Acid Heart


Chapter 3

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My heart was pounding with trepidation as he advanced toward me, like a lion on a gazelle—like a predator stalking its prey. His gaze was unnerving, fixated solely on me with no flicker of emotion pooling in his crimson depths; it was almost as if I was transparent in his eyes, like he could see right through me—like he had bared open my heart and soul for everyone's viewing, for all to see.

It was wrenching to think that beneath that icy mask he loved me; that thought alone increased the already rapid palpitations of my heart, until it was almost spilling from my chest. My heart was beating for him; it always would.

My azure orbs widened considerably when his form flickered almost like the tangible shifting of a flame from a candle, looking almost seductive with the graceful movement, and the next moment, before it had even registered in my mind's eye, he was before me, body merely a hairsbreadth away from mine, the faint trembling of my limbs tripling until goose bumps had risen with the sensation.

I hadn't been able to predict his movement; he was impossibly fast, inhumanly so. I stiffened considerably when I felt the peaceful, even strokes of his hot breathe tickling my flesh, fanning against the nape of my neck as his stomach's muscles rippled under the tight material of his dark t-shirt; I couldn't tell where his Pecs started, and where his abs ended.

He honest to god had the most beautiful body that I had ever seen in my entire sixteen and a half years of living; I'd be all too eager to bet that he'd have the finest in all other planes and dimensions. THAT is how beautiful he is; each rippling fibre was hardened to perfection, every contour and dip of his person deliciously exciting- a thrilling prospect indeed would ideally be to have the opportunity to stroke and caress the heated, steely flesh with reckless abandon all too clear.

And it seemed I was about to be granted just that. He raised his hands in an agonising slow motion, cupping my cheeks with his toughened, calloused palms as he pressed those taut, firm muscles to my pliable, soft flesh, his smooth lips brushing lightly over the column of my bared shoulder; what an ingenious scheme it was to wear a spaghetti strap singlet on the night he decided to appear before me. Note my sarcasm.

My breath hitched as I felt a wet kiss slither across my pallid, sallow skin, his tongue trailing along my supple flesh as if he were tasting what I had to offer him; like he was committing the action to confirm my overall worth.

Further heat flushed beneath my cheeks, surging with an unpleasant burning, scorching my features a deep scarlet.

He nipped gently at my tender flesh, the forefronts of his teeth tugging lightly at my exposed throat as he trailed his right hand to the thin strap, completely vulnerable to his touch as he slipped it off of my shoulder, the remaining one soon following so that the only material covering me clung to my breasts.

I am not particularly busty, but I am quite proud of my assets; they were far more realistic than Tiffany's, whom had implants practically bursting from her top.

I felt him smirk smugly against my neck, teeth still preoccupied with tasting my throat as he tugged the last remaining modesty that obscured me from his viewing down, so that the dark purple material was bunched up around my hips; my cheeks, if possible, darkened another shade as I felt my nipples pucker as they were kissed by the nights chill, the rosy buds standing painfully erected and even more so aware of his wandering hands, which had without hesitation on his part, trailed down to tickle the undersides of my full breasts.

The calloused pads of his thumbs grazed over the sensitive peaks, an odd noise, strangled and needy, leaving my lips as he tugged at the sore nubs, one hand fondling and squeezing the supple mound whist his mouth humoured me, latching onto my remaining breast as he suckled at my tit, tongue flickering over the hardened nipple with a keen likeness to his fingers, the ones tugging at the uncovered one.

I gasped at the coiling sensation in my abdomen, a burning heat that brewed to the point of painful and uncomfortable as I shifted, falling back shamelessly onto my bed's mattress, him following tout suite.

He played me like an instrument, with such expertise that he had me squirming , writhing and bucking up to meet him, his hands tongue creating feelings that I had never experienced before; at any other time, I would have never have believed that this was real, but it seemed for far too vivid to have been otherwise.

NEVER had I had a dream like this before this before—sex was the LAST thing I would ever think of and yet now I was...

