Chapter 4!! Thank you to all that read & reviewed the story. I know my updates are extremely slow, but school and other things are piling on my back. I want to update every week but you think teachers give breaks? Besides, I have a lot of club events to do after school and when I come home, I sleep, then do homework, study, do chores, take medicine to make myself drowsy (I'm not really supposed to do that, but if I don't, then I don't sleep at all), and then sleep and wake up next day and go to school and blaaaaaaaaaah. Anyway, enough about it. Enjoy & Review!
Dear Diary,
I won the case! The judge said that what I had done was simply for protection and the man had a horrible record of murder and theft. The woman, Eslein I think her name was, was shocked when she learned that her "husband" had once been questioned for the murder of his ex-wife. Now that I think of it, I'm ambivalent whether the woman was shocked whether he had been questioned for murder or that he was married before. And now that I think of the man's past, it still shocks me that my mom had slept with men like him. After we left the court, Jenaline took Toushiro and me to a restaurant (she didn't feel like cooking that day). I'm going way out of my head with the situation now, but I can't stop feeling nervous when I'm with Toushiro. When Jenaline left to the bathroom, Toushiro started staring at me and I accidentally kicked him underneath the table. His expression was funny and priceless, but I still felt like a moron. His eyes are so gorgeous and every time he looks at me and semi-smiles (or smirks), I think he likes me but I remember what my mom had once said to me: don't interpret body language for your own satisfaction. So, for now, I have to pretend that he doesn't like me and that I barely know him….even though he sleeps two doors away from me.
- M.H.
"I think he likes you."
"I'm not making predictions. I don't want to please myself by over thinking things."
Johnny nodded, putting away his eyeliner. "You're right. But I still think that you two make a cute couple."
They strolled down the leafy path, letting the flustering wind dance around them. Johnny wore a hot-pink T-shirt with skinny white jeans and black fashionable ballet flats while Momo wore a knee-length Spring blue skirt that hugged her waist and waved neatly around her knee area with a white V-neck shirt and black flats.
Momo thought about what Johnny had recently said, a light oblivious blush decorating itself across her cheeks. She stared ahead and noticed Jenaline sitting at the park's bench with one of her colleagues and Hyorinmaru lying down, sleeping, in front of them while Toushiro was playing volleyball with many of his friends.
The day was gorgeous, the sun's warmth just right and wind giving freshness to the day. Yes, it was a gorgeous day….
"Ah shit!"
Laughter was suddenly heard and Momo turned her head, shocked to see Toushiro lying on the ground with his hand on his groin. Ichigo Kurosaki, one of guys he had been playing with, was laughing while asking the white-haired teen if he was all right. The other guys, whom consisted of Renji Abarai and five others that Momo didn't know yet, were all standing my Toushiro while, of course, laughing.
Jenaline, looking concerned, quickly got up and walked over to the group. "What happened?"
"His family jewels were smashed by the ball." one of the unfamiliar boys explained, smirking.
"How?"
"Ichigo was going to spike the ball at him, and Toushiro being the shortest one here, jumped trying to hit it back. But unfortunately, Ichigo's very tall and he hit the ball with a lot of force and it went right to his dic-"
Jenaline rose her hand up, not wanting to hear the teen's foul language.
"Toushiro, are you all right?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." he said, looking up and first looking at Momo as she and Johnny walked towards the group.
Toushiro's friends noticed Johnny and looked away, laughing at an inside joke.
"Hey Snowman, want the fag over here to rub your disco-stick so it can feel better?"
Toushiro sent a glare towards the boy who said that and Momo noticed Johnny turn around the leave.
"Please don't be disrespectful towards other people, especially when you don't know them." Jenaline said, glaring at the teen.
The boy kept quiet, not wanting to argue with her and tell her that Johnny was the laughing stock at school.
Once Jenaline noticed that Toushiro was all right, she walked away.
His green-blue eyes met hers again but this time, Momo did not blush. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and walked after Johnny.
Toushiro stood up but never stopped looking at her, ignoring his friends' teasing remarks.
-
"Johnny, are you all right? I'm sorry about the remark."
The boy shrugged his shoulders, grabbing a red-yellow leaf and staring at it. "This leaf is so different from any other leaves, but yet again, it's the same thing: a leaf. We don't call it anything else but a leaf."
