~ Chapter 4 – Laundry ~
The first weeks of school were finally over and the hysteria was disappearing, as the new students found their new surroundings familiar. It was great, since the library was much quieter now without everyone's excited chatter about different activities. Ichigo was currently trying to get some reading done in time for his exam later this semester. Yes, he was a complete nerd for beginning to study this early, but it always had been in his favor on his previous exams. He had yet to fail one. Unfortunately for his studying purpose, Shinji and the group had found his table at the library, and wasn't that concentrated on their own school work. Sado was the only one actually trying to get some reading done. Shūhei and Kira were supposed to work on a group project together, but Shinji and Renji didn't seem to care at all, and bothered them as much as they could. Ichigo cursed himself for forgetting his headphones this morning; he was in desperate need of shutting out the racket from Shinji and Renji. He was impressed over Sado's abilities to block everything out; he's probably used to it. Feeling the need for a break, he rose from his seat to walk around a little and get some coffee. Caffeine apparently made you concentrate better for a while, according to recent studies. "I need a break." He said and walked away.
To think that going out from his comfort zone and study at the University would backfire right at him wasn't something he had taken into his calculations. He had been so angst filled over his decision to do it in the first place. Hell, he had been nervous the whole morning and when he got there to find a vacant table. It was a little relieving that he had gotten company in the end, so that he didn't look like a complete loner even if it ruined the purpose a little. He would never try to study at school again, that's for sure. He needed his quiet.
There was a couple of vending machines right outside the entrance of the library, since the cafeteria lay on the opposite direction on campus. The coffee probably would taste like crap, although he didn't want to make the walk so he had to endure it. Eyeing the suspiciously cheap price, he put in the requested coins in to the machine, and watched as the mug was filled with the liquid. He took a sip from it and frowned, the coffee was disgusting. A chocolate bar to ease the taste… hopefully. To not get back too soon, he took the long route to his table. He felt more confident to move around in the library after being there for the most of the day.
Many students were concentrated on their business, plastered behind computer screens. Seems like the school work finally caught up on them. It was a table that stood out among all the others. Not as a table itself but the lone person sitting at it. It was the one and only, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Ichigo studied his features; Grimmjow seemed to be in deep concentration as he was reading a book. Simultaneously his right hand was writing notes in a notepad and at times, punching in numbers in a calculator. Wow, he'd never take his annoying neighbor to be an actual nerd. The scene looked so wrong in many ways right now.
Ichigo took a step back, hid behind some shelves and took another route to his table, to avoid walking past the bluenette. When he came back his friends were still doing everything except studying, Kira and Shūhei got an A for effort, they seemed too had gotten something written down while he was away. He sat down in his seat again and drank his disgusting coffee as well as soothing his taste buds with the chocolate.
"Disgusting, isn't?" Renji commented and pointed at the coffee.
"Yeah, don't know if they can call this coffee even."
"Well, they seem to earn some since they still stand there. Laziness pays off I suppose. Shinji loves it though, don't you?"
"What, the vending coffee? It's great! I can't understand why everyone speak so badly about it."
"Something is wrong with you, or at least your tongue." Renji said.
"I can assure you that there's nothing wrong with my tongue, I can even call someone to prove it. In fact, no one has complained."
"That's all I want to know regarding your tongue and where it has been."
"Speak for yourself; your tongue has been on places too. Ain't that right Ichigo?"
The orangette froze and a wild fire erupted in his face and neck. He was so chocked that he couldn't get a word out to defend himself. Quietly he packed his belongings and left the table. Renji stared as Ichigo left and shot Shinji a mean glare. The others didn't seem to notice of the quick departure.
"Good job, Shinji. He entrusted you with that sensitive information."
Renji got up and followed after Ichigo, who had already bolted through the doors. He had to look around a little to find him among the other students.
"Hey, Ichigo! Wait!" He hollered.
The shout went unheard and Ichigo steered his way out of the main building to the bicycle stand. He kneeled to unlock his front tire, finding the hands shaking, as he tried to fit the key into the keyhole.
"Ichigo." Renji said softly.
Damn it.
"What?" He responded snappishly. His face still red, and eyes glossy. The bike was rolled out and he made to leave.
"Shinji didn't mean what he said. He's a klutz who doesn't think before talking."
"That was private, I trusted him. I-" His voice broke and he chose to stare at Renji's shoes. He took a breath and looked up at the redhead. "I'm sorry. It's not you I'm angry at. Tell him that I'm disappointed. I'm going home, can't go back now."