A loud gasp left my lips as he nipped at the hardened peak, his teeth tugging at the tip until I saw stars, my body convulsing from the building pressure in my abdomen; I stiffened.

One of his hands, the one that wasn't preoccupied, slipped down my toned stomach, tickling my sensitised flesh until it met the loose material of my light grey slacks, the lengthy nails on his fingertips grazing against the hemline of my underwear; the more I squirmed, the lower his hand descended—and the lower his hand descended, the more painful the burning sensation became...


I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding at a thousand beats a minute.

The sun shone so very brightly upon my face, waking me up instantly.

I got up out of bed, stroking my hair out of my face before I pulled it back into a bun to keep it off and away from my face.

I pondered my thoughts of what I had just dreamt.

Who was that mysterious godlike creature, and where had I seen him before?

He looks so familiar to me, but I don't know where I had seen him last...

Shaking my head as if in a gesture to rid me of my erotically disturbing thoughts (they would do me little good anyways in the long run—God was my head messed up or what, having an awkward dream about something I know absolutely NOTHING about cough-foreplay-cough), and the fantasies that ultimately tagged along for the ride, I stood up and walked across my hard, utterly frozen wooden floor to the door, where my silk black dressing gown hung.

I slipped my arms through the sleeves, and then started on my progressive journey downstairs to the kitchen.

With my usual rotten luck, they happened to be slippery due to the amount of condensation that had built up over night, and of course, being the person that had won "Nimrod of the Century" sixteen years in a row (the only claim to fame I have, unfortunately), my feet lost immediate grip of said polished wood, thus leading me and my clumsy self to slip on the smooth, WET surface, and I fell down the last three steps, onto the floor where my dad and Mizu were standing, laughing at me and my lack of consciousness.

And there were no awesomesauce ninja skills to save me (or even my now deflated ego) either, making me look, well…

Like a complete dickhead.

Mizu helped me up whilst refraining from letting her mirth further ruin my mood, and together we all walked into the kitchen where my amazing best friend had cooked eggs and bacon for us all.

The smell of breakfast rose in the air, and I have to admit, it had to be one of the best—in terms of smelling and tasting—morning meals I had had since my mom died when I was five.

Surprisingly, the atmosphere was not uncomfortable; it was as if I hadn't broken out with the controversial news that my best friend—and practically sister by defect (seriously; SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINE, NOT HER PARENTS)—had been molested against her will in that very forest (to which I am never taking her into, like, EVER AGAIN, for more than obvious reasons)—the one I had found that little stream/lake/river, whatever you want to call it, in.

It was almost as if the world had slipped back into its little space of complacency—like some shred of normalcy had been bestowed upon us by the Almighty (The Colonel of Kentucky Fried Chicken at his finest—ahhhh, now I feel like chicken. Ugh, does that make me a gluttonous food whore?).

And I couldn't have been more thankful for it.

After we finished eating breakfast—with much laughter and chatter or course, despite the recent events (i.e. Dad discovering Mizu's darkest secret)—said girl and yours truly headed upstairs to get changed out of our pyjamas, and into our designated outfits (of which we had yet to choose), leaving us relatively ready for school within the hour.

Supposedly, anyways.

'Cause neither of us are ready yet.

AT ALL.

Ya get the picture.

MOVING ON.

"So what are you planning on wearing today, Hair-ley?"

And there went her tally of proper diction; a deduction of -1 leaves her sitting on 5 (for saying my name without suggesting that I'm some goddamned furry hamster that has recently rolled around in a giant dust-ball).

"Hm, I'll probably stick to the usual shirt—perhaps a band tee, skinnies—although in terms of colour, I don't have a clue, and my connies—all worn and torn, and a little bit drab from our last visit to the drag-racing course; which, mind you, SHALL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, so help me Lord! Damn that stupid idiot Axel all to hell and back! Tch, so what about you then, Mizu-chan? What have you decided to wear on this not so fine Monday morning?"

Mizu and I stood there, pausing in our actions to look at each other.

