A/N: No yo


Kiss and Tell

July

She was surprised to see him here. Street festivals like this didn't really seem like his scene. Back alleys were more his scene. Especially in that red leather jacket and black t-shirt he liked to wear when he wasn't in his school uniform—he stuck out like a sore thumb among the families and students that crowded the booths beneath the lantern lights.

He sat on a stool at a ramen booth, between an old couple and a mother and her child. They all leaned away from him warily, which he ignored as he ate.

He was here. And she had thought that she wouldn't be able to see him during the summer break. Her feet carried her through the crowd to him before she could stop herself. That was normal, right? They were buddies, right? She shook the doubts out of her head. They seemed to be piling up more often recently, and she knew that forcing herself to answer those questions in the positive was a sign that there was something going on in her head that shouldn't. She was trying to pretend it wasn't happening, but over the last couple months it had gotten harder.

She tapped his shoulder lightly, and when he turned around to glare with his mouth full of noodles she grinned. "Hey! Fancy meeting you here!"

He rolled his eyes and swallowed. "What, I don't see enough of you, now you're stalking me during summer break?"

"I'm stalking you?" She snorted, a hand on her hip. "Please. I'm here with friends. You're the one skulking around by yourself."

"Skulking? Don't be an idiot. I'm patronizing this ramen stand. You're the one harassing me."

She pouted, frowning at him as he ate. She pushed his elbow a little as he brought a piece of food to his mouth, making him miss and bump it against his cheek. He turned to glare at her with sauce on his face.

She smiled sweetly. "Careful there! Wouldn't want food in your pretty hair, right?" She took a napkin from the counter and reached it toward his face. He snatched it out of her hand and wiped his cheek, glaring at her the whole time. She just kept smiling. Behind him, she saw the young mother put a hand to her lips, holding in a laugh. The old couple was smiling at them too, their wary looks toward Inuyasha completely gone.

"Like I said. Harassment." Inuyasha said.

A touch on Kagome's shoulder made her turn to the old couple.

"Here, dear," The old woman said with a smile, "We're finished. You can sit by your boyfriend."

"Oh, he's not—"

"She's not my—"

"Have a good evening," The old man said over them. Leading his wife away he said, "Reminds me of us when we were that age."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes again, but surprisingly he didn't protest any more than that. Kagome raised her eyebrows at him, then coughed away a little smile. She hopped onto the stool next to him, asking, "So, what are you doing here?"

"I'm eating."

"Duh. What are you doing at the festival? Kikyo's not here, right? She said she had something to do tonight."

"What, I'm not allowed to go places if she's not there?"

"No, you idiot, I'm just saying you could have told me and come with me."

"With you? So you could harass me all night?"

She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, why are you so annoying?"

"This is just how I am, deal with it." He glanced at her. "What are you doing with that?"

She looked down at the large camera around her neck. "It's the school's—I'm borrowing it."

"For what?"

"The photography club said I could take it home for a few days over the break. It's digital, so I shouldn't have issues accidentally exposing the film, like with my mom's camera." She didn't bother telling him that that was an issue she knew first hand. She didn't need to give him more fuel to tease her.

"Since when are you in the photography club?"

"I'm not. I just thought I'd try it out and see if I like it."

"You seem to be doing that a lot lately," He slurped another bite of noodles into his mouth. "What's the deal with that?"

Oh, he'd noticed? Had he been watching her? She always thought he was too busy trying to look broody or following Kikyo around. "It's just something I've wanted to do—I figured it would be cool if I could find a club to join. Something that defines me."

He snorted. "What for? As if you need anything else to define you. You're already the weirdest person I know."

"Says the guy with long hair eating ramen by himself."

"I'm not by myself anymore, unfortunately."

Kagome watched the crowd pass by around them. Everyone was boisterous, laughing and talking, booth owners calling out, the sounds of food cooking and games being played following the festival-goers. She smiled around at them, then up at the red lanterns stringed over them. Beyond those were the stars, washed out by the lights of the city in the distance.

"There's something about festivals like this, isn't there?" She said wistfully. "They're so warm. It's like everyone lights up when they get to visit a festival together."

"Huh." Was all Inuyasha said. "I wouldn't know. This is my first festival."

"Eh? Really?" Kagome turned to him in surprise. "Even when you were a kid?"

