What if I didn't make you anything?
Through playful lips made of yarn
That fragile Capricorn
Unraveled words like moths upon old scarves
I know the world's a broken bone
But melt your headaches, call it home
~ Northern Downpour - Panic! At the Disco
Outside, Rima was taking deep breaths trying to calm down. Walking on the frozen sidewalk, she thought about why she had just walked out, because it was very spur of the moment. 'Maybe it was just overwhelming.' She thought. 'Yeah, that's it. Just too much right now.'
However, she did wish that she had thought to put on a hat, as her ears were starting to freeze, maybe even little icicles forming. But already being a block from Nagihiko's, and after such an exit, it wasn't exactly like she could just stroll back in. Rima was almost at Amu's though, and she was glad for that.
Soon arriving at the front door of the rosette's house, she knocked a few times and waited. Midori came to the door with a smile. "Hi, is Amu here?"
"Yes, she's right upstairs!" Midori said, letting Rima in. After taking off her boots and coat, Midori told her that Amu's room was the second on the right, so Rima walked upstairs and knocked.
"Come in," Amu said lazily, but perked up when she saw Rima enter the room. "Rima! Hey!" She said, seeing one of her best friends.
"Hey," Rima said, smiling a bit.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"Uh, things. Got mad at someone, and came here." She answered vaguely. Amu nodded, acting as if she knew what it was like.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Uh, can I actually tell you something?" Amu nodded, letting Rima continue. "Ever since break started, I've been living with Nagihiko. That's because after my parents got divorced, and even before that, my dad had been beating me." She concluded, her head hanging low.
"Rima, that's terrible! Why didn't you tell anyone?" Amu asked, her face evident with worry.
"Well, mainly because I didn't want anyone to know. Nagihiko kind of forced it out of me, and then insisted I stay there instead of my house. I didn't really want to, but I also knew you were going away, so I just stayed there. After one night I think, his mother found out so I went to Kukai's for a night, then snuck back into Nagihiko's. I've literally just been switching between Kukai's and Nagihiko's all winter break." Rima said, taking a breath. Her stomach felt horrible, but knowing that it was just because she was nervous, she ignored it.
"So, did you get mad at Nagihiko, is that why you're here?" Amu asked, getting a bit confused.
Rima explained what had happened, taking a few minutes to get it out. "Oh god, that's terrible. So, are you just going to wait for someone to call before you go back, or..?"
"I'm thinking, yeah. I don't want to go back at a bad time, y'know? I feel really bad for fooling his mother." She said, falling back onto Amu's bed.
"Well, if you don't want to stay here, you can always go to Kukai's." Amu suggested, laying down next to her friend.
"Naw, I said I was going to be here, so I'll stay here if you don't mind."
"Not at all! So, do you want to do something?" Amu asked, looking at the blonde girl with a smile.
The two girls had been hanging out, when finally, a phone call from Nagihiko cut them off. Rima said bye, walking out of the house. She wasn't exactly excited to go back, but she knew she would've had to eventually.
Soon, she arrived at the Fujisaki manor, her home away from home for awhile. Entering through the gate, she knocked on the door a few times then walked in. Rima took off her coat and boots, and wandered until she found Nagi in one of the many hallways.
"Looking for me?" He asked, grinning. "So, me and my mother talked it over, and we also asked the police, but it's all up to you where you want to stay leading up to the court date. I obviously suggest here or Kukai's."
"We're... going to court over this?"
"Well, yeah. Your father would be charged with domestic violence and assault if we win, and get some time in jail I believe." Nagihiko said.
"Oh... okay." Rima said, thinking it over. It only made sense that this would go to court, but what would happen with her after the case was closed? Where would she be staying?
"Oh! And Kukai's New Year's party is tomorrow, if you're still going." Nagihiko said, hoping that she would still go.
"Of course I'm still going, why wouldn't I?" Rima asked, laughing a bit.
December 30th
The night passed quickly, Rima staying at Nagihiko's house. She awoke early, to Nagi having his arms around her once again, and she smiled. She knew that it wasn't going to be happening much after this, considering the court date in January, and she be here for awhile. Maybe she'd even stay in one of the guest rooms, but for now that was undecided.
Waking up Nagihiko, he groggily opened his eyes, seeing Rima's face for the first time today. She was still slightly smiling, with her bangs falling into her face. "G'morning," He said, smiling back.
"Morning." She took his arms off of her, and turned onto her back. "I've just realised that tomorrow it's going to be a whole new year."
"Yeah. Sort of a new beginning, if you think like that."
"Kind of," Rima agreed, moving a piece of her hair. "Anyway, do you want to get breakfast?"
The pair walked to the kitchen, the floor cold and the seats even colder. "What do you want to eat?" Nagi asked, looking in the fridge for food.
"Whatever you feel like making me." Rima said smugly, leaning onto the counter.
