Oh, my goodness. I cannot comprehend how sorry I am for taking so long to update. It's just that 8th grade is busier than I thought, and I'm always tempted to go out with my friends x) I'm so, so, so , SO sorry you guys! But anyways, enjoy!(:
Chapter Three: Decision?
Lore'Ale Academy. A high school with a campus so astoundingly wide and spacious that you need a map to simply get from classroom to classroom. Which, I should point out, is probably larger than the average american home. Every one of its doors are lined with gold and silver designs made only by the best artists in the country. Even the knobs are made from pure and rare granite. The library, or should I say one of the hundreds of libraries, contain well over the number of books that could be found within the face of the Earth. Both visuals and sign languages. But it's not the actual school that makes it so famous in the entire east side of the world; the reason is its most refined, well-bred, and just the best anyone can offer as students. They're the sons and daughters of major CEO's, company heads, court judges, and once in a while the child of the Queen or President enrolls. And because the qualifications to study in Lore'Ale are extremely narrow and strict, its student body count is only 31% of a local high school.
Yet, with this school, it seems that the lower the population, the bigger the campus.
Spoiled, rich snobs.
But I shouldn't say anything. I'd be a hypocrite if I did.
I am Sakura Mikan, a sophomore at Lore'Ale Academy.
Let me just get this in. I didn't enroll here because I wanted to; it was against my will. Schools are the horror to my reality. Just thinking about hearing what's inside the minds of those prissy teenagers for seven hours straight makes me want to go hide under a tree and cry. But Father, as demanding as he is, forced me to attend. If I didn't, people might get the idea that I'm too stupid to go to a real school, or I'm one of those problem children. They start rumors, basically. Rumors gets to the paparazzi, which then publish them to make the whole world think they're true. They are the one thing Father hates deeply, especially if they're about him. Once the society begins to portray him badly because of my sole self, I'm pretty damn sure he would disown me and drop me off in the Bermuda Triangle.
And, no, it's not one of those times when kids exaggerate about what kind of punishment they're parents are going to give them. Father would definitely do it. One; he has more than enough money to rent the helicopter to deliver me and blackmail whoever witnessed it to not speak a word. Two; he just grew that apart from me as my only remaining blood parent.
Funny how things change after three measly years.
"Madam Mikan," Jim addressed. "Would you prefer it here or closer to the entrance? I can call someone."
I looked out the front windshield and saw a long line of black, slick cars waiting for the school valet to open their door for them. And since they were all limousines, it extended further than thrice what it should be. "No," I replied, scooting next to the door. "I can walk."
"Are you sure, Mad-"
"Just Mikan is fine, Jim. And yup, it's not that far anyways." I clicked the handle open and stepped out, swinging my backpack over my shoulder. I'm probably the only student here to use a proper backpack; others bring Chanel purses or handbags. Some don't bring anything at all.
I flattened my skirt and glanced down at my stomach to make sure I have my blouse and uniform vest properly buttoned. Then I closed the car door I exited from and walked up to the passenger seat window and beckoned for Jim to press it down.
He stopped halfway. "Yes?" he inquired as he leaned towards me a bit.
"Do me a favor, and cut through through everyone. It would make me feel bad if you have to wait another thirty minutes in this nuthole."
He hid his laugh, but I saw his smile crystal clear. "Will do. Have a good day, Ma-Mikan."
I beamed him a thankful grin and poked my head out as he closed the window. He bowed slightly as he backed up and then shifted gears. I watched him from the drop-off area while he drove away, sneakily maneuvering his way through all the cars, earning a few rude honks here and there. Once the familiar shine of the back of his car turned at a corner where I was no longer able to see it, I circled on my heels and began heading to the entrance.
'Uggh.'
'Freaking hate morning traffic.'
'At least I'll have an excuse for being late.'
I shrugged my shoulders and pointed my gaze downwards, fighting off the minuscule throb of a headache . I knew it going to be a long, long day if I'm already this irritated at a few remarks.
I passed a sidelong glance at the cars I came by, only to be encountered by some stares in return.
'Ew. It's her.'
'What the? There were no valet back there; don't tell me she opened the door herself?'
Actually, I did. Thank the Gods I'm alive at the moment.
