Chapter 1
Caitlyn wouldn’t say she was a forward person.
She was well versed in hiding her true feelings towards people. She’d always had to be. Since childhood, being dragged to elegant balls and galas with people so suffocating meant Cait’s ability to hide how she really felt was of the utmost importance.
This situation, however, was a novelty.
“Jayce, what would you do if you had a crush on someone?”
The senior choked on the milk carton he’d been drinking, one hand coming up to thump on his chest as he sputtered.
“What- why- I don’t have a crush on anyone.” He rushed out quickly.
Caitlyn’s stare remained blank. “That’s not what I asked.”
“Why are you asking?” A slow teasing grin began to form on his face, brown eyes alight with mischief. “Do you have a crush?”
“Possibly. Actually yes, I think so.”
From the way Jayce’s expression deflated at the answer, Caitlyn could tell he was disappointed at her lack of reaction.
She couldn’t blame him. This was a prime opportunity for all kinds of teasing and poking fun and it had been ripped away from him.
If he had asked her a few weeks ago, maybe even a few days ago, there would’ve been the sputtering and blushing he’d expected.
Now though, after Cait’d had around four months to dwell on her feelings, she didn’t feel all too embarrassed or shy speaking about them. It was merely a fact. She had a crush.
“So, who’s the lucky lady?” Cait had to give Jayce credit, he recovered quickly.
“Unimportant.” While she felt little embarrassment over admitting her crush, she couldn’t help the heat rushing to her face as that person’s image appeared in her mind. “What would you do if you were me?”
“If I had a crush on someone?” A nod. “Ask them out.”
Caitlyn frowned. “Just like that?”
“Just like that. If you don’t tell them, they’ll never know and you might miss your chance.”
“What if- hypothetically,” The familiar feeling of nerves crept up in Cait’s stomach, the feeling that always seemed to creep up on her whenever she entertained the idea of even talking to that person. “We’ve never really spoken before?”
“Damn, Cait. Must be a really hot freshman if you’ve never even spoken before.” Jayce processed his words, his face blanched. “That came out wrong.”
“Jayce.” Cait whined. She didn’t tell him this very important, need-to-know information just to not get the advice she needed.
“It doesn’t matter. The whole point of dating is so you get to know each other better, right?” Caitlyn nodded slowly, agreeing with the logic. “Right. So ask them out on a date. And worst case, if they say no, you can hang out as friends.”
Now it was Caitlyn’s turn to blanche. “Why would you put that idea in my head?”
“W-well, it’s always a possibility!” Jayce looked panicked at the horror on Cait’s face. “Don’t- just forget I said that. They’d be lucky to go out with you, Cait. It’s basically a guaranteed yes.”
“What’s a guaranteed yes?” Viktor’s tray of food slammed down on the table before he carefully manoeuvred himself into the seat opposite to the pair.
“Caitlyn’s got a crush,” He sing-songed, nudging her shoulder with an elbow until she pushed him off. “And she’s gonna ask her out before she does that overthinking thing.”
“Ah.” Viktor nodded sagely, offering Cait a sympathetic look. “Good luck, Caitlyn.”
“What overthinking thing?” She frowned. The two exchanged knowing looks. At the lack of response, she singled out a target. “Jayce, what overthinking thing?”
“You know, that thing ,”He was floundering, “Where you overthink.”
“Viktor.” She switched targets.
“I want no part of this.” He was quick to respond, turning his gaze firmly towards his tray.
“Viktor, please.”
The Zaunite let out a heavy sigh, picking up his plastic spork to stab at the mush on his tray. "I do not want to discourage you in any way, Caitlyn. But, you do have a tendency to overthink your decisions. Which ultimately leads to you not acting on them.”
“What?” Cait glanced at Jayce, who was nodding in agreement. He froze as Cait’s steely glare fell on him.
“It’s not a bad thing.” He gave her his charming, Piltover Academy’s Golden Boy, Please Don’t Kill Me Caitlyn grin. “It just means you need to not do that.”
