(Goth)

I don't believe this, I silently fumed. Of course, I should have expected this. But seriously? Palette knew this was one of my private haunts, and he just happened to bring some stupid flirt to it? The ass...

I stayed hidden on top of the large stone. The forest was full of huge stones. It was easy to lose people in it. It's why I liked to hide here. But that asshole had followed me!

The pangs of jealousy just made me angrier as Palette led the flirty dog monster around, that same stupid smirk on his face that was always there. Maybe he'll fall off the cliff... I thought bitterly, Or better yet the dog will...

It was maybe ten minutes before the two of them left the area and I could slide down the rock face. As soon as my feet hit the ground a voice spoke beside me. I jumped, whipping around.

"Spying on me, are you?" he asked, smirking. My hands shook, but I couldn't help but like the way he eyed me, that same annoyingly endearing smirk...

"This is my haunt, and you know that," I spoke snappishly, holding my shaking fists by my sides.

"Is it?" he looked up, searching the rock face, "Don't see your name on it."

"You followed me," I told him, crossing my arms to stop the shaking.

"Did I? Maybe you led me here," Palette came closer. I turned half away from him, trying not to look at him.

"Why'd you bring that girl here?"

"Said she liked nature," he shrugged, "Heh, she liked it 'bout as much as a cat likes water. Chipped a nail, got dirt on her paw, and her boots got all dusty. She's a total whiner, too."

"Why are you still here, then?" I wanted him gone, wanted my privacy back. Though it would be forever tainted by the memory of that flirt and him being here.

"She went home on her own," he said, "Thought I'd hang around, look at the scenery some more..."

I scoffed. Scenery my ass. You wanted to bother me, see my reaction to that idiot you brought.

Thunder sounded overhead. I looked up. The clouds had been threatening rain all day. Last thing I needed was for it to rain while I was stuck out here with Palette.

"We should get outta here," I said, making my way up the path.

"Why? It's just a bit of thunder," Palette fell into step beside me. As much as I tried to out-pace him, he would keep up.

"Thunder means rain," I said. I moved faster, but he was keeping up. Groaning, I broke into a run up the hill. He kept pace, sprinting behind me. "The chase is on!" he called and I huffed.

I felt the first drops of heavy rain began to fall and changed my course to head for the shelter: a rock overhang I knew quite well. I would stay dry.

Lightning flashed and a clap of thunder appeared in front of me, but I kept going. My soul pulsed with fear at it but I couldn't let him see me be afraid of some thunder. It would ruin me. I could hear the pattering and splashing of Palette behind me.

I reached the overhang and stopped, bending over as I panted hard from the exertion. A slightly wet Palette soon stopped next to me, grinning and panting as well.

"You lead a fine chase, Gothy," he said. I said nothing, just glared at him. Another flash of lightning and another clap of thunder sounded outside and I sighed. Sliding down the wall under the overhang, I sat down and hugged my knees.

"Great. Now we'll have to wait it out," I said bitterly.

Palette sat down beside me, still panting. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to look at the jerk. We were silent for a while, then he spoke.

"I didn't know you were so fast," he said. He sounded... impressed? I dunno.

"Had a lot of practice," I shrugged. You know, when you would make me jealous and I would run home in tears for no reason! Or when we would fight and I would run to my room!

"Ever thought of a sport?" Why are we talking about this? I looked over at him.

"Why do you care?"

"Humor me," he said, grinning slightly.

"No, I haven't thought of a sport," I told him. I looked away, resting my head on my knees and looking in the opposite direction, "Not really athletic."

"Fair enough," Palette said. We went silent again.

We listened to the heavy rain, not talking. The thunder ended soon, which relieved me. I could handle rain. But I fought with my own emotions. I couldn't believe I was sitting here, alone, with Palette, and all the time in the world, and was doing nothing.

The rain was slowly getting softer, but I didn't tell Palette.

"I'm still mad at you," I told him after our long silence.

"I know," he said easily.

"Why'd you have to bring her here?"

"Dunno. Felt like it."

"Are you that determined to cause me misery?"

"The only misery you suffer is self-inflicted."

"Asshole..." I whispered, tucking my face further into my cloak on my knees.

The rain let up noticeably, and a few minutes later it was gone. Soft sunlight sparkled on the misty drops clinging to the trees. I heard Palette get up, then saw his hand in front of my face. Looking up, I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet. Woah, he's strong, I thought as I almost fell forward from the force of his pull. He caught me and supported me as I found my feet. My soul pounded as I looked up into his face. He let go of me as I stood and hugged myself.

"Thanks," I said shortly.

"No problem," he smirked and I rolled my eye.

"But, I should say thanks," he went on and I looked at him.

