Chapter Twenty-one: A Challenge
"I'm sorry," Merle apologized, "I didn't know it was you."
Folken stood up from his chair, gently laid his guitar onto the floor and with one swift moved, jumped down from the stage. Merle studied his profile closely as he slowly walked towards her. He was wearing loose jeans, a white t-shirt and an unbuttoned dark blue shirt over it. His hair was a little messy and uncombed. It gave him a lazy, yet extremely sexy look. It made her wonder why she never paid so much attention to his looks; maybe it was the fact that they were always arguing.
"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult." He said approaching her.
"It was a compliment," she reassured him quickly.
"Okay."
She nervously added, "You sound good,"
"Thanks."
"I didn't know you played guitar, not-that-I-ever-doubted-that-you- couldn't." 'Why am I so nervous?' Merle asked herself, 'It was just Folken.' But something about him was different today. Of course, he looked gorgeous but it was something else too. He didn't have a cold look in his eyes. He looked calmed and relaxed (did I forget to mention gorgeous?).
"I get gigs sometimes," he said.
His voice sapped Merle out of her thoughts, "What?"
"I perform," he said again, "sometimes, at the coffee shop across the street."
"Cool."
"Yeah."
She searched for something to say, the silence between them was really bothering her, "did you write the song yourself?"
"Yeah, it helps me clear my mind."
"Cool," she said again, "you sound good."
Folken let out a small laugh, "you said that already."
"Oh," Merle blushed, "Sorry." 'Stupid, stupid, stupid,' she mentally hit herself on the head, 'just leave it up to Merle to make a big fool out of herself.'
"No prob." He answered casually. "So…"
"So…" she repeated. "I better get back to gym," she gave him an uneasy smile.
"'Kay, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah," Merle gave him one last smile and turned around to leave. 'Keep your head up high, don't look back, don't fall or do anything stupid.' She said to herself. After reaching the door, she turned around to see if he was still watching her. Fortunately, he already turned around and got back to his music. Merle let out a sigh of relief, "God, I'm such a loser."
***
"Wow, I don't know what to say," Hitomi said completely amazed, "what about Meredith?"
"You and I both know that she isn't really fit for the part, not only because her French level is rather low. Her heart just is not into the play and we cannot let her dragged everyone else down." Mr. Lafortain gave Hitomi a sad smile, "I know this is a lot to ask, but you have been helping her with all her lines and I do believe you know you them by heart as well."
Hitomi gradually nodded and waited for him to continue, "I know that you are struggling in your current situation, and I want you to know I would never ask such a thing unless it was absolutely necessary."
Hitomi thought for a while and replied, "I think it's obvious that Roxane isn't a part I would like to do at this time…but the most I can say is that I'd have to think about it…How 'bout I let you know tomorrow night at practice?"
"That would be wonderful. Thank you so much."
***
*Ring…*
The last bell for the day ran and the student immediately got up to leave. Hitomi packed up her books and wrote down her French homework on a piece of paper. She lifted her head just in time to see Van leave. Their eyes met for a split second but turned away quickly. They haven't had a conversation since a week. In a way, Hitomi was glad that Van knew she needed some space. She told herself that she didn't want to be involved in any kind of relationship so soon but every time their eyes met (which happened quiet a few times) she caught herself wishing that there were something between them. She also wondered if he still felt the same way about her. She didn't forget the scene at the parking lot where he made it clear that he wasn't going to wait for her any longer. But he did stand up for her when she caught Allen. Of course, she told him that she didn't want him to always be trying to protect her. But she didn't say that she wanted him to stop caring for her. Her conscious was told her that she was being selfish, her mind told her she shouldn't be thinking of him and her heart…god knows what her heart was feeling. Hitomi shook her head clear, thinking about Van always made her confused (and she confused a little to often. A/N: wink-wink, cough-cough, hint-hint.)
Hitomi looked up at the clock. '2:43, just enough time to get to track.' As she gathered up her books to leave, she noticed that she wasn't the only person left in the room. Feeling very annoyed, she tried to walk pass Allen without making eye contact.
"I know you saw me," He called out just before she walked out the door.
Hitomi left out a long sigh and turned around, "Allen please, why can't you leave me alone?"
"Because you haven't given me a chance to explain."
"Explain what?" she exclaimed, "Explain why you cheated on me? I'm sorry but I'm not really in the mood for hearing your reason." She looked at him straight in the eye to show him that she was serious, "We're over, get that through your head."
"If we are really over, than why are you afraid to accept the part of Roxane?" Allen questioned.
"I'm not afraid!" she said not believing what she just heard, "wait…how did you hear about that?"
"I have my ways."
"So do you like, have people follow my every move?" she asked.
"Maybe."
"This is unbelievable! Stay out of my life." Hitomi was so mad; she felt like throwing her books at him.