Momo stayed quiet, knowing where he was going with this.
"I'm different from everybody else, but yet again, I'm still human. Why do people treat me like if I'm some new discovered species who offends everybody?"
"They're just ignorant and homophobic."
"I know they are, but they can't at least keep their stupid comments to themselves."
The girl sat beside him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "The only reason they say it out loud is just to make you sad, but you can't give them that satisfaction. Do what you're always saying: keep your head up and don't let those aimless comments get to your head!"
He turned his head and laughed, placing his head on her shoulder. "I knew you were my best friend for a reason, babe."
Best friend….
The idea puzzled Momo, mainly because she never had a true friend like Johnny. Even though she was still disappointed and depressed about her mother (and was still waiting for that excruciating letter from the hospital), Johnny had kept her happy and smiling most of the times for the past few days.
Leaning her back against the bench, she wrapped her arm around Johnny's shoulders and stroked his arm the same way her mom used to.
After the short visit to the park, Momo, Toushiro, and Jenaline headed home. Hyorinmaru strolled beside Toushiro, randomly stopping and sniffing whatever object (mostly trash) he saw.
Momo kept a safe distance away from the dog, glancing at it every few seconds and hoping that it wouldn't stride near her.
Laying a few yards away, the house looked picturesque. With the beautiful lawn and flowers, it stood out against the other houses.
But what surprised Momo was the group of people with cameras in their hands standing in front of Jenaline's home, as if waiting for someone. And quickly, a bad feeling went through her body and she halted her steps.
"Are those photographers?" she asked, glancing at her foster parent.
"More like annoying journalists wanting to know how your life has been. I knew something like this would happen."
"Can you tell them to leave, please? I don't want them to see me." Momo felt Toushiro's gaze on her, but she ignored it as she stared at the news reporters.
"Stay here with Toushiro. Better of, walk inside that store over there you too and when you see that they're gone, come out. I'll take Hyorinmaru with me to speak to them."
Toushiro wasted no time and crossed the street to where a mini-market laid with Momo trailing behind him. He opened the door for her and started scrutinizing as she entered and watched Jenaline from the large window.
-
"Excuse me, but what's going on here?"
The four reporters immediately turned around but before they huddled around her, they took a step back as an admonishingly growl escaped from Hyorinmaru.
'Ma'am, is it true that Momo Hinamori is living with you in this house?!" a blond hazel-eyed reporter inquired, her notepad and pen already in hand.
"Is it true that Momo Hinamori works as a prostitute?"
"Is it true that Momo Hinamori killed both her mother and her mother's client the other night?!"
"Where do you guys get these ridiculous assumptions from?" Jenaline questioned, glaring at all of them.
"All of them are from the girl's previous neighbors and classmates at her school!" replied the fourth reporter. "The public wants to know the aftermath of both murders!"
"Well, tell the public to leave Ms. Hinamori alone and whatever happened already happened. You people need to leave the poor girl alone."
The blond reporter stepped forward, but quickly stepped back as Hyorinmaru growled again. "Ma'am, two murders took place and the public needs to know if there's a murderer neighboring them!"
"Momo Hinamori is not a murderer nor a prostitute. That's all you need to know and that's all you bastards are going to get! Now get away from my house before you regret it!"
But the reporters didn't want to give up. In fact, if it wasn't for Hyorinmaru's loud barking and growling, they would've annoyed Jenaline with more outrages questions.
-
Momo stared at the way Jenaline handled the pesky reporters, a small grin on her face. She couldn't wait until they left, but even if they did, that did not mean that they wouldn't be back. In fact, Momo was afraid of walking out the house now. What if they started acting like those annoying paparazzi? What if they followed her to school and questioned every student at school about her?
She had wanted everything to be a secret, but when two murder occurs and a teenager is involved, it becomes the story of the year.
Toushiro stood next to her, also waiting for the reporters to leave. Sending quick glances to him, she noticed his annoyed expression. Right away, she knew that he wasn't going to like the way random reporters were going to show up to his home just to ask annoying questions.
"I think they're leaving." Momo stated, hoping he would lighten up… at least a little bit.
