Foreign Exchange

Chaper 8...Balance

Raimundo walked upstairs to his prepaired room after dragging himself to Clay's house after school along with Clay himself.

Omi had turned the way without Raimundo even noticing. He'd been too caught up in what had happened his first day of what Kimiko and Kieko joked about the 'jungle'. He couldn't help but think maybe he'd made a mistake of telling Ashley he'd go out with her. But then again, Ashley seemed nice besides the oversized ego and snooty attitude. And knowing his influance on other girls he'd dated through-out his fourteen years of life, the young Brazilian boy thought maybe he could change her.

even if it was just a little.

He flopped down on his bed and took a quick glance at the picture on his nightstand. It was one of him and Jack, both fighting over who got the spotlight of the camera, for it was the last picture their friend could take with his throw-away. In the end, Raimundo had dunked Jack just enough to get his head in the middle of the picture, but to his surprise, Jack still stayed in the picture quite well.

Jack had given it to Raimundo just a day after they found out he'd be leaving.

A day after...that was...what? A week ago, only? It seemed like forever...

He was ripped away from his thoughts from a knock at the door.

"Rai?"

Raimundo heard a voice on the other end and sigh. He didn't really want to talk to the person it belonged to, but he thought, heck, he hadn't spent anytime talking to this person, he mise well.

"Come on in Jesse."

The door creaked open and she smiled as she stood right by the door, not even fully in.

"Come on..." he said, smirking a little.

She laughed weakly and stepped fully in, shutting the door and walking over to the bed and sitting down next to him.

"Something seems wrong..."

"Oh really...How could you tell?" he smiled at her concerned.

There was a small silence, as Jesse didn't truly have an answer to that.

"Care to tell me what's up?" she asked.

Jesse, like it was cleared before, did like Raimundo...a lot. She'd liked a lot of guys, but Raimundo had the biggest tug at her heart. She knew, she probably wouldn't end up with Raimundo, because...she could see the connection he already had with Kimiko, even though it wasn't still going. But, she didn't know that.

"This school's rough. Nothing I would have expected."

Jesse nodded, signaling to go on. She really cared about listening to Raimundo, because, although, once again, she didn't know it, he had no one else that seemed to notice he was already under great weight.

"I mean, school in Brail was a breeze. Classes weren't all too hard, except for..." he trailed off, thinking for a moment before chuckling. "My world culture class. That's the only reason why I came you know, because, my mum and dad thought it would be a great chance for me to show I know something about other country's cultures, ya know? Anyways, school was easy enough...Had excillent friends, could get really any girl, not that that mattered, I mean, I wasn't a player if that's what you're thinking...and well, I had a great talent in soccer."

"Soccer?"

"Yeah."

"Wow...not many people here into soccer...It's such a simple sport...compared to all the unusual sports in Tokyo...Inface..." she cupped in chin for a small moment and then spoke again, "I think you're the first I've met who has ever played soccer."

Raimundo thought about this in silence, completely shocked. 'No soccer?' Wow...it amazed him badly.

"But Raimundo..."

He looked up at her, and looked into her dark blue eyes.

"It'll get better."

"Thanks Jesse. But today...my old world culture teacher...he all of a sudden is a teacher here which, isn't a plus, Kim's seriously mad at me for some reason, and supposivly I'm going out with some really bad to go out with." he looked up, and Jesse was thankful, because she knew her expression was brutal.

'No! He's going out with someone!? I knew that I probably wouldn't be able to get a date with him, or go out with me, but I...I mean...he isn't even with KIMIKO!!'

"If you don't mind...who?"

"Her name is Ashley...Ashley-"

"Miars..." Jesse breathed slowly.

"Umm...yeah...you know her?"

"She a down right dirt snake actually...no affence."

"None taken."

"I can see why Kim's upset...Ashley's been horrible to her ever since the first grade!"

"Wow...I didn't...Well, what I'm sayin is-" he sigh obviously lost for words. No wonder why Kieko wouldn't talk to him, and Kimiko was avoiding him. He never wanted to hurt Kimiko, but like he thought before...maybe he could change Ashley.

"It's cool Rai, I'm sure she'll get over it." Jesse got up to leave, obviously disappointed by Raimundo's choices, although, she didn't truly know Ashley, so she thought it might be okay.