He shrugged, pinching his noodles with his chopsticks. "My mom was always too sick to come to these things."

"Oh." She couldn't think of anything else to say. Should she say sorry? Should she pat his shoulder? Somehow she didn't think he would take well to sympathy like that. He was too proud. So she just said, "So what brought you out for this one?"

"Well, someone kept going on and on last week about how amazing it was and how she wanted festival food. Besides, Kikyo was busy so I didn't have anything better to do."

She blinked, then her smile widened. "Well, that girl sounds like a pretty smart person. Probably beautiful and wise, too. Good thing you listened to her."

He snorted, but it almost sounded like laughter. "I dunno about all that, but as least she was right about the food."

Kagome paused. He was looking into his bowl at the last bits of broth and noodles, and although his tone was the same as always there was a small smirk on his face. Not a rude, condescending smirk, either. Just a smirk. It was almost a smile. Her heart skipped a beat.

Then, in a devilish moment, she subtly turned on the camera around her neck. "Inuyasha," She said.

He turned over his shoulder to look at her with those amber eyes she liked so well, the smirk still playing on his lips. Then she snapped a picture.

The smirk quickly became a scowl. "What the heck do you think you're doing?"

"Just commemorating the moment. That's what cameras are for, right?"

"Give me that!" He reached for her camera, but she quickly twisted off the stool, dodging out of his way.

"Well, I had better catch up with my friends! Enjoy the food!" She waved and disappeared into the crowd as he called after her, but he was stopped from chasing by the ramen stall owner, who reminded him he hadn't paid yet.

Kagome dodged through the crowds quickly, laughing to herself. When she was sure she was safely out of sight she stopped, looking back with a grin. Then she picked up the camera and flipped back to the most recent picture.

Gosh, he was beautiful.

She immediately shook her head and turned the camera off. Quit thinking stupid things, she told herself. She moved on through the crowd, walking slower than before. She couldn't keep that picture. That would be selfish of her, and only make her feel guilty. She'd have to give it to Kikyo. But she knew in her heart that whenever she saw it she would remember that his smile had been for her and not her sister.

: : :


September

Miroku twisted his pencil around in his fingers, bored. Class hadn't started yet, so there were still a few side conversations as students filed in. He wasn't about ancient history. He preferred the social studies and political sciences. Already he was ignoring everyone else and flipping through thoughts in his head, trying to make connections, opening hypothetical doors and poking his nose through to see where it could take him.

He had a pragmatic mind like his father. His uncle was constantly telling him he reminded him of his late father, but Miroku didn't see how that would do him any good if he couldn't be smarter, if he couldn't be quicker than his father had been. His father had mistepped, had let Naraku get ahead of him, and had been ruined for it. Almost completely mad, he had left Miroku with a friend of the family, his "uncle", and left. They'd had word a few years later that he had died, alone in an old hotel room. Over dose, they had said, but Miroku couldn't help but wonder. His father had never stopped hunting Naraku, and it was possible that the con had done something to get rid of him for good.

Miroku couldn't believe that Naraku had basically fallen into his lap. This mess with Kagome and her sister and Onigumo was madness. Sango and her family were in trouble, too. Looking around at his fellow, laughing students, Miroku wondered just how many of them were also somehow affected by Naraku or his men. His grip on his pencil tightened with hate and he clenched his teeth. He would do something. He would be the one to bring Naraku down.

The teacher wandered in and began shuffling around on his desk. This particular teacher was more scatterbrained than anyone else in the school, and the students always used it to their advantage. People were still wandering in, even as he began taking roll. Then he realized it was the wrong class, so he had to search for the correct roll sheet.

"I can't believe it," A girl said a few seats away from Miroku. "Is she a secret movie star, for real?"

"I wouldn't be surprised," Her friend replied, "She's not like anyone else in school, is she?"

"She's so beautiful. I wish I was half as perfect as she was."

"Not me. She spends way too much time studying. It seems boring to be her, despite how popular she is."

"Who are you guys talking about?" Someone else asked.

"Kikyo Higurashi."

"Should have figured."

"What, we can't help it. She's amazing. And lately she's been so friendly. Yesterday she remembered that I was worried about my English exam, and she wished me good luck. She's never done that before. How nice is that?"

