Chapter 07:Invisible Wall

Fenris didn't make contact that weekend. Hitomi was still worried, and hurried to school, hoping to meet him on the way. She looked down his street and in the place she had found him when it was raining, but he wasn't there. Maybe he already left. Hitomi spotted Rika and waved at her.

"Morning, Hitomi-chan!" Rika said in a cheerful tone.

"Hey Rika," Hitomi replied, but couldn't manage to put the same enthusiasm to her greeting.

"What's wrong?" Rika asked, falling into step beside her. "Boy trouble?"

Hitomi stopped and glanced at her.

"I'm right! Hm...let me guess, he didn't call?"

She slumped. She wasn't sure if Rika was that perceptive, or just a really good guesser.

"Boys are so stupid sometimes. Why didn't you message him or something?"

"It's a little complicated," Hitomi started, and proceeded to tell her friend what had happened yesterday when they got to Fenris's house.

"What?! And then Fenris hasn't called you? What is that boy thinking?"

"I wish I knew," Hitomi admitted. "I'm worried about him. I mean, what if I really am affecting his health? I guess I'll get a chance to talk to him at school, at least."

They reached the school, and went straight to the shoe lockers before splitting up to go to their separate classes. Hitomi was early, and there were only a few people in class. Fenris wasn't in his seat yet. Maybe I was just too early to meet up with him today. Anders was already there and smiled at her when she walked over.

"Hey Hitomi-chan, have a good weekend?" he asked.

"Not bad. I got a little further in Age of Dragons." Hitomi considered telling him about Fenris, but decided telling Rika was enough. She didn't want to make things awkward for him by talking about his illness. She'd asked Rika not to mention it to Merrill or anyone else.

"You should have said something. I haven't been to the arcade in ages," he commented.

"Maybe next time, then."

Isabela came in and sat in her seat.

"Bela, earrings," Hitomi said to her, and Isabela startled.

"Oops, forgot I had them on again," she admitted with a chuckle. "I'm so used to wearing them when I'm not at school. Jewelry is a lot more common in Rivain, I don't see what the big deal is about it."

The rest of the class finished arriving, but Fenris wasn't there. Is he running late? Oh no, is he sick? Hitomi pulled out her phone. Still no contact. She typed a quick message to Fenris: 'Are you okay?' and put the phone silent as class was about to start.

He didn't show. Hitomi made sure to take detailed notes that day, to share with him later. She sighed when lunch came, looking over at his empty chair. She checked her phone again, but there was still no response. She got up to go meet the girls for lunch.

"Anders, you coming to lunch?" she asked him.

"Yeah, I actually packed something today...but where is Fenris?"

"I'm not sure. I think he might be sick."

"Are you planning on going to visit later?" he asked.

"I'm thinking about it."

"I think he'd like that. Well, I can't imagine any guy not being happy that his girlfriend wants to take care of him. I know I would be," he said, looking away.

"Then I'll go," Hitomi decided, and felt a little better. But, what if his dad doesn't let me see him? That thought killed her excitement, but she still wanted to try, regardless. They went to the roof to meet the others.

When class finally ended for the day, she checked her phone one more time. Nothing. She picked up her bag and got ready to leave.

Ms. Satama called out to her, "Hawke, if you could stay behind for a minute."

"I'll wait for you at the gate and walk with you," Anders offered. "It's not often I get to these days."

"Okay, that sounds nice. I want to stop by that little market, though, on the way, the one that has the good produce. See you in a bit."

He nodded, and left the classroom.

"Hawke, you never turned in your application for student council," the teacher said.

Hitomi honestly hadn't even given the application another thought after the day she discussed it with Fenris. That alone was telling. She'd been so focused on Fenris that she'd forgotten all about it. Maybe she shouldn't add anything else to her schedule right now. She answered, "Sorry, Ms. Satama, but I think I'm just going to focus on my studies for now."

"Okay, I can't say I'm not a little disappointed, but I understand."

Hitomi left, feeling a bit guilty. Had she made the right decision about student council? The teacher had been right; playing video games wasn't going to get her into a good university, but joining the student council might have. She changed out of her shoes and walked to the gate. She's not surprised that Bethany and Carver aren't waiting with Anders. Carver probably has basketball practice, since he decided to join the team. Bethany has been spending more and more time with her ever growing group of friends.

She tried to remember the last time it had just been her and Anders. They'd grown up a few streets apart. He lived a bit further out now, but she had a lot of fond memories of their childhood together.

"Ready to go?" he asked, smiling.

"Yep."

They walked the tree-lined streets together, and Anders was careful to make sure he had the side next to the street.

"Did something happen with Fenris?" Anders asked.

Hitomi sighed. "Sort of. I met his dad, and he implied Fenris isn't well, and that I'm somehow making it worse. That was two days ago, and I haven't heard from him since."

