Feelings Misinterpreted

Vi huffed, finally able to get a moment to herself without some wanna-be-delinquents chasing her for some stupid reason she didn’t bother to listen to. She looked around at the school gardens carefully, searching for any movement. Once she felt the coast was clear, she finally allowed her shoulders to droop in relaxation. She pulled out a cigarette from the box she always kept in her jacket pocket, lighting it quickly and taking a long, slow drag. She exhaled leisurely, watching the thick smoke rise in billows and curls in the air.

“What did I say about smoking?” a voice said from behind her. She recognized that voice. That accent. The one that screamed Piltovan. That Kiramman girl. The Student Council President. Why the hell did a student government have so much power anyways? They’d been butting heads forever.

“What are you, my mom?” Vi scoffed, taking another drag and blowing behind her.

The Kiramman girl, Caitlyn, frowned, but she didn’t flinch, her eyes staying narrowed despite the smoke now surrounding them. “Smoking on school property is a fire hazard, and this is a tobacco-free campus.”

Vi allowed her eyes to wander over Caitlyn’s body. The Piltovan was uptight, but damn was she hot. Vi took another drag of her cigarette, blowing it directly in the other girl’s face. “Oh, come on, President Perfect. Loosen up. You’re always so uptight.”

Caitlyn frowned, taking the cigarette with one swift movement. Before Vi had a chance to protest, the Piltovan put out the cigarette with her shoe before pocketing it to throw away later. “You heard me.”

Vi’s comfortable smirk she’d grown used to having (so much so that it was basically part of her outfit each day) faded, watching the faint light at the end of the cigarette get smashed with shiny black mary janes. “Hey, that was a perfectly good cigarette!” Vi protested.

“There is no such thing as a ‘good cigarette,’” Caitlyn deadpanned. 

Vi rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. She’d just act upset and wait for Caitlyn to leave, then she could just light another and stick it to that stupid council. “Spoken like a true nerd. Have you ever even smoked one? Drank alcohol? Loosen up, President.”

“What I do with my personal time off of school property is none of your business,” Caitlyn replied sternly. Vi was about to say something snarky when she felt arms around her. She breathed in a fresh jasmine perfume. She felt the Kiramman girl’s body pressed against hers, and it made her heart race as the warmth seeped through their clothes. Vi felt her muscles tense, her body freezing up unexpectedly. As soon as she started to comprehend what was happening, the Kiramman pulled away, holding up Vi’s box of cigarettes. “I will be confiscating this.”

“Hey, those are mine!” Vi protested, reaching for the box.

The Kiramman girl pulled it out of the way before she could manage to reach it. “There are better things you can do with your time, Violet.”

Vi let out a frustrated sigh, her fists clenching. She felt her anger swirl in her chest, along with something else that she couldn’t quite place. “Yeah, yeah. Like studying like a good student, huh?”

“That would be a wise decision,” Caitlyn answered with a nod, turning on her heel and leaving Vi alone again in the school garden. 

Vi stayed put, watching the other girl retreat. She tried not to look for long, but she couldn’t help but notice the way Caitlyn’s clothes fit her just right. Or the way her hair had a tint of blue underneath the sun. She shook her head, trying to swat away those thoughts in her brain. She’s annoying and stuck-up. She reminded herself.

_

_

Later that day, Vi was feeling restless. She couldn’t get that stupid hug out of her mind. Could you blame her? She hated Pilties as much as the next guy, but she’d be lying if she said that specific Piltie girl wasn’t exactly her type. Not that she’d ever want to date her, but it wouldn’t be so bad to… kiss her?

She walked through the halls languidly, dragging her finger over the walls and fondly remembering when she and Powder had spray painted those very walls with penises and monkeys. The good old days. Last week.

Her eyes landed on the Student Council room. The lights were on, so someone was clearly inside. What if it was Caitlyn Kiramman?

Her curiosity got the better of her. Her restlessness fueled her decision to go inside and annoy the president a little bit. She shrugged her shoulders as if she was about to kick the door in before turning the handle and opening the door, a grin on her face.

Caitlyn Kiramman was sitting at the large meeting table inside, sorting through stacks of paper. At the noise of the door, she looked up. “Can I help you?” she asked, her voice neutral and detached.

