Chapter 4

Rima had been in Seiyo High for several months and she was well into the monotonous rhythm of wake up, eat a quick breakfast while feeding Emiko (because Mrs. Mashiro had been leaving earlier for work and staying later, and Mr. Mashiro had had to stay behind when they moved, though he was currently discussing a contract with a company nearby), then bringing Emi to daycare, then school. Rima was late most days first period, but because she was Ms. Song's star pupil, she was often excused. After a week of being late, Ms. Song had told her to just come to class. Attendance wasn't due until the end of class, so no one needed to know. Rima was grateful for that. Any reprieve from the dour Mrs. Goodchild, the receptionist, was a blessing.

Emiko was in a new daycare because Sora's new twins, two boys, were born the month before, but Rima didn't like Linda as much. She was a kind enough woman to the kids, but her personality got on Rima's nerves. Linda didn't like Rima bringing and picking up Emi from daycare. Like Rima cared. They could use all the money they could get thanks to the hospitals bills they were still paying off from the Bad Days. Rima had been in and out of hospitals all the time, and eventually they had had to live paycheck to paycheck. And then Emi had been born, a month early at that, with Rima back in the hospital again. Besides that one incident a half a year ago, the hospital visits had died down completely. Rima was thankful for that. Never again was too soon, in her opinion.

After school, Rima picked up Emiko and on Friday's they got ice cream at Belle's Creamery and sometimes talked to Nagihiko if it was a slow day. Which thankfully wasn't often on a Friday, Rima thought with a small smile. She hated that her walls always fell around that Purple-head. It was too much like Jaimie, and while Nagi was nothing like Him (Rima would never make that comparison lightly), she often found herself resorting to defensive tactics, which often involved insults. A LOT of insults.

"Rima. Rima!"

"H-huh?" Rima asked, blinking out of her thoughts. She turned her head to look to look at the girl who had said her name, Amu Hinamori. The pinkette rolled her eyes, in her "Cool & Spicy" mode since they were in school. Whenever they just hung out, Amu was actually pretty shy.

"You're zoning out. Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," Rima snapped at her best friend. Amu stared at her incredulously. Rima sighed, absently rubbing the scar on her arm. It was a habit she had picked up a while ago, though she couldn't say when. She hadn't even realized she did it until Nagihiko pointed it out one day. "I'm just thinking. Hey, my mom gets out of work early today, so she's going to be picking up Emiko. Do you want to do something? Maybe go shopping?"

"I actually can't," Amu replied apologetically. "I promised Nadeshiko and Yaya I'd see a play with hem. I'd invite you, but the tickets are sold out. I'm sorry!"

"It's fine," Rima said, looking down.

"Maybe Utau-"

"She and I aren't really that good of friends," Rima interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I'll just go shopping alone."

"I can go with you," a voice offered. Rima turned and glared at its owner.

"Expect nothing, remember?" she retorted.

Nagi sighed and put a hand to his heart as though she had hurt it. There was a reason they were Ms. Song's best students. He was pretty convincing. "There are things I need as well," he replied congenially. He lowered his voice and added, "And, there seems to be something wrong, and our deal was you'd come to me for help, remember?"

Rima huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. You can come, but I'm not promising to tell you anything."

Nagihiko shrugged, smiling serenely. "That's fine. Maybe you just need to be around someone you don't like to realize the rest of your life doesn't suck so bad." As Amu's brows furrowed, Rima let out a startled laugh.

The rest of the day passed kind of slowly. Rima convinced herself that that was because she didn't really want to go shopping with Nagi. Nevertheless, since they had made plans second period, Math, her other six classes crawled on: Art, Literature, P.E. lunch, Modern World History, Anatomy, and Debate. She was really good in Debate. She had the class with Nagihiko and they were usually on different sides of the argument- if both were in class, neither side won.

When the bell rang at the end of the day, Rima dragged her feet but Nagi didn't seem to care, allowing her to waste as much time as she wanted. By the time they took a break around supper time, Rima felt much more comfortable around him- more so than then all those Fridays combined had added up to. Rima got a coke and medium fries. Nagihiko just ordered a water and led Rima to an empty table. Rima was laughing at some stupid comment he had made when he suddenly grew serious. Always one to react to other people's emotions, Rima frowned at the boy she would've considered a friend, if she trusted boys.

"What?" Rima snapped, getting defensive. Nagi shook his head.

"No, we aren't playing that game. You were upset earlier. Tell me what's wrong."

Rima growled in frustration, angrily ripping a fry in half. "It's just Emiko's new babysitter. I don't like her- correction, she doesn't like me, so I don't like her."

Nagihiko frowned, tilting his head to the side and studying the blonde teen. She always had a different tone when she spoke about Emiko. Rima had come and talked to him about little things before- a test she didn't think she did well on, little things like that just to vent. Nagi shook his head. He was probably imagining it. "So, you what you're saying is that you want a new babysitter for your sister?" he asked.

Rima hesitated, then nodded slowly.

"I don't think that's your decision."

"It is my decision," she snapped back with her infamous death glare. Then she paused and released a breath, her hand going up to her scar. "What I mean is, I'm the one who picks her up and drops her off everyday, you know? I shouldn't have to deal with that, and I wouldn't want my sister in that kind of environment, either."

Nagihiko nodded, resting his cheek in his hand. "I understand. I have a solution, too, but it means you'll have to see more of me," he added with a toothy grin.

"What's your solution?" Rima asked warily.

"My mother used to really like taking kids in, but she got sick a few years ago and hasn't started up her business again. I'm sure she'd love to watch Emiko for you."

Rima turned her head away, staring blankly at the wall for a few minutes before nodding slowly. "That could work. I really liked Sora, but she probably won't be taking kids in again for a few years- at least not until Emi's in preschool, so we won't need her." Rima looked back at Nagi and smiled shyly. "Could you ask for me?"

"No problem," Nagi replied kindly, his smile growing wider when Rima suddenly blushed. She growled at him in frustration and threw half of her mangled French fry at him. They were both soon laughing again, the tension dispelled, and for that, Rima was grateful. Even though she was getting dangerously close to Jaimie territory with her feelings for Nagihiko, she felt safer around him then she had around any boy- or person, for that matter- since the Bad Days. Rima wondered if she just might be able to let Nagi in, past her cold outer barrier.

My favorite song right now is "Oh Mom" by T.O.P.. I think the English lyrics would make a good song-fic… not that I know how to do that or who would star. I just wanted to say that. It's a REALLY good song, once you get into it. SO GO LISTEN TO IT (you don't really have to).

OK, so after my shameless promotion of Big Bang and it's members, on to reviews :D

Blueberryfan10: :D Thank you for staying long enough to see it wasn't as unoriginal as it originally looks (xP).

WiiWrite: Ohmegosh, I totally see. You're RIGHT, the questions look so much better in the reviews (lol). And thank you ^^ I hope I don't disappoint with where things go (even if, like I mentioned last chapter, I hate myself for it -_- ).

OK, so currently I'm suffering from writer's block… and I was wondering if you want other couples to get airtime. It's totally fine if you don't, just that this decision dictates how I continue. I don't want to put them in if ya'll want this to be just Rimahiko. It's up to you, my lovely readers TT^TT