6-28-10
4:20pm
ALERT! This chapter might be mildly confusing as there will be flashback scenes inserted throughout. The flashback scenes will be whole scenes in italics so you will be able to tell them apart from the storyline's present time.
xoxo
Title-Are you stalking me?
Chapter 26
By-Moon Prynces
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"Yeah. So then when do you want to..." She trailed off while staring at the table. "Alright. Tomorrow then." She smiled happily and said goodbye before hanging up the phone.
Millerna spun around to see her sisters staring at her from the stairs. She jumped in surprise. Eries was sitting down while peering through the bars as Marlene stood two steps down and leaned over the railing.
"What's up?" Marlene asked with her arms draped casually on the banister.
Eries smiled in a way that meant she (possibly both of them) already knew.
Millerna just smiled despite their piercing gazes disguised with innocent faces. "I made a date to see Dryden. Just like I said I would." She said and turned to go to the kitchen.
As expected, her sisters followed as if they had nothing better to do. Which was pretty much true.
"Good thing tomorrow's Saturday." Eries commented.
"So how was school?" Marlene asked as she immediately headed to the fridge and brought out leftovers.
The youngest girl just shrugged after her and Eries sat down at the table. "The same." She replied.
"Who was it that came over yesterday?" Marlene asked again, and this time piquing the interest of the middle sister.
Eries no doubt assumed it was the same boy she had seen Millerna making out with just the other da... well actually now that she thought about it, more than two weeks had passed already.
"That was a really good friend of mine. Dilandau." Millerna said while playing with the salt and pepper shakers. Somehow the two inanimate objects were involved in a heated discussion.
"Mom'll be home late tonight so what do you guys want to eat?" Marlene asked while placing food on three plates before putting each into the microwave for it's solitary two minutes.
"You're not cooking?" Eries pouted while laying her head sideways on the table. She watched as the pepper finally got fed up and walked off, prompting the salt to do the same in the opposite direction.
Marlene rolled her eyes. "Ungrateful."
"Can't help that I miss a nicely prepared meal." More eyes were rolled.
"Hey! This is like a vacation for me!" The eldest argued. "You think I'm gonna be able to heat up leftovers when I get back home?"
"I thought you loved to cook?" Was asked.
"I do."
Somehow the argument didn't make much sense after that.
"Oh yeah." Millerna said to herself and looked up for a moment. "Shouldn't you be getting back to Chid and Duke soon?"
Eries was waiting to see the conclusion to salt and pepper's big fight. Marlene put two plates on the table in front of her sisters and put her own in the microwave.
"Yeah, just another day or two and I'll be gone." She sighed dramatically.
Salt and pepper suddenly both stopped and turned back around to face each other with their newfound distance. Then they ran... or tap-tap-tapped their way back to each other and were all happy after reaching a reconciliation.
"Hey!"
The objects were suddenly snatched out of Millerna's hands. Marlene shook her head disapprovingly and put the shakers back in their place. She then retrieved her own plate from the microwave and sat down to have a late lunch with her sisters.
Eries shot a grin across the table to her younger sister who shared the sentiments.
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"Who was it?" Varie asked as she came walking down the hallway after tidying up the master bedroom. She looked up and smiled in delight. "Allen! It's been too long since we've seen you!" She said, swooping in for a kiss to the cheek and enthusiastic hug.
Folken watched his mom and the blonde carefully. "Look who grew up." Was his only comment after closing the door.
Merle came bounding down the hallway to see what was going on because obviously she had heard the doorbell too.
"Allen!" She hopped over and gave him a hug as well. "Where have you been all this time?"
The only non-Fanel in the room smiled sheepishly and ran a hand into the front of his hair. "I have no idea. I heard you guys saw Celena already."
The group slowly made their way to the living room.
"Van didn't tell us you'd be coming over or I would've prepared something to eat." Varie said and glided into the kitchen.
Merle snickered. "With all the guests we're getting lately Mom keeps bringing out the really good food."
"So I'm being used for whatever benefits you guys can get?" Allen asked as he sat down and rested his elbows on his knees with his hands clasped together loosely. "Hey Folken, I hear you might never leave home."
Said male grinned back. "Is that what he's been telling everyone?"
"Why else would he be eating at my house all the time?" Allen shrugged. "Where is he anyway? School let out an hour ago."
