>"Th-thanks, Rosa it really was an accident I swear." he stammers out another explanation
>"I understand, chico." I assure him, helping brush some of the vines and dirt off him. "You okay?" I ask
>Anon pauses a while, looking at me, seemingly forming a thought in his head, or maybe even debating talking about what's been going on. He finally finds the words "Uh, yeah I suppose I'll be alright." he sighs.
>"Okay, that's good." I flash him a smile. "Unfortunately looks like we're gonna be partnered up." I say to him
>"And that means we're on weeding and replanting duty." I gesture at the smushed flowers in the shape of Anon.
>"I get it." he says defeatedly, "partially my fault I guess." his eyes meet his shoes
>"Wanna talk about this whole Fang thing?" I ask as innocently as I can
>Anon lets out a deep sigh before starting "...You know Fang's concert at the start of the year? Yeah I was at that and I uh..." he trails off scratching his head
>"I got swept up in the moment and laughed at them, like everyone else. Felt regret pretty much immediately after that, really." he continues. "Felt like I needed to say sorry and make a promise to be better, I think?" he's looking up now
>"I don't know..." he takes a moment "But I do know the way I tried to do it was a mistake. Big one."
>Anon glances at me, realizing he's been telling the story for a while.
>"Oh uh, I can talk while we do this." He points at the flowers. "Just interrupt if you need to."
>"Take your time, chico." I warmly assure him
>We begin the slow effort of replanting the smashed flowers, digging out the old, replanting with new. Anons hands shake the entire time we do the work and I'm unsure if it's from the adrenaline of being seconds away from a physical altercation or from the emotion of talking about his rough experience the last month.
>"I felt the need to apologize as soon as I could, so I went to find Naser." He admits
>"He was hanging out in the parking lot and I approached him, explaining myself to best of my ability. Poorly I guess." he says, belittling himself again. Seems to do that a lot and watching him do that hurts me a little.
>"Naser was not pleased but decided to give me one chance, he was Fang's ride home so all I had to do was wait and apologize there in person after they'd show up. So I did. Naser and I made small talk, he was clearly still mad at the concert-goers but wasn't that angry at me." Anon takes a moment to brush the sweat off his brow. Humans sweat at the literal drop of a hat, i've noticed.
>"And eventually Fang did show up out the side of the school and uh..." Anon pauses, his entire form tensing at the thought.
>"Sh- uh they were... bleeding. Pretty not great view." I stop what I'm doing and sit back on my knees, looking at Anon worriedly.
>"Learned later it's called stress preening I think? Naser told me. Anyway sh-they, shit. THEY didn't notice me as they got close to the car so I spoke up as they got close."
>Anon pauses again, matching my stance. Looking away with his hands resting on his legs. Strange time to notice but since Anon has been showing up to the beautification so often he's bulked out slightly. Not a bad look on him.
>Anon continues "And uh, I put my foot in my mouth. Tried to apologize, explain myself but I fumbled and managed to address them as a "her"." Anon's looking down again, pain strewn across his figure.
>"It was a comment to Naser, said something like "Tell her what I told you." " He says "And uh, I took a fist to the jaw for that one." he states.
>I can only watch in horror as he's telling this story, wanting to cradle him and tell him it's alright but I sit ramrod straight, just listening.
>"It took a few more kicks to the ribs before Naser pulled them off me but the message was well received." he sniffles, wiping his face.
>"and now here we are I guess." He says, eyes slightly misted over.
>"...dios mio An-on, are you alright?"I ask, my own eyes starting to mist up as well
>"Yeah, uh yeah. It's been a while I just kind of had this hope in the back of my head they'd cooled down and we could at least act civil again but I guess that was just well-wishing." he finishes, eyes shooting finding anywhere to be other than mine.
>A tickle in the back of my head tells me now might be the time to try to lift his spirits, the funding "bump" a great way to bridge the gap.
