Chapter 10

Past

Bored at work today (and alone, since I open up and would be alone for 1-2hrs give or take a few mines…and so I wrote…Yay me! :D)

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"Not home," Souta rushed out, as he tumbled down the steps, into the living room where his mother and sister sat, his guitar bag slung casually over his shoulders. "We're gonna be down by the beach if you need anything," He started, knowing that the inquisitions where going to start in a bit so he might as well get them out of the way. "I'll let myself in, so no need to wait up."

Warm brown eyes looked up from braiding her daughter's hair, a sweet smile on her lips. "I expect you back by midnight Sou," She softly chided.

With a groan, Souta rolled his eyes. "Do you know I'm the only one with a curfew?" He whined, walking dejectedly towards the front door. "It's really sad and pathetic."

"Well," His mom started, a spark lighting her warm gaze. "It's gonna be even sadder if I have to come get you with a stick, and pathetic when your friends see you crying and whining."

Between her mom's legs, Kagome suppressed a giggle before sticking out her tongue at her brother. "Show him who's boss, mom!" She cheered, cutting her eyes at her brother. "He needs a reminder."

"Oh shut up you pipsqueak," Snorting, Souta opened the door roughly. "You're sorry ass can't even come." He goaded teasingly, a smug expression lighting up his face.

"Language, Souta" His mother hissed with reprimand. "Before I make you a prisoner in your own room."

Ignoring his mom, Souta smirked at his sister, knowing full well that their mother wouldn't allow her to come and mess up his flow even if she begged on her knees. For one, it was a school night, and there was no way she would be allowed out the house later than eight, and with a quick glance on his watch, it told him it was already nearing eight. Furthermore – it was their mom's night off, meaning; there was little chance his little sister could sneak out. His smirk turned to a full blown grin when she scowled up at him, her ocean eyes swimming with fury.

With a very un-lady like snort, Kagome turned her head roughly from her brother, causing her scalp to burn from the sudden pull but ignored it with a silent pout. "It's not like I want to actually go." Grumbling, she focused on the wall intently, memories of last week invading her mind. Her throat suddenly grew tight, and the sting behind her eyes made her feel pathetic all over again. What the hell was up with her stupid emotions and their fluctuating abilities? She needed it to focus on two damn things: anger and hatred! Why was it so hard for her mind to get the message across?

This was odd to Souta on so many levels. It felt like ages his sister didn't tag along with him and the boys, and admittedly, at first he was happy, free of his sister and her prying eyes. But then… the withdrawal made him feel things, the absence of her did something to him…Something he don't even want to voice in his mind and it boggled him gravely.

"Why?" Was his sudden question in a soft and guarded voice.

Kagome ignored him, discreetly dabbing away at her eyes and was thankful that her mother had moved to the back of her head, silently telling her to bow her head between her raised knees, where the ground could soak up her rebelling tears. Her brother's question was stupid. He was fucking stupid. He should be happy that she wasn't around to 'twat block' him – words from him not her – when it came to that skank Cassy and any other girls stupid and desperate enough to throw themselves at her brother.

The silence was thick in the air; her refusal to talk made him furrow his brows in questioning confusion. It was bad enough that his mother wasn't saying anything, like she was some statue or a mute. His mom was usually the nosy one, leaving the oblivion solely for their workaholic of a father; yet all she did was comb his sister's stupid hair robotically, a cute frown mixing with her features in concentration. He just didn't understand – he didn't understand females in general.

"I'm out," He mumbled, the door clicking softly behind him.

Kagome heaved a sigh of relief.

"Do you want to talk about it sweety?"

Kagome felt the imploring eyes of her mother, and she choked on a sob, pressing her fist against her mouth to halt its stumbling release. Shaking her head swiftly, she was thankful for their position, positive that the knowing gaze of her mother would make her crumble instantly, spilling her life's worth like a broken water pipe.

"For what it's worth," She heard the whisper of her mother's angelic voice against her ear and her mother's soft embrace enveloping her in warmth as she kissed the top of her head in the process, "Inuyasha's an idiot."

Gasping, she shifted to her mother, amazed that she'd hit the nail directly on the head in a way only a mother knew how to do. Broken smile, tumbling tears and sniffling nose faced her mother and she lunged herself in her embrace, the damn finally breaking. "He said he's not want I want, mama" laughing dryly, she gripped her mother for dear life. "Am I that stupid to not know what I want?"