"Weren't we talking about the festival next week a minute ago? What got you to Kikyo all of a sudden?"

"I saw her out the window a second ago," The first girl said. "She got into this super fancy car with this beautiful woman in this wicked red outfit."

Miroku's thoughts froze. He turned toward the group of students.

"How glamorous, right? Who just has fancy cars like that pick them up at school?"

There was a sudden clang, which made the entire class shut up and turn. Even the teacher stopped reading the second wrong roll call list.

Miroku looked back at Inuyasha, who had stood so abruptly that his chair had fallen back. He was looking out the window, stone still, veins showing on his wrists form his clenched fists. Everyone watched him before jumping when he snapped his head in the direction of the students who had been talking. The first girl who had been speaking looked nervous as Inuyasha stomped toward her.

"What did you say?" He demanded.

"I-I'm sorry, I wasn't talking bad about her, I promise—"

"Which way did it go?"

"What?"

"The car. Which way did it go?"

"Oh, u-um. That way. Toward town."

Inuyasha spun on his heel, leaving the classroom with a slam of the door. The students watched the closed door and the teacher just went back to reading the roll, only to adjust his glasses when he realized it wasn't right again.

Miroku stood quickly and stepped over to the girl, who was holding her heart and being comforted by her friends.

"Don't listen to him, Ayumi. He's just a big bully." Her friend said.

"That possessive jerk." The other agreed.

"My," Miroku said with a smile down at her, "He's a rather passionate fellow, isn't he?"

"Miroku," The girl said, looking up at him with a relieved look.

"Not to worry, Ayumi," He said with a reassuring pat on her shoulder, "He's not as bad as he seems. Will you do me a favor?"

"Sure, Miroku, anything."

"Will you say 'here' when the teacher calls my name? I'm afraid I'm not feeling too well. I'm headed to the nurse's office."

"Of course."

"Thank you, my dear," He took her hand and kissed it, leaving her blushing as he exited the classroom. As soon as the door was shut behind him he quickened his pace, whipping his phone out and hurrying down the hall in the wake of Inuyasha.


The man across from her was not what she had been expecting.

What had she been expecting? Tattooed thug, maybe. Scars and a beard. Muscular and tough looking. All the stereotypical ideas of what a gang leader should be. But theirs was no ordinary gang. Miroku had said they were different than any other organized crime in the country. And this would prove it.

She'd seen something like this in a movie once. The wealthy crime lord with his thugs in suits, driving his limos. This car wasn't quite a limo, but it was certainly fancy. She was uncomfortable sitting on the black leather seats, her school bag on her lap, although that wasn't the main reason for her discomfort. Her seat was facing backwards, just a few feet from the one in front of her.

Naraku would have been tall if he'd been standing. As it was his long legs were crossed, his shiny black shoes flashing as sunlight came in through the tinted windows. The suit he wore looked expensive and sleek, with a black collared shirt underneath and a deep purple tie. His hair fell in long waves, well taken care of and clean. His skin was pale, and he might have been handsome if his face didn't carry such an obvious malice, such a dark gaze, such a disturbing, small smile.

"Kagome," He said to her, his voice smooth and deep, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

She swallowed, watching him with as brave an expression as she could muster. "I don't know that I can say the same." At least Onigumo isn't here, she thought. The disgusting, creepy man would have freaked her out even more than this. "So what do you want?"

"To talk, of course. Get to know you a little better."

"Good luck. I'm not saying anything I don't want to."

"Fair enough." He began tapping his finger against his knee. "So did you think you could really fool me with that little act?"

"It must have for a while. Otherwise what took you so long to have this conversation?"

"Hardly. I knew right away you weren't Kikyo."

He had? How? Had Naraku met Kikyo before, too? Why hadn't Kikyo mentioned anyone but Onigumo? The information could have been useful before hand.

He continued, "My associates, however, weren't as…astute." His eyes flicked behind Kagome toward Kagura, who was riding in the front seat. Kagura wasn't looking back at them, but she must have heard. The fan she had been waving at herself snapped shut at Naraku's warning tone. Naraku turned back to Kagome. "I simply had some business out of town that kept me away for a while. Some…old friends I had to visit."

"Old friends, huh? What did you do, demand money they owed you and then let Onigumo burn their house down? That's your M.O., right?" It was probably not the right tone of voice to be using on a man like Naraku, but Kagome couldn't help it. She tried not to hate people as a general rule, but she could feel that resolve had dissipated as soon as she had gotten into the car.

