I know how you feel Lady Amazon! I HATE Haruna. Ughhhhh I just think he's a jerk. And yeah, about the broken bones and stuff, I broke one and whenever it was going to rain/change temperatures/seasons changing it would always hurt. Anyways sorry for the wait, I've been super busy lately, but I hope you all like it :3. Oh And I'm giving Abe's daddy a name since apparently he doesn't have one. -_-
xxx
"Well…why don't you come to…my house," I ask slowly, fidgeting. Wait, I'm fidgeting? I don't fidget. What the hell? Lexi is eerily quiet, looking at me with wide, shocked eyes.
"Will your mommy be okay with it?" she counters in a soft voice.
"Yeah," I smile, "after you left the other day, my mom nearly pissed herself because she thought you were adorable," I laugh. Lexi joins in.
"Well then," she loops her arm in mine. My heart hammers against my ribs, "let's go then."
Lexi tows me toward my house, "you remember where it is?"
"Yeah, I have a photographic memory," she smiles up from my side.
"But you mixed up Mrs. Hiro's house and Mihashi's house," I state the obvious.
"Sometimes the photographic memory is wrong," she shrugs as a shiver runs down her spine.
"You cold?" I turn my head in her direction.
"Just a little, I guess you were right about the temperature drop," she giggles. I smile softly at her, pulling my arm from her grasp. She looks up at me for a second, shocked then understanding fills her eyes as I reach over her, placing my still warm arm over her already cold shoulders. She gives a little gasp. My heart drops, thinking she's uncomfortable; I start to take my arm back.
"Wait wait wait!" she holds my arm in place, "you're warm, your arm is staying right here," she speaks matter-of-factly. I chuckle, as if I were only messing with her earlier. She nuzzles into my side, damn is she cold. I feel the chill seep through my clothes.
"Jesus, you get cold easily," I chuckle.
"Considering if I sit in the air conditioning for five minutes, I lose all of the heat in my fingers," she presses closer.
"Jeez," I shake my head, hurrying my steps for home. I'm starting to get cold too.
xxx
"Mom, I'm home," I call, sliding my shoes off. Lexi follows suit, untangling herself from me. Mom enters the room.
"Taka! Why don't you tell me when you bring company over," Mom scolds, fluffing her hair.
"Nice to see you again, Misae," smiles Lexi, her eyes soft.
"Good to see you too, Alexandria," Mom smiles, hugging her, "oh my, hun, you're cold!"
"Yeah, the temperature dropped on the way here," Lexi giggles, "and I get cold easily. Don't worry though, I'll be fine," Lexi gives her an award winning smile. Mom seems to be melting.
"You are so cute!" Mom exclaims. Lexi blushes.
"Thank you," she looks to the ground. Mom leaves the room, only to return with a blanket.
"Here honey," she wraps the blanket around Lexi's shoulders.
"Mom, can Lexi sleep over tonight?" I inquire, rubbing the blanket on her arms, trying to create friction and heat.
"Yes!" Mom says, clapping her hands together under her chin.
"Thanks Mom," I smile, then call for Shun, "Shun?"
"Yes, brother?" he answers from the living room.
"Come here for a minute!"
Within seconds Shun is in the room, acting shy around Lexi again.
"Shun could you take Lexi to my room? I have to talk to Mom for a minute," I stare down at him.
"Okay brother. Follow me please, Lexi," Shun waves her along. Once out of ear shot Mom fires off the question that I could see was pressing forward.
"Are you two dating?" she asks, completely serious.
"No," I shake my head coolly.
"Then why is she here?"
"Family problems," I shrug. Mom is about to say something, but I cut in before she asks the one question that I can't tell, "I'm not allowed to say, sorry Mom."
Mom sighs, giving up, "then, do you love her?"
"Yes," I breathe, my shoulders dropping.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Mom inquires, growing excited.
"Our friendship. I've already thought this through. There is still a possibility that she could say no, and then our friendship would be ruined as well," I explain calmly to my mother.
"Oh," Mom nods her understanding, "well you do get your smarts from your dad," she pokes me in the cheek. I chuckle.
"Say could you bring up some snacks and blankets a little later?" my inquiry makes her shout out another question.
"You're not going to make her sleep on the floor, are you?" she nearly yells.
