"He did what?!" Meiko screeched, unconsciously tugging on the curling iron.
She winced, the sudden pull on her silver hair hurting her scalp. Meiko apologized quickly, focusing once again on the topic at hand, "So, I take it that it's a sign of affection, right?"
Harumi didn't know what to think. She looked down at the cookies she was eating and held one to her lips, "I guess that's what he was trying to get across, but what if..."
The short haired girl pulled the curling iron carefully from the other girl's head before pouting, "No 'buts'! This is a definite sign that he's interested in you!"
Butterflies exploded in her stomach at the thought of there being even a possibility of being able to go out on a real date with Atobe. Sure, they had gone out to eat lunch or dinner once in a while, but he made it pretty clear every time that she was just there to keep him company because his friends might have been too buy, or because he just felt like it. Even going to Rinko's wedding with him had an explanation.
Harumi looked at her reflection in the mirror before glancing at Meiko, "I just don't want to get my hopes up too high, especially if I might have to work with him in the future."
"Stop making excuses and just listen! Treat tonight more like a date than just friends! Take a chance for goodness sake. Even if there's the slim chance that he doesn't have this type of interest in you, at least you can experience it for one night if he did."
"I guess you're right..." Harumi admitted, fiddling with her fingers.
"Of course I'm right!"
Meiko let the curling iron release the last strand of hair and admired her work. She grabbed the hair spray and squirted it evenly across the loose curls she made.
"Wow, you do some good work there, partner," The now curly haired girl grinned, "Even if it's not a real date, at least I'm looking good."
Meiko stuck her tongue out, "Sometimes I wish I had long hair again so I could do this stuff for myself. Maybe I'll grow it out again."
"Thanks for your hard work, now you can go get ready for your date~" Harumi gave her friend a sly look.
"How did you know about that?"
"Well, you talk pretty loud on the phone sometimes..."
Meiko slapped her friend's arm playfully and pouted, "I don't need to get ready till later tonight. I'm more worried about you, anyways."
Harumi stared in the mirror, surprised that she even looked the way she did. Rinko should just be a personal stylist or something, because even she had to admit that it flattered her figure pretty well.
"I wonder what he'll think..." She muttered to herself, feeling nervous and plopping down on her chair.
No less than a minute later, the doorbell rang and her heart jumped to her throat.
"I got it!" Harumi screamed loud enough for her best friend to hear. She took a deep breath once she reached her front door and opened it to be greeted with...her neighbor...?
"Hi Kojima-chan!" The younger boy smiled at her, "The mail man put your mail in my box by accident."
He handed her a few envelopes and she thanked him, placing it on the side table.
"Thanks for dropping it off. How's your last year of university going for you?" She asked kindly.
Her neighbor, Takashita, just shrugged, a tired look taking over his face, "Same old, same old. It's pretty much just homework, study and exams."
Harumi laughed softly, "I'm glad I graduated."
Takashita smiled a little before glancing down at the floor, "Uhm, I wanted to ask you something..."
"What is it?"
The boy fidgeted and took a deep breath, opening his mouth only to be interrupted by a much...louder voice.
"Ahnn, you clean up quite well, Harumi-chan."
The two turned their heads toward the familiar voice. Harumi's heart thumped quickly as she looked at him, her face slightly flushed.
"You don't look half bad..." She said with a playful shrug, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
He chuckled softly and looked at the other boy standing before him, "Who is this?" He all but demanded.
Harumi glanced at her friend and smiled, "This is my neighbor, Takashita-kun."
The two shook hands before, Atobe a bit more firmly than he may have intended. He then focused his attention on the girl in the dark blue dress, "Come, Ore-sama is not one to be late."
"Right," Harumi slipped on her heels and grabbed her purse, "Thanks for dropping off my mail, Takashita-kun. Good luck on exams!"
"Y-Yeah. Have fun on your date...!" He said quickly, hiding the disappointment in his voice.
Before Harumi could correct him, Atobe stepped in.
"Ore-sama will make sure she will throughly enjoy her date."