"Oh honey," Mrs. Higurashi hugged her daughter closer to her, allowing her to cry freely on her shoulders. She'd known her daughter was crushing on the lead singer for years now, and had no doubt in her mind that even if the outsiders would say it's wrong – to her daughter it was as right as the sun rising in the east and sinking in the west. She wasn't one to make the final decisions for her children, believing that they were smart enough to make the right choices, but that didn't mean she wouldn't be there as a guide for them. And even though Inuyasha had an off and on again relationship with Kikyou – Mr. Nara's younger daughter – she knew that Inuyasha felt something for her little pumpkin but hesitated. The knowledge of his hesitancy and reasons behind it were sweet, she'll admit, but it was breaking her daughter. And in turn, it pained her. At a loss of words, or refusal simply to speak, Mrs. Higurashi hugged her daughter closer, rubbing her back in soothing circles while her little pumpkin continued to shed her tears freely.

She just hoped it didn't steer her away from potential love in the future.

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Jumping over the fence, Souta landed with a dull thud against the sand, catching his balance quickly before straightening up and walking towards the black ride belonging to Inuyasha. He noticed that Inuyasha was on the roof of his ride, strumming his guitar idly while looking up into the night's sky. Kouga was laying flat on the bed of the truck, thumping his drum sticks in time with Inuyasha's strumming.

"Where's the other idiot," Souta asked, taking off his bag and easing it down beside Kouga. "By the sound of the texts, I thought you guys had already set up and were impatiently waiting." Doing their usual handshake in greeting, he grinned when he noticed the small crowd a distance away from them, enjoying themselves and dancing from the beat drifting from a car's stereo. He couldn't wait to turn up the party with their live playing.

"Miro's off somewhere with da hoe bag," Kouga breezily stated, and although Souta' stiffening was mild, he knew Inuyasha had once again caught it. Ever the observant friend, Souta found it easier to ignore him when things like those were voiced, or the image of something, of her with another guy became too unbearably painful.

"Ah," He simply stated, wetting his suddenly parched lips.

"Where's sweat pea?" Inuyasha asked, taking his attention from Souta to tweak his guitar idly. "I thought for sure she'd bring down all hell until she was allowed to come," He smiled softly, memories of her tantrum forcing a low chuckle from him.

"Mom wouldn't allow her to come," After a few seconds, he heaved a stressed sigh, grunting in frustration at his sister. "Scratch that, she didn't want to come!" He shouted, the very thought of her refusal still shitting with his head. "Who the hell does she think she is, suddenly deciding she didn't want to come after all these years of me telling her not to?" By now his voice had raised, the anger bubbling out of him boiling to a soothing point. "She's got some nerve not wanting to see us play – like we suck or something."

Chuckling loudly, Kouga sprang himself into a sitting position. "Are you kidding me?" He laughed out, holding up his drumming sticks while he tried to catch his breath. "You're really bitching about her not coming – AGAIN – when all these years, that's exactly what you wanted?"

"Well…" Pausing when the truth slammed full force into him, causing his mouth to fall open as the realization froze him into stupor, Souta clenched his fists at his side.

"I can't believe you actually miss the little squirt."

"I do not!" Souta denied hotly, brushing his bangs from his eyes roughly. "Like hell I'd miss that midget!"

Still, Kouga found himself laughing like a maniac, hunching over with his hand clutching his side. "This is just fucking golden. I knew you loved your sister! I just knew you enjoyed her tagging along…Admit it! You miss her!"

"Why would someone miss their bane?!"

But it wasn't answered; the truth was laid out plain, simple for even the stupidest person out there. Deep down, it was known to that idiot – he did indeed miss the banter, the teasing – he missed his freakin' bane! But that was a revelation he would quicker deny before thinking to utter the syllabuses.

"Are we gonna set up or what?" He asked, dismissing the thought with an angry scowl. "I gotta be home by midnight," with a roll of his eyes, he quickly flipped off Kouga, knowing he was on the verge of saying something stupid. His sister was right – he was a damn idiot.

Still, Kouga couldn't help himself. "Oh…Need to hurry on home to see your sister?" Pouting teasingly, he batted his lashes at Souta. "Oh big brother, I'm so glad you're home – I've missed you so much!" His imitation of Kagome sucked but it was well received.

The punch on his shoulder was proof of that.

They moved about in silence, organizing their stuff – and even the absent Miroku's crap – while nodding their head absently in time with the music playing, all of them lost in their own thoughts. Souta was still reeling about his sister's odd behaviors, trying to figure out when exactly she started acting different, whereas Kouga simple enjoyed the now – his carefree and careless personality dissolving all thoughts that made him think too deeply.

