Chapter 9
Months Later, Lunch Period
"Did Liz get a new top?" Peter asked with an easy smile, face propped up against his hand.
"No. We've seen that before. But never with that skirt," Ned answered breezily beside him as they watched the older girl on the ladder setting up the Homecoming banner in the cafeteria.
The two sighed simultaneously as Liz flashed a smile at a passing friend.
"We should stop staring before-" Peter paused as a second person moved to climb the ladder.
A familiar bluenette popped into view as she climbed up the ladder beside the older girl and replaced her, now holding up the sign as Liz stepped down to stare at the banner. Liz gestured with her hand towards the Asian girl, pulling into another smile as Kagome lifted the hanging tarp.
The two turned their attention to the petite Asian girl, both smiling widely as she giggled and tacked the banner into place. As if sensing their stares, the girl surveyed the cafeteria before landing on the two boys. She raised an arm and waved, smiling brightly their way.
Ned's arm immediately shot up, waving back frantically.
The teenage hero on the other hand felt his body freeze up, his tongue suddenly heavy and his face growing hot. He felt embarrassed that he had been caught staring so obviously.
He timidly pulled a smile, or what he hoped was a smile.
It seemed to do the trick, or something as Kagome burst into laughter as she made her way down the ladder.
"Stupid, why did I even-" Peter groaned, dropping his head on the table.
"Man, even after all this time," Ned grinned as he pat his best friend's back, "You should just tell her Peter."
"Tell her what?!" Peter hissed, peeking at darker boy with a grimace, "That the reason why she always catches me staring at her like a creeper is because I like her? My penpal from Japan?! That's so cliche Ned! What if she doesn't even like me, do you know how awkward it'll get and what if she decides to go back?! We would lose her, don't you understand Ned?!"
Ned's eyes grew in size as Peter grasped his shoulders and shook the Asian boy with fevered panic.
"Do you want to go back to it being just us watching Star Wars alone?!"
"Uhhhh…."
"Wow, you guys are losers," A dry voice cut in.
The two boys froze, cranking their heads to look towards the voice.
"Well...then why do you sit with us?" Ned squeaked, still shocked from Peter's freak-out.
"Because I don't have any friends," Michelle replied without a twitch in her bland expression.
Their mouths dropped as they struggled to reply to that.
"Should I be offended you don't see me as a friend?" A soft voice chirped from beside the boys, effectively scaring the boys enough to jump in their seats.
"Kags!"
"Kagome!"
"More like a wont-get-a-clue comrad, Kagome."
Said girl smiled sweetly in response.
