Kong Xueer. Smart, pretty, athletic, sweet and charming. How could someone be this perfect? Known around the school as the smart pretty girl who is also the captain of the school's baseball team, everyone loves her. From her soft-spoken way of speaking to her gentleness, it was hard to not fall for her. But Kong Xueer has never accepted a single confession, boy or girl, she always politely turned them down. She always told them the same thing, 

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested in dating right now."  

Though Xueer always flashed a smile and a small shy wave to the people she passed, she didn't really have a close friend, not even a proper friend. Everyone was too busy worshipping her to actually try to be close to her. Reserved and more on the introverted side, Xueer was never one who starts a conversation. And it seems like the rest of the students weren’t one to do so too. Spending class sitting with someone who was too scared to spark up a discussion and eating alone during lunch isn’t how Xueer would envision what highschool would be like but being used to the routine, Xueer had lost the desire to change anything about it. 

~~~

It was just like any other day, Xueer headed to the rooftop which was usually empty to have lunch. She sat with a group of acquaintances she barely knew that invited her once but could never join the conversation that was filled with gossip she had no interest in, only nodding or giving a short reply when a question was directed at her. It was then Xueer decided she never really wants to accept an invitation to lunch again. Besides, Xueer liked the rooftop, a place she enjoys much more than the noisy and chaotic cafeteria. 

But, it seems like there was something more than ordinary for today. 

Xu Jiaqi

The girl who has rumours about her everywhere, whether they were true or not, no one knows. She’s the girl who hides in the shadows most of the time but her name could always be heard somewhere. Xueer would hear her name being whispered around in the halls sometimes but gave it no thought. She just figured it was another one of those delinquents she would never be talking to. 

There she stood on the rooftop, smoking a cigarette and rocking her signature black leather jacket. 

Xueer stood there, puzzled to see someone on the usually empty and deserted rooftop. She decides to mind her business and sits on her usual spot, eating a sandwich and reading a novel she's not that interested in. 

The silence continues to fill the air, none of them saying a single word. The bell rings and Xueer packs up her belongings and leaves, not sparing Jiaqi another glance. 

The routine continues for a few days, neither of them speaking a word to each other but somehow Xueer enjoyed Jiaqi's presence. She didn't feel as lonely with Jiaqi hanging around. 

~~~

"Y'know, I kinda expected you to at least say hi." Jiaqi finally speaks up one day, she turns towards Xueer and flashes a small smile. 

Xueer jumps in surprise and sits there stunned, she couldn't help but be into Jiaqi's alluring gaze. Her lazy smile that could make anyone's heart beat faster and her tall figure standing there like a heartthrob in a cliche romance movie. Xueer felt like she was frozen, stuck in Jiaqi's enticing stare. With Jiaqi’s back always facing her, she didn’t expect the school’s mystery girl to be this hot.  

"Well?" Jiaqi says, causing Xueer to finally break out of her daze. 

"Um, right. Sorry, hi." Xueer shyly greets her, obviously embarrassed from her stuttering. Jiaqi chuckles, visibly amused from Xueer's reaction. 

Jiaqi lights another cigarette and takes a puff, allowing the smoke to fill her lungs and leave after. 

"Smoking is bad for you." Xueer says out of nowhere.

Jiaqi scoffs, "I know that." 

"Then why don't you quit?" Jiaqi stares at her for a moment,

"It makes me feel alive." She replies soon after. 

Xueer tilts her head in confusion and Jiaqi notices it. 

"Have you ever felt like you're actually living before?" Jiaqi asks as she takes another puff. 

"Yea? Like right now I feel pretty alive." Xueer answers nonchalantly. 

Jiaqi snickers, "That's not what I meant." 

She takes another puff of her cigarette before speaking again, "It's like when electricity flows through your body and no matter what’s happening around you, it wouldn’t even matter." 

Xueer didn't know what to say, she couldn't recall a single moment where she felt that.

Jiaqi takes one last puff before dropping the cigarette bud to the ground and stepping on it. 

"You should try it sometime," Jiaqi says before leaving the rooftop, leaving Xueer dazed.

Xueer stares at the closed door, still holding her half-eaten sandwich.

You should try it sometime.

Maybe Jiaqi was right, she should try living sometime. 

Xueer also realised something new, Jiaqi isn't as cold as how people portray her. Jiaqi was someone like her but also the complete opposite of her. She was untouchable, no one really dared to speak to her and instead, most people watch from afar. But Jiaqi was rather infamous, she didn't have the best school record and reputation, to say the least. The complete opposite of Kong Xueer. Xueer couldn't help but be curious about this girl, she wanted to know what being 'alive' is like.

