You and Law had arrived at the party together but somewhere between Sabo, his brothers and the huge crowd you lost him. You continued to mingle not terribly worried he'd find you eventually.

"An English major huh?" Rumbled the greenette you'd just been introduced to.

"Mhm." You hummed trying not to stare at the scar over his left eye, "I want to be a professor one day. What about you?"

"Engineering, that's how I met Kid." He replied.

You turned to refresh your drink at the makeshift bar and when you turned back he was gone.

"Zoro?" You called glancing around.

Who leaves mid conversation?

"Ah there you are!" Killer smiled giving you a hug, "Staying warm?"

You held your drink up.

"I actually lost Law. Have you seen him around?"

He glanced around having a better vantage point than you, before stopping abruptly and dipping down.

"Don't worry about it F/N. I'm sure he'll turn up."

"You saw him didn't you?" You crossed your arms.

He sighed nodding to the right. Your heart sank as the crowd thinned revealing Law tonsil deep with Robin a TA from the history department.

"Sorry." Killer rubbed your back.

"It's fine. Not the first time." You faked a smile and turned searching for the door.

"It isn't though." He rumbled, "I know you aren't together but you came together damn."

"I appreciate you getting upset for me. Really, it's alright." You ran your hand down his arm before turning for the exit.

"F/N!" Killer called after you.

"Just need some air." You waved.

Your breath was visible in front of you as you stepped out of the barn into the cold night air. Jamming your hands in your jacket pockets you strolled along the side of the building finding a swing dangling from a huge neighboring oak tree.

The swing overlooked a large lake that seemed to shimmer, mirroring the clear night sky. You took a seat on the wooden plank and swayed back and forth pushing yourself lightly with the toe of your boot. There had been plenty of times where you had to deal with this feeling. He's an attractive popular guy after all. This time felt a bit different. You were angrier that he ditched you than you were about seeing him make out with a woman you didn't think you could hold a candle to.

"You'll catch a cold out here." Kid's voice caught your ear.

"Not much warmer inside." You pointed out, "And the view is better."

He stood behind you grabbing the chains that attached the swing to the branch above and pulled you back.

"That's true. Where's goth boy?" He let go of the chains letting your feet leave the ground as you swung forward.

"He found a TA to hook up with." You sighed, "I'm gonna see if Killer will give me a ride."

He stayed quiet and continued to push you.

"What are you doing anyway?" You asked a bit uncomfortable with the silence.

"Needed some air." He shrugged.

You only hummed in response.

"There you are." Law called stalking up the small hill.

Kid pulled you to a stop allowing you to stand.

"What are you doing out here?" Law asked rubbing his hands together.

"Not feelin' great. Think I'll get a ride home." You replied spotting Killer helping someone to their friend's car.

"I can take you if you're ready." His silver eyes searched your face.

"Nah - you made a friend, go have fun~" You tapped his cheek and started off in Killer's direction.

"She's too soft on you." Kid grunted.

"Mind your own business." Law glared at the redhead.

"You know she'll never move on if you keep being wishy washy."

"Since when do you care?" Law snapped.

"I guess I don't." Kid shrugged and walked away.

Law frowned. He was right. You were always there to catch him, always willing to give and receive affection without any long term benefits. You'd never dated and he was only realizing now that it was probably his fault. Back in high school when you confessed he started to stop you and turn you down properly but you sensed where it was going and turned it around midway. Instead of ever having an actual conversation about it he just let things stay the way they were, blind to how much it hurt you in the long run.

"Not much of a party in the end huh?" Killer frowned buckling up.

"Actually I was enjoying it for the most part there." You offered a smile.

"You did get to meet some new people." He pulled onto the main road as Kid swerved by on his bike.

It was a 30 minute drive back to the dorms surely the redhead would be frozen when you got back.

You woke up nuzzled into soft blond hair, arms cradling your backside and your legs wrapped around a sturdy torso. You uncrossed your arms and stretched wrapping them around his neck. He let out a pleased chuckle.

Before you could say anything Kid's voice piped up from the end of the hall.

"Why are you carrying her like that?"

"I couldn't wake her up." Killer shrugged carefully releasing his grip allowing you to slide to your feet.

"Awe. You were so warm." You whined rubbing your eyes.

"You just climbed up like a little monkey." Killer laughed poking your nose.