Vi stepped into the room, looking around casually. The large table was the first thing she noticed. Then, her eyes led her around the room, over bookshelves and filing cabinets, and… a tea station? Then, her eyes landed on Caitlyn, and she couldn’t help but find the girl quite adorable when she had that focused look. The way she furrowed her brows and bit the insides of her cheeks had Vi getting a little warm. She strolled over and leaned against the edge of the table, looking down at the paperwork. “Just checking out what you nerds do in here for fun,” she said teasingly, grabbing the first paper and inspecting it.

“For fun?” Caitlyn repeated, looking unimpressed and unamused. “Then you have found the wrong place.”

Vi chuckled at the straight-laced response. It was annoying, but somehow, it was also endearing at the same time. She set down the first paper she’d grabbed and instead decided to go for the one in Caitlyn’s hands. She skimmed through it, not really reading any of what was there. She didn’t actually care about some damn papers. “Oh come on. Don’t tell me you don’t know how to have a good time,” she teased, trying to burrow herself under Caitlyn’s skin.

“Perhaps I do, perhaps I don’t,” Caitlyn deadpanned. “I just make sure I finish my work first.” Caitlyn then took the paper back and filed it while Vi watched her.

Vi shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. So damn meticulous about everything…

“You know,” Vi said, pushing herself off of the table. “You should loosen up once in a while, President.” She smirked, stepping closer to where Caitlyn was sitting. She leaned down until her face was just a few inches away.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Caitlyn asked, her voice sounding bored and unimpressed.

Despite Caitlyn’s monotonous response, Vi could not be deterred. She leaned in even closer, very clearly invading Caitlyn’s personal space. She could see that the young Kiramman was trying to keep up a neutral facade. But if she wasn’t imagining a subtle flush in her cheeks and breath caught in her throat… “Yeah,” Vi said, a playful smile spreading across her face. “I’m exactly where I want to be. Annoying you.”

“I see,” Caitlyn said before returning to her paperwork. “Would you like a coloring sheet, then?” Her voice was tinged with sarcasm.

“Do you have a ‘How To Be Less Uptight: For Dummies’ manual? I’ll take one of those,” Vi returned, leaning back against the table and crossing her arms. 

“You could stand to be a little more uptight,” Caitlyn commented, not bothering to look up from her paperwork. Damn, this girl was good. Like a Zaunite.

“More uptight, huh? And what, ruin all my fun?” Vi sat on the table, leaning back on her arms.

Caitlyn stood to her full height, well over Vi’s, and stepped closer. The taller girl grabbed Vi’s chin, forcing her to look up at her. It was almost aggressive, but her touch was surprisingly gentle, and it didn’t hurt. Vi’s eyes widened in surprise. “You ought not to come in here anymore,” Caitlyn said, her tone serious and her face just inches away.

Vi’s body immediately reacted to the contact. She could feel her heart racing with a pretty girl’s hand on her chin. Cold eyes locked with a teasing grin, and Vi could not deny the effect it had on her, but she refused to back down. “Oh yeah?” she whispered, her voice low and gravelly. She could feel the heat between their bodies, fighting with the cool air of the Student Council room. She leaned closer, leaving their lips mere centimeters apart.

“I have work to do,” Caitlyn told her, gripping her chin just a bit harder. “Don’t come in here with nothing to offer.”

Vi winced slightly, the touch driving her wild. She had never met someone that could match or even surpass her energy. The firm, commanding tone that the Piltovan used only made her want to rile her up more. “What do you want me to offer, President? My sunny personality?” Vi teased, her free hand coming up to brush against Caitlyn’s arm, feeling the smooth skin under her calloused fingertips.

Caitlyn swallowed, letting Vi’s chin go and taking a hold of her shoulders, guiding her off the desk and towards the door. “It’s time for you to go, Violet.”

Vi allowed the taller girl to guide her, despite having the strength to fight back, her body responding to Caitlyn’s firm actions. She’s so damn commanding… It’s… turning me on. She put up a half-hearted protest, letting out a low groan. “You’re no fun, President. I was just getting started,” Vi said with a pout, reluctantly stepping out of the room.

“Perhaps you should put your energy into something else.” Caitlyn’s eyes flicked down the Vi’s muscular frame, the thick muscles on her arms that were on clear display due to Vi’s choice of a tank top. “Like a sport.” Then, she closed the door.

Vi stared at the closed door, smirking to herself. Something else, huh? The thought of joining a sport crossed her mind, but her mind was still focused on Caitlyn and the way the taller girl had touched her. Why does she get to me so much? Damn Piltie…

Inside the room, Caitlyn sat back down at her desk, looking down at the stacks of files in front of her. Her mind wandered back to the strange Zaunite who had come in looking to rile her up, but she forced herself to stay on track. After an hour or so, she managed to finish sorting and filing the papers into the correct cabinets. She gathered her things methodically, making sure everything was right in the room before heading out the door.