“Oh, thank you for that compelling advice, Mr. Holmes. I’m not sure I would’ve thought of that on my own.”
“Hey!”
“It was not good advice.” Viktor agreed when Jayce sent him a look that said ‘feel bad for me.’
“It totally is! Just hype yourself up and do it the second it crosses your mind. Thats what I do when I have to give presentations.” Caitlyn’s thoughts drifted back to her, and the months she’d spent pining hopelessly and pathetically.
Cait wasn’t sure how much longer she could stew in her love sick stupor before her grades would begin to take a hit. She’d already been scolded twice for losing focus in shared lessons. Twice.
She couldn’t imagine telling her mother what had become of her.
“Just remember, Cait.” Jayce turned in his seat, both hands gripping her arms and boring his eyes into hers. A strand of hair fell from his perfectly gelled head and he looked far too serious to be in a school cafeteria, just inches away from a kid stuffing French fries up their nose. “Don’t think, just do.”
“Don’t think, just do.” She repeated under her breath, brows furrowed in concentration. “Don’t think, just do.”
Viktor rolled his eyes. He was well aware that Jayce’s stupidity outside of academic subjects could be contagious to some, he had merely assumed Caitlyn had been one of the few immune to the spread.
“Don’t think, just do.” Caitlyn stood abruptly, freeing herself from Jayce’s grip. “Don’t think, just do.”
“Oh- you’re going right now?” Viktor sent the man a venomous look. “I mean, yeah that’s great! Go for it Cait!”
Mel chose that moment to saunter towards the table, arms absent of a food tray because she would sooner die than eat anything the school served.
“Where’s Caitlyn off to?” She asked, eyes following the freshman’s retreating form.
“She’s going to shoot her shot.” Jayce sent her a grin as she perched herself on the seat next to him. “We’re totes proud of her, right Vik?”
“‘Totes.’” He murmured disdainfully, stabbing at the mush.
“With whom?”
“I don’t know, she didn’t say. Why?”
Mel pointed a perfectly manicured golden fingernail. “Because it looks like she’s going to pay sweet little Violence a visit.”
Both Viktor and Jayce’s heads whipped around at a speed that definitely hurt their necks.
Lo and behold, there Caitlyn stood, just in front of the table the little crew of Zaunites always seemed to sit at, looking wildly out of place.
They didn’t seem to be the only one’s who noticed. It felt as if the entire cafeteria quietened as Caitlyn reached the table consisting of some of the most infamous freshman Piltover Academy had to offer.
Powder was the first one to notice. The Academy being K-12 allowing her to sit with her family at lunch, and also allowing her to witness the tall, pretty Piltie stand expectantly at the end of the table.
She sent an elbow into Ekko’s side. He sputtered for a moment before noticing her expression and following her gaze.
He stared at Cait wide eyed for a moment. Then, he grabbed a pea from his tray and flicked it forward into Claggor’s forehead who sat just opposite.
The boy jolted, attention snapped away from whatever story Mylo was telling. Ekko and Powder gave him a look. He followed their gazes. His eyes widened. Caitlyn was pretty sure she was getting sick of this.
“Mylo.” He coughed, not at all discreetly. Mylo paid no mind.
“And then I said, ‘Yo mama!’ And everyone- ow, Clags, what’re you-“ He met Caitlyn’s gaze, jaw falling open. “Oh, shit.”
That caused Vi to - finally, finally - peel her gaze away from Mylo and look up at Caitlyn for the first time.
Grey. The familiar, enchanting grey that Cait had decided was grey and not blue about a month into her staring. The familiar, enchanting grey that was now boring into her with a less than impressed expression.
“Did you need something, Princess?” Came the less than enchanting response Caitlyn had grown to expect.
“Ah- yes.” Pushing away her nerves, Cait steeled her mind and tilted up her chin. “There’s something wrong with my phone.”
A dark, unamused brow raised on the other freshman’s face. “I’m sure I look like an expert in tech,” Her voice was dripping in sarcasm, “But I don’t-“
“It doesn’t have your number. In it.”
