4-2-07
12:38am
xoxo
Title-Are you stalking me?!
Chapter 20
By-Moon Prynces
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Against his better judgment, the teenage boy picked up something and brought it eye level for inspection. A minute later, after much thought, a flick was heard and a small flame appeared but only for a moment.
"I'm gonna regret this later, aren't I?" Dilandau asked himself, looking up at the sky and breathing out with a sigh.
A cloud of grey smoke came out through the part of his lips and he shook his head. It had been a while since he'd smoked a cigarette but he hadn't lost his touch or anything. In fact, it seemed easier now than before.
But he did realize that his new found female friends would beat the life out of him for picking up this distasteful habit. And really he'd never been one to smoke habitually, just once in a while when he felt like it. Which to a teenager meant it wasn't even something he enjoyed or got anything out of but it was there.
Honestly, the silver-haired boy realized he'd almost forgotten about it until he'd found his lighter the other day. And that he had to say was pathetic because he absolutely loved that lighter.
A few minutes later Dilandau threw the cigarette butt on the floor and stomped on it angrily, as if that would make any difference.
He really did feel stupid about the way he acted around Celena the other day. Being so unsure of himself and following her like a lost puppy made him just want to run out in traffic.
Then again he was really just looking for the right opportunity to talk to her. And a few times he did feel like just following her around until he found the perfect moment to bring up the subjects plaguing his mind.
Dilandau shook his head once more and pulled his jacket closer. It was actually very early in the morning as he stood outside on the school grounds, almost as hour before classes began. And he bet he probably looked like a mess thanks to some insomnia and his new habit.
He kicked the dirt on his way to get some breakfast, wondering why he chose the school grounds as his comfort spot.
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He hated to admit it, but something was starting to get to him. It had to be Hitomi. And he didn't want to figure out why, but that seemed impossible.
Just the other day Folken had called him asking about the brunette and making comments like 'how will you afford the ring?' accompanied by fake gasps and all.
And Van had the decency to blush like a maniac instead of stabbing his brother with his own collection of cruel jokes. Which tipped him off that something was going on.
Now, and he had no idea why, Van found himself escorting Hitomi from her home to school, via walking. As he pretended to listen to her babble about something excitedly, he stared hard at the pavement trying to figure it out.
Then he glanced up just in time with a nod and smile to catch her broad stretch of lips as well and he stopped thinking.
Hitomi smiled good-naturedly as she finished her story and turned back to look in front of her. It had been awfully nice of him to want to meet up and head to school together. Of course she was the one to show up to his house since he was closer and it was on her way.
She did notice he was acting a little strange, but then again he was strange. She also noticed how he watched her just a little too closely, so that she couldn't help but glance back at him as well.
What was going on, she'd never know. A few long moments of silence passed as they continued their gait and neither spoke.
Van however was suddenly feeling winded and achy. He badly wanted to turn around and head back to bed for the day. And he still couldn't figure out why.
Yes, why? Why had he wanted to walk with her to school this morning? In fact, why did he want to spend more time with her recently, above all people? It wasn't just that she was fun to hang around and their humor meshed together was pretty entertaining. He had Allen and Celena too.
He glanced back at her and their eyes met.
"What's up with you?" She asked in an amused voice.
"Oh nothing." Was his response as he clammed up and was suddenly walking quite rigid. Another minute... "Sorry." He blurted out. "About yesterday. And getting you angry. You did run off pretty quick." Van said, changing the subject swiftly.
Hitomi looked around with an embarrassed expression. "Yeah, well don't worry about it. It's not that you upset me or anything."
But as they kept walking Van did have to wonder back to his thoughtless comment about their chemistry. Now that he did think about it... it seemed pretty true. Except he felt it'd be strange to bring it up again.
He was still trying to figure out the great big puzzle in his head already. He'd rather not let her in on anything before she ran off again. She did seem like the type of person who'd get uncomfortable at such a confrontation. Or maybe that was him.
Besides. Chemistry? Bah, what had he been talking about? Van didn't even know.
Chemistry. Chemistry. Chemistry.
Like what? Like what he was feeling right now? Or how they felt when they were arguing and joking around with each other, or even both?
What was he feeling right now anyway?
The dark haired boy looked up and openly stared at his companion. Though luckily for Hitomi, who was feeling uncomfortable with his gaze, the school gates were coming closer and soon they'd part ways for their separate classes.
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Millerna sighed through her first few classes of the day, feeling quite relaxed and at ease. But she was sure the feeling wouldn't last long since she'd spent most of her life worrying over something or other.
It was nice to have spent the night reminiscing and laughing along with her mom and sister instead of dreading things she shouldn't. Really, she did worry too much. She'd probably get gray hairs when she hit twenty.