The corner of his smile twitched. "So, Kikyo's in Kotsui. Clever girl, hiding herself away in the mountains. Too bad she left her little sister behind in the way of trouble."

Kagome didn't respond. She clenched her fists, feeling the blisters that were beginning to form on her fingers from the string of her bow. The small prick of pain helped keep her from panicking.

"You do have contact with Kikyo, I presume?"

"Maybe. What about it? I'm not relaying any messages to her from Onigumo."

Again, his smile twitched. "You're rather stubborn, aren't you? Don't you realize the position you're in?"

She was terrified, but she couldn't let him know that. Fear would be used against her. She gripped her school bag tightly, focusing more on her anger than her fright. "Tsk. You don't scare me. What are you going to do, hold me for ransom? Force her to come home so your creepy little henchman can have her?"

"Hmm," He said, reaching for the pitcher and glasses that sat on a small table in the side of the car. He poured a glass, the car driving so smoothly he didn't spill a drop. He offered the glass to Kagome, and when she didn't take it he set it in the cupholder at her side. Then he poured a glass for himself and sipped it, as if proving he hadn't drugged it. "Well, then, Kagome, it seems we have two options. The first being that you, like the good and loving sister that you are, tell Kikyo that we very much miss her. We'd like her to come home. If she wanted to study medicine so badly, she should have just asked. I can provide her with anything she needs, and I'd be happy to do so if she would only come to me."

"As if I'd ever ask her to come home. You're a creep with creepy coworkers. I'd never let you get your hands on her."

His smile twitched again. She was beginning to wonder if it was some sort of tick. Or if she was just good at getting on his nerves. "You are a bit of a spitfire yourself, aren't you, Kagome? Not as beautiful as Kikyo, but still very nice to look at."

Uh-oh. She didn't like the way he was looking at her now.

"With some proper training to control that mouth of yours, you could be almost as good to have." He shifted toward her, and her panic spiked out the roof. She inhaled sharply, grabbed the glass of water, and threw it in his face.

Oh. Gosh.

What had she done?

She froze with the glass still in her hand, her heart hammering wildly, her blood thick and cold.

Water dripped down Naraku's face and soaked through the front of his dark suit. He opened his eyes slowly, his eyelashes wet. If she had thought his eyes were malicious before, now they were murderous. Before she could even swallow, he had lunged across the car. He leaned over her, his face close to hers, one hand on the back of her seat. His other hand gripped her cheeks hard, pinching them against her teeth, forcing her head back against the headrest. She might have screamed if her voice hadn't been stuck in her throat at the expression on his face.

"You," He spat, his voice a low hiss, "May just be the stupidest girl I've ever met. I can hardly believe there is any relation between you and Kikyo."

His fingers in her cheeks were so hard they felt like knives. His face was close enough that a drop of water slid off his nose and fell near her lips. She had grabbed his wrist, but her strength was nothing compared to his. Glaring up at him, she dug her nails into his skin the best she could. Dang it, were that woman and that man just going to sit there quietly in the front seat like nothing was happening back here?

"Kikyo's disobedience is one thing," He said, his smile turning manic, "But I don't have the patience to deal with the likes of you. So, it's fine by me if you'd like to do things the hard way. I would love to rip you apart in a thousand pieces and burn you. And believe me, I will. I will light you up from the inside out, I will throw everything you love into the inferno and let you watch. And then you will be singing a different tune—then you will be begging me for what you want. And I would love," His eyes left hers to look her up and down in a way that made her feel like she'd just been covered in slime, "To watch you beg."

Kagome blinked. Her voice was barely above a whisper it was so trapped in her terrified chest, "You're…you're Onigumo…?"

He said nothing. Then his grip on her face loosened and he sat back in his own seat. He crossed his legs, still not bothering to wipe the moisture off his face.

"Goshinki," He said, his voice returned to the same calm tone he had started with, "Stop the car."

The car slowed and Kagome straightened up, resisting the urge to rub her aching face.

"I would suggest," Naraku said, "That you tell Kikyo that I am expecting her. Immediately. You will find your life a lot more…pleasant if you do. A simple place like Kotsui won't keep me out, but I'd prefer it if she came on her own. Until I get impatient. Kikyo knows she is mine. It is time for her to be finished with these little games."

