You ran from the wild redhead as he chases you down the empty hallways. Your breath panted and your lungs screamed for air but obviously this guy wasn't going to let you have a minute. You speed up and collided into a familiar figure.

"ACE!" You beam, although Ace was pretty confused as to why you were running for your life, he sees the reason why and smirks. "You sure know how to make some friends, (Name)."

"Sh-Shut up!" You blush furiously with a huff. "Please help me..." Your expression immediately changes. You quiver your lower lip as you gave him the cutest puppy dog pout you could manage.

"Heh, anything for you, princess." He hides you behind him and faces Kid off.

His body engulfed in flames as he lunges towards Kid and stops him in his tracks. "That's quite enough," He sighs. "You're scaring the poor girl." He turns to you with a wink. You blush.

"(Name)! Are you okay?" A voice you know all too well echoes throughout the empty halls, followed by a sound of running footsteps.

"Yeah, I'm okay," You sigh in relief as Kid finally calms down a bit. Although he looked at you with a scowl still on his expression, only to be blocked by Ace's hand over his face in a joking manner.

Sabo comes running up to you and pulls you into an embrace. "Thank god..."

You were unsure why he did that but, meh, who cares? You're alive and not beaten into a bloody pulp as you had expected. You return the hug and nuzzle into his chest, breathing in his wonderfully calming scent.

A sound of clapping cuts you off from whatever it was you were thinking and glance over your shoulder to see a cheerful Doflamingo. "My, my. You are really interesting (Name). I have taken a shine to you now~" He muses.

You could hear Sabo clicked his tongue in disapproval and noticed that he was hugging you tighter, almost protectively from the pink clad man. Doflamingo laughs heartily at the sight of Sabo's protectiveness and Ace's confused stare.

"I have a feeling that things are going to become more lively around here," He snaps his fingers, catching everyone's attention. "Everyone back to class then~"

Lunch time finally came and you were starving after running around the building from Kid's rampage. You sat at your usual table with Koala and try your best to attentively listen to her rant about Mr. Tom's crazy new bus contraption. Every so often your eyes would take a peek at the blonde man sitting beside you.

You noticed how he eats, the way he moves his hand through his hair, the muscular body that you fail to notice before, the way his crooked smile—

"Hey, earth to (Name)?" Koala snapped her fingers in front of your face trying desperately to get your attention.

"Huh?"

"Were you even listening?" She looks at the direction of your gaze. "Oooh~ I see what's going on here~"

"I-Idiot, don't make such wild accusations!" You huff and look down.

"What were you imagining, (Name)~?" Koala chimes, leaning her head to your shoulder as she sported an obviously mischievous yet childish grin.

~

*Sabo's POV*

"What were you imagining, (Name)~?" Koala's teasing tone caught his attention though he tried his best to ignore it.

"K-Koala! Shush!" He heard as (Name) covers her mouth in an attempt to keep her silent.

"You were totally checking him out, right?" There was a pause. "Oh my gosh!" Koala practically squealed in excitement.

Checking him out?? This caught his attention more and he snuck a peek at your flustered state. She's so cute when she's embarrassed... Sabo chuckled to himself as he took in every inch of (Name)'s blushing face.

"D-Don't be ridiculous!" (Name) cried, covering her cheeks with her small delicate hands. Sabo hummed in amusement at the rare sight beside him.

"What caught your attention, (Name)~?" Koala pestered on, poking her side with a wiggling finger. "Was it his muscular arms? Or his—"

"Quiet Koala!" (Name) was now a blushing mess and turned into a human tomato as she tackled the brunette to the floor. Sabo covered his mouth to contain his laughter, releasing out stifling muffled snickers.

(Name) glared at him dangerously. He gave an apologetic smile.

"What happened?" Ace yawns, waking up.

"N-N-N-NOTHING!" She stammers, waving her arms and shaking her head as she continued to redden. Sabo frowns. Of course.

She obviously meant his handsome and cheeky brother, Ace. Who wouldn't love him? In all the years he had known him, Ace handled well with the ladies better than he did. Unlike him, he was always so shy and confused on how to respond to their advances.

