You sat in the courtyard straddling the cement bench with your lunch splayed out between you and your best friend. He picked at your chips while watching you stare off into the distance. You had been acting strangely the last few days and it hadn't gone unnoticed by the greenette that towered over you.

His garnet gaze swept over you a few times contemplating asking what was the matter. He didn't like when you were quiet. Quiet usually meant something was wrong. He'd seen it many times over the last ten years. The two of you had been inseparable since you moved to the small town in the middle of third grade. It was to easy to pick on the new girl, it didn't help that you were too nice. So, he took it upon himself to become your friend and consequently your body guard. In turn for his protection you helped with his studies and to rid him of a pretty strange verbal tick.

"Uhm F/N?" He fiddled with his septum ring.
"Hm?" You hummed back turning to face him.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing is wrong Barto, you worry too much." You smiled assuringly.

Bartolomeo sighed raking his right hand worriedly through his wild green hair. He did in fact worry too much, but with good reason. You often kept unpleasant things bottled up until they culminated into an explosion of random emotions.
Discarding the subject for now, he was about to point out that the bell for fourth period would be ringing soon when your posture suddenly changed. Your eyes distractedly scanned the yard when you caught sight of his tussled red locks.

A transfer student who had arrived two days ago passed between buildings. You bumped into him on his first day, the rich boy pretending to be a delinquent. He looked down at you with smoldering eyes that you had trouble tearing yourself away from. Even when he physically moved you aside muttering curses as he continued passed. His crimson hair and amber eyes were in direct contrast to his pale skin that somehow had a shimmer of iridescence like a pearl. You suppressed the urge to run your fingers down his arm as he moved by. His clothes were expensive and didn't match his 'give me your lunch money' vibe.

"Earth to F/N." Barto called waving a hand in front of your face to gain your attention.

You turned blinking questioningly at the greenette.

"I said the bell is about to ring. What are you looking at anyway?" He swayed scanning the pathway between the buildings, "You know that guy?"
"What guy?" You countered.
Barto furrowed his brows, "Eustass Kid. The new guy."
"I don't know him." You fought a sudden flush now having a name for that beautiful face.
Barto rolled his eyes, "He's bad news ya know? Kicked out of every prep school he's been enrolled in. I guess no one will take him now so he's finishing senior year with us."
"You're no saint you know." You chuckled repacking your picked at lunch.
"Hey!" He almost shouted in offense, "I only picked fights in your honor. You make it sound as if I've been robbing banks."
"A fight is a fight. Though I suppose I am pretty grateful." You tossed him a smile that sent all of his blood to his face, "Let's get going. Shanks will have your ass if you're late for class again."
"That old man couldn't touch me." Barto stated a little too proudly as the bell sounded through the yard.

During class Bartolomeo spaced out spending a lot of the time worrying what your interest in Eustass could possibly be. What did that guy have? If it was edge surely Barto filled that definition, a wild haircut, tattoos and piercings - Eustass didn't have that. Hell, Barto even beat him in height. Not to mention the greenette was already in your inner circle. Somehow he'd managed to get himself friend-zoned.

"F/N, can you take this down to the library and make 20 copies. I didn't have time this morning." Shanks called holding up a worksheet.

You left your seat taking the paper from your teacher and heading toward the stairwell that lead to the library. Lost in your thoughts you missed the third step on the second landing sending you tumbling forward. You closed your eyes and tensed bracing yourself to hit the hard tile floor. Instead you were met with the hard thud of another body and a loud exhale as the wind was knocked out of your lungs.

"You really don't watch where you're going do ya tater-tot?" The unfamiliar voice beneath you rumbled.

You rose trying to fight the impending flush as you glared down at Eustass Kid. A shiver traversed your spine when he gripped your waist and shifted so he could sit up.

"Cat got your tongue?" He smirked.
"N-no." You slid off the red head's lap, "I'm so sorry are you hurt?"
He let out an airy laugh, "It was like being pushed down by a marshmallow."
"There you ar-" Bartolomeo's voice echoed through the stairwell followed by quick loud steps, "Are you alright? What did you do to her?"