A smile started to invade Mizu's face, lips twitching with the strain of withholding it, and within a few seconds we were both pissing ourselves laughing.

This was coming from Mizu, a girl who wears the most outrageous clothing (colourful, extravagant, and a little bit weird, if you ask me, but we're cool with it, 'cause we roll that way), who would be wearing my clothes, which are—essentially—very simple; jeans, plain tees and singlets, and on occasion a hoodie.

This was sure to be entertaining.


After the ten minutes it took us to stop laughing and actually get dressed, we headed out the front door, and made our way over to the closest sidewalk, where we could easily make out the bus when it approached the bus stop a short distance away from where we were currently.

It seemed that bad luck was all I had this week—and a total reflex of negative karma for Mizu in tow—as our ride had arrived early (and just when I thought I'd never see the day that I would get to school on time, and not half a period late), and as we all but sprinted in order to make it in time, the bus drove away.

IT FREAKING DROVE AWAY.

WHAT THE HELL MAN.

WHAT THE HELL?

Mizu and I tried to run after it, but our attempts were rendered futile; the blasted hunk of junk was gone, now just a speck on the horizon of my eyes.

Sighing in defeat, the two of us simply turned on our heels, trudging glumly (and over school no less) back towards my place, hoping to catch a ride with Charlie—Dad—before he left for work.

As we made a start to walk back to the house, another car drove up beside us and pulled over.

A car that was NOT my father's.

And one we had been dreading to see, if the lack of pallor in our now gaunt cheeks said anything (and the dread that had pooled in our stomachs, making each of us feel as if we were gonna puke up everything we had previously eaten in the process; though I wouldn't put it passed Mizu right now, seeing as she's in that phase of MORNING SICKNESS).

It was Mizu's kaa-san and tou-san. Of all the bloody people, it just HAD to be them.

Fantastic.

She was driving her father to work, or so it appeared, with their flashy business suits and all.

The car window had already been rolled down, revealing their faces in what appeared to be shock (that, or they were going into cardiac arrest, which would have been really good right about now, because at least that would divert their attention from Mizu… and me), for two reasons.

The first reason was because we missed the bus (so out of character… DUN DUN DUN) and the second being that Mizu looked so plain and dull in my clothes—boring, really.

Though to some, my clothes would be perceived as simply "ordinary" compared to hers (hey, my Dad isn't a rich bitch here people).

Sensing our distress—and mistaking it as our lack of transport—almost immediately (thankfully misinterpreted and for all of the wrong reasons), they gestured to the free seats in the back, and as reluctant as we were to get into a car with our worst enemy (unbeknownst to them, of course), we could see no ulterior motive, seeing as my Dad would have been half way to the docks by now.

Hesitantly, we slipped into the expensive Mercedes, hastily buckling our seatbelts before the elder woman indicated so as to get back onto the road.

The car ride was quite awkward, as we all sat in silence, stiff, unresponsive and wary the entire time, praying that there would be no conversation exchanged between them.

But you know the saying right? Bad luck comes in threes, and from there, it just keeps on getting worse.

Mizu started to deteriorate, her face ashen as her parents started to ask questions (all of which I didn't understand on account of the fact that they were probing IN JAPANESE, the cowards) on how hard we studied last night, and what we did, who we did it with, and how long this project would last for.

I didn't know what to do, so I just answered as truthfully as humanly possible whilst making the assumption that YES, they were referring to what we had been doing the previous evening.

"It should only take a week or so, Takahashi-san; no more than that."

Both parents gained an edge to their voices as they spoke rather stiffly (in awkward English, no less) that it was 'none of my business, and that a stranger (YES, A STRANGER. EXCUSE ME, BUT I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS WITH MIZU FOR THREE YEARS, YOU STUPID MOTHEREFFING IDIOTS) should not interrupt when they were speaking privately with their daughter.'

Che.

More like eternal MIND SLAVE.

"Mizu, neko-chan, doushita no?"

