12 Chapter 11-A Rose-Tinted Dream

Naozumi,Fumiko,and Aiyana walked out the door to go stand outside with the teenagers and wait for the limo to pick them up.Fumiko looked up at the sky and an infinite,dark blue horizon painted with glowing white stars.She thought it was an absolutely heavenly sight that would match the theme for homecoming.

Fumiko looked around up at the sky to see what the moon looked like tonight,expecting it to be just as alluring and luminous as the stars.She was not disappointed when she saw a huge full moon,glowing and dominating the night sky like the sky depending on it.Aiyana looked over at Fumiko to talk to her,only see her staring up at the stars.She looked up at the sky,wanting to know what could possibly have Fumiko so enticed and enchanted.

Aiyana looked up at the sky and saw everything Fumiko was captivated by.She saw this as a perfect opportunity to start a meaningful conversation with Fumiko since they were standing further away from everybody else.Aiyana loved talking to Fumiko because she never knew what she was going to say,which made Fumiko such an interesting person to talk to about anything.She had this air of mystery around her that made her a bit unpredictable at times,a trait that Aiyana really loved about Fumiko for multiple different reasons.

She also loved talking to Fumiko because she could to talk to for hours on and still not get bored.Aiyana assumed it was because she just really enjoys Fumiko's presence and company,which makes everything about her seem more special or interesting than it actually was.

Aiyana was growing more curious as to why that was the case because those feelings were always intensified nowadays when she would be around Fumiko,knowing it was on a different level than how she felt about the rest of her friends.

Yeah,Aiyana felt like she usually saw her interactions with her friends in a rose-tinted way because of how much she cares about them...this wasn't her first time feeling like that.But,the way Aiyana felt being around Fumiko when it was just the two of them made her feel a different kind of rose-tinted glasses effect.The figurative rose-tinted glasses basically overpowered her with a sense of extreme optimism and resolve.

Like being with Fumiko made everything better,no matter how bad things get or how things were...she made Aiyana feel better by just being there with her.Almost as if Fumiko directly or indirectly made Aiyana's hope,optimism,and resolve stronger because she knew Fumiko believed in her.

Aiyana believed in herself and has that resolve in her heart & soul,but knowing that her best friend believes her alongside herself...she could practically feel her confidence being doubled.Having Fumiko as her support to fall back on when she needed it most gave Aiyana less of a reason to feel like she was carrying her burdens all by herself.

Maybe she made Fumiko feel the same way,but she hasn't realized it because there's something she doesn't know yet.Aiyana hoped that was the case,so she didn't have to worry about her feelings not being reciprocated.Plus,she wanted to make Fumiko as happy as she made her because that's people who really care about each do.Wanting to give happiness to the people you love by any means necessary is normal,right?

"You seem to be deep in thought,what are you thinking about?"Fumiko asked,smiling and touching Aiyana's shoulder.Aiyana looked up at sky and smiled,which quickly turned into a laugh.She decided to be honest because it's not like she had anything to hide.Maybe it would sound embarrassing if she said it out loud but inside her heart,what she was feeling couldn't be more natural or instinctual to her.

"I was thinking about you,so nothing I haven't thought about before."Aiyana responded,giving Fumiko an affectionate look and smile.She hoped that Fumiko didn't think that was a weird thing of her to say,which made Aiyana feel a little insecure because she didn't have any way of knowing.

She just went with her heart and her gut because neither of things have ever failed her before.More than anything,she just hoped it didn't fail her now since this was the most important thing she has had to trust her heart on.When her brain couldn't tell her what to do or how to do it,her heart always acted in its place and guided her to the right answer.

Fumiko was very surprised,not really expecting Aiyana to say she was the reason for being lost in thought.She felt very honored and flattered being in Aiyana's thoughts as much as she was.Or as much as she was implied to be by Aiyana herself,which felt even better and more concrete because she said it herself.Fumiko could feel herself smiling uncontrollably,but she turned and walked away from Aiyana to control it.

Once she suppressed her smiling fit,Fumiko walked back to Aiyana and stood very close to her.She wanted to tell her how flattered she was that Aiyana thought about her a lot.Fumiko also wanted to tell her that she thinks about her a lot,too...which seemed appropriate at the moment.She wouldn't judged for it,so she should be honest with Aiyana.

"I'm very honored to know that you think about me a lot and I wanted you to know that I'm always thinking about you."Fumiko said,looking Aiyana in eyes so she would know much she meant it.

"You're always thinking about me?"Aiyana asked,not actually expecting to have her feelings actually being reciprocated.

Sometimes,Aiyana can't tell when someone truly reciprocates her feelings back.That's why it's so hard for her to fully be herself around other people,even though that's what she wants to do more than anything.But,her fear of rejection from other people or her perceived fear of rejection can make it exceptionally difficult at times.

Optimistic,Dreamer,Believer,and Kind-Hearted are a few adjectives people have used to describe her.Usually,they used it as a way to compliment Aiyana and she always took it as just that.Those were all good things to be a cruel,overbearing world after all because that's what helps to cope and survive.However,those attributes were some of her biggest targets that have gotten hurt or have given trust issues.