As for Inuyasha…

'She's actually refusing to see me now?' He thought sadly, his brows dipping low in shock. He'd notice, ever since last week at her place, she'd become distance, only greeting him with one word that slowly turned to a little smile until she completely ignored him. On top of that, she started hanging out with the girls, putting much distance between the island she'd already put between them until her absence became so tangible, he swore he could hold it and feel it. Tonight made it a total of fifteen times she'd refuse to tag along with her brother (not that he was counting per say), and it felt like a lifetime – an unbearable lifetime that burned his core to ashes over and over again.

After a few minutes of setting up, Inuyasha heaved a heavy sigh, tuning his guitar as Miroku boastingly made his way towards them, that shit eating grin revealing just how lucky he'd gotten with the girl practically glued to his side, her cheeks flush as she noisily chew and pop a bubbling gum.

"Just in the nick of time asshole," Souta growled, pointedly ignoring Cassy as he too tuned his guitar.

"I'm sorry – We were behind the rocks talking and then Cassy dared me to strip –…"

"Save it lecher," Inuyasha cut in, playing a few cords on his guitar to drown out the senseless babblings. "No one cares about your disgusting escapades."

"…And certainly not your roll with the walking STD," Kouga chipped in, chuckling when Cassy glared angrily at him.

"Fuck off, Kouga."

"As long as it's not with you – the walking disease?" He gasped, before snidely grinning at her. "Gladly!" He evenly stated, his eyes narrowing in her direction.

Gasping, Cassy turned from him to look pointedly at Miroku. "Are you going to just let him talk to me like that?"

Shrugging lazily, Miroku kissed the top of her head. "He's just goofing around, you know that." Giving her a brief squeeze he grinned at her. "Lighten up a little."

"Yea… Every slut should have a sense of humor, Cassy," Kouga goaded, placing a leg on the lip of the truck, his elbow resting on his knees. "So take a break from your serious cock devouring and laugh a little."

"Ugh – you're such an asshole!" She screamed. "We all know you're just mad because you're basically garbage to me."

"Honey, I got you when you were pure," He boasted. "Got bored of your shit and you threw a fit. If leaving me had any effect on me – it's saving me from a potential disease." He scoffed at her with contempt. "I hope for the love of God that Miro is smart," turning to his friend he grinned at him. "Hope you're protecting yourself, dude."

"Hey I'm definitely not that stupid – I make sure to condomize!"

Everyone broke out in a chuckle, and even though Inuyasha and Souta were silently listening to the insulting banter, they couldn't help the bark of laughter spilling from their lips as they looked from Miroku, to Cassy to Kouga. Seeing Kouga cuss Cassy so openly, and so rudely wasn't a surprise since he'd found out – by accident – that Souta was heartbroken by her sluttiness just last week. Kouga thought he was cool with her ways, thought that he heeded all their warnings about how she was. Why the fuck the dude thought he could change her baffled Kouga to this day. Changing something like Cassy was like trying to command the moon and the sun at will. Impossible. The way Cassy played with his pal just ain't right, and from since then on, he'd hated the flea bag even more.

Cassy slapped Miroku hard on his chest, making him flinch in pain. "You're an asshole!" Turning from him, she slapped him with her hair in the process before walking off. "Fuck you all!"

"You missed one!" Kouga yelled, chuckling as he jabbed his fingers at Inuyasha. "Don't walk away until you've conquered it all sweet lips!"

Inuyasha kicked Kouga roughly, making him lose his balance slightly. "Hey, she's never getting a piece of me – that much I can say," He scowled darkly. "It was game over long before we hit fourteen!"

Miroku wiggled his way around the ride, brushing his hair back like a girl. "Oh Yashie – that's music to my ears!"

The awful mimicking had begun again, and Miroku jumped out of the way when Inuyasha hopped off of his ride in his direction. For one, calling him that name was suicide itself, but doing a horrible mimic of the girl who was currently confusing the fuck out of him set him on edge. Inuyasha pushed forward barefoot in the sand, chasing a goofy Miroku around his ride – his anger growing each time Miroku dodged him.

"You're dead whenever I get my hands on you!" Inuyasha threatened, his anger stemming from something far deeper than Miroku's recent actions. 'She's actually avoiding me!' His thought was filled with indignation, and deep down, pain and regret. How could she refuse to be around him over something so simple? Why would she throw their friendship down the drain for something that hasn't even been written in surety under 'happily ever after'?