"For... what?" I asked suspiciously.

"For keeping me dry," he said.

I rolled my eye again and left the overhang, heading for the parking lot in the park. He followed me and I let him catch up, too annoyed to run from him.

We were walking on a part of the path that lined up with a large stone edge that dropped off into the forest. I paused, looking at the view. In the far distance, dark clouds rolled in, chasing the old storm. I sighed and walked farther on, not wanting to get trapped in the rain with Palette again.

We reached the parking lot, splitting up to head to opposite ends, and I saw the old white convertible my dads had gotten me with a crowbar smashed through the front window. It had happened before the rain because there was a puddle on the dash.

"Who even does that?" I asked incredulously, going up to it, "We're on the top of a mountain! Who bothers to smash a car window on a mountain?"

"Everything okay?" Palette asked, walking over.

"No! It's not!" I rounded on him, "Did you do this?!"

"Hey, woah," he held up his hands, "It wasn't me, I swear."

I glared at him, looking for any sign of guile. Finding none, I rounded back on the car and huffed, "My dads are gonna kill me," I said bitterly.

"Need a ride home, then?" Palette asked. I turned to him, still angry at everything.

I was going to say no when more thunder boomed in the distance. I sighed, looking at the ground. "Yes," I said through gritted teeth.

He grinned like an ass as I followed him to his pick-up. It was old, like mine, but he'd given it a paint job. Now it was camouflage green and polished. Getting in the passenger side, I buckled my seat belt, shoved my shoulder in the crook between the door and the seat, and stared out the window. This day can't get worse...

The pick-up started and we rolled out of the parking lot, heading down the mountain. We reached the road exit at the bottom and it began to rain again. I sighed, thinking of the puddle in the dash of the car. The whole thing's gonna be soaked...

As we neared town, I wondered if Palette even knew where I lived. I was about to ask him when we turned onto my street. I sat up as he pulled up beside my house. I looked at him when he parked.

"You know where I live?" I asked him in wonder.

"You know how many times I've seen you run home?" he said in response and I looked at the house, suddenly dreading going inside.

My hand was on the handle when Palette called my attention back, "What? No 'thank you'?"

"Thanks for the ride," I said, not looking at him. I felt a hand on my shoulder and he turned me around. His face was suddenly very, very close to my own.

"I think you owe me more than that," he said, his smirk returning.

"Like what?" I asked him, annoyed.

"Like... this," he said, leaning forward. He wrapped his other hand around my skull and pulled me into a surprise kiss. I was too shocked to return it before he stopped and pulled away.

"Holy shit..." I whispered and his smirk widened. He glanced out the window behind me and sat up. The look on his face changed at what he saw and I turned worriedly.

Both of my dads were waiting outside the house, looking at the pick-up impatiently.

I turned back to Palette, "I have to go," I said, reaching for the door handle.

"Yeah," he swallowed. I had to hide a smirk myself. My parents scared him, I knew that much. Reaper and Geno had some frightful stories behind them. Reaper's powers alone could keep anyone at bay.

I left the pick-up hurriedly and walked up to my dads. I heard the truck pull away and drive all the way to the end of the street and not slowing at the corner.

"Hey," I said, walking up to them.

"Who was he?" Geno asked roughly, nodding to where Palette's truck had driven off.

"Some guy from school," I said.

"Where's your car, Goth?" Reaper asked, his voice quiet and cold. He was angry.

"Some jerk smashed the window," I said, looking at the ground.

"What?!" Geno growled. I flinched, expecting a blow as Geno lashed out. Peeking through my tightly closed eyes I saw Reaper's hand on Geno's arm.

"Not this time, Geno," he said softly. He looked at me, "It wasn't his fault."

Geno's sharp teeth were twisted into an angry snarl but he put his hand down. He glared down at me, "I expect the car to be here tomorrow, busted or not. Then we can look at how to fix it." He turned away and went into the house, slamming the door behind him. I flinched at the noise.

"Am I going to be punished?" I asked Reaper. He shook his head.

"I think you've suffered enough today," he said, a small smile teasing at his lips.

"What?" I looked up at him.

"'Some guy from school'? I know that kid well enough, Goth," Reaper said with a small smile, "and I'm guessing you've been stuck with him all afternoon."

"Although, seeing how you two said goodbye... I'm wondering how much you actually 'suffered'..."

He went in the house, leaving me wondering just how much they actually saw. And how much Reaper actually knew about Palette and me...

(Palette)

Why did I do that? Why did I kiss him? He hates me!

My own actions haunted me all weekend. I loved teasing him, watching how flustered and jealous he'd get. It was a game we played, a game I would win. But I've never led him on that far before. I always kept him just beyond...

