Chapter 55

When I had finally returned to the dorms - with Morgan and Rumi's suggestive words and encouragement still ringing in my mind - the common area had descended into something close to chaos as everyone came down to get what had been bought for them as well as help set things away in the kitchen. It's not destructive in any way, just controlled chaos that Izuku oversees quite skillfully and everyone automatically follows his words as he directs and keeps everything from falling into complete anarchy. I step aside and out of the hustle and bustle, tapping idly on my wrist brace, blue and decorated with small bunnies, and keep an eye on things from a distance. Shinso stands next to me and I only notice him when he sighs, clearly frustrated about the way things are happening and likely tired if his sleep-filled eyes are anything to go by.

"Just woke up?"

He nods, looking nonplussed and bothered. His hair is messier than usual and he hides away in baggy clothes.

In the weeks I've known him I've heard him speak maybe three times and I've seen him around people even less than that. It's a wonder I'm even seeing him now with how he usually is.

"You're a mind reader and a manipulator," He says after we've lapsed into silence. "Ever treated like a villain for it?"

It's the first time he's meeting someone with a similar set of abilities as his own, I'm sure, and with how he has been treated because of said ability, I'm not surprised by the question.

"Well, I was homeschooled up until middle school. And in middle school, no one knew about my quirk. And the few who did know were those I knew would not treat me any differently" there's a reason I kept my abilities to myself, after all. "So no, I've never had such an experience"

I've been bullied once or twice by idiots who thought I was quirkless just because I never bragged about my powers. How stupid is that?

"Unlucky me then"

"You're not being treated like that anymore, though" I point out. "Everyone knows what your quirk is and no one's made a big deal about it. I do remember Kaminari going on about how cool your quirk is"

"Everything is cool to that one," he says with an eye roll. He shrugs and sighs and rests more of his weight against the wall. "But you have a point"

"Besides if anyone in this school thinks like that, they should probably rethink their career choices" it makes no sense to train to be a hero with such a pathetic mindset. "And if anyone says that to your face you should just punch them. Kuma says that we're allowed to settle our differences physically if I remember correctly"

"Sure, I'm an amazing fighter, that'll work out perfectly" he grumbles.

"I know right? The way you tricked Midoriya by falling on your ass that day was just genius" I can remember it like it was yesterday

"All part of the plan"

He had lost gloriously that day and it's ingrained into my memory. He is not the best combatant which makes perfect sense and Kuma has been putting him as well as the others lacking in fighting skill, through specialized training.

We stay in our corner until things settle down somewhat and the kitchen and surrounding area aren't as bustling with our classmates as it had been upon my arrival. Most of them have settled in the living room with various activities to keep them busy until dinner is ready and the familiar sound of racing cars on the TV fills the air soon enough.

Everything has been put in its places from seasonings to herbs, to oil and the likes and it's easy enough to find what we need. Since we've planned a feast we'll be making multiple meals for the night and since there are three of us we set out to share our tasks evenly so things can be done quicker.

When I'm setting down a cutting board, knife, and ingredients needing to be sliced, Katsuki's in front of me at the bar and looking as aggravated as ever. He's not in a bad mood today, despite Izuku not being too far away from him - usually, his mere presence would get a rise out of him.

"You losers are seriously cooking?" he doesn't yell, but his voice is as rough as I had expected from him, and his gaze shifts from somewhere behind me to the pack of hot chips I present to him. Most would be grateful to be offered something they enjoy and express that gratefulness with thanks and appreciation. Not Katsuki though, no of course not, he scoffs as if I had offended him and snatches the thing out of my hand.

I say nothing and cut the head off a carrot.

"Thanks" it takes him a minute but he does thank me, sounding reluctant and begrudging. He was raised with manners and I expected him to show some of what his mother has taught him.

"No problem boom boom boy" I snicker and make sure to keep a good hold of my knife before something terrible happens. "And yes, us extras are cooking and since you're so much better than us, why don't you show us a thing or two, hmm?"

