A/N: Super sorry for the late update i had exams and stuff. Thank you to everyone reading your reviews make me want to type faster till my fingers break! :D
Disclaimer: Bleach is not mine, it belongs to Tite Kubo (duh), I am just a panda
Chapter 7
Orihime's POV
I look up hopefully as yet another not- Ichigo walks into class. I keep nervously waiting for him to walk in but then the bell rings and Mikami sensei walks into class. She was short woman who always looked exhausted no matter what time of the day you saw her. She always had messy hair that seemed to hold all her stationery. I glumly sit pouting in a class that suddenly seemed boring without my sunshine sulking in his seat. I only start paying attention when the Mikami sensei starts talking about our class project.
"This is going to be 40% of your grade and also it's a group project"
The whole class started cheering loudly until Mikami sensei interrupted the rowdy teens. "It's going to be a presentation so there's not going to be any slacking off! You will also not get to pick your partners! Sorry to disappoint!" the whole class groaned in disappointment at the same time some mumbling things they didn't dare say to her face. "Now I will announce your partners."
She started reading names from a sheet. She placed us in groups of three randomly. Usually I'm paired with Tatsuki and we finish up our work early. But this time it's a random selection so I'm a bit nervous to hear who my partners are.
"Mizuiro Kojima, Kurosaki Ichigo and-" My heart froze and I held my breath.
"and Orihime Inoue." Yes! In my excitement I squealed out loud and the whole class turned to me. I quickly started coughing and stared at my open textbook. I didn't hear the rest of the names; I was just thrilled to be paired with Ichigo.
Ichigo didn't turn up for the first four classes, so when the lunch bell rang all hope I had that he would turn up was shot down the drain. I hope he's not sick or something.
Tatsuki is having a fight with our red haired classmate Chizuru as usual. I'll never understand why they always fight. Chizuru is so nice and friendly. I walked out of class quietly and walked around the hallways, smiling politely at the boys that called out to me. Without a specific destination in mind I unknowingly wandered to the rooftop. It's a beautiful day even though the weather forecasts threaten grey skies. The cool breeze that sweeps through my hair makes me shiver a little.
As I walked further into the open space I was surprised to see Ichigo lying on the floor; asleep. This was where he was I realize. Cautiously I inch closer towards him until I'm standing right beside him. He looks so peaceful when he's sleeping so unlike the fierce fighter he transforms to when he's protecting the people he cares about.
I feel the urge to touch his face. Without even thinking about it I reached forward to brush my fingers through his hair like I'd dreamt of doing for so long. Just before my fingers could touch him, his eyes suddenly snapped open and he grabbed my hand in his.
He moved so quickly I didn't even have time to jerk away. He looked surprised to see me bending over him while I looked mortified to have been caught trying to touch him as he slept. There was a moment of silence that felt like an eternity where we both stared at each other and right when I was about to say something, say some lame excuse to explain what I was doing here; he spoke.
"Inoue?" My name came from his lips like a whispered prayer and I couldn't say anything in that moment because I feared I would shatter the delicate moment. I assume he's still sleepy because he looks a bit dazed. One of his hands held mine and with his other hand he reached out and lightly touched my hair. His fingers gently twirling one of the dangling locks of my hair. My heartbeat accelerated at his simple touch. This isn't a dream right? I don't remember falling asleep. If it is a dream it wouldn't be a problem if I touch him too right? so I boldly reach out with my other hand to lightly graze his cheek.
The second I touched him the spell broke, Ichigo's eyes widened in shock and I froze completely. He snatched his hands away at the same time I snatched mine away. He turned his face away at the same time I turned mine away.
"Kurosaki-kun I was-"
"Inoue what-"
We said at the same time. His face was still turned away from me and I felt so embarrassed. "Umm you didn't show up for class this morning so umm sensei sent me to err umm… tell you that we're paired together for the English project!"
"What?" he asked finally turning to face me.
"yeah it's 40% of our grade and we have to present it." Talking about something has put my nerves at ease and I've sort of calmed down.
"Oh that's great" he replied simply.
"It is quite great, if you think about it. The two of us could easily make an amazing presentation together and poof! 40% of our final grade is done." I say cheerfully.
"I meant it's great because I'm paired with you" He smiled slightly, then quickly added "You are the best in English so being paired with you is an easy A for me" His smile widened and I giggled. Now that the awkward tension is gone I sit down beside him. We both remain silent but then a thought pops into my mind.
