"And we have to practice here?" Asuka asked Misato dryly. They were climbing up the stairs going to Rei's apartment. Shinji was behind them carrying his Cello.
"I don't mind practicing here but isn't there a loud construction going on beside this building?" Shinji asked
"I know that but this is where the commander told me to let you practice" Misato explained sweat dropping.
"I don't hear any construction," Asuka pointed out flatly.
"Hey yeah… I guess they're done" Misato shrugged
"Here's Ayanami's floor" Shinji told them
"Well, you guys will be fine right?" Misato grinned at them "Now get this show on the road and I'll be back by four OK?"
"Yes Misato" Asuka and Shinji sighed and continued to walk to Rei's apartment.
"Remember guys don't start another fight and Ja ne!"
"Hi Rei" Shinji greeted when Rei opened the door and let them in. He gave her a warm smile. Rei tried to do the same.
"Hn" Asuka grunted and followed.
"Wow, this place was a lot cleaner that it was last time I was here" Shinji mused to himself. The floor was neatly swept and the garbage bags were gone. Rei's underwear drawer was now closed and there were no clothes left for drying in the room. There were no used bandages scattered around anymore.
"Che, its too empty and boring" Asuka grumbled to herself and slumped on Rei's bed and crossed her long slender legs "Hey first! Do you have any juice?"
"Juice?" she repeated then shook her head
"What do you drink then? Or what do you serve your guests?"
"Guests? I don't have any guests" she replied, " I drink water"
"Don't worry Asuka, I brought some soft drinks for us" Shinji chuckled, "do you mind if I place them in the refrigerator?" he asked Rei
"No"
"Oh well, I'll cool these first" he headed for the kitchen
"Hey first, this place is boring" Asuka told Rei trying to make a conversation
"…."
"What do you do for fun?" she asked then lay on the bed
"Fun?" Rei inquired
"Yeah, like do you watch TV or read a book?"
"I talk with Commander Ikari"
"Eh??" Asuka bolted up and stared at her in surprise "That big block of ice cube talks with you? Now I've seen everything."
"You have?" Rei asked, now she was staring at her with a little hint of surprise in her face.
"It's just an expression," Asuka explained chuckling "Speaking of ice, hey Shinji are you done there?"
"Yeah, just a second" Shinji replied back at her. "I have to arrange the cooler so everything would fit"
"So what do you talk about with big 'ol Commander?" Asuka pretended to ask.
"About Shinji…" Rei replied
"WHHHHATTTTT?!?!?!" Asuka's eyes were as wide as saucers. She sat up and gawked at Rei like she turned into Lilith. Rei stared at her in return.
"Are you pulling my leg?"
"No"
"Are you… what kind of Shinji stuff do you talk about?"
"We talk about his grades in school and how he performs as an Eva pilot"
Asuka blinked cluelessly.
"Bet you like Shinji, you little doll!" Asuka sneered in a challenging voice.
"I am not a doll" Rei replied, her cheeks turning pink. She was obviously embarrassed.
"Bet you do! Bet you do!"
"Do you want me to?" Rei asked
"Of course not!!! Why the hell would I do that?" Asuka replied outraged.
Rei remained unflappable. "You like him."
"What?! That scrawny little worm?!? Why in the whole world would I do that?!"
"You do like him"
"Like who?" Shinji asked walking in.
"Uh, nobody!" Asuka tried to cover up what they were talking about. "Just play along…"
Asuka hissed at Rei.
"You do like him" Rei said low enough for Shinji not to hear.
"Anyway, we should start practicing already" Asuka told them dutifully, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, Rei what instrument are you playing?" Shinji asked
"Violin" Rei replied deadpan
"Oh goody, I play the violin too, how quaint" Asuka rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Asuka, lay off her just today OK?" Shinji told her "I'm tired of this 'picking on someone' thing."
"What?!" Asuka was about to explode when Rei said, "She likes you."
"Uhhh… Rei and I have something to talk about…" Asuka dragged Rei into the bathroom.
"What the hell was that for?!" Asuka hissed at Rei when they got in.
"Nothing" Rei told her emphatically
"If you don't shut up, I'll slit your throat!!!" she threatened challenging the other girl.
Rei glowered at Asuka in the same manner.
They stood silently there for a few seconds until Asuka threw her hands in the air out of hatred.
"Okay, Okay, just hush, hush about it, got it?"
Rei nodded and went out of the bathroom.
Asuka sighed in relief and glanced at the mirror. She saw her cheeks flush crimson.
"Rei, do you think you know how to play this song?" Shinji asked as soon as he saw her got out.
Rei went closer and took the pieces of paper Shinji was handing her. She scanned them briefly and said her affirmation. She got her violin from her closet and sat across Shinji who was on the bed.
Both were starting to play the song when Asuka left the bathroom. "Heeeeyyy!!! You were supposed to start it with me!!!" Asuka snapped at Shinji.
"I'm just trying to find out if Rei can play," He explained the-matter-of-factly.
Asuka just grunted and sat beside him.
When they finished playing Shinji began to ask Asuka. "What took you so long in the bathroom?"
Asuka began to snap "It's none of your…"
"…Business" Rei finished for her.
Shinji glanced to Rei and Asuka astonished.
"It's not proper to ask that question" Rei admonished, or at least she was trying to.
"Gomen nasai"
"You better be!" Asuka replied snottily. "And quit stalling!!!! I have to practice my singing too you know"
"Hai," Shinji rolled his eyes behind her back.