It was longer of a way than I thought to make it to the front of Lore'Ale. By the time I arrived, the continuous chime of the bell had rung, and I only had ten minutes to get to biology.
I peeked through the gates and spotted a flock of students in the usual morning rush. Chatting, laughing, not caring that they have to get to class already. I begged my head to not explode so early in the morning, as I stepped in and dragged myself to the battlefield.
'Huh? Where's Adam?'
'-cause he's not a friggin' rice lover and that's so stupid.'
'Ahh, it hurts. Why did my period come today? Damn it.'
'Lollipop. Lollipop. Gum, gum, gum. I want ten of those; I want some!'
I gripped on my backpack strap. Harder, and harder by each thought that invaded me; so hard that the fabric felt like it would burn through my skin. About three more feet until I'm in the dead center of this mess.
'Oh, crap.'
'Hm?'
'G, C, Em, F#…it's Sakura Mikan.'
'Ew. Ew. Don't touch me. Please.'
People began to steer clear of me as soon as they noticed my presence coming close. It was only a few at start, but that alone initiated a chain reaction. It's not like they made those cheesy, stupid aisles that the loser always walks down by themselves; I was simply avoided. Only that. As if I carried some incurable disease within me.
At the thought, my pace quickened.
'Aha, she's actually going to class?'
'Nerd.'
'Nerd.'
'Loser.'
'Bitch princess.'
'Loser.'
Without my permission, my feet were now at a jogging stage. I didn't care for what they call me at all. Just that it was so many at once. And the problem about it, it's all the same thing; either nerd, or loser. Some creative, but that's only one out of ten thousand. If I hear indifferent thoughts at indifferent times coming from the largest group of indifferent kids, I'm bound to get an agonizing migraine. I'm bound to.
The crowd was endless. Everytime I felt like free air, and only free air, was in front of me, there were more girls scrutinizing me down, and more boys scowling with the sight of my face. By this time, both of my hands were on that backpack strap now, overlapping each other. I needed something to calm me; to tell me it'd be a bad idea to blow up. Because if I wasn't the one doing the exploding, I'm pretty sure my head will soon enough.
So, I started running. Yes, running. The kind of running that's unfeminine, un-ladylike, with your hair flying behind you unattractively. I may be a billionaire's daughter, but that doesn't mean that's the only thing I am. I act rash. I don't think. I do whatever I want if I'm on the verge of freaking going insane.
I ignored the nasty stares, from ahead and back.
'What the hell?'
'Why is she running?'
My legs didn't stop, and for once, I'm thankful that my class is at the other side of the campus. I kept going, going. Like a vehicle going 170 miles over the limit because Arnold Schwarzenegger is trailing my ass with bombs about the size of his gorilla fists.
Somehow…I made it.
Another day at Lore'Ale.
Well, half. It's lunch right now.
I was in the smallest library I could find. Luckily, there was only about three other kids with me, all bookworms.
'..looked at the file cabinet with my name.'
' "No!" she hissed. "I'm not going to let you!" '
'-It's not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you. I'm okay once I realize you're here," Peeta says. Awehh!'
I was seated on a table off to the corner, though not far enough from everyone else. My left cheek remained glued onto the surface, while my fingers drummed underneath it. I scattered the bookshelf my eyes were forced to look at for an attention-grabbing title.
Gizmos & Gadgets. Visualizing Chemistry. Charles Darwin: The Creation.
I let my eyelids droop; nevermind. It's the science section.
"Can you stop doing that? It's annoying."
I stopped my drumming and tucked them between the sides of my kneecaps. I rolled to my chin.
Another book was yet beholded to me. Though behind this one, I knew a familiar face was hiding.
"Then can you talk me?" I asked.
Hotaru tilted her book to the side, and I saw a pair of deep lavender colors peeking at me with an exasperated regard. She sighed as she placed her novel to where it was, veiling herself from me again.
'Seriously, every time, must she bother me to no end?'
A quiet, whining hiss escaped my mouth. "Well, I kinda have to. All you do is read books."
'And all you do is read my mind. Stop doing it.'
I placed my hands on the table and used them to help me push my spine to the back of the chair. "I have no choice," I whispered.
She flipped a page.
'…Youth of the fountain. If only he could meet me there-'
"Hotaruuu."