There was still the arrival of Marlene to be expected and Millerna found herself actually looking forward to it. If not for her eldest sister's presence, then at least to hear about her only nephew. Although things seemed to be going well for Marlene, it was hardly mentioned or remembered that her marriage had been arranged.
The blonde picked up her pencil and looked down at the paper in front of her, getting a head start on the homework she knew would be assigned at the end of class.
Twenty minutes later the bell had rung and she'd finished the homework without being caught. Millerna swiftly got up and proceeded to put her things in her bag before striding out the classroom doors.
She wasn't dumb not to notice the few murmurs and glances still being sent her way but chose to ignore them all and kept walking with her usual confident aura.
Which was hard to do once she was jerked to the side from some unknown force and pulled through a doorway to an empty staircase leading down to an emergency exit.
"What-" She tried to voice, though a hand landed on her mouth and she found herself staring blankly at her 'captor'. A moment of silence later he removed his hand and stared at the blonde female hopefully.
"Hey." Was his nervous greeting.
Millerna eyed the boy in front of her strangely. "Uh... hi, Van." She responded. "Can I help you with something?" She raised a brow at him.
Likewise, his own brows furrowed for a moment in concentration, staring down. Then his dark eyes looked back up at her. "I wanted to ask you something..." He stated.
She waited a moment before sighing in exasperation and putting a hand on her hip. "Well then ask already."
He stared wide-eyed for a second, still trying to gather himself. "Well... has Hitomi said anything about me lately?"
The blonde let her brow go up again. "Why?" But he didn't answer anyway and she took pity on him. "Actually I haven't talked to her lately myself. So I wouldn't know anything..." She trailed at the nervous look he was wearing. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Van paused here, staring at her openly. "It's just things have been a little weird is all."
The two spent a moment staring around the small staircase. Millerna was wondering how her friends were doing and decided maybe she ought to head to lunch and try to find them. She'd figure out what was causing Van to be so jumpy and unlike himself.
"I'll see you later. Just... don't say I said anything." He mumbled on his way out the emergency exit doors.
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"Millerna!" She called out happily. Beside her Dilandau sat there as if she'd chained him to the table.
The blonde smiled as she neared the table and Hitomi smiled up at her. "Hey, long time no see."
"It's only been a few days." Dilandau grumbled out.
"Don't mind him. He literally woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or was it that you didn't get enough sleep?" Hitomi asked, looking at him pensively.
The silver-haired boy carefully leaned back in his chair to avoid any intense gaze they might give him. He pretended to muffle a sigh and mumbled something at the same time so that it was incoherent babble to their ears.
"Nice." Millerna commented, shooting him a dry look.
"Where have you been anyway? I meant to call but homework distracted me last night." Hitomi went on, leaning across the table on her elbows.
"Oh, just some family things I had to deal with. And been busy with a project too." Millerna waved a hand dismissively and then remembered her project with Allen. And Allen. And that day. And soon she found her body temperature rising.
"O-kay." The brunette said, looking a little concerned. Then she sighed and blew her hair away from her face. "Van's been acting kinda strange." To her indulgence of information the other two parties perked up and began listening attentively. Hitomi shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I was wrong to try and be friends with him in the first place. I wonder if he'll just turn around and start acting like a jerk all over again. I mean... am I too trusting now?" She asked, looking up at the two.
Next to her Dilandau coughed loudly, but barely suppressed a grin. Hitomi smacked his arm with a glare. Millerna stared blankly, unsure how to answer.
"Why are you laughing?" Hitomi asked him loudly.
He tried to keep a straight face. "It's just... it sounds so dumb. You're worrying over nothing."
"How can you say that?" She screeched. "What if I'm so trusting that I walk into a trap and get myself kidnapped or something?"
Now Millerna couldn't help but smile as well. The topic was turning a little silly and hysterical. "You're not." She answered easily, trying to calm the other girl down. "And if Van did try to trap you into anything you'd probably scratch out an eye or something. Then Dilandau and I would beat him up the next day." Millerna shrugged.
"Come on, is that what you're really worried about?" Dilandau chimed in with his grin. "Or... maybe it's not being physically attacked but having him take advantage of your trust and then throwing you away afterwards?" The girls stared as the pyromaniac felt a familiar itch in his hand.
"That was pretty good Dr. Phil." Millerna said, blinking at him innocently. "Now maybe you could tell me why I can't stop craving chocolate ice cream." Hitomi laughed lightly and Dilandau just glared back. "But you know, I think he's got something."
Millerna sat there as Hitomi mumbled a thanks to the good doctor, wondering what Van was so freaked out about. From Hitomi's point of view, she was afraid of him. But the way he'd been acting earlier it seemed he was scared of her. Was there any end to their insane relationship?
Finally Dilandau mumbled something about seeing Celena around often. When he didn't elaborate and pulled out a lighter that he began to flick open and closed the girls looked away without a word.
