"Oh my god, Hazuki!" Katsuye exclaimed as she ran and hugged her best friend. Hazuki gave a weak smile, and hugged her back.
"How are you feeling?" I asked as I gave her a small hug. She looked thinner, but she had some color in her cheeks.
"I'm better." She replied with a smile, but not her normal perky one.
"What... happened exactly?" I asked as we all took seats on the patio, "We're sorry but we want to know. You were..." I stopped talking since I couldn't even find words to describe the state Hazuki had been in when we left her. Hazuki laughed heartily. Something had changed about her. Her normal bright eyes were dull, and when she laughed it was more mature, not her normal outburst of cute giggles.
"After you took me home, I thought about going to see Sasuke." She began to explain, "Then I said no and thought about just... wanting to disappear. So that's what I did. I packed up, and around one in the morning two nights ago, I snuck to the gates. As I was walking out, I saw him. I started to cry and turned to ran, but I knocked into someone."
"Guilty," Izumi replied with a laugh. Katsuye and I laughed but Hazuki just gave a smile. "I took her home, and she told me what happened. Of course I already knew considering I had been in that meeting. I was watching Sasuke that night, and someone took over when I brought Hazuki here."
"I was miserable, and it's not even that big of a deal." My best friend explained. I could sense the disappointment she felt in herself for acting so weak. But I understood her pain. "He doesn't even know, but I just can't shake the feeling that he's just going to get up and leave! I haven't even spoken with him since that night, and I've barely been eating and-"
"Hazuki you can't do that to yourself!" I exclaimed, cutting her off. "Did you eat today?" She nodded and gave a faint smile.
"I've been too weak to do anything but sit here in the sun, thinking about all the things I got myself into with him." She said and closed her eyes. The dark circles under her eyes and pale lips made her young features look much older than she really was. She was just sitting there soaking up the sun's hot rays.
"You did nothing wrong with getting involved with him," I said, "You've liked him for years now, even when he was first marked you still cared about him. He's safe, Reina and Miro told us so. I think he'll need you more now than ever to keep him here." Hazuki just looked at the ground literally twiddling her thumbs. I sighed as Izumi put a comforting, small hand on Hazuki's thigh. Then, Kat got up from her seat. She walked over to Hazuki and grabbed her hands. She threw her out of her seat to her feet. Hazuki was surprised, but didn't attempt to sit back down.
"You're birthday is in three days." She replied softly, "Remember when we were getting all the preparations? How happy you had been?" Hazuki stared at her for a minute before nodding. Kat scanned at our best friend who was in pajamas and looked like she hadn't showered in days. "Look at you! You're a mess!" She laughed and Hazuki smiled a little. I got up and joined them.
"Yeah Hazuki," I responded, "We got all the supplies already, and we got the music system from Tye! It's going to be such a fun time, but it won't be unless you're happy again, because this..." I stopped to grab lightly at her dirty tshirt, "Isn't the Hazuki we love." Hazuki burst into tears and hugged the two of us. None of us said a word, but I noticed Izumi had gone inside because Elliot had come home. After a few minutes of hugging, Hazuki smiled; and really smiled for the first time probably in days.
"Thank you, guys." Hazuki said as she wiped her tears. Kat and I smiled brightly at each other before turning back to Hazuki who was gathering up her things outside, and heading back into the house.
Everything was back to normal again. Hazuki had gone inside to shower and fix up. She finally looked like herself again, and Katsuye took her out for a small snack at Ichiraku Ramen. I was walking back to my house finally, and Kiba should be there soon to help begin setting up some things for the party. But all good days must come to an end. That's when I ran into Ino. Literally. I was walking only two or so blocks from my house when out of no where I was knocked onto my butt.
"Oof!" I blurted as I fell on my butt.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" Ino exclaimed as she helped me up. I fixed my shirt and flung my bangs out of my face.
"Oh no problem," I replied before I finally noticed who it was, "Oh hello Ino."
"Hi Taryn," She responded nervously. There was an awkward silence where neither of us moved nor spoke, or looked at one another. "So I'm really excited for the party this weekend."
"Me too," I answered as I searched my brain for an excuse to get around her, "Uh, about that I should get going to start setting-" But she cut me off.
"So how's Kiba?" She asked with a giggle, "I know he can be a handful." So this is the game she's playing.
"Oh he's fantastic, thanks." I said with a fake smile, "Yeah we hang out almost everyday, and he's such a sweetheart." She winced, but kept her Barbie smile on her face.
"Oh that's good."
"Yeah so if you don't mind I really, really should be going. Don't want to keep him waiting." I winked, and her eyes glared ahead as I crept around her. For a minute I thought I saw her smile...
"Did he tell you he loved you, yet?" She asked once we had our distance, "How long has it been, what, two months almost?" I froze. I turned slowly to see her facing me with her hands resting in her jean pockets. "Does he already try to hook up with you? And offer to buy you a dog?"
