Sweetest Lime

There you sat upon the stairs, holding a book of magical interest. You brushed the bangs of your short black hair out of your vision letting your eyes focus more on the words that intrigued you until the bell for the last class of the school year rang. Were you supposed to be class? Yes, but you felt it easier to think in silence. The next three days, only seniors would be allowed entry to the school to work on speeches. What's fun to everyone is we basically get to work anywhere we want whether it be the library, the gym, even some of the classrooms. Of course, everyone already has a partner so they have the luxury to focus on something like that, talk about bad luck for you. Everyone's already taken and you have asked every person you can plus you're about the shyest kid on the planet making your options for a compatible partner very scarce. You placed the book in your bag and brushed your hair back over your left eye as kids began to pile out. Quickly, you made you your way into Principal Celestia's office where she was just about to sit down. "E-excuse me Principal Celestia?"

"Oh hello there. I do not believe we've officially met young man."

"Um......"

"No need to be shy."

"Um....E-emerald mam. It's very nice to meet you."

"And it's very nice to meet you." she said as she extended her hand out to you. You were nervous of returning the handshake but did so as to not be rude. The warmth emanating from her was enough to make you relax, it was like she was the sun itself. "Now, please have a seat Mr. Emerald." You obeyed without question as she pulled out a sheet of paper. She looked at you with bright smile then simply placed the paper on the table. "I would really like to see both your eyes, young man."

"Well.....I don't...k-know."

"No need to be frightened here dear, I am your principal, I won't judge you. It would just be very impolite to not have your full attention." You stood motionless for a second wondering what she might think if she saw but sighed, knowing she had won. You effectively brushed the hair to the side to reveal your condition. "Oh?" she said with a slight surprise in her voice. The eye that always remained seen was green. The other always constantly hidden was purple. "Your eyes?"

"I-I...was born with heterochromia.

"Why hide such a thing? It's makes you look adorable." You blushed at this comment, immediately crushing your hair back over your purple eye. "Oh no, I didn't mean to scare you. Anyway, I assume you came here to talk about the partnership speech?"

"Y-yes mam. I would like to request the option to work alone."

"While it would make things easier, this is a partner project."

"And what if you can't find a partner?"

"Everyone's found a partner so far Mr. Emerald, I'm sure you can to. Although, your choices are very slim now that everyone had already picked."

"That's exactly why I want to work alone mam."

"That's not an option. This assignment is about building bonds with those you consider friends. Wouldn't be much a team building exercise without a team, now would it? Now, I understand that options are scarce but you're in luck. There is one person who hasn't been paired yet as well."

"Um...w-who mam?"

"Limestone Pie."

".....Wait.....what?"

"Limestone pie dear."

"You're kidding....right?"

"Not at all. Actually..." she began until she was cut off by her office door opening. "Ah, there you are."

You made it a goal not to turn around thinking that maybe it was just another teacher or something, that is until that person took the seat next to you. Both of you exchanged eye contact accompanied by complete silence. "Limestone..." you said angrily.

"Emerald..." she responded with a similar tone.

"I see you two aren't on the best of terms but for this assignment, you're going to have to be."

You jumped up at even the sound of working with her, hands slammed firmly on the desk. "No no no no, you can't expect me to work with ms. irritated pie over there."

Limestone didn't give you a second to prepare for she purposely pushed you out of the way. "You're not serious are you? Me work with that guy, that'd be like telling Pinkie she can throw a party whenever she wants to."

"Did someone say party?!" Pinkie screamed as she popped out of nowhere.

"Go home Pinkie."

"Okie dokie sis!"

And with another pop, she was gone. All three of you shook your heads and proceeded back to our argument. You jumped back up, effectively pushing her out of the way as she did to you. "Please Principal Celestia, I know people who will let me work with them, just please don't team me up with her. She's crazy, she'll just boss me around all the time."

"And he is a big crybaby!" she added as she stood up. "It'll annoy the hell out of me."

"There's ms. irritated pie for you."

"What did you call me runt?"

"Ms. irritated pie. Got an issue with that despite it exactly describing you?"

"You know what?! You got ten seconds before I really get mad!"

"Feed more into the facts why don't you!"

"Children!" Celestia screamed out making both of you turn your attention. "Sit down....and listen..." Her face was showing a 1% increase in anger every second you continued to stare. Out of complete fear, you and her both took a seat. The nicest woman in the world and you're making her mad. "Now before continue your argument, I want you two to know that this assignment is based off of the bonds and friendship you have formed. I see no reason as to why you can't just as easily form a bond here and now. Emerald, you're usually so docile and friendly. To see you like this is a bit unusual. And Limestone, you can do something about that temper, I've seen you act much nicer than this. Now, I want to see you two cooperate these next few days because effective now, you are partners whether you like it or not."