"That selfish little...he shouldn't make you worry like that. How hard is it to send a message telling you that he's okay?" Anders's jaw ticked.

"I just hope his dad will let me see him."

"You're not going there by yourself."

"Huh?"

"If his dad is like that...not to mention, you shouldn't be alone with a guy at his house, Hitomi-chan."

"Oh. Right." She blushed. "Guess it's a good thing you decided to come with me, then."

They walked to the small market. Hitomi picked out a few apples, paid for her purchase, and they continued to Fenris's house. Standing outside again reminded her of his father's words, delivered in a flat tone, telling her that her presence was putting pressure on Fenris. He hadn't even been angry. She sighed.

"It's okay, Hitomi. We're here together," Anders reminded her. "Want me to push the buzzer?"

"No, I'll do it." She walked to the speaker and pushed the buzzer. There was no response for a minute, and then the deep tone of Fenris's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Yes?"

"It's Hitomi. Anders and I came to see you. Can we come in?"

"Just a moment." The intercom clicked off.

They waited, and the door finally opened to reveal Fenris standing there. He looked healthy enough. Maybe he wasn't sick, after all.

"I thought you might be sick, so I brought you my notes from school and something to eat.," Hitomi stated.

"Come in." Fenris stepped inside, and gestured for them to follow.

They walked in and removed their shoes, then followed Fenris into the living room area. A comfortable-looking couch sat across from a large flat-screen television, and was surrounded by several end tables. Nothing overtly fancy, but everything matched and seemed to be made of good quality materials.

"Is it really okay for us to come in?" Hitomi asked.

"Yes, my father left again this afternoon so he should be gone for a few days at least," he responded.

"Are you going to tell her why you didn't answer her message?" Anders asked. "You had Hitomi-chan worried sick."

Hitomi blushed at Anders's direct question, embarrassed to admit she had been worried.

Fenris sighed. "It was my father. He's grown...strange lately. Hitomi, remember how I told you how he kept saying my memory loss was causing our distant relationship? He's been insistent that we spend time together. He hates that he has to work on the road all the time, and gets angry if I'm not here when he gets back."

"He said…" Hitomi hesitated. "He said you weren't in good health and that I was putting too much pressure on you."

"That bastard," Fenris grumbled. "He shouldn't have said that to you. Anders...would you give us a few minutes alone?"

Anders nodded, and headed to the front door. "I'll be by the gate, but I'm coming back inside in a few minutes."

"Thanks," Hitomi said to him as he exited.

When the door closed and he knew they were alone, he looked at her. "It's about my tattoos. I don't have any memory of getting them, but it's not hard to see that they're not normal. You saw what happened outside the other day. Whenever I get...emotional, they tend to glow. I've asked Father about it, but like everything about my accident, he doesn't want to talk about it. If there even was an accident."

"You think he's lying about the accident?"

"No...I don't know. I just wish I understood why he acts the way he does. There are no pictures of my mother in this house. I've never visited her grave, and we can't talk about anything about my accident."

"What does it feel like when you...when your tattoos do the glowing thing?"

He sighs. "It hurts, but feels right at the same time. Sometimes, I see things. I want to think they're memories, but I'm not sure."

"The glow brings back your memories? Could there be something he doesn't want you to remember?"

"I've thought of that, yes. Father is not really a cruel man. He is good to me when we are together, provided I don't bring up Mother or the accident. Maybe there's a reason I shouldn't remember. What if it's something horrible?"

Hitomi thinks about it. Protecting his child is something a good father would do, if that's the case. Without knowing more, maybe she shouldn't judge him so harshly.

"I'm not sure either, but I'm glad you told me, Fenris."

"I thought you might be afraid of me, after what happened. I am sorry I did not respond to your message."

"Of course I'm not afraid of you! I'm your friend, I want to be here for you." The word "friend" felt odd to her. Was that what they were? She thought about the past few days, and her worry. That's what someone would do for a friend, right? It didn't have to mean more than that. But even as she had the thought, she knew it wasn't completely true. Fenris's smile just now made her heart melt.

Anders returned then, and she was relieved not to have to examine that thought any closer. She looked down at her bag, and the two apples it contained.

"I didn't know what was wrong, exactly, so I bought you a couple of apples. You don't have to eat them if you don't want to, but I thought since I was coming over…" she stopped, feeling embarrassed at having jumped to conclusions.

"It was a nice gesture, thank you. And I have an idea on something we can do with your notes."

He took out his phone and snapped pictures of the handwritten notes. "Now you don't have to worry about leaving them with me."

"I wasn't worried about the notes," she protested. "So...I'm not hurting you, then, by being around you?"

"Definitely not, Hitomi. I'll be back at school tomorrow."

"Good. Glad to hear you worked it out," Anders said a little curtly. "It's getting a little late, we should get going."

"Of course, you're right. Goodbye, Fenris. I'll see you in the morning."