"What is this?" Kid gestured between the two of you.

"Jealous?" You glowered at him.

His jaw slacked for a moment, pink tinting his face before he regained his composure, "Of course not."

"I was hoping for a snappier response." You frowned at Killer.

The blond shrugged tossing a mischievous grin at his roommate.

"Welp. Good night children." You yawned turning for your room.

"See ya F/N." Killer waved.

"Seriously what was that about?" Kid pressed crossing his arms.

"So...you are jealous?" Killer teased, "Maybe if you were nicer she'd cling to you instead."

"Shut up." Kid walked ahead.

________________

Law: It was brought to my attention that I have some thinking to do regarding the guidelines of our friendship. I'll be distancing myself a bit. Please don't be upset.

You read the text a few times feeling a dull ache shoot through your chest each time. It was like the most professionally worded break up. Break up being the only term you could find to fit the situation. And in a text to top it off?

Me: Real smooth Trafalgar. Let me know when you're done reflecting.

You racked your brain trying to think of who would make him reevaluate your relationship.

"You OK mouse?" Kid peered over the counter as you sat on the floor behind the register.

"Sure." You shrugged, "Since when did you care?"

"It's annoying when you mope around." He rested his temple against his left first.

"Everything annoys you." You pulled yourself to your feet.

"Hmm. You have a point." He hummed thoughtfully, "Maybe your regular mouse behavior isn't quite as annoying."

"Right. Thanks." You deadpanned.

"But really... it's annoying when you mope." He smirked folding his arms on the counter and laying his head down.

You rolled your eyes. For some reason he seemed to want you to share with him.

"Law has decided to break up with me." You muttered.

He tilted his chin up.

"Break up?"

"I mean kinda? He's 'distancing' himself." You explained miming quotations with your fingers.

"Don't you think that might be a good thing?" He asked

"Probably?" You nudged him to make room for you to lay your head down as well, "I just can't figure out what I did."

"I don't think you did anything. Maybe he feels guilty for leading you around for so long." He turned to face you.

You groaned feeling your heart sputter again. This was probably the closest you'd been to each other without sneering.

"What's going on out here?" Shanks strolled up eyebrows quirked.

"Nothing." You straightened yourself out.

"Law dumped her." Kid blurted.

Shanks frowned, "I'm so sorry F/N." The older redhead moved behind the counter to hug you.

"He didn't dump me. There was nothing to dump." You stood stiff, arms at your sides as Shanks cuddled you, "He's just figuring himself out I guess. We've been friends too long for him to just walk away."

"I'm sure things will be back to normal soon." Shanks stepped back, "You guys clean up and we'll get the hell outta here."

________________

Five days. It had been five days since your last interaction with your best friend. This was the longest since you were eight that you'd gone without speaking or seeing each other. You were a bit on edge.

"You are seriously testing me today." You turned to Kid in the breakroom.

"Hey I didn't have to give you a ride." He smirked propping his feet up on the table, "And I got us here early."

"Only because you were going 90 miles an hour. I'm lucky my wallet didn't fall out." You held up your favorite bag to show him the gaping hole in the bottom.

"It's not my fault you insist on carrying that raggedy thing around." He folded his arms behind his head.

"This was a gift from my dad." You snapped.

"Get him to get you another one then." He shrugged.

"I can't." Your shoulders dropped.

He sat up piqued by your sudden change in demeanor.

"Never mind, I'm not having this conversation with you." You shoved the bag in your locker and slammed the small metal door.

You'd have to find a way to sew it up or something later.

"Maybe I can get Killer to pick me up." You muttered.

"Hey." Kid said standing as you put your apron on still facing the wall.

"You're such an ass."

"Why are you so mad? It's just a purse." He stepped behind you.

"It was important to me. It's fine I'll see if I can fix it." You turned to shoo him away, startled by the serious look on his face.

"I'm sorry." He said softly.

Your breath caught in your throat as you felt heat betray your cheeks.

"Don't apologize... it's weird." You put your hand on his chest to push him.

His tawny eyes searched yours for a moment making you freeze. Suddenly the room felt smaller and the air seemed weighted.

"What?" You only managed to whisper.

"What are you guys doing back here?!" Shanks called bursting through the door.

"Nothing." You both strained turning away from each other.