So I did a little oneshot called It Had Been Two Months and this is the story that came out of it :) hope you like it

Also like to thank Zaabeth for helping to iron out all the kinks in this chapter

…

Haruka sulked slightly as he scanned the various shopping aisles surrounding him, his best friend's hand tightly wrapped around his wrist, dragging him along and keeping him close at all times. He wanted to roughly pull from the hold, he wanted to say that he had no reason to be here, he wanted to leave and jump into the nearest body of water, but instead he stayed. The warmth he received from the skin to skin contact kept him tethered to Makoto.

Makoto glanced over his shoulder, offering his friend a quick smile. There was something about the smile that was a bit difficult to discern, but if Haruka had to place it, he would say the smile was a mixture of apology, gratefulness, and reassurance. Apology that Makoto was dragging him around the shops on the weekend, gratefulness that he didn't have to do this alone, and reassurance that they'd be finished soon enough.

Although he never offered a smile in return, Haruka knew that Makoto understood his look of acceptance. He knew Makoto would make this as painless as possible.

Ordinarily he didn't mind helping Makoto. In fact he'd do anything just to see that little smile on his face. But today was different. Today he wasn't shopping for some must-have toy for the twins, some tool essential for his dad's DIY, some food his mother had forgotten to pick up. Today he was helping Makoto buy a gift for Gou.

That was the reason he was dragging his heels, the reason he wanted to run and never look back, the reason he wanted to scream. He still hadn't managed to control his jealousy, hadn't managed to accept their relationship, hadn't managed to push his feelings for Makoto back into the realms of friendship.

It had been exactly three months since they'd gotten together, and Haruka knew this for a fact. It was a fact that Gou had no issues flaunting, telling anyone who would listen, throwing it in Haruka's face at every chance she got. That she and Makoto were an official couple.

…

Haruka leant against the wall, his shoulder brushing against Makoto's, eating lunch as the only pair on the roof. In his typical mother hen style Makoto was insisting he shared his food with the other, claiming Haruka couldn't live on mackerel.

He offered the taller male an indignant look but still leaned in and ate the food being offered to him, heart fluttering at the treatment he was currently receiving, the treatment that was usually reserved for Gou.

"Mako-chan!" A voice called out, almost as if the mere thought of her name had summoned her.

He resisted the urge to glare at the younger girl, instead choosing to lean back and cross his arms. School was his time with Makoto, they had different friends and tended to stick with them, occasionally they'd be together – Gou would always make a big deal out of him if she saw him in passing – but it was mostly outside of school hours they spent in each other's company.

Haruka usually had to share his time with Makoto with Nagisa and Rei, but today the two had somewhere else they needed to be. Haruka hadn't been overly bothered by the details, only recognizing the opportunity to finally get Makoto to himself. But then she'd shown up. Haruka was sick of sharing, and although it was selfish, he wanted his best friend back.

"Gou-chan?" The boy asked, turning slightly to see her dropping to her knees beside him.

Haruka inwardly groaned as Makoto's back was pressed further into his shoulder with Gou's added weight, their kisses ringing in his ears.

"What did you need?" Makoto asked when he was finally released, although his back was to him he could still sense Haruka's unimpressed mood.

"Do you know what this Saturday is?" She asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"This Saturday?" Makoto repeated the question, trying to find a reason in the back of his mind as to why it should hold some significance to him.

"The 25th?" Haruka offered, hoping to end this conversation and rid himself of the girl.

"No." Gou shook her head with a laugh, Haruka hating how it caused Makoto to smile. "Well technically it is but it's also something far more important."

"Rin's coming to stay?" Makoto suggested.

"No. It's our three month anniversary!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, you're right!" Makoto nodded. "We'll have to do something special then."

"Really? Oh, Mako-chan you're the best!" She squealed, throwing herself yet again at the boy.

Haruka audibly groaned as the couple once again used him as a support, though it failed to separate the pair, far too caught up in each other to notice he was even there.

He couldn't understand how Makoto put up with her, the constant giggling, shrieking and blushing whenever he was around, her manipulative eyes that managed to get him to do anything – and worse think it was his idea – and her fake sulks when she didn't have his constant full attention. He must like her a lot for these things to not bother him. The thought only served to anger Haruka further.

