"Okay look," Megan huffed, pouting at the ravenette next to her "All I'm saying is that Yamaguchi needs more screen time! He spends most of his time in Tsukishima's shadow and his character development is very limited. Plus, he was bullied for his acne and I'm just over here like 'Leave him alone, he's too precious!' You get what I'm saying?"

Sun sighed "No..."

"I mean, sure he's not a major character, but he still deserves attention and of course affection! Gotta love the little guys, right Sun?"

"You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you watch Haikyuu too much."

"I--" Megan paused mid-comeback "I do watch it too much... But it's art, I can't look away!"

"From the anime or the balls?"

"Har har..."

Sun snickered. He'd noticed Megan had been in a considerably brighter mood this morning compared to the other days, and he intended to keep it that way. And if it meant listening to her lengthy anime rants, so be it. It was a small sacrifice.

"Oh hey, there's Lillie and Rose." He said, cutting Megan off and pointing towards the front of their destination. The two flower named girls seemed to be discussing something, which wasn't unusual at this time of day as they usually met up to talk about ships and whatnot. However, they seemed to be a little more serious than their previous meetings.

"Oi! Lillie, Rose!" Megan called out to get the girls' attention, running towards them which forced poor Sun to follow behind. Lillie and Rose waited for them to join the group, giving small greetings while they were catching their breath.

"You guys doing okay?" Sun asked when finally regaining the required air in his lungs "You seem a bit... weary."

"We're talking about Sadie."

"Ah, yep, that explains it." The boy scoffed, only to stop when the girls were giving him a raised eyebrows and Megan was showing him the 'nice one' mocking face "I-I mean, about what?"

"The fact that she's planning something, I can feel it." Rose claimed, stroking her nonexistent beard "Something evil..."

...

"Right. So," Lillie began after the brief silence "She's not entirely wrong, we do think Sadie's up to something. But it's less evil and more... rude."

Megan tilted her head "How so?"

"Well I picked up on it last night, when Gladion mother and I were having dinner with the Garcia's. Sadie was all over my brother as usual, but she seemed more pushy about it. Even when he tried to pull away she just followed, looking more irritated than before."

Megan clenched her jaw, trying her best not to act mad around her friends "Did she succeed in the end?"

"No, my brother excused himself from the table and lady Joyce gave Sadie a lecture about table manners." Lillie then puffed her cheeks "She should've been given a lecture on human rights too, but I think Joyce is actually encouraging Sadie to seduce Gladion..."

You aren't the only one that thinks that, Lillie...

"Speaking of Gladion," Sun spoke up "Where is he now? I mean, did he take the day off?"

"Oh, no Lillie and I walked with him here." Rose claimed "He said he wanted to get some practice in before class started, so he went off alone to one of the dance studios."

"Oh, I see."

---

"Okay, so," Megan began as their group sat in a circle in class "I was trying to explain to Sun why Haikyuu is a must watch."

"She just ranted about some Yamaguchi fellow."

"He is a CINNAMON ROLL!"

"Right, of course. My mistake..."

"Hey, Artemus!" A familiar voice called out, making everyone grimace. Megan groaned and turned to meet a blue haired bastard running towards them, with what seemed to be papers in hand.

"Why are you talking to me?" She asked coldly as the boy stopped in front of her, gasping for breath. Leven held his hands up in surrender.

"Woah, hold up kitty, I'm calling a truce for now." He exclaimed innocently "I need you to do something for me."

"Why not ask your annoying boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend!"

Sun stifled a snort "Right, who'd wanna date a cheater?"

Ignoring Sun's comment, Leven sighed and held the paper's out to Megan "I need you to give these to the instructor working in studio 4A at the moment."

She stared down at them, eyebrow raised "Again, why me?"

"Because I have a meeting with the vice principal in five minutes. Plus 4A's the room you usually use, right? You know where it is better than anyone."

He had a point... "What do I get out of it?"

"I'll leave you alone for a week." He held up a hand "You have my word."

Megan's eyes narrowed. He was being awfully suspicious. Approaching her? Asking for help? Not insulting her?! Who the heck is this stranger?!

Eventually with a huff, she snatched the papers from Leven's hand "Pass me that shit..."

"So you'll do it?"

"Sure. Whatever." She began walking towards the building "It'll get rid of you for a week, so I might as well."

Leven grinned "Thank you!"

"Go die."

Leven chuckled and bid Megan's friends farewell, which only resulted in him getting a number of glared and even a middle finger. *Cough*Rose. He turned and also left, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Yes, thank you..." He muttered, lips forming a menacing grin "For making this a lot easier."

---

Gladion let out a sigh, dropping his arms from their finishing position and rolling his shoulders back. With his arm he wiped the sweat on his forehead, and went to grab his water bottle by the mirror before taking a sip. Due to his heart beating through his ears from fatigue he didn't hear the studio door open.

"Oh, Gladion!" A high, obviously fake surprised voice chimed from behind him, causing him to nearly choke. He glanced over his shoulder.

"Sadie..." he murmured in greeting, averting his gaze awkwardly "What are you doing here, shouldn't you be in class?"