Back onto the Japanese, huh? Figures. Said girl mumbled out a soft reply in the same gibberish (it's all in Greek to me), before becoming unsettlingly quiet. And for the first time since the interrogation had begun, her tou-san addressed her in English, probably hoping to get answers from me (HA, like that'll ever happen) if not from herself.

"Why are you so glum today, darling girl? Did something… happen while you were with Hayley?"

Hey! I resent that implication! So you'll only say my name if it's in reference to my "corrupting" of your sweet little neko-chan, huh? ARGH, you frustrate me so—!

Mizu answered politely to her parents, with a slight wobble detectable in her voice.

"I have been working on the project with Hayley and it has been taking a fair amount of time to finish. Also, I am just so tired from studying all night. It has nothing to do with Hair-ley; she has done nothing to upset me. Please do not concern yourself with me, kaa-san, tou-san."

The car stopped at the drop off zone at the front of the school. Mizu and I stepped out of the car with our school bags—but not before uttering something most likely profane and rude about me amongst one another—and made our way to the front door of the school.

Where Mr Eugene Prudence was standing, awaiting our arrival.

Now this had to be the biggest injustice EVER.

He HATES MY GUTS LIKE NOTHING ELSE ON THIS ENTIRE PLANET. ISJKLFHJDB.

"Ladies, you are LATE! Please report to the office to sign in, now."

Our feet trudged along the pavement as we headed to the place he had all but ordered us to go to (and the one place that I was well acquainted with, seeing as I spent most parts of my morning routine in here, getting myself signed in and such, BLAH BLAH BLAH), where we saw Trent and Molly, two members of our chemistry class, talking to the principle about what they had seen in the forest along the fence line yesterday afternoon, while they had been "taking a stroll" nearby.

Mizu and I both knew that they weren't just "taking a stroll" in the forest, as everyone who is anyone knows that they are 'friends with benefits'; and the funny thing is that none of the teachers realise what happens "in the forest" during lunch, free periods, and after school.

Once we had signed in with the young girl at reception (Jenna), we commenced our leisurely amble to class.

We were met at the door by our chemistry teacher Mrs Winona, dressed in her usual bright and colourful clothes (remind you of anyone?).

I honestly think that she and Mizu swap fashion tips and share the same wardrobe sometimes, I swear.

"Hey everyone, how are we all? OK, ok, calm down! Please take your seats, as today we have a little pop quiz on general knowledge."

The whole class began to frown, and the room quickly filled with the sound of annoyed groans of anger, and complaints about 'not being ready'.

"Alright everybody! You will all be fine, as I will be asking one question to each of you, and if you can't answer the first question correctly, you will get another chance. Now, Molly, here is your first question; 'What are the chemical properties of Lithium?'"

Question upon question were being hammered at us one by one, one after the other. As usual chemistry was very fun and amusing, but it was over all too soon, and Mizu and I were again the last to leave the classroom, as we always like to talk and catch up with Mrs Winona and talk about what we had learnt in the lesson (and she LOVED US TO DEATH for it, I'm sure, as we took an ACTUAL interest in her subject).

The lights in the classroom blacked out for a minute or two as Mizu and I began to walk towards the door to go to the next class. I turned to check that Mrs Winona was alright, and in the corner of my eye, I thought that I could see the reflection of him, the one I could not put a finger on—he just looks so familiar.

Why was he smiling at me?

Was I hallucinating?

Mizu begun to shake me to bring me back to earth, and as I came to the lights flicked on, and in an instant, the reflection was gone—just as it had done many a time before.

Whilst striding down the main corridor to get to our next class—which happened to be gym, and I could already tell that it was going to be horrible, as every Wednesday we had Coach Lathen, who was the Boot Camp's personal trainer from down at the Heath Rowed—and while we were in the middle of our venture, we witnessed the usual chaos; the idiots messing around, making noise, and boyfriends kissing their deranged girlfriends and vice versa.

