err... hello. it's been a while! i'm so sorry for disappearing suddenly like that! i was grounded. actually, i still am... but that's besides the point. basically, my mom confiscated my ipod, and this chapter was stored in my ipod's notes. i got my ipod back temporarily to update to iOS 7. this chapter was actually written around two months ago! i just couldn't upload it to ff. i'm so sorry! ;-;
p.s. this chapter is a bit longer compared to the others! hope you enjoy.(:
chapter four.
Misaki trudged to her locker after the dismissal bell rang. She sighed. Usui had been impossible to avoid; he was in all but two of her classes. Somehow, he managed to show up sometime during those two classes, whether it was to deliver papers to the teacher or to walk in, stare at her, and leave, saying, "Oops, wrong classroom" with an extremely straight face.
What a stalker.
Misaki slammed her locker shut with excessive force, producing a loud bang and earning her glares from people all around her. Misaki ignored them. She gathered her things and proceeded to walk toward the front of the school where students were filing out through large doors.
"Ayuzawa." Misaki heard a voice call her name from behind. She paused, then thought better and kept walking, keeping a fast pace.
A figure appeared beside her. In the corner of her eyes, Misaki spotted blond messy hair. Usui. She could feel him staring at her as she walked. What does he want? Misaki walked faster still and refused to look at him.
"Ayuzawa, why are you walking so fast?" Usui started, "You're going to crash into-"
Slam. Misaki hit her shoulder and arm on a door that suddenly opened. As she fell back, she felt a strong arm encircle her waist to steady her. Misaki's face heated as she quickly recollected herself and pushed Usui's arm away.
"I don't need your help," she said through gritted teeth. There was a hint of surprise in Usui's eyes as Misaki walked away. Why did she reject him so quickly? It was as if she acted on instinct. As if she had been pushing others away for years. Not only physically, but mentally. Something definitely happened to make her act that way. Usui mulled over his thoughts as he started his walk back to his apartment.
Misaki POV
I turned to the next block as I walked back home - if you would call that dump a home. Three dark figures came into view. That was unusual; this block was usually deserted as it was one of the cheapest parts of town.
One by one, the figures turned their heads toward me. They were all girls who looked around the same age as me. One had flaming red hair while the other two had brown hair.
I paused. They were blocking my way. Did they need something?
"Misaki Ayuzawa..." the redhead stepped forward. She was extremely tall and lanky. How did she know my name?
"I've heard a lot about you," she drawled, staring at me with distaste. "Like how you hang around so many different guys just so you can leech off of them." What was she talking about? I didn't hang around anyone. What was she implying?
"I think you've got the wrong person.." I said quietly, wanting to avoid trouble.
She ignored me. "You're poor, right? Do you live in this trashy area? Well, whatever. That doesn't give you a reason to hang out with Usui." What? Not that guy. Now people were spreading rumors about me?
"What are you talking about?" I started, "I don't even-" She shoved me and I slammed into a brick wall behind me, my head, then my body. Dizziness ensued as blood rushed to my head.
"Don't even try to lie! I've seen you around him, acting like the biggest fucking whore." She shouted at my face. I tried to speak. The two brown-haired girls surrounded me. I grimaced. I couldn't defend myself in this state.
"You're just an attention-seeking bitch with no family! You have no right to hang around someone like him!" The redhead all but screamed at me. And you have no right to gang up on an innocent girl. I glared daggers at her.
"You SLUT! Don't you look at me like that!" She slapped me across the face. It burned. What the hell? I felt so weak. My vision blurred and my eyes teared up from the sudden pain. The redhead suddenly moved forward. I covered my head with my arms, bracing myself for the impact.
But it never came. The three girls disappeared as I felt myself being carefully lifted by familiar arms. My head flopped backwards helplessly. Darkness flooded my vision. I was slipping away again...
Usui walked down a cool alleyway and turned to a random block. Everything was relatively peaceful. The wind was blowing, leaves were fluttering, birds were chirping and-
"-just an attention-seeking bitch with no family! You have no right to hang around someone like him!" A loud voice broke the peaceful atmosphere. What was going on?