"No, I'm sleeping on the floor," I answer in my normal voice. Mom breathes a sigh of relief.
"Good, okay Taka, I'll bring up the blankets and a snack then," Mom smiles at me, turning for the kitchen.
"Thanks, Mom," I work my way up the stairs and to my room, only to find Shun and Lexi playing a board game.
"Oh, hey Abe," Lexi smiles wide at me, her eyes full of excitement.
"Hey there, whatcha playing?" I eye the board game, trying to decipher what they're playing. Shun giggles.
"We're playing Candyland," Shun smiles up at me.
"Want to play?" Lexi asks.
"Nah, I have to get a shower anyways. I'll be back soon," I pull out a pair of underwear and a pair of pants and leave down the hall.
xxx
I sigh, the warmth of the shower making it nice to relax. Steam rains down around me, fogging up the mirror. I quickly dry myself off, pulling on the garments I had set out for me. When I return to my room, Shun is gone, the game packed away, and Lexi is snuggled in the blankets that Mom had brought up.
"Hey," I grab the snack plate, sit down in front of her and place the plate in between us.
"Hey," she says slowly, looking at me with wide eyes, "You don't have a shirt on Abe."
"I know, I don't sleep in shirts," I shrug, not thinking much of it.
"Okay," she diverts her gaze, grabbing something off the plate and nibbles on it, "I'm sleeping on the floor," she fires out.
"No you're not," I shake my head defiantly. Lexi looks at me stubbornly.
"Yes I am, this is your house," she says.
"I promised my mom you'd sleep in the bed," I argue. Lexi sighs.
"I guess I can't argue with Mommy Abe can I?" she giggles, unwrapping herself from the blankets, crawling onto my bed, "Ooo comfy bed, Abe," she flops down on my pillows. I smile as she rolls on her side toward me, "and it smells like you."
"I do sleep there," I shrug, pulling off a pillow from the bed.
"Hey! That's mine!" she yells playfully.
I smirk, flopping down on my pillow, saying, "mine now."
Lexi is laughing when Shun walks into my room, "brother?"
"Yes, Shun?" I turn my head his way, the fabric of the pillow making an annoying noise.
"Can you tell me a story?" he asks shyly, "I promise, I tried to go to sleep without it, because of your company, but I couldn't."
"Sure, little brother," I climb to my feet, following him down the hall.
"I wanna hear the one about the monkey again," says Shun.
"But you didn't like the ending to that one," I state.
"Yeah, but I liked it, and I can imagine what happens next," Shun shrugs.
"You're learning, little brother," I muss his hair. Shun giggles, settling into bed. I tell the story as he slowly falls asleep, snuggled with the blankets up under his chin, "goodnight little brother."
"Nice of you to join me," Lexi snickers, lying on her back, her head hanging off of the edge. I smirk.
"You're welcome," I answer, "you're lucky though, Shun didn't want me to go, maybe I'll go back," I start to turn for the door.
"No! wait," she scrambles out of my bed, standing in her school clothing. I look over my shoulder. Lexi is shivering, her eyes wide.
"Lexi, are you cold?" I inquire turning back to her.
"Uhm, just a little," Lexi shrugs, "S'no big deal."
I travel over to her, taking her hands in mine, they are freezing cold.
"You're hands are warm," Lexi says softly, looking at our hands.
"They always are," I chuckle, moving around her, pulling her toward my bed, our hands still entwined, "now you on the other hand, must climb into this bed, curl up into the blankets and get warm."
"Humph," Lexi takes her hands from mine, climbing into my bed, before snuggling into the covers, she asks, "do you have a tank top or something?"
"I'm a guy," I say, "I don't wear tank tops."
"You know what I mean! Like one someone might wear to the gym or something," Lexi explains. I think for a minute. Do I have one? I meander over to my closet, opening it and taking a look.
"Ah, like this?" I hold out the tank top for her.
"Yes! Can I wear it, please?" she asks.
"Why?"
"Well for one, my clothing needs to be washed, and I can't sleep in t-shirts," she explains, grabbing the black t-shirt she wore today.
"What kind of pants are you going to wear?" I inquire, still kind of confused. But then again, I can't sleep in shirts either.
"Do you think I could borrow a pair of your shorts too?" she asks softly. I pull out a pair that I don't think will fall off of her.