"Jesse..."

It was too late, she had left already.

"Fricken Tokyo..." he muttered as he fell backwards on his bed.


Kimiko kicked at the ground. She and Kieko had parted only two minutes ago, and Kimiko was already wishing she had talked to her more. Sighing, she turned down an allyway as a short cut, but really, it could take longer.

"Stupid crutches..." she mumered as she tugged away at her caught crutch.

"Need a little help?" a voice she knew all to well snickered.

"What are YOU doing back here?"

"Me? I think this is a short cut to my house, but the real question...What are YOU doing back here? Because, as the great only child of Toshiro Tohomiko, everyone in Tokyo knows where you live."

"Get a life, I was taking a short cut!"

"It's not a short cut you doorknob!" the voice hissed.

"Oo great come back!" Kimiko hissed back.

"I know!"

"Get a fricken life Ashley-Chan!"

"How about you! Kimi-Chan!"

"Man, you love to copy, don't you?" Kimiko smirked.

The now revealed person of Ashley glared at her. "You're just jelous..." she narrowed her eyes.

Kimiko let out a snorted laugh, "Of WHAT?!?"

"I have Raimundo, that attitude of popular, I'm more liked on the guys scale, and coming up, I'll be the most liked on the girls scale aswell. I have a family, a younger sister, a father and a MOTHER. Face it, you have nothing Kimiko!"

"That's not true. As a matter of fact, I truly don't care about Raimundo anymore."

"Anymore? So ha, I have a point, you do-"

"Ashley, I said I used to...now that he's with you, I could care less." deep inside, it was a lie, but Kimiko didn't know she thought that. "I have a loving father, who is the most important person in the world to me, and who cares about me more than anything, unlike your parents who would rather chose money over you, and your little sister who doesn't even know you're there! As for a mother...you may have a mother, although uncaring, but I did have a mother, who loved me with everything she had!" Kimiko snapped. They were both trying to hold back tears now, but yet both still stood tall.

"Ashley, you attitude is in my opinion shit! (sorry) No girl likes you except for the two or three in our group, and your rep with the guys...sure, a lot used to like you, but now...now you've dated and dumped so many guys, they see your just in it for kicks, you don't really love them!"

"Oh Kimiko! Love is such a strong emotion for an eighth grader like you!" Ashley spat, tears now pouring out of her eyes.

"You don't even know the meaning of love since you never really got to know anyone before dumping them!" Kimiko shot back, also crying now.

"Well even if that's happened to me maybe once or twice-"

"Try like twenty, perhaps even more!" Kimiko screamed.

"Fine! Twenty times! This will be different! RAimundo is special and I intend on getting to know him, and not breaking up with him!" Ashley screached.

Kimiko backed down. She turned away. Her tears had stopped dead, and even the few that slid from her eyes stained her face after they fell. "Have fun with it Ashley...You really deserve someone like that."

She swung herself out of the ally way and back onto her way home, as Ashley stood there dumbstuck.

I? Me? Ashley? Ashley Miars? Ashley Ann Miars...Me...I deserve someone like Raimundo? THE Raimundo! The one where every girl would love him, even Kimiko fell for him! I deserve Raimundo? I thought she'd never say that, but now...I'll be free to do what I want with him...I can get to know him, love him, anything! Or I can get sick of him, and leave him heartbroken in ten minutes.

She smirked, turned on her heel and walked away.


Ashley was that kind of girl. She had green eyes, like a cat's, and blonde hair that was the latest style for being a little above her shoulders. Her figure was slim and she was the picture of cute. Except, her attitude said different. She was bratty, sneaky and dirty, which gave her the perfect picture of stuck up snob with a lot of money.
Work! Raimundo growled at the phone as he dialed in a number.

It began to ring.

(Here Jackbold and italic...Raimundoitalic only)

Hello?

Hey Jack...It's Raimundo.

Rai!? Holy crap! How you been? How's it going? You got anyone to talk to? Do the chick there dig you too? Did you find one you like? Did you, huh, huh?

Hold it Jack! To answer your questions in order...Fine, okay, yes, yes, yes.

That would mean...you're doing fine, it's going okay, you have people to talk to, the chicks dig you, you like someone!!

Yeah, but it's complicated.