Instead, Toushiro closed his eyes and walked out of the store, acting as if she was invisible. Momo's heart sunk.
She exited right after him but looked around first, making sure they were completely gone.
And they were….for now.
-
With her inside and the door locked, she felt a wave of relief travel through her body. Jenaline was busy getting ready for supper while Toushiro threw himself on the couch and started watching the latest soccer game.
Typical men, she thought, smiling as she remember her mother telling her how men were sometimes so preoccupied with their games that they forget about everything.
Her mother…
Momo frowned as she recalled the amazing time they had. Unlike her, her mother was an expert when coming to fashion. Every time they had gone to the mall, she would help Momo pick out gorgeous outfits and she even commented on Momo having a better body than what she had when she was a teen.
"Are you OK?"
"Huh?"
Toushiro's eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?"
"Oh-um yeah I'm fine…"
"You were spacing out and looked sad. Thinking about your mother?"
She nodded and sat down beside him, though leaving a big space between them. "I'm still trying to get used to this new lifestyle."
"You'll get used to it eventually."
"I know I will, but it takes time. Is this how you felt when you first came here."He turned his head and gave her a duh stare, and embarrassed she glanced away. "Sorry, stupid question."
"You mean stupid people…"
Astonished, but not offended, she turned her head and gaped at him. "I'm not stupid!"
The end of his lips rose. Oh, he was going to enjoy this. "You asked a stupid question, therefore you are stupid."
"One who calls another stupid is stupid himself."
He cocked an eyebrow. "Who the hell quoted that?"
"I just did."
He snorted and turned his head back to the screen, watching as his favorite soccer player scored another goal.
"Don't snort at me."
"I just did." he added playfully.
She grabbed one of the sofa cushions and threw it at him, hitting him right on the head. His eyes widened surprisingly.
"Did you just hit me?"
"Obviously, stupid. Nobody else is around but me." Momo was beginning to enjoy this.
He grabbed the same sofa cushion and threw it back at her, making straight contact with her face. She murmured a low "ow" and playfully glared at him. She grabbed the cushion but before she could've set her eyes on him, he grabbed her wrists and threw her on the floor. Momo let out a playful yelp as she landed on her bottom.
A handsome, playful smirk arose to his features, but immediately faded away as Momo grabbed his forearms and pulled him down with her. Toushiro gasped at her strength and was suddenly on the floor as well.
Momo's childish giggles lingered in his head, causing him to stop for a second and stare at her. But that was a fatal mistake. Momo grabbed the cushion and threw it at him again, laughing as it caused him to fall back.
"Shit!"
"Got you twice now!"
While Toushiro grabbed the poorly handled cushion, Momo got up and ran behind the couch, her face bright red and her skirt messy. As soon as she noticed Toushiro standing up, she shrieked and shifted away.
She looked around, choosing where to go, but suddenly stopped dead in her tracks as she heard a familiar bark.
Oh no…
She turned around and gasped as she saw Hyorinmaru run towards her. "No!" she shrieked, running towards his owner as the dog tried to bite the hem of her skirt.
Hyorinmaru barked and jumped, causing the frightened teenager to jump on top of the couch and move towards the end.
"Toushiro, get your dog!"
"Nah, this is too interesting."
Ignoring his unfair response, she grabbed another cushion and threw it at the playful dog. She would pay Jenaline later for the soon-to-be destroyed furniture, but now, her main priority was to get away from the rottweiler.
"Would you stop smiling and get your dog away?"
"He's not going to bite you, stupid. He simply wants to sniff you. It's what he does when he meets people. Let him sniff your hand."
"Sniff my hand? You mean bite my hand!"
Toushiro shook his head disbelievingly and grabbed her wrist, forcing her down onto the floor. But instead of landing on the floor, she leaped and jumped on him.
Toushiro stumbled back but did not fall as he caught her bridal style, and soon an idea popped into his head.
"Here, you hungry, boy?" he asked, bending down and stretching his arms out so Hyorinmaru could sniff (bite, in Momo's case) the frightened girl.
"Toushiro, stop!"
Momo shrieked as Hyorinmaru's wet tongue licked her hand and then her face. She closed her eyes tightly and wrapped her arms around Toushiro's neck, wriggling her legs up and down simultaneously. She shifted herself closer to his body, burying her head on his chest as she felt Hyorinmaru nip her.
