(a/n)
Thank you SugarSpiral, Daniela, yAkArI-TaKaRi lUvEr, & enzo for your reviews! You were the first ones to review this fic.
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CHAPTER o2
By
©ancercute
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He cleared his throat to break the silence. "Uhm. Sorry but I thought you looked familiar. I thought…"
He couldn't continue what he was about to say, uncomfortable of telling it to her. He thought she didn't need to know how much she looked like his ex-girlfriend. It would probably ruin their building friendship and make it awkward. His bitchy ho-faced whiny show-off nasty girlfriend. But Kari was beyond anything similar to her.
With the brown hair she somehow looked like her, but off course, Kari's better, he thought.
"Never mind. Don't tell me if it's too personal," she spoke.
"Sorry."
"That's ok. It's just weird to have you staring like that."
"How did I stare at you anyway?"
Like a drop dead gorgeous unattainable god, she answered mentally.
"Like I was a monster."
"Oh c'mon. That's a big joke," he began to laugh, making her forget of the idea in her head- of how he was hiding something.
"Sure, whatever you say."
"So tell me about the books you read and the stories you write."
"Stories I write- too embarrassing. The books I read, fair enough. I'm actually a huge fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and JK Rowling's Harry Potter. Edward Cullen is so hot," she said with an enthusiastic smile.
"Who? What?"
"Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling," she repeated.
He crunched up his eyebrows.
"You don't know them?"
He twisted his head. "Seriously?! No?! You never heard of them?" she asked in surprise.
"No and never."
"That's impossible. They're like the most famous authors in the 21st century."
"Well, call me dumb, but I never heard of them."
"You're overreacting," she commented.
"But have you heard of Carmelo Anthony? Pierce? Iverson?" he challenged.
"Of course," she retorted with her chin up. "Just now." And then she laughed.
"Insane," he muttered. He did find it funny how she laughed softly and shyly. Like she was this quiet and conservative type of girl, yet she could be crazy once you get to know her. And a novel geek for a fact. Vey cute.
"It's getting late. What time are you leaving?"
"I don't know. It depends on my brother."
"Why did you come anyway?"
"Why? Don't you want me here?"
"It's not that. I mean, we're not really close friends to be talking and hanging out."
"Well we are now. Don't you think you're lucky?" he asked egoistically.
"Hah. And I'm the one who's lucky," she retorted, hiding her smile as she mentally admitted she was truly lucky.
She bit her lip, trying hard not to smile, and looked up at the bright full moon above them that night.
•-•-•
Hurrying down the path to the Student Council building where the Odaiba High Newspaper organization workplace was located, Kari hectically arranged her disordered papers in her binder. She was frantic to get there on time that morning before the editor-in-chief would leave for lunch, and unluckily for her, the subject she just attended had overtime.
She was going to pass the feature article she wrote last night, the moment after he left her house, leaving her inspired. For her photos, she was going to take them today, since tomorrow would be the deadline of everything. She put the strap of her sling bag in place as it was sliding off her shoulders, and at the moment she adjusted it, her papers flew all over the ground because of the blowing wind.
"Man", she muttered in frustration.
She bent to pick them up and gathered all of them except one that flew forward. She stood back up and ran towards the flying paper, with her mocha hair swirling in front of her face.
The paper stopped on the ground and she went closer to it. But it landed in front of someone and that someone bent to take it, read the article covering the person's face.
"Uhm, excuse me," Kari said politely.
The person took the paper away from his sight and looked at who's voice it was.
"Oh Kari," TK greeted. "This is your article?" he handed it to her.
The look on his face was utterly fainting.
"Yeah. Thanks. I was going to pass it right now," she explained fixing her tangled hair and adjusting her eyeglass in place. She took the paper from him.
"You said I could read it."
"I'll send it to you. Do you check your mail?"
"Rarely."
Kari frowned. "I'll just send it anyway. Listen, I have to hurry. I need to pass this right now."
"Hey, no prob."
She was going to rush off when he quickly held her wrist and said "wait." She stopped, surprised, and then he stepped closer, hovering her. A blush crept to her pale face as the scent of his fragrant perfume entered her nostrils. He was so close that she could hear him breath, feel the intensity of their closeness. He touched the hair on her head, saying "there's a leaf stuck in your hair."
He took the leaf and threw it and she became red-faced as ever. Hiding her appearance, she thanked him.
"Sure. So I'll see you later then," he stepped back parting his closeness to her.
"Right," she replied as the normal color of her face returned and they both parted. Now, she wasn't as frantic as a while ago to get to the Student building. She was dazed at his touch, his scent and her blush returned only to be deepened when she thought of him. She could have forgotten what she was supposed to do if he hasn't been that close to him. And truthfully, she hasn't been too close with guys, being the shy girl she was.
