Beauty and the Beast

The air was unusually fresh and brisk for a simple morning. Taking a deep breath, Matt chocked and slumped forward coughing; a breeze too thin for his lungs. He cleared his throat and rubbed his Adam's apple. Frowning, he opened the patio door and walked to the edge of the balcony connected to his room. It must have been around 6 am and the traffic commute was already bad; hopefully his dad wasn't stuck on a packed highway. School wouldn't start for another hour and thirty minutes; he had time to squander.

"Couldn't sleep?"

The distinguishable voice of the feisty redhead he had encountered the day before plundered him. To his right, standing in her own bedroom balcony, she leaned against the rail and smiled. Matt inhaled with caution and looked forward.

"I'm not use to this time zone." He breathed out and heard the girl inwardly chuckled.

"It'll get better."

"How would you know?"

The girl furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips into a thin line; he was still harshly distant. "You don't have to be so mean, you don't even know me."

"And I suppose you know me?" Ugh. She grunted and rolled her eyes. Matt looked away and ran his hand through his hair. "Alright...I'm sorry." He mumbled, glancing at her through the corner of his eye; she grinned.

"Apology accepted."

"So what are you doing up so early?"

"It's a habit." She shrugged her shoulders and squinted. "You hungry?"

Matt blankly nodded as she started to climb the rail. Carefully balancing her feet on the cylinder rail, she clung to the wall for more support. Wide eyed, Matt desperately ran to her; inexplicably worried. She smiled and galloped from her balcony onto his, elegantly landing on concreted ground and walking past him with a smirk. Looking down, Matt sighed in relief; the jump wasn't as bad as he had thought- about a foot of width. Still, a nauseating cold wave ran down his spine as he fell into a vertigo of height. Clutching his chest, he followed her into his room while muttering.

"You're crazy, you know that?!"

She happily looked over her shoulder. "Yeah, I know."

Walking out of his room, down the hall, through the living room and into the kitchen, he made himself comfortable by the sink-sitting on the counter. Dangling his feet, he caught his breath and half-angrily watched her open his cabinet doors like a curious child; without a sense of remorse. Though it should have angered him more, he heavily sighed and nonchalantly allowed her to frolic. For some yet unknown reason; he knew he'd let this odd girl do whatever she wanted-whenever she wanted.

"Eggs, bacon and pancakes?" She inquired, holding a skillet in midair. Matt nodded.

"Sounds good, but I prefer a mushroom omelet."

Having opened the refrigerator door, the girl looked up and pondered. "I can do that." She bent back down and took out the needed ingredients. Meanwhile, Matt mutely hoped down and walked back to his room.

"I'm gonna take a shower."

The girl dismissively waved her hand in the air without looking. About twenty minutes later, Matt returned with a towel at hand. Already dressed in his school uniform, he carefully tilted his head to the side and dried his long hair with the towel. He sat down at the table and lightly shook his head, allowing his blonde tresses to settle into their natural curl. The girl turned around and gaped.

"What?"

"You're already dressed."

Matt looked at the clock on the microwave: 6:29 am, he shrugged. The girl shook her head and set his plate down. Her skin was much paler than he remembered and he noticed a couple of marks on her arms that he was certain weren't there the day before. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward him. She stumbled forward, almost falling on him.

"What are you doing?" She huffed and he traced her hand.

Thin circular rings embodied her wrist. They were dragged and irritated like rope burn. He frowned and looked at her other hand: same scars and all. She quickly pulled away and sat down.

"It's nothing."

Matt vacantly turned back to his plate and pondered; perhaps it was better to dismiss the subject, for the time being at least. He'd ask her about it later. "Why aren't you getting ready for school?" He ended up asking her, taking a bite of a bacon strip.

She looked down at her plate and fiddled her fork. "I'm sick."

They silently looked at each other when an unusual muffled clamp resonated through the north wall, consecutive to the apartment-coming from hers. She nervously stood up and ran to the door.

"Wait!" Matt hollered.

Opening the door, she wearily smiled at him. "Sorry, I have to go."

Another loud clamp and the door to her apartment opened. "Sora!" The hoarse voice of a male screeched. The girl flinched and quickly closed the door behind her, leaving Matt baffled and dumbfounded. Looking to his side he stared at her steaming portion-neatly plalted and untouched.

-----

Walking to the end of the room, Matt shot Tai a friendly glance as he sat down. Setting his back pack on the table he looked to the side where Tai reached into his bag which he kept on the empty seat, reserving it for his 'girlfriend' as Matt learnt. He took out his cell phone and began texting.

"Did you call her last night?" Izzy asked, nodding at Matt as a quick hello as he sat down.