The other two shrugged but he caught Merle smirk. Definitely something you shouldn't see a thirteen year old do.
"Yeah, Celena was here with her boyfriend." Folken responded, referring to the earlier topic. "But we didn't get to talk about much."
Allen shrugged. "Not gonna lie, there has been a lot going on. Remember when our parents enrolled her in boarding school?" He waited for the nod and folded arms from Folken. "Yeah well she came home for a visit like two months ago and asked to go to public school. So now she's back for good and going to school with Van and me."
"Well then she works fast. Already a boyfriend?" Folken said with some understanding.
Though Allen and him were three years apart they still shared that 'older brother' sense of duty. Van was an older brother as well but he didn't understand the responsibilities these two shared because he had fallen into the role of the middle child without complaint.
Allen shrugged. "We've talked about it."
Merle was sprawled across her very own sofa with eyes darting between the two. She dreaded the day when she would have a "talk" with Folken. She was now glad to have Hitomi to turn to in her times of need. Although maybe Celena could be an asset as well...
"Where is Celena now?" She asked suddenly.
The blonde shrugged. "I don't think she came home yet. Or maybe I missed her cuz I only dropped off my books and left."
Varie waltzed back into the room with a tray with glasses of water and some cookies. What really got everyone's attention was that she managed to make Allen's favorite sandwich (bologna with a bunch of odd additions like black olives and cucumbers).
"Wow, I can't believe you remember." He said and leaned towards the coffee table to take the plate she had set down.
"Why wouldn't I? If I can remember the preferences of these two," She motioned to her children and took a seat next to Folken on the large sofa. "Then I can certainly remember the one sandwich you would shove an old lady out of the way for."
Merle shot her mom an odd look at the choice of words.
"Thanks." Allen said before taking a bite.
"So how are your parents?"
He waved a hand while chewing. Finally he swallowed and said, "Flourishing careers and a rekindled romance. Things are really good. We just had this fancy dinner a few nights ago for some of their colleagues and friends." Allen moved the sandwich to take another bite but paused and then asked, "So where's Uncle Goau?"
Varie smiled widely. "He'll be home in a few days actually."
"Still too adventurous for you guys to handle?" Allen asked through his food.
"It pays the bills!" Merle piped up with a grin.
Folken nodded as well. "That and its fun." A grin appeared on his face as well.
"Folken likes to have fun?" Allen asked and pretended to choke on his sandwich. "So when do classes start again?"
He shrugged. "When they drag me back kicking and screaming. It's good to be home."
Varie made a sound of agreement and put her hand to his hair like he was still a kid.
"And no girlfriend?"
Merle made 'oooh' sounds while Varie smiled at Folken expectantly.
"No." He responded, and if Allen wasn't mistaken it sounded a bit grouchy.
"Ah." The blonde said with a hint of comprehension.
"I would ask the same about y-"
Before Folken could finish the front door opened and revealed Van looking pleased. All occupants of the room stared at him as he looked back in surprise.
"You're all in the same room. What's going on?" Van asked before his eyes discovered Allen sitting on the two-person sofa by himself.
"Hi honey, you hungry?" Varie questioned.
"Only when I'm breathing." He mumbled and dropped his bookbag by an end table before taking the seat next to his best friend. "What's up?"
"Everyone kept mentioning how I needed to visit your mom and stuff so I decided to drop in." Allen shrugged and finally set down the empty plate. He grabbed a napkin to get rid of stray crumbs without looking like a caveman. "Where were you?"
"Out with his girlfriend." Two people said with mischievous looks.
"Jinx!" Merle called out and pointed at Folken.
Varie sighed as she stood up and pushed away Merle's finger. "I thought we canceled that game?" She asked while heading to the kitchen.
"Don't worry about the food mom! I was kidding!" Van called just as she went through the doorway.
"We canceled jinx?" Merle asked herself thoughtfully, and then winced. "Oooh, yeah." She caught Allen's questioning look. "That, among other things..." She trailed off without explanation.
"Did you guys say-" Allen tried to ask but Van suddenly used the cookie he was about to eat to stick into his friend's mouth. Folken smirked.
"Can't hide the truth, little brother." The oldest in the room commented.