"Okay, I'll tell him.
Ichigo bicycled home, deep in his own thoughts, in fact he almost got run over when he missed that a light was red. He didn't feel to do anything more today; Shinji's comment had put him in a dark mood. Too bad that he had booked the laundry room later, but it was something that needed to be done. Ichigo sorted his dirty clothes, so that washing would be easier later, and he also put his detergent in the laundry bag to not forget it. The laundry room is in the basement of the house and to forget things that needed to the washing was a pain in the butt to go back and retrieve. It would also result in lost precious time of the already short time span every booking had. Two hours wasn't much to wash and dry the clothes, but usually it was tolerated to dry on the next persons booked time. It was probably the only way to get the whole laundry situation to work for everyone. Small apartments didn't enable in great hanging possibilities.
After he was done with his clothes, he rummaged through his cupboards and fridge for some comfort food. He found a bag of crisps and a can of Pepsi. The perks of living alone were always the choice of what you wanted to eat, on any time you wanted. He turned on the TV and dug in to the bag of crisps. They tasted exceptionally good and the Pepsi was heavenly. Ichigo was easy to please; he didn't require much luxury to be able to have that little extra in life. It was something he was proud of. Glancing at the clock, Ichigo saw that he needed to start go down to the laundry room.
He took his laundry bag and put on a pair of plastic slippers before heading out through the door. Ichigo walked down the steps to the basement with heavy feet. As he came to the laundry room door, he double checked his booking tag to make sure that he got the right date and time. He did of course. Through the door came the sounds from the tumble dryer and drying cupboard, indicating that the precious person still dried their clothes. It was a sign to make him mentally prepared for some human contact, to not be a stuttering fool. He had already managed to embarrass himself to other students in the building before.
As prepared as he was, nothing could make him prepared for what he came across. When he opened the door, he saw his neighbor standing in front of the machines, fiddling with his phone. He almost opted to back away, out through the door again, and forget about the whole laundry duty, but at that moment Grimmjow turned around at the rustling noise from his laundry bag.
"Hey." Grimmjow said in a deep voice as he saw Ichigo.
As much as Ichigo was stunned, he was confused. The bluenette should still be in school. Shouldn't he? He'd saw him! He stood and blinked stupidly for a moment before he recognized something.
"Hi… Uhm, you're doing laundry on my booked time." He pointed out.
"No, I checked before I occupied the machines. It was free."
The laundry times are never free. You need to book almost a week in advance to get one, if you're not lucky to get a canceled one. "The time slots are rarely free. They all are booked a week forward in fact…"
"No way…" Grimmjow stormed out through the door to go and check the slots.
Ichigo sighed. This meant that he wouldn't get any laundry done. Just his luck.
"Man, I'm sorry. I was in a rush and didn't pay enough attention. I can cancel the machines so you can wash."
"Don't do that, your clothes are wet already, it would only make things worse." Ichigo sounded too friendly for his own liking, but it was his nature in complicated situations. "I can wash mine with the 30 minute program, it's better than nothing."
"Oh, okay. I'll let you use the dryers at least."
"Good." Ichigo walked to the machines to check how much time it was left before they finished. It still was much time left. What was he supposed to do now? Walk back and then down again when the machines were done? Today had become so messed up that he almost felt the need to cry. In fact, it almost was panic attack worthy. He could feel how his breathing quickened with the onslaught of angst pressing on his chest. Not now, not in front of someone. The thought made him panic even more. It had become a vicious circle. He needed to get out of here.
"I'll be back." Ichigo managed to press out and bolted past Grimmjow.
He left his laundry bag and begged that it wouldn't get stolen until he came back. The stairs had been taken running, and as soon as he was in the safe confines of his own apartment, he slid down along his door to sit on the floor. Ichigo gasped for air from his running and the pressure in his chest. He concentrated on his breathing and tried to calm down. It worked and his angst slowly poured away. It was a while ago he had an attack like this and it felt good that he managed to prevent it from blooming out fully. Maybe he was getting better. Raising his body from the floor proved to be a little wobbly as his body still hadn't come back. He drank some water to rehydrate. Then it knocked on the door.
Ichigo looked through the peeping hole and found Shinji standing outside his door. He almost thought that it would have been Grimmjow since he'd left so abruptly. Opening the door enough do peer through the crack, he waited for Shinji to say something.