Shaking her head, she continued to the building and went inside, passing her article to their Editor-in-chief, Mimi.
After doing that, she went to her next period, Gym- her most hated subject, the only thing she sucked at. Well, at least she had her best friend with her in that period.
She entered the gym and all of the girls went to change in the locker room.
"So did you pass your article yet?" Zoe asked.
"Yeah I did. All that's left is to take pictures. How were you yesterday with Kouji?"
"It was okay. I'm just a little angry at him right now. Last night, by 10, he was still playing basketball with Takeru. He doesn't give the game a rest," the blonde told as she tied her hair in a ponytail.
"Oh. So they were still playing." After he left.
"Yeah, they never get tired," her friend spoke out pissed.
All the girls went out to the court to play volleyball. Kari groaned and muttered "sports".
They went to their designated positions and the game started. She was placed at the back, trying her hardest to play it right. More times, she missed dodging it back and a few times, she crashes with her teammate. And a few minutes later, some of the basketball varsity players entered the gym with Takeru. She instantly- without mistake- recognized the blond.
Kari's heart rapidly reacted. No, she thought. I can't embarrass myself in front of him. I'll be completely humiliated. As those thoughts rambled in her brain, she didn't notice the ball coming towards her. When it came nearer, she instantly blocked her face with her hands and dodged the ball away, only to hit her teammate in her front.
"Oh, sorry," she cried. She bit her lip at the stunt she made. The basketball guys settled on the bleachers and watched the continued game. Takeru looked at her as she played in the court, remembering her words from last night- 'the gym's your spot'. Now, he wanted to see how she was in his spot. He smiled… or grinned rather.
Kari noticed the twitch in his lips and reminded herself to concentrate. For several times, the ball came to her and she did her usual reaction, dodge it and hit her teammates, saying a lot of 'sorry' to them. It was only twice or thrice did she get a decent catch or hit of the ball. Complete humiliation washed her face.
When the game was done, they changed back into their clothes and headed out the gym.
"C'mon, let's have lunch," Zoe said.
"Yeah, let's go, I'm hungry." They both walked to the cafeteria and fell in line with trays in their hands.
"Gym sucked," Kari commented.
"For you of course. It was fine for me. TK was laughing at you," the blonde stated as she took a slice of pizza and a plate of carbonara.
Kari's eyebrows crunched at her.
"Well, he didn't exactly laugh at you. More like a smirk," she explained. "I saw him do that. He was sitting beside Kouji."
The brunette sighed. "He's such an insult. He was doing that since last night."
"Last night?"
"Well, you know, Tai's at home. He invited Yamato for dinner and he came along."
"Oh. Wasn't it awkward? I mean, you two aren't even that close."
"Yes it was! At first. But we did talk…" she trailed off thinking their moments last night. She remembered she tripped and he held her waist. How simple little actions could mean so much to her. She blushed at recalling those things.
"OMG! You're blushing," Zoe exclaimed. "You definitely have a thing for him!"
"Sshh! Quiet," she silenced her. "Who doesn't anyway?"
"Why didn't you tell me anything? Spill," she excitedly said walking to a round table with their food.
"What's there to tell? There's no big deal last night. We just talked."
They sat down and began to eat their lunch.
"Little Kari's having a crush with the Varsity's MVP," Zoe joked. "Fine, if you won't tell me anything. That's not so much of a big deal anyway. Almost half of the female population here does have a crush on him. You'd be lucky enough to be his girlfriend. I heard he broke up with her first girlfriend just two weeks ago. The girl has a lucky past, don't you think? I don't even know her name. Probably she's wandering around the school bragging about her ex," she continuously ranted.
"Rumors were saying she's a junior, and they kept their relationship a secret. Don't know why though. Kouji gave me little details about it…"
Kari tried to keep up with her friend as she took bites with her pizza. Her eyes spotted a group of four guys entering the cafeteria as Zoe rambled on and on. It was Takeru, Kouji, Ken and Takuya, some basketball players. Takeru noticed her and smiled. She too smiled back.
TK went on conversing with his friends as they went in the line, and her gaze followed him. Why does he have to be so handsome? She thought. The neatly gelled golden hair, his dazzling smile, the look of his absurdly striking face…
Zoe observed her and looked over to where her friend was looking.
"Speaking of him.." she said. "Any minute now, some girls would come near him and make up some small talk. Desperate females."
And it did. As Takeru grabbed some food, a honey blonde girl came up to him smiling, attempting a conversation and touched his arms. TK faked a smile and tried to get rid of her in a friendly manner. Then, when he was paying his food, another black haired girl stood up from her seat, bringing her tray of finished food and purposely bumped her shoulders with his and then flirtingly apologized.
