~This is my third time redownloading this story. I'm pulling my hair out over here! I hope it works this time, if not, I'm going to taking this story down completely.
P.S. Thank you LuvleeCookieChan, Xtremefairy, and Child of the Ashes for previously reviewing! And a special thanks to shellybee for the heads up! You guys are awesome!
A/N: So, this is part one of my story entry to the sixth annual IchigoxOrihime Tanabata Festival (FLOL Contest). Unfortunately, there were a few complications with the timing so I never had a chance to put it up. But all is well now!
This story was inspired by the song, Steal His Heart (I'm always inspired by music!) I am so happy to participate in this event. Thank you and enjoy!
Title: Steal His Heart
Description: Orihime has given her heart to Ichigo, and isn't getting attention from him in return. So instead of trying to steal his heart, she'll take back her own.
Warning: My first real attempt at fluffiness, so bare with me here...
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or the song Steal His Heart, by Emily and the Woods.
Friday.
Here he comes. Here he comes!
Orihime checked her reflection again in the mirror, making sure her burnt-orange hair was perfect and that her face wasn't flushed.
It was!
Orihime panicked. How could she answer the door looking so red?
"Okay. Calm down. It's going to be alrigh- Here he comes!" Orihime checked her reflection one more time and took a deep breath.
Her heart raced. No, not raced. Galloped, in her chest.
She looked down at her sweaty, red hands. She quickly wiped them on her skirt.
Okay, she thought. Just act cool. Calm. Composed and relaxed... Oh god! He's almost at the stairs!
Orihime took a deep breath one more time, and opened the door.
"Hey!"
Orihime's heart stopped.
He was beautiful.
The man slipped off his dark blue hat as the sun beamed down on his golden-orange hair.
Orihime's voice lodged itself in her throat. "He-Hello!"
He flashed her a white smile.
"On time as always."
"Oh! Um... I was just on my way out. I guess it's just chance that we see each other everyday..."
"Yes," she couldn't pinpoint it, but there was a weird twinge in his voice. "Just chance..."
The woman giggled. Oh there's that feeling, she thought. It was the electric jolt that jumps around in her tummy.
Orihime rocked back on her heels. Maybe this is it! Maybe he will-
"So, uh, here's your mail."
Her smile died down. "Thanks."
The mailman shook his hat and slapped it back on his head. He stood up straighter and said, "have a good day ma'am," and tipped his dark blue hat with a grin. The man turned and walked down her stairs.
She was so close! She was sure of it. He was going to ask her out, or... something!
"Wait!" Orihime held out her hand and bit her lip.
The mailman whipped around. "Yes?"
The woman giggled. "It's Orihime."
"Orihime..." the man breathed the name. The way he said her name just had this... tenderness to it. She couldn't explain it. But she knew she liked it.
"It's Ichigo." Orihime looked up startled. The man chuckled, "Have a good day, Orihime." He opened her gate and walked down the street.
"You too!" Orihme shouted back, and whispered to herself, "Ichigo..."
Sunday.
"Ichigo... Ichigo... Ichigo, how are you today? Oh me? I'm fine! ... I'm... you know... me?" Orihime flicked her long wavy hair behind her shoulder the way Matsumoto taught her. "The mail looks... crisp today. Very... white? Ichigo, would you like to tell me something? Would you like to... to... Ugh!"
It shouldn't be this hard to talk to him! He was just a guy.
A man.
A sexy man.
A very sexy man...
Orihime huffed and dropped her head on the edge of her vanity. Yeah, it was definitely going to be easy talking to a beautiful and sexy mailman.
It shouldn't be this hard! Not when she was sending him signals left and right! How could someone give you their heart, and you not know it!
The woman huffed again and picked up her purse. How could she make him notice? How could she make him really look?
Orihime walked down her stairs and out the door, closing it behind her. She skipped happily down the road.
There was no use for her to stick around her front door, waiting for him like some lonely puppy. Sadly, today was Sunday. Which meant: No Ichigo.
Orihime sighed. She hated Sundays. No mail. No Ichigo. No smiles. No golden orange hair, or white smiles. No chuckles or cute remarks. And especially, no eye contact.
It was those eyes. Those beautiful amber eyes that reflected off of the sunlight and twinkled like small churned caramels.
Orihime stopped skipping and crossed the street. She walked up to the caged square of land and looked through the metal poles.
Inside, there were men setting fro next week's fundraising carnival!
Not to be bigheaded, but it was all Orihime's idea! She had been working at the community center after hours to come up with ideas to raise money for the town. When she suggested a carnival, they all agreed.
And the best part of all was Orihime got to bake and sell cupcakes at one of the booths! With the help of volunteers, she could do what she always dreamed of. Ever since she could remember, she always wanted to own her own bakery.
Orihime backed away from the bars and made her way into the small convenience store.
Inside, she went to the back and placed her belongings in her locker. When she closed it, her friend Tatsuki stood before her.
"You're late. Again."
"I know, I know." Orihime sighed.
"It's not because of that boy again, is it?"
Orihime bit he lip and avoided her eye.
"Orihime!"
"No! It's not! I promise! But... I learned his name. It's," Orihime looked around to make sure no one heard, "Ichigo!"
"Big whoop! Now could you get to work! I've been doing your shift for a good hour now!"
"Okay, okay. I'm getting to work," Orihime said in a mocking way.
Orihime walked out from the back, across the floor, and behind the counter.