"So, (Name), wanna go to class together later? We do have the same class, right?" Ace leans over the table as (Name) checks her schedule.

"Music, huh? Sounds neat!" She giggles.

"Sabo has music class too!" Luffy piped in.

"Really?" (Name) turned to Sabo and gave him a soft and kind smile. "Wanna come with us, Sabo~?"

He gulped. The way she said his name felt like an angel came down from heaven and struck him with lightning. The feeling was strange yet oddly wonderful. His feet felt like they were floating off the ground. It was like gravity wasn't present when she looked at him with those eyes.

"Sure," He breathed.

"Great!" She drank down her orange juice and grabbed her bag. "Let's go then!"

Sabo watched her head for the cafeteria door with a bounce in her step. He noted the way her (H/C) locks sway as she walked and the way her hips swayed with her.

"Now, now, Sabo." Koala patted his head. "It's not polite to stare~"

Pink dust scatters his cheeks as he briskly walks away from the teasing Koala. Music class was located on the second floor in Room 212. As soon as you all arrive, a bony hand reaches out the slightly open door and a pair of dark empty holes bore into his vision.

"YOHOHOHO! WELCOME EVERYONE!" A tall skeleton welcomes you with his arms in the air. "Come in, lessons were about to start!"

Reluctantly the three of you enter the room and see several other occupants. He didn't seem to know anyone else in the room so he took a vacant seat next to the window, with (Name) proceeding to sit beside him.

The skeleton instructor, which he calls himself as Mr. Brook, starts playing a familiar tune on the piano. Sabo smiles at the tune of the song. He's heard Luffy sing this a lot when they were kids.

"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,

Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku yo

Umikaze kimakase namimakase

Shio no mukou de, yuuhi mo sawagu

Sora nya wa wo kaku, tori no uta"

He turns his gaze to (Name) cheerfully singing along as she also was familiar with the infamous song. This made him smile. Why though? He had only just met you a few days ago. So why is he so interested in you? Is this what Koala called a crush? He returned his attention to the bone man playing the piano and started singing along. The feeling feels...weird...and Sabo didn't really know if it was a bad thing.

But, then again, maybe it's not.

~

*Your POV*

You clap your hands to the merry tune as Mr. Brook laughed with a "Yohohoho!" His cheerful nature made you feel happy and forget about the fact that he was a walking talking skeleton with an afro.

Why did he have an afro?

Bah, who cares.

"Arashi ga kita zo, senri no sora ni

Nami ga odoru yo, DORAMU narase

Okubyoukaze ni fukarerya saigo

Asu no asahi ga nai ja nashi"

You were practically screaming now. The song filled your ears with excitement and the memories of your days as a child, the ones that didn't involve you being chased down by government freaks, that is. Ace was shouting as well and so was Sabo. His low manly voice sounded so...sexy. Wait, what am I thinking?! "Get it together!" You hissed quietly so that only you could hear.

"You okay?" A concerned voice beside you asked. You met with worried eyes and felt your soul melt into his gaze.

"Mhm." You hummed in response, unaware of the dreamy look you're giving him. Sabo shifts nervously at your stare.

"Are you...sure?"

"What? Oh, yeah!" You laughed nervously, making him more confused than relieved.

"If you say so.." He says rather flatly. Your shoulders drop at that, a bit disappointed with his tone towards you.

Why do you care how he speaks to you? It's not like you love him or anything, right? No, not after what happened last time. You swore never to love anyone because of that. Clenching your fists beneath the desk, you mutter curses to yourself for almost believing that love could exist around you. A bulb of tears were fresh on the corner of your eyes, you rapidly blink them away, faking a smile towards everyone.

Little did you know that the one beside you caught sight of this. He hadn't intended to sound rude. He facepalmed at himself. Stupid, He scolded himself. Now she's upset! Why does it bother him so much when you look at Ace and not him?

Idiot, You cry to yourself. Why does it hurt when she was around him?

It was a strange feeling, but they didn't know. 

He never fell in love before. 

And neither did you.

A sigh escaped from them as they whispered to themselves, "What is this feeling?"