"Anything new happen with you?" Hitomi asked the older girl. Dilandau looked up at her with a pointed look.
"Yeah, anything?" He asked suddenly, looking fascinated.
"Uh..." The blonde backed up slightly. Feeling compelled to not lie she said something unexpected. "My sisters are visiting."
"You have sisters?" Hitomi asked, and then sighed. "Wish I did. Little brothers are too annoying sometimes."
"Er... yeah..." She shifted around, suddenly embarrassed at what she knew was going to come. "But that's not what Dilandau meant." She shot him a look, to which he replied by looking around 'confused' and shrugging in an exaggerated manner.
"Oh..." Hitomi replied, staring innocently. Luckily she wasn't one to pass judgment so quickly on her new friends. If they both knew something and hadn't told her, well there wasn't any real reason to jump to conclusions and get all angry about it, right?
"Yeah, well I took your advice and ended up making out with the enemy turned partner the other day." Millerna rushed out, trying to look as casual as possible.
"Ah..." Hitomi stared even longer, blinking as she took it in. Dilandau smirked at the blonde who was avoiding anyone's gaze. "Millerna, was that your first kiss?"
At this question, the two looked up abruptly at the brunette. "Uh... I didn't think of that." Millerna responded, furrowing her brows together. "Actually... it isn't. There was a time before that in the bathroom... and when he came to my house too..."
"What?" Hitomi asked.
"It doesn't matter anyway. But the point is... I wasn't thinking of it so much. Just... well we both got caught up in it..." To herself she added, 'So much that I didn't even realize Eries was watching us.'
"So I take it the experience was enjoyable?" Hitomi asked again, this time wearing a grin like Dilly had been.
"Well, yeah. Why else would I have done it? I mean, he may be an insufferable asshole but he's pretty good at kissing." The blonde admitted, not looking too concerned about it. "And I might as well start somewhere. It's not like he counts or anything..." Though by now the blonde looked a little perturbed.
"But you don't seem too worried about anything." Dilandau stated, drawing her attention. "You're not afraid of him betraying you or turning on you or something?"
Millerna just shrugged to herself. "Well what trust of mine does he have? None. Because I don't recall handing over anything to him."
"But what if he tries to blackmail you or tells someone anything about your... uh, intimate time together?" Hitomi questioned again.
"Um, I hadn't thought about it." She replied thoughtfully, trying to come up with an answer. "But I doubt he'd really want to tell anyone anything about me. He likes to give the impression that he hates being around me, like I'd ruin his blemish free reputation or something." Millerna snorted in disgust.
"So let me get this straight." Dilandau interrupted, causing the two girls to turn to him. "So you both are almost romantically involved with two guys-"
"No Dilandau, one guy. Haven't you been listening?" Millerna said sarcastically. Hitomi just laughed.
"Geez, I think someone forgot to meet up with Schezar for their daily- mmpf!" Dilandau was cut off as Millerna leaned over the table and stuffed an apple from Hitomi's lunch into his mouth.
"What's that Dilandau? Can't hear ya." She commented, cupping an ear mockingly.
"Right." He said after glaring and pulling away the fruit. "So... where was I? Oh yeah. So you both are... involved or something with someone, but Hitomi's more afraid that Van's gonna turn into a jerk and try to screw her over, in any way. While you're just all 'I don't care, I'll take it as it comes' about Allen being all over you?" The girls thought this over a moment before nodding simultaneously. He made a face. "You both are strange."
"Of course we are Dilly." Hitomi replied, munching into a french fry as 'Dilly' turned pink.
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Celena blinked, wondering about the sight she was witnessing. Cautiously she walked over behind the soon to be victim. Of course he was too caught up in his illegal act and sighing to himself to notice her.
"That isn't healthy." She stated over his shoulder.
Dilandau felt relieved that someone had finally said something. And he turned around to meet the slightly concerned gaze of Celena, who didn't seem to mind him. "Yeah, I know." He responded, looking down at the cigarette in his hand and making a face.
"Then why do it at all?" She questioned, also glancing down at the object.
He shrugged. "I haven't figured that out yet."
"How long?"
"It's a newly acquired habit." He stated indignantly. "Hopefully it's not a habit and just some weird phase. Except that it's the kind where I feel like I can't live without it."
Celena then looked up at his face. "You're on school grounds. What would happen if you got caught?"
He proceeded to rake a hand through his hair with the other hand. "No idea. Principal's being a little weird too. Trying to get us to shape up, I guess."
There was a pause. And then Celena reached over to grab the stick from his fingers and threw it on the floor to step on it with ease. "There. Now you're done." She hesitantly smiled at him. "Because I don't feel like inhaling second hand smoke or seeing you slowly kill yourself."
"That's a surprise." He mumbled, glancing away. "Didn't know you'd be sticking around for conversation anyway."