"I'm hurt Yashie…" Miroku egged on, holding Souta in place like a shield as Inuyasha huffed menacingly at him. "So damn hur –…" He broke off suddenly, his eyes squinting. "Something feels odd…" He mumbled. Turning around in a full circle, violet eyes scanned the vicinity with accuracy. "I'm missing Inuyasha's shadow…" He mumbled, biting his bottom lips in thought while he peered around Inuyasha himself. "Yashie's shaaadooooow – ooow!" Squeezing his arm tightly, Miroku look down at said arm before looking back at Inuyasha. "Do you know how much your punch fucking hurts?"

"Do you know you're a fucking idiot?"

Expecting a full blown argument, Miroku surprised them with a wide grin, his squeezing turning to a soothing rubbing. "Actually – I have." He brightly confessed. "You're shadow actually – whom I can't find." His search continued for a few seconds before he huffed. "Where the hell is Kaggie?!" He looked from Kouga to Souta. "Is she hanging around those guys again?" Cracking his knuckles, he moved from behind Souta. "Come on; let's go have a chitchat with those punks."

Souta's sigh broke his concentration. "The little midget didn't come."

Gaping, Miroku looked at Souta. "Shut up!" His gaze drifted to Kouga who nodded sagely. "You're kidding me – again?" Clashing his gaze with stormy gray, Miroku wet his lips slowly. "Again?" He said softly this time, his peculiar gaze shredding Inuyasha's exterior. He saw the slight shrug lifting Inuyasha's shoulder, and the joke dissolved on the tip of his tongue before he could release it.

"Squirt has been acting funny since last week," Kouga started, making Souta quirk in wonder. "I didn't think she'd get so pissed knowing we're trying to protect her – it's not like it's the first time we… warned a guy not to fuck around with her."

"I don't think it's that…"

"Well – tomorrow I'll head on over by her at school and demand an explanation – I miss my cute bane!" Miroku grinned wildly, slapping his palm against Souta' back while urging him to move with him in the process towards their stuff.

Souta stayed rooted to his spot, his brown gaze turning upon Inuyasha. "Did something happen between you guys the night you took her home?" If Souta was really thinking, he'd have to say that Kagome's personality change and her lack of enthusiasm began the day after he'd sent her home with Inuyasha. Sure, when they did things like that, his sister would be mad at them for a few days, maybe just three – tops and then everything would go back to normal. But this time, the length was too, well – lengthily and he had to admit that it was odd for his neurotic sister.

Only then did Inuyasha became acutely aware of the cold breeze howling towards him, and like a guilty kid caught in the act, he refused all eye contact as he gaze down at his guitar. "We got in an argument about her needing to live her life – without all of us butting in. She said she's tired of not having dates or even guy friends because of us scaring off the potentials."

Chuckling, Kouga hopped down. "Like that's going to happen unless a decent guy comes along."

"Yea," Miroku agreed, laughter swirling in his gaze. "All the boys in Oakley Shikon are assholes, cheaters, dickheads or all of the above." Running his fingers distractingly through his hair, he moved towards his instrument in the back, gracefully hopping up in the ride with a quickly. "I hate the squirt, but I'd be damn if any ill treatment befalls her." Even with his confession, the warmth in his voice revealed to anyone he was just joking about his feelings, because Kaggie was like a sister in his book, and despite her manipulative ways – she was fun to hang out with.

Ignoring his friends, Souta's imploring gaze sized down Inuyasha. "Is that all that happened?" He evenly asked.

"What else do you think went down?" This time, Inuyasha daringly clashed his gaze with Souta's, his shield already hiding the truth and his emotions as he occupied himself by casually strumming his guitar.

"I asked to get an answer."

"And I gave you one." He shot back.

"One," Souta repeated with a chuckle, searching his friend's visage for any crack so something more would leak out.

Both friends refused to look away, and both Miroku and Kouga found themselves looking from the singer to the guitarist and back, intrigued at the unspoken strain. There was an underlying of knowledge flowing between all of them but the extent wasn't known – and that was what caused such tension. Everyone knew Kaggie crushed on Inuyasha…and deep down – his closest friends knew he had some feelings towards the neurotic midget – and whether he was willing to act upon those feelings or not hadn't been a mystery in his decision in his lack of actions. He was adamant on keeping their current relationship, it was simple as that.