It's the best way to get him to do something without asking him like a normal person. I'd mocked him more or less, insinuating that he's likely no better than us and we all know how much Katsuki hates to be anything less. Within thirty seconds he has a knife and chopping board and is showing off the knife skills I had been wanting to see. He thinks he can cut better than me, because of course he does. While his skills are amazing and worthy of respect, I am Rose's daughter and my skills with the knife cannot be compared to little old Katsuki. My mother had me slicing onions, garlic, and anything else whenever I was willing to help - which was practically always - so naturally, my skill with the blade is, as Kirishima has said, manly.

If Kirishima has deemed my skills manly, then my skill is something to be marveled at.

I don't make the rules.

The fun thing about this impromptu feast is the menu and the fact that we're basically making anything one can think of. Oh, there are going to be so many leftovers, which works out perfectly because then everyone has breakfast and lunch for tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, we're going to USJ and here I am cooking as if I won't be face to face with villains tomorrow. I should say something. The best thing for me to do is tell a teacher to prevent it all, but to do that would put me under questioning. I'd have to tell them how I know and with my quirk, they'll quickly understand that we have a traitor and they'll have me point out the traitor, and being the idiot that I am, I don't want to throw the traitor under the bus. But I'll have to to prevent a lot of bullshit. But I really don't want to, knowing what I know about their situation.

But it'll be better if I do.

It's selfish of me not to say anything, isn't it?