"Can I come in?"
"I have laundry to do so…"
"It will be quick, I promise."
Ichigo sighed and opened the door to invite the blonde inside. Shinji closed the door behind him and stayed there. Ichigo looked at him warily.
"I only wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for what I said before. I forgot that you're shy and not that open about private stuff."
"I'm not mad at you, mostly disappointed. I don't trust people easily and you broke that trust."
"I'm sorry."
"I know that you didn't do it on purpose, but it hurt my feelings."
"Renji already disciplined me, if that's any comfort." Shinji pulled down his collar at his right arm to reveal a dark bruise on his arm.
"Does it hurt?" Ichigo prodded carefully at the bruise.
"Yes, he got an excellent punch."
"Good." Ichigo pressed at the bruise hard, making Shinji complain loudly. "Now we're even." Ichigo said proudly. Shinji rubbed his arm, wincing a little. "Now shoo, I need to head down."
Shinji went to his own apartment, and Ichigo walked down again. He felt a little nauseous, not knowing if Grimmjow still would be there. He'd made a fool out of himself earlier. Today wasn't his lucky day, but he'd come to that conclusion already. Grimmjow where still in the laundry room, looking at the machines.
"You ok?" The bluenette asked while looking at him with a searching gaze.
Ichigo blushed and nodded. He was okay now actually. "Rough day." He explained.
"We all have one of those."
"Yeah." Ichigo said and sighed.
"I didn't know when you would be back, so I stayed and watched your stuff."
Ichigo looked at the laundry bag and then at Grimmjow. "Thanks, I appreciate it."
Grimmjow moved from his spot and emptied the machines of his clothes. Ichigo quickly filled them with his own, put detergent in and started the 30 minute program.
"We had a meeting yesterday, and I got the tickets I promised you. So if you want you can come over later when you're done with the laundry and get them?"
Ichigo swallowed hard. He, going to Grimmjow's, by himself? "I'll do that." Of course you do. Stupid naïve brain.
"Great, I'll see you in a while then."
"Yeah."
Ichigo handled his laundry while thinking about Grimmjow. It didn't occur to him until after he'd walked back to his own apartment that the bluenette had been in his thoughts since they parted. To be on the safe side, he texted Shinji, telling him that he was going over to his neighbor. Since Shinji already had teased him enough today, the blonde didn't say anything vulgar about the visit, and instead encouraged him to go over. 'Try to make a new friend', he'd said. It made sense, you could never have too few friends and it wasn't as if he would attack him. He surely had more tact than that. He was only going to get the tickets, not stay over for something more. It would be short and painless, like ripping of a band aid. Yeah, he was going to be home before he knew it.
After putting back his clean clothes where they belonged, he freshened up in the bathroom. His spiky hair wasn't anything he could tame so he at least brushed his teeth. Changing clothes now would be too obvious given that Grimmjow already had seen him. Ichigo had no idea why he made his visit to his neighbor as such a big deal, it shouldn't be. Somewhere deep inside a part of him cared. The blunette do have annoying habits, but could be kind when he wanted too. Shinji had already claimed him to be 'fucking sexy' and after taken more notice of the other he could agree. There was something wrong with you if you couldn't see it. Renji was a looker himself, but to be honest, Grimmjow was in a league of his own. This of course made Ichigo slightly nervous. He got nervous about many things though.
Ichigo manned up and went outside his door to press the door bell on Grimmjow's. When he pressed it, his heart started to beat really fast in anticipation. The door swung open and Grimmjow invited him inside. The apartment looked much like his, except that it lacked the extra bedroom. As he suspected, and knew from experience, Grimmjow's bed stood against the wall of his bedroom. It was made to his surprise, the apartment was tidy in general and even the dishes were washed. They even seemed to have been washed recently, so Grimmjow must have done it before his arrival. Wow, he hadn't anticipated this at all. Judging from the party habits his neighbor had, he shouldn't be this responsible with house chores. Guess he was wrong. The place smelled nice, it smelled like the bluenette. It was a comfortable smell.
"Did you get your washing done?" Grimmjow's voice broke him out from his thinking. He was still standing in the small hallway, in front of the door.
"I managed, somehow." He could rub it in some more.
Grimmjow made an apologetic face and extended his arm with two small black papers in his hand, the Espada's signature colors of course. Ichigo took them and read the big headlines to get a hang of what the dinner was about.