Mizu and I sauntered slowly towards the gym, when out of nowhere, Karhli and Tiffany—as previously mentioned, but I shall remind you BECAUSE I HATE THEIR GUTS AS MUCH AS EUGENE PRUDENCE HATES MINE, they are the school's renowned "royalty" cough-totalsluts-cough—started to advance towards us, blocking our path entirely.

And all I could think of was; a) What they could possibly want with us NOW of all times, b) Oh, so now you're so fat that you have to take up an entire vestibule in order to get by, and c) GOD would I love to lay my fist in their faces

"Hey Mizu, we heard this little rumour, and we wanted to know if it was true."

Karhli's voice sounded in the suddenly silent atmosphere, not only gaining the attention of all of the twits in the hallway with her snobby and utterly sickening saccharine voice, posh and irritating all at once (how she managed it I had no idea), but the fact that now of all times it seemed so devious and malignant—more so than it normally does—had me almost retching with alarm.

My anger was waiting to burst out of me as I took a step forwards in the direction of Karhli.

"So Mizu, is it true that you were knocked up? 'Cause we heard you fucked behind a bush with a complete stranger! How desperate of you!"

I cut Tiffany off before she could do anymore damage with a sharp glare in her direction, but they just stood there laughing, and I could see Mizu was beginning to stress.

"So you just couldn't keep your legs shut! What a SLUT!"

Karhli's voice was now beginning to resemble a whiny hedgehog that needed its throat slit (something definitely achievable in the stupor of my rage), but it was so easy to block out for me because I am so used to that bitchy, attention-seeking voice.

Though today I was having trouble ignoring her, and I couldn't help but retaliate.

They started to walk away but I grabbed Karhli's shoulder, which was like, Immortal Sin Number One in her book.

"Oi! Who says she's pregnant, you ignorant hick? And stop starting rumours while you're learning to NOT BE A BITCH! Do you not have anything better to do with your time, or have you already slept with every guy in the school, and looking for a new hobby? Au chanté, if anybody here is "pregnant", it would have to be the school's renowned whores. A.K.A. THE TWO SKANKS IN FRONT OF ME. And if you are still confused on whom they may be, check your fucking ID Cards, YOU STUPID UNENLIGHTENED BIMBOS!"

Tiffany and Karhli's boyfriends' had to step out in front of us to stop the enraged teen and I from tearing each other limb from limb, her enraged squawks falling on deaf ears; because of the solid barricade of man before us, Karhli and I just stood there, and looked each other up and down, as if we were going to attack one another at any given moment, regardless of the boys so adamantly defending us from the other.

"She is only trying to get a reaction out of you, Hair-ley. We have to go to class now; Mr Prudence is coming! Come on, we have to go!"

Mizu's voice was worried because of the fact that she had never been in trouble, or ever gotten a bad report— that would be the fault of her Hard-Ass parents, who would be deeply ashamed had it been them in her place (and because they don't associate with people like them… or me… but that was their problem, not mine).

We had started to continue our walk to the gym when I heard Karhli call out to me, just as we reached the sports hall, where Regan, our good friend, was standing and waiting for us.

"Hey! Hayley! I'll be seeing you soon; talk to you after school!"

A lump started to form in my throat as I saw the cow in question strut in to one of the English classrooms, and for some reason I actually felt a little intimidated when I realised what she meant by "talking" after school—that is, what it translated to in "The Bitch Code".

We headed into the change rooms without a word, slipping out of our normal clothes and into our ridiculously UGLY fluoro orange—with red stripes adorning it—top, and a pair of offensively bright yellow sports pants.

Mizu and I joke usually about how the checker pants and bright shirt suit Mizu so well, but today was not the day to make jokes or comments on how strange and weird Mizu is, so we got dressed in silence.

The lesson flew by so fast that by the time the bell for lunch had rung, I was at the top of the last obstacle, which also happened to be the tallest of the ten off-ground obstacles.

While I was trying to put my right leg down onto the rope—that was the ladder down—, I tried to untangle my left leg, that was currently weaved into the mesh to hold me steady.