>"I'm so sorry to hear that Anon, you've had a hell of a welcome to Volcano High." I say, a small smile forming across my face
>"So why don't you let me give you a bit of a better one, the gardening club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays afterschool as well and I'd like you to swing by." my smile widens as I send the invite to Anon
>"Oh uh..." Anon is clearly looking for a way to politely decline, he wasn't a big fan of gardening to being with and tacking extra onto his plate was not his idea of a fun afternoon, clearly. Unfortunately for him I've got a secret weapon
>"We were granted permission actually to take those days off and have a day out on school funds." I shoot him a devilish smile
>"What?" He says shocked that I or Stella of all people would dare use official school resources like that "But isn't that a-" I cut him off
>"It's fine as long as no one tells Spears. You gonna tell spears?" My grin only widens
>Anon takes a much longer pause, clearly weighing his options. I don't feel great about having to leverage his less-than-amazing financial position like this but I really think this will be a good thing.
>"Alright, you got me." he says shrugging. "So do I need to fill out some documents to join or do you just slap me on the roster?" He asks
>"Oh no worries, An-On." I boast "I can get you on the roster by Tuesday, just show up here right after school." I beam at him, deviousness in my smile replaced with sincerity.
>"...thanks, Rosa." he says, blushing slightly as he begins to turn, muttering under his breath >"...whys a beautiful woman like her want anything to do with me?"
>I freeze. Clearly he didn't mean for me to hear that. My mind races a moment. Did he mean that? Clearly he has problems with his internal filter but then does that mean he's sincere?.. I push it away, surely it was just a compliment and I'm being weird about this.
>The rest of the beautification goes rather normally, Anon and I's weeding and replanting taking a while. Noon begins to rear it's head, sun high in the sky and I make the call to shoo away all the groaning teens regretting ever wronging Spears.
>Fang's one of the first to leave, the literal second I begin allowing departure's they tear out of there like their tail was on fire. Didn't appreciate that much but I can understand why, poor thing.
>I turn to face Anon, again who's now pretty well and soaked, this being one of the worst days both emotionally and physically for the guy, it seems. I stop a second, remembering his muttering before and second guess letting him go for today. Instead
>"An-on we're actually going to have lunch. Would you like to join?" I ask
>Anon blinks a few times, registering what I'd just asked him before his stomach can respond before his mouth does
>"I take that as a yes then?" I giggle at him
>"...yeah. I'm not interrupting or like, stretching the food too thin?" he asks sheepishly
>"No, not at all." I confirm "I usually have more than enough in case Spears joins us but he seems to have gone home already today."
>"Shit if you can feed Spears then absolutely." He says, eagerness picking up in his voice, but as Anon begins approaching stops in his tracks a few feet behind, sniffing
>"Uh, actually Rosa I'm soaked in sweat. I'm sure you two don't want me reeking your table up to high-heaven, sorry." he says, dejectedly starting to turn away
>He wasn't lying, I could tell from the several feet away that he was quite, odious but strangely it didn't really bother me. As that thought crossed my mind a second one did, right after. Both were silenced as quickly as I could muster before I opened my snout again.
>"I-it's fine, if it's that bad we can always have you sit a table away. Besides you don't- I mean i'm sure you don't smell THAT bad." I stumble over my words
>Anon smiles gently at my insistence, even if we're both confused at my sudden inability to speak
>And so Anon joins our little lunch party, Stella barely noticing Anon's smell whatsoever.
>The small talk betwixt us is nothing more than noise to keep the awkwardness away, mainly speaking of how well the garden is doing but we eventually settle in on the topic of schooltime activities. Stella leading the conversation speaking of how well she's doing in all her classes and that Anon can come speak to her during Tsuki's class, which to both Anon and my surprise they share. Stella looks slightly dejected about his ignorance but the excitement of having someone to geek to about her cartoons outweighs her negativity immensely.
>As this comes up the idea of doing this daily, albeit with a less exhausted group, comes to mind.
>"An-on who do you happen to sit with at lunch?" I ask, poised to invite him to our little outside table
>"Well, it was Naser for a while but..." He trails off
>"Don't laugh please." his voice is almost a whisper, strained and forced
>"I won't." I answer quietly as the mood takes an instant turn for the morose
>"I eat alone now. Can't handle being around Naser anymore after the third time he apologized for Fang... yknow." Anon says through gritted teeth looking down. No better time than the present it seems
>"Why don't you come sit with us then." chimes Stella before I could even open my mouth.