Inuyasha always felt that he was too old for her, or he wasn't good for her, hence the thought of acting on mere feelings that he was sure would probably turn mundane in the long run was ridiculous. Nothing ever lasts forever, and even if he may grow to change that, her feelings would surely change. She was young after all, wanted to move out of this place and go away for college – their lives drifted in different path even before they thought it and so Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to take such a chance. The content feeling with knowing that friendship, and sibling love with always keep them close no matter their distance was enough comfort for him he'd long settled on.

But now, Souta felt like something more happened. He felt like an invisible line had been crossed and all it took was for him to accurately pinpoint a date. It was like flashes of that time came rushing back to him. When he came home to his sister's sleeping form, noticing she'd been crying, he simply thought she was upset and humiliated about her thinking what he did was embarrassment. Then she got weird around Inuyasha – distancing herself until she right out ignored him. Souta chalked it up to an argument where Inuyasha would rightfully take Souta's side obviously. But then the real deal breaker when remembering the way she'd touch her lips occasionally, before blushing and then scowling when she thought no one was looking. Souta narrowed his eyes at his friend.

"You guys kissed."

Inuyasha's absent fingers tripped over the guitar chords, releasing a deep blaring groan noisily around them for it to die down eerily.

0-0-0-0-0-0

"Oh my gosh, Eri!" Kagome groaned, hugging a plush tedding closely to her person as she gripped her cell phone to her ear. "I told you I can't make it!"

Her mother had finished with her head a few minutes ago, after she'd cried like a freakin' baby in her arms that is, and even though her mother had offered to be that listening ear, Kagome couldn't bring herself to dive into the memory. When her eyes started shinning with tears, she was thankful when her mother backed down, giving her the room she needed but letting her know she'd be available whenever she was ready – no matter how long it took. Kagome was sure the tenderness of her mother was enough to bring forth the tears that drenched her, and added with her aching heart for Yashie? She damn near drowned herself.

Sighing silently, Kagome listened as her friend gave a frustrated sigh; sure she was currently rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Is it really that you won't come?" She challenged angrily, a hiss following each word vehemently. "Just because he's going to be there doesn't mean you can't come Kags!"

"It's not that," Her feeble denial went unheard as Eri continued in her rant.

"This town is so freakin' small – you're bound to bump into the ass – don't let him ruin your fun times and suck it up."

Forcing back tears, Kagome dabbed at her eyes with her teddy's hand, refusing to crumble more than before. Eri was a good friend – hell all three of them were, but it sucked balls knowing that Kagome came running to them about one thing over and over again without fault or change. She knew her friends where tired of hearing the repetitiveness, but she loved them for staying silent about it – 'even the stubborn ones who didn't', she added, thinking of her crazy friend on the phone.

"You can't begin to understand…"

"Like your whining doesn't clue me in," She snapped, and Kagome flinched, the silent tears breaking free almost instantly. "I'm sorry." Eri mumbled, her sigh of defeat echoing in the silent vicinity.

"Sure," Gazing off in the distance, the dull thudding of her foot against the wall threw her in a trance, and she was instantly thrown back to the kiss she shared with Yashie, wondering what else she could have shared with him if he didn't reject her.

"I'm just angry that you're so hung up over a dude who doesn't even give two fucks about you."

Moving into a sitting position, Kagome instantly went on the defense. "That is so not true and you know it!" She hissed, gripping her cell tightly. "Yashie cares for me…I know he has feelings beyond what he says is brotherly," her voice broke as she hotly defended her crush. "I felt it in the way he kissed me – the way he held me…You can't just put that much feeling into something when it's not real."

Eri snorted at her friend's naivety.

"You need to grow up and smell the shit Kags." She stated dryly. "Not everything is black and white – this especially."

"Yashie's different."

"Oh yeah?" She challenged. "Then how come he's not with you right now? How come he's down the Strip at the bash, preparing to play and then party with that Kikyou on his arms?"

Perking up with dread, Kagome hugged her teddy closer. "He's…He's with Kikyou?"

Eri snorted, but didn't reply. There was no need to reply, knowing that the relationship between those two were no secret. Hell if he didn't go with Kikyou or hook up with her, then that would be the real shocker. Eri loved her friend, wished she'd just break free from that invisible hold of her Yashie and meet the amazing guys out there just waiting to treat her way better than he ever would.

"I…It doesn't matter – I don't care."