"What if I didn't make you anything?" Nagihiko asked, a sly look on his face. Looking at him with a slack look, Rima shook her head.
"You wouldn't. You don't want me fucking up the order of your kitchen, now would you?"
"Well, that's a fair point. You're getting cereal." Grabbing a box of cheerios and the carton of milk, he set them on the counter before setting down two bowls and spoons. "Dig in."
After breakfast, Rima said that she was going to Kukai's early so she could shower and get ready at around two o'clock. When asked why so early, she looked at Nagihiko with shock. "I think you of all people should know how long it takes girls to get ready. Plus I want to see the guys again, haven't seen them in awhile."
"Oh, well you could've just said that. So, do you plan to wear something you already have, or do you want to get something new? Cause I can always drive you to the mall if you want to pick up something else."
"Uh, is that okay with you? You'd have to buy it, of course."
"I suggested it, so it's fine with me. How about we both get dressed and then we can head out?" Rima agreed, grabbing her stuff and walking over to the bathroom to get changed.
Soon, the two teens were in the car, driving to the mall. Rima had, of course, forgotten that Nagi had treacherous driving skills, but was soon clutching onto the sides of her seat so she wouldn't move around too much.
"I don't even know how you make the car move like this, cause this road was redone during the summer." She said, looking at him. He seemed relaxed, though his tight grip on the gearshift said otherwise. However, they managed to survive the drive to the mall.
"What store sells dresses?" Rima asked. Nagihiko laughed at the question.
"Where don't they sell dresses? Here, come into here." He led her into a brightly-lit store, with dresses and fancy shirts on racks. "I'm sure that you'll find something in this store."
Looking around, Rima saw many dresses that she could have worn. But there was always something that said, 'no, don't wear that one' in the back of her head. Finally, she had three dresses that she decided to try on: a light purple strapless dress, a bright blue dress with sleeves, and a white and red strapless dress.
Coming out in each of them, Nagihiko had critical comments about each, but told Rima that she shouldn't get the red and white one, because it was very boring. The blue one was cute, but the neckline really didn't work on her. The light purple one was a flattering fit, but it was a bit short.
"I think the purple one is my favourite," Rima said, looking at herself in the mirror. "What do you think?"
"I think that if you like it, you should get it." Rima smiled at him, then went to get changed back into her clothes.
"Can I also pick up some bangles?" She asked timidly, not wanting to seem greedy.
"Course! Pick them up then bring them to the register." Quickly walking over to the small jewellery section of the store and picking up a package of bangles. Placing them on the counter, Nagihiko paid for the two things and then drove to Kukai's house.
While Rima was getting her shower, Kukai and Nagihiko talked. About how the police knew about Rima, where she was staying, the court date.
"The court date is set for January 16th, but I'm not sure my mother would even let Rima stay in the house until then. She'd definitely have to get another uniform from her house at least, for school."
"I know what you mean, but in the end it's really up to her. I've got room for her here if one of my brothers would stop staying here. And I'm sure Amu would let her stay sometime. I think it'll turn out fine, though."
A few hours passed, with Nagihiko helping Rima with her hair, and the brothers coming over to totally crash the party. They weren't invited. Rento and Rima talked for a bit, and finally, at around nine o'clock, people started to stream in.
Yaya was the first to arrive, wearing a orange party dress. Amu was next, looking annoyed, with Ikuto trailing after her with his trademark smirk. Tadase joined the party at half past, with Utau coming in unexpectedly at ten.
"So, is this everyone?" Nagihiko asked, getting murmurs of 'yeah' and 'I guess so' from everyone.
Kukai put in a CD, and let it play in the background while everyone sat around talking and eating, until it was nearly midnight. Then, after a quick search for the remote, they changed it to the channel that the countdown would be on. With everyone watching intently until the ten seconds were left, everyone shouted them loudly, huge grins plastered onto their faces, when the ball dropped and the clocks rolled to midnight on the dot. Yaya and Kukai kissed for a brief moment, but the real show stopper was Nagihiko, grabbing Rima and lightly kissing her on the cheek.
DELETED SCENE:
"Morning." She took his arms off of her, and turned onto her back. "I've just realised that tomorrow it's going to be a whole new year."
"More like a whole new world." Nagihiko said, looking at her with a childish grin.
"Did you just-"
"Yes, I just did. Did you like that movie?" He asked, rolling onto his back to look at the ceiling with her.
"Yeah, I would say. It was a good one. What about you?" Rima asked, looking at him.
"I always thought it was a bit unrealistic."
"What! It wasn't unrealistic!" She argued, sitting up quickly.
"Oh, so a thief who finds a genie in a bottle who ends up marrying a princess is realistic?"
"Well, when you put it like that..." Rima said, looking away with a light pink tinge on her cheeks.
it is 4 am. but the fact is that this is complete. next chapter will be boring, i can tell you that much, okay friends? :) see you next chapter. whenever that will be.