>Impressed by Stella's charge into this topic I quickly follow up "Yeah of course Anon we'd love to have you." as the words exit my mouth my heart twinges for some reason
>Anons face lights up, the previous worry washing off him almost instantly "Uh wow, thanks you two. I don't really know what to say. Oh, uh yes, I will if I wasn't clear. I guess." Anon stutters out, rubbing the back of his neck. Watching him cutely fumble over himself brings a smi- Wait, cutely? Do I...
>Stella squeaks in excitement, yanking me out of my internal questionnaire. "Oh oh why don't we do a quick tarot reading for our futures!"
>"Stella, now's not really the time to..." I trail off as Stella stares into my eyes with the biggest wettest puppy dog eyes I've ever seen. A record even for her
>"Ah, fine chica go on." I huff out
>Stella swiftly rips her little black magic deck out of her pockets, how that thing isn't in tatters at this point is beyond me but she quickly shuffles the lot and begins fanning them out.
>"Alright one each for our futures." She beams offering Anon the first choice
>He pulls a card out, showcasing it to the Stego.
>"Upright Fool!" she beams at him. "New beginnings or freedom. A new friend group!" Stella beams extremely hard at the two of us, Anon is flips the card over in his hand a few times before adressing Stella
>"Pretty topical I guess." He chuckles before giving the card back.
>Stella points the fan at me now, "Dealer always goes last, yknow
>I begrudgingly take a card and flip it over when my heart stops in my chest.
>"Upright Lovers!" Stella looks at me with huge excited eyes. "Oh I'm so excited for you!" Stella pulls me into a hug
>Shit
>I hand Stella the card back, putting on the best mask I can manage.
>Anon pipes up "Upright lovers means like girlfriend boyfriend stuff yeah?"
>Stella gently corrects him "Doesn't have to, could just be relationships in general. Like a friend or family too but it's a good thing!"
>Stella thing quickly rips a card out herself
>"Hmph." She's clearly not too pleased with what she's gotten. "Upright Hierophant. Just means normalcy in regards to me." Stella slightly angrily places the card back into the stack
>"Uh, chica can I do one more?" I ask wearily to Stella
>She pauses blinking at me "Oh worried about our love life are we?" Stella chides
>"I just wanna double check." Anxiety firing through me
>"Oh relax it's probably just Anon joining our friend group." Stella dismisses, "but you can always pull one more." She shuffles and fans the deck out again
>I close my eyes and pick another card. When I open then I'm met by an extremely smug expression from Stella. I glance down at what I've pulled.
>Upright Lovers. Again
>"Can't run from it, Rosa." she giggles and takes the card from me. Returning it to the deck and the deck to her pocket
>I side-eye Anon looking for any reaction but he seems uninterested. Oh god
>"Weeeeell I probably should get going." Anon says, standing and patting his stomach. "Incredible cooking, Rosa. You gotta teach me to cook like that. And herbivore too? Good lord."
>"Y-yeah sure I'd lo- like to Anon yeah." I fall over myself again, standing as well
>"This was nice Anon, we'll see you Monday" Stella says waving to Anon as he starts leaving.
>"Yeah, Monday An-on!" I half-yell to him as he's already several dozens of feet away.
>Anon turns back, flashing a smile and a quick wave as we walks, my heart twinging as he does.
>I bid my farewell to Stella as I've got some reflection to do, my drive home filled with thoughts and second guesses as to how I actually feel. After back and forth deliberation with myself I'd only come to one actual tangible thought.
>I'll just have to keep hanging around him. The finality of the thought makes my heart soar again. At the very least I like being around him, I concede.
>Sunday passes quickly, mainly being filled by church service but the afternoon whilst texting Stella an interesting conversation forms. Where are we going for our outing? Stella and I fire back and forth, both offering several options but unable to come to an agreement, but Anons name comes up several times. At the very least he can be a tie-breaker but we both agreed to get a vote from him before proceeding. Stella even remarks we should have exchanged numbers yesterday and we're going to need to Monday. My mind races when Stella mentions speaking to Anon more outside of school. This is going to be hard to get used to.
>Monday's classes go by rather uneventfully, my thoughts all morning landing squarely on the changes to lunch and the day out tomorrow. it's getting harder and harder to tell myself I don't feel anything about Anon as every single time his face shows up in my thoughts I have to take a moment to collect myself.