Zoe and Kari grimaced at the sight. They were both watching those scenes. The boys were all quietly laughing at TK now.
The group took a table near the girls and Kouji automatically put his tray on the table, turned his seat and sat beside Zoe.
He took her hand and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away that I was playing last night."
"What time did you finish?"
He sighed before answering, "11:30."
Zoe gave him a glare- a surprised angry glare. Kari was concentrating on her food, butting out of the two's business.
"Look, I'm really sorry. Forgive me?" Kouji pleaded quietly but seriously.
"Alright."
"Thanks," he pecked her cheeks and turned his seat towards the guy's table. "I'll make it up to you."
The girls were finally finished eating. They took their trays and left the cafeteria.
"You were right TK," voiced Takuya out. "She looks like your ex. Only she's cuter. The shy girl with the glasses."
"The huge difference is your ex was a bitch," added Kouji.
"Yeah. True," agreed Takeru.
"So what's up with you two?" asked Kouji. "You were at her place last night."
"He was?" asked Ken and Takuya.
"Nothing. We're just friends."
"Since when?" questioned Takuya.
"Since last night. My brother is friends with his brother."
"Cool," Takuya stated, receiving looks from the others.
"So you're plain friends?" confirmed Kouji.
"Yup."
•-•-•
Late in the afternoon, Kari dashed to the gym after her last period, attempting to catch the varsity team practicing. She needed to take pictures of them for the photo critiques, and it should be related to the article she wrote. As always, she was to hurry for she needs to develop them right away so she could get it early in the morning to be passed. And hopefully, she wouldn't stay too long for night to catch her.
Pushing the big heavy gym doors, she went inside and saw almost half the team shirtless, playing basketball. She was embarrassed to think that she was the only one here not member of the team and of opposite gender. She spotted the shirtless Takeru and almost gawked at his beautiful abs, but then she quickly turned away. Luckily, she found Zoe and Kouji sitting in one of the benches near the court. She went closer to them.
"Hey Z," Kari said.
"Oh hey. You here to take pictures?"
"Yeah. Uhm Kouji," she turned to him. "Is it okay if I take pictures?"
"Sure. Just don't use flash," he said then tapping Zoe's lap telling her he'll leave for a moment to practice.
"Ok, thanks," she appreciated when he left, and then turned to Zoe. "You'll wait for him?"
"He's going to make it up for last night."
"I see," she took her camera, turning it on and adjusted it.
She began to take different pictures of different actions and players. Even though they were moving, she took them in perfect angle, not one picture is blurred.
"Won't you get bored of waiting?" asked Kari as she finished up taking photos.
"No. They'll be done in a few. Bet you only took TK's picture."
"Haha, right. I'll catch you later. I have to get these developed." She turned to walk away towards the door.
"Girl, he's hot when he's shirtless," shouted Zoe out loud from behind, hearable to the players, which caused the brunette to blush furiously. She did notice a while ago and she didn't want to get her sight stuck to him. Zoe and her loud mouth. There was a tiny part in her that wanted her feet to turn back and marvel over his beauty, but responsibility calls.
She walked to the school studio which was fortunately open, and waited in line since several students also wanted to get their pictures. After a few moments, she reached the counter and handed over her camera so the photos would be developed.
It was almost dark when she got outside, and she has to walk a few blocks to her house. She was by the school gates and was about to cross the street when someone from behind called her. She turned to see who it was and found TK.
"Hey. You're going home?" he asked.
"Obviously. Where else?" she replied with a laugh.
"Right. The guys wanted to dinner out. Wanna come?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Sure."
"I don't know. I'm not really close with your friends. And besides, isn't this a varsity thing?"
"Don't worry. They're harmless. Zoe's coming too."
"I haven't told Tai I'd be late."
"Then call him. Do you have your cell?"
"My batteries are dead."
He took out his cellphone and dialed someone.
"Hey Matt. Could you ring Tai? I'm kinda inviting Kari dinner with the team. Her phone's dead."
"Ok, thanks." He kept his phone and turned to Kari. "So?"
"Fine. I'll come."
"Great." He called to his back, "Guys, Kari's coming."
Replies of 'sure', 'whatever', 'nice', 'yeah' were thrown to him.
They both joined the group and headed to a restobar. Zoe had her eyebrows lifted at her friend as she came beside her and whispered "bad girl."
Kari only laughed.
As they entered the place, Kari suddenly clung closely to TK, holding his arms.
•-•-•
(a/n)
Review again please. Thank you. See you soon in my future updates. Hey, mind reading my Mimato fics and tell me what you think.
