Renewing Hope chapter 4 Mall
(Normal Pov)
The next morning Amu was getting ready. She got a text from Ikuto "see you at the mall Amu-koi". Amu texted back "alright see you there". Amu headed out the door, seeing Rima and Yaya across the street.
"Hey! Amu-chi! Come on!" Yaya yelled across from the street, waving her arms. The three girls walked to the mall.
(at Lins house Lin's pov)
I woke up at 11:00am from the sounds of Akira and Elena shouting in my ear. "Hey Lin-chan, wake up I hear that woman coming upstairs." I got up quickly, headed to the bathroom, and locked the door.
The knob turned a bit as I heard Katherine say, "Watch when you get out, you ungrateful child," and she slammed on the door.
I waited a minute then sighed in relief and hopped into the shower. After the shower, I quickly changed and unlocked the bathroom door, then stuck my head out the door to look around. Alright, the coast was clear. I quickly headed into my room and, to my surprise I saw her standing in the middle of my room holding my keys and wallet.
"Where do you think you're going, you brat!" She lifted her unoccupied hand to strike me.
I closed my eyes and took the beating like it's nothing, but this time she gave me a bruised up rib cage and busted lip. I fixed myself after and walked out of hell.
(Gash's pov)
I know I agreed to meet up with everyone at the mall but, for starters, I don't know my way around yet. Man, I wish I could have gotten that girl Lin's number. I'd been walking for about thirty minutes when Zero came out of shell.
"Oi! Gash, haven't you found the place yet?"
"No, I haven't, Zero. Why do you think I'm still walking?" I stopped and looked around, thinking to myself maybe I should ask a neighbor. As I walked up to a person trimming his bushes, I heard a door open three door down. I turned to look and who do I see? It's that guy, that Jake, or whatever. I took a deep breath and walked over to his direction.
(Jake's pov)
I walked out my house, heading in the direction of the mall when I looked up and saw that boy Gash. What the hell is he doing here? I stopped and stared at him as he came towards me. "Where do you think you're going, kid? The mall is in that direction," I say, pointing towards the mall.
Gash looked at me and said, "Funny thing,, I was just about to ask for directions from someone else." He gestured at Hoyan-san from across the street. "To tell you the truth, I was sort of lost."
"Well of course you are, kid. Good thing I hadn't left yet or we would have summed up the day looking for your sorry ass and Yaya would have not been happy. So let's head on over there. The others must be there by now."
(normal pov)
As Jake and Gash met up with the rest of the gang just outside the mall, Jake greeted everyone. "Hey, is everyone here yet?"
Amu looked at Jake. "No, not yet. We are still waiting on Lin-chan.
"No way, she's still not here yet?" Gash was surprised, thinking that she would be one of the first ones to arrive. He felt Jake glare at him and he glared back. Even though he was worried for Lin, the kid was getting on his last nerve. There was just something about him that got to him and he didn't understand what it was.
A few minutes later, Lin showed up. "Hey, minna. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Yaya ran up to her and exclaimed, "Lin-chan! Lin-chan, where were you?" She looked like she was about to cry. "Lin-chan wasn't here yet and Jake-kun and Gash-kun wanted to fight over you. Well, now that you're here, let's go!" As she finished she ran into the mall, and Tadase and Kukia ran after her along with Utau.
Ikuto sighed. "Well, I guess that leaves Amu-koi, Jake, Gash, Lin, and I as another group." As he looked at the others, Amu looked at Lin.
"Hey, Lin-chan, what happen to your cheek? It's all red."
"Oh, um, it's nothing, Amu-chan. I just tripped, that's all. You know I'm a klutz," Lin responded, trying to sound casual.
"Well then, why don't I take you to the bathroom and help you clean up a bit more, okay?"
"Um, alright then. Thank you, Amu-chan." She smiled and they head over to Ikuto.
"Ikuto, I'm going to go get Lin-chan cleaned up, alright?" Amu said and Ikuto nodded, looking down at the younger girl, worriedly.
Jake looked at Lin, then at Gash. 'Damn that guy. Why does he have to mess with me? Well, just so he knows, Lin will be mine.'
Ikuto saw Jake glaring at Gash. As soon as the girls were out of sight, he grabbed both of them by the neck. "Okay, guys. What's going on here? What's with all the fighting? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two were starting to fall for each other."
Instead of trying to help Lin, the two guys looked at each other.
After a moment of silence, Jake scoffed. "Fall for him? Please! Yeah right, Ikuto-sempai! Don't make me laugh." However, he wouldn't look at either of them in the eye.
(Restroom scene)
"Alright, Lin-chan, tell me what happened. No way that busted lip came from a fall or that red cheek. Please, tell me; I'd like to help you," she pleaded.
"Please, Amu-chan. I swear nothing really happened. I just fell down some stairs then tripped on the way here, that's all."
Amu got closer to Lin as she held Lin's cheek gently and took off her makeup. Lin accidently winced when Amu got too close. The older girl frowned. "I'm not grabbing your cheek rough, Lin-chan. Unless it's something else." She examined Lin closely, then gave Lin a hug.
She winced again, more harshly this time.
"I knew something else was there." Amu lifted up Lin's shirt and saw a bruise forming. Her eyes widened. "Lin-chan, how did happen?"
Just as Lin was about answer her phone rings and she looked down at it, opening it. "It's a text from Yaya telling us she wants everyone to meet at the karaoke place. I guess this will have to continue later, but now we have to go get the guys," she said quickly, pulling her shirt down.
Although Amu wasn't happy, they walked out if the bathroom and went back to Ikuto, Jake, and Gash.
"Hey guys, Yaya wants to go karaoke. Let's go."
As the group headed over there, Gash took a sneak glance at Jake and blushed slightly and was glad he didn't notice.