(I would've included their full titles but it would have been too long...Librarian!Goth and Cheerleader!Palette)

(Goth)

People often ask me how I don't fall asleep daily while working in the school library as an assistant. My answer: always busy. Real reason? My day was spent waiting for a particular someone to come in.

He always came in, every day, no matter what. Him in his perky cheerleader colors and bright smile. Even in the calm, quiet space of the library, he managed to brighten it up. Sometimes he would get noisy and I'd have to tell him to hush, and he'd always smile and nod at me.

"Sure thing, Goth," he'd say brightly.

Who did I wait for? Out-of-my-reach, out-of-my-league, and non-other than the cheer captain himself, Palette Roller.

God, he was adorable. But he'd never like me back.

I would just have to suffer my shy silence. Forever. Until I graduate. And probably later.

One day, I was busy cataloging books when he stopped in front of my desk. He leaned over, peering at my work while I was so absorbed I didn't even notice him approaching.

"Whacha doin'?" he asked softly. I jumped, knocking my stamp pad to the floor and smudging the stamp I'd been putting on one of the books.

"Palette, d-don't scare me like that!" I hissed. He frowned, picking up my stamp.

"Sorry, Goth," he apologized quietly.

"It's okay," I waved him off, "I was so busy. I'm cataloging these books. We just got them in."

"Neat," he said. He handed me a book, "I think this book is busted. Can you fix it?"

"It might take me a while. Leave it on the desk and I'll see what I can do," I smiled at him. He beamed at me and left, giving me a little wave.

A while after he left I finished my cataloging and took a look at the book Palette left me. It didn't look ripped or damaged, so I picked it up and opened it, flipping through the pages. As I flipped through the pages a small piece of paper fell out onto my desk. I picked it up, curious as to why he left a bookmark in a supposedly damaged book.

I blushed at the paper, reading;

Dear Goth - Meet me under the bleachers after school - Pallete

Palette Roller wanted to meet me under the bleachers?! Me, of all people!?

I would go, of course. While it could be a trick I doubted Palette would agree to such a thing. He had a heart of gold, which is one of the reasons I liked him so much. Though, I'd heard stories about what happened under the bleachers...

Blushing, I put the paper in the front cover of the book and checked to make sure the book didn't have any actual damage. It didn't, so I took my cart of newly cataloged books and began to set them on the shelves. All the while I wondered what Palette was up to...

(Palette)

"I can't believe I let you talk me into that," I told PJ, my dad's boyfriend's son and most popular jock in school. We sat at lunch together, me staring with a warm face at my food and him eating like he hadn't had food in weeks.

"Please," PJ swallowed a bite, "If I'm right about him, he likes you back."

"What if you're wrong? What if he shows up just to tell me he doesn't like me? What if he just doesn't show up at all?" I glanced at PJ worriedly and sighed, "Maybe he hasn't read the note and I can just go get the book back before he reads it..."

"Pal, bud, you've had a crush on him for ages," PJ put his fork down for once, "If you don't do this now when will you? You might be popular, outgoing, and cheer captain but you really don't have the guts for this kind of thing."

"And you do?" I shot at him, "Because last I checked 'you-know-who' is still absolutely oblivious."

PJ blushed and growled a bit, "That's none of your business."

"You made it my business when you bugged me about Goth!" I hissed at him, "Plus, we're basically half-brothers with how much our dads f-"

"Oh, don't mention that here," PJ glanced around to see if anyone heard us.

"Either way, I'm allowed to bug you when you bug me," I shot at him.

"Well, I'm doing you a favor, Palette," he told me, going back to his food. I stared down at my food as he ate. He was right, it was helping, but I liked having Goth as my friend. If I told him how I feel and he doesn't reciprocate...it might ruin our friendship and I could lose him.

I don't think I can handle losing him...

(Goth)

I grew so anxious towards the end of the day the librarian gave me some work in the back room so I didn't disturb anyone with my shaking. She asked me what was wrong and I told her I had a meeting with someone later that I was nervous about. She left it at that and didn't bother me.

Sitting in the back room, I repaired old books and re-cataloged them, taking inventory of the books beyond my repair to re-order. It calmed me considerably. The grunt work of repeatedly taking book after book, inspecting it, gluing it, taping it, stamping it, writing down its title and make was muscle memory by now and I did it with ease. The simple repetition of it all eased my racing thoughts of what Palette had planned.

Finished with my stack I took my laptop and did my online courses in private, going through lessons quickly. They were easier than cataloging and I scoffed that these were considered higher level sciences. Please... Finished with a handful of lessons I went to the pile of reading cushions and laid down. I would take a nap until the end of the day because I had no other work to do. My nerves were making me tired anyway.

Shutting my eye sockets I set an alarm on my phone to wake me up before the final bell. I didn't want to be late for my meeting with Palette.

I dozed off with his bright smile in my mind.

(Palette)

I spent more time during the rest of the day staring at clocks than I did listening to my teachers. One of which took notice and brought me back to attention with a dodgeball to the head. I whipped my head around, smiling meekly at Coach Error, who had another dodgeball in his hand.

"Done daydreaming, Roller?" he asked gruffly. I nodded.

"Sorry, Coach," I said. Undyne and PJ snickered at me before Coach blew his whistle.

