My Patch of Ice and Blood
Chapter 12
Jealous Cat
"WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? WHAT DO I SAY? OH CR*P WHY DIDN'T WE DISCUSS THIS EARLIER!" I cry, rocking back and forth on my bead with two balls of hazel streaked black hair clutched in my fists.
"Quartz," Nana laughs, "help her with the outfit. Maki, listen." I look up. "You're going to a movie and then lunch. All you have to do for the first part is to remain quiet. The second part, all you have to do is to wait for him to speak, and just reply. It's that simple."
"Okay," I breathe. "Wait, are you guys coming with?"
Nana and Quartz nod. "We'll shrink the house down again," now Quartz smiles, so I know she's going to crack a joke, "but this time try to keep it, okay?"
I laugh and nod. Quartz waves a little brush, seeing she's my wish to become a master for things that make people happy and whole, the culture, and that sleeveless navy dress that goes down to my knees appears, black pantyhose appearing on my legs and the little black Mary Jane shoes I got for school originally. My hair pulls itself into a high ponytail with that silver butterfly clip. A little tan blush applies with a deep crimson lipstick, mascara making my eyelashes long and deep. My contacts remove themselves and my hair…the dye is removed enough for hazel hair with black streaks. I smile and a mirror appears. I twirl around a bit and I laugh at myself. I walk through my down, a black belt slanted on my waist with the house attached, and I grab the spare house keys, running out and locking the door behind me. I calmly walk to the theater and sit on a wooden bench, awaiting Lo. I hum a little tune to myself until I hear chuckling.
"You know, I never thought you would try to impress those Maya brats."
I keep my smile, but I still turn to Ikuto, in the usual uniform. I notice he has a light-blue violin case with him. "Afternoon, cat," I wave. "Still stalking me?"
He laughs and rests next to me on the bench, his arms spread out across the top of the back, his legs stretched out with his ankles crossing, and his gaze turned to his left, at me, with his head tilted forwards. "You look nice."
I raise an amused brow. "What do you want this time?"
He takes his right arm and uses his thumb and index finger on the right hand to lift up my chin a bit, his head leaning in and the tilt erasing. "I've been waiting for that dance you promised."
"Actually," I poke his nose playfully, "you crossed your fingers, so therefore the deal is hereby nullified."
He shuts his eyes and looks down, his right hand returning to its place on the top of the back-bench. "When did you become a lawyer?"
"When did you become a complete hole?" I laugh.
"Hey, Maki," I hear Lo greet. "Don't get buddy-buddy with a completely different person now!"
I laugh and stand up, walking to Lo. Man is he cute! "Hi Lo-san, how are you?"
He pats my head. "No need to be formal, Maki."
I laugh and I feel eyes bore into the back of my skull, but I ignore them. I walk next to Lo into the theater. Oh this is going to be great! We take our seats in the movie room and he holds left hand, making me blush. Nana sits on my lap and Quartz is floating next to her, making popcorn in something she must've made appear. The movie is about some high school students and oh the drama! NOT. I think he just took me to see this for the sheer that I'm a twelve-year-old girl. I huff. Okay, I have to admit, Ikuto would've probably went to some movie he wanted to see with me. I twiddle my thumbs through the movie, Lo behaving like a respectable gentleman, but for some reason, I feel like someone is going to stroke my butt any minute. When the movie is done, Nana notices that I can't stand up. I'm frozen there, a bit scared. Why though? Is it because I know Ikuto isn't here? Wait, he had to get in somehow, he's like that. I nod to myself and stand, walking out of the theater and Lo takes my hand. Walking back out into the sun, I see a girl talking to Ikuto on the bench. Was he there the whole time? Oh jeez, that gives me the jitters! Lo squeezes my hand reassuringly and leads me off to the direction of that restaurant Ikuto and I danced at (A.K.A-where the jerk stole my eggs).
I want to be…a friend.
"Hey, do you want to dance?" Lo wonders.
I shake my head lightly. "No thanks. I'm technically in debt for that sort of thing."
"Because of Ikuto, huh?" he laughs. "That guy is odd in many ways, may I tell you, but that's good about a person."
"Really?" I raise a brow.
He nods. "Everyone's unique in their own way."
"So it's good if people enjoy murder?" I tease.
He laughs and shakes his head lightly. "Everything but that, silly."
I laugh along with him and I feel the house shift. I freeze and look down to see it's there. I lift the roof and…
I. Really. Hate. That. Cat.
I huff and bang my head on the table. "What's wrong?" he wonders.
"Uh…" I stutter. "Um…I lost a part of this project I was working on…" I stand up. "I'll be right back!"