Tell me about it!

Well...when I first got here, there was this really pretty girl. Her name is Kimiko TOHOMIKO!!

Toshiro Tohomiko's only and cherrished daughter!!??

Yeah!

Dude! Did she dig you!?

Let me get there! God!

Sorry.

They both chuckled before Raimundo continued.

You see...she's super nice and all, but I didn't think she liked me back. This guy named Clay, his family is the family I'm staying with...and Omi, he's Clay, Kieko (Kimiko's good friend) and Kimiko's friend, but anyways. We were playing a game of truth or dare, and Omi dared me to ask this girl out...her name was Yuri...really pretty, and I guess I couldn't say no to that, and so we went to the movies, but Yuri went to Kimiko and told her, and Kimiko got super mad/upset, and well, I heart her and Kieko talking and this is roughly around what she said.

I can't believe it Kieko, why would I fall for him! The discription said he was a girl charmer, but he'd never hurt them, yeah right! Umm, I've never fallen for anyone so easily before, but now him, how could I do such a thing!?

Stuff like that, so yeah umm...then she was mad until she found her long lost boyfriend Tyler, but Tyler had been going out with this other girl in America, since that's where he was from, and well...He started getting mad because he asked Kieko out right infront of Kimiko, and Kimiko went and kicked him, but then he tried to hurt her, and then I stepped in and Kimiko forgave me, but the first day at the school...All the girls were all over me, but then there was this one girl, that for some reason, no one liked...her name was Ashley, and obviously her and Kimiko didn't get along very well, and then Ashley asked me out at lunch, I looked everyone over, and Kimiko...I couldn't read her expression so I said sure, and now I'm going out with Ashley, and I don't know what to do.

Jack I know you really haven't had much experiance with chicks, but I need advice!

Wow...

Wow? Is wow all you could say? I need advice!

Settle Rai...just settle down...how about you just break up with this Ashley chick, because well umm...sorry to say but she sounds like a bitch.

Jack!

Sorry! but she does! I say, break up with this Ashley, and try to win this Kimiko's heart. She sounds great...

Alright...thanks.

Anytime! You know I'm here.

How are you doing by the way?

Oh just great...Everyones social status has gone shaky. A couple girls have gone freak, and dropped to crazy, too over-addicted Raimundo freaks...it's a new group that started...it's quite big actually, and a bit creepy. They talk about you a lot, along with every other problem they're havin' in their life. The soccer team has been horrible, and I've become really popular! All the girls go after ME now!

Jack...don't get yourself over worked...I don't mean to be mean, but they could just be using you cause you are my best friend...or in there eyes...were...

I know...I know...

How's Adrenia?

Ohh Rai...You remember how a lot of guys asked her out before you left right? And she always said no? And she was never a player, and was always happy if she did get a boyfriend, or didn't use them, or didn't have two guys on each arm and-

Get on with it Jack!

Raimundo laughed.

She now has every guy she can get...dating all of them at once, some guys caught her cheating on them and dumped her, but then two more guys woudl come in one guys place. And some who have caught her have just stayed together with her. And you know, she used to have natual beauty...She died her hair, always wears a tight tank top and shorts with long heeled boots. Never long skirts, or loose short-sleeve shirts, or flowers in her tied up hair, now it's always down and messy and...Raimundo, you leaving really screwed with her head!

Raimundo didn't answer. He couldn't believe it.

Where are you now?

Is all he could get out in the end.

Some after school thing at the bowling ally.

Is she there?

Yeah, but-

Jack...I don't care how you do it, but get her on the phone!

Fine...fine hold on.

Jack walked casually by everyone, but stopped at Adrenia and all over her boy-toys.

"Adrenia."

"Yeah what do you want Jack?" she spat.

"Someone wants to talk to you, I'm sure you don't wanna talk to them, but just take the phone and listen then."

"Why...and Who?"

"If you're so curious, check for yourself."

"Fine!" she growled. But before she did she spoke to Jack again. "Aren't you going to leeave?"

"Nope...it's my phone!" Jack smirked.

"God...fine!"

(bold italicAdrenia...italic onlyRaimundo)

Hello?

Adrenia!

Rai?

For the first time since he left, she spoke in her normal voice.

Yeah...