Allen chewed on that thoughtfully, the cookie and Folken's words.
"When will Hitomi be coming by again?" Varie asked from the kitchen.
Van groaned at the attention and put his head in his hands. "Now look what you started."
"I didn't start anything!" Allen argued through the cookie.
Folken got up and went to the kitchen while Merle watched the two bicker some more. He came back with a mug that probably had coffee and Varie followed behind with a plate of leftover lasagna for Van.
Allen grinned while Van was blaming him for all his bad luck. "I guess yesterday things were good."
"What happened yesterday?" Merle asked before Folken could.
Van looked at the roomful of people like a cornered animal. "Uh..."
The local theater that wasn't part of a big Cineplex chain was having some marathon of a TV show from the past decade. And since it didn't really matter how many episodes they could watch for the one price they would pay (though of course Van insisted on being a man and taking care of that), that's what they chose to do.
Hitomi realized he was right. The setting did dispel any awkwardness that lingered and prevented them from making much conversation except to mock some fashion choices of the characters.
Van actually seemed pretty familiar with the show, though she had barely remembered it from her childhood.
Throughout the two episodes they managed to watch before deciding to leave, she found her eyes kept straying to watch him instead.
He caught the look only once. "What's up?" Van whispered with a grin on his face as his eyes kept glancing back at the screen.
Hitomi shook her head and pretended to refocus on the show. But she was kind of wondering why she wanted to stare at him. Maybe they should have gotten something to eat so it would be okay to do so…
She smiled when he turned back to her at a comedic moment with his grin to make sure she recognized the hilarity.
When the second episode was over she pulled at his sleeve.
"Huh?" He asked when he turned to her.
"Time to go yet?" She questioned him.
"Oh yeah, sure."
And they left before the credits were over so Van wouldn't get sucked into the next episode.
"So now we're going…?" She said, trying to get him to spill the beans.
Van looked down at her as he led the way. "I'm not a fancy person Hitomi, where do you think we're going?"
"Um… back to your house?" She guessed with a confused expression.
He rolled his eyes. "You wanna see my family that bad?"
Hitomi made a face. "That corner of the woods I was talking about earlier?" She tried again.
Van laughed out loud. "Wow, that's actually pretty close."
He stopped walking suddenly and looked up.
"What're you-" Hitomi tried to ask as she followed his example, but stopped short.
She hadn't really noticed, because the inside of the theater was dark, but it had gotten pretty dark outside as well.
They were standing in the middle of a clear expanse of space at a park. It was the area usually used by people for picnics and setting up volleyball nets or playing other sports.
Hitomi glanced back at him, ready to ask what they were doing but he looked so content to just stare up at the sky.
Finally she asked, "Doesn't your neck hurt?"
Van snapped out of it and shrugged. "Wanna sit down?"
"Uh… Sure." She agreed, while wondering what they could possibly be doing out there with no one around. Maybe she was walking into a trap?
Then again this was Van. A little more trust was in order.
"I guess it's a good thing I wore pants." Hitomi said jokingly as they sat down on the grass. "But maybe I should have brought a soccer ball or something."
"You know how cliché this seems, don't you?" Van asked while putting his arms atop his knees.
"Well I can't answer that until I know what you were going for." She answered, and then leaned in to whisper. "I don't want to hurt your feelings or anything."
He laughed at her. "I think my skin's thicker than that. Besides cliché's not always a bad thing, right?"
Hitomi wasn't paying much attention to him. "Is the sky brighter tonight or something?"
Van just shook his head. "Nope. Usually there are all the lights from houses and buildings and street lamps so you can't tell what it really looks like."
"Oh." She said while staring up at the night sky. After trying to take in as much as possible she turned to him. "So we're here to stargaze?"
The raven-haired boy shrugged. "It's just a nice setting, that's all. Maybe I just wanted to hang out around here."
"Maybe." She agreed.
There was a pause that threatened to become awkward if no one spoke up. And the animals hiding in surrounding trees weren't going to do it.
Van wasn't willing to admit anything out loud to anyone in the room. Even talking to Allen about the previous day's events didn't seem necessary.
Sure things started out awkward and weird, but that was normal. He didn't mind. He still had faith things would be okay.
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"Can I have a bite of that?" She asked while pointing her fork in his direction.