"Aw come on Dilly, why wouldn't I?" At this she smiled fully and circled him. Unexpectedly, she moved behind him and grabbed at his cheeks, stretching them in weird ways.
"'Rut r'are you doing?" He asked, blinking in confusion.
"Nothing!" She said, letting go as he turned around to look at her curiously. "I mean, I was helping you breathe out all that air full of tar and whatever other junk cigarettes have!" The blonde grinned brightly at him.
Dilandau waited, before staring suspiciously. "Don't you have a class now?"
"Don't you?" She shot back automatically.
They spent a moment glaring at each other. That is, before Celena burst out laughing without reason. Of course she realized she looked foolish and even a little crazy, and truthfully she didn't have a clue as to why she was reacting this way. But some weird feeling was bubbling up in her that just made her feel like laughing, so she did. She felt like laughing for a long time just to get it out, except she didn't have the time for that.
Dilandau had no opinion of her behavior, especially when he'd been acting strange as of late too. And he couldn't help but grin at her reaction to... whatever he'd done.
Unfortunately he missed when she had managed to slip a hand into his jacket pocket and steal his lighter and current pack of cigarettes. He did however, notice when she stopped laughing and walked past him.
"Nice talking to you, Dilly." She said cheerfully.
Dilandau smiled, moving a hand to scratch behind his head. But only when she was about to enter one of the school buildings did she pulled out the two objects and threw them up in the air once before catching them and shooting a small grin over her shoulder at him.
He gaped in shock a second before frantically checking his pockets and then looking up. "H-hey!" He tried to call her. "Hey! I know where you live!" He tried again, shaking a fist crazily, even though she wouldn't turn around.
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"Hey." He whispered, sliding into his seat behind her. "Haven't seen you in a while." Which was actually a strange thing to admit, maybe because it did feel like a while even though he'd seen her just yesterday.
Millerna, who had been spacing off in wonder at the situation between Hitomi and Van, totally missed the arrival of Allen Schezar. Not quite sure if she still wanted to ignore him or not, she didn't answer and pretended to not have heard him.
Of course Allen knew she'd heard once she froze up predictably. Instead of gritting his teeth and glaring, he settled for leaning back in the chair and trying to pay attention to the class.
All of a sudden he wasn't too interested in bothering her. Really, what was that point of going for public humiliation? He could just imagine her squirming in her seat. Having her torture herself was easier anyway.
And if he hadn't had this time to think, Allen was sure he would've forgotten the purpose of being a thorn in her side. Because of her attitude, her lies and façade that completely pissed him off... at the beginning. But now that he'd successfully gotten past that and realized she was just another little girl underneath the confident front... he was supposed to expose her?
Yeah, maybe. But it didn't seem like the way to go. It was just nicer, easier, cleaner to keep everything between them. Besides, he had to admit... it'd been a while since he'd done anything with a girl.
It was enjoyable, making out with her. Funny enough that she kept trying to make up for her lack of experience.
He leaned forward suddenly. "Hey, why don't I stop by this afternoon to work on our project some more?" He asked through a smirk. "I'm sure you won't mind, right?"
Millerna glanced at him over her shoulder. "Actually..." She let her eyes slide over to the floor. "I can't. I've got family things to deal with, sorry."
And if he had been paying attention, he might've suspected her of being a little too apologetic. "What's going on?"
The blonde female sighed as she turned back to the board. "Marlene's coming home. And Eries is probably sitting in their room bored to death."
Allen blinked. "I thought they both moved out."
"They did." She said lightly, scribbling something in her notebook with her well-practiced handwriting. "It's that time of the year again." She commented with a heavier sigh.
After that though, she didn't say anything more. He had to wonder if it had something to do with the missing father figure. Maybe the anniversary of his death or something? In that case, even he was sensitive enough to tread lightly on these matters and chose to keep his mouth shut on the topic.
This time it was her who initiated conversation. She turned around in her chair almost fully, not minding that the teacher would notice.
"Hey, remember that day I slapped you in front of the entire class?" She asked with a pleasant smile, to go along with the not-so pleasant subject on her tongue.
He stared a moment before becoming disgruntled and glared out the window. "Yeah." He mumbled. "Why?" And then glanced back at her face.
"Nothing! I just felt like reminding you." She said cheerfully with what had to be a devious expression, and turned around again.
Allen glared at the back of her head. Of course he knew he could go shooting off his mouth with recollections of their intimate time spent together but it'd be too predictable and he was feeling too burnt at her comment to retort.
Millerna grinned to herself, adeptly back to taking notes. "I do have to wonder though." She whispered for him to hear and leaning back a little and putting the back of her pencil to her lip. "Why're you such a jerk? Why can't you be more like Van? I mean the less obnoxious and asshole Van." She let her eyes dart back at his expressionless face.