Silence.
Complete, pin-drop silence.
Cait already had the table’s attention, but Powder and Ekko were still murmuring to each other lowly, and Mylo was still laughing silently under his breath.
After that though, all eyes were on Cait and she could feel her face redden under the attention.
Under the weight of that cringy pick up line she had seen online and had absolutely no intention of using.
God, she was gonna kill Jayce. As it turns out, not thinking about what she was going to say next had resulted in her saying whatever came to her head first. Which happened to be, unfortunately, that.
Thankfully, or unthankfully, Mylo was the first to break the silence with an uproar of laughter that almost sent him crashing out of his seat.
“You- she- what the fuck?” He managed between breaths. Caitlyn could feel her face beginning to heat up and desperately prayed her blush wasn’t visible. “Your- your face!”
Vi wore an adorably confused expression. Scarred lips slightly parted, an endearing furrow between her brows. She almost stared past Caitlyn rather than at her.
The expression was one that made Cait’s heart thud even stronger in her chest. One she knew should rationally be seen as intimidating on such a rough looking girl but to Caitlyn, it was cute.
Ignore him, She pointedly forced herself to look at Vi and only Vi, Mylo’s laughter becoming background noise as adrenaline buzzed in her ears.
Vi must have sensed the steel in Cait’s resolve as her gaze snapped back to her in something resembling panic.
“I like you. A lot. In a r-romantic way. Would you do me the honour of going out on a date? With- with me?”
That sent Mylo into another fit of laughter. This one seemed to be contagious.
His prior comment drew Vi’s siblings’ attention to her face and the mortification she wore seemed to be the peak of comedy for the teens.
Claggor began to snicker along with Mylo, Ekko’s shoulders shook with laughter and an unwilling smile broke on Powder’s face, despite clear apprehension.
Something else drew Caitlyn’s attention though. The one something that prevented her from sprinting out of the cafeteria the second Mylo began to laugh.
Vi was blushing.
It was wholly unfamiliar. A completely foreign sight in the usually overconfident girl.
Throughout the 4 months Cait had been watching- observing the other girl, she had never seen her looking shy, or embarrassed, never mind blushing.
Cute. Supplied Cait’s inner monologue helpfully.
“I-“ Vi began, in a tone that was also foreign. It was high pitched, resembling a squeak more than speech.
That was something Vi was clearly aware of, as she immediately slapped a hand over her mouth with a wide eyed look to Powder, who stared back in shock.
Vi’s face grew impossibly more red as she glanced between Mylo, Caitlyn and the rest of the cafeteria who had begun to stare at the commotion.
She let out a frustrated growl. Slamming her hands on the table and standing abruptly.
When she approached, Cait flinched back, half-expecting to be punched, but a soft yet unyielding grip wrapped around her wrist instead. Pulling her away from the table and out of the cafeteria.
Once the pair had left and conversation had slowly began to refill the cafeteria, Jayce, Viktor and Mel returned their attention to the table.
“I,” Jayce shook his head, as if trying to rid the shock from his mind. “I really should’ve asked who, huh?”
“Do you think she said yes?” Viktor questioned, looking to the door Cait and Vi had left through together.
“Do you want her to?” Mel sent a knowing look to the boys, and neither could give a clear answer.
———————————
Vi and Cait quickly cleared the halls, pushing through the main doors to make it outside and continuing from there.
Anytime Caitlyn tried to stop, maybe ask where they were going or if she needed to prepare for one of the infamous punches that gave Violence her namesake, she received only a harsh glare and a firm tug of her wrist.
In all fairness, given what she had observed of Vi, her confession could have gone worse.
All the air in Cait’s lungs whooshed out as she was shoved against the back wall of the school building.
Two toned arms were slammed against brick on either side of her as she was caged in.
Cait had an inch, maybe two on the pink-haired girl which did nothing to help the rage brewing in Vi’s stomach.