The young heir walked away and the girl followed him in some sort of shock. Date? When he asked her out it certainly wasn't supposed to be a date.
Atobe wasn't sure what had gotten into him. Maybe Oshitari's previous warning was still ringing in his head. However, there was something Atobe was now very sure of...
He had to make Harumi his woman.
"I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
The on-watchers erupted in cheers and applause, all in congratulations for the happy new couple. Choutarou's face was flushed as he looked deep into Rinko's eyes. He was nervous, even Harumi could tell from her seat. She was sitting amongst the people while Atobe was up near the new happy couple as one of the groomsmen. Shishido, obviously, was the best man and for the first time since she's met him, which isn't that long, she saw a genuine smile on his face.
Rinko was getting impatient and made the first move, pulling her new husband closer and planting her lips on his. The cheering increased in volume, if that was even possible, while Harumi laughed at her friend's bold move.
The two walked up the aisle, smiles on their faces. The wedding was on the beach and the reception was going to take place in a hotel that was about a 5 minute walk from where they currently were. Everyone began to make way to the said hotel to talk and have a few drinks before dinner began.
Harumi followed the crowd back, glancing around and looking for her supposed date as well.
"Looking for someone?"
She turned her head and was met with the deep blue eyes of Atobe.
"Just someone with a enormous ego. And I thought it would be hard to miss him."
He chuckled and smirked, "Come, let us head into the venue."
Without a word, his arm slipped around her waist and rested on her side. Of course at this moment, Harumi's face had turned a beet red and she was practically speechless. She was really beginning to wonder if she was dreaming.
Atobe felt a sense a relief when the girl of his interests didn't push his arm away. Then again, who wouldn't want his arm around them. Regardless, if he wasn't sure before, he sure as hell was now.
They made their way through the crowded area and grabbed some cocktails. Harumi, being completely new to Atobe and his circle of friends, looked like a lost puppy. Atobe, on the other hand, knew everyone and their mother.
Harumi was introduced to so many people that her head was spinning. She did catch the murderous stares of a few certain girls. Atobe wasn't kidding, those girls were like vultures.
Deciding that it was a little too crowded inside, she stepped out onto the patio area for some fresh air. She leaned against the railing, the smell of the ocean relaxing her immediately. She downed the rest of her cocktail and winced, forgetting how strong it actually was. If she remembered correctly, it was her third or fourth one...
"Suffocated already?" She didn't even have to turn her head to know who it was. She merely smiled and looked over at Atobe.
"There's just a whole lot of people in there playing the 'my horse is bigger than your horse' game," She shrugged nonchalantly and smiled.
He chuckled deeply, "Then Ore-sama presumes you are enjoying yourself."
"Mhm~" she tilted her head just enough to rest it on the boys shoulder, "How about you?"
His mild surprise disappeared as he nodded, "It's impossible not to enjoy oneself at a wedding of a close friends."
The girl smiled a little and looked up at the boy, "Very true."
The two talked casually, Harumi's head never leaving her resting place. They stayed like that until they were called inside to eat.
After the dinner, they made short speeches and did the traditional cake cut. And as lady-like as Rinko was, she couldn't help but smear the cake across her hubby's face. Everyone cheered and wolf whistled until the MC, who happened to be Oshitari, called attention to himself.
"All the unmarried women please gather onto the dance floor, Rinko-chan will be tossing the bouquet to see who's the next lucky person to get married," He smirked before jokingly adding, "I'm also single, by the way."
Harumi laughed along with most of the attendees, while Atobe just shook his head, a smirk on his lips.
"Not going up, Harumi-chan?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I never have luck with this stuff, so I rather not," She shrugged. It was true. At her brother's wedding, she got elbowed in the eye once the bouquet was released from her hands. Then there was her friend's wedding where she, along with three other girls, were knocked onto the floor by a overzealous middle aged woman.
"You can just admit that you don't want to leave my side," He gave her a boyish smirk, brushing his hair back to emphasize how much of a catch he was.
Harumi rose an eyebrow, wondering why she did like him.
"Believe what you want to..."