Oh my god Raimundo wh-

Adrenia...listen to me! Stop with this! I know what you're doing! New look, attitude change, boys all over? Adrenia, you were perfect the way you were...just because I left doesn't mean you can't be happy!

I know it's wrong Raimundo...But I need something more...Without you here it's like there's this empty spot.

What do your friends say about it?

They...they aren't my friends anymore. They said they were willing to be friends with me if i dropped the act, but...I think it's too late now.

No...it's not Adrenia...That's all I'm going to say, and I hope it changes you at least a little bit...Good-bye. Please put Jack back on.

Rai...

Please.

She handed the phone back to Jack, and shooed all the guys away. She got up and walked over to the group she used to hang out with. She talked to them, then they talked back, then they all hugged. She glanced back at Jack who just simply smiled.

(back to first)

I think it worked...

Good.

Well...Send me a picture of you all! Labeled!

Will do!

Talk to you later then?

Guess so...And Jack

Yeah?

Thanks.

Any time.

I'll send you that picture!

Okay!

See ya.

Bye Rai.

He hung up the phone and sigh. He fell back onto his bed for the second time.

But then he got up from the bed and flew downstairs.


"Clay!"

"Yeah?"

"You know where Ashley lives, right?"

"Heck no, but I think Kieko and Kimiko do."

"Ask Kieko! Please, call or to get her to come over here, but tell her NOT to tell Kimiko, okay?"

"Alrigh', bu' may I ask why?"

"No, just please...you'll find out soon enough!"

"Okay Par'ner."

Clay called Kieko and told her to get down here as fast as possible, and in ten minutes she was there.

"Kieko, please...take me to Ashley's house!" Raimundo pleaded.

"And why should I help you?"

"I think if you knew what I was going to do, you would want to." He smiled desperatly and she sigh.

"Alright Fine...let's go. Clay, you come too!" Clay and Raimundo walked out and she walked out last.

"What am I going to get myself into?" she muttered.


Ding Dong!

Ashley scurried to the door and opened it to see Raimundo's smiling face right there.

"Rai!" she ran, jumped up and hugged him.

"H-hey Ashley! Here, these are for you!"

"Oh...they're beautiful!"

He had just handed her flowers.

"Now...I got a little something to say that goes along with it."

"What is it?" she asked anxiously.

"I'm not totally good at this stuff, but...I thought I might be creative while doing this."

Kieko and Clay looked at each other, both raising an eyebrow.

"Roses are Red,

Violets are Blue,

Here we go,

I'm breaking up with you!"

Ashley tried to blink back tears. "Wh-what? Y-you're breaking up with me!?"

"Yep...so...toodles!" he walked away, leaving her dumbstuck as tears of confusion left her eyes.

"Wow..." Kieko stated impressed as they walked.

"Yeah." Clay added.

"Can we go to Kimiko's house now?"

"Why?"

"Please."

"Alright, but I hope it's not for the same reason we went to Ashley's."

"Trust me...It's not."

He put his hand in his pocket and felt what he was going to give to Kimiko...


The doorbell had just rung, and Kimiko was now swinging herself to the door. When she opened it, she immediatly wanted to shut it again, but she decided just to see what he had to say.

"What?" she said blankly.

"Kimiko...I wanted to tell you something."

"Okay fine.." she said, curiousity getting the better of her.

He pulled it out of his pocket.

It was a necklace with three silver hoops on it, all with different stones inside.

"This represents our past." He pointed at the emerald stone, which was the left at Kimiko's point of view.

"This represents our present." He pointed to the center stone, which was a diamond.

"And this..." He pointed to the sapphire stone on the right in Kimiko's point of view. "This represents our furture..."

Kimiko was reliefed, confused, happy, and angry all at once. "Wh-what is this? Is it a joke?"

"Kimiko...I broke up with Ashley...I realized I made a really stupid mistake, and now...I KNOW I'm making the right choice. But now the choice is yours. I love you Kim!"

Kimiko blinked. "Rai..."


Chapter 8 finished...Yay! I'm sorry it took so long to update, and I guess this is the Christmas present to all...now...you Christmas present to me can be for you to review! Tell me what you think:) I'm actually not gonig to talk a lot this time! lol Please review...I'm serious here, and keep reading!

Next update: Destiny