"What fun would that be?" He shot back, making a face and putting his head in a palm.
"Since you've never tried it, how would you know?" She shot back, narrowing her eyes at him. "I know you like quizzing me on... well, me. But what if I asked about your own behavior?"
Allen scratched his leg and looked unbothered. With a yawn he answered. "Go ahead then."
Turning her head to look at him, Millerna started off. "What's with the long hair for one thing?" She made a face at this. "Come on, don't you realize what century we're in?"
"You have long hair!" He argued back, suddenly very offended at the remark.
At this Millerna picked up the end of her hair and twisted it around a bit. "Sure, but I'm a girl. The 'in' look for most guys is short hair, or at least shoulder length. I thought you were more style conscious than that Allen." She said, putting on a mockingly disappointed tone.
He couldn't help the gritting of his teeth. "Whatever. If you hadn't noticed, it suits me better. I guess I'm just meant to wear this style, even though no one else in this day and age can pull it off right." The Schezar said with a triumphant smirk, managing to twist the words around in his favor.
Millerna just rolled her eyes. "Fine. But just to let you know, you look like a girl to me."
"And no one asked you." He responded automatically. "What with your questionable taste and all." He wrinkled his nose and grinned. "Though I did enjoy that outfit you wore... what was it? A tank top and tights? With fuzzy slippers right?"
She turned pink at the memory. "You showed up unexpectedly! Besides, I can wear what I want at home!"
He raised a brow. "So what? You don't wear what you want outside the house? And what about the second time I came over? You still looked like a mess and you knew I'd be there."
Once again she looked miffed. "Shut up. What do you want me to say? My bad? Woops?" She closed her eyes with nose turned up.
Putting his head back in his palm, Allen stared. "For someone with such sad style you still look pretty good."
Millerna blinked in confusion at the comment.
"Though I'm sure it's just another thing you practiced to keep up a perfect appearance." He went on.
She sighed. "Still as much of a jerk as ever."
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Van chose not to comment as the two of them continued on their way. Hitomi didn't seem to pay much attention to him, seeing as he couldn't seem to open his mouth.
And why was he so nervous all of a sudden anyway? It was just Hitomi. And they were just walking home. What was there to be afraid of?
Still, he couldn't help the strange feeling he had that made him worry of saying or doing the wrong thing.
"You okay?" She finally asked, glancing at him sharply.
Van's posture went rigid again. "Yeah, fine I guess."
Trying to steer towards something more comfortable Hitomi ventured forth. "You know, I've never met your sister or mom before. Why is it when I come over the house is conveniently empty?" She questioned with a grin.
The raven-haired boy found himself grinning as well. "The answer's obvious isn't it? It's so no one will be around when I finally do try to attack you and turn you into my slave." He pretended to sigh at her ignorance. "Geez Hitomi, I thought you were the smart one."
She quirked an eyebrow. "So are you calling yourself the dumb one then?"
"Hey, there's no need to put me down." He said, turning to her with a grin. "I was just stating a fact."
Hitomi openly laughed at him, happy to have the less tense, more fun atmosphere back. "So what exactly will we be doing at your house? And please, try to stay away from the innuendos of things that are never gonna happen."
Although still joking, Van was starting to get strange ideas. "And why isn't it possible that anything like that could happen?"
She looked at him amusedly. "You haven't even mentioned what it is you're talking about."
"You brought it up first, shouldn't you already know?" Van asked, looking away nonchalantly.
She turned to him again, this time with a curious gaze. "I was wondering actually... how many girlfriends have you had?" Hitomi questioned as Van seemed to choke on air.
"W-what? Why does that matter?" He asked back quickly.
"Are you going out with someone right now? Can I meet her?" She continued without listening to him. "Cuz you know I'd like to know now before I run into her and she accuses me of trying to steal you or something."
"I don't have a girlfriend!" He shouted in rebuttal. "Where'd you get such a stupid idea from anyway? Have you seen me hanging out with any other girls?" Van looked offended.
Hitomi just shrugged. "You never know. People hide all sorts of things. You could be going out with someone in secret."
He looked at her dryly. "Okay, well now you know. Don't get so jealous." Though his voice sounded sarcastic and flat. "And why'd you bring up such a random topic anyway?"
"I thought you'd be at least a little pompous like Allen in this area." Then she looked at him cautiously. "Do you need to come out of the closet or something?" Van face-faulted at the suggestion. "Because you might as well admit it now. I'll know if you're lying." She went on.
Van's dark eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Me?" He questioned disbelievingly.
"Ah, so you are hiding something." Hitomi stated, looking ahead. "Don't even bother telling me, I bet I'll figure it out before I leave your house."
Van smacked his forehead with an open palm and kept walking with her, rolling his eyes as well.