“What the hell kind of game are you playing, Kirramann?” She hissed out.
“Game?” Vi bared her teeth in a snarl and Cait hurried to explain, “None! I’m being honest!”
“Oh yeah?” Vi leaned forward, further invading Cait’s personal space until the two were inches apart. “Then why can’t you look me in the eye?”
She didn’t want the honest answer. That much was very, veryclear to Caitlyn. Unfortunately, Jayce’s ‘don’t think’ advice was still bouncing around in her skull and her mouth had already made the choice for her.
“Because you’re too close,” Cait’s voice was small, quiet, “And I’m afraid I might . . .”
She trailed off, but the obvious way her eyes darted to Vi’s lips, then her eyes, then zeroing in on the ‘Vi’ tattooed on her cheek as a clear distraction spoke volumes.
Cait’s gaze resting on Vi’s cheek gave let her watch the snowy skin turn red once more as the girl hurriedly backed off, arms dropping to her sides.
“You’re-“ Vi growled, running a frustrated hand through her untidy mullet. She paced back and forth for a moment before levelling Cait with a serious look.
She sighed, eyes closing for a moment. She pressed her palms together, fingers straight in a praying pose, before tilting her hands so the tips of all her fingers pointed at Caitlyn. “You’re not serious.”
Cait blinked. Then frowned. “Yes. I am.”
“No you’re not.”
“Yes,” Cait took a step forward growing more firm. “I am.”
“Kirramann.”
“It’s Caitlyn.”
Vi’s eyes widened for a split second as Cait approached before she schooled her features into neutrality. She took a step forward to meet Caitlyn half way, like she was squaring up for a fight.
Her shoulders were tense, fists clenched, but there was a slight ease to her features. This was what Vi was used to. What she expected from Caitlyn. What she craved in a situation, this situation, that was so vastly different from anything she’d ever experienced before.
Vi’s wrist met Cait’s as she reached a hand towards her. A parry.
It was the correct move, the move years of fighting had instilled in her, but the look on Caitlyn’s face made her doubt the very instincts that kept her alive for so long.
Cait gingerly raised her other arm and this time Vi resisted the urge to react. She didn’t flinch when long fingers brushed against her hair, Cait’s hand reemerging into view with a stray leaf.
“You don’t have to say anything, but I’d appreciate if you didn’t invalidate or dismiss my feelings like I’m a child.”
With that, Caitlin turned to storm back into the school building. Ignoring the wide eyed look of offence on Vi’s face. Why did I have to like such a pig-headed idiot?
“You don’t even know me.” Vi burst out. Then, she was following Caitlyn.
The two speed walking back to the building must have been a sight to anyone watching. Vi, in her ratty sleeveless hoodie and jeans, Caitlyn with her skirt, blouse and warm sweater vest ( for practical purposes, of course. )
“That’s why I asked you out. So I can get to know you.”
“But why would you ask me out in the first place?”
Vi had to walk back a few steps at Caitlyn’s abrupt stop. She stared blankly at Vi with a raised brow and crossed arms.
“Really?”
The pink-haired girl grit her teeth at the patronising tone. “Yes. Fucking really.”
She didn’t receive the response she wanted. Cait merely rolled her eyes before walking past her, muttering a, ‘God, you’re so dense.’
“‘Dense’?” Vi’s practically yelled. She was never the best at volume control.
“Yes, dense!”
“Is that why you like me? Because I’m dense?”
“Among other things.”
“Aww shucks, no need to be so sweet about it, Cupcake.” Caitlyn’s glare was withering. She deigned not to respond, speeding up further. Vi grunted in annoyance.
“If I’m so dense, why do you wanna date me, huh? Is that what you like about me? You into people dumber than you, so you can show off that big brain of yours?”
Vi stumbled slightly as she stopped to avoid crashing into Caitlyn who had whirled around to face her.
