#olnf darren

It was late, and the air was bitter. Darren pedaled his bike with everything he had in him.

Darren wasn't normally this eager to go home, but his mother had warned him that today's weather would be the coldest it had been all year. He had been out for hours and wanted to slip into his soft bed with a big cup of-.

‘Sniffle’

Darren slowed his bike down and turned his head, he had just ridden past..you. Darren wanted to just continue and pretend he didn’t notice you but he didn’t want it to be more awkward when you confront him about it. Plus, there was something wrong. You weren’t on your wheels, you were sitting on the ground with your hands on your ankle and your forehead touching your knees.

It reminded Darren of Qiu during ballet, warming up, and stretching. That wasn’t what this was though.

Darren turned his bike around and slowly peddled back to where you were sitting. He took off his helmet and shook out his helmet hair.

“MC? What are you doing, it’s going to get cold soon.”

He said hesitantly like he was talking to a wounded animal. He didn’t understand why it was so hard for him to talk to you.

You looked up and he froze.

Tears were brimming in your eyes and small scratches scattered on your cheek and forehead.

“…Darren.” You sniffled, struggling to breathe.

Darren kneeled to be at your level. He had thoughts running marathons in his mind. ‘What were you doing out this late?’ , ‘Are you hurt?’ , ‘What happened?’

Darren assessed the situation and took a closer look at your ankle. Your ankle was blue, purple, and green. It looked muddied and gross like a banana gone bad.

“Did you fall on your ride?”

You didn’t answer him, no longer being able to hold back the tears. You sobbed quietly.

“H-hey! Come on, what’s crying going to solve?” He didn’t want to be harsh but he was trying to figure out what to do.

“M’sorry.. I haven’t been able to put any weight on it. I've been sitting here for I don’t even know how long…” you wiped your eyes with your sleeves.

Darren put his bike helmet on his bike’s handlebars and then extended his arms.

“Let me help you up.”

You hesitated, remembering how uncomfortable he was around you in the beginning but Darren shook his head; predicting your dilemma.

“Its fine. I don’t want to leave you out here.”

Your tear filled eyes brighten and you smiled.

“Don’t look at me like that”

He didn’t mind though.

He had your arm over his shoulder in a weird side hug, he made sure to remind you to keep your injured ankle off the ground and to put your weight on him.

You had to abandon your wheels since Darren only had one hand that he was already using on his bike.

Darren begrudgingly promised to go back for it in the morning for you, seeing as your ankle resembled a 90-degree angle.

“..Why are you helping me? I thought you didn’t like me?”

Darren’s frown grew. He didn’t realize that was what you got from him.

“It's not like that-. It’s it’s just how I am with new people.” He tried to explain, walking slowly so that you wouldn’t struggle to keep his pace.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel like I didn’t like you. You’ve been nice to me and Qiu, I am sorry..”

You gave Darren a small smile while patting him on the shoulder.

“That means alot.”

You both walked home in silence, it got dark but the air was no longer bitter; it was refreshing.

Darren would first off, be surprised

He gives off an ‘I only need a few friends to be happy’ vibe, so he isn’t as social as Qiu or Baxter

So when you two met up, he was a bit awkward.

He was nice about it at least, he never tried making you speak up or anything; understanding just wanting to listen

Depending on how you all met, Qiu introducing you to him or meeting you in his class; Qiu ends up inviting you to hang out with the Boys’s club since he likes seeing Darren make new friends!

It is a similar dynamic to how Tamarack and Qiu were friends but Tamarack wasn’t really Darren or Baxter’s friend. But they all hung out and got along alright because they had someone in common.

Darren would be a little defensive having someone new join the boys’s club but over a short time; he warms up to you.

Darren would like to spend one on one time with you, maybe inviting you to go hiking with him and his family.

Or maybe Darren would invite you to just ride your bikes around, no talking necessary.

You two are in your own little world, while Darren does have other friends; he does really like your company.

He doesn’t mind if you cling on to him, he’d let you get away with it if you two were close enough.

He’d definitely pout about it tho.

You guys have a friendship that no matter the years, never falter.

You will be there when she comes out, and when that time comes. She will be brave enough to confess as well.