Chapter 3

I walk into school the next day, dragging my feet. I told Rin that we'd have to go to her house because my parents would be having a party. Which they would. I figure we'd go on the bus and her house would be some huge fancy mansion. I can imagine her mother being someone who looks just as young, if not younger, than her daughter and her father being the really doting type. Oh jeez, this is going to be hell.

When I walk into homeroom, I take my usual seat beside Miku and behind Kaito and Gakupo. Luka sits in front of them, beside a girl called Teto. As far as I know, they're cousins but they don't get along to well.

Miku gives me her usual grin when I sit down and Kaito and Gakupo turn around to face me. I smile back at them, feeling a little embarrassed about my meltdown yesterday. That girl really infuriates me. Speaking of which, where is she? Gumi, Meiko and Haku are already here, giggling and examining their nails, oblivious to the fact that their queen bee is not there. Shaking my head, I tune back into the conversation that Miku, Kaito and Gakupo are having.

"-I was like, 'Woah, too far bro!' Expect I didn't say that. Nor did I sound like that," Kaito's saying. What kind of converstaion did I get caught up in?

Gakupo shakes his head and Miku stiffles a giggle. "I don't know Kaito, maybe you're taking this too far. It's only for today."

"Only today?! Do you hear yourself?! Dad didn't allow Mom to pack any ice-cream for lunch today because I was half an hour late from school! How would you like it if I banned your beloved eggplants for a day, huh?!" Of course. The only thing Kaito concerns himself is with godforsaken ice-cream. I roll my eyes as Kaito and Gakupo begin to argue about the importance of ice-cream and eggplants. Miku turns to me with a slight smile on her face.

"So, anything happen when you went home, Len?"

"Piko's back from America. He's staying at home for the next month," I say, a grin spreading over my face. Miku claps her hands together, jumping up and down in her seat.

"Oh, that's great! Piko's such a good brother, I wish Mikuo was more like him." She shot Mikuo a death glare. It was completely wasted as he was too busy staring at Meiko, Gumi and Haku. Pity, it was a good one too.

Suddenly, the door bursts open and Rin runs in. The first thing I notice is her expression. It isn't her usual flirty one. Her eyebrows are furrowed and her eyes look red, as if she was crying. Then I notice her appearence. Even thought the usual short skirt is hiked up and her hair is smoothed out, her shirt looks like it hasn't been ironed and her makeup hasn't been applied. Rin composes herself and sashays over to her friends, who are to dumb to notice anything wrong with her.

The teacher follows her in minutes after and sits down at her desk. The room goes quiet. We go through the usual proceedures and are excused to go to our next class.

...

I plonk myself down beside Luka and take out my lunch. Banana sandwich, packet of crisps, a nutrition bar and a bottle of orange juice. I begin to eat, while Kaito stares at his lunch, hoping maybe some ice-cream might pop up in it. Luka takes one look at his pitiful expression and rolls her eyes, taking out a tub and two spoons. She pokes Kaito with one of them and hands him the tub.

"It was my fault that you didn't get you're share of ice-cream. As an apology, I bought some for you this morning. It's chocolate and vanilla. You can have it but I want some too!"

Kaito stares at her, mouth agape. I'd say if the table wasn't in the way, he would have jumped up and hugged her so tightly she might have died. Instead, he gives her a ginormous grin and opens the tub, digging the spoon in and taking a bite. He grins at her again, giving her a thumbs up.

"Luka, this is delicious. Thank you, thank you, thank! I love you so much!"

He continues to eat and Luka smiles, a small blush on her face. I can't help but grin.

"Uh oh," Miku says suddenly. "Slut at 12 o'clock, heading our way."

I turn around to see Rin making her way through the cafeteria. In her hands, she's clutching a piece of paper. When she reaches the table, she gives us a weak smile.

"Hi Miku. Luka. Kaito. Gakupo," she says, addressing each with a small nod. Miku glares, Luka forces a smile and Kaito and Gakupo just kinda stare. I turn to her, glaring slightly.

"U-Um, Len... T-This is my address. You're coming to my house to work on the project, right?" I nod and she hands me the paper. On it, an address is written in sloppy handwriting

Beech Lane,

Block 7,

4B

"I-I, uh... D-Do you mind coming about an hour after school finishes? I-I'll need to clean up a bit," she stutters. I nod and turn to face her, forcing a smile. Piko told me that yelling and kicking up a storm was not the way to go. 'Just stick it out with a smile,' he said. Rin bows slightly and runs back to her table.

Miku scowls deeply once she's gone. "Playing the shy card, are we? I wonder if she actually has to clean up or if she just doesn't want to be seen with Lenny. I mean, doesn't she live in a big mansion? Doesn't she have maids who do that kind of shit? Clean up, my eye," she mutters.

...

"Piko, this can't be right."

I'm sitting in the passenger seat of Piko's silver car, in front of, what he seems to think is, Rin's house. Everyone says she lives in a big mansion. But I'm in front of a crummy looking set of apartments. We're not even in the poor part of town, we're in the freaking 'no money at all' part of town.

Piko sighs and looks at the note that Rin gave me earlier. "Nope, this is it. Beech lane, block 7. Her apartments probably 4B. Li'l bro, I know this town like the back of my hand."

I sigh and get out of the car. "Wait for me," I tell him and walk up to the intercom. I decide to call on resisdent 4B and see if it's really Rin.

I press the button and hear the buzzer go off. "Yeah?" a bored, depressed voice answers.

I swallow and clear my throat putting my mouth a little closer to the intercom. "Um, does Rin Kagamine live here?"

There's a small gasp and the person fumbles for an answer. "O-Oh, y-yeah... C-Come right up..." A little click indicates that they hung up.

Still shocked, I walk back to the car in a daze. Piko leans forward, one arm on the wheel. "Well?" he asks.

I motion for him to give me my bag. He grins and shoves it at me. "Told you I was always right," he says, starts the engine and drives off, waving at me. I sling the bag over one shoulder and walk into the apartment block.

This place is a complete dump. The walls are an awful shade of murky green and the wallpaper is peeling off. In the reception is a cheap sofa, a small table with a vase of dead flowers and a painting of the town in 1896. There is no lift so I have to walk up using the stairs.

The condition of the building gets worse and worse each floor you hit. When I reach floor 4, Rin's floor, there is mould growing in the corners of the hall, large spiderwebs and their terrifying owners glaring at me and at least four leaks. I walk up to the door that has 4B written in rusty gold letters. I hesitate, shuffle my feet and give a loud clear knock on the door. There is a rustling sound inside and the door opens slightly. A blue eye stares at me and then the door opens fully.

Standing in front of me is a girl who looks remarkable similar to Rin Kagamine. But this girl hasn't got ten layers of make-up plastered on to her face. She isn't wearing a short skirt that has been hiked up to make it even shorter. Her hair hasn't been straightened and teased up at the back. This girl is wearing a pair of jeans, a plain white t-shirt and a pair of socks. Her hair has been tied back in a ponytail and her eyes look dead and dull.

"Welcome to my house. Come in," says Rin, in a tone that is just as dead as her eyes.

Thank you to reviewers:

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