"Hey umm kurosaki-kun are you doing anything tomorrow night?" I realized I hadn't even thought about inviting him to the surprise party. He looks at me curiously before he replies "No, why?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to come to Tatsuki-chan's birthday party! It's a surprise party! I've been planning it with Andou-kun, I'm sure it will be so much fun! Will you come?" He looks at me confused for a second and then realization hits him.
"Tomorrow is her birthday? And you've been planning it with… I see." He smiles and closes his eyes but doesn't say anything. Maybe he doesn't want to go? Parties aren't really his thing maybe. But I really really want him to come.
"Say you'll come pleeeeaaaasssseeee, pleeeeaaaseeee" I know I sound annoying but I want to bug him into agreeing to come. He looks at me with that a sly little smile on his face and says, "I wouldn't miss it for the world"
I'm a bit taken aback at how fast he agreed to go. He seems to be in a cheerful mood although I don't understand why. Before I can say anything else the bell rings signaling the end of lunch break and Ichigo gets up.
"Let's head back to class you don't want to miss class do you?" He holds his hand out to help me up and looks at me with a playful smirk playing on his lips; that is so unlike him I think to myself. I take his outstretched hands and in one fluid motion he pulls me to my feet effortlessly. Letting my hands go he leads the way back to class with me trailing behind him more than a little confused.
Ichigo's POV
This is great! Everything is just perfect today isn't it? I've just been in a great mood since I talked to Inoue. She's not dating that idiot! I was worried for nothing. I feel a warm buzzing happiness when I remember the way I her hair felt running through my fingers. The look on her face when she lightly grazed my cheek brings an embarrassing redness to my cheek and I hope no one in class notices.
The last few lessons fly by without phasing my good mood and when the bell rings I pack up my books to go home. I find myself lingering a bit to maybe get a chance to talk to Inoue who is talking to Tatsuki. This was a bad idea because Keigo comes over to talk to me(loudly) instead.
"Ichigo! What's been up man? Seriously even though you're hear it's like I never see you! Is it because you're busy? Is it because it's our last year and you're thinking about your future? Or are you just Avoiding me? Don't you mi-"He rambles until Mizuiro cuts him off. Seriously it's amazing how he can talk so much without stopping to breathe even once. He could add that to his resume it could be his special (only) talent or whatever.
"Keigo-san you shouldn't talk so much you're exhausting every one's ears" He said with a polite smile. "Ah yes Kurosaki-san we're paired together for the English project." He informed me. Wait what?
"I thought Inoue was my partner?" I ask hoping he'll say something like 'Oh yeah I meant I'm with Keigo over here. So you can have Inoue all to yourself'
Instead he says "Yes we're paired in groups of three, so I'm with you guys" Keigo jumps in and says "Ha! Ichigo did you think you'll have Orihime-chan to yourself? No chance! Although I wish I was in a group with her. She's beau-" Mizuiro cuts him of before my fist could get a chance. I gather up my bag and turn to leave but I walk right into Inoue.
"Oh Kurosaki-kun here, I uhmm forgot to give you this." She hands me a notebook, my math notebook. Weird I thought I'd thrown it away. "Thanks, I'll see you later"
"Yeah, at the party" she whispers and winks at me. After that she skips out of the classroom with Tatsuki behind her.
On my way home I realize that I should do something for Tatsuki's birthday. I can't show up empty handed. Damn, I have to get her a present or something. I guess I'll go to the mall later on today.
But when I reached home I was greeted with my father's usual loud greeting. It's like he saves up all his energy just to annoy me when I come home. Karin is reading a magazine in the living room and Yuzu is busying herself in the kitchen. All in all everything seems normal. After eating my lunch I climbed up to my room and instantly fell asleep. The kind of dreamless sleep that doesn't feel relaxed at all; the kind of sleep you have before a test.
When I woke up a couple of hours later, I wanted nothing more than to roll back and fall asleep but I remembered I had to get something for Tatsuki's birthday party. I threw on a sweatshirt and some jeans and went outside through the front door.
"Don't be gone too long!" My dad yelled from the door. I waved him off and made my way to the train station. It's not a long ride so I didn't mind standing so that an old granny could have my seat.
I got off the train and walked the short distance to the mall entrance. It's the same mall where I saw Inoue and that guy together for the first time. Were they planning the party then? Definitely I assure myself, they definitely weren't on a date or anything like that.
Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, chief
'What do you mean? You heard her they're planning the party together, so that's why they've been together a lot'
So that's why you're going to sit around till someone does take her?
I don't have a reply to that. What am i expected to do? Walk up to tell her how I feel? No way! That would ruin our friendship and I can't lose her. So the best thing to do is to just…I don't even know what I'm doing.
