Fade Away My Memories Chapter 26
ME: wow that's a lot of chapters…
Yusei: and I have a feeling there's more torture on the way
Lise: kinda depends
Yusei: on what?
ME: your definition of torture!
Yusei: oh of course…
Lise: ^^
ME: anyway, don't own 5Ds but own my characters! ENJOY!
/
"So you're almost done then?"
I nodded, getting excited despite myself. "I have two more people to sketch out for the scholarship and I can submit it. I just have to muster up the courage for the last two people."
Yusei nodded. "I hope you get it. I mean I know you will, but you know that saying; don't count your chickens before they've hatched?"
"Yep; I learned that one the hard way…" I sighed but I couldn't keep my smile away. The school day had just ended and Yusei and I were the last to leave the Art classroom. We'd helped clean up so the hallways were mostly deserted. I'd been keeping myself busy, with Ray in the back of my head for motivation. I felt my cheeks flush with heat when Yusei slipped his fingers in between mine with a little squeeze.
"Nice to see you losers have stunk up the school. Shouldn't you have left already?"
My good mood sank down into the ground. Why did Hiro have to ruin everything? "What do you want?"
Hiro's uniform skirt was ridiculously high, revealing way too much leg. Her uniform top was pulled up to display her belly button. She was wearing ridiculous high heeled shoes that made her only an inch taller than me. Hiro had always hated that she was shorter than me and tried to make herself… I dunno…probably bigger since she needed to stand out more than anyone else. She popped a gum bubble and twirled a lock of fake blond hair. "Oh nothing much."
"Careful Hiro, that gum might ruin your perfect lipstick. And when you cry people will see how you really look on the inside," I glared at her. She never talked to me unless she wanted something.
Hiro flipped her hair over her shoulder seductively. "My mother tells me I'm beautiful."
"Oh wow," I replied sarcastically. "Does she tell you that before or after you put on the makeup?"
"Shut up witch," Hiro snarled. "Besides, I'm not here for YOU. I wanna have a little chat with Yusei."
I glanced at Yusei out of the corner of my eye. He looked uninterested. A jealous wave inside me that I didn't even know was welling up instantly calmed. It was a new emotion for me jealousy…
"Why? I have homework," Yusei said flatly. I bit my lip to keep from smiling. We didn't have any homework, but Hiro on the other hand would be buried in homework until she died.
"I need to ask you something," Hiro answered quickly. "It's important, and personal." She added, leering at me.
I rolled my eyes and squeezed Yusei's hand. "Whatever, like he said I've got homework too. Meet you later, Yusei, okay?" I smiled at him and glowered in Hiro's direction before waving and striding down an adjoining hallway.
I'd walked into the music section of the high school. Normally choir or jazz band or something would be warming up, but it was Wednesday. We had early release and teachers all had meetings so there wasn't any after school activities today.
However, I heard a piano's keys soft tinkling sound coming from a door down the hall. I approached it silently and noticed the door was ajar. I peered inside through the cracked door and saw Nana inside. She was playing absentmindedly; like she'd memorized the song and was giving herself time to think.
I racked my brains for the reason why Nana was so familiar. We'd hardly ever interacted before. I knew we had maybe a few classes together but I hadn't spoken to her much so… The Halloween party! Talk about awkward… Still what would it hurt for me to talk to her now?
Suddenly Nana burst into a new tune. I found I recognized it, and I wanted to sing along with Nana when she started.
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down…
Nana's playing and singing was incredible. She was soft and meaningful in both. I couldn't resist joining in. I pushed the door open and added my voice to hers. She was startled at first but I motioned for her to keep going and tried to look friendly. Luckily, she seemed happy to oblige.
I'm through accepting limits
Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
She scooted over for me on the piano bench and I grinned and sat down beside her. She continued to play as we sang.
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you won't bring me down…
I'd sooner buy defying gravity!
Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity!
I think I'll try defying gravity!
And you won't bring me down!
Bring me down!
Oh!
Nana hit the last key and stared at me. I instantly blushed and rubbed the back of my head sheepishly.
"I'm really sorry, Nana was it?" I held out my hand for her to shake. "I think we met before, but I'm Lise Kururugi. You're really amazing."
Nana took my hand and nodded briefly. She dropped my hand and tiredly pressed one key, but she gave me a small smile. "Yeah, I remember you, from the party. I'm sorry about what those girls did to you."
I shrugged. "Nothing I can do now though. It's not a big deal. Why were you there?"
"I was dating Daichi Nakamura… I liked him so much that I didn't care he was drunk all the time and having sex with a million girls," Nana sighed and seemed to straighten with empowerment. "So the next day I dumped him. I told him he wasn't worth my time."
I grinned. "Good for you Nana! I used to have a crush on him too, but that night I realized what he was really like."