She let out a small elegant giggle "Shouldn't you?"

"I... got permission from Kukui to practice this session. There are a few things I want to cover."

"Really?" Sadie's kind smile darkened slightly, evolving into a smirk "Mind if I watch, I've wanted to see you dance."

Gladion sighed, not noticing her change of character as he raked his hands through his hair with one hand. He was still rather uncomfortable around the girl from last night, and the fact she prevented him from talking to Megan didn't help his mood at all "I guess... as long as you don't get in trouble, and you don't interfere with rehearsal then I suppose it's alright..."

"Great!" The girl glided over to the speakers "Carry on, then."

He grimaced I return and reached for his phone, selecting Treat You Better and heading to the middle. He tried to convince himself Sadie wasn't there, probably admiring him from behind, and waited for his cue.

When Shawn began to sing, he closed his eyes and began to move along to the music, doing his best not to slip up and give Sadie a reason to worry about him. He tried to push any thought about her out of his head as he danced, but even when he was dancing he couldn't help but feel her eyes creep up his back like a pair of spiders.

And then, when the song ended, and he was just about to turn around... he felt arms envelop him from behind. He didn't have to ask, he knew who was doing it already. But that made him all the more uncomfortable.

"Sadie, please let go--"

"Gladion." The girl cut him off, her voice low and seductive "You know I like you, don't you?"

Oh no, not this. Anything but this.

Gladion winced as she nuzzled into his back, feeling himself stiffen tighter from her touch.

"One day, when we get older, I want us to get married." She continued.

"I don't want that, Sa--"

"Why not?" She whined, turning him around to face her "We've known each other since we were six, so it's not like I'm a stranger. Besides, I'm a Garcia. If you were mine... I could get you anything you wanted..."

She leaned up to his ear "Anything... Anything at all..."

Okay. That's it.

"Stop." Gladion demanded as he pushed her away "Sadie I think you and I both know your affection's one-sided. Our family's are good friends, and as you said we've known each other for a long time. But that doesn't mean I like you that way... You're a friend, hell I could say you're a sister to me. But I'm not attracted to you, I'm sorry to say. Actually... I like somebody else."

"Who?"

The boy felt a shiver go up his spine from her changed cold tone. Sadie glared up at him with disgusted golden eyes "Is it that commoner, the one you danced with at the ball? She's nothing special, I don't see why you'd even tolerate her. She's insignificant."

"She is not insignificant."

"So it is her, then..." Sadie took a step towards Gladion, lust soon filling her eyes "Just forget about her, I can do whatever she can do better. You're too good for her, anyway. But me... I'm perfect for you, even my mother thinks you'll be a perfect match for me. So why do you insist on her?"

She had Gladion backed into the mirror, his back leaning against it as he was desperate to get away from the girl approaching him. Her hands grabbed his wrists, pinning them to his sides as she grinned up at him.

"Let me show you... How much better I am than her ..."

And then she kissed him, not giving him any chance to fight back as he attempted to free himself from her grasp. Her lips moved against his, which were pursed together to try and escape the act of affection.

Thunk

Their eyes widened, and soon their attention was on the door.

Gladion felt his breath get caught in his throat.

The person at the door stood their shaking, her blue eyes looking between Gladion and Sadie as she lightly shook. He expression held sadness, shock, and most of all... betrayal. This person was none other than Megan.

"...I'm sorry..." She muttered shakily, bending down to gather the papers she dropped "I seem to have the wrong room, this must be 'deceivers avenue'..."

As soon as she grabbed the last of her things she ran out of the door and down the hall, making Gladion gasp and rip himself from Sadie's gorrila grasp. He ran after her, mentally screaming at his legs to go faster as her figure grew closer. When she was in reach, Rose, Lillie, Hau and Sun came around the corner, seeming taken aback when noticing two bodies were zooming towards them. Gladion clenched his jaw, and with one final push his hand shot out to grab her wrist to stop her.

"Megan just listen--"

THWACK

A round of gasps filled the hall

His head was turned to the side, cheek throbbing and turning pink as the rest of her words were knocked out of him. Megan glared up at him in pure hatred, hand still raised from when she slapped him.

"Don't. Fucking. Touch. Me."

His hand came up to cover his burning cheek, and slowly he turned to face her. He knew he wouldn't like what he saw, but it still made his heart shatter. Megan lowered her hand, letting out a shaky breath as she bared her teeth.

"'Me over her' huh, Gladion?" She laughed painfully "Is that the only lie you've told me up to now? Or was there more? Were they all lies?"

"Megan wait--"

"WERE THEY LIES?!"

"No of course not!" Gladion yelled "You have it all wrong, of course I've meant everything I said."

She scoffed, crossing her arms "And I suppose I have what just happened all wrong, too."

"Yes!"

"So you're telling me that I didn't just see Sadie kissing you! You're saying to my face that I didn't see her lips on yours, and that I just ran out of there because of some vision!" She growled "Don't take me for a fool, Gladion! I know what I saw!"

"Wait, what's going on here?!" Lillie yelled "What are you guys talking about?!"