>It's lunch time and I've never been so anxious. I still my heart and remind myself that we're friends and the best I can do is simply enjoy our time today. That thought reassures me greatly as Stella begins talking my ear off about some new anime she started last night, the bags under her eyes betraying how much time she'd actually spent viewing it.
>"...and then it turns out he's actually some sort of brothers to the villains and..." I tune Stella back out as quickly as I tuned her in as I notice Anon approaching, slightly apprehensively
>I wave him over and beam him a smile, trying to assure him I want him here, WE. We want him here.
>"Hi Anon I was just telling Rosa about this new series I've been watching." Stella jostles in her seat, begging to start the story over
>"Oh uh sure Stella, go nuts." Anon relents
>"Okay so firstly-" Stella is quickly interrupted by a rumble from her stomach. "Aaaactually I gotta go to the little stego's room sorryyoutwogottago." Stella's voice picks up in speed as she powerwalks away. Side effect from staying up all night drinking soda and binging chips, I'm sure.
>And now it's just me. And Anon. Who I probably have a sort of crush on. My heart begins picking up the pace as Anon breaks the silence
>"Rosa I've actually been meaning to thank you." Anon says, a sureness washing over him. he's practiced this
>I merely watch and listen
>"You've been nothing but nice to me the entire time I've known you, and honestly I don't know why. But uh thanks, I really mean it. It means a lot to me." He says, his practice clearly out the window now
>I take a moment to compose myself, forming an answer in my head. No more falling all over myself
>"Everybody deserves to be happy, Anon. Don't put yourself down like that. And I'm happy to help you out, anytime." I beam the purest smile I can muster at him, locking eyes with him for a moment as we savor the sweet moment.
>As I begin to feel the need to break away, a mutter escapes Anon, again. "...what a perfect angel she is."
>I have to squeeze my fists to the point of almost drawing blood to not show a reaction on my face. Any questions I had about this man were out the window now and have been replaced with "when am I going to kiss this clutzy human boy"?
>I clear my throat and turn back to my meal, forcing myself to eat and not just peer at Anon. A sort of silence begins forming when I decide I need to figure out plans for tomorrow, plans for him can wait.
>"So Stella and I have been debating over where we go tomorrow and thought to ask you." I ask him, composure regained.
>"Oh anywhere, really. Beggars can't be choosers." He says through a mouthful of food
>"Guess you're the tiebreaker, then." I say to him, getting my phone out.
>I flick open my texts with Stella, showing him the two options we've finalized on. A little local Rexican joint I've been to a few times and a hole-in-the-wall oriental place Stella has wanted to try out for a while.
>Anon ponders a while then speaks "I kinda feel bad picking sides here but uh... the Rexican place probably. Don't wanna eat some bad sushi and catch a stomach bug." He says
>"Oh don't feel too bad we both want to try both places, maybe Thursday we'll swap, yeah?" I say, starting to type a message away to Stella when I realize the other thing in that chat log we discussed.
>I take a moment to work up the nerves to ask Anon for his phone number, I can always play it off as a club thing if need be but the mere notion of me asking for his number in the first place is making my stomach do barrel rolls.
>"Actually Anon we should probably actually exchange phone numbers." I pause, gauging his reaction
>He doesn't even hesitate as he gets his phone out, preparing to enter the contact info. The prepared excuse of gardening club activities dying where it was born.
>We quickly go through the dance of entering contacts, sending a single text confirmation then repeat with Stella before Stella returns from the bathroom, looking a bit worse for wear.
>"Oh, hermana you okay?" I ask her, clear worry in my voice
>"I'm... okay Rosa just a lil sickly." she says.
>I consider scolding her for the night she's spent but she's too ill to retain any lesson that's she's not already learning from her intestines trying to wring themselves dry.
>As I fawn over the ailing stego the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch as the trudge back to class. Anon gives a quick wave, wishing Stella and I well while I head off to my own afternoon classes, Stella assuring me she'll be okay and if not she's a big girl and can visit the nurse herself.
>The rest of the day passes with a flash, Anon texting me from time to time lamenting his classes. Especially music, a class he happens to share with Fang. From his messages they seem to have calmed down and instead treat him as a ghost, rather than an active aggressor, like before. It stings to see Fang like this but there's not much I can do, at least Anon isn't suffering too much from this.
>Afternoon and dinner with the familia is the same as it always is and before I know it the next day has dawned, breakfast downed, school driven to and classes attended.