Seconds passed, and she flipped to another. ' "-you? Do you see me doing anything wrong?" '
"Let's go get ice-cream."
I silently watched her change pages in a speed only intelligent readers can gain. Her gaze moved quickly from line to line, and word to word. Hotaru Imai. A genius. An inventor. A fifteen year old girl who happens to be my best friend. She's not needy and dainty like all the other girls here. Maybe that's why I had liked her from the beginning. Even though she carries an I'm-more-superior-than-you aura, she doesn't abuse it. She's honest, and won't go picking a fight or shop for seventeen hours if she's not having a good day. To put it rather directly, she's the same as me in so many ways, but in equality, she's also very different.
And not just from me. From everyone else.
She can nullify my abilities to an impressive extent. This much I knew the moment we shook hands for the first time. I had befriended her, truthfully, against my will in the beginning. Father had told me about another freshmen my age that goes by the name Hotaru Imai, and he wanted me to get acquainted with her. Imai is considered to be a very powerful word thanks to her dad, Akihiro Imai. He's the chairman of a successful oil-managing group chain that's positioned in many parts of the world. Father feels that it'd be good for his image if he had connections with Mr. Imai, and also benefitting for his companies. Though part of me was involved with Hotaru because of Father at first, another was simply infatuated by the fact why mind-readin doesn't work on her too well. I gave a year or so, and I was unexpectedly best friends with her willingly. For one; whenever I touch her, remnants of her past or future don't flood into me. And second; sometimes I can read her mind, sometimes I can't. It's and off and on thing with her, and I loved it. Although it gave Father an advantage too, I could cope with it because I couldn't ask for anyone better.
Except for the tiny details, she makes me feel like a normal girl; someone I've wanted to be for so long.
But the fact that she's partly immune to my power scares me a little bit. Just a little. She reminds me of Mom, and unfortunately, Father. I occasionally imagine when she and I are older; happy, free, and lovingly married to the men of our dreams. But all that comes to my head is her future being cursed. I shake every time I think of Hotaru ending up like them. Mom, Father. Either dead, or dead but living.
But this is Hotaru. The Hotaru I'm talking about. I'm pretty sure she's been trained to dodge the fastest bullets, and gambling was no problem; she hated it with the utmost abomination.
It wasn't long before she finished a chapter. She marked the spot where she was at with a corner folded and closed it with a gentle slam.
She met my stare. 'So? What do you wan to talk about?' She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest, imitating her usual dominant manner.
"Why don't you just talk?"
'Too much effort.'
I scowled at her. Though it had no effect, as I expected. "My head hurts."
'That's why you're in here with me.'
"No. I mean, I just had history. You know, with Derek, Anthony, Kaylee, Jackie, and Peter."
Her face had a fixed expression on it. Stoic. 'What happened last night?'
I was momentarily surprised by her sudden subject change, but since it was also one of the topics I wanted to talk to her about, I answered, "The same. A guy checked me out. Says his dad is from Francis Enterprises."
Hotaru pushed her chair back and majestically glided to the librarian to check her book out. Just her casual walk made her seem powerful enough to buy an entire country. 'It's a stupid company. I'm hoping you rejected him?'
"Flat out, but it was just one-sided. I had to act polite, 'cause you now of who." I stood up and followed her, waiting off the the side so I won't block anyone else in line. "He kissed my knuckles, too. But I didn't get the chance to wash my hands, since Father was moving fast."
After she was done checking out, she started making her way to the exit. But before she can go any further outside, I grabbed hold of her elbow, and shook my head. I begged her with my pleading eyes to not take another measly step, for I was certain that 29 feet away, a hord of males was positioned just on the other side of the door. We fought mentally, her eyes sending dagger to mine, obviously signaling for me to let go. But, even so, her considerate side finally took over, and she led me back to the table where we sat.
She laid her book on top once more, as she sat in a proper elegance; feet touching the floor and hands folded onto lap. "Maybe you should stop going with your dad," she verbalized, her voice like fine thread formed from silk.
"I thought you were too lazy too talk?"
She nodded her head to the left, beckoning my gaze to a braided girl in glasses who was half hiding behind her book, and half clearly staring at us.
'That's Sakura Mikan, isn't it? Who is she talking to..?'
When we clashed encountered, she immediately blocked herself with the front of her book and turned back around.