Just as she opened the door, she saw Vi standing at the door, hand outstretched to open it.

Vi hadn’t necessarily meant to show up again, but she couldn’t help the way her mind constantly wandered back to the President’s touch, the way she’d held her, the way her scent still lingered in her mind. Her hand hovered over the doorknob, not expecting the door to swing open and the Piltovan to be standing on the other side, her bag slung over her shoulder. “Violet,” Caitlyn said, her voice level. “I see you have come back.”

Vi’s eyes widened as her heart skipped a beat. The cold tone of Caitlyn’s voice sent a shiver down her spine, but somehow, it also sent heat to her cheeks. Trying to maintain her composure, Vi smiled, leaning against the doorframe. “Hey, President. What a coincidence seeing you here,” she said innocently.

“Don’t play coy with me, Violet,” Caitlyn responded, her face still perfectly stoic as she brushed past the obstacle and locked the door behind her.

Vi took a step back, feeling the electricity spark between them at the brief contact. Such a cold person with a touch so damn hot, she thought. Her mind spun as she watched the taller girl lock the door. “Alright, I won’t pretend. I came back here to see you,” she admitted bluntly.

“I see,” Caitlyn murmured with a nod. “You just couldn’t get enough.” The Piltovan began walking through the hall, not looking back, leaving Vi to scramble to follow.

Those words made Vi’s heart race, the way they were said so casually. She followed after Caitlyn, having to speed up to keep up with her long strides. “Yeah, that’s exactly it,” she replied, hoping she had injected enough sarcasm not to give her away. She fell into step beside Caitlyn, matching her pace.. “But don’t get all cocky. You were enjoying our little game in the Student Council room earlier.”

“I would have finished my work earlier had you not come in to distract me,” Caitlyn deadpanned.

Vi let out a huff, irritated by Caitlyn’s indifference. Could the president not at least admit she found Vi somewhat entertaining? “Oh, come on. You can’t deny that I added some excitement to your boring, structured life.” Vi allowed herself to smirk, watching the other girl carefully. She just knew that Caitlyn was hiding some feelings beneath that cool façade.

Caitlyn clenched her jaw. Years of coaching by her mother trained her for moments like these, where someone was testing her patience and her cool. She had to admit, it did cross her mind to give in, just to see how it feels. “You certainly are something,” Caitlyn said, forcing herself not to give a small smile. She continued her brisk pace through the winding halls of the school, her perfume leaving a very subtle trace behind her as she walked. The smell of jasmine and amber filled Vi’s nose, causing her composure to falter.

Vi forced herself to keep walking. Everything about this girl was driving her insane. She had to know if Caitlyn was feeling the same way. There was undeniable chemistry between the two of them. She just had to… set it off. “Just admit it. You actually like me, President,” she teased, her eyes roaming over Caitlyn’s body, taking in every detail. That waist, the hips, the face… So damn perfect.

“Like you?” Caitlyn said, her accent perfectly posh. “You don’t want me to lie to you, do you?”

Vi frowned. Caitlyn’s words were not exactly giving her the response she was expecting. Or craving. She tried to hide her disappointment, continuing to walk alongside the president. “No,” she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. “I don’t want you to lie.”

“You should go home, Violet,” Caitlyn said as they reached the lockers. She stopped at her own locker, opening it and slipping on her jacket. Vi lingered next to her, feeling a pang of disappointment at the dismissal. She couldn’t let her get rid of her that easily. She was Vi from the fucking Lanes. “What if I don’t want to go home yet?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Caitlyn asked, not caring much about the answer.

Vi could feel her frustration growing, her mind racing. Caitlyn’s cool and collected demeanor was driving her nuts. She just wanted to break through so badly. “Well, I don’t know… Maybe because I want to hang out with you instead,” Vi snapped back, her patience starting to thin.

Caitlyn paused her movement, looking over at Violet strangely. “And why would you want to do that?”

Vi was caught off guard by the directness of Caitlyn’s question. Why did she want to hang out with Caitlyn? She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Damn it. Why is she affecting me so much? “Just… because I do, okay?” Vi managed, feeling frustrated at her own lack of a better response.