"Here," I smile, handing her the garments.
"Thank you!" she takes the garments, climbing out of bed, "where's your bathroom?"
"Down the hall on the left," I explain, pulling her to my doorway, pointing down the hallway.
"You think I could take a shower too?" she asks innocently.
"Yeah, the towels are in the closet in the bathroom," I smile, disappearing back into my room. Finding I have nothing to do, I text Mihashi: Hey, how are you feeling?
In a couple minutes he replies: Eh, okay, I guess. My stomach is acting up. How'd you know?
I reply instantly: Lexi and I stopped earlier, but your mom said you were sick and didn't want to risk it.
Within the minute he answers: Ah, yeah. Good thing, too. If I got you two sick I don't know what I'd do.
I laugh. Same old Mihashi. I answer: Don't worry about us. Do you think you'll be in school tomorrow?
He replies a minute later: Yeah, I should me. If I'm not, I'll text you.
I smile. He must like me, you know, as a person: Alright, man. See you tomorrow.
He answers: See you.
I plug in my phone, then pop in my earbuds. I lay on my back staring up at my ceiling while All Time Low blasts in my ears. A couple songs later there's a Lexi leaning over me, a giant smile on her lips. Her wet hair drips cold droplets on my face. I pull my earbuds from my ears.
"What's up?" I lay there and stare at her. She stands back up, holding her t-shirt and jeans. She's in my too big grey tank top and too big shorts that hang low on her hips.
"Where's your laundry room?" she asks.
"Oh, come with me," I stand and lead her to our laundry room.
"Ooo! It's so cute!" Lexi exclaims, looking about the room. The floor is wooden and the walls are a soft blue.
"Tell that to my mom. She designed it," I smirk.
"Designed what?" my mother walks in.
"The room," I say.
"Oh, so are you finally being appreciative of my room?" Mom asks.
"Nope, Lexi likes it," I point to Lexi behind me. Mom's face lights up.
"You really think so?" she asks softly, gently taking Lexi's clothing from her hand.
"I do, Mommy Abe," Lexi smiles wide, a Tajima smile. Mom giggles, throwing mine and Lexi's clothing in the washer.
"Thank you," Mom smiles at her, her eyes sparkling.
"You're welcome!" Lexi laughs, switching her weight from one foot to the other.
"Misae, I'm home!" my father's voice booms throughout the house. I walk briskly to greet my dad.
"Dad, shh, Shun's sleeping," I whisper. Dad makes an effort to lower his voice.
"Abe, who's this?" Lexi stands next to me, looking up at my father.
"Hello, my name is Reizo Abe," he extends his hand to her.
"Hi, my name is Alexandria Mendrick," Lexi smiles at him, shaking his hand, "but please, call me Lexi."
"Nice to meet you Lexi," he smiles down at her, releasing her hand, "I do have a question, though," he folds his arms over his chest.
"Yes?" she looks up at him innocently.
"Why are you wearing my son's clothing?" my dad asks, his gaze almost peering through Lexi."Well I was going to sleep over at Mihashi's house-you know Mihashi right? Abe's pitcher?" she questions.
"Yes," he nods consent.
"Well he got sick, and his mom didn't want to get me sick. So I was thinking, now I gotta go home and I already told my brother I wasn't coming home. So Abe asked if I wanted to sleep over here," she shrugs, moving into the rest of her long tale about how she got my clothing on.
"I said yes, but didn't know if Mommy Abe would say yes, so we came here and asked. She said yes, so Abe, Shun and I camped out in his room, but then I had to get a shower and wash my clothes. But I'm not at home, so I don't have any clothing. I asked Abe if I could borrow his shirt and shorts," she points to the garments, "to sleep in.
"I would've asked for a t-shirt, but I can't sleep in those. So he gave me these to wear for tonight," she finishes, her eyes wide. My dad laughs.
"That's quite the tale," he appraises, leaving for the kitchen, "Misae, is dinner done?"
"Yes honey, it's in the microwave," Mom calls from the laundry room. Dad doesnt answer, but I hear his steps pound through the house.
"Mom, are you okay with doing our laundry? If you want I-"
"I'm fine, Taka, go to bed," her voice is subdued due to her being behind a corner.
