Chapter XII: School rumours

It has been one week since the Takahashis left Japan. Keisuke could breath a little more easy without his parents constantly being on his back and Ryosuke's routine didn't change much; wake up, go to school, work on Project D and study. Sara could slack off all she wanted to Ryosuke's great dismay. I can't wait until she has exams so she can realise how much she needs to study. On top of it, her friend would arrive in the afternoon.

Ryosuke was making some pancakes when Sara arrived into the kitchen singing her lungs out with a smile tattooed on her face.

Ryosuke: Someone's in a good mood!

Sara: Hey! I got my bed yesterday and my best friend is coming here for two weeks. Of course I'm in a good mood. Keisuke will pick her up. I hope he doesn't make her crap her pants on the way back. He drives quite recklessly.

Ryosuke: Look who's talking.

Sara: At least I drive smoothly.

Sara raised her eyebrow. She does have a heck of an attitude and a potty mouth! Ryosuke's attraction for Sara grew stronger and deeper with every passing day. He was never able to stand hot airhead girls thinking of nothing else but their looks and gossiping like there's no tomorrow. Sara on the other hand was not shallow. She'd constantly make fun of his groupies in school. Once during lunch break, this girl named Rei asked him what he saw in Sara that she didn't have. Before he could even answer that him and Sara weren't a couple, Sara replied "everything and more my dear." He had to admit it was pretty funny. Rei was the ultimate Japanese Barbie girl that would no doubt take five hours in the morning to get ready. On top of it, Rei would only eat 3 pieces of sushi for lunch, or she'd get "fat". Sara would eat anything she could get her hands on. Ryosuke smiled thinking of how special she was. I can't have a girlfriend now. I hope she'll still be around when I'm ready to have one. He heard a mumble. It was Sara waking him up from his daydream.

Sara: Earth to Ryosuke! Take the food off the pan or it'll burn!

Ryosuke: Ah shit! I'm sorry; I was lost in my thoughts.

Sara: Man… studying the way you do will fry your brain.

Ryosuke: Have you had an exam yet?

Sara: My first one is today.

Ryosuke: Did you study?

Sara: heck no! You think I really have nothing better than that to do?

That was the one thing he couldn't stand about Sara: He didn't see her study once. He released an exasperated sigh as he gave Sara her two pancakes.

Ryosuke: How, may I ask, are you expecting to pass? Cheating?

Sara: No. Listen, I'm not lying when I say I literally never study and get above average grades. I listen in class, then I take notes and it's like my brain is taking photographs of what I'm writing. I review my notes for fifteen minutes before I got to bed and I'm set. Exams have never been a problem for me dear. You'll see my work my brains out if I have a research or a project to do though.

Ryosuke: Let's make a deal: if you get lower than 85, you'll study my way.

Sara: Deal.

Ryosuke sat down next to Sara with his food portion and they started eating. He saw how Sara was clearly exited about her best friend's arrival.

Ryosuke: How long have you known Joyce for?

Sara: About four years now. We met in college. We both were in theatre, acting to be more precise. We both got flunked. Twice.

Sara laughed at her own statement, then her eyes started to water up. He would have never expected someone as down to earth to actually consider studying something as useless as acting. In a way he was glad she didn't make it in that domain: he thought it'd be wasting her potential.

Ryosuke: Let me guess. You didn't memorize corny lines. If you learned texts the way you study, I'm not impressed.

Sara: No. I actually took that program really seriously. I though theatre would be everything for me. You see, the first time I did the program, my father passed away at the end of my second semester. Everything was going well until then. The teacher flunked me because he believed my father's death was too much for me to deal with. The second time around, the other teacher simply couldn't stand me. Theatre is not objective: it's subjective. In mathematics, two plus two equals to five, and that is that. In theatre, no matter how hard you try, if the teacher doesn't like you, you're screwed.

Ryosuke: Wow. I never thought of it that way. I thought all it requires is learning lines.

Sara: If only it was that easy. I also had a big mental block: my ex-boyfriend. He didn't approve of it. So when I got flunked again, I took a year off to work and clear my mind. As I said, to me theatre was everything. My boyfriend… sorry, my ex-boyfriend was going to study real estate, so I followed him.