I'm over thinking this and it's putting me in a bad mood. I just need to hurry up and find something Tatsuki would like. I start thinking about what the hell she would like when I hear someone call my name. The over cheerful voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard and I instantly recognize who it is. I turn and see no one else but Andou waving and coming towards me. I turn around and walk away pretending I didn't see him but when I turned again he was still waving and smiling at me.
"Ichigo!" I walk faster and duck behind a flower stall. After that I ran inside a couple of shops and I was convinced I'd lost him or that he'd at least gotten the hint and stopped following me. But then someone tapped me on my shoulder and it was Andou smiling at me panting as I he'd been running.
"Hey! What are the chances of bumping into you here?! Seriously! Small world"
He smiles expectantly. "Yeah, small world" I've decided it's pointless and impossible to be mad at someone like him.
"So you're probably here to buy something for Tatsuki huh?" He says. I guess I could use his help in choosing a gift since I can't come up with anything.
"Yeah I am"
"So you're going to get her a book?" He asks and points to the store I'm standing right in front of. I hadn't realized I had ended up in front of a bookstore.
"I'm not sure what Tatsuki likes but I know for a fact she hates reading" I say to him. It's true she's been known to throw textbooks at teachers.
"I know ! That's exactly why you should definitely get her a book" he says smiling.
"Do you think she'll actually like it though?" I ask still unsure about his idea.
"No, she'll hate it! That's why you should buy a book for her. Firstly it'll be hilarious and secondly she could actually learn something" He laughs and then grabs my arm and steers me into the shop. Buying a gift that Tatsuki would hate just to annoy her? I was starting to like this guy.
I don't read much myself so I have no idea what to pick so I look through the shelves bored already. The self help section is actually a bit funny. The titles somehow make me laugh.
'How to be happy? Cheer the fuck up!'
That one's funny.
'How to tell Asians apart!'
That's funny yet racist but still kind of funny.
'How to write a self help book'
That's funny and dumb but still funny.
The next title made me pause. 'Escape Planet friend zone'
That's… wait what? Friend zone.
That's… wait that's me. I'm in the friend zone. I snatch the book of the shelf and look at the front cover. I almost drop it when I see the picture on the cover. There's a picture of a couple on the cover passionately kissing and I couldn't stop myself from imagining Inoue and I as the couple lip locking and my face turns crimson red. Just the thought of kissing her makes me want to explode on the spot.
I am not going to get this book it's stupid, I mean these books don't actually work. It's a load of crap I tell myself as I read the description at the back.
Are you madly in love with your guy/girl friend? Want to know how to make him/her start to feel the same way? You've come to the right place!
The object of your affection thinks of you as more of a brother or sister than anything else. While it's notoriously hard to get out of the "friend zone", if you really want to escape, follow 's well-structured easy to follow plan
I drop it back in its place on the shelf and right beside it there's another one.
'Turn Friendship into Love; by award winning author Dr. Yamanaka'
It's the same author but the cover of this one is less uhmm shameful. The couple (Same one) are staring deep into each other's eyes in this one. I figure this one would be less embarrassing so I grab it of the shelf.
HAHAHAHA you are so fucking pathetic! You seriously just bought a book to help you get that woman?! You are such a loser! HAHAHAHAHA!
I don't know why I thought the damn hollow wouldn't find out about the book but now that he has I wish I could crawl into a hole in the barren desert of hueco mundo and die there.
Bad enough it takes you ages to figure out you're in the friend zone but you need to help you get the girl! This is hilarious!
'Shut your trap or I swear to-'
"Ichigo? You done?" said Andou from down the aisle.
"What? Uhmm just a sec I'll meet you at the counter." Crap I haven't picked anything for Tatsuki yet. As I walk down the aisle I pick any book randomly and it turns out to be a long book on Japanese history. Tatsuki is definitely going to hate it. When I get to the counter to pay for my purchase Andou is standing with his hands in his pockets whistling. I sure as hell don't want him to see my stupid friend zone book but luckily his phone rang and he went aside to answer it.
I drop the two books on the counter and the store clerk looks at me with his eyebrows raised."You know this author has been quite popular recently." He says. Why is he chatting with me? Can't he just wrap this up fast? He looks at Andou and a huge grin spreads on his face. He points at Andou and chuckles.
"You know just the other day he was in here with -" He starts to say but I cut him off. All I'm interested in is getting home with these books.
"That's great. Now can we finish up here?" I interrupt him.
The guy shrugs and finally takes my money and I leave without taking my receipt or Andou.
A/N: There it is! Thank you so much for reading. Sorry in advance if the update is late. School really interferes with life huh. Love you guys :D