Kid cut his eyes at your best friend.

"Why would I have done something to her?" The red head growled brushing himself off as he rose to his full height.

Barto had bent down to gently tug you to your feet and pull you into his side for support in case you were injured. He straightened out puffing up his chest and clearing Kid by a decent four inches. Kid didn't waiver, he only tipped his chin up to adjust his gaze.

"Your midget friend pushed me down. She's lucky I don't punish her." His tone made you shudder.
"Barto." You called gaining the greenette's attention, "I did push him down."

Bartolomeo's eyes widened.

"N-not on purpose... I fell actually." You clarified.
"Should we go to the nurse?" He asked abandoning Kid's glare, fully prepared to hoist you onto his back.
"I'm fine really. We need to get those copies for class." You turned to Kid, "Sorry for falling on you."
"Pay attention next time." He huffed shoving his hands into his pockets and stalking away.

"The Newgate's are having a party Saturday. Seems their dad and oldest brother are out of town. Luffy invited us, you want to go?" Barto rambled rummaging through his back pack while you leaned against a neighboring locker.
"Sounds fun." You replied catching a side glance from a certain red head sauntering by.

His lips upturned into a cocky smirk. There was something knowing behind that expression that puzzled you.

"Don't tell me you have a crush on that guy!" Bartolomeo couldn't control the envy in his tone, "You've spoken to him once."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you Barto." You snorted, "Besides who has been crushing on the AP History teacher since freshman year?"
"S-shut up! That isn't even close to the same. And I am not jealous." He slammed his locker, "Let's just go. Your mom will flip out if you're late like last time."
"Speaking of mom...should I tell her I'm staying at yours tomorrow?" You changed the subject toddling after your best friend.

_________________

The house was already in disarray when you arrived and immediately lost your best friend to the youngest Newgate. Even though Luffy was younger Barto and a few others flocked to him. He was a likible guy, always the life of the party, or class, or well any place he happened to be.

"Why do you even come to these things?" You asked the grouchy ravenette to your left.
"Luffy won't leave me alone until I cave." He replied nonchalantly watching Luffy's older brother Ace settle into an armchair with one of his guitars.
"Oh." You murmured earning a glance from the freshman year med student.

In your peripheral you caught a glimpse of familiar red locks this time wrapped in a navy bandana. Your eyes followed him out of the room.

"That guy is nothing but trouble."

"How would you know, Law?" You turned back to the raven who was now looking at you.

"He comes into my dad's clinic all the time beat up. He's got some sort of little street gang."

You rolled your eyes. He hadn't seemed so scary to you.

"I'll be back in a bit." You stood.

"Suit yourself." Law muttered not particularly interested in whatever you were about to do.

You took a short glance around the room full of dancing / mingling people making sure Bartolomeo wasn't nearby, surely he'd stop you. Slowly you made your way down the hallway Kid had vanished in. You pushed passed some classmates and college kids you didn't recognize eyes searching for just a hint of that red hair.

A large hand grabbed your wrist and snatched you back. You'd entered a black lit room with a giant phoenix painting lighting up the far wall. Before you could take a better look around to gather your bearings you were quite roughly pressed against the now closed door.

His burning amber irises scanned your features before leaning in to whisper in your ear.

"They told you not to bother didn't they?"

You nodded fighting the flash of goosebumps creeping over your limbs. His fingers traced your jaw as he watched you fight to breathe normally. He felt your heart thrumming below his left hand gliding down to the dip of your shoulder, eyes never leaving yours. He spared a glance for your lips, licking his own. Your noses brushed as you let your eye lids drop in anticipation.

Very gently his lips pressed against yours. You knew it was going to happen but it still took a few seconds to assimilate and catch up. His hand moved from your shoulder to the nape of your neck pulling you closer and gently tugging your head back to give him better access. There was no hope once his tongue breached your lips. You wouldn't fight him for dominance instead you weakly clutched his black t-shirt. A small hum escaped you causing him to smirk and pull away sooner than you'd like.

"You should probably listen to them." He rumbled.

A/N : This request was from _lumi_lu

I hope you enjoyed it!