So why did I do that?

Did I... did I actually like him?

Was all my teasing actually driven by something?

I'll admit, sometimes, when I pushed him a little too far and he'd run home, angry and upset... I'd feel bad. The guys I hung out with would laugh and slap my back at causing him pain, but inside I'd always feel a little bad about pushing him so far. A few times I'd follow him home or to his haunts, some part of me wanting to apologize... but every time I'd see him, he'd be too angry to approach. I may like teasing him, but some of the arguments we've had have been rough and passionate and frightening.

Then I'd forget about that moment later and use his haunts to tease him some more. Though I never took it to his home. I've seen some of the arguments he's had with his dad Geno; it could get violent. Some of his home was a sanctuary for him, when he had some peace.

So on Monday morning, I battled with myself, wondering if I should look for Goth... or avoid him.

Even when I saw him come to school, surrounded by his shadow cloud of anger, warning people not to approach, I remained conflicted.

My mind stayed undecided throughout most of the morning. I made up my mind after lunch. Seeing Goth sitting alone at lunch, not even eating, made it up for me. I sat with my "friends", letting them carry on conversation while I watched Goth. His own friends, or acquaintances, would not dare approach him with his cloud this. He was known to lash out at anyone who bothered him, including teachers.

Regardless of the risks, my mind only became clearer over the rest of the afternoon: I would go talk to him.

Not in school, though. My 'friends' would see me and make me act out, encourage me to make him feel worse. I couldn't face doing that now.

The final bell rang and I was out of the school faster than anyone. I would wait at the entrance to his street. Taking a short-cut Goth used sometimes, I beat him to the entrance of his street and waited.

He was walking slower than normal, dragging his feet as he watched the ground. His cloud still hung around him, dark shadowy smoke making him nearly unapproachable.

When I saw him, I waited until he was even with me before falling in step with him.

"What do you want, Palette?" his words were clipped and short.

"Just want to talk," I said simply. Suddenly blank, my brain searched for any meaning behind my actions.

Goth stopped and glared at me. His eyes were dark, his hood shadowing his face. He's trying to scare me off, I thought sadly.

"'Want to talk?'" he said shortly, "You want to talk? Why?"

I'm not sure anymore, "Thought you'd like to talk, or have some company," I said, thinking of how he spent all day alone.

"Do I look like I want company?" Goth asked, sounding angry.

"How about we go to the park?" I suggested, "We can sit and talk."

"Why should I go anywhere with you?" Goth spat.

"Please?" I said. I really wanted to sit down and talk with him. He stepped back, reacting to my pleading tone. Because it was a plead. I needed to talk to him.

"...Fine," he said, and led the way to the park in the neighborhood. I followed, matching his pace. He moved economically and I once again admired how fast he could move when he wanted to.

We reached the park in moments with Goth's angry speed. He paused and turned to me, crossing his arms.

"Wanna sit on the swings?" I suggested. He looked over at the swings, then at me, before heading over and sitting roughly in a swing, his arms still crossed. I sat down in the one next to him and began rocking a little, hooking my arm around the chain. The squeak of the chain was the only noise in the park for some time.

"Thought you said you wanted to talk," Goth said eventually, staring the ground.

"I'm just not sure what we can, or will, talk about," I replied, kicking the dirt and swinging a bit.

The dark cloak hanging over him shifted and I looked at him. His entire face was hidden from my view, and by the looks of it, he'd retreated into his scarf.

"Why do you tease me so much?" he asked, his voice slightly muffled behind the scarf.

"I, uh... Well, it makes me smile," I admitted honestly.

"My suffering makes you smile?" Goth sounded distant.

"Most of the time," I went on. The truth was out, might as well get it over with, "But sometimes... it hurts."

"What hurts?" Goth shifted a bit, his body slightly towards me this time. I kicked the dirt again, grinding my boot into it.

"Seeing you get really, truly upset," I said softly, "The times when you'd run away in tears, yelling or screaming or completely silent. That hurts me."

He looked at me, his eyes barely visible over the lip of his tattered red scarf.

"But you'd always grin and laugh at me when I would do that," he accused, "You'd laugh and taunt me even more the next day."

"The guys I hang out with," I kicked the dirt angrily, "If they see anyone show real feelings... they make fun of them. I mean, it's fun to watch how flustered you'd get around me or how jealous you can be, but if I were to back off before you reached your edge, they'd turn on me."

"So you're a coward," Goth concluded. I sighed and nodded.

"Guess that's the word for it," I admitted.

"If they aren't your friends... why do you still hang around them?"

"That's a good question," I turned to him, grinning a little, "One I can't answer. If I could, I don't think I'd be around them."