"Five laps, for all of you! Now!" he called. Rolling my eyes, I began to jog around the gym.

"ON THE DOUBLE!" Error screamed at us. We all started sprinting. I outpaced most of them, but PJ caught up with me with a smirk on his face.

"Catch me if you can, cheerleader!" he called. He began to outstrip me, glancing back with that stupid smirk.

"Oh, you're on!" I called back. We were only on lap two, but I put on a burst of speed to catch PJ. Soon we were even. Now it was only a test of endurance.

We stayed even until the final lap. Both of us were heaving short breaths, me more than PJ. I couldn't keep up with the burning in my sides and fell back. I finished the lap and fell to my knees, bending over and heaving in breaths.

"You...win..." I said between pants. Someone stood in front of me and a hand appeared in front of my face. I looked up, seeing PJ, who was also panting but not as much. Taking his hand, he hauled me to my feet.

"Thanks," I said shortly, still trying to recover. He clapped me on the back, chuckling.

"You need to work on your endurance, Roller," came Error's deep voice behind us. I turned, nodding.

"Sure thing, Coach, but uh, how do I do that?"

"Just keep pushing your limits. Eventually, they get bigger," Error answered. Then he blew his whistle to get everyone's attention. "Alright, line up for team selection! We're playing basketball today, so team captains choose wisely!"

---

Kind of glad that I ended up on PJ's team, basketball nonetheless whooped my butt.

Though energy surged through me as the final bell neared. Nervousness and excitement: both filled me as I thought about talking to Goth. For better or worse, I'd confess to him today.

As soon as the bell rang I was out of the door and heading for the bleachers. Although I figured Goth would take a bit longer than I did, I felt mildly disappointed not to find him there. But I settled behind the metal structure and waited.

I hope he's coming...

(Goth)

"Child, wake up!" came a soft voice as I was shaken awake. I looked up into the librarian's face, then realized I never heard my alarm. Shooting up I looked at my phone. My alarm had gone off five minutes ago.

"Shoot!" I got to my feet, surprising the librarian a little, "I'm gonna be late! Has final bell rang?"

"Not too long ago, dear," she said, "Shoo, shoo!"

"Thank you!" I ran out of the library, grabbing my bag by the desk on my way out as I rushed toward the bleachers. Hopefully, Palette was still there.

I really, really hope I haven't blown this.

(Palette)

Sighing, kicking some dirt, I checked my watch. Final bell had gone off a while ago. Everyone who wasn't on a current season sports team had left.

"Guess he's not coming..." I sighed, kicking some more dirt. I started to make my way out from under the bleachers when I heard running. Someone was running in the field. Probably an athlete... I kept walking.

"Palette!" someone called. My head snapped up at the voice. Is he...?

"Palette, hold up!"

My heart soared at the voice and I turned in time to see him arrive. He bent over once he reached me, panting and dropping a backpack.

"Don't go," he said, standing up, "Sorry I'm late. Got...distracted..."

"No problem. I'm glad you came, Goth," I said brightly. He gave me one of his small, soft smiles.

"So, what did you want me for?"

I froze. Oh, right...

(Goth)

He's so cute... I loved every time he spoke. His voice had a small ting in it, like a songbird. I loved everything about him: his smile, his laugh, his eyes, his energy.

I loved him.

But my question seemed to reset his train of thought.

"Oh, I um, wanted to...uhh...I, hmm... wanted..." Speechless? I've never seen him speechless.

I wanted so badly to tell him how I felt. But I didn't want to scare him away. He was so nice to me, a good friend. Losing him with a confession would break my heart.

But not confessing would crush me slowly.

I took a deep breath. "Palette...there's something...I have to tell you..."

(Palette)

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, he doesn't like me! He's going to tell me to leave him alone!

"Goth, wait!" I interrupted him, "I have something to tell you first..."

He looked at me with that large white pupil and deep dark eye.

Before I got lost in its depths, I took a deep breath, now or never...

"I...I really like you..."

Goth went silent. He doesn't like me back...

"I really like you. I've had a crush on you for ages. You're so nice and kind and quiet and sweet and really, really gorgeous...Heck, you're the sexiest kid in school to me!"

He just stared at me, his head slightly cocked.

"I just wanted to tell you how I felt...Please, don't hate me for liking you. You're my best friend and I love having you around. You might dress in black but you brighten my day."

I felt tears trying to fall at his silence. "Please...don't leave me..."

(Goth)

He likes me!? HE LIKES ME!?

My brain shortcircuited at his words but he kept talking. All of what he said surprised me and I couldn't speak. But when I saw him get upset my heart ached.

I need to tell him now. I need to say it.

"Palette, I..." ugh, why is this so hard?!

He looked up at me, expectant and slightly afraid.

His bright eyes broke into my heart. You know what? "Screw this."

I reached forward before he reacted and pulled him into a kiss. Actions speak better than words, right? Well, this one should. I filled it with love and didn't let go for a full minute. When I finally pulled back my soul fluttered and I looked into his surprised face.

"You like me back?" he asked softly. I chuckled, caressing his cheek.

"Oh, Palette...What I feel is a heck of a lot more than liking you..." I gave him a large hug.

"I love you, Palette," I whispered by his skull.