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As Millerna made her way through the usual crowds on her way home, she realized how much she was in need of another kiss. Not that she wanted to sound needy or anything... but it just felt so nice.
For all the questioning they'd had at lunch, she wondered if Hitomi had been down that road already. And it was just obvious that Dilandau wasn't as sheltered as herself and Hitomi so asking such a thing was pointless.
'With the way Allen was acting, I'd say he wanted to do something more than study too.' She thought to herself, smirking just a little. It was just amusing to her that she had a little bit of power over him. 'Maybe I should hold out on him a little longer.' Millerna thought evilly.
She hardly noticed as her house came closer, and almost walked right past it. And she definitely didn't notice the unusual car parked in the driveway.
But opening the front door did prove to be a big shock when someone suddenly threw themself onto her in a hug and squealed in excitement.
"Millerna!" She cried out happily, still holding her sister tightly.
"I don't think she's breathing." Eries said, leaning against the wall and tilting her head to see.
"You're home!" Millerna managed to choke out, dropping her things and returning the hug slowly.
"It's so good to see you!" Marlene gushed, pulling back a little. "I'm so glad to be home! I can't wait to see mom now either!" She turned to look at Eries. "When'll she be home?"
Millerna answered quickly. "Around five or six. We've got about three hours to kill till then."
"I have a great way we can pass the time!" Marlene suddenly suggested, eyes gleaming at her two younger siblings.
Eries let out a breath to blow away the stray strand of hair in her face. "Oh no."
An hour later, the three sisters found themselves sitting around the living room, attempting to start a second bottle of alcohol.
"What'll mom say when she gets home?" Eries question, taking a delicate sip to hide her inebriated state. She sat reclining on the largest sofa while Marlene chose to sit on the floor in front of the coffee table and Millerna took her own separate couch. "Millerna's still a minor too." She added.
The eldest of them just waved her hands around. "No one's going to arrest her in her own house just for having some fun."
Millerna stayed quiet as they chattered about something or other. Which is how she'd been most of the time unless they spoke to her. She decided that drinking wasn't so bad, even though it was her first time trying it.
"Were you carrying around that bottle, ready to wield it at any time?" Eries asked in a dry voice. She held out her cup, motioning for more to be poured in it.
"I don't think you mind all that much, do you?" Marlene shot back.
"What happened to being the responsible one?" Eries asked again.
Millerna watched as she just shrugged. "I am responsible. Chid's still alive isn't he?" The two laughed at her joke.
"How is he anyway?" Millerna asked after breaking out of her stupor.
"Aww, I wasn't planning on breaking out the pictures until later." Marlene turned around and shuffled through her bag. "But since you insist..." And then turned around with an album with at least a hundred pages stuffed randomly with pictures all over.
Smiling, Millerna grabbed at it greedily. "Couldn't you be a bit more organized?" She asked before opening it and having a few photos spill out.
"I tried." She shrugged. "But then it got full and then there wasn't enough room so I started just putting them in whenever I got some more."
Snatching up a few pictures from the floor herself, Eries commented. "Maybe you should have looked them over first. All I see are thumbs and cut off people." A few seconds later. "Marlene are you naked in this one?!"
Millerna looked up briefly as her eldest sister grabbed the photo with a laugh. "So these are all the pictures you took in the past year?" She asked, stopping their commotion.
"What can I say? I get carried away with a camera." Marlene responded, taking another gulp from her glass. "I'm like my family's own paparazzi!" She said, clapping her hands and smiling cutely.
"Are you drunk already?" Eries asked, shaking her head and waving her cup around a little too much.
Ignoring this, Marlene turned to her youngest sibling. "So how have things been going since we've been gone?"
"We only visited just a few months ago." Eries said, adding her two cents in.
"Uh, fine. Mom doesn't work so much anymore and I'm doing great in school." Millerna responded, feeling herself inch backwards.
"Come sit here." Marlene patted the space on the floor next to her and Millerna obliged, so that they now both leaned on the sofa where Eries laid on. "That's the most boring description I've ever heard! Isn't there anything more going on in your life you wanna talk about?" For a moment Millerna stared, sure that Eries must've told her about that day... "Come on! Tell us!" Marlene looked at her pleading like a little kid. "Any gossip or somebody you wanna complain about? Cuz that's what we're here for and all."
"Actually I think it's cuz you're looking for something to amuse you while you're drunk." Eries added in.
Millerna sighed, deciding to say something. "Well see I've got these friends-"
"Oh my god! You have friends!" Marlene started visibly shaking with raw excitement, like she was on a sugar high. "Isn't that great Eries?!"
Not as drunk as her older sister, Eries just rolled her eyes. "I don't think that was the point of the story."
She started giggling softly anyway. "Okay, okay. Go on."