Goth let out a terse chuckle and looked away. We sat in silence a bit longer. The angry cloud around Goth had receded a little bit, too.

"I hate you," Goth said eventually. I nodded.

"I know," I agreed.

"But... I like you, too," he admitted quietly.

"I know."

"...Do you...do you hate me?" his voice sounded a bit shaky.

"I'm not sure," I said, looking at the sky, "I mean, there's a fine line between love and hate. Both are passionate, strong feelings. Both can be blind."

"Both are painful," Goth gripped himself tighter, scrunching up his cloak beneath his hands.

"That is true," I nodded. I looked over at him, trying to see him.

He's always been slightly shorter than me, not helped by an almost permanent slump of his shoulders as he tried to hide from the world. His hood hooked down in a peak, like his father Reaper's hood. I knew it was a spare of Reaper's that he'd given to Goth. The holes in his hands were a bit odd but I liked them. Don't know why, but I do. His fingers were long and delicate, but I knew he was very strong if you worked him up.

He always picks me out in a crowd, tries to avoid me. But he never tried very hard. And I could always find him. If our eyes met, I'd smirk at him and he'd flush and look away. By now, I'm not sure I smirked to be a tease and let him know I saw him, or if it was because I enjoyed seeing him around.

I'd get this odd feeling in my chest if someone else picked on him. He won't ever know it, but several of these other tormentors have had to deal with me afterward. They had no hesitations in pushing him over the edge. So I would share the same relentlessness.

"No, I don't hate you, Goth," I said earnestly. His head whipped up to look at me, suspicion in his eye.

"Is this one of your jokes?" he asked fiercely. I shook my head.

"No, I promise on the stars this isn't a joke," I held a hand to my heart, "I do not hate you, Goth. I may not be sure what I feel, but I know it's not hate."

"Then... then will you stop teasing me?"

My smirk returned and I leaned back, "Now why would I do that? I told you I like seeing you blush and get flustered. It's cute."

"Asshole," he snapped. We stood up and I took a step closer to him.

"Ass I may be," I said, putting my hand to his chin and forcing him to look up at me, "I don't think you want me to stop..."

He grabbed my hand to pull it away but I kept it there. I wrapped my other hand around his waist to pin his other arm down.

"Stop it," Goth said, trying to pull away.

"Mmm," I cocked my head in mock consideration, "Nah."

I pulled him into a kiss, enjoying the feeling of his surprise as his body tensed beneath my hold. I kept it up, and he relaxed into it. He let go of my hand as the kiss heated up. I backed him against the pole of the swing set, leaning into him. His hand snuck up behind my head, holding me close.

I licked his teeth and he allowed entry. Our tongues intertwined madly, passion pouring into the kiss. My hands fell to his waist as I pulled him closer. Our heads were crooked with the depth of the kiss. Experimentally, I sucked on Goth's tongue and he shivered, moaning happily.

I did it some more, loving the shivers of his body beneath my hands. His arms had wrapped around my neck, pulling me down to his level.

By now, I wasn't sure what emotions were coursing through the passion of this moment. Nor did I think that Goth knew. We just let the passion run.

I broke away for air, leaning back a bit and smiling at him. Goth was panting from the coursing feelings.

He grinned a bit at me, then looked away, "What are we doing, Palette?"

"I thought that was obvious."

"You know what I mean..."

I frowned a bit and stood up, giving him some room to breathe, "I, uh, I don't know, Goth. What do you think we're doing?"

"I think we're letting our emotions rule us," Goth said, "and my experience has been that doing that is a bad thing that only ever leads to heartache and torture."

"Maybe that was with the wrong emotions..." I leaned closer to him. I liked being this close. I liked being able to see every curve of his skull, the line of his jaw, the depth of his eyes.

"What if these aren't the right ones?" he countered.

"Are you saying this feels wrong to you?" I kissed him softly, then pulled back. He released a pent-up sigh.

"You don't even know how you feel about me," he looked away, "If you don't know, then what if it isn't this? What happens then?"

"Why don't we continue this and find out?"

"What if that's a place you don't want to know about?"

"The only way to know that," I gently made him look at me, "Is to go there."

He sighed and pushed me off. I let up, stepping back. Neither of us had much of the fight we normally showed.

"I don't know how this will pan out, Palette," Goth said, looking at me, "Let me know if you really want to see where this leads us." He turned away and left, walking briskly back to his house. I stayed behind, thinking over what he said.

Turning on my heel, sticking my hands in my pockets, I started walking home, whistling a little tune. I can't let anyone know about this... the thought paused my whistling, Am I really that much of a coward? Maybe Goth was right about me...

Sobered a bit, I kept on walking. Just... kept walking.