It definitely is.

~~~~~~~~~

Alissa has a collection of board games and she swears it's not a serious issue, but I think otherwise. While everything has been put above a fire and Sato has taken over watching over everything for the next twenty or so minutes I've been roped into a game of monopoly and so far I've lost almost all the property I had purchased and have been in jail for some time. Monopoly will be fun they said, not knowing who Alissa Fox is when it comes to this game. When I had warned them about what they were getting into, they didn't take me seriously - now they're feeling the heat. The sheer frustration and growing aggravation from Jiro are enough for me to chuckle in "I told you so".

"You're literally on the brink of losing everything!" Ochako exclaims, far more distressed about the situation than I am if the hands in her hair are anything to go by. "How are you so calm? Why are you laughing?!"

"Because Zen doesn't let such simple things bother her" Mina answers for me, sounding all kinds of proud and pulls me more securely in her lap where I have been trapped since I've joined the game. She was smart enough not to engage in the game this time because the last time she lost everything within mere minutes.

"I told you Alissa is a monster in this game," I say, and Alissa giggles. "I told you what would happen and you lot didn't listen. I know my cousin and I know I wouldn't win, why would this bother me?"

And I'm conditioned to remain calm and collected in the face of overwhelming anger and frustration. It's just the way my mental abilities work, so there is no way I would be agitated because of this when my quirk always pulls me back into tranquility when it sees the need to. Such emotions cloud rational thinking and rational thinking is more or less the basis of my abilities.

"Soon I will rule the world!" Alissa announces dramatically and laughs as she takes Ochako's money and her property. "You never stood a chance"

"She's ruthless" Momo states with slight concern. "I'm constantly surprised"

As small and cute as Alissa can be, she's a true menace and Momo has been learning this over time.

"That's business" is Tsu's take on Alissa's behavior. She had been taken out of the game quite early and has been watching from Alissa's side since then. For some reason, she oversees all of Alissa's property and has the cards spread out in order and expenses in front of her. "Dog eat dog"

I'm let out of jail on the next turn but end up right on the most expensive property where Alissa has situated a hotel and I don't have the money or the land to pay for it, so all my assets are converted to her own and now Ochako is the last in the game.

"You guys would be screwed if this were real money"

Rolling the dice has become an anxious thing now almost everything is possessed by Alissa and hotels are popping up everywhere and by some miracle, Ochako ends up on the free parking square and claims all the money there.

"And she stays in the game" Toru comments giddily as Ochako counts her money. Pink cheeks are even pinker when she smiles with pure relief and joy at the money she had claimed.

She has almost two thousand in her hand, which is enough to keep her playing for a bit more.

She got incredibly lucky.

Alas, that money doesn't last her long and soon enough Alissa has claimed everything and laughs like a villain in the face of all those she has destroyed.

"That's business" she grins - victorious.

Yes, she would make a good businesswoman.

"I don't wanna play this game anymore," says a defeated Ochako. "Let's play something else this time"

"Truth or dare" is Toru's enthusiastic proposal and that is my cue to leave.

"I'll take my leave now, thank you" I am not playing truth or dare, I absolutely hate that game and no one shall convince me to partake in it today or anytime in the future.

Of course, my attempt to leave doesn't go as I want because Mina refuses to release me despite my very vocal objections to being held captive.

"I do not play truth or dare"

"You don't have to" again Mina pulls me back and it turns out her workouts have been paying off because I don't remember her being this strong. When she has me, she secures her arms tighter around me and rests against my shoulder. "You're just not leaving"

"Really, you want me to sit here and endure this torture?"

"What do you have against truth or dare?" Toru asks.

"I don't like it"

It's a stupid game and I'm not willing to hear anyone out.

"Then we'll play something else" Tsuyu decides easily enough. "There's no fun if we don't all want to play"

"Man, and I had the most devious dares lined up too" Alissa grumbles. "But since we're not doing that, I've got cards"

And the one she pulls out is Uno. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that this world basically has all the same board games - the toxic ones especially.

"Is there a warning that comes with this?"

"It's Uno" that should be warning enough.

Mina isn't playing this time either as she would rather watch the chaos unfold. Momo decides she wants to play this time because she's never played Uno and would like to change that.

I'm sorry this will be your first experience.

"What are the rules" the unaware Momo asks and Mina muffles a laugh.

"There are no rules" Alissa replies cheerily. "Complete anarchy, baby"

Everything goes in Uno.

The game starts when Tsuyu puts down the first card - green six. It goes from Tsu to Alissa, to Ochako to Momo, to Jiro, and then to me and when it gets to me it has already moved to red. I'm tempted to drop the plus four, but I can't do that to Tsu. But if I drop the skip turn and then the four, Alissa's gonna have to deal with it. Nah but it's too early, I'll play it when she's close to Uno, yeah.

I place down a normal red card.

The game goes on and I'm focused up until Mina's successfully snuck her hands under my jacket and her hand is purposefully cold. I know it was done on purpose because she doesn't even try to hide her laugh when I flinch and I'm tempted to smack her.

What was the reason, Mina?

I focus back on the game and ignore Mina for now. Alissa has two cards left and I have a deck full of destruction, especially after I had to scour the deck for a blue card. However, Jiro has had it out for me since the start of the game and drops a plus two on top of a wild four, forcing me to draw six cards. No matter, I still have an amazing play for this game.

I drop the trade hands card and grin at Alissa.

"Hand 'em over cuz" when it comes to uno I do not go down easy.

"You son of a gun"

Our trade happens quickly and I now hold two cards and am this close to Uno.

"I did all that for nothing" Jiro grumbles behind her deck of cards and is noticeably displeased about her failed scheme. "I helped her out"

I'm extremely lucky at times Jiro, there was no way you were gonna get me.

But Alissa - the bastard - knows what cards I don't have and at the first chance she gets she drops a yellow seven, knowing I have two blues and none are seven, so I have to draw.

Dammit.

I draw two and I laugh.

"The Uno gods have blessed me" I drop the yellow card and then discard all blue card and Alissa scowls. "Uno, baby"

"Dammit, there are no rules so I can't even be mad" and I bet she's regretting the no rules announcement.

Momo, who had been quiet throughout the game looks down with confusion written all over her face.

"This is very confusing"

Ochako shakes her head "That's Uno"

"Such a chaotic game" is Momo's very correct take on Uno.

"That's why it's fun"

~~~~~~~~~

"Sensei, there you are"

I don't know why Izuku thought it would be a good idea for me to track down our teacher, but here I am, running to catch up to the man I had been tracking through his thoughts alone. He has been in our dorm building the entire time and I only noticed when Izuku sent me to go get him. Oh wait, I understand now why he sent me, with my quick and all, of course, I would find him easier. Aizawa hears me and I know he's heard me but he does not stop to hear me out and goes on as if I'm not trying to catch up to him.

"Sensei, I know you hear me" I have done nothing to this man to be treated this way and he knows it. He just doesn't trust me. He's right not to, but I haven't done anything yet so he's just judging me based on his past experiences with Israel.