Although just as I had untangled it, the rope ladder started to shake, and ultimately I fell backwards; but I managed to grab the safety rope that kept me connected to me to stop me from crashing to the floor.

As I hung there up-side down waiting for Mizu to stop laughing at my FLAILING form and help me for the second time today, I saw Karhli and Tiffany shaking the ladder beneath me.

"Hey! You call me a bitch again, and next time you won't have a safety rope to save you."

Her threat was frightening for but a moment, until I saw Coach Lathen standing behind the idiots, looking at them like he was going to send them to prison.

"Excuse me ladies, but WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" His voice echoed throughout the entire gymnasium as if it were on a loud speaker at a football game.

"If you don't mind, you have an appointment with the Principal, NOW!"

Coach helped me down, before he personally escorted Tiffany and her royal Bitchiness to the office, where Mr Prudence was waiting for them to arrive and explain why it was they had tried to kill me (though I swear that he would do the same thing too, the ugly fucker).


After lunch we had the worst lesson of all—trigonometry, and it was 'til the end of the day, which was going to be so much fun…. Not!

Why do they put us through this torture?

It's like the school is trying to kill us with boredom. It is also the same with Mr Prudence's lectures on how not to run with scissors; HELLO WE ARE NOT IN FIRST GRADE HERE! GOD, SOME TEACHERS CAN BE REALLY STUPID! NO WAIT; HE'S JUST A COMPLETE IMBECILETHAT IS WHY OUR LIVES ARE SO SCREWY!

So for the rest of the day we had our heads in our text books.

Only until the bell rang, symbolising FREEDOM IN ALL OF ITS FORMS! That bell was my saviour; I could not stand another minute of this Chinese water torture!

Mizu and I danced our way out of the door as fast as we could so that we could get out of this hell hole, and just as we were about to walk out of the entrance, we spotted Tiffany and Karhli walking into the detention hall.

The look on Mizu's face was the best I've seen since the day before she found out she was pregnant.

Dad came to pick us up today due to the fact that he has the laziest job on the face of the planet, and gets to pick what time he leaves work (which is usually after 2); then he will go fishing with Dougie, his best "bud".

He has the easiest job I have ever heard of, and if school counted...

I'd be doing more work than he has ever done, PERIOD.

Winning by a landslide.


When we eventually got home—after the insanely long car trip in which we got stuck in traffic twice, diverted on one of Dad's "shortcuts" (in which added another hour to the already climbing figure of time we had wasted getting lost on one of his 'sure-fire shortened joyrides') four times, and stopped to let a black cat slither past ("Seven years bad luck if we run him over! Or was that breaking a mirror? Walking under a ladder?" WHO CARES DAD, JUST GET ON WITH IT)—and all but stumbled through the threshold of the door.

Dad made his way into the kitchen, that he had miraculously started to clean up, but never managed to finish (as to be expected of a bum like him), and started to read the hand- out that the self help teachers had given us to work on all week.

Mizu and I began to read the task from over his shoulder (psh, it's not as if we knew what we were doing, 'cause we hadn't even read it yet; thus the looking over shoulder thing), scowling at his amused chuckles as he finished skimming over the page, before ushering them to the table, a sarcastic "Good luck with that one then!" being heard as he slinked into his favourite seat to watch the latest football match on TV.

I have to agree with him though—this is the most ridiculous assignment that I have ever had to do, IN MY LIFE.

And there have been PLENTY to choose from.

"Write positive comments about all of your peers and teachers."
(This was for one of the "feel good about yourself" classes that are compulsory)

"Hair-ley, how can I write something nice about Tiff-ah-knee and Kar-lee if they are mean to me every day? And what can I say about Mr Prudence or Coach?"

"Mizu, you don't have to worry about Mr Prudence because you are his favourite student, and Coach adores how peachy you are and the positive attitude that you have towards gym class. Though I'm definitely with you there on not knowing what to write for the Class-A bimbos'."

