~ Hello Readers! We are back in Akari's point of view. And... um... I don't really know what else to say. Hope you like it!
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I looked down at the ground. That was the answer I had expected from Chase… He looked distressed for some reason. I didn't know what to say. The air seemed tense. I felt awkward just standing there, looking at him.
His brow furrowed and he looked back up at me, "But you shouldn't have done that. Not for my friendship." He smiled without humor, "I'm not worth it. Just stick to being friends with Maya and Anissa. Well, maybe you'd be better off with just Anissa…"
"Chase," I interrupted. "Why are you like this?"
"What?" He cocked his head to one side.
"Why are you so cold to everyone? To Anissa. To Jake and Colleen. To Maya. Everyone. There has to be a reason," I persisted.
He glared at me, "There is no reason! It's the way I am. I told you I wasn't worth it, and I'm not! I don't even know why I'm still here! All of these people are fools!"
I take aback by his reaction. His fists were clenched and he still glowered at me. "Jeez, I just asked a question!"
His brow furrowed and he smirked. He looked away, "Ya know, I guess there is a reason why I don't like them." He looked up at me, but his smirk was gone and his eyebrows smoothed a little, but he still looked stern. "And it is for the same reason that I don't like you."
I was going to yell at him about… actually I'm not really sure. Just to yell at him I guess, but he cut me off.
"You know what? Fine! Go to work today. See what I care!" He threw his hands up, exasperated and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Fine! Maybe I will!" I spun around and stomped off towards the inn. Chase didn't follow behind me this time. Was that really the person I fell on my face for yesterday!?
Why had I done that? He was right; his friendship obviously wasn't worth it! I pushed the inn door open and looked around for Maya. Maybe she would have something for me to do. I finally found her in the kitchen working on some… dish, maybe?
I walked up to her, "Hi Maya! Whatcha doing?" I tried to sound perky, attempting to hide my irritation from a certain chef… who come to think of it, should be working too right now.
Maya looked up at me, she seemed happy, "Oh Akari! You looked better! How's your nose?"
"It's alright," I said. "I actually haven't noticed it that much."
Maya smiled, "That's good. Would you mind helping me with this?"
"Um… what is 'this'?" I asked, looking into a bowl Maya had in front of her.
"It's Apple Pie!"
I looked into the bowl skeptically. I didn't know Apple Pie had so much yogurt in it.
"Are you going off of a recipe?" I asked as I eyed the bowl.
"Nope!" She said cheerfully. "I'm just using what Yolanda told me to."
"Uh…huh… Well, what would you like me to do?" I asked.
"You could get me some things from the cabinet."
I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon finding random ingredients for Maya, most of which I'm pretty sure don't belong in an Apple Pie. I got her a carrot, some coffee grinds, cheese, turnips, and some other items that I'm glad I managed to forget. I really didn't like knowing some of the ingredients put in food, especially Maya's food.
After awhile Maya noticed that I was slowing down, "Akari, maybe you should go to bed. You seem a little out of it."
I was getting tired and my head was starting to hurt. I rubbed my forehead. "I'm fine," I insisted.
Maya put her hands on her hips and glared at me, "Akari, I'm not having you faint on me today too, now go to bed. You can try some of the pie tomorrow."
My eyes bulged. I was going to have to eat this… this… whatever it was? If going to bed now meant I got to live another day, then I better get upstairs before Maya takes back her offer.
"Okay, I'm going," I made my way up to my room and into bed. My head was throbbing; I wished it would just go away. As I laid in bed, my one hand stuck out from under the blankets like it always did. I'd slept like that for as long as I could remember, but now my hand felt cold. I thought back to last night when Chase had warmed my hand with his.
My eyebrows knit together and I pulled my hand back under the blanket.
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~ Thanks for reading!