"What do you want?" He stops, finally, and turns to face me. He looks just as deadly as he always does with his hair a mess and his clothes incredibly casual. Tonight he has a blanket over his shoulders and I wonder if he had just woken up.

"We made dinner," I say and he raises a brow now. "More of a feast, but the point is that we made food and we're inviting you to come eat with us because you're our beloved homeroom teacher"

He looks at me with clear skepticism. Not because he doesn't believe me, he's been in the building this whole time, he knows we've made food. He just doesn't believe the "beloved homeroom teacher" part when it's coming out of my mouth - I suppose that's fair.

He sighs and starts walking towards and past me.

"Fine" that's all he says as he goes and I quickly move to follow him. He hasn't eaten in a while, I learn, so he wouldn't mind some food. Especially since we cooked it ourselves. He's a bit worried about the flavor though.

"You like home-cooked meals, sensei?"

I get a side-eye and complete silence in answer.

"I would tell you not to poke around in my head, but it's a passive ability," he says. "Yes I prefer cooked meals because I don't have them often"

He's too busy with hero work and being a teacher to ever cook himself a meal so it's been take-outs for some time now. Well, at least I know we'll make him happy today because we certainly did not cook anything poisonous.

"You're sure to have fun tonight then"

"I'm dubious about your food," he says honestly and bluntly.

"We're good cooks, sir, I promise you that"

He doesn't say anything, he's still skeptical.

"But while we're talking I would like to bring up an issue regarding our rooms and the setup" best bring it up now. "Currently things aren't very good. Bakugo and Midoriya are on the same floor, which spells incredible danger. And Mineta is situated on a floor with mostly girls with the only other male between them being Kaminari"

Which is also an issue.

"Don't tell me you're the rep for this cursed class" is his first concern and I don't say anything in turn.

He told me not to tell him, so I won't.

He sighs and runs his hand through his hair.

"I need coffee"

"I can take care of that for you, sir, just let me know what you like"

"Are you trying to get in my good graces, Nogitsune?"

I'm going to ignore the fact that he basically called me a demon to my face.

"I'm just being nice man, just say no if you don't want me to make your coffee" Where does he get off calling me a demon fox? "I don't see why you would turn it down, it's less work for you anyway"

We're in the elevator now and he sits against the wall with the blanket resting over his head.

"Black" is what he says later and I'm not surprised. This guy looks like he drinks a straight shot of some strong-ass coffee. "And as for the dorm arrangements, if you can come up with a good arrangement, I'll consider you a good rep"

He's giving me the work? And he plans on rewarding me with his praise and respect? Well, I quite like the reward, so I'll get to work on my first assignment as president.

"Who's your second in command?"

"Midoriya"

He sighs heavily at that revelation.

"The boy" He grumbles. "What is with you children?"

"Midoriya hasn't done anything" at least I don't think he's done anything for Aizaea to treat him like a problem child.

He says nothing again, but his thoughts paint the picture. Apparently, Nezu likes Izuku for whatever reason and that's one of the main reasons he was let into the school as the sole quirkless in the hero course.

Man, I'm not even surprised.

That explains why Izuku has been tasked with upping the security of the gate and the likes since the whole reporter incident happened since he's proven to be quite skilled with technology.

Alissa's also on the task with her odd security designs. The school is basically utilizing the genius of the support course which is..... Well, it's genius. They don't have to pay anyone to come do another crappy job and the kids get to show off their skills and are graded on their performance.

Midnight's the one overlooking it all since she had been the one insisting on upped security and apparently she's the one who suggested utilizing the school's "little geniuses" as she puts it.

I don't tell Aizawa that we had likely been voted as the class leaders because they thought it would be fun.

We reach the common area soon and Sato's running around with various dishes while Nitsu walks off with a bowl of ice cream with sprinkles and a pack of marshmallows. Aizawa takes a good look at the bustle of the room and sighs but doesn't leave. Everyone moves out of his way when he heads for the kitchen and no one stops him from getting himself whatever he sees fit.

"He actually came" I hear someone say in shock.

He likes home-cooked meals.