"Not now, Lillie." Megan muttered without looking at her "Let me ask you something, Gladion. If one day you stumbled upon someone and hated them, but after awhile you start to care about them. What if one day they confess to you and swear they will never hurt you. What if they tell you time and time again that you were the only one for them and there was no one else on earth that would make them this happy. What if, Gladion, you suddenly find out they've been keeping stuff from you - things that nearly break your trust in them, and when you give them a second chance they go off with someone else. WHAT IF YOU SUDDENLY CATCH THEM KISSING THE PERSON THEY DIRECTLY TOLD YOU THEY FELT NOTHING FOR COMPARED TO WHAT THEY FELT FOR YOU!" She let out a deep breath through her nose, trying her hardest not to collapse in a fit of tears.

Gladion couldn't say anything, even if he tried. He wanted to tell her she was wrong... but no words came out.

"You know..." She began again with a small smile, not even looking at him this time "I thought you were different... I thought you actually meant it when you confessed. I believed everything you said... I believed you actually cared about me. I believed we could actually be together, despite my insecurities. But no... I was wrong, you are no different. And you know when you said you didn't want to be just like Natalie? Well guess what, you're just like her."

She met his eyes again, scowling with nothing but pain keeping her going.

"Actually, you're worse than Natalie! At least she admitted to her crimes! At least she dropped her act when she was caught! But you- You insist that you're innocent, and then you can't even say anything! You're still pretending, and it's killing me because I want to believe you are the person I fell for..."

A single tear rolled down her cheek. It killed Gladion, because he knew there was no way in hell she'd let him wipe it away. There was no way he could pull her into his arms and comfort her. She was already hurting too much... because of him.

"Unbelievable..." She whispered "You're even more of a hypocrite than I thought. You're...

You're despicable."

Silence fell upon them for a moment. Megan's rasped breaths were the only thing that could be heard in the hall, which showed how much energy she had used to yell at Gladion. The pair were on the verge of tears, but they held back as it would make the situation way... way worse for them. Finally, Lillie spoke up cautiously.

"Wait... Are you saying, you guys were together?"

They flinched.

Megan slowly looked up at Gladion, who was giving her a look of desperacy. This was her decision it seemed, because it was clear he had already made his. With great dread, she tore her eyes from his and turned away.

"Not anymore."

And with that she walked away from the male, who's hand was outstretched as if some sort of force would pull her back into him. Tears blurred both of their vision as they moved further apart. However, Megan did stop for a moment, and she did turn back...

But all she did was rip the necklace Gladion had given her from her neck and toss it aside, showing him that her mind was up.

"We're done." She choked out, before slowly walking away.

---

Megan had stormed into the bathroom shortly after leaving the others in shock, locking the door and leaning against it in silence.

And then, she broke.

Her eyes exploded with tears as she gripped her hair violently, letting out strangled sobs as she slid down to the floor. So this was what heartbreak felt like, this is what she tried to avoid feeling again for such a long time...

Why did she break her own rules? Why did she think this would ever work? She was a fool if she ever thought she could be loved by someone for real, especially by him...

Her cries filled the bathroom as teardrops fell to the tile floor, which had escaped Megan's hands as they desperately tried to wipe her eyes clean. What made it worse, was that she kept thinking about everything he had said to her - every sweet word that she thought meant something to the both of them.

-

"Thank you for everything you've done for me tonight. You've made this day- dare I say it -Not as bad as I felt it would be. Maybe you aren't as bad as I thought."

-

"I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt..."

-

"It hurts that you're suffering. It hurts that this is forcing you and Luke to work until your muscles can't anymore. It hurts that you are forced to give up on your dreams. It hurts that you're having to grow up too early. It hurts... It hurts because I can't end your pain..."

-

"I have done for a while, but it took me a bit to realise what my feelings towards you were and come to terms with the fact. I like you, a lot."

-

You can't keep secrets from me, not ever. I don't even want to think of the possibility of losing you."

-

"What I'm after is someone I can count on, who I can trust whenever. I'm after someone who cares enough to listen to what I have to say without judging me or leaving right after. Someone who isn't after my wealth or body. And... I'm after someone who I can care for and protect when they need it. Who is willing to let down their walls and step out of their comfort zone to try new things. To be honest, all I really want is someone who will care for me the same way I care for them... and eventually fall in love with them..."

-

"You give me the one thing they don't... Happiness. I don't get that from wealth, or a name, or high status. I get it from the girl who calls me 'Frenchfry'. All I have to do is look at you, and my mood lifts. When I'm around you, it's like... I don't know... like I've found a part of me I didn't know I was missing. I don't get that from Sadie, I get that from you. That's all I can ever ask for. So don't go thinking that some silly lifestyle difference is going to change the way I feel about you. And don't go listening to some snooty woman saying your not good enough for me. If anything, I'm not good enough for you."

-

"No matter how many times I'll have to choose, it'll be you. Every single time."

-

Lies lies lies lie LIES!

She was wrong, this wasn't how it felt last time she got her heart broken. This is worse- way worse. To the extent she couldn't even think about anything but him, and he was the reason her tears kept falling.

She thought he was her light. But not anymore.

She thought he was the one...

...But not anymore.