At the strike of 12

Chapter 1

The clocked ticked in perfect rhythm and Kayori stretched in class. Her legs were crossed one over the other showing off perfectly smooth skin and shapely legs. Her dark head rested on a slender hand while she tapped her pen on the desk to match the tune of the clock with the other. Her deep ocean blue eyes never left the clock as she waited for the bell to ring.

"Kayori!" her teacher shouted but before she could continue the much awaited bell rang. She had never been this glad to hear it and gratefully fled "Your brother was never like this young lady!" the teacher called after her but hell with it, she couldn't care. She rushed straight to her locker, dumped her books into it and pulled out her cell phone.

"So you are going to tell him?" a voice asked from behind her. Turning around she found her best friend Yamane looking at her with raised eyebrows.

"Yea……..I just texted him to meet me at the roof." She said, her voice was firm but her eyes lacked the confidence and she was biting her lower lip.

"Fine dear, good luck with that. I'll wait for you outside the cafeteria. Okay?" Yamane said, smiling pleasantly. Kayori nodded and left to meet the guy of her dreams only to be caught by her teacher on the way. After having to listen to the woman lecture her about not paying attention in class, she finally made her way to the roof to find her hottie already standing there. She stopped on the way, to get a better look at him. His long mane of silver was a bit messed up, thanks to the wind and an hour of basket ball practice. (Yup she knew his time table by heart alright!). But what with his blue jeans and light blue shirt he still looked every bit of the drop dead handsome Mr. popular he was. As she made her way towards him, he gave her a quick hi-5 and flashed a smile.

"Hey! Wassup dear?" he asked.

"Ummm I uh wanted to ask you something" Kayori said, looking anywhere but him.

"Okay shoot" he said.

"I meant to-" Kayori started only to be interrupted by his cell phone. Oh here we go again she thought and exactly as she had expected it was her brother.

"Youko, where are you man? I'm starving you know……." Kuroune stated.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes. Just got caught up with some assignment work." Youko replied

"What assignment? You've been given all the week off for the big game's practice" kuroune said

"Yea, it is the one I left pending. I'll get back to you ASAP" he said

"Sure I'll be waiting" kuroune said and then hung up. She noticed that youko's fist was clenched tightly and she knew that he hated having to lie to her brother; after all they had been friends almost for ever but then he still did it for her occasionally.

"Earth to yori!" he called, pulling her back from her world of thoughts.

"Oh yea sorry………." She said snapping back to reality.

"So you wanted to talk?" Youko asked

"Yea actually I uh wanted to know what you thought of ………." Kayori let her voice trail of, not really sure whether she could tell him.

"Thought of what dear?" Youko asked gently

"Love" she replied quietly. He burst out laughing.

"What?" she asked indignantly

"Love? Yori you are just 15 you know!" Youko said

"And half my class is already in a relationship. Thank you!" she shot back

"Oh really?" Youko asked smirking

"Yea and so is your class! It's just you and my brother……..and a few others" she said.

"Alright my lady, point taken" Youko said "and as for what I think of love, I don't know much about it. It's a beautiful phase of your life I guess, but otherwise I am blank"

"Oh" was all she could say.

"Anyway who is the guy?" Youko asked becoming serious again. She simply shook her head and looked away.

"Look I don't have much of experience in-" Youko started and Kayori gave him the look "okay fine, I don't have any experience in this but what I do know is you. And from what I can see, there's a very pretty, smart and sweet girl in front of me. A guy has to be totally stupid to say no to you, so just go and ask him out. Okay? Now I got to rush. I'll see you in the evening" he said then patting her on her head in an elder brotherly fashion, he left. A few more minutes passed and yori just stood there wondering what to do next, then pulling herself to reality again, she left the roof to find Yamane.

After having a quick lunch during which Yamane banned her from whining, both girls returned to class and conveniently it was history. Perfect, I have an entire hour to rant yori thought only to be interrupted by Yamane who asked "so, what happened? Did you manage to tell him at least this time?"

"Not exactly……." Yori replied sighing.

"Oh come on! What happened this time?" Yamane asked.

Yori explained in a very resigned manner and Yamane listened patiently for over 25 minutes. Finally deciding to conclude she said "and I know he is saying that only because I am something like a sister to him…………….I'll never get him Yamane!" she whined

"Oh dear……..but you know he did say-" Yamane said

"I know he said no guy can say no to me but then he says all that only because he knows me from the time I was a kid and then again he is the only guy who knows me that well save my brother and he is not saying yes himself. Then who will?" yori asked completely forgetting the fact that she was still in class.

"Yori would you please shut up and listen? The one person, who matters, thinks so much of you and you haven't actually asked him out have you?" Yamane asked. Kayori blinked looking completely taken aback. Somehow that made a lot of sense. She tilted her head, thinking. And as the fact finally sunk in, a small smile tugged at her lips but vanished immediately as the teacher called out "Yamane, Kayori! DETENTION!" Yamane rolled her eyes and simply shrugged while yori sunk her head into her hands thinking of her damned fate.

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