"That's the spirit!" Eri's giggle reached her ears, making her smile softly. "Now go get dress and climb out that window of yours –…"

"I still can't go Eri – and even if I could, why the hell would I go to see Yashie and Kikyou suck each other faces off?"

"Oh for fuckety sake's Kags!" The faint grumbling of her voice told Kagome she'd move her cell away from her mouth. "We won't even be near them if that's what you want. Gosh, we need to get you someone to make out with!" She huffed tiredly. "Ugh dammit –look, I wanted to surprise you, but Joshua's gonna be there – he wants to see you."

Kagome quirked a brow, lazily rolling here eyes to the side. "I don't believe you. I've seen him all through the week and on weekends – basically every day and he never once acknowledge me since my brother decided to show the world his dickly ways."

"Can you blame him? Hell can you blame any dudes when it involves your brother, your crush and the idiot duos? I swear I don't know if to effectively hate them for cock blocking you, or love and swoon over them for being so lovingly protective." The anger in her voice was removed with a blissful sigh that shed light on her torn feelings.

Giggling with a deep roll of her sapphire eyes, Kagome shifted the phone to her other ear. "I'd go with the former," Giggling even more, she shook her head softly. Her guys were something kind of amazing – she had to admit that she too couldn't fully decide between love and hate – especially knowing how some of the guys in town actually were.

"Now that's what I love to hear," The endearing voice of her friend made her smile sweetly. "You're meant to always be happy Kags, even when it seems like the world is shitting, pissing and spitting on you."

"Gee –…" The laughter bubbled out of her like an out of control machine. "Thanks for that disgustingly vivid explanation.

"You're welcome," Eri giggled. "Now…"

Kagome groaned.

"Oh yes!"

"It's a school night Eri – as much as I'm tempted to hang with you guys – I can't." She sighed when Eri started protesting. "My mom's a light sleeper and I know she'll come check on me – it'll be pretty bad if I end up in a casket once she notices I snuck out." Sneaking out was far easier when her mom worked the night shift, because usually she'd be so tired that once her face hit the pillow, she was a goner until her body had fully rejuvenated itself over the night.

Eri giggled at that, but easily relented when she realize Kagome wasn't going to budge. And so with a promise to catch up tomorrow at school, fake kisses and goodbyes, the call was ended, and Kagome was once again left alone with her thoughts and the stupid teddy.

She glared tiredly at the black and red teddy.

Another object that reminded her of her Yashie – one of many if she was being honest – whether she liked it or not. She sighed softly; drawing the teddy Inuyasha had gotten her for her thirteenth birthday, teasing her about finally stepping into teen hood but would still always remain his little sweat-pea. A sad smile kissed her lips as she thought back to the event, to the way she freaked out, overjoyed by the thought and care he'd put into this massive stuff animal.

"How could you be so nice back then and all the time, but so hurtful last week?" Her gaze fluttered towards the teddy, half expecting it to reply. Doubt slithering into her heart and she wondered if he really even like her the way she thought she felt it in the kiss. Was she just deluding herself? Hung up on her feelings for him to the point where she feel like he just had to reciprocate them?

She sighed in defeat.

She would have loved to get out, enjoy her youth and hang with Joshua – even if he was a dick – as long as he took her mind off of Yashie. But going to that beach party, where Yashie and the others were performing would damn near break her into too many pieces to find. Not being able to see him would be amazing if she had to lie, though deep down she knew she'd be so occupied with wanting to see him that her attention would be anything but focused. Don't even talk about his voice. The moment she hears his voice, she'll just…lose it. That was something she couldn't afford to do; she just wouldn't. She couldn't.

"I can't." She buried her head in the crook of the teddy's neck. "I refuse."

0-0-0-0-0-0

I'm…running low on sleep. My mind is telling me to re-read it for mistakes or whatever but then my heart is telling me to freakin' post it and stops bitching.

REVIEW PLEASE! Feedback would be nice – I feel like the presents are filters and the real action is in the past…Why does my present suck? ((groans)).

Oh btw… Have anyone of you guys entered in Destiny Challenge over on LJ? It's a summer thing – fun thing… stressing on the word FUN :D …Do join in or even go over and check it out: ed-ficlets . livejournal profile (remove the spaces). It's a monthly thing, cant update when you want within that month specified… The full information is at the link so tell me what you think – but JOIN haha… Also there's a winner at the end of the summer and goodies as rewards – how cool is that? June's month list will be revealed on Friday… Can't wait to see what kind of challenge I'll encounter ((sweat-drops))