"Why? You got what you wanted." He said and then took another bite.
She got grumpy easily. "So, I just wanted to try it!"
"But what do I get in return? It's not like I want to try... that!" He motioned to her bowl.
"Dilandau..." She whined and made a pitiful face.
"No! I wanted this all day!" He fought back.
"I'll flash the entire restaurant if you don't!" She yelled and then abruptly stood up.
Dilandau gaped. "Celena!" He hissed with his indoor voice. "Sit down!"
"No!" Celena folded her arms over her chest, which ruined her threat.
They glared at each other as Dilandau slowly put down his turkey burger and picked up the knife and fork he had no use for until now.
A girl who was only a few years older than the two came to their table and asked, "Is everything all right?"
"Yup." Celena said and slowly sank back down to her seat.
Dilandau glared with less venom as he slowly cut more than a bite of his sandwich with the utensils. As he slowly brought up the piece of his sandwich on the fork into the air for her to grab the tension dissolved. Celena plucked it off the fork and took a bite while smirking in satisfaction.
The waitress watched in awe.
"Can I get another soda?" Dilandau asked with a grin.
The girl jumped and nodded before leaving the two alone.
"Happy?" He asked the girl across from him.
She nodded. "Wanna try my soup now?"
Dilandau shrugged in a 'don't really care' way. He looked up to see her holding out her spoon with the other hand cupped under it.
"I thought it was vegetable soup?" He asked after eating it.
"It is."
"Well then there aren't enough vegetables."
"I ate most of them already." She said sheepishly after retracting the spoon.
"Figures." He rolled his eyes. "Now I'm gonna go home craving vegetable soup."
The girl came back with Dilandau's soda and silence reigned while they kept eating.
"So what're we doing after this?" He asked after pausing in his task.
Celena looked up after finishing the last of her soup. "I don't know. It's Friday, but then again I have a test on Monday I should start studying for."
Dilandau tried to suppress the disappointment and nodded.
"But," She spoke again and he didn't take that last bite just yet to instead look up. "It is Friday." Celena grinned.
Dilandau grinned right back across the table. He ate the last bite and bought himself time while she sipped her water with expectant eyes.
He was wiping his mouth daintily with a napkin when she asked, "Well?" in irritation.
"Well," He started off. "I'm not sure if you were wondering about it and all."
Celena stared, waiting for the rest. She had suspicion that he was just messing with her and building up suspense for nothing.
"About why we never hang out at my house that is." He continued.
No one noticed her eyes light up.
"So," Dilandau stopped in thought. "Wanna see how the other half lives?" He asked cheekily.
"Only if it's not contagious." She said smartly.
After successfully causing a scene and filling their stomachs the pair left with high hopes for the weekend. Dilandau's house wasn't as far out of the way as Celena thought and so she was even more curious as to why he avoided the topic.
"So..." She said when he announced they were just a block away. "Is there something I should be warned about? You have a doll collection in your basement?"
A grin tugged at his lips and he looked down without a word.
"Or your parents are really spies from another country." She went on.
Dilandau raised a brow at her and shook his head.
"Or," She said with a very thoughtful look.
Celena stared ahead with a finger to her lip. Dilandau watched as she didn't bother to continue. They were almost there but he didn't say anything, just silently led the way.
"Or?" He asked.
"Or..." She paused again, not for dramatics but just because she was unsure. "You just don't want me to hang around at your house. I get it if things are private at home and you don't want anyone barging in and-"
Dilandau grabbed her wrist to stop her and engaged in an impromptu kiss, cutting her off from her thoughts. He didn't let up for a while and got a little lost before finally pulling back.
"If I can let your tongue in my mouth I'm sure I can let you into my house." He grinned like an ass.
Celena gasped at his language. "Hey! I believe it was the other way around!" She protested.
He didn't listen and took her hand to lead them up the walkway.
"You're an only child, right?"
He nodded while sticking a key in.
"Your parents made the right choice." She smiled evilly.
Dilandau paused just before pushing the door open. "Is that because the world is a better place without another kid like me or it's good there isn't a sibling being tortured by me?"
"Take your pick." Celena responded and followed him inside.
"Oh mom!" He called once they took off their shoes.
"Aw, he still calls her mom." She said, wiping away a fake tear.
