#akuley

Ahiru sighed in relief as the bell for the end of the school day echoed through the auditorium. It didn't take long for Mr. Andor's students to leave, most of them eager to start their weekend. She skimmed over the faces a couple of times with mild disinterest, though if it looked as if someone smiled at her, she did the courteous thing and smiled back.

Right as she turned to leave, she bumped right into something solid. "Sorry!" she said immediately, though she swore she heard the other person's voice at te same time as hers. She paused, looking up only when she managed to step back.

"Oh! Rick!"

He grinned back at her with that goofy huge smile of his, rubbing his messy red curls like usual. "Sorry Ahiru! Didn't see you there." Ahiru smiled softly. "It's okay, I know I'm really short. I'm used to it..."

His eyes widened and he frantically waved his hands in front of him. "O-Oh! I didn't mean to imply you were too short! Y-You're actually the perfect height for lots of things!" His cheeks brightened with red as he desperately tried to make him seem less like a jerk. He didn't usually mind when it was everyone else. But Ahiru was always so sweet and mild that he couldn't bring himself to be the same around her.

"What kinds of things?"

A hearty slap on the back made his whole body jerk. He felt the arm that hit him wrap around his shoulder and noticed Ahiru's eyes shift upwards and away from his. He could feel the weight of the person next to him as well as the annoyance within him increase as the stranger made himself comfortable.

"Akuley!" Ahiru's slight surprise broke into a huge grin. "What are you doing here?"

The tall athletic chuckled a little as he made himself comfortable agains the younger boy, who looked as if he was just barely keeping his annoyance in check. "For you, of course, Rue! I wanted to see if ya wanted to hang out during practice today. The team and I were going to go to get pizza later."

Ahiru hesitated to answer, glancing away from the hopeful gaze Aukley was sending her way. "I'm sorry, Akuley, but I promised the girls to be with them today. They wanted to shop at the mall."

He whined a little. "Aw come on, Ahiru! We hadn't seen each other all week!"

"We saw each other at  the McMorden's dinner last night."

He rose off Rick's shoulder and folded his arms. "That's no way to talk to your big brother."

He suddenly grinned mischievously and before she could object, he hoisted her up in his arms. "Nope, you're coming with me."

"Akuleyyyyy!"

She felt her cheeks flush red and she began to pout while he continued to laugh. "This isn't fairr...." she pouted.

Rick clenched his hand a little, glaring at Akuley. Before he thought better of it, he hissed, "You shouldn't make her go with you because you want to."

The two paused, turning to look at him. Akuley's gaze stiffened as he looked Rick over. "And why not?"

Ahiru frowned slightly. Anyone with eyes could see the two weren't exactly hitting it off. She best intervene before one of them says something bad.

"I-It's okay Rick." She waved a hand in an attempt to disspell the hostility. "B-Besides!" Her voice lowered so only Akuley could hear her. "I could always tell Zahra about your crush on her..."

Akuley paused. "You're always going to hold that over me, aren't you?"

Ahiru smiled softly. Truth be told, they both knew she probably would never, since she wasn't that type of person, but they also knew she had the means, and Akuley didn't want to chance it. He carefully set her back down, pouting like a child, and turned to leave.

"I'll see you later, Rue, okay?"

She smiled brightly and nodded.