He roughly pushed the couple, hoping to knock her off but Makoto's solid back took most of the impact, the girl being completely unaffected and still showering the other with kisses.

"Three months." She breathed once she pulled back.

"A quarter of a year." He laughed.

"Can you believe it Haru?" She asked, dragging him into their world.

He remained silent for a while, his mind reeling from the name, she had no right to call him that, only his close friends could call him that and she most certainly didn't fall into that category.

"No, I can't." He said eventually, the girl smiling at his answer before pulling Makoto's lips back to hers, this time using the wall as their support rather than him.

I can't believe he's stayed with you, if it was up to me he wouldn't have, he added in his head before pushing himself up. Gathering his belongings he walked away from the pair, his feet subconsciously leading him towards the pool.

"Haru!" Makoto's voice called after him but he didn't stop, he'd had all he could handle of the couple for one day. If he needed him that badly he knew where to find him.

Eventually Haruka made it to the pool, quickly discarding his clothes before diving in, the cool water hitting him and holding him. He usually came here to relax, take away any worries he had and to just be one with the water, but it didn't work anymore. Even lying on the base and staring up at the sky through the ripples couldn't clear his mind. Makoto and Gou still occupied his thoughts.

He stayed in the pool until he heard the bell, indicating the end of lunch, his heart heavy as he pulled himself out, Makoto didn't come for him. Gou had won again, she'd managed to take the precious time they had together and make it about her.

…

It had been four days since that lunchtime, four days since all Makoto could talk about was spoiling his girlfriend, four days since Haruka realised he was losing him a little more each day.

"What about this, Haru-chan?" Makoto asked, holding out a necklace with a small plain, silver dolphin charm on it.

"Drop the 'chan'." He muttered in fake annoyance, truth was he loved the nickname he'd been given. "Does she like dolphins?" He asked, eyeing up the necklace.

"I don't think so." He shook his head. "Maybe I should give it you instead."

"It's been thirteen years, I'd expect more than just a necklace." Haruka said, smiling slightly as he heard Makoto's laugh echo off the walls as he placed the necklace back on the shelf.

"I think thirteen years of my friendship is enough of a gift." He squeezed Haruka's shoulders before heading further down the aisle, eyes trailing the shelves.

Haruka found his cheeks burning slightly. Unfortunately this was his normal reaction whenever Makoto would touch him unexpectedly. Luckily the latter never seemed to notice.

"If she doesn't like dolphins what does she like?" Haruka questioned, quickly catching up to his friend.

"Girl stuff." Makoto shrugged. "Make-up, jewellery, clothes, accessories, flowers, water. Though not to your extent." He said, offering the smaller boy a wink and earning another blush. "But beyond that I'm stumped, some boyfriend huh?"

"She seems happy." Haruka added.

"Hopefully." He nodded, lifting up a bracelet to examine it before placing it back in its position with a shake of the head.

"Even if she does only like you for your biceps." He grumbled bitterly, Gou was always blushing and complimenting Makoto's looks, but did she not realise his worth ran deeper than that? Did she not realise he was a perfect person inside and out?

"Beyond that what have I got going for me?" Makoto joked.

You're caring, you're considerate, you're always there for your friends, your exterior masks the pure heart inside, you still use me for protection whenever you're scared, you have a perfect smile, you have the warmest eyes and you can understand me perfectly. Without having to say any words I know you understand what I'm feeling, sometimes even better than I do myself.

But he couldn't bring himself to say these words aloud.

"That's true." He nodded instead, choosing to just go along with the joke.

"And that's why, after thirteen years, you still haven't got a gift. You need to appreciate me more, Haru." He laughed, dropping to his knees to view the items on the bottom shelves.

"You don't understand how much I appreciate you." He whispered to himself, Makoto oblivious to the fact he'd spoken.

Slowly, Haruka bent his legs bringing himself down to Makoto's height, the pair cluelessly eyeing the rows of sparkling jewels in front of them.

"Maybe I should have brought Nagisa." Makoto commented, stretching back to his full height.