The bell rings, snapping Xueer out of her thoughts. She quickly packs her things to rush to her next class. And Xueer couldn't help but think about what Xu Jiaqi said the whole day. Though she would never really admit it, she was hoping to see Jiaqi tomorrow.

~~~

Xu Jiaqi stood at the same spot as yesterday, smoking a cigarette and staring into the distance. Xueer stood by the door, hesitant whether she should greet Jiaqi or not. 

She eventually gathers enough courage to say a simple hey. 

"Hey." Xueer shyly says, her voice so soft it's surprising that Jiaqi managed to catch it.

Jiaqi turns around to face Xueer, a small smirk plastered on her face. 

"Took you awhile to say it." Jiaqi teases and Xueer could heat creeping up her cheeks, she hates how easy it is for Jiaqi to make her feel embarrassed. 

Xueer wordlessly walks over to her usual seat and takes out her sandwich and starts munching on it. Jiaqi finishes up her cigarette and plops herself right next to Xueer. 

Xueer looks at Jiaqi curiously, wondering what she wanted from her. Jiaqi isn't afraid to stare right back, her eyes unwavering and confident. Xueer gulps as she couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit nervous with Jiaqi's eyes boring right into hers. 

Jiaqi finally breaks the eye contact, "Talk to me." she said. 

"H-huh?" Xueer stuttered, still dazed and distracted. 

Jiaqi chuckles, "Talk to me." she repeats with a soft smile. 

"Ah okay, well uh." Xueer scratches her nape as she struggles to find words to say.  

Xueer introduces herself first after realising she hasn't, "I'm Kong Xueer, captain of the baseball team and a senior." Xueer stumbled with her words slightly but eventually gained composure. 

Jiaqi listens with a grin, "Xu Jiaqi, senior year." her introduction was short and simple. 

Jiaqi nudges Xueer’s shoulder. "So, you come here often?" She jokingly said as if they're at a bar. Xueer couldn't help but laugh, "Yea, every day. You?" 

"Well after today, I think I will be coming more often." Jiaqi replies with a smile that could make even flowers flustered. 

Jiaqi's words made Xueer blush but also roll her eyes, "God, you're cheesy." Xueer lightly punches Jiaqi's arm and Jiaqi chuckles,

"You'll grow to like it." 

They talked as if they knew each other for years and Xueer loved it. She liked how it was so easy to talk to Jiaqi, she was different compared to everyone else.

The bell rang before they knew it and classes would start very soon.

"Ah, I need to get going now." Xueer says as she packs away her stuff. Jiaqi only watches, not moving an inch. 

"You're not going?" Xueer asks, ready to leave the rooftop. 

Jiaqi only shrugs, "I'll see you around." she bids with a charming smile.

Xueer flashes a smile right back, "See you around." she leaves the rooftop feeling happier than usual. She met someone new, different. And perhaps, someone she can find comfort in.

~~~

Months pass and every day, Xueer would look forward to seeing Jiaqi and every day Jiaqi would be right there on the rooftop, waiting for her. 

It was easy for Jiaqi to make Xueer smile so bright she would be beaming brighter than the sun. It was easy for Jiaqi to make Xueer go into a fit of giggles. It was so easy for Jiaqi to get Xueer to warm up to her. 

Xueer also learns so many things about Xu Jiaqi, she's bright and sweet—unlike the image people portray her. She has a contagious laugh and her eyes sparkle like fireworks on new years eve whenever she talks about her cat Q-Mi. She learns that Jiaqi works at a cafe her friend owns further away from town—she also makes a note to visit from time to time. Xueer learns that Jiaqi loves to dance, and has a lot of experience in competitions. She learns that Jiaqi likes calling herself a fox—Xueer thinks it's a perfect representation of her, cunning and playful yet charming and passionate. 

"I used to think you would be y’know more of a troublemaker but you're the complete opposite." Jiaqi isn't surprised with Xueer's initial impression of her. 

"I punched this one time in freshman year who kept pressuring me to date him and accidentally broke his nose." Jiaqi scoffs when she recalls the incident, "I guess he was pretty popular, and told everyone I was a psychotic evil . Then a bunch of rumours started spreading around after that. There was even one where people thought I killed someone but eh." Jiaqi shrugs, she didn't care about school or what the people thought about her that much. 

"Woah, break someone's nose? That's pretty cool and he definitely deserved it." Xueer was impressed with how easy it was for Jiaqi to 'accidentally' break someone's nose.

