Orihime felt wonderful, her dull and boring day had turned into the best day of her life she felt as if she could see the beauty in every thing as if she were on a euphoric high. She cursed herself for letting a boy mean so much to her but she couldn't help it. Orihime waved goodbye from the balcony overlooking the street where she could see Ichigo waving back as he walked away. 'Man he's so cute!' Orihime squealed inside. She swiveled around on her feet opened her apartment door noticing a letter on her doormat she gingerly picked it up.
It was from her Aunt. Orihime's stomach dropped and any happy feelings she had had fled her body. She hadn't opened the letter yet, but her word from her aunt was rare and it never brought good news. Orihime clutched the envelope harder closing the door softly behind her despite her current mood. She never took her anger out on other things than herself. The redhead procrastinated opening the envelope, she tried to busy herself hoping to forget about the letter but the anticipation of not knowing ate away at her. Finally Orihime caved sitting down on her couch with the letter in hand, she took a deep breath in preparing herself for what her aunt had said. Her hands shook as she tore open the letter.
'Dear Miss Inoue,
I have received reports from your school informing me that your grades are slipping. In fact your at a 87% in Biology an 8% decrease from last month. This isn't the only class showing the effects of your irresponsibility. If you cannot pull your grades together in two weeks I will cease to send you any money to pay for your housing.
Orihime dropped the letter in shock, a gross warm feeling radiated in her stomach. She never imagined her aunt would be so harsh. She shook her head in dismay. Why was this happening? After such a good day too? Tear's threatened to fall from her eyes. Orihime bit her lip forcing the tears back, there was no time for crying. The only thing she could do now was work as hard as she could to get her grades up. The red head seriously regretted not paying attention in class today. 'I only have two weeks to do this.' Stress weighed Orihime down like a heavyweight. 'Well I might as well get started.' Orihime thought as she picked up her textbooks from the counter.
Orihime didn't eat dinner instead she worked on her projects pouring all her heart and soul into it when she finally looked at the clock she realised it was time for her to go to school. "I stayed up that late?!" Orihime said aloud flabbergasted. The red head rubbed her eyes, despite being up all night she didn't feel super tired, she knew she couldn't skip school no matter how bad she wanted too. Orihime fixed her make up then ran out the door skipping breakfast. She usually didn't skip meals, food was so important to her but right now she wasn't even hungry it seemed the stress replaced her hunger. The rain hadn't let up from last night but Orihime was in too much of a hurry to go back to grab her umbrella. The rain poured hard and thunder grumbled in the distance showing no sympathy for her situation.
Ichigo arrived at school earlier than usual thanks to his dad he got a ride to school, he felt bad for any poor sucker that had to walk. Ichigo sat at his desk opening to last days notes, the only people here were the ones who were notorious for showing up super early. Ichigo didn't get it why would someone want to sit in the classroom alone for half an hour? The redhead noticed that Orihime wasn't in her seat which was beside his. Orihime was usually early disappointment sunk in 'She must be sick, man this day is going to be boring.' Ichigo stared at his notes and waited for class to start, now he really didn't want to be here. As class begun to start they were interrupted by someone abruptly swinging the door open, Ichigo looked up from his book to see Orihime drenched from the rain rushing to her seat.
"Sorry!" She stage whispered as she quietly got into her seat. Ichigo noticed the slight bags under her eyes, she seemed to have something on her mind as she didn't even greet Ichigo in her usual cheerful way. This made Ichigo's heart drop he loved seeing her happy. He wondered what could've happened to make her so depressed so quickly.
School felt like it would never end and with the weather being so dreary it seemed to make the day drag on even more. When the bell finally rang Ichigo felt a wave a relief he couldn't wait to get home. Ichigo plugged his earphones in and begun to walk out the main entrance, he walked with the main flow of people occasionally dodging over excited teens oblivious to their surroundings. Black clouds loomed over buildings creating an ominous aura. Lost in his thoughts Ichigo stared at the clouds they brought back so many memories from when he was a kid, when his mom was still alive. 'Oh crap! I left my keys in the classroom.' Ichigo cursed himself for being so forgetful. Orange haired boy abruptly turned on his heel running back this classroom. Ichigo threw the door open not expecting anyone to be in the classroom, when he saw Orihime practically jump out of her skin.
"Oh, sorry Orihime didn't mean to startle you." When he spoke it felt as if he couldn't hear what he was saying his heartbeat loud in his ears. Orihime nodded politely and continued to work." Hey, are you okay?" Orihime spoke this time flashing a smile that was obviously fake.
"Yeah of course I am!" Her usual cheerfulness seemed tainted.
"Oh, okay." Ichigo replied thinking it wasn't in his place to pry. "Bye then." He said shutting the door behind him. Ichigo got five steps down the hallway before something in his gut told him to go back. Ichigo ran back to the classroom door this time opening it with less force.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ichigo practically shouted at Orihime which he could see was obviously in tears. Orihime began to cry softly.
"No..." She replied her voice cracking.
Ichigo waked over to her desk and crouched looking up at the redhead his eyes softened.
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked with a concerned expression.
Orihime gave a weak smile, "It's nothing." she wiped her tears in an attempt to force herself to stop crying.
The hazel eyed boy gave her a look of disbelief making her laugh a bit. "It's my aunt, she said if I don't pull up my grades in two weeks she'll stop giving me rent money, and I don't get paid enough from the bakery to cover my bills I only just started." Her voice cracked making her cringe, this was definitely not how she wanted to look in front of anyone let alone her crush.
Ichigo nodded solemnly he didn't know what to say. He remembered when her brother died. He was helping out his dad who owned a small clinic when a man was brought in from a car wreck, unfortunately they were unable to save him. He was her only guardian, Ichigo didn't know it was her brother that died that night until he started high school and recognized her as the girl crying that night.
"I'm a little confused, you're fourth in the class why do you have to 'pull up your grades'? I thought you were an A student?"
Orihime bobbed her head up and down. "I am, but I'm getting a few percent less than what I was getting last month. So my aunt takes that as me being a bad student, if I don't keep a 90% average she'll cut me off and I have nowhere to go."
"That's Idiotic." Ichigo replied frustrated. Orihime had calmed down and had stopped crying.
"So I'm working as hard as I can to make sure that doesn't happen." The curvy girl ran a hand through her red hair. Just when things got quiet Orihime's stomach let out a loud groan. Orihime blushed bright red "I forgot I haven't eaten in a while." Orihime held her face in her hands embarrassed.
"Well, we better go get some food then." Ichigo stood up stretching as he did so.
"What?" Orihime asked even though she clearly heard what he had said.
"I said we should get some food, then we can figure out how to get this horrible aunt of your of your back. And if you'd like I can help you with your project?" Ichigo suggested shrugging like it was no big deal.
Orihime sat their in shock." You're so nice you actually mean that?"
"Why not? It's what friends do right?" Ichigo smirked
"Okay! Lets go then. I'm starving." Orihime laughed it off. Ichigo smiled she seemed happier now and that made him happy.