"Thank you for your help Hair-ley. I am almost done with my trig homework if you need help. Plus I will finish cleaning up for your father, as his dishwashing skills leave much to be desired."

"Ahahaha! Mizu-chan, you don't have to do that…"

And just as I was about to finish that sentence dad walked in with a stern look upon his face.

"Mizu, we have to go and talk to your parents' about why you are really here. I have invited them over so that it's on neutral grounds for the end of the week, but Hayley, you must keep your mouth shut, because it will only fuel their judgement of you more, and they'll probably accuse you of being a bad influence on Mizu. And I don't want you to make any outbursts that can get kitten into more trouble, okay?"

Said 'kitten' blushed at the endearing term (although called that by her parents' often, she felt no attachment to the pet name whatsoever when called so by them), looking nervous and uncomfortable at the announcement Charlie—DAD—had just made, whilst I scowled angrily in turn, crossing my arms across my chest and staring off to the side, a pout falling upon my lips.

"Fine. If I must, but this is for their own safety."

I'm not about to let Mizu get kicked out of her own family because she was assaulted, and it doesn't matter what her parents think of me, or what they will think of Mizu but I must stay calm…

For her sake at least.


Throughout dinner, we talked about the best way to tell her parents, and what to do if they don't accept what has happened, as well as what will happen when the baby is born, and how we will track down the son of a bitch that did this to her.

The rest of the week flew by and the time to talk to Mizu's parents came all too quickly, for both Mizu's liking, and my own.

At 12 noon sharp (ever the stickler for quotas, I see), Mizu's parents were to come over, so we all had to pull together to get the house as clean as a whistle.

This wasn't too hard due to the fact that Mizu tends to pick up items found in the wrong place and put them back where they originally belong.

It's like her parents have programmed her to do everything.

My whole body started to shake when I glanced up at the clock on the wall…

We only had ten minutes until they arrived…

And with that there was a knock on the door—I realise now where Mizu gets her 'we have to be at least ten minutes early for everything' conditioning from.

"Please Dad, would you open the door so Mizu and I can get the tea ready for everyone? Thank you."

With that said, I slipped into the kitchen, noting that the petite Asian girl was trembling, hands clamped tautly over the kitchen's countertop.

"Mizu, don't worry! You'll be fine, and no matter what, dad and I will protect you from them. Promise."

As soon as I had said that, Mizu's face started to lighten up.

I carried the tray with all of the cups, a teapot full of herbal tea (I see she had been readily prepared in advance for this, mentally, emotionally and physically it seems), and spoons out into the sitting room where everyone was waiting for us. Mizu's parents looked as they do all the time – up tight with their hair out of their faces and neat church clothes (although it was different seeing them like this, without the strict working façade going for them; at least this showed that they had a human side to them, no matter how little).

I cannot possibly fathom how Mizu survives with them, or how she lives with not being allowed to touch anything, be it objects of fun (in which she was heavily deprived of in the wake of her studies in Japan), or members of the opposite sex.

HELL, apparently to touch ME was sacrilegious to their God!

Whenever the pressure became too much to bear though, Mizu came to my house to get away from her parents, and to have fun, and not be forced to do endless hours of self-study and homework all the time.

"Good after noon Mr and Mrs Takahashi. We have asked you here for you to know the actual reason behind Mizu-chan's stay here, and to help you understand what happened."

Mizu began to look quite worried; her eyes started to water and fill with disarray, tears blotting out her vision—and all I could do was watch from the sidelines (STAY NEUTRAL, STAY NEUTRAL).

She was finding it hard to stay in the same room with the people who would evidently throw her out if they knew the truth about why she was really here.

The fact that she was pregnant.

"Mizu-chan, why are we here? What is it you need to tell us?"

Her lips started to quiver; Charlie began to rub the side of her arm to comfort her.

"Mother, Father… I am so sorry for my untidy appearance. But I need you to please sit down, for what I have to tell you will undoubtedly shock you."

The Takahashi's sat down quickly and quietly, faces ashen as they waited through a stagnant pause in which she used to collect herself, and resolve her will to go on.