He gets his food and I'm preparing the coffee I had promised. I never liked black coffee - horrible taste and too strong for my liking. I get jittery and sick when I drink the stuff and would much rather have something with cream and sugar in it.

"You don't like black coffee" Mina appears at my side and with that well-known fact. "Why are you making coffee?"

"I told our sensei over there that I would make him coffee"

"He trusts you to make his coffee?"

"Not really" he's just lazy.

The man in question has seated himself at the head of the dining table, blanket over his shoulder, and quietly eats his meal.

"He looks like a homeless man," Mina says and I try not to laugh at those words. Such a horrible thing to say about that poor man. He's struggling with a night job and working as a teacher, he has the right to look homeless.

It takes some time but I have a mug of coffee as requested and place it before him. He scrutinizes the mug for a moment before taking a sip.

He nods.

"See I've done a good job," I tell Mina and she snorts. "That's the best I'll get out of him tonight"

No one sits at the dining table and it's just used to hold all the food. Everyone grabs what they want and retreat back to the living room where they mingle, I guess. I spot Todoroki just as he comes downstairs and simply stares at everything that's going on. He's not bound to stay long so I quickly scoop up a bowl of cold soba and catch him before he can make a break for it.

He has not spoken to me since hero studies, but has been obviously watching me whenever we're in the same room and has never just done the normal thing and talked to me. So when I offer him a bowl of his favorite food, I'm not surprised he doesn't know what to do. He holds the stuff in his hands and just stands there like that emoji, trying to understand what my offering could mean. This boy, stoic and cold is also incredibly clueless and unaccustomed to anyone being nice to him in any way.

"Why are you giving me this?" Finally, he speaks instead of stares.

"You like cold soba," I say and he doesn't seem convinced. "You're my classmate man, am I not allowed to be nice to you"

"You electrocuted me" he brings up. "You beat me in a fight, you're my enemy"

"Dude we're classmates, I'm not supposed to be your enemy" Seriously. "And stop watching me all the time, I can hear your thoughts. Just talk to me and you'll make more progress. And instead of making me your enemy let's be acquaintances, hmm? I won't say anything about your daddy issues, but one of the reasons I beat you is because you're holding yourself back. Get over that and we'll have another match"

I don't want to use my daddy's power and all that bullshit. If I thought like him I wouldn't use my first quirk, now would I? It's literally my father's ability copied and pasted after all. And it never made sense to me.

Out here looking like Zuko without an uncle Iroh.

Wait.

He has a scar on his eye, check.

His mother is no longer in the picture, check.

His father abused him, check.

He wants to prove himself, check.

Lots of trauma, check.

Deranged villainous sibling, check.

Villainous sibling has blue flames, check.

Huh, he's Zuko.

I'll teach him how to redirect lightning and he's perfect.

"You're a weird guy, you know?" I tell him when I'm out of my thoughts and Todoroki has started to eat his soba. He couldn't resist and didn't feel like commenting on holding himself back so he stuffed his face.

He looks at me as if I'm some great mystery and turns his back and leaves.

He makes me mad sometimes.

I hope he enjoys his food at least.

As for me, I'm getting what I need and going to my room because I want my bed and I've interacted enough for today. I've played multiple board games, talked to almost every classmate and I think it's quite enough of that for today.

I'm almost tempted to stay downstairs when Aizawa lies himself down on the sofa in the living room where most of the kids are but I suppress the urge. I'll hear all about that disaster in the morning.

"We're going upstairs?"

I mean, I planned on going upstairs Mina, if you want to come with me then feel free to do so. I don't correct her and she makes it her job to help me carry up bowls of food with the peppiest bounce in her in steps.

"You've had enough today?" She asks on the ride up and I nod. "Figured, you were gonna run low at some point"

I lasted far longer than I had expected so there's that.

We get to my room and I nudge the door open after Mina uses my card to unlock it. I've got to get to work on our setup for Aizawa. I need a list of all my classmates if I'm going to be doing that. I'll ask Izuku, I'm sure he can get his hand on such a thing.

I've barely sat down on my bed and I'm three spoons into some Katsudon and Mina's searching for a movie to watch on my laptop. This is some good Katsudon.

