Author Note: I'm finally starting a new ShikiXRima project, I'm so happy! For all my fans of "Confrontations" who are returning to read this, this is a bit different. We're in an alternate universe, AKA; they're not vampires and are at a normal high school. And it's Rima's point of view, at least for now.
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight or make any profit from this.
The boy with the broken eyes was in my English class. He had hair the color of blood, and eyes the same shade as icicles. He always looked dulled, as if someone had worn away his personality.
"They're moving us again?" Ruka pouted. "I liked our old seating chart."
"If you would've stopped talking to me the first time Sensei asked, we probably wouldn't be moved." I leaned in and found my name, Rima Touya, on the seating chart.
I would have to sit... right next to the boy with the broken eyes, Shiki.
He was already there, of course. I shifted my books to my other arm and made my way over. Shiki Senri looked at me with an unrestrained, wild look that I hadn't seen in his eyes before.
Somehow, it set off my always-short temper. "Oh bite me..." I muttered and slammed my books on the desk.
He made a small noise in the back of his throat that I slowly recognized as a laugh. "Rima Touya, huh?" He asked and opened his battered copy of "Watchers".
"Look, I know I'm not genuine your-type material, but we'll have to deal with this for a while." I opened my copy of "Beautiful Creatures"; it was reading time after all.
Shiki looked at me for a long moment, but I immersed myself in my book.
Later, when we shuffled out of class, Rima sidled up to me. "He was making googly eyes at you." Rima leaned down a good two inches to be on par with my ear.
"Who?" I shoved my books in my oversized heart purse/tote bag.
"Shiki Senri." Ruka flashed her brand new boyfriend, Kain, a smile. He was across the hall. "See you later?"
I fumbled and nearly dropped my purse. "What? Ruka you get back here right now!" I attempted to chase her across the hall. "RUKA SOUEN IF YOU'RE LYING I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Passerby stared, but I couldn't have cared any less.
"I'll see you later!" Ruka smirked at me and then pulled Kain outside.
I followed the crowd of people outside and headed for my car. As if I didn't have enough to deal with without Shiki Senri making googly eyes at me. Honestly, what did he see in me?
I slid myself into my Jeep and lay my head against the steering wheel. I clenched my hands and my keys bit into my right palm. It was too soon after his death, I couldn't handle this. I couldn't like someone yet.
Hotaru had been my first love, and I had lost him to death. I couldn't act like the other students, kissing and loving and dating. It just hurt too much... I-
Someone tapping on my window interrupted my thoughts. I opened my eyes to see Shiki looking in at me, the tiniest bit of worry in his eyes.
"You ok?" He mouthed.
"Fine." I mouthed back. I put on my tough face and slid the key into the ignition, and then rolled down the window. "Do you need something, Shiki?"
"Are you ok?" He leaned in close and I tensed. "You seemed upset."
"Do you need something?" I repeated.
"Can I bum a ride?" Shiki leaned against the car door more, away from me. I felt myself relax a tiny bit. "My Mom's in the hospital and I need to get there to check on her."
I felt bad. I really did. I unlocked the passenger side door for him. "Get in before I change my mind."
"Thanks, Rima." He hopped in the car on his side and set his bag by his feet. "I didn't expect you to give me a ride."
"Don't expect anything from me." I warned, checked my mirrors and then pulled out of the parking lot.
Shiki didn't say anything as we drove to the hospital. When we were getting close, I asked, "Can I ask what happened to your Mom?"
"She fell off her cookie." Shiki put his hand around the strap of his backpack. "It's not a big deal, it happens all the time."
"Shiki..." I mumbled. Was this why he was always so broken? His mother was unstable? "If you want to talk about it..." I trailed off, what could I say?
"I'm not one to come cry on your shoulder, Rima." Shiki opened the door as I put the car in park. "Thank you for the ride."
"You don't have to cry about it." I grabbed his arm. "Just talk. Find me if you want to just talk, alright?"
"Yeah." He said, but he didn't mean it.
"How are you going to get home?" I didn't let go of him, he was starting to tense up under my grip.
"I'll use a phone here to call a cab." He leaned back against the console, trying to get me to relax my grip on his arm no doubt. "I'll be ok, Rima. This happens all the time."
"Just don't do anything stupid... please..." I slowly let go of his arm. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, right?"
"Yes." He said, but he wouldn't look me in the eyes. He shut the car door and walked away, his bag in his hand.
He slipped through my fingers much the same way Hotaru had, but nothing ever ended there.
Author Note: This story is so incredibly angst-y. I'm sorry if you were expecting fluff, I tried my hardest. I really had no clue where this was going until the end of this chapter. I love your reviews and PMs, and thank you for reading!