"This is going to shock us how?"

Mizu began to shake even more than she had before, and as the words came out of her mouth her parents expressions peeled away, the mask of worry and complacency left for... something devoid of emotion.

"Tou-san! Kaa-san! Please say something... Onegaishimasu ne!"

Her father stood up, and stormed his way towards the door, gesturing for his wife to join him.

"Please don't come back. You have no home with us, as sanctimonious whores are not welcome in the house of God! Collect your things and GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"Please, tou-san, I just need you to tell me it will all be okay, that you love me and that God will forgive me!"

"Who is this father you are speaking of? Whoever it is, it is NOT me! You are no part of my family; if you were, you would not have committed a sin against one of the 10 Commandments, you cheap harlot!"

"Please tou-san, forgive me! Please, I beg of you! Kaa-san! Say something, PLEASE! Change his mind!"

All her mother could do was shake her head, for if she were to talk out of turn, she would also be cut off from the family.

I could help it.

I couldn't just stand there and watch my best friend's life turn to rubble.

But I know if I intervene, it would only make matters worse.

But I couldn't help it in the end, and as I stepped forward into the living room out of the shadows in which I had hidden in, the words of horror came from my mouth.

"YOU KNOW THE REASON THAT MIZU IS PREGNANT IS BECAUSE SHE WAS RAPED! You would know that if you had just listened to her!"

Takahashi-san turned, strode over to me and all but spat, "NO, the REASON to why she is pregnant is because of YOU and YOUR BAD INFLUENCES! You can tell your whore of a friend here to collect all of her belongings our home, AS SHE IS NO LONGER WELCOME THERE!"

With that, Mizu's parents left, and the poor girl was left in a bundle on the ground, shedding tears for that worthless pig into my dad's shirt.

He looked at me and with that I knew he could tell what I was about to ask—and he nodded with a slight grin on his lips, marred only by his distress over her current state, to say she was always welcome in their home.

After all, she was already a part of this family. Enough so that I refused to let him get away with the last word. I all but ripped the fucking house door from its hinges, noting that the Takahashi's were only metres from their car, and screamed at the top of my lungs the words I had been so desperate to say before.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE SO FUCKING JUDGEMENTAL, YOU SENILE OLD BASTARD! YOUR FUCKED UP "GOD" WILL SMITE YOU DOWN FOR THIS, MARK MY WORDS! YOU NEVER HAD THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED A FATHER, LET ALONE A DAD, AND GUESS WHAT? YOU NEVER WILL, EVER AGAIN! STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM MIZU, STAY AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, AND STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME, 'CAUSE IF I SEE YOU AGAIN, I'LL FUCKING END YOU, YA HEAR?"

And before he could even turn to retaliate, I had slammed the door in his face, ending our conversation, and closing the final chapter on Mizu's miserable home life.

From now on… she would be safe and sound living with ME.

And Charlie.

Dad.

Sheesh, whatever!

Jeez!


If only I had stayed long enough to see the tears that were now pouring down his cheeks, and the look of shame and guilt he had embedded into his aged features—maybe then would I have realised that there was more to this then I had first assumed.


Awsum: - Yes it has taken awhile to post the next chapter due to recent school related events (homework and assessments etc). But here it finally is; please read and review, as I need comments to better the plot and my writing.

AWSUM OUT!

Sasuke-sama: Ooooohhh, the plot thickens. ;)
Tension, suspense, anger, INTRIGUE. Just what could be happening BEHIND THE SCENES? Tune in to find out next chapter!

(NOTE: DEATH UPON AWSUM. I SPENT SIX FUCKING HOURS EDITING AND FIXING/ADDING THINGS! IT IS NOW CURRENTLY 2:43a.m., AND EVEN THOUGH I AM AN INSOMNIAC, I AM GOING TO SMOTHER YOU IN YOUR SLEEP REGARDLESS!)


R.E.V.I.E.W.S. A.R.E. L.O.V.E.! :D