He scoffed and there were cheers, a cute, young girl caught the bouquet and was waving it around the the air.
"I hope you don't plan on getting married for a while," Oshitari chuckled into the mic, "Now then, the bride and groom would like to now share their first dance together with all of you special people here tonight."
The newlyweds took the floor and Harumi couldn't help but feel her lips curl up into a smile. They looked so adorable together, she couldn't get enough of it. Choutarou held her close in his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder. The groom nudged her head a little and pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead, making both their cheeks flare from embarrassment.
Halfway through the song, Oshitari took to the mic again, "The happy couple would like to invite everyone to join in their first dance. Please, come to the dance floor."
Their parents joined them, dancing along to the slow music while some other couples slowly warmed up to the idea and made their way to the floor.
Harumi was too busy to notice Atobe stand up besides her. It wasn't until he held his hand out in front of her face that she realized that he wanted to dance.
"Come," A boyish smirk graced his lips once she took his hand and followed him to the dance floor. She stumbled just a little with her stilettos, walking through the people taking pictures until Atobe spun her around once and pulled her body against his.
The silver haired girl's heart raced, the butterflies returning to her stomach as they stepped carefully side to side. She was tense, standing so straight that a ruler would be jealous.
Atobe patted the small of her back gently, and at that she shot him a look. He only smirked and whispered softly, "You're too tense. Some who dances with me can't be as stiff as a stick."
She huffed and eventually loosened up before the song ended, resting her head on his chest as they danced slowly. A small smile slowly made way to her lips once she was relaxed into his arms.
In the middle of the dance floor, Rinko spotted the two dancing out of the corner of her eye and smiled to herself. She did want her friends to feel as spoiled as she did, and she was glad it was happening.
"Not bad, Atobe," She muttered teasingly. She heard him scoff as the song ended and some more upbeat music began to blast from the speakers.
The wedding ended without any problems. Everyone danced, ate cake and the people that were of age drank joyously.
"Did you have fun, Atobe?" Harumi asked, wrapping the boy's blazer around herself a little tighter.
Atobe nodded and flicked some hair out of his eyes, "As did you, Harumi-chan?"
She smiled and nodded, "Yeah. So I'm assuming I'm a better date than those girls that happened to be glaring laser beams into my head."
The pompous boy smirked, "Remarkably better."
They turned the corner to the hall that led to her apartment. Atobe, about to walk down the said hall without a care, was pulled back roughly by the back of his shirt
"What are-!" Harumi slapped her hand over his mouth from behind, pulling him backwards.
"It looks like Meiko just got home," She said quietly, slowly moving her hand away from his mouth.
Puzzled, Atobe stuck his head out enough for him to see that what she said was true. Her roommate was currently lip locked with that orange haired boy from the club. Sengoku, was it?
Harumi smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, you can go back first, I'll just wait here for a few minutes."
"You expect Ore-sama to just leave a lady without properly escorting her home?"
He turned around to face her and she blinked, realizing how close they actually were.
"Uh..." She dumbly gaped out, not really knowing what to say.
He smirked, face leaning in closer to hers, "Ore-sama tends to leave people speechless."
"Don't get so full of yourself..." She mumbled, his forehead pressing against hers as he continued his advance.
Before she could say another word, his lips were on hers, locked in the sweetest sensation that Harumi ever felt. Her brain and heart melted and she wasn't even sure if she was kissing him back.
He pulled away slowly, his lips still brushing against hers as he said the four words she never thought he'd say.
"Go out with me."
A/N: IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GOING TO DIE. -gargles- Erm...yeah...I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I hope Atobe wasn't too OOC TT_TT So there's one more chapter before the epilogue!
So this is my question to you all: Would you like me to write alternate epilogues? I have two ideas for the epilogue and I want to write both, but I'm pretty sure some of you might not like one of the ideas I have LUL.
Anyways, please leave me a review! I don't know when I'll be updating because I've got a full schedule this week. Maybe I'll write into the wee hours of the night again. n_n
Xxdreamergirl95xX: I totally know what you mean. I had different ideas for this but I didn't want to make it too mushy, haha.