Allen moved towards her and took her hand before she could pull away. "That's just it, I can't. I can't stay out of your life. I can't sleep, I can't think, I can't eat. You're all I think about Hitomi." He reached out and slowly turned her face towards him. "I can't stand not being with you…I love you." He leaned forward to kiss her but Hitomi struggled out of his embrace.
"No you don't, if you did, you wouldn't have cheated on me." She said defensively.
"I wasn't thinking. I didn't know what I had until I lost it." Allen actually looked really sincere as he said that. "Please Hitomi, give me another chance."
"I'm sorry, you already had you chance. Plus I'm sure there are many girls who would love to date you. They are much more popular and prettier than me, it shouldn't be a-"
"If you really are over me, then why is it that you won't accept the role of Roxane?" Allen asked her again.
'Because of Van…' she thought but said out loud, "it's none of your business."
"I still don't believe you. Look, if you can handle going through all the practices and shows with me, then I'll believe that you really are completely over me." He challenged.
Hitomi thought for a while, then asked, "And then you'll stop bugging me and sending me gifts?"
"Promise."
'Is it worth it? I'd finally get him off my back and maybe, just maybe I can get things straighten out between me and Van…'
"Fine, I'll do it," she agreed.
***
"I don't get this!" Merle cried out frustrated. She has been sitting in front of her math book for hours and only managed to solve one problem. 'This is useless,' she thought, 'when am I ever going to use algebra in my life anyways?' She shut her book close and laid back into her chair. Downstairs, she could hear the sound of her mom doing the dishes, mixed up with the noises coming form the T.V. Outside, the kids were playing jump rope and screaming on the top of their lungs. That was probably why Merle couldn't concentrate. It might also have to do with a certain somebody who kept on popping into her mind.
"I have to get out of here," she decided. But where to go? She could go to a friend's house but they were probably busy. It was only 7:30, she could probably take a walk to the park and get back before 9. There, she can get some quiet time to think. Making up her mind, Merle reached over for her jacket that was on the ground and walked out of her room. She made her way down a narrow hallway, passing the bathroom and her parent's master bedroom. Reaching the first floor, she made a quick detour to tell her mom where she was headed.
Once reaching the park, the first thing Merle saw was a couple making out under a tree. 'Great,' she thought, 'just what I needed.' Slowly, she began to wonder what it might be like if she was here with someone too. It'd be nice to have a guy kiss her and hold her the same way most couples did. But the she wanted some more than just an ordinary boyfriend. Merle wanted someone who liked her for who she was. Someone who can understand her, someone who would look at her the same way Van looked at Hitomi. And she knew exactly who she wanted that person to be.
It wasn't that Merle was unattractive. Guys told her that she was hot all the time, but it didn't make a difference. Realizing that she has been staring at the couple for a while, Merle quickly walked away, hoping that they did not notice her.
"I wonder what Folken is doing right now," she said to herself. Ever since this afternoon, she hasn't been able to stop thinking about him. In her mind, Merle played the conversation they had over and over again until something caught her attention. '"I perform, sometimes, at the coffee shop across the street."' A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she suddenly got an idea.
***Ick…sorry for the poor grammar and writing. I just had state testing all week and it killed the few brain cells I had. _ So what is Merle thinking? What will she do? Find out in the next chapter. What do you guys think about Allen? Do you think he really is sorry about what he did to Hitomi or does he have another reason for wanting her back so badly? Review and tell me what you think. Until then! Laterz! Bishouji88***
"I'm sorry," Merle apologized, "I didn't know it was you."
Folken stood up from his chair, gently laid his guitar onto the floor and with one swift moved, jumped down from the stage. Merle studied his profile closely as he slowly walked towards her. He was wearing loose jeans, a white t-shirt and an unbuttoned dark blue shirt over it. His hair was a little messy and uncombed. It gave him a lazy, yet extremely sexy look. It made her wonder why she never paid so much attention to his looks; maybe it was the fact that they were always arguing.
"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult." He said approaching her.
"It was a compliment," she reassured him quickly.
"Okay."
She nervously added, "You sound good,"
"Thanks."
"I didn't know you played guitar, not-that-I-ever-doubted-that-you- couldn't." 'Why am I so nervous?' Merle asked herself, 'It was just Folken.' But something about him was different today. Of course, he looked gorgeous but it was something else too. He didn't have a cold look in his eyes. He looked calmed and relaxed (did I forget to mention gorgeous?).
"I get gigs sometimes," he said.
His voice sapped Merle out of her thoughts, "What?"
"I perform," he said again, "sometimes, at the coffee shop across the street."
"Cool."
"Yeah."
She searched for something to say, the silence between them was really bothering her, "did you write the song yourself?"
"Yeah, it helps me clear my mind."
"Cool," she said again, "you sound good."
Folken let out a small laugh, "you said that already."
"Oh," Merle blushed, "Sorry." 'Stupid, stupid, stupid,' she mentally hit herself on the head, 'just leave it up to Merle to make a big fool out of herself.'
"No prob." He answered casually. "So…"
"So…" she repeated. "I better get back to gym," she gave him an uneasy smile.