"Down boy!" came Jenaline to the rescue, putting on an apron and grabbing Hyorinmaru by its collar.
The motherly-figure looked at Momo, who was still in his arms, and asked, "Momo, did he bite you?"
"N-No…"
"Good. And oh gosh, what a mess! Toushiro, don't tell me you let the dog play on the couch. You know better."
Before he could've denied the accusation, Momo turned her head and frowned. "That was me, not the dog, trying to run away. I'm sorry. I'll fix everything up."
"Thank you, Momo; but don't be sorry, Hyorinmaru should be out in the backyard anyway. C'mon, boy."
The dog obeyed and followed Jenaline outside.
Once it was gone, Momo shifted away from Toushiro and led herself down, fixing her clothes and hair. Then, she started fixing the couch and picking up the tossed cushions from the floor.
Tired from their childish game, Toushiro threw himself on the couch and resumed watching his game, cursing as he suddenly found his favorite team losing.
"That's not a nice word to say in front of a lady."
"I see no lady here."
Momo scoffed at him and finally hit him one last time with the cushion. "You're not funny."
"You just lack a sense of humor."
"And you lack a brain."
"I don't need a brain to be smarter than you… And by the way, your zipper's down."
"What-"
"Made you look, stupid. You're wearing a skirt."
Damn, he got her. And good.
"That wasn't funny." she said and headed upstairs, her face flushing and her heart pounding faster. Oh gosh, she had to tell all of this to Johnny….
"Your skirt's ripped from the back. I can see your white panties."
"Liar. My skirt's not ripped and I'm wearing shorts under!" And I'm not wearing white underwear, stupid. She added mentally.
Toushiro smirked and looked back at the TV screen, accepting his defeat…for now.
The following day, at school, Momo had told Johnny everything; and obviously, Johnny was happy and giggling like a spoiled little girl. She had explained to him how the fight started to where he tried to trick her by saying that her skirt had been ripped open.
Johnny, being Johnny of course, wanted to celebrate by going out for pizza after school. Momo agreed to the offer but not without telling Jenaline first.
Throughout the entire day, Momo's thoughts had drifted from school work to Toushiro. What would it feel like to become his girlfriend?
Slow your thoughts there, girl. Just because you two had a little fun game doesn't mean he's head-over-heels for you. Her mother's thoughts had projected in her mind. She remembered her mother telling her this over and over, not to mistake human action for affection.
As soon as the bell rang and Momo called Jenaline to notify her, Johnny and her headed out the building but not for long.
Standing a good six to seven feet away from them were the same photographers that had been around Jenaline's home: cameras, pencil, and notepad ready in hands. But this time, they were interviewing random students, most who didn't even know Momo.
"Hey, there she is!" one reporter said, and suddenly, the whole school was staring at her.
"Momo Hinamori, are you responsible for the death of Asia Hinamori and Lobert Thang?"
I'm finished! Thanks for reading & I decided to dedicate this chapter to Constance McMillen. Constance McMillen (a lesbian) was going to her [senior] prom with her girlfriend, but unfortunately, the school and state of Mississippi (in the United States) became pissy about it and decided to cancel prom for everybody. Obviously, her classmates were angry at her. In my opinion, that's stupid! Why would you cancel prom for the WHOLE senior class just because someone wanted to take his boyfriend or her girlfriend? Is being gay that big of deal now? Thankfully my school doesn't have that stupid rule and everybody can go with whomever they want to prom.
But on the bright side, Constance was then invited to other schools' proms! Lucky her being invited to proms from other schools....and she got a scholarship too! Obviously, the U.S. is still dealing with discrimination and ignorance, so it'll take time for everybody to be equal. And I thought the U.S. was a country for equality....
Google Constance McMillen's story for more details. I just gave you guys a quickie...
Anyway, those pesky reporters have found out where Momo goes to school and they're interviewing other students! How would you feel if some reporter when up to you and asked you if it was true that the new kid at school was a prostitute and a murderer? Crazy, eh?
Bleach has captured my interest again cuz Ichimaru appeared (for the manga) again and he's going BANKAI! I've always been curious about Gin's bankai... it's about time! xD
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