"What do you mean? Why would your dad lose his job?" I asked dubiously.
"Do you know what my dad does?" he asked and I shook my head.
"He works for a graphic design company. He's the CEO." Of course he was. "The CEO is usually also the chairman but a few months ago, when my dad got the job, they changed that. They split it up into two jobs giving the chairman presiding power over the operations of the entire corporation. He also has the power to elect and remove officers from their positions."
Len stopped for a second and then went on. "When the jobs were split Mr. Hatsune, Miku's father, got the position of chairman. When Miku threatened that if I wasn't her boyfriend she'd have my dad fired I thought she was joking. But it turns out her father will do anything to give his precious little princess anything she wants," he said in a mocking tone.
"He said that to you?" I asked.
"He basically threatened me Rin. It was bad," he said.
"What kind of scumbag would do that? So did you tell Akira?"
"My dad? There's no way. I couldn't do that to him. He's been working his whole life for this job," he said.
"But he wouldn't want you having to suffer through, right?" I asked.
"Of course not," he said, " That's why I could never tell him."
"So what are you going to do then?" I asked.
"I don't know. There's nothing I can really do about it," he shrugged.
"So you're giving up just like that. Are you going to marry her too then?" I questioned him.
"No," he snapped. "But what can I do? Yeah it sucks. But my dad losing his job would be worse. I figure that I can just suck it up until she gets bored and moves on," he said.
"Wow that's tough," I said.
"It could be worse," he said sighing. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you doing?" I asked.
"Getting you ice. Don't think I forgot," he said slipping out the door.
When he came back he had two ice packs and giant back of ice. "Are you going to try to freeze me to death?"
"No, but you need this. You're hurt," he said sitting next to me on the bed again.
"It really doesn't hurt that much anymore," I tried to convince him.
"Right. Not put these on your neck and this on your jaw," he ordered.
"But it's cold," I pleaded.
"I don't care."
"Wow, your still just as annoying as I remember," I teased.
"Don't even go there, Rinny," he warned.
"Ugh do not call me that," I said laughing. "Wait, so what were you going to give me before?"
"Oh right I almost forgot," he said pulling out a shiny metal object and laying it onto the bed between us. "I found it by the fence. I think it fell out of your bag last night."
I immediately dropped the ice pack and grabbed the object. I flipped it in my hand feeling the familiar ridges.
"Rin is that-?"
"Yeah it's the key," I answered not taking my eyes off of it.
"The one from-?"
"Yeah the cottage," I answered still in shock.
"That's great we should go back there," he said so positive.
"It's broken," I said flatly.
"Broken? So it doesn't work at all? Are you sure?" he asked.
"After you err left I went there and it didn't work," I said quietly.
"Oh that's too bad. It would've been cool to go back there," he said.
"I don't know. A lot has changed since then. Maybe it's broken for a reason," I said dropping the key.
"Yeah maybe your right," he said and I yawned.
"Sorry I'm keeping you up. You should go to sleep," he said getting up off the bed.
"Aren't you going to bed?" I asked.
"Nope. I think I'm going to do some laps in the pool," he said nearing my door.
"Do you ever sleep?" I asked.
"Sometimes," he said and left.
After a few sleepless hours I couldn't take it anymore. Every time I fell asleep I would see his face, his hands tight around my neck. And then I would wake up out of breath and dry sweat covering my face. After this happened for the third time I realized sleep wasn't an option. My window overlooked the backyard where I had a good view of the pool. There I could see Len swimming lap after lap.
When the alarm beeped. I honestly wanted to break it with my bare hands. School was the last thing I wanted to deal with.
"So," Kaito whispered to me after we had gotten out of the car and Miku had disappeared with Len again, "get any sleep?"
"None at all," I said yawning.
"Thought so. But you did talk to Len right?" he asked.
"Yeah we talked last night. He told me everything about Miku's father. It sounds really bad," I said as we walked toward the school.
"So what are you going to do about it?" he asked casually.
"Me? Oh no I'm not getting involved," I said.
"Rin you have to do something," he said.
"Why me? Why not you or Teto or anyone else but me? Two days ago I hadn't talked to the kid in years. So why is he suddenly my problem?" I asked giving Kaito a dirty look.
"You guys have history, you know?" he said but I didn't know.
"It's not exactly something I like to reminisce about. Do you want to know what really happened all those years ago? He left. He moved without bothering to call or visit. He couldn't wait to leave; he didn't want anything to do with me," I said.
"Are you sure that's what really happened?" he asked.
"Of course I'm sure," I said indignantly.
"Because that's not how he made it seem."
"Oh course he didn't. He didn't want to come off as a douchebag. But it's whatever. I'm not going to dwell on the past. But I'm just letting you know I don't owe the kid any favors," I said walking into first period. But as soon as I sat down Kaito's words kept echoing in my head. Stupid Kaito of course I'm sure. You weren't even there.
"Rinny," Teto said smiling. She was so hyper and awake. How did she do it?