"Romance, romantic comedy, or just comedy" moving to sit against the headboard with me, Mina shows me her top picks. "Your choice"

"Don't like romance" so that eliminates one. "I've seen the romanctic comedy already, so that leaves the comedy"

"Awe come on, why don't you like the romance movies?" will she ever get over this?

"They make me cringe"

"Those romantic comedies are worse"

"They're far more entertaining" is my defense. "I just don't like romance on its own, makes me feel disgusted"

To Mina, I might as well have cussed out her mother with how she's looking at me. Yeah, she's a hopeless romantic and loves those movies far more than I do so I'm not surprised. And we've had this discussion before anyways.

Titanic? I hated it, absolutely hated it.

There was enough space for the both of you Rose. Jack did not need to die.

"Oh but you like horror movies like a psycho" Mina mumbles to herself as she selects the comedy.

"The stupidity of people in horror movies can compare to the greatest comedies"

Mina agrees, reluctantly.

The movie starts and Mina settles with a bowl of noodles.

"You watched the romantic comedy already"

"Yup"

"What happened?"

"Typical stuff" I shrug. "Main character had to learn something about themselves and realized near the end that she's in love with her best friend as if it weren't so freaking obvious"

"Sounds familiar"

"There is nothing familiar about that movie and us, Mina, and I am offended that you would even entertain the thought" I scoff and she nearly chokes on her food. "I for one am not emotionally unaware enough not to know what I'm feeling and not a dense idiot who doesn't notice shit. And you're not like that either and you're very open anyways, so it would be impossible to think otherwise"

She bursts into full-out laughter now and I watch her bowl of noodles cautiously in case she tips over a bit too much and I need to prevent a mess.

"It's not funny, Mina"

She does not share the sentiment.

"Yes it is, you made it funny" she giggles in her effort to kill her laughter, and her attempts to reclaim her chopsticks fail multiple times. "You're so offended"

Why wouldn't I be? Who'd like to be compared to the unaware fools in those damn romance movies?

"Could you even imagine" I grumble. "To be that unaware of what's right in front of your face. It could never be me"

"I'm pretty sure if you couldn't read minds and feel emotions, you wouldn't know anything" Mina states.

"You take that back"

"No, I really think you'd be as clueless as Kaminari" she insists.

"Are we just casually talking about the fact that we like each other?" Because this is baffling when I take the time to think about it.

Mina slurps up some noodles with raised brows.

"Don't best friends usually talk about their crushes together?" Is her response and I swallow my food lest I choke because I wanted to laugh.

"I guess they do" that's what happens most of the time. "So let's talk about our crushes.

"I'm glad you said that, because I've been needing to vent about this idiot" is Mina's immediate response. No hesitation, no nothing, just right into it.

"Why'd you start with an insult?"

"Because you can be an idiot"

You don't have to say it like that, that's just rude.

"So as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted" she clears her throat. "Can you believe that this dumbass is an empath that can read minds and she hasn't kissed me yet? Where does she get off thinking that's anywhere near acceptable?"

"You're really calling me a dumbass to my face?"

I'm hurt.

"Sometimes I feel like slapping you," she says. "But then I think you'd enjoy it, so I don't"

"The things you think about me, Mina"

She smiles and it's no innocent smile.

"You would know, wouldn't you?"

Yes, I would know, but I shall not comment on that and drag this conversation down the gutter. It's already an odd conversation as is and it comes far too easily than I would have expected. Then again, this is Mina and it's easy to talk to her even if it's such a topic. It's not like we were keeping secrets or unaware in the first place.

I don't even know what this movie is supposed to be about now and Mina doesn't even pretend to be interested in what's on the screen because she has been staring at me for a while now.

"What is it?"

I get nothing from her and she simply returns to eating her noodles in silence. See, now I can't pay attention to the movie because she went and did this and she's turned her brain off. I don't know how she does it but she halts all thoughts when she wants to annoy me and it's as fascinating as it is bothersome at times. Truly, it's an impressive skill, and the fact that she developed it just to annoy me is hysterical.

"Why do you do this?"