“You’re not dumb, you just like to pretend you are for reasons beyond me.” Cait began to step forward, forcing Vi into a retreat. “You’re dense when it comes to anyone outside of the people you care about. With them, you are practically a mind reader.” Vi’s back hit a tree, and Caitlyn was on her like gum to a shoe. One long slim finger poking Vi’s chest as she spoke. “You are caring. You are selfless. And you are too dense to appreciate just how lovely you really are.”
With that, Caitlyn turned and stormed away. This time without a pink-haired tail.
Vi watched her leave, her breaths coming fast and uneven as adrenaline slowly drained from her system. Her eyes burned slightly, in the same way they did when she hadn’t had enough sleep and she blinked hard to get rid of the feeling.
Seconds passed, minutes. Vi’s free hand raised to clutch at her hoodie, at her chest that wouldn’t stop pounding.
By the time she calmed enough to return to the cafeteria, lunch was over. When she went to her next class and sat in her seat next to Mylo, she foolishly hoped that would be the end of the day’s craziness.
“Hey Vi, did I ever tell you how lovely you are?”
But of course, because she was God’s least favourite, the suffering continued.
Of course they were eavesdropping. Of course they were. Not like her siblings had any better things to do.
The rest of the school day was hell. Teasing and mockery and jabs and digs until Vi lost her temper and tackled Mylo in the middle of the hall. They’d been yelled at for fighting, before going right back at it once the Principal let them out.
Walking home was no better. Claggor did his best to moderate but Mylo was like a dog with a fucking bone and Vi was filled with uncertainty and unfamiliar emotions at the situation she had been thrust into. Emotions that, like always, she quickly channelled into anger.
Powder was suspiciously quiet for the rest of the day, and when they got back home she rushed straight upstairs without a word.
Vi wanted to ask her if something was wrong, but Mylo wouldn’t let up for a fucking second.
“How was school, kids?” Vander called out from the kitchen as they arrived.
Mylo met Vi’s death stare with a shit-eating grin. Don’t you fucking dare, she tried to telepathically yell.
Unfortunately, Mylo telepathically didn’t give a shit.
“Vi had a good day.” He dashed into the kitchen to avoid Vi’s grabby hand, wiggling his brows. “A lovely day, even.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” Vander asked good naturedly. He turned from the vegetables he was dicing to scold, “Vi, leave your brother alone.”
She met Vander’s eyes from where she stood, hand fisted in Mylo’s shit and one fist cocked back. She glanced between Mylo’s punchable look of fear, and Vander’s disappointed look of disappointedness.
“Ugh.” She turned and stomped upstairs to her and Powder’s shared room, flopping down on the bottom bunk.
Powder was tinkering with one of her little monkey contraptions silently on the floor. She made no move to react to Vi’s presence.
“Hey,” Vi sat up too quickly, thunking her head against the top bunk. These were definitely getting too small. She felt anger beginning to resurface but pushed it down. “You okay, Pow?”
“I don’t like her.” Powder was pouting. Her hands wrapped around her knees, back to Vi as she watched her monkeys battle it out. “Caitlyn.”
“Why not?”
“Selfish.” The smaller monkey gave a killer jab with its right arm, sending the bigger monkey onto its back. “She’s already got loaded parents, good grades, happy family. Now she wants more.”
She wants to take you away from me. Came the unsaid words, clear as day.
“Pow,” Vi softened, “You don’t need to worry about her. Once she gets bored, she’ll move on. Just like every other Piltie.”
Powder hummed. She lifted the fallen monkey and placed it on its feet. Then, she stood and hurled herself into Vi’s stomach.
The pink-haired girl was picked back, head slamming against the wall behind her with a pained grunt. Definitely too small.
“She better.” Powder mumbled into Vi’s tummy. She stood back up and skipped out of the room. “I’m going to go pee.”
“See ya, Pow-Pow.” Vi laughed lightly.
Once the door closed, Vi lay down in bed, staring up at the slats of the top bunk.
‘You are caring. You are selfless. And you are too dense to appreciate just how lovely you really are.’
Vi pulled the pillow from beneath her head, shoved it over her face and yelled.