"Am I not good enough?" Haruka huffed, crossing his arms.

"I didn't mean that." He said, rubbing the back of his neck and smiling, his eyes fluttering shut as he did, a look that Haruka loved. "He just seems to know more about this stuff, he'd have filled my arms with potential gifts by now."

Haruka wanted to feel offended but he knew that he had a point. When Makoto had asked him about this shopping trip he'd almost suggested bringing Nagisa instead, it was on the tip of his tongue. But the thought of spending the day alone with Makoto had pushed the suggestion down, rather, he accepted the offer himself while making a show of begrudgingly doing so, making Makoto feel that he owed him.

"How about this?" Haruka asked, grabbing the first ring that caught his eye, showing he was just as good as Nagisa. He blushed slightly at his current position, knelt down on one knee offering a ring towards his best friend, the taller boy unaware of their compromising situation. Makoto eyed up the ring in his fingers, head tilted slightly as he assessed it, a plain silver band with a large turquoise gem, like water trapped inside a ring.

"Oh Haru, it's perfect." He gushed, grabbing the ring from his outstretched hand.

"Great." He said, standing up again, trying to ignore the whispers and stares from the young girls also shopping.

Usually he was unaffected by others, never bothered by their opinions, but when he was around Makoto his senses seemed overly aware, he noticed every look, every touch, every movement, every voice around him.

Currently, he was conscious of the smiles shot in the pair's direction as Makoto swung his arm around his neck in a friendly gesture, but the fellow shoppers had likely already made their assumptions, viewing their relationship and the gesture as something it wasn't.

Haruka let himself pretend for a moment, pretend that Makoto was his, pretend that he could hold him whenever he wanted, pretend that when Makoto fell asleep at night it was his face he saw, pretend that the person his heart beat for returned his feelings.

"She's going to love it." Makoto commented, bringing Haruka crashing back to reality.

Although he could pretend all he wanted, he could never have what he desired. Makoto's heart would always belong to Gou.

…

Once the ring had been successfully purchased the pair walked home from the shops, the sun setting behind them. They used the usual route along the beach, Haruka noticing how the sun reflected perfectly in sea, casting light into Makoto's eyes, making the green orbs shine.

"Thanks for today Haru, I appreciate it." Makoto said as the pair turned onto their street, Haruka shrugging casually in response.

The pair came to a stop outside Haruka's door, Makoto smiling down at the other boy, his shoulder leaning gently against the wall while Haruka fumbled with his keys.

Haruka wondered if this was what it had been like with Gou, walking her back to her door, Makoto's smile causing butterflies so powerful without his knowledge, making her feel like she was the only person in the world, the only person that mattered.

"Mako…" He started but was cut off by the shrill ring of a cell phone.

Makoto offered a quick apologetic look before answering, Haruka silently cursing the timing, knowing full well who would be on the other end.

"Hello Gou-chan." Makoto said, confirming Haruka's suspicions.

"Yeah, I hadn't forgotten." He laughed, giving the other boy a look that he could only weakly return.

"I might have done." Makoto said, eyes dropping to the bag in his hand, Haruka rolling his eyes, knowing what she was asking about.

"You'll just have to wait and see." He offered the shorter boy a quick wave before heading towards his own house, his voice become nothing more than a slight whisper on the wind.

Haruka continued to watch him, his heart aching, until he was gone, all that remained was the empty steps outside his home.

Why couldn't Makoto see how shallow she was? Why couldn't he understand how much better he could do? Why couldn't he realise that there was already someone waiting to love him?

With a sigh, Haruka let himself into his house, his feet padding across the floor towards the bathroom, hoping the water would sooth him and help him forget about his best friend, even though he knew it wouldn't work.

Instead, he lay in the water until his skin started to pucker, listening to the sounds of moving water echo through his empty house, his mind constantly imagining Makoto's night, Gou smiling across at him as he presented her with his gift.

His mind created a variety of different scenarios until he finally admitted defeat and went to bed, where the scenarios finally changed and it was he who was sat across the table from Makoto, rather than someone who didn't deserve him.

…

Let me know what you think :)