"She's been looking for quite some while now. And I doubt she's a fan. She's probably wondering why you've been talking to yourself for the past ten minutes."
I rolled my eyes and circled to Hotaru again. "Can't help if the other one doesn't speak." I recalled to her comment about Father. "And I can't. You should know best why."
She sat her face on the end of her palm, ruining her perfect posture. "How long?"
"How long what?"
"How long has he been taking you to casinos?"
I let my eyes glide to the ceiling while my brain racked for the right answer, also wondering why she's asking such a question. Hotaru is nice. She's not vain, and she's the last person in my life that I'd expect to betray me. But, for one thing, I'm not her personal interest. Although she cares deeply, she also couldn't care any less. I've known her ever since I enrolled here in Lore'Ale, and I know that she has weird ways of showing her sincere concern. Guessing from right now, displaying them flat out was not one of them. "Uh…about two-three years I guess?"
Not a single facial structure in her moved, but I did catch a glimpse of the tiniest gleam in stare. "That's amazing."
"What is?"
"But then it's also sick."
A confounded expression broke out of my face. "Wait, what are you talking about?"
"Your father," she stated with an outward breath. "He became one of the world's leading billionaire in less than three years-"
"Yeah, and?"
"You weren't supposed to talk." There was boredom in her voice, but weaved into it were the diminutive strings of pensiveness.
"Oh, sor-"
"But despite that, I have the lowest ounce of respect for him. The certainty that he uses his under-age daughter to make all the money he has now is disgusting. As his child, you shouldn't let him do that."
I frowned. "Wait, wait. Since when did we get on 'this' topic?"
She pointed to the skin under her lower lashes. "You have bags. Again. If I have to look at your face everyday, at least make it more pleasurable for me."
I instinctively covered my so-called bags with flustered fingers. I wasn't sure if I actually had them or Hotaru was just messing with me, but it's not a lie that I didn't get the good eight hours of sleep necessary last night. Plus, it did feel like my face was sagging in some parts. "I-I went to bed at two yesterday. Don't expect me to be flawless with that kind of sleep."
"Exactly. It's bad for you, and so it'd be twice as bad for me. "
I shrugged my shoulders, my hands still right below my eyes. "So what are you saying?"
"You should stop. Even I can see that it's going to break you soon enough."
"Ah." I passed a smile filled of conniving. "He's only been taking me for two years. I'm not breaking any time now."
She sighed. "Two years is already long. Don't get it any further than that. Look, I don't meddle in your business. I don't care." She made indolence obvious in the tone of her voice, as well as her mien. "But if you're having a hard time, then it affects me as well. This-" She made a gesture touring from my forehead to the bottom of my chin. "-is ugly. You go to casinos, come home late at night, don't get any sleep, and this-" Gestures. "-gets uglier. I have to see it frequently, five days a week. I'm telling you to stop, for my sake."
"Hotaru-"
"And your father's, too."
"No matter ho-huh?" I shut up my mouth at the sound of the name only she knows could send actual frogs down my throat. We rarely mentioned Father in any of our conversations. Actually, never. It was too much of a heavy topic for us to take on, so I always made sure we would never trample on over it. She's quite aware of that.
I practically had my arms and chest way past the half of the table. I leaned in closer to hear so that anyone around us wouldn't be able to hear a single syllable. "What are you doing?"
"Warning you."
"About what?" I asked. Not a second too soon, I rebounded back into my seat with arms crossed. We couldn't do this now; I didn't want to do this now. "You know what? Just drop it. I hate talking about this."
"Doesn't mean you can avoid it forever." Behind the void mask of hers, I felt a wave of concern flowing from her, which is unusual because, like I said, she's not the type to care. Nor will she ever be.
Then it clicked. "Hotaru, did something happen?" I'm amazed I only realized this now. Something-something big enough to cause her to act like this- must've occurred. Hotaru wouldn't just lecture me because I skipped a few slumbering sheep.
"Yeah. It's huge."
Oh, how I loved how she never beats around the bush. "What? What happened?"
She didn't take a split second to hesitate. "Has your dad ever told you about moving?"
"Father," I corrected. "And no? Why?" I moved my chair to the edge of the table, where she sat at one corner and I in the other. I tried to close the free space between by inching my head to hers little by little.