"Overalls are expected to be worn, if you are part of a club, but everyone can attend, so don't worry about that detail. Do be prepared that people may try to recruit you. Some people take the dinner as their chance to find new members."
"Okay, but since it's a dinner you dress accordingly?"
"Yeah, and we eat a three course meal, Espada tradition style. You will have fun I'm sure."
Not knowing what to rest his eyes on, he chose to look at the tickets instead of staring at Grimmjow like an idiot. He had gotten what he came for; it was his queue to leave.
"Do you want to stay and eat something?"
What, stay? "Thought you couldn't cook?"
"No, no. I got some food boxes in my fridge that was made for me."
Free food, Ichigo. Never say no to free food. "I can stay and eat."
Grimmjow's face lit up and a big smile etched on his lips, showing some white teeth. "You can sit down by the table, while I reheat it."
With a smile like that Ichigo couldn't suppress his blush. It was so…beautiful, and those blue sparkly eyes… No wonder the bluenette had people staying overnight so often. If he seduced with those traits, he would be hard to say no to. You were outright stupid to do so. On the table lay a book and a calculator, probably the one he saw Grimmjow read at the library. It looked difficult at a first glance. Two steaming plates with a fork where put on the table, and Ichigo looked up to see Grimmjow retrieve two glasses of water.
"Thank you." Ichigo said as he received the glass.
Grimmjow sat down opposite to him and started to eat. He had reheated pasta with some sort of mince sauce. Ichigo took a small bite and found the food to be very good.
"It's great isn't it?"
"Very, who made it?"
"My sister actually, she's a cook so I get boxes time to time so that 'I don't starve'. Her own words not mine."
"Then you can thank her from me. It was awhile ago someone made me food."
"You don't see your family?" Grimmjow said concerned.
"You could say that." Ichigo's shoulders sunk a little. "What do you study?" He asked to change the subject.
"I'm gonna be an engineer, if everything goes as planned. What about you?"
"Environmental studies. Started year two of three, I'm almost done."
"Lucky, mines stretches for five years. It never ends."
Ichigo ate more of the food, thinking of what he should say next. Grimmjow beat him to it; "So you've lived in this building the entire time?"
"Yeah, actually didn't have a neighbor before you moved in."
"I thought it was a little bit strange to get a new place to stay this quickly. Never got told why it has been empty."
"That's strange. Why did you move?"
Grimmjow scratched his head in embarrassment. "I got evicted. Complained that I was too loud and shit. Such bull."
You kind of are. "Oh, that's unfortunate."
"The house was full of grannies and grandpas anyway. This building is better, more people in my age span."
"How old are you?" God Ichigo, what is this, a thousand questions?
"I turned 26 this summer."
The bluenette didn't look that much older. Ichigo could never have guessed. If he were to choose, an older guy was more appealing than a younger. He found it hard to think that he would be topped by someone who was younger than him. They should be the strong and protective, therefore lived a little longer to know the world. Guys also matured when they were older. Not that he imagined Grimmjow topping him…not yet. He didn't even know if he was gay or not.
His mind had made him occupied, and almost forgot that he sat in front of someone. When he came back to reality, Grimmjow was looking at him intently. The blue eyes roamed freely and he suddenly became a little self conscious. An uncomfortable blush spread in his neck and upon feeling it, he became even redder in pure embarrassment.
"I never thought that you would agree to come here. You're a shy soul aren't you?"
"I-… That's-..." He couldn't for a coherent sentence; the question was too close to home. He ended up nodding vaguely and looked away, to stare on the floor. What was it with all these people lately knowing his greatest weakness?
"I'm sorry, I just figured since you've changed so much from the first time I met you."
"I have changed, thanks to Shinji. I still am, and you're easy to talk to. I don't let people come close. It's easier that way."
"It might not show, but I was just like you when I was younger."
Ichigo jerked his head back in surprise and looked at Grimmjow. "I don't believe you."
"It's true. People always assume that I was a troublemaker. It will get better, I promise you." Grimmjow flashed a smile, not with teeth this time, but enough to be lethal. Ichigo could already feel himself slowly being poisoned by it, and he didn't mind one bit.
TBC
AN: I like this chapter, but am a little unsure if I have written it too differently from the previous three. Maybe it's Ichigo's confidence that has grown, so it seems a little bit out of place, even though it's progressing as it should? Have I been moving forward to fast, too slow? Let me know what you are thinking!