>Lunch has very quickly become an exciting part of the day, not just being able to spend it with Stella, the stego who might as well be my sister at this point but being around Anon has firmly cemented itself in my head as a preferred activity. With a pep in my step I head outside to our usual table noticing a particular lack of a lime-yellow Saurian woman. I take a seat, yank my phone out and firing off of a text to Stella I sit impatiently, waiting for one of my two mood lifters to show up
>A few moments later a text arrives from Stella "Out sick today, you two go have fun without me." with a picture of a very sickly looking cat attached
>I quickly begin typing out a get well text as the situation begins setting in my mind. I'm going out today with Anon. Just the two of us. On pretty much a date. Suddenly inspiration strikes. As if the pieces fell directly into place, this is the time to tell Anon. Surely if he meant anything by those muttered lines underneath his breath this will work out. Anxiety racks me as I plan in my head how this might go.
>As my mind races, comparing this situation to the telenovellas mama watches I hear footsteps approaching.
>"Hey whats up Rosa, and where's Stella' Anon says, scanning around for her
>"Oh she's sick, actually." I relay to Anon.
>"Oh I guess this thing this afternoon is off then" He says, shrugging
>A small fire of desperation lights in my soul before I stomp it out. None of that
>"Well we could still go. Stella even wants us to, look." I open my messages to show Anon
>He smiles a light airy smile "Ah how nice of her, I need to tell her thanks." he says as he opens his phone himself to thank her and wish her a speedy recovery
>The rest of lunch passes by rather quickly With no Stella to fill the air with weaboo talk the conversation focuses mainly on schoolwork and how life is. Anon claiming he can't complain too much, his life seems to have finally settled into a comfortable pattern for at least a while.
>My head buzzes with excitement for the rest of the day, excitement and joy about the prospect of a date racking my brain. A bit of a shame we can't really dress up for this but a date's a date, let's not fret over the minutia.
>Classes pass by quickly with the same short texts and jokes with Anon when the time finally comes. I fire off one last text to have Anon meet me in the parking lot. We've spoken a few times about my car during the time when he was in Beautification but this will be the first time he's actually seeing it.
>As he approaches his gait is interrupted a moment as he views my car, some cherry red muscle car mi Papa insisted I drive. Not much into cars myself but he assured me it's safe, reliable and a stunner.
>"Holy shit Rosa what is this?" Anon says, mouth agape
>"Mi Papa insists I drive this thing." I say to anon nonchalantly "Not a car girl but it runs fast and is apparently heavy and tough enough to crumple anything it runs into in to one of those scrapyard cubes." I flash a smile at Anon "Papa's words not mine." I finish
>He whistles before gently climbing into the passenger seat. I crank the roaring engine to life and fly out of the schools lot.
>Anon begins to fiddle with the radio before stopping himself, realizing he probably is gonna tune right into nothing but Rexican music. I chuckle to myself, then decide to pose a question.
>"What kind of music do you listen to, An-on?" I ask, side-eying Anon.
>"Oh uh, believe it or not Boomer Rock." he half-chuckles "Sort of picked it up from my Dad." his face drops immediately at the mention of his father. Must be a touchy subject.
>"How about that." I chime in, "Here, turn on the radio and hit 5." I instruct him
>He nods, and does as told, taking a second to search the controls of the radio, when he presses the 5 button and turns up the radio. The local golden oldies station lights up the car as I shoot a quick smile at Anon
>"Yup, same boat as you actually." I say to Anon, bobbing my head lightly at the sounds coming through the speakers
>"Huh I'd thought you'd listen to..." Anon trails off, realizing where was going with that sentence and stuffing a foot right in his mouth before finishing it
>I let out a snort, catching a glimpse of Anons worried visage, hoping I didn't catch his off color remark. "Oh we're racial stereotyping now cabron? Two can play at that game. Bet you live in Skin Row huh?"
>Anon face contorts, fear streaking across it. A huge pit opens in my stomach as I realized I may have just stepped onto a landmine. He clearly was struggling financially and now I went too far. I need to apologize
>I begin to open my mouth to eke out an apology when Anon starts speaking before I can
>"No don't worry about it you couldn't have known." He sighs and leans back in the seat.
>"Same with the thing earlier about my Dad." He says, looking away.