Limestone sighed, looked at me, then back to Celestia. "Ugh...fine."

"Good. Now, I'll see the both of you here Friday through Sunday."

You both got up and exited the office. As soon as you shut the door to the office, she went off. "Can't believe I have to work with you. It's like they're forcing me to move into a cell with some inmate I don't know."

The initial thought of having to work together made you frustrated beyond belief but you really had no choice in the matter. "That is a really disturbing example but it's not like I want to work with you either."

"We have no choice then runt. Let me get my stuff and we'll figure this out I guess." You followed her to the lockers where your's also just so happen to be located. Both of you opened them and began to put stuff in and pull stuff out. You were done considerably faster due to you not really having anything put in except for a few textbooks. You closed and proceeded to lean against the wall opposite of your lockers. Within seconds, you found yourself staring in her direction and man oh man was she a looker. You hate her guts but can't deny her looks especially since her clothing choice made it so hard to look away. A white shirt with one end hanging off her shoulder where you could basically see her bra strap, blue short shorts, and brown timberland boots. Obviously, she wasn't crazy fit but she filled out in all the right places. "H-hey runt?!"

You realized you had been staring at her while she was directly looking at you. "Um...."

"Were you just staring at me?!"

"N-no, nothing like that."

"Oh I see now, you're a freak and a pervert, is that it?"

"No way! I was just looking at the locker number under you."

"I have a hard time believing that. You're lucky I need you or I would personally pound your face in. Let's get a move on before you find more ways to violate me in that disgusting mind."

"I didn't mean......fine, whatever."

As you exited the school, Limestone turned down one side of the street before turning to you with a look of annoyance. "Are you gonna get your butt in gear or what?!"

You recoiled at her volume, cowering behind your shyness within seconds. "I-I'm sorry, I just...where are we going?"

"My place you dolt."

"Wait? Y-your place?"

"Yea, my place. Don't get any funny ideas got it?"

The thought of the things you would do to her if her attitude weren't the absolute reason for anger management. Both of you continued to walk until you reached a fancy looking apartment complex. Up a set of stairs, down three door, and you were there. "This is your place."

"Got a problem with that?"

"No, I just thought you'd..."

"You'd what?!"

"Um.....you know...l-live with Pinkie."

"Hmph....Contrary to idiot belief.."

"That's not the saying."

"I said contrary to idiot belief!...I'm not one for Pinkie's energetic and over dramatic lifestyle."

"I can tell."

"Let's just get inside." She unlocked the door and motioned me inside to where I took notice of her interior design. She was rather fascinated with the colors green, black, and white. It was like the whole place had a case of Mirror's edge runner vision going on. Most of the walls were black while the furniture and most other things in the house were white or another soft color such as brown. Directly opposite of the front door was the kitchen with a small little adjacent hallway leading down to the rooms. The living room stood between you and the kitchen where a flat screen was set up on one side and a couch opposite of it. Behind the couch was a wall that was black but was separated by a single diagonal green stripe, about 3 feet in width, that made it's way from behind the couch, onto the ceiling, and down behind the TV. "You can set your stuff over there if you want. Do me a huge favor and don't touch anything got it?"

"Noted."

She disappeared into the back leaving you to think. I have admit, she's got some taste bright as it may be. You sat down and really got comfortable within the couch's embrace. Everything was going smoothly it seemed, and you hoped it stayed that way. Despite her constant insults, she was willing to work with you which was good enough. You couldn't help but go back to earlier thoughts of her, the things you would love to do to her. You regret to admit, she's seriously kinda cute when she's steaming mad. Oh crap! You began to realize you were seriously pitching a tent in your pants, the last thing you needed right now. Cold, messed up thoughts....come on go down! Luckily she took forever in the back as your raging hormones finally ceased their onslaught before she could walk back in. The look on your face was more than suspicious as she looked at you. "You ok you weirdo?"

"F-fine."

"Hmm...Anyway, here." she said as she handed you a small cake.

"So why am I here exactly?"

"If we're going to make this work, I regretfully have to get to know you." she said as she sat down and whipped her phone.

"I don't know about that idea."

"Let's just get the basics out of the way. Favorite color?"

"Green, you?"

"Same, but like a lighter green though. Favorite fruit?"

"I like the sourness that comes with a lime the most."