Kagome swallowed, not daring to say anything. The car stopped and the woman got out of the front seat. She opened the back door for Kagome, saying, "Let's go."

Kagome carefully scooted past Naraku to reach the door. He didn't look at her, but had instead pulled out his phone and was typing away at it as though she weren't there. Kagome quickly hopped out of the car, turning around so her back wasn't to them. The woman, Kagura, shut the door. She looked at Kagome with an unreadable expression before getting back in the passenger's seat. Then the car pulled away down the street.

Kagome took a step before her knees gave way. She fell to the sidewalk, her hands shaking, her finger tips cold, despite the sun that shone down on her. She glanced around, pulling her school bag to her chest as though it were armor. Where was she? Some random, normal looking street a few miles from the edge of downtown. There were houses a few yards away, quiet and happy looking. She sat on the cement and just breathed, glad that her lungs still worked and that her body was still intact.

Her heart rate calmed and her panic subsided to leave a heavy, numb feeling. Slowly she reached up and pulled her hair out of its ponytail, letting it fall around her shoulders. Trying to look like Kikyo wouldn't do her any good now.

Kikyo was in danger. She was in danger. Her family was in danger. From a man that she had now met first hand. Onigumo was Naraku. They were the same person. Onigumo wasn't just some manic lackey, he was the boss. Oh, geeze. What had Kikyo gotten herself into? What had Kagome gotten herself into?

What now?

Sitting on the curb, she wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her chin on them. She let the sun wash over her along with the sounds of the day—a bird overhead, a car driving down a side street. Maybe if she just stayed here forever, then everything would become a dream. None of that would be real. She'd just disappear into this sidewalk, beneath the ants and the sun and the wind. Nothing would matter then.

She paused when she felt a vibration from inside her bag. Slowly she reached into it and pulled out her phone.

32 missed calls. 15 missed texts.

Oh, boy. She'd been gone almost an hour now. She wondered who had figured it out. Sango would be panicking. Miroku would be worried. She hoped no one had called her mom. Then again, she kind of wished someone had. She needed her mother right now.

As she held the phone it buzzed again, and Inuyasha's name popped up on the screen.

What. Inuyasha. She answered it. "Hello?"

"Finally," He snapped. "Where in the hell are you?"

"Um," She looked down the street. "I'm a couple blocks from downtown. Ah, there's a sign near me. I'm on 16th east."

"Who's with you?"

"No one. I'm alone now."

"Are you hurt?"

"No. I'm ok."

"What did they do to you?"

"Nothing. We just…talked." Her voice cracked. She leaned her forehead back on her knees, squeezing her eyes shut. "Hey, will you do me a favor?"

"What?" He said, sounding almost breathless.

"Will you keep talking?"

"What?"

"Keep talking. I'm just…really glad to hear your voice." She smiled a little, and was glad her face was hidden so no one would be able to see how weak it was if they wandered by. She held the phone tighter. "I was so scared."

"Kagome…"

"Sorry. Just, talk about something. Anything. I don't care."

"I'll talk to you all you want when you're safe at home, you idiot."

She sighed, pressing her head to her knees harder, her hair falling in curtains all around her. "It'll take ages for me to get there." She didn't tell him it was because her legs were still shaky. "Can you just talk now? Tell me how your test went."

"I didn't take my test, thanks to a certain someone who got taken off school property because she stupidly doesn't tell me anything."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'll tell the teacher some excuse. He'll let you take it later."

"Shut up, you idiot, I don't care about that!"

She paused. His voice had sounded odd. She had heard it through the phone, but it had also sounded like it had come from…nearby.

She lifted her head slowly, her hair falling in her eyes as she looked to her right.

Inuyasha stood there, his tie loose on his uniform shirt like he had been running. He was breathing hard as he stared down at her, his phone still held up to his ear.

Her lips parted in surprise. "Inuyasha…"

"You idiot!" He snapped, shoving his phone into his pocket as he crossed quickly to her. He grabbed her arm roughly, pulling her to her feet and straight into his arms. The wind was knocked out of her she was crushed to his chest so abruptly. He held her tightly, one hand fisted tightly in the fabric of her blazer.