Aiyana knew Fumiko has never given her a reason to not be worthy of trust,if anything...Fumiko was the most worthy of her trust after all the years they have went through everything together.She was just scared of getting her heart broken and crushed by the one person she never wants to do that to her.Aiyana loves Fumiko and she wishes she could tell her that,but she is way too afraid right.

Afraid to get her heart broken,Afraid to be rejected,Afraid to love and lose....

It was all too much for Aiyana to handle and that was the most upsetting part...her fears were stopping her from fully being able to admit that she loves Fumiko and wants her to love her back.

"I feel very special right now,I didn't think you actually thought about me often."Aiyana added,a mix of happiness,disbelief,and shock present in her voice.

Hearing Aiyana say that broke Fumiko's heart.From the hints of an incredulous demeanor when Fumiko said she always thinks about her to the security she seem to have received from feeling "very special" to  her own best friend.Everything about  it tugged at Fumiko's emotions and made her feel a sense of guilt that she  knew wouldn't go away anytime soon.

She couldn't begin to fathom why Aiyana would be doubtful about that,especially since Fumiko goes out of her way to make Aiyana feel special in the ways she knew how to do that.Fumiko knows that Aiyana has trust issues regarding other people caring about her as much she cares about them,but she thought that Aiyana would feel differently with her because of how close they are to each other compared to other people.

Maybe Aiyana didn't know that or she was still too scared to let herself think that,but Fumiko didn't want her to feel that way because she never take Aiyana for granted.She loved Aiyana too much to let her feel underappreciated,but maybe she was doing something completely wrong and was somehow unaware of it.

Has she not been telling Aiyana how much cares about her enough?

Does she not physically show it enough by being more affectionate?

Maybe it was time to tell her that she loves her?

Fumiko truly does love Aiyana,but she felt like she actually needed to hear it.

She needed to hear right here and right now before it was too late to say anything at all.

"Aiyana?"Fumiko asked,making sure she had Aiyana's full attention.

"Yeah?"Aiyana responded,looking Fumiko in the eyes with soft,hopeful eyes.

"I love you...and I think you always feel special because you are so special to me."Fumiko confessed,grabbing Aiyana's hands and giving them a firm squeeze.

Aiyana felt butterflies swarming around her stomach with happiness.She felt like she was dreaming,but she knew this was reality...a reality where her fears no longer a problem.Aiyana's cheeks were becoming hot and she felt the blood rushing in her cheeks,this time knowing that it was for a reason she could actually identify.Her face beamed with a huge smile and a glow that couldn't be mistaken for anything else.

Aiyana was starting to know what love felt like when you don't have to fear attached to it.Love that made you feel weightless,but also grounded in reality...a new,happier reality.She could finally feel a sense of freedom without fear being the motivation to be free,something she didn't get experience all of the time.

Aiyana hoped this moment could last forever because it felt like the beginning of a new era where she didn't have to feel like she was holding herself back anymore.This was something she always needed,but had never gotten until now.

"I love you,too...I love you so much,Fumiko."Aiyana said,squeezing Fumiko's hands back affectionately.

After sharing that heartwarming and heart-freeing moment,they hugged each other tightly for almost 10 seconds.Neither of them were ready to let each other go because Fumiko and Aiyana were already emotionally bonded,so they wanted to be physically bonded after coming to a mutual understanding.They let each other go after a few more seconds went by,finally ready to break the physical bond after enjoying it as much as they could.

Fumiko and Aiyana looked at the end of the street to see if the limo was almost there.A few seconds passed by before they saw flashing white lights and what vehicle it belonged to.It was limo they had all been waiting on for what seemed to be about 15-20 minutes and everyone else seemed relieved by the arrival as well.

The limo parked in the middle of the road,waiting for everyone to approach it and get in.Christopher & the rest of the teenagers got in first as they were getting impatient between having to take multiple pictures and waiting for the limo to arrive.

Fumiko,Aiyana,and Naozumi got in together last,which was practically the same order in which they left the mansion.The three of them sat next to each other in the seats across from all of the teenagers.Maybe Fumiko would be able to attempt to make conversation with them since she had a feeling that this was going to be far from the last time they met each other.Especially seeing how much Christopher seemed to like them and bond with them,if anything...this was probably just the beginning of a new era involving her and his friends.

She didn't know why she thought that besides a simple observation between Christopher's relationship with them,but she definitely had a hunch about it and that must mean something.Fumiko didn't mind having to become close to some of Christopher's friends,as long as they were nice to her and didn't make her feel like an outcast whenever she was around since she wasn't "one of them" or something like that.Having condescending people look down on her for simply being younger was one of Fumiko's pet peeves.

Despite having that on her mind for the time being,Fumiko decided to try and reflect on her night so far throughout the duration of the trip.

"I'm was probably going to have a lot more to think about at the homecoming dance,anyways...which means I should just calm down and at least try to relax."Fumiko thought,looking at Aiyana with soft eyes and a small smile.