"Alright, Mom," I answer, waving Lexi to follow me.
"You're dad seems nice," Lexi smiles at me as she climbs into my bed. I settle on the floor.
"When he isn't picking on me," I scratch the back of my head.
"Picking on you?" she leans over the edge of my bed.
"Yeah, he says things just to piss me off," I laugh, "but sometimes we get along. Like when I'm explaining what my strategy for our next game is."
"Ah," Lexi seems deep in thought, "he has a big voice though."
"Yeah, everyone says that," I say, "Oki told me I have a big voice too."
"You do," Lexi stares at me coolly. I stop breathing, "but yours isn't all that scary."
I exhale softly, relieved, "thanks," I smirk.
"You're welcome," she smiles at me. My phone vibrates.
"Hm? Who could that be?" I muse, mostly to myself, staring at my phone.
"Well, look," Lexi seems eager. Slowly I reach for the phone, flipping it open. The text message is from Millie. I sigh, "who is it?"
"Millie," I open the text reading it: Heyyy :)
"Are you going to answer it?" Lexi asks.
"I might as well," I look up to her, then smirk, "unless you want to."
Lexi catches on, "if you want me to scare her off, then, what are friends for?" she shrugs, sitting cross legged on top of my comforter.
"By all means," I hand it off to her, moving next to her to watch. Her fingers move quickly over the keyboard: Hey. Who're you?
Instantly Millie replies: Its Millie Abekun
I twitch at Millie's horrible grammar. Lexi smirks at me saying, "Abe-kun?"
"A lot of people called me that in middle school," I cover. Really only Millie called me that, but I'm not going to tell Lexi that. She let it drop turning back to my phone: Don't call me that.
It takes Millie longer than normal to reply: Dont u like it Abekun
"Oh, she's that type of texter," Lexi says, shaking her head disapprovingly.
"Whenever I see it, I die a little more inside," I flinch.
"Oh, poor baby!" she pats me on the shoulder, turning her attention back to my phone: Who is this, and why are you calling my boyfriend Abe-kun?
"Boyfriend?" I watch her face.
"There was really nothing else I could think of," she defends. I nod, not telling her how much it pleases me: Ur his gurlfrend
"Oh my god, I think I hate her now," Lexi says harshly.
"Told you," I say in a singsong voice: Yes. Leave him alone. He doesn't like you.
She got that right. I really didn't like Millie: Who r u
Lexi doesn't answer at first, looking to me, "should I pose as me since she knows me?"
"But I don't want her to hurt your feelings," I say.
"It doesn't matter," she shrugs, "anything for a friend."
I smile at her, saying, "do whatever you want."
"Okay," she smiles at me, tapping away on the phone: I'm Lexi.
She replies: Ur tha chick th 8 wit Abe n th boi
Lexi rolls her eyes, mumbling, "symbols and no punctuation? I think I may esplode," she says the word 'explode' the funny way. I laugh: Yes. Seriously though, leave him alone. He's mine.
My heart races at the text she sent: He wuz mine b4 u
Lexi blinks at me, "is she telling the truth?"
"Not at all," I shake my head: He says not.
Millie replies with a demand: I want 2 tlk 2 him
Lexi snickers: No.
The phone starts to ring, with Millie in the caller I.D. Lexi answers, "hello?" pause, "oh he's next to me," pause, "nope," there's a buzz on the other end with Lexi answering coolly, "thank you," after that I pry the phone from her hand.
"Hello?"
"Abe-kun!" Millie squeaks.
"Don't call me that," I say in a low voice.
"Abe-kun, your girlfriend is ugly. Come back to me," Millie speaks seductively.
"She's not ugly," I counter.
"I clearly am prettier," she speaks again.
"No, you're not. You're petty and a bitch," I shrug as if she could see me, "we're not friends," and with that I hang up.
"Ooo, you go Abe!" Lexi claps, laughing, "so, are you up to telling me?"
I know exactly what she means. I take a deep breath, and begin, "who do you want to go first?"
"Hm, Millie," she nods.
"Well, she was a new kid in seventh grade. Not a lot of people talked to her, so I felt bad. I talked to her one day, and she immediately thought I was in love with her. She clung to me like I was a magnet," I chuckle, "then she drove away every girl friend I've had- and that's just friends that were girls," I say.