"You idiot," He said again, but this time his voice was soft and full of anxiety. "What were you thinking? Why did you go with them? Why didn't you wait for me?" His breath tickled her neck as he spoke, and she could smell him where her face was pressed against his collar bone. All of her senses tried to wake her brain up from its surprise.

He had come to find her. He had been so worried, that he'd run around the streets, looking for her. He had come to get her, despite not knowing the danger he could have been in. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that he would have come to her rescue like this. And she felt so safe. Gosh, his arms were so strong around her. And he was holding onto her like she might disappear again if he let go. Carefully she wrapped her arms around him, and let out a shuddering breath against his neck. She couldn't help the quiet sob that came from her chest and the tears that trailed down her cheek. She thought she might cry for ages, but strangely she found that only a few tears escaped. All of her fear had been sapped right out of her and replaced with the overwhelming feeling of relief and protection.

"Inuyasha," She said finally, "Thank you for coming to get me."

He pulled back and she found him looking down at her with a worried frown. Wow. He looked so sincere. Had he always been like this? Was this the Inuyasha that was always hidden beneath the hard exterior? She wondered if Kikyo got to see this often. After yesterday and today, Kagome was beginning to think she should cry to him more often.

He inspected her face then pulled back further to look the rest of her up and down. He didn't seem to believe that she was really unharmed. She loved it. She wished he would worry over her forever.

Her phone was still held loosely in her hand, and when it buzzed they both looked at it.

"Ah," She said. "It's Sango."

"Tsk. Are you going to answer it?" She looked up at him, unsure, so he took it and answered it himself. "Hey. Yeah, I'm with her. We're on the corner of 16th east and 4th north. Yeah. Ok." He hung up and said to Kagome, "She's headed here. You seriously need to answer your phone more often. Sango and Miroku have been trying to get ahold of you for ages." He put the phone back in her hand. "At the very least answer when I call from now on, ok?"

"Ok. I'm sorry," She sniffed. "Looks like I'm crying all over you again." She reached up to wipe her face, only to wince. He noticed. Immediately all his attention was back on her face. She tried to turn away, but he stopped her.

"Let me see." He said.

"I'm ok," She assured him, her hands still up to hide her face.

He pulled her hands down by the wrists, then took her chin in his hand. She winced again, but his touch was actually quite gentle. Even though his face was becoming more frightening as he looked at her face. She wondered if bruises were already beginning to show.

"Who did this?" He hissed, acid in every syllable. "And don't you give me that run around crap you've been giving me. You tell me who the hell I have to break for this."

She blinked at the hostility in his eyes. Not at her, but at whoever had hurt her. Despite how angry he was, she couldn't help but smile a little. He cared about her. He was ready to go up in arms against whoever was bothering her. And right now all of his thoughts were on her.

They wouldn't be for long. She would tell him everything—of course she would. How could she keep it secret now? She would tell him all about Onigumo and Naraku and why she had dressed like her sister. And then all of his thoughts would be back on Kikyo as he worried and brooded over her.

Gosh, she was so selfish. At a time like this, with everything that was happening, how could she be jealous? So stupid. She was still just a seventeen year old girl, after all.

She let her selfishness rage for a moment. Why shouldn't she? She'd just been through something horribly traumatic. Then the man she was crazy about, and was now unable to deny just how crazy about him she was, had chased after her. Looking up at him, she could swear he was glowing a little bit. She wanted him to herself for just another moment before she had to hand him back over to her sister.

Dropping her phone in her pocket, she reached up and put her hands on either side of Inuyasha's face. He was already so close that it wasn't hard at all to bring his face a little closer and kiss him.

His lips were softer than she expected. And warmer. He didn't respond, but at least he didn't jerk away in disgust. She pulled back and opened her eyes, only to see him staring at her. The innocent surprise on his face made her heart ache. Her selfishness ebbed and she stepped back, a touch of guilt and sadness to her smile.

"Thank you, Inuyasha," She said sincerely, "I'm glad you came to find me."

Over his shoulder, she saw Sango turn a corner onto their street. She spotted them and sprinted forward, Miroku turning the corner on her heels. Inuyasha hadn't moved. He still stared at her with amber eyes.

"Don't worry," Kagome said, reaching down to pick up her schoolbag, trying not to look at him again. "I'll tell you everything."