Aaaand we're back from the dead.

To sum up the past near month-and-a-half; procrastination, procrastination, sleep, procrastination. With a little bit of Writer's Block tossed in for anger purposes.

School's here, which apparently kicks me back into gear. I won't question it.

Hiatus over. Time to get back to work.

Enjoy.

(It would be just hilarious if I didn't post anything for another week after this. You know. After the anger wears off.)

(…I'll, uh, try not to let that happen.)

My Missed Chance – Chapter Seven

"-And then she said that she was going to go over to Haku's house instead if I didn't let her use it, and so I said 'Fine, go ahead and go, then, see if I care,' and so then Teto said…"

Len and Neru were walking together from his car across the school parking lot, about ten minutes before the bell the day after he spoke with Luka. Len had received a phone call from Neru when he was preparing to leave himself, saying that she missed the bus and needed someone to drive her. He agreed, went over to pick her up, and assumed that they'd have a nice, quiet morning to collect themselves.

He was wrong.

"-What gets me about the whole thing is that she didn't even tell me who it was." Neru looks at Len as they walked side by side. "Are you even listening?"

"Hm? Yeah, yeah, I'm listening," he said, quickly hobbling together the sparse details he'd actually heard her say over the course of their drive. "Haku, Teto, your phone, and some kid I don't know. Right?"

"You have to ask if you're right?" She shoved him lightly. "You never listen to my stories, Len. I listen to you whenever to have something important to tell me."

"I have never once had anything important to tell you."

"But if you did, I'd be listening!" she exclaimed. "The point is you shouldn't ignore your friends. And you should talk more. That's a point too."

"I wasn't ignoring you, Neru; I got most of what you were saying." As they reached the school's front door, he held it open for her as she entered. He walked in behind her and she waited for him to catch up. "I've just had other things on my mind lately."

"Like what?"

"You don't need to worry about it."

"Aaw, see?" She tugged at his arm. "This is what I mean. You never tell anyone anything about yourself, and most people think you're a loner who never says anything nowadays."

"They shouldn't. I hang out with you and you talk enough for both of us."

"But they do anyway! And you need to fix that by making new friends, or something!"

"I have plenty of friends already, Neru."

"Really?" She looked at him skeptically as they stopped in front of his locker. "Name some."

He paused midway through dialing the combination. "…You?"

"That's sweet, but I don't count because I'm asking you."

"Well- Wait, what do you mean by 'sweet?'"

"Name some more."

"Erm…" He thought over his current social life. "Uh, Rin? I Guess?"

Neru raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"You're surprised?"

"Um, yes! You're not the most outwardly social person I know, yeah, but you're still a cool guy!"

"…Uh…" Len took stuffed his bag into his locker and closed the door. "Thanks, I guess?"

"You're welcome. Oh," she gasped, "Hey! I have an idea."

"Oh really." He said dryly as he turned with a single book under his arm, walking off towards Neru's locker- their usual second morning destination whenever he drove her. "What is it?"

"You should just become friends with all the people I'm friends with. I could introduce you to them before class starts and we could meet up later to-"

"That's alright, Neru," he said as her talking slowed to a stop.

"…What do you mean, 'alright?' I think you'd like them, and I'm pretty sure they don't have any reason to not like you."

"That's just… That's alright." He scratched the back of his head and Neru stepped up her pace to walk a few feet in front of him. She spun around as they turned past a corner into a near-empty hallway and walked backwards, looking at him. "Nothing personal against your friends, but I'm not interested in meeting new people any time soon."

"Hmph." Neru crossed her arms. "That's not an attitude you win with in life."

"It's the attitude I win with in life."

"Oh, come ooon, Len. I…" She stuttered. "I, uh, want to spend more time with you."

He slowed and gave her a quizzical look.

"Er…You know. With my other friends, and all…"

It took Len a few seconds to respond. He thought, 'I… Hm.'

"Uh… Well, I guess I could go somewhere…" Their wide eyes met and blinked. "…With… You and your friends."

"Um… Good." After a few moments, Neru smiled. "Good! I'll get a few people together and we'll… Go… Do… Stuff."

"Sounds… Like fun. I guess?"

The school bell rang out.

"Oh," Neru looked up at a nearby clock. "I guess I'm going to my locker alone today, then, eh?"

"No. No, it's fine." Len motioned for her to come along with him. "I'm sure Luka won't care if I'm late again."

Neru's eyes practically glistened a smile. "You're sure?"

"'Course." He said, shrugging. "If I told her it was because I'm 'making new friends,' anyway." He motioned for her again. "Now let's go. I don't want to take too much time away from these other friends of yours."

"Um… Alright?"

"I'm sure they'll be fascinated by your tales of arguments between Haku and Teto."

"Ah. Alright."

They smiled at each other. 'I… Guess it's not a total waste of time to hang out with Neru for a day.' Len thought. 'It can't go too badly.'

They smiled again, and went on their way.