He shot a look over his shoulder. "What else would I call her?"
"Queen?" She guessed. "Empress?"
Dilandau ignored her as he walked from the living room to the kitchen to find a note on the fridge. As he grabbed it Celena came through the door.
He looked up blankly. "She's gone out."
"We've got the house to ourselves?" She questioned and leaned over the counter.
"Isn't that what I just said?" He asked back.
Celena grinned. "Don't get your panties in a twist. If I didn't know any better I'd think this was a plot to introduce me to your mother or something."
Dilandau smiled and walked closer, making her turn around to watch him. He stepped into her personal space and placed his hands onto the counter behind her. Then he leaned in, making her lean back.
"Maybe it was." He whispered before he put his lips on hers.
One of her hands grabbed the front of his shirt while the other went back onto the counter for support.
"Dilandau?" She asked quietly after they broke apart, though his face didn't move so far away.
"Yea?" He asked back.
"You like me in one piece right?"
The boy gave a completely confused look as he answered. "Yea..."
Was this some sort of riddle?
"Then please stop trying to snap me in half here." Celena requested and finally opened her eyes.
The hand on his shirt pushed him back a step so she could stand upright again. Dilandau realized maybe he had been a bit too aggressive and maybe he did almost break her back.
Oooh, now that would have been a sight.
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It would be ridiculous to say she wasn't nervous. Because the entire situation was going to completely determine the course the rest of her life was going to take. So being nervous was okay. It was pretty much necessary.
Millerna sat around at the coffee shop Dryden had suggested, because it was closer to his college campus. He mentioned he had two Saturday classes but still wanted to see her as soon as possible. He also insisted she get whatever she wanted (they had great coffee, or so he heard) because he was going to pay.
The blonde glanced around at the establishment and noted that there were a lot of college students roaming around this area. They all looked so put together and with purpose.
Millerna wondered how she would manage college and a marriage. She sighed and got up to get herself something.
Looking around she wondered if she stood out from everyone. Could they tell she was just a high school student?
She glanced down at the simple jeans and tee combo. The only thing that spiced up the look were the random bracelets on her arm and her hair in a ponytail. She had managed to escape the house before Marlene got a hold of her. Otherwise she might be decked out in a wedding gown already.
Just as the cashier handed her the cappuccino another hand shot forward with a bill.
Millerna looked up to see Dryden smiling as he paid for her drink. As much as it pained her, she didn't fight the gesture. It would only hold up the line.
Once settled into another table across from each other Millerna went to take a sip of her coffee while Dryden placed his chin in his palm and watched her.
"Hi." He said simply.
After a moment of her blank gaze the blonde broke out into a grin. "Hi. Sorry." She said while shaking her head at herself. "It's just a little weird. I don't exactly hang out around college campuses."
Dryden smiled back as well, admiring her features. "Sure. Sorry I couldn't suggest somewhere closer to home. It's just I've got class in only forty-five min-"
"Don't worry about it. I'm here aren't I?" And Millerna copied him by placing her own chin in her palm and leaning forward. "So how is class anyway?"
"It's been a good day so far. I've gotta get home and start on a paper after this class though, otherwise I would have been free."
She scoffed. "And give up your education for me?"
His grin widened. "Can I just say how unexpected it was that you called and wanted to see me?"
"What?" She sat up in confusion.
"Well, yeah. The last time I saw you was at your house w-"
"When I freaked out and fled the scene." She finished with recognition and a wry smile. "Sorry about that too." Millerna glanced at her coffee before something occurred to her. "Not that you did anything that made me-"
"Freak out?" He supplied.
"Can I blame it on the teenage hormones then?" Millerna asked with a shrug.
"How old are you again?"
She smirked. "You're kidding, right? You definitely remember!"
He shrugged in the 'ah, ya got me' way. "Just making sure a birthday hasn't passed."
Millerna just laughed at him. "Don't worry. I understand. You think I'm jailbait."
Dryden suddenly choked on air as she chuckled at him. He adjusted the glasses on his nose. "Wow. Innocent exterior."
Her grin gave credence to the thought.
"So, why are we here anyway? Not that I don't enjoy your company or anything." He questioned curiously.
Millerna wondered how long she could keep him in suspense. Maybe he would wait and forget about his class...