Mimi happily sat at her desk and grinned. "Hi Matt!"

Matt smirked and looked down.

"Yeah, but she wouldn't answer."

"Keep trying."

Just then, a chirpy jingle rang; Tai's phone wildly vibrated. He anxiously pushed a button and furrowed.

"She's not coming, she says she's sick."

Something in the back of Matt's mind clicked. Mimi reached over and took the cell from Tai; reading the message herself.

"That's strange. When was the last time Sora was sick?"

Matt flinched, drawing Tai's attention.

"You alright?"

"Did you say Sora?"

"Yeah, why, you know her?"

Matt gulped and slowly shook his head. "No, just wondering." An alarm set off in his head and suddenly he had fire ants crawling down his pants. Glancing at the clock he took a mental note: first thing after school, he'd pay Sora a little visit.

-----

That afternoon, Matt ran home. Barging through the complex corridors, passing his apartment door and knocking on the next, he narrowed his eyes. Takenouchi, the label plate on the door read.

Sora Takenouchi.

Ferociously raping, Matt desperately ran his hand through his hair. Ringing the door bell but to no avail, he entered his own apartment and headed straight for the balcony. Swallowing dry, he walked to the edge and unsteadily gripped the rail. Inhaling, he nervously climbed up and quickly hoped over the ledge with his eyes closed. With a shaky landing, he pressed his face against the glass door and looked inside. His hand reached for the knob: locked. Clever girl.

A lone silhouette on the bed moved in position. Sora narrowed her eyes and yawned. Matt tapped the glass and pointed at the lock. Sora sat up and looked around. She walked to the door and shook her head. No- she mouthed and pulled the shades.

"Sora, wait!" Matt hollered though muffled, she was able to understand him.

Pulling back the curtain, she opened the door. "What is it?"

"Seriously, why didn't you go to school today?" He walked in and crossed his arms.

"I told you, I was sick."

"And yesterday?"

"Also sick."

"Yeah right." He sternly grabbed her hand. She winced and pulled away.

"Ow, what the hell!" She immediately retracted her hand and cradled it against her chest. Frightfully stepping back she narrowed her eyes as Matt continued to pursue her. "I'm sick." She commented, bumping into the edge of her bed and falling on the mattress.

Matt shook his head. How incredulous it was that it was approximately thirty two hours ago that he first met this girl and she was already giving him a heart attack. Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair and solemnly backed away. She huddled deeper into her bed with large puppy eyes. She was special; he didn't have to be a genius to know that.

"SORA!" There was a rambunctious rattle beyond her door followed by a loud clatter of broken glass.

Wide eyed, Sora hoped off her bed and urged Matt out the balcony door. "You have to leave, quick!"

Matt frowned and stubbornly grabbed the door frame, reluctant to part. "Who is that?" He jerked his way back in and Sora nervously looked around. "Sora, who his that?" She ignored his inquiry as a trail of heavy foot steps neared her room.

Observing her small closet and sizing Matt with her eyes, she quickly dragged him to the floor and there was tapping on her door. There was an unexpected abundance of luxurious space underneath her bed, very handy or so Matt noted.

"Sora, are you in there?" The monster was close.

Desperately securing Matt and drawing back, he tugged at her arm, silently pleading her to hide with him. As the door knob jingled she bit her bottom lip and scurried inside. After seconds of restless taping and incoherent profanities, the door was bombarded, almost broken down. The heavy stature of a husky male stumbled in and Sora had to cover her mouth to halt herself from yelping.

"Sora?" His voice was hoarse and slurred; he was drunk.

Confused, Matt observed the beast pace around. Sora shrunk, curling her legs inward pushing Matt a bit as they faced each other. Her large scarlet eyes welled; silent tears rolled down her cheeks, stopping on the out line of her hands which she still held against her mouth.

"Sora! Where are you, you little bitch!" More careless slurs and everything suddenly stood quiet.

Panicked, Sora began to shiver- almost chocking on her sobs. Matt shook his head and pressed his finger against his lips, urging her to calm down. Edging closer to her, he brought her head to his chest and wrapped his arm around her. Seconds later, the beast traced back out the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

They frightfully remained still for about a minute or two, carefully pulling away. Sora was much calmer now, dully breathing. Matt sighed, questions buzzing through his mind but the look in her eyes pleaded no interrogation. He'd spare her for now. Running his hand through his hair he sighed and carefully wiped the tears from her eyes. They closed as she tenderly conformed to his touch. Something inside him buzzed, something about this girl fused his mind and heart. Leaning in, he closed his eyes and lightly kissed her.

TBC