Jiaqi chuckles, "It's nothing." 

"My friends outside of school helped me a lot though, I don't know what I'd do without them." She smiles as she thinks about her friends fondly. 

When Jiaqi mentions her friends, Xueer couldn't help but feel a little down. It reminds her of how she doesn't have any. 

"Earth to Xueer?" Jiaqi waves her hand in front of Xueer who was staring into space. She jolts out of her daze, "Sorry, spaced out for a minute there."

Jiaqi flicks Xueer's forehead, "What was that for?" Xueer whines as she rubs her forehead in pain. 

"Tell me what's up. You always space out when there's something on your mind." 

Xueer looks at Jiaqi in disbelief, how Jiaqi was so quick to catch her habits when they've only known each other for a few months. There was no point avoiding the topic, Jiaqi would see right through her.

Xueer sighs, "I guess it's just that I kinda wish I had people to call my friends." her voice gets softer as she speaks, obviously embarrassed about it. She plays with the hem of her shirt, not daring to look at Jiaqi in the eyes.

Jiaqi lifts Xueer's chin with her finger, "I think you're forgetting about me." Jiaqi says with a cheeky smile. 

Xueer looks at Jiaqi with agape, "Unless... you don't see me as your friend." Jiaqi pouts as she turns her back on Xueer, pretending to be sulky with her arms crossed. 

"Wait, that's not it!" Xueer panics but before she could talk more, Jiaqi butts in.

"Kong Xueer I can't believe you. After all these times, you never considered me as a friend?" Jiaqi teases her more, pretending to be heartbroken as she places her hands on her chest.

Xueer panics even more, she struggles to explain. "What? No! No! Jiaqi, of course I do—" Jiaqi cuts her off once again, "Kong Xueer you're so mean!"  

"Jiaqi~, let me talk." Xueer spoke with a cutesy tone which gets Jiaqi's attention every single time. A soft spot Jiaqi has for Xueer. Jiaqi finally lets Xueer speak without interrupting her. 

"I'd rather consider you as... my closest friend. One I really appreciate—one I'll never regret meeting and one I treasure the most. I like you, a lot. I like having you around, I like talking to you and even though we've only known each other for only a few months, I've never felt this comfortable talking to someone—Ah, this is so embarrassing to say out loud." Xueer's voice was soft and fragile. She stared at the floor as if it's the most interesting thing in the world and nervously fiddled with her hands. 

Jiaqi pulls Xueer into an embrace, she ruffles her hair and shows a bright smile that makes Xueer feel comforted. "You're cute."

"I said all of that and all you can say is I'm cute?" 

"Well, to be fair—" Xueer pouts as she knows Jiaqi was about to start teasing her again.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop. You're still cute though." Jiaqi stops at the sight of the pouty girl who was still in her arms.

Xueer could feel the heat on her neck and ears when Jiaqi said that. She buries her face into Jiaqi's chest—too embarrassed to look at her, Jiaqi chuckles and pats her head gently.  Xueer found that Jiaqi smells nice, really nice. Jiaqi smelled like sweet but not too sickly vanilla and creamy coffee, it was addicting. She could also smell a hint of bitter cigarettes, it bothered her slightly but the sugary scent drowns it out well. 

"Xueer, you don't have a nickname right?" Xueer shakes her head no, still not willing to lift her head up.

"Then, I'll give you one." Xueer could hear the affection in Jiaqi's voice—she could also feel how warm and comforting it is to be in her embrace.

Jiaqi ponders for a moment, "Princess, how's that?" she announces it like an excited puppy.    

Xueer pries herself out of Jiaqi's arms, she lightly punches Jiaqi's chest. "That's so cheesy." 

“Well, your name is Xueer and it’s just a perfect match!” 

“Isn’t it a little embarrassing?” Xueer chuckles, she can already imagine herself getting flustered when people are around. 

Jiaqi hums, Xueer had a point. “Then, how about Xuexue?” Jiaqi suggested.

“That may be even cheesier.” 

"You know you like it." Jiaqi was right, she did like it.  

Xueer shyly punches Jiaqi's chest again and thinks for a moment to figure out a nickname for Jiaqi. 

"Then, you have to let me call you Qiqi." 

"Deal!" Jiaqi agrees almost immediately. 

Xuexue and Qiqi. Xueer liked the sound of that.

~~~

a/n: i have no idea how long this au will be, this has been in my drafts for a very long time and instead of a one-shot i decided to post it by chapters. the 2nd one will be up pretty soon, hope you enjoyed reading <3