Caitlyn seemed to have a realization. “Violet,” she said, her voice firm.

“Vi.”

“Violet,” Caitlyn repeated. “If you’re hanging around and bothering me to try and get your cigarettes back, it’s too late. I have already discarded them.”

How cruel. Or just strict. “Yeah, I figured you would have thrown them away,” Vi answered, trying to sound cool about it.

“Now that you know that they are gone for good, you can stop bothering me.”

“What if I don’t want to stop bothering you?” Vi challenged, her voice rising. Why was Caitlyn so good at riling her up when she was trying to rile Caitlyn up in the first place?

“I couldn’t give them back to you now even if I wanted to, so there’s no use in trying to get close to me,” Caitlyn said monotonously.

Caitlyn’s indifference cuts deep, and Vi could feel herself start to lose her own composure. How could Caitlyn be so cold and callous? Did she not feel that same spark between them? “I don’t care about the damn cigarettes anymore!” she snapped back angrily, her voice loud and echoing through the empty hallway.

Vi’s anger caught Caitlyn off guard momentarily. She was used to this. She had trained for this. Keep your cool, Caitlyn. She kept her expression neutral, her face not betraying any of her inner thoughts.

Vi could feel herself breathing heavily, her heart racing as she struggled to control her emotions. It was infuriating how Caitlyn could remain so calm while she was a complete mess. The only person who could rile her up this much was Mylo. “You’re so damn emotionless, Kiramman. Don’t you feel anything when you’re around me?”

Caitlyn thought for a moment. What exactly was the feeling that she was harbouring? The feeling that made her pulse rush and her head reel. It was certainly quite fervent, and it boiled and bubbled beneath her skin. It must be a special kind of annoyance. Loathing, even. “I feel…” Caitlyn started. “I feel annoyed when I’m around you.”

Caitlyn’s blunt response cut through Vi like a dagger, her frustration hitting its peak. She could feel a mixture of anger and attraction—a very dangerous combination. “Annoyed?” Vi spit back, her voice low. “You’re just going to pretend there isn’t something between us, is that it?”

“Between us?” Caitlyn asked, her eyes widening just slightly. So little that if you were any further away than Vi was now, you wouldn’t have caught it. “Because I confiscated your cigarettes? Now, that doesn’t quite make any sense.”

Caitlyn’s cluelessness only served to further piss Vi off, her hands clenching into firm fists at her sides. “It’s not about the damn cigarettes! It’s… it’s how you make me feel. Every time you look at me, touch me. I can’t stop fucking thinking about you!” Vi snapped, revealing her feelings without meaning to.

“Oh,” Caitlyn said softly, taken aback, her mouth forming a small circle. She, for once, looked like she didn’t know what to say. A rarity. Vi could feel her heart pounding as she awaited a response. The shocked expression was slightly satisfying, Vi realized, as her composure seemed to crack to allow it to show. She didn’t have much time to enjoy her small victory, however, because she was desperate for Caitlyn to continue to say something. Anything. Why was she so worked up over this girl? “Well,” Caitlyn said finally, feeling slightly awkward. “Thank you.”

Vi’s jaw dropped, her mind struggling to comprehend that response. Thank you? Was Caitlyn completely daft or was she just trying to be dismissive? “Thank you?” Vi echoed, disbelief and anger evident in her tone. “I just fucking… bared my soul to you, and that’s all you have to say? A half-assed ‘thank you’?”

“Violet,” Caitlyn said, her eyebrows furrowing. “I… I don’t know what you want me to say.”

Vi scoffed, frustration and hurt seeping into her voice. “Gee, I don’t know, maybe a proper response? I expected better from you, President,” Vi retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. Her mind was still reeling, a whirlwind of emotions ripping through her soul. Caitlyn, on the other hand, had not expected Vi to lose her cool so easily. This was Violet from the Lanes, after all. She was a total flirt, so why would Caitlyn be any different? Because of this, Caitlyn could only stand there with a vaguely surprised expression on her face, only fueling Vi’s frustration. Vi took a step closer, her voice rising. “Say something! Stop looking at me like that, damn it! Don’t you have any feelings or are you just a total robot?”

Caitlyn swallowed, clutching her jacket. “I… I don’t know,” she stammered, her voice softer than usual, lacking its usual cold detachment.

The change in Caitlyn’s tone caught Vi off guard, and her heart wrenched. Was she finally getting to her? She couldn’t help herself when she spoke again, her voice trembling uncharacteristically. ‘You don’t know? What do you mean you don’t know? Do you feel anything when you’re around me? Do I make you feel… the way you make me feel?”