"I wanted to say," But she was still just an inexperienced girl and so her shyness came through. Apparently she was a better tease with A-
The unfinished thought stopped her.
"Just that I think it'd be nice if we actually got to know each other. That day we met was more than a month ago. A lot has happened and made me realize I am really open to the idea of an arranged marriage." She spoke confidently. She placed her elbows on the table and clasped her hands in the air. Coupled with her slow smile, she looked every bit comfortable in a coffee shop just off a college campus.
Dryden admired her once again, though this time for the attitude and personality he saw in her.
"I'd like that." His eyes darted from hers to the tabletop modestly.
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Hitomi was a pretty healthy teenager. For the most part she didn't eat much junk food or sweets. She could easily jog two miles without getting winded. She could have been on the track team if she wanted.
But today, a Saturday, and because of her normally energetic body she was forced by her mom to go out and run errands. And not just the regular 'go to the post office and pick up some spinach while you're at it' errands. More like the 'I need you to go five miles out of your way to this one store I know has this one ingredient I desperately want and while you're at it can you get me a really good pumpkin for some pie?' errand.
A pumpkin? Really?
The brunette was too exhausted from trying to drag the thing back home. She was wondering why people didn't use those red wagons that kids used to play with anymore. It would have been really useful.
Just as she turned the corner she caught sight of a familiar face with an unfamiliar one. She stopped in mild surprise for a moment.
They were just crossing the street and laughing together. Soon they would cross paths if Hitomi would get her feet moving.
She did.
And then the couple suddenly stopped after reaching the sidewalk and she kissed his cheek and they said their goodbyes.
Hitomi watched as the guy turned to walk back the way they had come. She slowly strolled up to the blonde girl who was watching her companion leave.
"Hi Millerna."
Said blonde gasped and jumped before turning to see her friend standing there.
"Hey Hitomi." She said, moving her hand to her hair only to realize it was still up in a ponytail.
"What's up?" Hitomi asked cheerfully, ignoring the awkward tension.
"Oh nothing. I was just..." Millerna looked around and then gave up on the obvious attempt at lying. "Just met up with someone for coffee." She said.
"Oh. So you headed back home?" Was asked.
The blonde noticed the heavy looking bag. "What've you got in there? A pumpkin?" She asked jokingly.
Hitomi stared. "No." She said. "Actually, I've got two." Her response was emphasized by the 'go ahead and say it' look.
Millerna chose not to say it.
The two began the trek towards their houses, though not very close together they were still in the same general direction.
"Need some help?"
Without answering Hitomi held up the bag. "Thanks." She smirked as it took Millerna a few feet to adjust to the weight. "So who'd you have coffee with? A guy?" She asked slyly.
"What? No!"
She shot a look. "I saw you."
"Oh, well ok then yea." She paused. "So how are things with you then? I didn't see you in school yesterday."
"I spent lunch begging my science teacher for a makeup exam." Hitomi said breezily.
"You failed?" Millerna asked in surprise.
"No, I just wasn't satisfied."
"Oh. So what'd he say?"
"She said she was giving the entire class extra credit. And then she tried to ask me for an in-depth review on her teaching methods. It's why I spent the next period eating yogurt in class."
"Hmm."
Hitomi paused with a fidgety look. "Uh... so did I tell that I went out with Van the other day?"
Millerna glanced at her friend. "No. You mean like a date?"
"Um..."
The blonde became excited. "So how was it? What'd you do? Do you even want to talk about it? I could come hang out at your house and hear all the details! It's your first date... ever, right?"
Hitomi stared wide-eyed. "Uh..."
"So, you know I have a sister and brother," Van started, causing her to look at him. "You have siblings right?"
Hitomi turned to face him with her legs crossed Indian style. "Yeah, but just a brother. Actually, didn't I mention him before?" She said thoughtfully. "He's Merle's age."
He nodded. "And he's also a brat like she is?" He questioned.
She playfully pushed him. "Well I don't want to admit it but since you already stated the obvious, yes." Hitomi paused as she reminisced. "But Merle's not that bad."
Van gave a suspicious look. "You and her have some secret going on."
"What?" She jumped at his conclusion. "No we don't! I barely know her. We traded some books maybe but…"
"Uh huh." He nodded with a serious look that said he wasn't that dumb.
