Free From You Pt.1

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Rin's flame red eyes shot daggers at his cell as it moved shakily across his desk. You can all just piss off, he thought snappishly. I said I wasn't going, and I meant it.

The phone shook haughtily in protest, it's demanding light piercing the dark room.

"Argh!" Rin cried, leaping to his feet. Snatching the phone off the desk he opened it violently and grouns his sharp, shark-like teeth together as he perused through the texts. Hey Rin-chan, it's Nagisa! Hope you haven't forgotten about our trip to the beach tomorrow! It's gonna be great! We're leaving for the beach at eight a.m. It would mean a lot to us if you changed your mind. Hope to see you there! -Makoto Dear Rin-chan-san, it's Rei. I hope you don't think you can skip out on the beach trip. You know how long we've been planning it. It's all Nagisa's been talking about and I'm not going to let you disappoint everyone.

"Tch." Rin scoffed in the dark. I bet all those idiots are sitting around a table somewhere, trying to guilt me into going on their stupid field trip. Well it's not going to change my- Rin's eyes lit up as they landed on a fourth text. Beach Sunday?

Funny how two little words could inspire such a change in Rin, but Haru hardly ever remembered he had a phone half the time and spoke so little at all that even a text as short as this one was a testament to how much Rin-I mean, the beach trip-meant to Haru.

Rin fought to remind himself of this when he sent back his reply. _{YEAH. I'LL GO.}

---

*The previous day...*

They had all met up at the Iwatobi swimming pool for a dual training session. It had started relatively harmless, just two teams gathered together for some fun and friendly competition. Apart from some poolside flirtations, that is. Rin couldn't help but notice how much fun Gou was having talking to his captain. Concern for his sister's obsession with muscles aside, it was who was in the water that interested Rin the most.

It was true that it had been a while since Rin had last seen Haru, but he hadn't expected to come back and find him so ripped. Rin had always been drawn to the way Haru moved in the water, but now he found it made him slightly uncomfortable. Each time he watched Haru's toned body slide through the water, see his muscles pushing forward and back and hear his gasping breaths as he came up for air there was a delicious clench in his stomach like he was diving off the deep end.

Rin watched as Haru touched the side of the pool with his hand, pushing his goggles onto the top of his head while pausing to catch his breath. All of a sudden, Haru's piercing blue eyes met Rin's hungry stare, causing him to blush and cast his eyes downwards. Shit, he silently cursed himself. What the hell was he doing?

"Rin-san!" Ai called cheerfully, running up behind him. His happy-go-lucky puppy dog attitude was dropped very quickly when he saw the look on Rin's face. "You okay?" he asked. "Y-yeah," Rin lied, his face blanched. Ai laid a concerned hand on Rin's shoulder, unconvinced. "You sure? You don't look so good..." Rin felt his anger rising. "I said I'm fine!" he shouted angrily, shaking the silver haired boy off. Rin froze as he realized he used more volume than he had intended, hearing the happy chatter surrounding the pool dissipate as all eyes turned towards him.

Rin clenched his fists, refusing to acknowledge the pair of baby blues pouring into him. He knew that Haru was undoubtedly scrunching up his face into that concerned pout of his, eyes shifting like the sea. Lately those eyes had a dangerous tendency to douse the flames of Rin's anger and reduce him to a simpering mess.

Startled by where his train of thought was taking him, Rin snapped back to reality. He didn't know why he was acting this way, and he damn well didn't like it. "I'm going back," Rin muttered, stalking off to the locker room. As soon as he was out of the line of sight of the pool, he slammed his fist angrily against the wall. What was wrong with him? Things had just about gone back to the way they had been before. He and Haru were friends again. But a strange voiced nagged at the back of Rin's mind. Would that really satisfy him? Or did he want more...?

"Rin?" Rin's blood ran cold as he turned to face Haru, still dripping wet from the pool. He was wearing that stupid expression like he knew he would be. Stupid, but strangely alluring. Rin wanted to shake himself, harshly reprimanding his train of thought for once again being derailed. Haru took a step forward, making his heart do a somersault. "Get away from me!" Rin snarled, eyes widening fearfully. Desperation flooding his veins, Rin turned to leave but was stopped short by Haru's hand gripping his wrist. "Rin..." Haru said again, a quiet question. He knew that Haru was only trying to help him by getting Rin to open up to him, but the sudden contact caused panic to bubble up in Rin's chest. I have to get out of here!

Rin inwardly pleaded with Haru to let him go, but he knew the raven haired boy would follow him. Unless...

In order to protect himself Rin responded the only way he knew how. He lashed out.

Shoulders rolling in a wave of anger at his own cowardice, Rin shouted: "Don't touch me! I don't need your sympathy, or your friendship!" Rin wrenched his arm free, rushing past as he heard the footsteps of the others on the tiled floor. He also heard a muffled thump, which caused him to hesitate just long enough to cast a look over his shoulder. His heart sank. Haru was doubled-up on the ground, a look of pain and bewilderment on his face. An expression that Rin had caused.