"Same. Favorite hobby?"

"Well It's not really a hobby, more to pass time, but I'm a very avid reader, along with being a simple artist."

She looked up from her phone and narrowed her eyes. "This is getting freaky. I like to read alot too."

"Ok let me try. How do you feel about lemons?"

"I hate them."

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say because they're not green right?"

"Exactly."

".....This is getting freaky."

""Ok ok, we can't have everything common. Uh....favorite dessert?"

"Key lime pie, sometimes apple pie."

"Crap, um......favorite coffee?"

"Caramel macchiato."

"Crap, favorite book?"

"The Spiderwick Chronicles."

"This is getting too freaking weird!"

Both of you maintained the most awkward stare you ever had within your lifetime seeing as how your interest were matching up perfectly. "Um..I-Is it ok if I leave now?"

"As of right now, I'd be sad if you didn't."

Quickly you exited the apartment like a bullet. After shutting the door, you wiped a hand over your flustered face. "I can't believe we have so much in common, even right down to the food, not to mention she's hot as hell. Oh man, I need to time to think." With that you made your way back home and into the comfort of your bed. The walk was long and tiring but you were more confused than fatigued at this moment. As you sat on that bed, your mind shifted constantly, going back and forth between the pros and the one con. She's cute....but she's the devil.....she's hot....but she's the devil.....she's into everything i'm into.....but she's the devil. I am so screwed.

Day 1

You showed up at school around the instructed 6:30 and waited patiently in front of the school. You hoped to see Limestone before people started showing up but it was too late. You were forced into the hood of your unnecessary jacket as kid after kid walked into the school. Almost every kid there took a glance at you. Some asked their friends who you were, some made jokes, not the first time you heard it. Your shyness is crime in these parts apparently. You've been given awkward looks, teased, and even bullied at some point in time. The teasing and looks still continue but the bullying died when Toshiro took a stand against the head of the snake, Orion. After the last kid went in and you checked to see if there were anymore, you finally pulled down your hood and continued your lookout for Limestone. "Where is she? We're gonna need the whole day to work on this."

At least ten minutes passed before Limestone finally came into sight. "You sure are early runt."

"Where have you been?"

"Minding my own business!" she growled making you retreat slightly.

"There's no n-need to get mad, I was just saying. Anyway, half the senior class is already working on their speech so we need to hurry."

"Yea yea, I'm going."

Upon entering the school, you got your first glimpse at hard work being produced. Students were everywhere to found. Some in the auditorium, some in the classrooms, and even some in the hallways, every single one of them showing looks of determination and happiness as they had the chance to work with their closest friends, crushes, and girlfriends while you were stuck with someone you didn't even halfway know. Well, that would have been a valid excuse had it not been for yesterday's incident. Talk about a freaking coincidence that she just so happens to mirror your exact interest not to mention she's way beyond easy on the eyes. You took a second to look up from your thoughts as you and her proceeded through the school. Sitting outside the the lunchroom entrance were the only two people you've ever been able to get along with, Toshiro and Maud. Now there's a true example of good partners, the prime couple to look up to. They sat there smiling and talking about the speech, laughing and above all else, getting along. "H-hey Toshiro, Maud."

"Hmm? Oh Emerald, I'm glad I finally saw you today."

"Glad?"

"Yea, I heard you didn't have a partner. I say we head to Celestia and ask her if we can team up as a group of three. Sound good?"

"Well it does but it won't work. I already tried that and she specifically said no trio."

"So who's your partner?"

Both of them looked behind me to the texting girl leaning against the wall. "Limestone?"

"Hey Toshiro, hey Maud.....you're still smiling?"

Maud stood up and greeted her sister with a hug. "Is that a problem?"

"Well no, I've just never seen you smile.....for this amount of time.....ever."

"It's the new me."

"It's weird is what it is."

"If you say so. I assume that Emerald is your new partner?"

"Yep."

Suddenly Toshiro chimed in with a laugh. "So I imagine you guys got something special going on in the intimacy department huh?"

Your cheeks turned red with the thought as you retreated into the darkness of your hood. "Um....I..I..."

"Come on Emerald, no need to be shy about something like this, you should even be proud."

"P-proud?..."

"Yea, you got some didn't you?" That's when you heard Maud sigh and walk over to Toshiro before taking a tight grip on his ear and pulling him away from you. "Ow ow ow ow."

"I told you before honey that you need to stop assuming that every boy and girl has had intimate relations, it's a really bad habit."

"I'm sorry, just stop pulling my ear."