He followed the voice and found himself staring at a dark-haired girl surrounded by three other girls, knees bent and arms plastered against the wall to support herself. He walked closer, careful not to make any noise. Was that... Ayuzawa?
The dark-haired girl glared at the redhead. That was definitely Misaki. What was she doing there? There was no time to think as the redhead shouted something incoherent and advanced on Misaki. Usui stepped in front of the girls, blocked the attack, and lifted Misaki up. She appeared to be unconscious. The three girls fled. Looking closely at Misaki, he saw a prominent red patch on one side of her face. Usui hurried to his apartment, cradling Misaki in his arms. How had she gotten into that fight?
When he reached his apartment, he gently laid Misaki down on the couch. Usui got a wet washcloth and gently dabbed at her face. Why did she get bullied? Was this the first time it happened?
He ran a hand through her silky hair. She stirred. Her eyes slowly opened, taking in her surroundings.
"Where am I...?" Misaki said. The last thing she remembered was having insults thrown at her while she was being shoved to a wall.
"My apartment." Usui said bluntly, staring at Misaki. Misaki jumped, only to cringe and lay back down. Her back felt sore. She blushed as Usui continuously stared at her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Usui beat her to it.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking genuinely concerned. Misaki nodded, although 'okay' was an overstatement. She averted her eyes.
"What happened out there?" Usui asked.
"...I don't really know," Misaki answered. She tried to think. There were three girls... saying things about her that weren't true... she was shoved to a wall, and apparently she was slapped... she was about to get hit again when someone saved her...
That 'someone' was probably Usui. Great. He popped up out of no where, again, and saved her, again. Now she felt indebted to him. As if she didn't have enough debt on her hands anyway.
"They were bullying you," Usui said.
"I can take care of myself," Misaki tried to force herself into a sitting position. Her back protested. Usui's eyes widened as he caught sight of her painful grimace.
"Ayuzawa, let me see your back," he said.
"I said I'm fine," Misaki answered.
"Ayuzawa..." Usui's eyes flashed.
"I'm fine!" Misaki protested, trying to stand. Usui reached for her, his hand grazing her back. She flinched. Usui glanced at her with a knowing look. Misaki reddened and reluctantly turned around. Usui slowly lifted the bottom of her shirt, taking extra care to avoid contact with her back. His eyes widened. Large splotches of purple were splayed across her back. He stared at her back for a few seconds.
"What are you looking at?" Misaki snapped as she hastily pulled her shirt down.
"Ayuzawa, you-" Usui started.
"I. Am. Fine." Misaki cut him off. She paused. "Please stop helping me. Like I said, I don't need your help." Usui was silent as she walked toward a door that she probably thought was the entrance.
"I'll be leaving now," said Misaki. She pulled open the door, revealing the bathroom. Her face turned red. She hastily walked to another door and pulled it open. Closet. Another. Bedroom. Misaki slammed the door closed and faced Usui.
"Where the hell is the front door?!" she shouted, her face red from embarrassment. Usui stared at her, amusement evident in his green eyes.
"I don't know, where is it?" Usui said, tilting his head to the side and widening his eyes ever so slightly.
"YOU-" Misaki stopped speaking as Usui walked to the other side of the room and opened the door for her.
"After you," he said, smiling sweetly at Misaki's fury. She stomped over and exited his apartment.
Once she was out, she realized that she had no clue how to get back to her house. It was getting late. The sky was painted in hues of orange and blue as the sun set.
Misaki turned around, flustered.
"Er, Usui...?" But he wasn't there. Instead, she heard a voice ahead of her.
"Misa-chan, you're too slow." Usui said, standing a few feet in front of her, sticking his tongue out. Misaki glared at him and quickened her pace to match his.
Misaki was thinking as they raced back to the street where Usui found her. Why did he save me? He could've just walked away. We aren't even friends. Misaki's face scrunched up just thinking about him.
Usui watched Misaki's face expressions go from angry, to confused, to frustrated, then back to angry. He could've sworn he heard her mutter 'stupid Usui'. He smirked. This was just the beginning of their strange friendship...
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until the next update!
-vicky1239