Ryosuke saw her eyes water even more and a tear fell from each eye. Quickly, Sara wiped them off. Now Ryosuke was confused: was she upset about not making it in theatre, or was the thought of her ex-boyfriend make her sad?

Ryosuke: How come he's your ex-boyfriend now? Well, if it isn't to indiscrete to ask.

Sara: It's a long and painful story. I'll eventually tell you about it, one day, when I finally get over it all.

By her expression, it was the ex-boyfriend that was bothering her so much. That guy is an idiot! Who could let go of a rare gem like Sara? If I ever meet him, I'll break both his legs. Ryosuke then felt like an idiot for thinking that: it was none of his business and on top of it, he had no clue what could have possibly happen between the two of them. Since they had both finished eating, he picked up the plates, rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher.

Ryosuke: Let's go Sara-Chan.

The school day went by really fast Ryosuke: he had a complex biology lesson in the morning that required a high level of concentration; therefore he had no time to feel bored. It was finally lunchtime and Ryosuke and Sara met up at they're usual spot. They were eating and casually chatting when Rei came to the table with some papers in her possession. Not this idiot again.

Rei: Hi Ryosuke-Chan, how are you. Hi Puzzo. I'm here with a petition signed by eighty-two people asking you guys to split up. The signers don't think you're a cute enough couple and it's all because of Puzzo.

Sara: Are you freaking kidding me? Don't you airheads have anything better to do with your time like homework? Hello? You're in university.

Rei: It's a question of image. Ryosuke-Chan is so perfect and you're just messing up his whole image Puzzo. No offence.

If she says one more thing about Sara, I'm going to break that little whinny imbecile in half. Who does she think she is? How the heck did this idiot make it to university? Ryosuke looked as Sara asked Rei for the petition to look at them. Once Rei handed them over to her, Sara shred the pages into little four pieces of papers and then putting the pieces into her recycling folder.

Sara: Rei-Chan, go get yourself a manicure or something. Man! You're so annoying!

Rei: Well, Ryosuke-Chan deserves much better than a girl like you.

That does it. I'll probably regret this forever.

Ryosuke: Rei-Chan, stop it. I understand you're jealous of Sara-Chan because we live together, but get over it. There are many young men in this school that would kill to go out with you. I wish you good luck. Don't ever bother us again.

It worked: Rei left with tears in her eyes. She was probably already telling the eighty-two people that signed that nothing could be done. Ryosuke then turned to his main concern. Sara looked startled.

Sara: What did you just tell Rei?

Ryosuke: That we live together. I didn't technically lie. I just forgot to specify details. Whatever. The airhead won't be bothering us anymore. At least I hope

Ryosuke felt himself blush as he spoke this last sentence. Then he looked at the smile developing onto Sara's pretty face. Then, the smile turned into laughter. Ryosuke did the same, but more quietly. He never used to laugh this much before he met her. She made him happy.

Ryosuke glanced at his watch and saw it was time to go back to class for him. He knew that Sara would go back in class only an hour for her first big test.

Ryosuke: Good luck in your exam.

Sara: You're supposed to say: "break a pencil". Besides, I'm more worried about the eighty-two groupies seeking revenge.

She can't be serious for more than a minute when it comes to school. During his whole chemistry class, he could only think of her. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on what was being taught, his mind would just slip and he'd think of her again. He was so glad when class was finally dismissed. He walked to the rendezvous point and once he got there, he saw Sara casually reading the school's paper and giggling.

Ryosuke: What's so funny?

Sara: Look! Rei had put and add in the school paper for the petition. Can you believe she actually spent time and energy doing something so retarded?

Ryosuke: That's plain pathetic. Oh yes! How did your test go?

Sara: It was so easy I couldn't believe it. I was the first one to finish and some people were crying. I will get over 85!

Ryosuke: I hope for you that you will. Let's head home. You're friend is waiting for you.

As he spoke that sentence, he saw her eyes glitter of joy. He wondered what kind of person Joyce was. He was to find out soon enough.

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Joyce was supposed to come in this chapter, but it'd be way too long. Thanks for reading and leaving feedback. stay tuned