"Well, so what?" She countered. "We're girls. We can have secrets if we want. Just the same if you and Allen want to have secrets too." She hinted with an elbow nudge.
"Are you accusing me of being gay again?" He demanded.
"Of course not." Hitomi said nonchalantly and looked up. She smiled when he wasn't looking.
"By the way, as much as I like the time to think without you kicking my chair you should really get to class and start doing the work." She scolded. "Seriously, how do you and your troublemaker friends expect to finish high school?"
"Oh, you know. Biker gangs only require you to own a leather jacket and… a bike." He smirked. "I'm getting the training wheels off of mine tomorrow."
"I'm so proud." She commented. "Just make sure to wear a helmet. Ten miles an hour is just enough to end up road kill."
Van laughed. "Thanks. I think I'll just take Merle's."
"The pink one with sparkles and hearts?" She asked happily.
"No, it's purple with stars. Get with it." He made a 'duh' face.
"But really," Hitomi said.
He interrupted her lecture before she really started. "Don't worry about it. I'm on it already." Van smiled. "Mom."
"Oh, you didn't." She threatened.
His response was to stick out his tongue. She tried to shove him over but it didn't quite work. So she retracted the claws and then nothing.
She decided the view wasn't good enough. Hitomi was the first to give up their position and just take her chances lying back flat on the grass.
Sure there were bugs and dirt and other things that shouldn't be in her hair but she could go home, take a long shower and all would be forgotten.
Van glanced at her and followed the example. The view was suddenly amazing.
"You know, I was wondering…" Hitomi said slowly without looking to the person next to her.
"Yes?" He questioned after turning to watch her.
"Because you're not exactly afraid to admit it…" She went on while gazing blankly at the sky.
He grew anxious. "You're doing this to me on purpose." Van said in a flat voice.
Hitomi finally turned to watch him with a cheeky smile. "Exactly how much do you like me anyway?"
Van was taken aback by the question. Surely he was hearing things, because the way she had reacted to his confessions before showed she was more than a little uncomfortable with just the idea. So how in the world did she suddenly turn around quick enough to start asking such a thing?
Were they already at that point in the relationship and he just didn't know it?
"Um… this much?" And he spread his arms out in the air above them as far as he could to create the imaginary space.
She stared. "Only enough to cushion two thirds of your body if you were to fall from the twenty-seventh floor of a building?"
Van quirked an eyebrow in a 'what the…' kinda way. "No." He finally responded. "Only enough to follow you around school like an idiot and spend a good amount of my energy trying to convince you that going out with me isn't a bad thing.
"Oh." She said and turned back to the sky.
There was some silence.
"What would I be doing on the twenty-seventh floor anyway?" He asked.
Hitomi turned back with a grin. "Because the twenty-sixth floor where your interview was scheduled was closed due to a leaky pipe problem that led to a bunch of plumbing work. It got really messy."
"Ah. I see." He waited a moment. "But was this like a job interview or was I interviewing someone?"
She shrugged. "It's your interview. You tell me."
When he was back to staring full force at the sky Hitomi turned her face slowly to watch him. His eyes were big and bright and maybe it was just because it was the darkness causing his pupils to dilate but she could see a color deeper than just brown.
She could see his clear, slightly tanned complexion up close. His hair didn't look like a complete mess for once. Because she finally realized it was just kind of his style. His hair fell that way because it obviously knew him better than she did. And even when she commented on his hair and he pretended to be embarrassed about it he probably liked it.
Van didn't do anything as he felt Hitomi's eyes on him. He just laid there with his hands behind his head as a cushion. It did make him a little self conscious to be examined with the close proximity but he tried not to twitch, blink too much or accidentally let his eyes flicker over in her direction.
Hitomi stopped herself from the obnoxious staring and redirected her gaze to the stars. Though it didn't affect her memory, which was now emblazoned with the fact that he looked good in red shirts.
Her heart rate suddenly quickened when his hand between them brushed hers until she grasped it back with her own. She took a moment to close her eyes and survive that whole heart stopping moment that passed through her.
'Firsts aren't so bad.' She thought. That heart stopping moment was kind of exhilarating, like the descent on a roller coaster. It wasn't scary unless you let it be.
Hitomi sat up suddenly and stared ahead.