Caitlyn visualized the way she felt about Vi like putty in her hands. What exactly was it? Is that what Vi was feeling, too? “I don’t know,” she answered softly. “I’ve never…” I’ve never felt this before. But she couldn’t say that. Not to Vi, of all people. Instead, she settled on, “I’ve never thought about it.”

Vi felt a pang in her chest, the response serving as an arrow through her heart. The ambiguity was driving her insane. How could this girl be so oblivious to the impact she had on others? On Vi. “You’ve never thought about it…?” Her voice trailed off, her mind struggling to process Caitlyn’s words. Does she really not see the effect she has on me?

“Violet.”

“Vi.”

“Violet, please try to understand. I… I interact with a lot of students on a daily basis,” Caitlyn said carefully.

Of fucking course. She’s the fucking president. Everyone fucking loves her. Why the fuck would I be any fucking different? “Oh, I get it,” Vi snapped bitterly. “So, I’m just another student to you. One out of many, right?”

“Well, yes,” Caitlyn responded quietly. “You were…”

Vi felt her heart clench. “I was…?” she prompted, trying to keep her voice steady. She cursed herself for being vulnerable in front of Caitlyn fucking Kiramman.

“Violet…” Caitlyn trailed off, not knowing what to say to make Vi feel better. 

Caitlyn’s hesitation only made Vi feel worse, like she was just some nobody. She scoffed, pushing aside her pain and putting up a defensive wall. “Forget it, President. I don’t know why I thought you’d feel anything for me anyways. You’re just too damn perfect. Too damn emotionless. I’m just another idiot who got their hopes up.” She really had thought… She really thought Caitlyn would have felt the same thing. It was just far too strong to only be felt on one side.

Caitlyn, truly at a loss for words, felt the guilt twist in her stomach. “I… I apologize…”

But that only added fuel to Vi’s fire, making her feel even more frustrated. She couldn’t help but snap back, her voice loud. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? Just say you’re sorry and everything is fine? You’re un-fucking-believable, Caitlyn Kiramman.”

Caitlyn bit her lip, looking down at the floor. “I… I really am sorry, I…” She trailed off, not knowing how to find the words to make her stop hurting. Her mother had taught her from a young age how to answer things diplomatically without actually giving a real answer, but she just couldn’t force herself to do it.

Vi let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You’re sorry? That’s rich. You’re sorry I wasted my time on you. That I cared about you, and you never even fucking noticed me. YOu just thought I was some random student, not worth an extra thought.”

“I didn’t know,” Caitlyn said quietly.

The honestly only stung Vi more, her chest tightening. How could I be so damn naïve to think she felt the same way? “Yeah, you didn’t know. Because you’re so goddamn perfect all the time that you couldn’t even spare a moment to think about how I feel. You just brush me off like I don’t matter at all.”

Caitlyn could feel the gray clouds around her, flashes of lightning, echos of her mother. She shouldn’t, no she couldn’t, get involved in feelings. She’d worked too hard, too long. But Goddess, she wanted to feel. She wanted to let Vi into her world. But she couldn’t. Her mother would never allow it. She hardened her face and her resolve. “You ought not to get involved with me, Violet.”

The coldness that had returned to Caitlyn’s voice was like an icicle in Vi’s chest, but she refused to show weakness—to back down. “And why the hell not? Do I not meet your standards, President? Are you too good for someone like me?”

Caitlyn swallowed.  Her mother would say yes, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel that way. “It’s not that,” Caitlyn responded, looking at Vi with her icy blue eyes. “I just… can’t get involved in distractions.”

Those words were like a slap to the face. Vi cursed herself internally. Of course she sees me as a disturbance to her perfect, orderly world. “Of course. Goddess forbid you let yourself have a life outside being the perfect goddamn president,” Vi retorted, her voice dripping with bitterness.

Vi’s words struck a chord within Caitlyn, a glimmer of sadness flashing behind her eyes, disappearing as quickly as it had come. She was set to be the next leader of House Kiramman. No distractions, her mother always said. “Goodnight, Violet,” she said softly, brushing past Vi and heading towards the door.

Vi watched as Caitlyn walked away, her heart clenching tightly in her chest. Fuck. Why did I let myself fall for someone like her? She let out a ragged breath, her mind still spinning. “Night, President,” she muttered to herself, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her.