"Ah," Lexi smiles at me. I smirk back, ending that story, "and Haruna," she says his name as softly as she can. Taking a deep, calming breath, I tell her about my old pitcher.
"I used to play in the senior club, in middle school. I was assigned Haruna to show me the ropes. Well the coach also had me catch him. Haruna has good speed, but hardly any accuracy with his breaking pitches. Week after week I'd be peppered with bruises from the change ups, sliders, curves and screws that didn't go the right way.
"But all he cared about was his eighty pitches per game. He was looking at baseball more as a career then as a team effort. He was a prick," I shrug.
"And that's why you hate him?" Lexi's eyes dart back and forth.
"Sort of. I hate him because he doesn't care about the game. He views every team he's on as practice," I explain, "plus he's got a huge head," I roll my eyes. Lexi giggles.
"Well at least you don't have to deal with him anymore," she smiles at me, but her eyes are hard.
"You already hate him, don't you?" I inquire, leaning forward, peering deeper into her eyes. She doesn't break my stare.
"Yes," she says, "if I ever meet him, I may blow up on him."
I laugh, "and I'll be there to watch."
"Good, I have a feeling you may like the show," she gives me a face. I chuckle.
"We better get to bed," I slide off the side of the bed. I settle into the blankets, plopping my head on the pillow.
"Say, Abe," Lexi peeks over the edge of the bed.
"Yeah?" my eyes graze over to her.
"We should go out sometime," she smiles at me. My heart skips a beat, and I am filled with warmth.
"Um, sure," I smile, Lexi smiles back, but is quickly taken over by a yawn.
"Tell me a story," she struggles to keep her eyes open.
"What would you like to here?" I ask, folding my arms underneath my head.
"The Emotionless Catcher," Lexi settles underneath the covers. I start the story as I watch Lexi drift off. I smile at her sleeping form, then settle into my covers and drift off as well.
xxx
"Abe," someone whispers over me, "Abe," someone pokes my cheek.
"Hm?" I try to sound attentive, but I'm still kind of asleep.
"Abe, I had a nightmare," the voice whispers again.
"I'm sorry," I say, opening my arms, "come here then."
Someone cuddles in next to me, I wrap my arms around them, and mumble, "want to talk about it?"
"No, but thank you for comforting me," the person gains a voice instead of a whisper. It's feminine and right then is when it hits me. I'm cuddling with Lexi, who just had a nightmare. My heart speeds up. At first I thought it was Shun, but he doesn't call me Abe.
My arm is straight with Lexi's head laid on it. We're both on our sides, my free arm draped over her side. Lexi's breathing slows down instantly, but I have a hard time sleeping with her close proximity.
I try to relax, to forget that Lexi's next to me, and it works. Easily I'm asleep next to her, snuggling unintentionally into her hair. I feel her weight shift a little, becoming closer. I sigh in contentment wading further in the dark river towards a bright light dream forming.
xxx
I'm hot. For reasons unfathomable, I'm hot. Usually it's kept cool in my house. Grating my eyes open, I feel a pressure next to me, and ultimately think it's a dog. I sigh, realizing I have to get up sooner or later.
Pulling my arm free of a head, I untangle myself from the covers. I still haven't looked at my companion. Before I'm out the door, I turn around to look at the dog. But it isn't a dog... It's Lexi. Just then is when reality hits me.
Lexi stayed over last night. Waking me up in the middle of the night, talking about a nightmare. Me being half asleep and thinking it was Shun immediately suggested he sleep next to me. But it wasn't Shun, it was Lexi the entire time. My heart races, and I can't breathe. I run to the bathroom, leaning over the sink.
Questions swim through my mind. Why didn't I remember this? Is Lexi falling for me, like I am for her? Was I just doing it because I'm her friend? Was there some underlying motive? What was I doing with her?
I put all of those questions out of my mind, brushing my teeth and looking at my reflection in the mirror. I seem rested, but feel exhausted. There's a knocking on the open bathroom door.
"Abe?" Lexi inquires, her voice laced heavily with sleep. Her little hand rubs her eye.
"Yes, sleepy head?" I turn to her, smiling.
"I have to piddle, could you hurry up?" she yawns afterwards, leaning heavily on the doorframe.
