forum "You DO like me!" "I don't think 'like' is the right word." "You tolerate me." "Maybe." one on one

Started January 29, 2021 by @cryptic-glitch

tune

She walked a little farther and sat on the curb. Suddenly, she felt like she was going to throw up. She leaned forward and crossed her arms over her stomach. This was not going well at all.

Lin stayed in the car, fidgeting uneasily with his hands while he waited for Orion to return. He couldn't help but feel that she was angry with him, and that it was his fault that she needed to go and have some time alone.

Rocking back and forth, she willed herself not to think of hurting herself. A losing battle, really. She dug her fingernails into her palms and scrunched her eyes closed tighter.

After a bit, Lin started getting worried and got out of the car. He went looking for Orion, calling her name every few seconds in hopes of a response.

Orion heard him, sure, but couldn't bring herself to say anything in response. She sort of deserved it. She managed a little squeaking sound, but that was all.

"Orion?" Lin called out again, worried his voice wasn't reaching her. He was pretty soft-spoken most of the time, after all, so yelling was difficult for him. "Orion?!"

She squeaked again, hoping it was louder, and dug her fingernails harder into her forearms. 'You did this. He's angry now. He tried to make you feel better. You didn't let him. Now look what you've done.' Finally, now, successfully, she screamed, piercingly loud and high. It shook her halfway out of her stupor, enough that it felt alright to open her eyes now.

Lin jumped at the scream and broke into a run, feeling panicked. "Orion! Where are you?!" He cried out. He kept running, seeming very frantic.

Orion fell back onto the thin grass and let out a weak "Aaaagh." She turned to her side and vomited twice.

Lin managed to find Orion and knelt down beside her, clearly terrified. "O-Orion? Are… are you okay? Please tell me you're okay…"

"Ughhhhhh." She pushed him away weakly. "I'm fine. I told you I was taking a walk."

"You threw up, Orion… you're not okay…" Lin fidgeted with his hands, his heart racing. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"The hospital?" She laughed. "I told you, I'm fine. She hauled herself to her feet and stumbled a few steps forward. "See? Fine."

"You don't look fine to me… did you drink last night or something?" He asked uneasily.

"I didn't drink anything. I'm not an idiot, Lin." She stood for a minute, head swimming. "I think water would help, though."

Lin sighed softly and wrapped Orion's arm around his shoulders so he could help her. "Alright. Let's get you some water."

"Don't touch me." She shoved him away. "No. I can do it." She forced herself to walk.

"Orion, please let me help you… something's wrong." Lin sighed and kept close to her in case she collapsed or something.

"I said I can do it. Fuck off." She finally, finally reached the car and opened the door, and began rummaging around for her waterbottle.

Lin winced a bit at her tone, falling quiet. He was trembling a bit with nerves, and he seemed uneasy. He thought something was seriously wrong with Orion, and he wasn't really sure what to do.

"Jesus, Lin. You can calm down." She gulped down a whole bottle of water and shoved a mint into her mouth. "There isn't anything wrong. I just had a breakdown. I'm fine."

"A-Are you sure?" He asked softly, still fidgeting nervously. "I just… this… this doesn't look good… or healthy…"

"Of course it isn't healthy. I puked on the side of the goddamn road, you idiot."

"I'm worried about you, okay?" Lin snapped a bit, still trembling. "I just want to help you. I don't know what you want from me, but being a jerk isn't really helping."

Orion laughed. "Obviously. Lin, you might not get this, but I don't exactly know how to not be a jerk. And worrying isn't going to do much. Except aggravate me."

Lin sighed shakily and looked away, seeming uneasy. "I just… I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I try to help, and you just tell me to f… f-fuck off, and… and call me an idiot, and I really just don't know what you want from me."

"Lin. Have you ever had a teacher tell you that when someone is mean to you that means they like you?" She looked at him over her glasses.

"No…?" Lin seemed confused, and still a bit upset. "Usually being mean is just… being mean. Aren't you supposed to be nice to people if you like them?"

"If you're me, no." She chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't think you get what I'm saying."

"If you're me, no." She chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't think you get what I'm saying."