She shrugs just as she slurps up the last of her noodles and puts the bowl aside. She watches the movie for all of forty seconds before looking at me again and her mind is still blank and I can't understand how she does that.

"How the hell do you not think anything?" I didn't think it was possible.

"I don't know, honestly," she says as if now realizing the fact that she doesn't know how she turns her mind off. "I've been meditating with mom ever since she said it clears the mind. Figured it would annoy you sometimes"

It does annoy me at times, yes.

At this point, the movie is long forgotten and my bowl is empty. Really, I'm sure it's a nice movie and I'm sure I'll watch it someday but Mina is a distraction. She often is when she wants to be and I have a feeling she knows exactly what she's doing. She smiles when I look at her and I'm even more certain she knows what she's doing. She's very good at playing such games and she knows me well enough to know what to do.

"Come here"

I would like to ask her to stop what she's doing if only I could care more. There's this overwhelming feeling of fondness that I've grown more and more accustomed to when I'm with Mina and it's almost mind-numbing with how good it makes me feel.

"You're not even paying attention right now, are you?" She asks knowingly and forces me out of my thoughts.

No, I'm not and it's a bit hard to when she does this and I know she knows what she does. Or maybe she doesn't and I'm too far gone or I'm just too influenced by the pleasant feelings that she induces. I haven't been paying attention and barely felt it when she had pulled me - so no I have not been paying attention and don't know when we've developed this level of closeness.

"No you are not" she answers for me, giggling, and pulls me with her when she falls back into my bed. "Where did your head go?"

Nowhere, everywhere, I'm not sure.

Mina likes me - really likes me. It's one thing to know and acknowledge this - it's easy enough to tell and Mina would straight up tell me were I not certain of this fact. It's another thing entirely to feel it. There's room for hesitation and doubt when one knows, but there is naked honesty in one's emotions that cannot tell any falsehoods. And the sheer affection and fondness she feels for me at this moment are quite easily feeding into my own emotions and it's not something that is quickly or easily pushed away. It's not often I let them be pushed away despite how natural it has become to force away what does not belong to me.

My cheeks are squished playfully when she cups my face and I sigh, accepting. It amuses her and it adds to the emphatic high she's dragging me into.

"I'll kiss you"

It was but a whisper, as if she were telling me a secret and I was almost too lost to register her words as they were spoken. Really I'm far too focused on the feeling rather than what's happening. Had I been paying attention I would have noticed when the space between us became mere inches, or the way her fingertips press lightly into my jaw, or the intensity with which she had been watching me.

"Because I'm a wimp?"

"Oh wow, you're self-aware"

There's a reply on the tip of my tongue but Mina likes to get the last word in and decides the best way to put an end to this is to do just as she said she would. She kisses me and she's happy and excited and doesn't care one bit that neither of us knows what the hell to do and it's like the best drug to exist. It's a simple press of lips that quickly becomes something more when Mina insists that we're not close enough. It's hard to pay attention and I knew it would abandon me at some point because all I can focus on is this flutter of excitement that would be embarrassing by morning. And the sheer warmth that settles under my skin that only gets worse when she pulls me down further, her arms now around my neck and she giggles - happy. I'm feeling near giddy with her and my head is not in the right place right now. Ah, I'm drunk off her, aren't I? Her emotions feed into my own to the point of a state of blissfulness and I quite like it.

There's this sound of content that escapes her when she pulls away and she kisses me on the nose for good measure.

"We're complete amateurs," she says smiling and butts our foreheads together in the most gentle way possible. "I've seen some kids with their tongues down each other's throat"

I gag and she laughs.

She kisses me once more, it's quick and gentle and she's grinning when she repeats this.

"Hey"

"Hmm?"

"Let's make out" she whispers this time, stroking the back of my neck idly while her other hand is in my hair to guide me. She's so honest with what she wants - it's endearing. Denying is not an option, not with the power this girl has over me right now. If she's touching me right now she can convince me to do anything. If she kisses me again I might just do what Rumi suggested - after all, I play multiple finger instruments.

"You're not paying attention" she whispers again, this time far too close to my ear.

A shiver runs through me then and Mina takes great pleasure in tormenting me in this way.

"Let's make out," she says again and doesn't wait for my reply.