▲ Chapter 8 || Your Abs Get To Feel My Hands. ▲
"You better be behaving well Mikan. I don't want to hear any complains from Kaoru or Shiku." My mom says. Such little faith in me. When has she ever gotten a complain.
"I won't be any trouble to them mom, see you soon" with that I hang up.
This morning, just as I awoke, my phone began to ring and I answered it; surprised to find mom and dad on the other end of the phone line. Since I have told Sumire about my issue from the clinic from yesterday, she has been pestering about me taking the money from her, or her family, even Hotaru offered the same thing but I refused. It's not that I couldn't ask my parents, we are wealthy as well, but with the amount so big they will ask series of questions which I am can't answer.
For the past half an hour, I am have been waiting for Sumire to come down so we can get going. We both decided to take the public transit since her mother needed it her car this morning. The bus arrives at 8:30 and we had fifteen minutes left to catch it. This girl is taking so long.
"Sumire I am leaving! You are taking to long!" I shout out to her and leave through the main door. Walking along the sidewalk, I feel my phone buzz. I take it out of my pocket and see whom it was. It was Kaoru.
"Hello Kaoru." I chirp.
"Hello Mikan! Where are you? I went to your room and you weren't there. Did you leave for school already?" Kaoru asks.
"Yes, I slept over at a friends house because it got late and she and her mother refused to let me go out. So I stayed over night. And yes I am headed to school know. I even left a note on the fridge. I am sorry"
"Oh no, it's fine," she says and I smile. I was about to hang up when she asked me a question.
"Is Natsume being a prick?" Shiku asks, I guess I was on speaker.
"No, he's been fine. Very welcoming and helpful."
"Good, good," Shiku says, and I think they believed me.
"You can tell us, Mikan,"Kaoru says, "If he's too much trouble we'll sort him out, okay?"
"Okay."
"Alright, well we have to go now so we'll see you, well, when we see you! Goodbye!" Kaoru says and the call ends.
I run down the block (tripping over a couple times as I do, I must admit). I glance right and see my bus sitting at my stop. My eyes widen. "Wait!" I call, waving my hands frantically as I run as fast as I bus pulls away from my stop and drives off while I groan and stomp my foot as I watch it's retreating figure. Dammit!
I fall against the brick wall fence, taking deep breaths to calm my panting. But it was too late. I was breathing heavily, and check to see if I could my water bottle. But I couldn't.I am not fat or unfit, just my health condition. If I run too run or push myself to hard it can become dangerous towards my health. Fortunately for me, Sumire's house isn't too far away from school walking-distance. It just means I'll be a little late and will probably get a detention.
In a little less than a minute or so, the distant sound of a rumbling motorcycle grows louder and closer. My breathing was still uneven and heavily. I needed water, badly. I glance back to find Natsume slowly driving up to me. I almost didn't recognize him with his helmet on.
"Hello," I shout over his motorcycle. I coughed. Natsume twists the ignition key and his motorcycle falls silent. He pulls off his helmet and looks at me. He bends down to my level.
"You ok?" he asks, worried. I look up at him and does look kinda worried. I just nod my head.
"How come you are breathing so heavily?" he asks.
"I…ran, and… missed my…bus" I said through my panting. "You…got… water?" he nods and takes a water bottle out of his bag and hands it over. I quickly take it and chug the water down my throat.
"Easy there." He says.
Couple minutes later I felt better and got up. I thanked him for his help and started to walk down the path that leads to school. He gets back on his bike and starts it.
"Need a ride?" he asks.
I open my mouth to thank him though I hesitate. Does he really think I'm gonna fall for his prank again?
"No thanks, I like walking," I smile, hoping my response was convincing enough.
"Natsume furrows his eyebrows confusedly.
"You know what time it is, right? You won't get to school on time."
"I know," I smile, turning on my heel and walking off, "Thanks for offering though." I say over my shoulder, shooting a confused Natsume a smile.
The sound of a motor roaring back to life follows moments later and I squeak in surprise when I find Natsume and his motorcycle driving beside me.
"You know you want to." He coos; tempting me to give in and hop on, but I didn't trust him. He's feeding me false hope. I shake my head with a small laugh and he groans.
"Seriously? Do you not trust me or something?"
"Or something," I answer, turning to him with a big-ass smile that I hoped would convince him, "Just go on without me. I'll survive," I jokingly sigh.
Natsume rolls his eyes, "Yeah right. You nearly had a breathing attack. Get on the bike," he orders, "You can't be late for class."
I shake my head. This was a trick. He wasn't going to give me a ride.
"Mikan.." he grits out.
"Why do you suddenly care, Natsume?" I snap. "Is this another mean trick of yours or is there something in it for you?" Natsume looks back at me in surprise and I flush red, quickly turning away and staring down at my feet. I don't like it when I snap. I hate losing my cool, because I'll end up saying hurtful things.
"I'm offering you a ride," he states, climbing off his bike and stepping towards me. His voice lowers, "I'm not tricking you, okay? I promise, and I never/em break a promise. My pride wouldn't take it."
I watch him hesitantly, "Why are you being civil with me?" Natsume snickers at me and shrugs, "I owe you one. I know you helped me last night and I'm making it up to you."
"But why would he want to make it up to me?"
I bite down onto my lip and watch him hesitantly; searching for any hint of a lie on his face. Nothing.
"Okay," I give in, a smile returning to my features.
"Thanks, Natsume."
He shrugs in response and unclips his own helmet, putting it on my head and clipping the buckle. A small smile tugs onto his face as he looks at me for a brief moment, though it disappears as quickly as it comes.
"But what about you? You won't be safe," I reply worriedly.
"Stop worrying, I've done this 1000 times."
I eye him for a long moment and he rolls his eyes at me before climbing onto the bike and patting the seat behind him. I eventually give in and clamber onto the bike. Oh how I've always wanted to do this!
"Mikan," Natsume says over his shoulder.
"Hm?" I reply absentmindedly.
"You have to wrap your hands around me." He says, and I see the corner of his mouth tipping upwards.
I laugh. "Ah, so that's what you're getting out of this," I nod in understanding.
"For a second there I thought you were doing this out of the goodness of your heart." I fake a sad sniffle and grin proudly when I feel Natsume shake with laughter.
"Shut up," he replies, but he was smiling, "And if anything, you're the one who's benefitting. You get to feel my abs."
"Your abs get to feel my hands," I argue, and Natsume chuckles.
"Just do it."
"Fine," I give in, wrapping my hands around his torso and trying to ignore the feeling of his rock hard abs under my hands. This situation is awkward enough as it is.
The motorcycle roars to life, shaking beneath me violently. The vehicle jolts forward with one last, loud roar and we were off
"So what was that folder in your hand?" he shouts over the roaring ride.
"English stuff. I told you yesterday."
"Don't lie to me Mikan. I am in your English class and we and no essay writing or report assigned to us yet." He says, and had a point.
"None of your business Natsume, and keep your eyes on the road."
"What are you hiding Mikan?" he asks or likely demands. I am hiding many things from many people. I know that they need to know but I can't help it. I can't let anyone know anything. All the sorrow years of my life that continue to this day. Is just heartbreaking. Hardly anyone has a care in the world for me.
"A lot of things."