"I must excuse him. Emerald you can come out now." The words of Maud did not instantly remove you from the hood but after a few moments, you felt yourself confident enough to emerge into the light. "Anyway, I suppose you two would like to start you speech as soon as possible."

"We'll leave you two to it."

Before you could say goodbye, Limestone was already walking down the hall. "See ya guys later. Hey Limestone wait up." Finally you caught up and continued walking through the school until you were near the back where kids were very scarce. "So, where you wanna work."

"Somewhere quiet. That's why I came back here."

"The geology room? No one ever hangs out back here."

"Exactly." She tried to open the door to no success, it was locked. "Are you kidding me?"

"Well it's locked, maybe we should move back up front."

"Yea no." She removed something from her pocket and stuck the tip inside the locked door. After a few twist and adjustments, the door unlocked. "Come on in."

"Um....Are you sure we should be in there? I mean, the d-door was locked for a reason it seems."

"Does it look like I care?"

"Point taken." You entered the room alongside her and set your bag down on the science table. "So...."

"So?"

"How are we going to start this?"

"With words."

"I mean any ideas on how it should go?"

"Not a clue."

"Well then let's brainstorm." you said as you pulled out some paper and a pencil.

"Will do."

10 minutes passed before you sighed and put the pencil down, your mind completely lost to how you would write a speech with a partner if your partner was the issue. "I can't think."

"Me neither."

"You've been on your phone this entire time?"

"Really important text."

"Can you at least help?"

"Can you shut up?"

Not gonna lie, that stung a little bit. "So you want anything to eat or drink?"

After being ignored for the last ten minutes, she finally looked up from her phone. "Sure."

"I'll be back with a couple sodas and snacks." you said as you left. After five minutes of walking up to the vending machines, you returned to the room holding two sodas and a handful of gummy treats, hard to carry of course. Carefully you set the drinks and snacks down and returned to your seat.

"Nice."

"No thank you?"

"Yea thanks and all that."

"By the way, I got an idea for a start."

"Hold that thought. Just let me finish this one text."

You sighed and opened your soda to pass the time. This had to be the longest text ever because you had ended up finishing your drink and a few gummy snacks in the process. "Must be a long text."

"Mind your own business."

"Um...are you ok?"

"Fine actually."

"You seem stressed."

"Only because there's a kid interrupting my text."

"Do you need someone to talk to or something? I'm all ears if you need it."

"I'm fine runt!"

"Ok ok geez."

After that increase in volume, she placed her phone down and opened her soda. As karma would have it, the soda exploded all over her face leaving her a dripping mess. "What in the hell?!"

"Oh man, I knew I ran a little too much. H-here let me get a towel or something." You scurried like a little animal for the nearest bathroom, quickly returning with a handful of towels. "Let me help dry you off."

"Give me those you perv!" she growled as she ripped the towels out of your hand. After effectively drying off her face, although still sticky, she proceeded to look herself over to see the damage.

That's when you noticed, her shirt was almost completely see through. A magenta bra lie underneath in which you averted your attention quickly. "Um....you might wanna put this on." you said as you pulled off your hoodie.

"Put that on? Why?" You pointed to her breast leading her face to shock. "G-give me that!"

She quickly pulled the hoodie over her head and slipped her arms through. "Better?"

"Do not talk to me. I'm going home to change."

And with that, she bolted out of the door with incredible speed leaving you alone. "Why am I always the nice guy." Hours and hours passed until finally, the bell rang for you to go home, or at least everyone else to go home. Being the nice guy you are, you had to go check on Limestone. And also get your jacket back. Call it the hardest test you ever faced, having to look at people with your person in plain sight. It took you more than a good second to get out of the school as you took unnecessary routes to avoid direct eye contact but finally, you were greeted by a nice sunset. "5:00? They really want us to ace these speeches if they're keeping us this long. Now where was her place again?" 20 minutes is all took for you regain the path to her apartment despite ten of those actually being you completely lost in the streets. "Should be this door, I think." You knocked on the door and waited for an answer with no success. "Um....Limestone? You in there? I'm sorry for the soda, I had no idea it was shaken up. I came to see if you were ok."

"Go away."

"Yea, my morals won't let me...plus you have my hoodie."

"I'm fine....just go away."

"What's wrong Limestone?"

"I said nothing!"

"W-well I...um."

Before you knew she opened the door and tossed your jacket at you. "Just take the jacket already. And stop being so nice to me."

With that she closed the door in your face. "Um...thanks." You headed in the direction of your house as you began to slip on the jacket. Holy crap it's warm. How long did she actually wear it?