So here's day three! Yay! Read and review to tell me what you think!! Hope you like it!
Day three-Sunday, December 30, 2007-New Year's Eve
I stared at nothing, barely listening as the pastor spoke. I go to church every Sunday, and on most occasions I would be listening avidly like the good little church-goer I was; but today I found that just trying to keep my attention fixed on the pastor was impossible, let alone listening. At the moment, my mind was too full of that Hakuron look alike. I'd spent the night trying to identify the emotions that seemed to course through me every time I saw him, but was unsuccessful. Which was why I couldn't pay attention-my mind was still trying to solve the puzzle.
Half an hour later, when church ended and my family and I exited the building, I was still attempting to figure out at least some of it, when my little brother grabbed my blouse.
"What's wrong with you?" he said, eyebrows raised. "You've been spacing out all day."
"Nothing," I said, patting his head affectionately, "I'm just thinking about something."
Marlina snickered. "Right," she said, "It's nothing."
I looked at her. "What?"
Marlina tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ears, giving me an oh-so-innocent look. "I don't know what you're talking about."
I rolled my eyes. "Then what was with that sarcastic voice just a minute ago?"
"It's just that," she said, shrugging her petite shoulders, "I've seen that look before, is all."
My brow furrowed. "What look?"
We had reached the car now, and Rachel, my parents, and little brother climbed in, while Marlina and I hopped in the back seat of the van. "The look you had on all of church. I've seen it before."
"What look?!" I repeated, exasperated.
She looked at me like she was talking to a little kid. "The look of a girl with a major crush. You've been showing signs for the past few days, but today it's been practically plastered to your face since yesterday evening."
I just stared at her. "You've got to be kidding."
She rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't mean it. You are head over heels for some guy, and now you can't stop thinking about him, or things associated with him; am I right?"
I turned my head to look out the window. I hated to admit it, but she was right. I hadn't been able to get the Hakuron look alike out of my head. But, that didn't mean I liked him. I didn't even know his name, for God's sake, and I'd only known him for, what, three days now? No way, I couldn't like him.
"That's what I thought," Marlina murmured.
I ignored her. I didn't like him. I didn't. I kept assuring myself that I didn't, truly didn't, like him all the way home. When we started heading up the front steps, my Dad stopped to check the mailbox, skipping over bills and junk mail. I was about to enter the house, when my Dad called me back, a folded piece of paper in hand.
"This is for you," he said, handing me the paper.
My name was written in bold lettering across the front, and nothing else. Curious, I waited until I was in my room, shoes off, and formal church wear was replaced with casual clothing before reading the note.
Dear Samantha, it read, I am pleased to inform you that I found your cell phone. I'd like to give it back to you, so could you please meet me at the Carry-Out at one? I'll be waiting.
I stared at it. I mean, I was stunned. It didn't have a signature, or anything, so there was no way anyone else who read it would know who it was from, but I did. The I found your cell phone part was an easy give away. Hadn't the guy from yesterday run off once I'd told him where I thought I'd dropped it? That's what he must have been doing, looking for my cell. And now he wanted to give it back to me. For a reason I didn't want to look at too closely, my heart did a flip at the thought. I glanced at the clock, and actually reeled back at the time. I had ten minutes to meet him there. It was probably a five minute walk, so I could make it on time if I hurried.
I ran to the bed, tossing the note on the floor in my haste, picking my shoes up off the floor and slipping them on my feet as quickly as I could. I ran to my closet, pulling my hoodie out and putting it on. I was about to slam the closet shut and make my way out, when a quick glance in the mirror on the inside of the door made me stop. I grabbed my brush off the top of the dresser, along with some lip-gloss and liner. After running the brush through my hair, putting it in a ponytail with one of the holders on the brush handle, and slathering the clear gloss onto my lips, coupled with brown eyeliner, I thought I looked presentable.
That's when I froze. Presentable? And just who was I trying to look presentable for?! Certainly not the Hakuron look alike. No way.
Glancing at the clock, I dropped the brush on the bed and bolted for the door. I had three minutes. I was running behind, dammit! I tossed a quick explanation at my Mom as I ran out the front door, sprinting down the front steps and down the sidewalk, cold biting at my ears for the third time in three days.
I am so not running this fast just to see him, I thought. I just want my cell back. Yeah, that's it. I don't like him. I definitely don't like him. I definitely, from the bottom of my heart, do not like-oh, who am I kidding! My thoughts suddenly changed as I turned the corner to the Carry-Out, finding him already there, leaning casually against the wall, arms across his chest and ankles crossed in front of him. He straightened as I approached, a smile flirting with his lips. I do like him. I'm head over heels for him!
I smiled back at him. "Hi," I said, voice breathy after running.
He glanced down at his watch. "Right on time." He then took in my panting self, and his smile turned mocking. "So excited to see me that you ran here?" he teased.
I sneered at him. "Yeah, right. I just didn't want you accusing me of being slow if I was late."
"Hmm," he said, reaching out to pull a strand of hair that had come loose from my quick ponytail free from where it stuck to my lip gloss, touching my cheek with his fingers in the process. "That's too bad."
"Huh?" My mind was in shambles a bit, the place where his fingers had brushed my cheek lightly burning hot. "What?"
"Nothing," he said hastily. "Let's go inside, I'll get you something."
Wait! my mind screamed. What does, 'that's too bad' mean?! Is it good for me? Bad? Should I be hopeful? What is it?!