The day was a blur. The only way I got by was because Teto pulled me from class to class. Lunch was pretty much the same as yesterday. Miku was with Len probably barking orders at him while I ate my orange muffin. Len was right they were still my favorite. I could've sworn that Len winked at me but maybe I was just having hallucinations.
"Hello? Earth to Rin," Teto said elbowing me. "We're planning phase one: destroy green. So we were thinking first you would-"
"No way. Leave me out of this. I already told Kaito I don't want to be involved," I said curtly.
"Fine Rin we won't involve you," Teto said sighing.
"Thank you," I said getting up to throw out my orange muffin wrapper. But as soon as I got to the trash can someone bumped into hitting a raw bruise on my collar. I saw a swish of green and before I knew it I had a sauce stain covering the entire front of my shirt.
"What the fuck?" I said looking up to see Miku smiling slyly.
"I'd say sorry for ruining your shirt but I think I made an improvement to what it looked like before," she said giggling.
"You bitch," I snarled but Miku was already gone making her way back to her table.
"I'm in," I said hitting my fist on the table.
"You're what?" Haku asked me.
"I'm in. You guys are right green is the enemy. That bitch is going down," I said furious.
"Yay. So you're going to help us after all," Teto said smiling.
I borrowed one of Neru's extra shirts for the rest of the day. It didn't quite fit me but it was better than nothing.
"There's no way I'm sitting in the same car as her," I told Kaito as we walked toward his car.
"She won't be there," Kaito said.
"Really?" I said.
"Yeah her dad took her on some kind of business trip," he said.
"Yes," I said making my way to the passenger seat of his car but then I stopped. It was Len just sitting there waiting for us. "I thought you went with Miku."
"Nope," Len said stretching.
"Got the day off?" I joked.
"Yeah that's not funny," he said.
"I thought it was," I said taking the backseat.
"Speaking of funny. Do you always get into fights in the lunchroom?" Len asked laughing.
"That wasn't a fight. Your girlfriend dumped food on me and then ran away before I could kick her ass," I sneered.
"It's probably better that she did. If you had gotten into a physical altercation you would've been kicked out of the school," Kaito said.
"It still would've been worth it," I said shrugging.
"I get it. When a girl accidently spills something on you it's like war world three right?" Len said jokingly.
"It wasn't an accident," I said raising my voice. "And it doesn't matter who did it. I'd still kick their ass."
"Maybe it's better if you don't say that in pubic. Actually I think you should act like nothing's wrong at all," Kaito suggested.
"Act like nothing's wrong? After she did that to me?" I asked skeptically.
"You're going to have to if you want to keep with the plan," Kaito said.
"Ugh fine," I said as Kaito pulled into the Kagamine driveway.
"I think you're overreacting," Len said, "It was only some water."
"It was tomato sauce and she ruined my shirt," I argued.
"Just give it to my mom to wash. I'm sure it'll come right out."
When I got to my room exhausted, I completely passed out on my bed.
"Hey," I heard a voice say and someone shaking. "It's time for dinner."
"No let me sleep," I said pulling the covers over my face.
"No Rin now," the voice said ripping the covers off me.
I looked over at Len sitting on my bed holding my covers. "I should've known it was you," I said sitting up. "Don't you have swim practice or something?"
"Nope I'm off today," he said putting down my covers. "And by the way you talk in your sleep."
"No I don't," I said and could feel my cheeks start to flush.
"Yeah you do," he said chuckling. "Before I woke you up you kept saying something about Gumi, whoever that is."
"Oh right Gumi I have to call her," I said getting up. But as soon as my feet hit the floor I heard a clanging sound.
"What's that?" Len asked as he reached down to retrieve the item. "Oh it's your key."
"Oh yeah," I said looking at it. "I should probably put it away."
"You know I was wondering why you even keep the old thing. I mean after all it is broken."
"I don't know. I guess it just has a lot of old memories," I said shrugging.
"But I mean that was years ago. When we were childhood friends. So I don't understand why you would keep it if you didn't want to be friends anymore or have anything to do with me. It' s not that I'm mad anymore but if you broke it on purpose then you can tell me. I guess I should've expected it and all since-"
"Len what the hell are you talking about? How could you lie straight to my face like that? You're the one who left without even bothering to call. You were the one who made it clear you were done being my friend," I said yelling.
"No, Rin you have it switched," he said looking at me with a strange expression.
"Are you sure . . . because that's not how he made it seem." Kaito's words echoed in my head until that's all I could hear. Was I really wrong? Could I really have misunderstood after all these years?
Me: Wow long chapter but I like this one. There's a lot of drama.
Rin: Tell me about it. That stupid Miku ruining my shirt.
Miku: Don't get your panties all in a bunch now Rinny it's just a shirt.
Rin: * growls at Miku *
Len: I have a feeling this is going to turn out a lot like Cantarella.
Me: Where'd you get that from?
Rin: I don't want to be raped again.
Len: . . . I don't rape you in that song.
Rin: You sorta do.
Kaito: Wait that means I rape Miku? Bleh.
Me: I didn't say it was going to end up like Cantarella. Or maybe it is. You'll have to wait and see.
Rin: I think I'm going to go hide just in case.