"Just a minute," I run the brush quickly through my hair, brushing passed Lexi. I stop just behind her, "Lexi," I touch her on her shoulders. She starts.
"Sorry," she says sleepily.
"Do you want me to make you coffee?" I inquire, still standing behind her.
"No I'll be okay after I pee," she nods, meandering to the toilet at the far end of the bathroom. I close the door for her, leaving for the laundry room.
By the time I have my clothing for today on, Lexi moseys into the laundry room.
"Good morning," I smirk at her.
"G'morning," she stands lucid in front of me.
"I thought after you pee, you'd be fine," I come closer to her.
"I am fine," she tries to smile.
"Stay here," I leave her in the laundry room. Finding my mother in the kitchen.
"Mom, do you have clothing that might fit Lexi?" I inquire, leaning on the doorframe of the room. Mom turns around from the stove.
"I might have a dress that she could fit. You know the one with the white roses on it?" I know exactly which one she's talking about.
"Alright, is it in your closet?" I start to turn from the room. I barely hear her say "yes," before I'm taking the steps three at a time.
"Here, you can wear this," I offer Lexi the dress. It looks just her size. Lexi gasps, finally waking up.
"Oh, Abe, I can't," Lexi blinks up at me, "it's Mommy Abe's."
"It's okay, Mom insists. It doesn't fit her anymore," I shrug. Gingerly, Lexi takes the dress from my hands.
"It's beautiful," she breathes, walking away in a daze. She turns around with a start, "where's your bathroom?"
"The only door in the foyer," I point to the left, indicating that the foyer is to her left. She nods, walking lightly on the tiled floor. Minutes later she emerges with the beautiful white rose dress. Her hair has a slight wave from her sleeping on it wet. Her eyes are wide and attentive.
Before she says a word, she follows the smell of food to the kitchen. I hear muffled voices, emerging into the kitchen.
"Mommy Abe, thank you so much for letting me borrow this beautiful dress," Lexi stands just before Mom. She scrutinizes Lexi's form.
"You're welcome honey," Mom smiles at her, "turn around for me."
As Lexi turns, she catches my eye and smiles. I smile back at her.
"Taka," Mom calls me to her.
Standing at Lexi's back and next to Mom I ask, "yes?"
Mom unties the bow around Lexi's waist. She does the first knot entwining the the strings, "put your finger here," she points her pinky toward the twined strings at Lexi's lower back. Without hesitating, I place my finger atop the strings, "hold it tight," she orders as she ties the bow over my finger, "there all done!"
Mom had tied the red bow tighter around Lexi's waist, making the bottom of the dress flail out a little bit more. Lexi smoothes it out, facing us again. You can clearly see the bow, sticking out around her small frame. It's beautiful.
"Adorable!" Mom gushes, puffing Lexi's hair a little, "just adorable!"
"Brother, you're going to be late," Shun shows up, handing me my phone, then handing Lexi hers.
"Thank you Shun!" Lexi smiles at him, "Mommy Abe I'll be sure to have this dress back to you by tomorrow," she promises.
"Oh keep it," Mom waves her hand, "it doesn't fit me anyways."
"Are you sure?" she inquires, her voice rising a couple octaves.
"Yes," Mom claps her hands under her chin.
Shun pushes us to the door mumbling, "you're going to be late!"
Lexi slides on the flats she wore yesterday with her jeans, I slide on my converse, lacing them up.
We're walking to school when Lexi reaches into my pocket and takes my phone, "W-hey!"
"Oh relax," Lexi flips up my phone, adding a her phone number to my phone.
"Uh, thanks?" I don't know how to start off after that.
"Oh you're welcome, now text me so I have your number," she pushes my phone back into my hands. I text her: Hey!
Instantly Lexi checks her phone. She smiles up at me, "Hey."
xxx
School was long and full of jealousy. Everyone was complementing Lexi on her dress, but it always circled back to me, because she gave my mom all of the credit. Kobe punches me in the arm saying, "I want to meet your mom."
I sigh and say, "you can meet her when I have my party."
"When's your birthday?" asks Kobe excitedly. He leans into my face, bending to my level.
"December," I smirk.
"That's months from now!" whines Kobe. I shrug.
"Yeah well," I say lightly, plopping into my seat.
xxx
"Abe!"