I stand and walk into the dancing room, walking on the outskirts of the circle and looking around. Why can't I see Ikuto? Ugh, next time I see that perverted stalker, he's dead. I huff and start looking inside pots and stuff for the eggs and freeze. Wait…if he re-promises something, that would make that promise valid…SH*T. I walk out of the dance room and to the entrance. I look around and hit my head. STUPID! I really can't trust those two! Didn't I tell Ikuto about how I hate people doing this? I feel someone tap my head and I look behind me to Yoru, holding both eggs above him. I gap and I can see he's sweating, nervously. Something definitely happened.
"Uh…" he smiles. "I was told to give these back to you."
I blink as he lightly places them in my hands. "Wait…why the heck did you take them in the first place?"
He rubs the back of his neck. "I thought it was funny-nya…"
I sigh. "Yeah, or Ikuto found it funny."
He blinks, then lets his hand drop to his side. "He didn't, actually."
I raise a brow. "I'm curious, but have you seen him with a heavy amount of…I don't know…pot?"
He laughs and shakes his head. "No-nya. He said something about too much is mean."
I turn to walk to the table, but stop, smirking. "Keep telling yourself that, Mama's kitten."
He's scolding while I calmly walk back to the table, placing the eggs back in the house. I sit down and Lo smiles. "Find the parts?" I nod. "Good. Well, I hope the project goes nicely!"
I nod and freeze for a second. Don't people generally say more or ask what the project is? Out of this nervous nature, I stand again. "Uh…I need to go for a second!" I rush. "Be right back!"
I dash out of the restaurant and take a huge gulp of necessary air. Man, I hate that cat. How dare he make me nervous? Yet again, why am I blaming him even if he's not…wait…I slap my forehead and stomp back in, walking up to the sign in counter. "May I help you?" the lady wonders with a brilliant smile.
I nod. "Have you seen a boy, seventeen, with blue hair and eyes come in?"
She nods and points down the hall and makes a 'go left' motion. I nod and follow those directions, freezing when I see Ikuto sitting at a table for two alone. There's a little box with a blue ribbon on it in front of the other seat and there's a Dr. Pepper waiting there as well, untouched. I scratch my head and look at the door to the ladies room. Huh. I tap the house and Quartz flies out. "Yes, Maki-cha?"
I cover her mouth and duck behind a wall. "Hush! Now, do you have any idea why Ikuto is here?"
She shakes her head. "Although, I know that you like him."
I freeze. "D-do not!"
"Do to."
"Do not!"
"Do to."
"Don't make me repeat myself."
She smiles and shows me the mirror. I blink. Is this me? I thin the crimson lipstick is now to much, the mascara is overboard…why did I not notice? "Now you get it."
"Get what?" I ask her.
"People should take you for who you are, not Miss Makeup Face."
I chuckle and nod in agreement. "Yeah, I guess…"
"That's probably why Ikuto likes the blue eyes so much, because they're who you are."
I nod and in the mirror, I see the lipstick remove and the mascara wash off. The blush, I can't really tell if it removes, but I smile with my lips sealed and it actually makes me feel proud of myself. What was I so nervous about? I'm me and me alone! I stand up and start walking back to my table. I sit down and Lo frowns. "What?" I ask.
"Hey, Ikuto."
I freeze, ghostly pale, and look behind me to a smirking Ikuto. OH WHAT THE F*CK? "YAHAHYA!" I fall over and some people laugh, making me sigh. Jeez, I was just surprised…
Ikuto chuckles, "I hope you've had a nice fall."
I kick him in the ribs and he backs up a bit. I stand up with Lo's help and Quartz squeaks, fleeing to the house. I huff and cross my arms up at Ikuto. "What do you want, date-crasher?"
He takes my wrist and jerks me forward until his lips are next to my ear. "You might want to look across the room."
I look behind him and see some chick Lo's age watching. I raise a brow and Ikuto pushes me back a bit. I turn to Lo. "Hey, Lo?"
"Hmm?" he smiles.
"Who's she?" I jerk my head to the chick.
He looks over and grows pale. "Uh…no idea…" My heart stops. That's an immediate lie. I look down and run off. "Wait! Maki!"
I run out of the restaurant and keep running, no tears falling, just anger pulsing. I'd rather get out before X-Negative comes out again. She almost killed Nana and Quartz, I'm not having that again. Nana flies out of the house, bags bruising under her eyes. "What's with all the…oh…Maki-cha, what's wrong?"
I shake my head. "I just want to look in the stores a bit…"
"Maki…" Quartz sighs.
Usually, I don't agree to that unless they have something I like, in which the ornament and necklace were still too expensive for me. I'm not a millionaire you know! Otherwise Dad and I would buy a Titanic, not make one! I pant and stop before sweat starts showing through my nice dress that Quartz apparently fixed up. You know, Mom got me this, so it's important. I start walking and freeze with realization. Why did Ikuto stop that little plan? Was he protecting me? Or…I know! HE'S SO JEALOUS! That's the only explanation! Yep, Ikuto is a perverted, stalking, jealous kitten with a baby!