Mentally preparing herself, Millerna abruptly downed the rest of her cup and started again. "Actually I do have some things I wanna tell you..." Here she made eye contact with Eries to mean something. "But maybe later." She waved a hand and poured herself some more.
"That's the spirit!" Marlene shouted, completely forgetting about the more serious matters as she watched her sister's actions.
The next hour they spent reliving their childhood and talking about Marlene's life with Chid and his father. After drinking quite a bit, the pounding of Millerna's heart in her ears was replaced by the buzz in the atmosphere around her sisters.
xoxo
"I thought you'd have food." She stated, looking down at him and trying to cover the laugh with her hand.
"I thought so too." Van replied, scratching his head and standing up after searching through another cupboard. "I guess Folken stopped by or something."
"Wow, you sure know how to woo a girl. And I suppose you're just too lazy to go out and get something for us to eat." Hitomi said, pretending to talk to herself.
"Well we do have some strawberries and whip cream." Van said after looking around in the fridge.
Hitomi caught his mischievous glance. "Ha-ha. I'm sure that works on Allen all the time." She replied.
"Oh come on." He scoffed, closing the refrigerator door. "I'd never need to convince Allen." Van grinned at her as they walked back to the living room.
"Is that a confession?" She asked pointedly, looking very much serious. When he did a double take to stare at her she burst out laughing.
Blinking innocently, as well as exaggeratedly, he asked, "Ms. Kanzaki, are you trying to hit on me?"
As she reached over to snatch the remote control from his grasp, unsuccessfully, she snorted at him. "Right, and that's the way to do it. Accuse you of seducing your best friend who happens to be a guy. Remind me to get you some therapy."
Van pulled away as she tried to grab the object in his possession once more, causing her to end up halfway across his lap. He only stuck out his tongue and waved it around at a distance. Hitomi glared and swore out loud, and quite overdramatically, that she'd get it no matter what.
Unfortunately, since he wasn't paying attention to it, he'd accidentally turned on the TV and channels started whizzing by. Still stretching over and attempting to lift herself off, the front door suddenly flew open and made the two teens look up.
A girl with pink hair stared at the two with a paper grocery bag in her arms. After a pause she turned her head slightly to someone outside the house, still keeping her eyes on the two. "Mom! Van and his girlfriend are home!"
At the vicious look Van sent the girl, she smiled happily and bounced her way into the kitchen. Hitomi let her mouth drop open in shock. Moments later, a woman with long, dark hair walked into the house with her own set of brown paper bags. To this Van immediately got up to take them from her hands and headed to the kitchen.
"Thanks, honey." She smiled and watched him walk off. Then she looked around to spot Hitomi sitting on the couch, holding the remote securely in her hands while a commercial advocating safe sex came up on the TV. Hitomi was sure she'd die. "Hello, I'm Van's mother, Varie." The woman moved over to offer her hand.
Just as the brunette reached her hand out, the other withdrew hers, making Hitomi feel foolish.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should probably wash my hands first." Walking to the kitchen, she turned back with a smile. "And you must be hungry, there wasn't anything to eat, right? Just come and we'll get you something." She motioned with her hands
Hitomi, not wanting to come off rude, got up to follow the Fanel family into the kitchen. Where she found the girl from before and Van emptying the bags and putting away the food products they'd held.
It was pretty funny actually, seeing him argue with the pink-haired girl over who was closer to the refrigerator and thus should put away this and that and who called the bag of barbeque potato chips and other trivial things.
Eyeing Hitomi carefully, Varie grabbed something and held it up. "Do you want anything to drink, sweetie? Chocolate milk? It's good for you." Varie stated convincingly with a smile.
"Um, sure." Hitomi nodded. Van didn't bother looking up, just rolling his eyes as his sister threw something frozen at him.
"Hi! I'm Merle." The pink-haired girl suddenly drove her hand into front of Hitomi's face. "Van's little sister."
Hitomi stared a moment in confusion. "I'm Hitomi, Van's fr-"
"I know who you are!" Merle said, glancing at her brother slyly. "Van talks about you all the time you know. I didn't think he could get such a pretty girlfriend." She grinned as two people in the room had heart attacks.
"Shut up!" Van shouted, throwing a package of sliced bread at her. Merle turned around and caught it in time.
"You two, she's a guest. Try to hold off on the fighting till she leaves." Varie said with an exasperated sigh. "So Hitomi, I'd like to know all about you."
"Actually Mom, we were just gonna go out to eat." Van interrupted, diving between the two and grabbing Hitomi's wrist.
"Oh yeah, didn't look like that to me, when you two were on the sofa. Sprawled over each other." Merle added with her grin, twirling around the kitchen and stuffing something into a cabinet.
As Van glared at his sister and dragged Hitomi out of the kitchen and down the hall, Varie just shook her head before smiling. "Come around anytime, Hitomi!" She called out with a small wave.