She silently watched as people walked in and out of the store. Strolling along the aisles and buying what they wanted.
Orihime's shift was almost done. A woman was slouching against the counter, snapping her gum. Orihime was tapping away at the touch screen register, when she heard the door's bell give a little tinkle.
Orihime looked up.
It was him. Him!
Orihime sat up immediately and smoothed down her apron. She needed to look presentable.
Ichigo strolled up and down the aisles, picking things up and down. He walked around the store for awhile, just taking his time.
Two large breast suddenly blocked her view.
Slightly crossed, Orihime said, "Oh! Um, hello..."
The woman smacked on her gum again as she passed Orihime her groceries.
"Cash or card?"
"Credit," the woman slurred as she handed Orihime her express card.
When Orihime bagged the her things and watched the woman walk away, she hoped she could still see Ichigo. But he wasn't there anymore.
Orihime slouched. He probably walked out while she was scanning the groceries. He probably didn't even see her.
"Hey you!"
"Hmm?" Orihime looked up and almost collapsed.
There he was, standing before her. Beauty and all.
A moment of silence hung in the air between them as they gazed at each other.
"Er... would you like me to bag that for you?"
"Oh! Oh yeah, these," he looked down at the pile of food in his arms. "Sure."
Orihime silently took the groceries, scanned them and placed them in their plastic bag.
"That'll be $24.69." Orihime pushed her hair behind her shoulder like the way she practiced in the mirror.
"Thanks," Ichigo smiled as he passed her the appropriate bills.
She handed Ichigo his bags and his fingers ever so lightly grazed her's.
Orihime blushed a deep pink and Ichigo quickly pulled his hand away.
"Thanks again..." he mumbled, continuing to look down. "I guess I'll see you Monday."
"Yeah." Orihime said, looking down too. "Yeah, I guess you will..."
"With the mail, of course." Ichigo backed up, walking to the glass doors.
She nodded, refusing to meet his eye. "Yes, with the mail." She looked down into her hand with coins in it. "Wait! Your change!"
"Keep it." He smirked and pointed to the door behind him. "Okay, I'm going now..."
"Okay... Bye, Ichigo." she squeaked
"Bye, Orihime."
...
After her... encounter with Ichigo, she couldn't think straight for the rest of the day
She'd given the wrong change. Dropped groceries. And tangled her fingers in the plastic bag.
And now, all she could hear was the never ending mouth of Matsumoto.
"I can't believe you're still mooning over that mailman!" Matsumoto shouted.
"Shhh!" Orihime's face produced a deep red. "And I'm not mooning!"
Matsumoto scoffed with mockery. "Really? Because if you are waiting for him everyday-"
"Except Sundays," Orihime interrupted.
"-Except for Sundays, then I think you're mooning." Matsumoto twirled the spoon around in the batter. "If you want him so bad then ask him out on a date."
Orihime sighed. "Rangiku. I can't do that. He has to... Besides, I just couldn't..."
"And why does he?" Matsumoto put the spoon down and placed her hands on her hips. "Why does the man have to make all the decisions? The first move? I think woman should take more control in their relationships." Matsumoto turned back to the bowl and started to churn it around again.
Orihime took the spoon out of her friend's hand and began to whisk the mixture with a certain flick of her wrist. The batter began to become a fluffy and airy perfection.
Matsumoto went on, "Take me for example. Me and Gin have equal power. He makes some decisions but I always have the final say."
"That's different," Orihime huffed. She loved her friend, but it was hard to get through to her. "Rangiku, You guys are just... different." Orihime picked up the bowl and poured the chocolaty mixture into the individual holders. "You have an open relationship for Christ sakes..." She wanted to mumbled, but didn't.
"When I met Gin, I asked him out. I didn't wait around for him."
Orihime picked up the pan and slid it into the oven. She prayed to God that Matsumoto would drop it.
Matsumoto placed a hand on Orihime's should.
"Look, all I'm saying is just stop being a pushover. Pushovers get passed by. If you don't take some sort of action, you'll regret it..."
...
The orange haired woman slouched down on her couch.
Orihime grabbed the remote and flipped on the television. She clicked around until she came to her favorite talk show.
She heard the voice over first.
"Welcome back to Emily and the Woods! And your number one talk show host, Emily!"
Orihime heaved herself off the couch and walked to the kitchen. She found a box of cereal and milk, poured herself a bowl, and walked back to the living room.
"It's time for the women to take control. It's no longer a man's world. We can vote. We own businesses and properties! We're doctors, lawyers, mothers..." Orihime munched on a spoonful as Emily ticked off her fingers.
"We hold the power." Emily looked into the screen. She looked into Orihime.
"Don't wait around for him. Take action! If you can't steal his heart. Steal back your own..."
The screen went to commercial break as Orihime continued to chew her cereal.
"Emily is right.." Orihime said out loud and lifted her spoon in the air in protest. Matsumoto was right too! She shouldn't be waiting around. She should take action! Why should she wait, twiddle her thumbs and sit quietly while he takes his good ol' time!
Orihime watched to jump to throw her fist into the air. But she had a bowl of cereal in her lap, and she was too tired to move.
Orihime finally flicked off the television, her head buzzing with new and inventive thoughts of retaliation.
Before she laid her head down on the pillow, she slowly mumbled, "I can't steal his heart. But I can steal back mine..."
Like I said before, I had to reupload this story again, so I hope that wasn't confusing! I hope I did well and you all enjoyed!
Rocka.