"Your father talked to-" Your father talked to mine about a week ago. When my dad came home, he asked me if I knew you were moving. Apparently, Mr. Sakura is planning to move to New York soon. Soon as in five days. I made sure with Dad's connections that it's true, and it is. I knew that you didn't have a single clue about it. I was going to tell you about it today. "-mine about a week ago. Whe-""
Everything in my brain halted. "NEW-!" Hotaru proceeded to annunciate the next word, but she closed her mouth at my sudden scream. "..York?" I half exclaimed, half whispered the last part. Thankfully, I have a good conscience of where we're at at the moment.
"Did you just read my mind?"
"New york? What? Across the friggin' country?"
"Guess you did." She sighed. "Yeah, New York."
Every atom inside and out of my body had the intuition to burst out shrieking. Forget every single secret I've held in till now, and just go balistic. "What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Calm down."
"Like, seriously? It's New York! Not some place twenty minutes away!"
"Mikan, idiot, ju-"
"Hotaru! New York!"
She slammed a palm onto the table, creating a sound only the two of us silenced at. "Stop." She looked at me. Her rural eyes poured out an unusually bland emotion, as if they tried to pass it on to me. "Stop and calm down. Listen."
It took me a while to start breathing normally again, but after a couple of good concentration, I managed to slow my heart beat down that only now I've noticed was thumping in and out of my chest. I tried to suck in the cool and collected aura Hotaru beamed. Though I still wasn't completely comfortable, I achieved speaking in a natural manner. "Hotaru. Please. Start from where I can understand you."
She rolled her eyes, making it obvious that that was where she was going to begin anyways after I was finished with my anxiety attack. "Mr. Sakura is moving to New York. According to Dad, he has already bought a house there. He's intending to move out on Saturday, and by Tuesday, be settled in his new home. I'm guessing, almost positive, that he's taking you with him."
"Almost?"
"I can't be sure of everything until it actually happens. Even if an idiot can tell, too. But I am convinced that he can't do anything without you. My sources tell me that the reason he's going to New York is to deal. Like underground dealing."
"What's that?"
"It's a bad thing," she assured. I would've told her I can comprehend that, but she cut me off with, "It's not drug dealing. Something more worse than that. I'm assuming your father thinks he can get more money the dirtier way than he's using now. I know of a couple dealings in New York. One night can get you more than twice of what he usually makes in a casino. That's where you come in. Dealing is sneaky. It's tricky, and if you don't know your way around dealers, then your father can go bankrupt in the snap of my fingers. He's probably going to take you with the sole intention of using your power again. But this time, it's in a more dangerous area."
"…So…" Everything's jumbled up. I can't make anything clear in my head. A second ago, we were in here just to escape the school itself and it's suffocating campus. Now, a mere second later, we're talking about something that may change my life forever drastically. I don't get what's happening. I don't get what's happening, and I don't like it.
"Father…is moving?"
"To New York," Hotaru finished.
"He's taking me with him." She nodded. "So that he can have me read those dealer's minds and make sure they don't lie."
"In a way."
"You don't know for how long."
"No, but you are scheduled to leave by Saturday."
I buried my forehead deep into a hand raised by a propped elbow, rubbing it slightly so I could get the sweat off. "Saturday…" Today is Thursday. I'm basically taking my whole life across the country in three days. "Oh my God…What am I going to do?"
I don't hate Father. I don't think I ever will. I could handle it when he began taking me to casinos and making me dress up like an adult just to earn money he doesn't deserve. I kept it in whenever he slapped me square in the cheek for the tiniest mistakes. I didn't mind it when I heard his thoughts for a total of nineteen days, rather than hearing his own voice. I even let the fact that he treats me more like a slave slide. But this; this is different. He had already moved me from my beloved Michigan, and just when my heart settled in here, he's forcing the big move on me again. It's not enough for me to despise him. But he didn't have to hide it from me. He just didn't. This one action caused my love for him to drop to be leveled with my hatred.
Hotaru grabbed a lock of my hair that was scaling the side of my face and placed it behind my ear. I turned my gaze in her direction, my head still slumped onto my hand. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," I murmured with the small portion of me that's still in tact. The rest was everywhere else. Michigan. Nevada. New York. Mom's arms. That night. Father's house. Father's mansion. Father's villa.
