The room was spinning around Hiro as he leaned back in his swivel chair. Boredom had become the norm for him. However, he tried to keep to himself in his room as to not bother Aunt Cass. She had enough to deal with besides his own troubles. He tried his best to not worry her any further than he had the last few weeks.
Hiro could hear the sounds of the lunch rush downstairs. He had tried to offer help, but Aunt Cass had shooed him back upstairs. She promised that she would be up as soon as she could. But that was hours ago. Hiro leaned back as far as he could in the chair, suddenly tipping it back and falling to to hardwood floor. Laying with his back still on the chair, he looked up at the door to see his aunt standing there.
"Hiro, someone's here to see you," she said with a smile. As she walked away, Honey Lemon took her place in the doorway. Her high heels clicked on the floor. She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled softly.
"Hello, Hiro," Honey Lemon said just as soft as her smile.
"Uh, hi," Hiro responded, jumping up to fix his chair.
"How are you doing?" she folded her hands in front of her waist.
"Oh, you know. I'm.. okay. You?"
"I'm good."
"Yeah. Um, you want to sit down?" Hiro motioned to the bed and chair.. Honey Lemon sat down on the bed, barely making a dent in the mattress. Hiro slouched in the chair, resting his head in his hands.
"I didn't see you at orientation this week. I helped out as an upper class adviser and I looked for you." She studied his face with her big green eyes. Hiro couldn't bring himself to meet them.
"Yeah. I don't know what I'm doing with school yet."
"Oh?"
"I don't know. I just can't go back there yet. I can't go back to where..." he stopped and looked at the floor.
"Where... what Hiro?" Honey Lemon took his hand.
"I can't go back to where Tadashi died." He looked at their locked hands.
"Oh... I see. You know, Hiro, he isn't really gone if you remember him"
"Yeah." He pulled his hand away from hers and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Have you been... Okay?"
"I said I was."
"Yes, but... you know. Are you?"
"I don't know. I want to say yes, but I really don't know if I can."
"I understand." There was silence for a few moments. "How's your arm?" she said suddenly.
"My arm?" Hiro thought for a moment, then remembered it had been her that discovered his secret. "It's been good lately."
"May I see it?" Honey Lemon offered her hand. Hiro considered for a moment, then pulled his sleeve up. Many little pink lines had raised where he had cut. The scars weren't too bad, but they were noticeable. Hiro tried to cover them with long sleeves, but once in a while he got weird looks.
"They healed mostly, but I relapsed a few days ago," Hiro cringed at the word "relapse". He thought only sick and crazy people "relapsed".
"I see that.." Honey Lemon said softly, running her fingers across Hiro's scarred skin. "But that doesn't matter. You're trying, and that's great."
"No. I messed up and Aunt Cass found out and now she probably hates me." Hiro pulled his arm back and shoved his sleeve down to his hand, gripping it tightly.
"That's not true, Hiro. She loves you. I talk to her almost every morning before class. I get a chai tea and she keeps me updated on you. Everyone has missed you. Even GoGo asks about you sometimes. We all love you. Especially your aunt." She put her hand on his shoulder, but Hiro pulled away. He didn't mean to, but it had become second nature.
"I'm sorry. I just. I just want to be alone right now," Hiro turned suddenly in his chair. "You should probably go. You'll be late for your afternoon classes."
Honey Lemon bowed her head slightly and stood up. She took a step forward and hugged Hiro quickly. Walking to the door, she turned and faced his turned back. "You should really think about coming back. It's still not too late you know. Even if you come for next semester. We'll be there waiting."
"Thanks. I'll think about it," he said, turning and giving her a weak smile. She grinned back and nodded to him. Then she turned and walked down the stairs, heels clicking on each step. Hiro could hear them all the way through downstairs into the cafe. Then his eyes fell on something she set on the shelf by the staircase. He stood up to investigate. Set on the shelf was a small tube. Taking a closer look at it, he saw that it was a scar reduction cream.
Hiro smiled, took the tube, and sat on his bed where Honey Lemon had sat. He lay back on the blanket and stared at the ceiling, still clutching the tube. Curious, he opened it and spread the cream over his forearms. A cooling sensation spread through them. Not an unpleasant feeling, but different. He read the directions. "Apply a small amount to affected areas daily to reduce scarring. Do not put on open wounds". Good, he thought. I didn't mess up this time. With a small smile cracking over his lips, he sighed. "Thanks, Honey Lemon," he said softly.
Ah the return of Honey Lemon :) Love you guys