"I already have one." I spat. I had nothing else to say.
"Oh right well I guess he didn't have to repeat that one." teased Ino, "No secrets, right? That's a good trust builder if he wasn't keeping many secrets from you."
"There's no secrets." I mumbled.
"Oh well I guess they're lies then, all of his talk, lies." She shrugged, "I mean, you're a smart and pretty girl Taryn. I'm just trying to look out for you." Ino smirked, spun on her heel, flipped her ponytail and skipped down the street. I stood there. Frozen in my mind. No, frozen in general. I don't even remember who brought me home that night.
"It's over," Kiba spat at me.
"What? No Kiba please! I love you!" I screamed. He snickered and turned around. He greeted someone else, but his body blocked theirs. My view turned to the side, and I saw her. The blonde-hair and the bright blue eyes staring at his flawless face. She kissed him passionately, and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, her eyes turned towards me. She glared at me in the middle of their kiss. I sunk to my knees...
"No... No Kiba please..." I mumbled, "Please I love you..."
"Taryn?" A young voice asked. I shot up, and looked at my surroundings. I didn't know where I was, but when I saw her young face I breathed deeply.
"Leyah, what am I doing here?" I asked as I wiped my hair from my face. She smiled brightly and sat on the bed with me. She placed a small had on the covers covering my leg.
"First, are you alright?" She asked. I nodded. She raised an eyebrow and laughed.
"Maybe you were having a good dream after all." Leyah replied. I looked at her astonished. I shook my head and her eyes drooped, and her smile faded. "Oh, bad one?" I nodded. I still hadn't spoke.
"I...Kiba problems." I mumbled.
"I found you last night wandering the streets. You didn't even notice when I was talking to you, and you just mumbled and curled up in a ball on the bench." She explained then raised her voice, "Are you nuts?" I smiled and she smiled. "I'm glad I got you to smile. Anyway Neji was with me, and he carried you here. I didn't want to bring you home since it was early, and you fell asleep the minute Neji began walking back here."
"OMG MIRO!" I exclaimed, "He's going to kill me!" I wanted to jump out of bed but Leyah shushed me.
"Its okay!" She shouted over my loud voice, and I immediately stopped talking, "I already spoke to Deena. Its alright." I groaned and lied my head back on the pillow. "Get some more rest, Taryn." And that was her last word to me. Don't leave! I shouted in my head. Don't leave me to my thoughts. They were racing back; Ino's taunting voice about Kiba. Was what she said true? No... it can't be. Kiba would never lie... would he? There was a sudden shout downstairs that awoke me from my thoughts.
"Kiba, I don't think you should-"
"Leyah, please! Let me see her!" I heard heavy footsteps run up the noisy stairs, before there was a knock on the bedroom door.
"Taryn! Are you alright?" It was Kiba.
I got out of bed, and slowly went to unlock the door. I've never breathed more heavily in my entire life. Warm arms were around me the minute I turned the knob all the way, and opened the door.
"Oh thank god..." He replied as he kissed my cheek, twice. I forced a smile as my heart ached. His deep chocolate eyes seemed to look right through me, but apparently they didn't. His beautiful face suddenly turned to worry. "What's wrong? You sure you're okay?" I snapped back to reality and smiled.
"Yeah just a bit tired, thats all." Kiba frowned, but accepted my excuse for the time being. Suddenly we were interrupted by Leyah running into the room.
"Sorry guys, but Kiba ya gotta go." She said so quickly I could barely understand the next part, "Taryn it's urgent." I immediately shrugged out of Kiba's hold, and went to my sister's best friend.
"What happened?" I asked nervously. Oh great just what I need right now.
"I'm not sure, but Miro said if you're up and feeling okay he needs you home." She replied as I noticed a small note in her hands. I looked around the room for my things before I realized I hadn't been planning on sleeping over. I ran into one of her bathrooms and grabbed a brush.
"Do you mind-?" I asked but she shook her head. I tore the brush through my tangly hair, and ran to the front door. Kiba offered to walk me home but I refused and said I'd meet him later. Which is probably a lie... I thought as I literally sped the speed of light to my house. Once I arrived I tore open the door, and Miro caught me as I tripped over the carpet.
"Woah, no one's hurt Taryn." He said as he stood me upright, "No need to almost break off the door."
"Sorry," I mumbled too embarrassed to speak more. Not that I could once I saw who was visiting the Matarra (Macerra) household. The tall blonde male stood in my kitchen next to Deena who was rocking back and forth on her heels nervously. Ari was sitting on the kitchen table barking immensely. I shushed her and she stopped.
"Princess Hazel," my cousin Aaron said, "I've come to bring some information." I looked quizzically at my older cousin when Miro thrust a piece of paper in my hands.
"It's from Mom."