"What are you going to do?"
I groaned. "I told you, I don't kn-"
"Get away from there."
I perked my head up. "What?"
"Run away."
My eyes scattered for the humor that was supposed to be spread out on her face. But I could find no traces of it whatsoever; just that same lack of expression she always had. Nervously, I laughed. Quietly, and ever so wavering. I laughed and continued to as if it was the only thing I can do for the next ten years. When she had no affect at all and seemed like she had nothing to hide, I stopped abruptly. "You're not serious."
"I am."
"Hey. This isn't a one-shot thing. My father is not a normal parent. Don't even joke about that."
"I'm not. I've been dead serious about everything I've ever since your move came up."
"Well, obviously, you're crazy."
"Don't do this just for yourself. I told you before; do it for your father, too."
My lips curved into a sarcastic smile, when it was really meaning to frown into the biggest scowl I'll ever make. "Like I can do anything for him. Like I want to do anything for him."
"You can. And I know you want too, deep inside that puny peanut brain of yours." She glanced at the clock nailed on the south wall of the library, just a little above and passed my shoulders. 'Damn. Two minutes.' She turned back to me. "Do you think he'll go to New York by himself? He'd be like fresh meat thrown into a cage filled with hungry lions. He'd knows he'd be useless without you."
"So?"
She clicked her tongue impatiently. "Mikan, you love your father, correct?"
I took a minute to think this one through. After what I found out, I'm not so sure anymore. But the way she stared me down seemed like she was expecting a 'yes', and fast. "…Possibly."
"Whatever it is, you don't want him to go. You don't know what'll happen in New York. And neither will the whole world. People are going to follow him; find out why he and his daughter moved so far away in such a short time. And when they're around, some of them are bound to catch him red-handed dealing. It's your responsibility to do everything you can to stop him from doing that to himself. Don't let him break his life anymore. Because once the truth gets out, there's no turning back. You'll lose him permanently."
I thought about what he's done in the past, and how he never got close to exposing himself. "But-"
"Don't argue. We don't have time for that. Just do everything you can you prevent him. Even if it means leaving, do it."
"Hold on, hold on, Hotaru," I ceased her with my hands up. "You actually want me to run away? There's so many things wrong with that sentence. And first off, I still haven't made sure Father is going to New York. Your sources might be wrong for all we know."
She raised an eyebrow in challenge and smirked an I-can't-believe-you-just-said-that smile. But I quickly assured her, "Okay, so he is going. And he's taking me with him. But you know I can't run away. Even if I try, it'd be pointless."
"What you're being right now is not sensible. It's not being thoughtful about your father, either. In fact, it's the complete opposite of that. Mikan, don't you get it? If you go, then he'll stay here. In California with all his bodyguards, his maids, his service, and anything else protecting him. In New York, he won't have any of that, since he's doing dirty business."
"Hotaru, it sounds like you're worried for him."
"I don't care about him," she retorted, and, despite the circumstances right now, something inside me went bubbly because she didn't deny that she doesn't care about me when she usually does in this kind of situation. "I know that if I let you go to New York with that madman, something will happen, and the next time I'll see you, you'll probably be a shit load of tears I'll have to comfort, or you'll be in a burial coffin, in which I have to look at. I don't want to deal with all that."
The next sound I heard was not my voice as I was expecting, but rather the ring of the school bell that signaled the end of lunch.
'Page forty-two, page forty-two…'
'Okay, what is it; E period?'
Hotaru calmly stood up, with her book neatly tucked to her side. Her stare striked down at me, still as demanding and persuasive. My surroundings consisted of students rushing, books being slammed shut, the doors opening and closing, and the annoying tone of beeping phones. But only between the two of us, there was this funny silence hovering about. My eyes locked with hers.
She broke the hold and began walking out, not waiting for me because she and I both knew I wasn't ready to move yet, or anytime soon. Just before exiting my thirty-feet bubble, the familiar knock of her though entered me.
'Think about it.'
Ooh, geez. What an utter disappointment. I know its been a while and I know I'm supposed to write up a good chapter because of that, but hey, I'm human and only a child. Sorry if my writing isn't always too perfect. But, for you guys who enjoyed it, thanks a bunch for readin'!(:
Stay smexy!