"What?" Van asked, shifting up onto his elbows.
She turned back to him and slowly pushed his shoulder so he was back flat on the grass. And as she moved him back she inched over his personal space as well. Before she finally let her lips drop a kiss.
On his cheek.
Van stared up wide-eyed at the dark expanse of sky dotted with stars.
Hitomi only pulled back slightly and sighed against his cheek. Then she moved her lips elsewhere.
As excited as Millerna seemed, Hitomi didn't really want to recount all the details to anyone. It was embarrassing and new to her. Somehow letting someone else in on it would just taint the feelings and memories.
She wasn't feeling uncomfortable or unsure about anything so there wasn't a need to talk things out with someone. Things were okay.
Well, except for the upcoming tests and projects she had due.
xoxo
Well as this chapter ends I want to address some (random) things.
I do realize that this chapter was significantly shorter than the last one and I'm trying to keep them around 5,000 words from this point on because I do understand your frustrations with longer chapters. I'm sorry if you thought the last one was too long but there was a lot I wanted to cover and I couldn't just cut it off at a certain point because it seriously did not make sense to me. But I would like to know, how long do you think chapters should be from this point on? This chapter is 6308 words,not including the normal stuff at the top (50 words) and this author's note at the end (902 words).
There was something I wrote in an earlier chapter where I thought it was unnecessary to bring in more characters because they weren't essential to the storyline. But now as things are progressing and I see that Millerna's sisters have a profound effect on who she is, as well as her parents, I'm rethinking this. Van's family has become a big part of things too. I realize I was trying to narrow the world down too small. Now I'm not sure if you all were wondering whatever happened to Van's father because of the vague description Van gave in an earlier chapter. I just got too used to not having him around. Well, he is mentioned and I'm wondering if he's going to be making an appearance. Probably. Along with the disappearance of some others.
Now this is something that I would hope you all felt was okay from the beginning; questions. I realized that I'm literally "behind the scenes" here and I know so much about the characters and their pasts and ages and whatever. Some things that aren't mentioned or don't have an important role and yet I know these certain details. Like the ages of Marlene and Eries? Yup I know that. How many days have seemingly passed in the story? What I think about certain characters? - My point is that if there is anything you still don't know or are confused about then go ahead and ask about it! I would rather try to reply in separate messages to you personally unless it seems like something that could benefit everyone, in which case it might be at the end of the next chapter. Just know that I can't answer some questions if it will be a spoiler for the future. But it doesn't hurt to ask.
You know I want to say... going into a story like this where you don't have a definite ending ready or have all your chapters planned... a "slice of life" kind of story is... To be honest I had like over ten chapters well planned out when I started. And then for like the next ten chapters I always had 2-5 chapters ahead of notes written down. Now it's a "deal with it when the time comes" thing (with minimal notes, and then more notes are added when I get to that chapter...). Okay what I meant to say is that when I started this, and also my other pride and joy "Different Colors", I went in with confidence and satisfaction. I never thought the days would come when I didn't feel like writing or I would ever fall out of touch with the stories or characters. You don't think the time will come when you're easily disheartened or too tired or just get busy with something else.
But it does happen and I'm sorry for making you wait. I'm grateful for any and all support I receive and I don't just do it for other people. I've discovered what it means to be writing for myself. Because sometimes I really want to see what happens and I want to know how it ends. I like to go back and reread things that I've written. Usually I write because of my need to see this (type of) story. Because I want to read something like this and so I write it so I can read it myself.
And another note that has nothing to do with this story or anything I've written... I'm in the process of rewatching Gilmore Girls from the very beginning and ohmygosh do I love this show. I loved it when I first started watching it on WB and I am loving it all over again. If there is any free time in your schedule you should watch an episode. Any episode. You will love it.
Lastly, I am hoping to get chapters out sooner. It has taken me less than a week to get this done because I tried to keep it short. But I do need to get writing on some other things (other than fanfiction too) as well as tidying up some things in my life. I hope I can keep up.
Everything has been reread, edited, and now I just need to check the word count on a couple of things before posting. I wanted to refrain from posting directly on the Fourth of July because I know a lot of you live in the USA and it's a "major" holiday so you have things going on but I also want to get this out ASAP.
Sorry about the long end note.
7-4-10
2:30am