"Sorry bout that. Little sisters are annoying." Van grumbled as he shut his bedroom door. A few minutes later however, someone banged on it and Merle called out.
"Don't do anything naughty in there or I'll hear it!" She sung happily, trying to make Van's life miserable.
He turned back to find Hitomi sitting on his bed with a smug smile. "What?"
"So your family's just plain crazy then, right?" She asked as he moved to try and 'tidy' up.
"Just my siblings. Now that you've met them both, don't compare them to yours." He advised.
"Ah..." She said thoughtfully.
xoxo
"I can't believe this!" He said angrily to himself. The distressed look kept crossing his face as he thought about all the things that could happen.
Scratches. Broken. Lost. Stolen!
Dilandau kicked angrily at an incredibly small stone and paused in his walk, hands stuffed tightly into his pockets. Seeing as there was nothing left to fiddle with and making fists got him even more agitated, he tried to keep them still.
And he felt like a complete addict. Not that he missed the taste of tobacco. Just the feel of his lighter in his hands. And maybe just knowing he could have a smoke when he felt like it.
Which he couldn't do now that Celena had pickpocketed him again.
"Remind me to never fall for that one again." He said to himself.
xoxo
Eries blinked, looking up unsteadily. She wondered if maybe she was a little drunk after all.
It didn't matter, that little store was just down the block anyway. And it was only about five, in a nice neighborhood, so nothing could go wrong.
"Hmm..." She paused, looking through the shelves for something. Glancing up, something caught her eyes abruptly before disappearing. "I know him from somewhere..."
Turning a corner after she exited with a small bag in hand, Eries yawned and spotted it again.
"Hey!" She called, jogging over slightly.
The blonde turned around and stared in confusion at the person before him.
"Don't I... know you from somewhere?" She asked, lapsing into thought.
Allen looked her over carefully, and although she was quite pretty he was reminded of someone else. He finally just shook his head no and started walking away, thinking maybe he should pay her a visit.
"Wait!" The girl called out again, making him stop and turn. "You were with my sister that day!" She said looking like she'd just had an epiphany.
He froze on the spot, not recognizing that she was a little drunk. "Uh... what..."
"Yeah..."
Allen stared, sweatdropping as she just turned around and began walking the other way without saying anything else. Eries just started humming something to herself, glad she'd figured that out before it bugged her all day.
xoxo
Inside the house Varie was working on dinner as Van sat at the kitchen table with his usual teenage atmosphere swirling.
"She was nice, Van. She should come over more so we can get to know her." His mother stated happily as she moved around.
He just grumbled something out and looked away. Now that Hitomi was indeed gone, he was still trying to sort through what was going on with him lately.
Noticing her son's behavior, Varie glanced over. "Don't you like spending time with her?" She asked lightly.
"Yeah." He answered carelessly. 'But then, sometimes I get so weird I feel like I wanna be around her and yet... I'm freaking out and don't wanna be anywhere near her.' He thought to himself.
Merle chose that moment to follow her nose and skipped into the kitchen. "Mm, what's up?" She greeted, plopping down in a chair across from Van. "What's the matter, Van? Got a crush on somebody?" She teased.
"Better watch out, Merle." Her mother advised. "When you get involved with a guy, he won't hesitate to torture you back."
The girl just laughed. "Yeah right. I'm not so easily embarrassed like someone..." She trailed off, turning to her brother and noticed his dumbstruck look. "What?" She asked blankly.
xoxo
After leaving the house with a friendly goodbye to Van's mother Hitomi began walking home by herself. Although Varie had insisted that Van walk her there, or at least to the bus stop, she said it was alright.
When she got home, she went through the normal routine things. Doing homework, heading for a shower, eating dinner, arguing with little brother over something insignificant.
Flipping on the power switch, Hitomi turned to the computer to find she had a new message.
And the five words on the page made her gasp loudly, causing her to choke on air, and accidentally make her chair roll over the sock still on her foot.
She jumped into bed after that, trying to get it out of her head.
xoxo
'I think... I...' Van thought to himself, punching each key determinedly. "Like you." He finished out loud.
xoxo
Okay, I know it feels like forever since I last updated. And even though this chapter turned out to be the longest I've written for this story it doesn't seem too interesting to me, right? Yeah, I know, seems like things are going pretty slow, right? Sorry about that. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing.
But with Van's unexpected and quite thoughtless confession, what now? Actually I know how Hitomi's gonna react... I am the author after all. But other than that I'm not sure what to do with Celena and Dilly, or Allen and Millerna. Well maybe I know a little about what to do...
Okay, it doesn't quite matter now. I feel like the story's half done or something and I'm sure I'll figure it out later.
As always, look to my profile to see when I might possibly be updating and such. Thanks for being impatient!
4-10-07
2:41am