>The atmosphere in the car is thick enough to cut with a knife, I rack my brain thinking of a way to diffuse the tension but nothing comes to me. Only questions about his life and his situation. Only way I'm ever finding out is if I ask I suppose so I swallow hard and decide to approach as gently as possibly.
>"Are you comfortable telling me? I promise I won't tell anyone." I say, as gently and lovingly as I can muster
>Anon takes a deep breath, filling his body up with a new energy while turning his head to me, questioningly. Curious as to what I gain from this, I'm certain. After thinking for a moment whilst holding the breath he took in he deflates.
>"...okay." he waits a moment before continuing
>"I actually live alone, not with my parents. Moved in here at the start of the year from a place called Rock Bottom. Not a great place." he states mechanically
>"You live in Skin Row alone? Are you doing well, An-on?" I ask, worry permeating the sentence
>"As well as I can be I guess." He says, defeated
>I want nothing more than to pull the car over, cradling Anon in my arms and cooing sweet nothing into his ear but I have to restrain myself. He's hurting so much.
>"And your father?" I probe
>"Distant." He says curtly, anger behind his voice but a controlled, accepted anger.
>"Shipped me out here with an ultimatum of college or the service after graduation and not a singular contact after that." the anger has lead into an exhaustion.
>The mere thought of your family able to abandon you like that sends white hot embers through my body. Stoking a great fire that I have to calm down before I say something I don't mean. The need to tell Anon it's okay is beginning to weigh more than the need to not overstep his boundaries. I concede for a happy medium
>"If you need to talk I'm here, An-on." I say as an attempt to diffuse his pain
>That seems to have completely blindsided Anon as he takes over a minute to respond, barely able to mutter out a "...thank you, Rosa."
>The trip to the restaurant was a shorter one and before the conversation could continue we had already arrived and entered to be seated. The place mostly empty on a Tuesday afternoon.
>Anon seemed not much for conversation now after the one in the car but I decided that was fine, gave me more time to piece together how I'm going to tell Anon what I think about him.
>The server comes by and I order for both of us in Spanish, and we return back to the silence again. Sipping drinks and checking phones from time to time.
>The silence is cut as Anon points a question at me.
>"I know I asked before but seriously. Why all this for me? I'm just...confused."
>"I meant what I said the first time, An-on. Everyone deserves to be happy and I want to help you be happy." I feel the moment surging. Nows the time Rosa. Bring it home.
>"I WANT you to be happy." I say, a confused look gracing Anons face as I continue.
>"When I see you smile, It makes me happy. When I see you hurt, it hurts me. When I hear you put yourself down it makes me want to hug you and tell you i'm here for you." Anons face is like stone
>"My heart skips a beat when I hear your name. I hold my breath when I hear you speak. I feel disappointed when I have to leave you." Almost there Rosa, just a bit more
>"I sneak glances at you when you're not looking. I try lavish the moments when I'm guiding your hand when we garden. When Stella pulled that Lovers card there was only one thought in my mind." I slide my hands across the table, grasping Anons
>"You"
>"I like you Anon." I finish strong
>Anon is unable to comprehend life at the moment. Think I did pretty well considering he's gone entirely beet red, my own face having a bit of blush. He spends several moments just processing what I'd laid onto him
>His response is "...really?"
>"Yeah." I quietly assure him. "In fact it took restraint to not park the car earlier and pull you down into a hug, honestly."
>If Anon was any more blush at this point he'd be threatening pop a blood vessel in his face.
>Anon stammers out "I-I don't know what to say, Rosa. I uh just, I-"
>Time to crush his worry
>"You know you actually mutter under your breath sometimes?" Anons face contorts into horror
>"Yeah, you called me beautiful and an angel before. I already know how you feel." I put my everything into this smile
>And tie it up in a bow now, Rosa
>I pull his arms in, forcing him to lean over the table and begin leaning forward. He knows whats coming I can see it on his face. We pull together slowly, deliberately now mere inches from each others face.
>Our lips meet
>For a moment the world melts away. There's nothing else here just him and I.
>I sit back into my chair, my entire body buzzing at what just happened. A dumbfounded look on Anons face, and tears in his eyes.
>"Lets enjoy the rest of our date, okay An-on?" I ask him,my face smiling whether I ask it to or not