Until Next Time

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: Don't own YYH

Chapter 10:

Ten Little Indians

By Agatha Christie

…..

I stood outside of the library picking at my blush red nail polish. My lavender jacket hung open now that the weather was actually warming a little bit more. There were several people walking around in tee shirts, but I wasn't that comfortable yet. It was only forty degrees. Give it time.

The reading starts in five minutes and I was sporting most of my nervous ticks. Deep breathing had set in twenty minutes ago when I parked my car. Shifty eyes was a new feeling for me that I couldn't quite control. It made me feel like I had something to hide. Chewing my bottom lip started last week when I had decided I was going. Only when I hit the sidewalk did I start picking at my nails. Swallowing the anxiety lump in my throat, I dropped my hands to my sides and squeezed them into fists.

It was time, I needed to go inside. Sighing lightly, my feet pushed forward and I stepped through the first set of double doors. I knew that the conference room directly to the right of the second set of doors was were the reading would be.

Several people came in behind me. Forcing a fake smile on my face, we greeted one another in the old Minnesota way. Nod, smile, and a friendly hello.

I watched them walk past me and turn toward the reading. They walked past a big sign that drew my attention finally. It was a chalk board with a picture of the book being read and in big letters 'Shuichi Minamino.'

Jeeze, this was really happening.

I only had a couple minutes left. Biting my lower lip, I pushed through the second doors and turned toward the conference room. Rows of chairs were set up facing an empty podium. Well, almost empty. There was a bottle of Ice Mountain water next to a small microphone.

Slowly I approached the back row and found a seat near the door. That way if I felt overwhelmed, I could just get up and leave.

Yeah, that's thinking ahead… coward.

I scolded myself for being so freaked out. It was just a reading. Honestly, I told myself that I wasn't going to approach him. My butt will stay planted in this chair and when it's over and people stand and gather around him, I will slip out the front door. And I told myself that once I reach the sidewalk, that's when I will allow myself to run away to the safety of my car. No sooner than the sidewalk though.

Off to the right, I noticed a woman about my age walk into the room. Her brown hair was hanging loose down her back and her cocoa eyes shined bright with excitement. If I remembered correctly, I think her name was Keiko. I should remember her name, I've been here a million times in the last five years.

She headed directly for the podium and my stomach scraped at the inner walls of my body, trying to run away and hide. Her finger tapped at the speaker once and her smile somehow seemed to grow bigger. "Hello everyone. Thank you so much for coming," she said and everyone watched her, politely waiting for her finish and let the person of honor approach. "It was a surprise to everyone here. One day, out of the blue, Shuichi called and offered to do a reading for us. But, he wanted it relatively soon. Normally I have to call him," she laughed then and I had no doubt a portion of the people in the crowded room were chuckling to themselves. "But we got him a spot as soon as possible. And so he's here with us today. Please, everyone, put your hands together for Shuichi Minamino."

The applause was generous, but I wasn't able to raise my clenched hands to clap with them. My muscles jerked under the skin from all the nervousness running through my veins. This was it and I didn't think I was ready. Shaking my head, I kept telling myself this was a bad idea. I just had to get out of there.

I was about to stand up, when someone in the front row stood and walked toward the podium. I was shocked into my seat by the brilliant red hair that I had obsessed over these last few months. My jaw seemed to come unhinged and hang open as he turned to face the crowd.

It was him.

There were so many emotions flooding my system that I knew he was speaking, but I couldn't make out the words. I watched his eyes scan the crowd until they landed on me. My heart practically broke my lungs, it was banging around so hard in my chest. A smile, like any other, broke out on his face when his jade eyes met mine. That smile was just for me and I knew it, but I was so confused and part of me just wanted to go home and sort through my thoughts in the comfort of my cat blanket.

Finally, my lungs sucked in air when he cast his gaze down at the book he'd brought with him. The words flowed from his lips, but I may have caught every seventh word. He looked so calm and peaceful up in front of everyone. The red of his hair glimmered under the florescent lights as it was a real flame in full blaze.

And here I was.

My hair probably had chunks of fly-away's everywhere. I had no doubt my make-up was not up to standard anymore with how my times I'd rubbed my hands on my face, trying to get a grip on things. The nail polish that I painted this morning, looked pretty damaged from all my picking. Seriously, I needed to get some control. Who knew what my clothes even looked like anymore. I, for one, didn't want to look in a mirror anytime soon.

I have no idea how long I'd been sitting here staring blankly at him reading. The plastic chair was starting to make my legs go numb though and I could tell some of the others were starting to shift. Although, his voice was like a melody to soothe my nerves, I still had no idea what he was even saying. I just listened to the sounds his words made.

The story he choose was one of my favorites, but I couldn't seem to put enough energy into that region of my brain to pay attention. All I could think of was … why?

Why didn't he just tell me?

Why did we go through this game if he knew?

Why didn't I see it before?

Why did it take so long?

They all really meant the same thing, but my brain couldn't seem to stop rolling over these questions.

Why? Why? Why? Why?

Shaking my head, I got some energy from my little fit of frustration. Letting a deep breath fill my lungs, I pushed off the crummy chair and stood silently. My movement caught the attention of a few close by people, who did their best to ignore me. Grabbing my bag next to me, I looked at the man at the front of the room who glanced up at me, only to do a double take.

I could see the glee in his eyes slowing dying and I had no doubt it might have something to do with the frown on my face. Silence settled in the room awkwardly while he stared at me as I stood in front of my seat.

People started to shift and take notice of me now that he had stopped reading and was watching me. Sighing, I shook my head again and lowered it to gaze at the floor. I turned then and walked out of the room.

Why didn't he just tell me instead of working up this huge ruse?

I just need time to think about things….