Of course, he was unaware of my mental shouts, and continued into the store. I followed behind him, sighing as I did so. He stopped in front of the candy, and picked up a Three Musketeers and a bag of Skittles. Setting them on the counter, he paid for them, exiting the store as quickly as he'd entered. Once we were back outside, he handed me the candy bar.
"What's this?" I asked, taking it from him.
"To make up for the Starbucks you smacked me upside the head with," he replied, nonchalantly opening the Skittles and popping a few in his mouth.
"Oh, right." I looked down at the candy bar, and deciding that, hey it was free, I should enjoy it, I opened it and took a bite. I let the chocolate melt on my tongue before speaking again. "Sorry about that, by the way."
He glanced at me. "Sorry for what?"
"Knocking you upside the head with a glass bottle. That must have hurt."
"Yeah, it did." He grinned. "I suppose my devilishly good looks were too much for you to handle at the time."
I snorted, trying to cover up the fact that he was close to hitting the mark with that comment. "The day I find you good looking, is the day Hell itself freezes over."
"Are you sure about that?"
I turned my head to look up at him. "Yeah I'm-" I stopped when I discovered that he had moved closer to me, so that his face was only inches away from mine.
"How about now?" he said, voice arrogant. His cool, minty breath blew into my face, and my mind suddenly went into overload. "Do you find me attractive now?"
While a part of me just wanted to admit it, another part of me wanted to move closer to him, and yet another part of me wanted to grab his head and kiss him, the part of me that hated when a guy acted stuck up couldn't stand the thought of letting the arrogance in his voice win. So, I did the one thing I knew would put him in his place.
I kneed him in the happy sacks.
Yeah, I did it. He doubled over, clutching himself, and I laughed as women everywhere gave a shout of victory! Woo-hoo! Score one Samantha; zip for the Hakuron look alike! I'd tamed the beast! Or at least I thought I had, when he suddenly reached out, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him as he straightened.
"You are definitely going to pay for that one," he said, face still slightly contorted in pain.
"Really?" I asked, voice disbelieving.
"Really," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out my cell. "For instance, I could just not give this back to you."
"Hey!" I reached for it, but he held it above his head, too high for me to reach.
"No, no." He waved the cell phone back and forth. "I'll only give it back to you, Samantha, when you say, 'Hakuron is the sexiest man on Earth, and Hell has officially frozen over'."
"I will not say-" I stopped suddenly, realization coursing through me. "How do you know my name? And did you just say your name was...Hakuron?!"
"Your cell was turned off when I found it, and when I turned it on the welcoming screen said 'Hi, Samantha!'. I could only assume it was you. Yes, and my name is Hakuron. Why?" His brow furrowed.
I stared at him in disbelief. Why? Why was he asking me that? Didn't he know that he could not only be the twin of one of my favorite manga characters, but he also shared the same name? How could he not know?! Which was when I suddenly remembered that not many people like to read online manga scans as much as I did, and you can't exactly find smutty mangas like Haou Airen in book stores like Barnes&Noble very easily. So really, it wasn't as surprising as I'd originally assumed that he didn't know. I couldn't tell him this though, that would be a bit embarrassing, telling him he looked like my dream guy, so I merely replied, "Nothing."
He didn't seem to believe me, but let it slide. "So, say it."
Oh, right. He wanted me to say that one thing. Yeah, right. "No way."
"Then I guess you won't be getting this back," he said, dangling the cell phone over my head.
I gritted my teeth. "Fine." I really wanted my cell back.
He looked down at me expectantly. "Say it."
I closed my eyes, and the words came out strained and annoyed. "Hakuron is the...s-sexiest man on Earth, and Hell has officially...frozen over."
"There," he said. "Now, was that so bad?"
"Yes!" I gagged, while pretending to throw up. "It was."
He handed me the cell phone, and I stepped back quickly so that I could think more clearly, as standing so close to him that whole time had put my mind into overdrive again. "I'll be going now." I turned around and walked away, but not before turning around and smiling as I shouted, "Thanks for the candy bar!" just before turning the corner.
Several hours later, I stood on the front porch of my house, looking up at the sky-which had cleared up earlier that day, shortly after seeing Hakuron. It was still cold, but at least I could see the stars. Inside, I could hear my siblings and parents counting down the ball drop.
"5...4...3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!"
I shouted with them, screaming to the heavens. I was vaguely aware of a lone male shout from the house next door, which I'd discovered upon arriving home from the Carry-Out that someone had bought a few days ago. I didn't care at the moment though, I'd meet them eventually. For now all I cared about was the shining year 2008 promised. I went upstairs to my room, crawling into bed. It may be New Year's, I reminded myself, but I did have school tomorrow, which sucked immensely.
I closed my eyes just before falling asleep, silently making my New Year's resolution. I wanted to find that special someone this year, my soul mate. I noticed when the image of Hakuron appeared in my mind's eye, but I ignored it, reminding myself of my earlier suspicions that he was at least eighteen, therefore unattainable.
At least, that's what I'd thought at the time.
So, thanks for reading and review! Here's a sneak peek at the next chap!
Oh...my...God..., I thought, eyes widening at the sight of none other than-you guessed it-Hakuron following behind her. What is he doing here?!
Short, but should peak your interest...I hope. -sweatdrops- Tell me what you think!