"Oh yeah," Nana smiled curiously. "I've seen you with Yusei a lot though. Are you two?"
"No!" I said quickly, knowing my face was probably a very unattractive red color by now. "Right now we're just really good friends…" I played with my hair awkwardly.
"Uh huh…"
"So the piano? I didn't know you could play. That's really cool," I decided to try for a subject change.
Nana swelled pridefully again. "I'm the seventh child out of seven and I'm a musical prodigy."
"Really? No way!"
"Yes way. I can play the guitar, piano, violin, cello, saxophone, and the drums! I can also sing, and by the looks of it you can too."
"Thanks, but I'm not that good. High notes kill me. Anyway, what're you doing in here?"
"Practicing for the Talent Show. My parents are making me perform…"
"If that's the case then I'd love to come and watch you, Nana! That'd be really cool."
"Thanks, it means a lot…" Nana petered off and then her eyes suddenly lit up. "I've got a great idea!"
"Yeah?"
"We should do it together!"
I was totally taken by surprise. "Perform together?"
"YES!" She looked so excited.
"I dunno, Nana. I'm not very good at performing and I can't play anything…"
"I'll teach you how to play guitar and I'll play the piano. We'll both sing and it'll be a bunch of fun! PLEASE!" She stuck out her lower lip and made her eyes look as big as possible.
"Fine," I said, defeated.
"Yay! Let me know whenever you're free," Nana reached over to her bag and pulled out a black marker. She scribbled her cell phone number on the back of my hand. "Call me okay? I'll even let you pick out the song!"
"Okay," I smiled too. Nana's optimism was contagious. "I promise I'll try."
"Thanks; this is gonna be so much fun!"
"Knock, knock," Yusei's voice said. "We've gotta go."
"Okay, bye Lise," Nana waved at me cheerfully.
I waved back awkwardly and walked out of the school with Yusei. e hadn't said nother wordHhhhhhhhHHHHHuuHEHE hadnHHe hadn't said a word for a while. On closer inspection, he looked tense; his knuckles were white around the handle of his school bag, and his jaw was clenched.
"So what did Hiro want?" I asked delicately.
He didn't answer. He did shake his head.
"Don't wanna talk about it?"
A nod.
"Okay…" I furrowed my brow, confused. "Did I do something to make you mad?"
Yusei stopped and stared at me. I stopped too. He was acting weird. What did Hiro do to him? He bit his lip and shook his head, sighing. It's complicated Lise… I'm sorry…
/
I wanted to cry, but that wouldn't solve the huge soup of problems I'd gotten into.
A better solution would be to hire a bear to maul Hiro. Those were in short demand though.
I rolled over on my bed, to my back, and rubbed my temples. I was always so tired nowadays. Lise was noticing and so was Mayoko. I felt like a freeloader that only brought trouble. Especially when I'd been sick; that had been awkward.
Hiro had pictures of Lise, pictures of her flying, using her powers. She threatened to take them to the government. I knew what that meant for Lise. She would be hunted down, captured, and experimented on. At least in this reality she would be. To keep Hiro from releasing the photos I wasn't allowed to interact with Lise and I had to do whatever Hiro wanted. That probably meant being her second boyfriend, next to Maro. I shivered; the thought disgusted me completely.
"Yusei?" Lise knocked on my door. "We're eating, and um…yeah…"
I waited till I couldn't hear the patter of her feet going down the stairs. I was a horrible person. Lise didn't deserve someone like me. Someone that confused her and made her miserable. But I wanted her and I loved her, so I had to at least try.
Mayoko was quickly devouring her plate of alfredo. Lise was merely picking and moving her noodles around. She played with things when she was confused and frustrated.
"There you are! Have something to eat," Mayoko smiled at me and gestured to my usual chair.
"Thanks Mayoko." I sat and started to eat quickly. I didn't like the look Lise was giving me.
I think Mayoko noticed it too. She attempted to keep at least one of us talking. "So how was school?"
"Fine."
"Okay."
"Anything different happen?"
"Nope," I replied swiftly.
"Yes."
"Oh really? What?" Mayoko was clutching at straws.
"I dunno Mom. I didn't see what happened. Maybe Yusei can tell you since he's SO willing to talk to anyone but me."
"Are you sure, honey?"
"Yes," Lise spat. I nodded. I didn't want her to get into trouble. Lise stood up before Mayoko could intervene. "And why is that? Did I do something wrong? Why the sudden change? Now you're treating me like everybody else and I don't get it!" she clenched her fists and rubbed an eye. "Well maybe Hiro seemed like a better deal than me…" Then she walked by me to her room.
Mayoko stared uncomprehendingly at Lise's back and then at me. "What's going on?"
"I wish I could tell you…"