"'Kay, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah," Merle gave him one last smile and turned around to leave. 'Keep your head up high, don't look back, don't fall or do anything stupid.' She said to herself. After reaching the door, she turned around to see if he was still watching her. Fortunately, he already turned around and got back to his music. Merle let out a sigh of relief, "God, I'm such a loser."
***
"Wow, I don't know what to say," Hitomi said completely amazed, "what about Meredith?"
"You and I both know that she isn't really fit for the part, not only because her French level is rather low. Her heart just is not into the play and we cannot let her dragged everyone else down." Mr. Lafortain gave Hitomi a sad smile, "I know this is a lot to ask, but you have been helping her with all her lines and I do believe you know you them by heart as well."
Hitomi gradually nodded and waited for him to continue, "I know that you are struggling in your current situation, and I want you to know I would never ask such a thing unless it was absolutely necessary."
Hitomi thought for a while and replied, "I think it's obvious that Roxane isn't a part I would like to do at this time…but the most I can say is that I'd have to think about it…How 'bout I let you know tomorrow night at practice?"
"That would be wonderful. Thank you so much."
***
*Ring…*
The last bell for the day ran and the student immediately got up to leave. Hitomi packed up her books and wrote down her French homework on a piece of paper. She lifted her head just in time to see Van leave. Their eyes met for a split second but turned away quickly. They haven't had a conversation since a week. In a way, Hitomi was glad that Van knew she needed some space. She told herself that she didn't want to be involved in any kind of relationship so soon but every time their eyes met (which happened quiet a few times) she caught herself wishing that there were something between them. She also wondered if he still felt the same way about her. She didn't forget the scene at the parking lot where he made it clear that he wasn't going to wait for her any longer. But he did stand up for her when she caught Allen. Of course, she told him that she didn't want him to always be trying to protect her. But she didn't say that she wanted him to stop caring for her. Her conscious was told her that she was being selfish, her mind told her she shouldn't be thinking of him and her heart…god knows what her heart was feeling. Hitomi shook her head clear, thinking about Van always made her confused (and she confused a little to often. A/N: wink-wink, cough-cough, hint-hint.)
Hitomi looked up at the clock. '2:43, just enough time to get to track.' As she gathered up her books to leave, she noticed that she wasn't the only person left in the room. Feeling very annoyed, she tried to walk pass Allen without making eye contact.
"I know you saw me," He called out just before she walked out the door.
Hitomi left out a long sigh and turned around, "Allen please, why can't you leave me alone?"
"Because you haven't given me a chance to explain."
"Explain what?" she exclaimed, "Explain why you cheated on me? I'm sorry but I'm not really in the mood for hearing your reason." She looked at him straight in the eye to show him that she was serious, "We're over, get that through your head."
"If we are really over, than why are you afraid to accept the part of Roxane?" Allen questioned.
"I'm not afraid!" she said not believing what she just heard, "wait…how did you hear about that?"
"I have my ways."
"So do you like, have people follow my every move?" she asked.
"Maybe."
"This is unbelievable! Stay out of my life." Hitomi was so mad; she felt like throwing her books at him.
Allen moved towards her and took her hand before she could pull away. "That's just it, I can't. I can't stay out of your life. I can't sleep, I can't think, I can't eat. You're all I think about Hitomi." He reached out and slowly turned her face towards him. "I can't stand not being with you…I love you." He leaned forward to kiss her but Hitomi struggled out of his embrace.
"No you don't, if you did, you wouldn't have cheated on me." She said defensively.
"I wasn't thinking. I didn't know what I had until I lost it." Allen actually looked really sincere as he said that. "Please Hitomi, give me another chance."
"I'm sorry, you already had you chance. Plus I'm sure there are many girls who would love to date you. They are much more popular and prettier than me, it shouldn't be a-"
"If you really are over me, then why is it that you won't accept the role of Roxane?" Allen asked her again.
'Because of Van…' she thought but said out loud, "it's none of your business."
"I still don't believe you. Look, if you can handle going through all the practices and shows with me, then I'll believe that you really are completely over me." He challenged.
Hitomi thought for a while, then asked, "And then you'll stop bugging me and sending me gifts?"
"Promise."
'Is it worth it? I'd finally get him off my back and maybe, just maybe I can get things straighten out between me and Van…'
"Fine, I'll do it," she agreed.
***
"I don't get this!" Merle cried out frustrated. She has been sitting in front of her math book for hours and only managed to solve one problem. 'This is useless,' she thought, 'when am I ever going to use algebra in my life anyways?' She shut her book close and laid back into her chair. Downstairs, she could hear the sound of her mom doing the dishes, mixed up with the noises coming form the T.V. Outside, the kids were playing jump rope and screaming on the top of their lungs. That was probably why Merle couldn't concentrate. It might also have to do with a certain somebody who kept on popping into her mind.
"I have to get out of here," she decided. But where to go? She could go to a friend's house but they were probably busy. It was only 7:30, she could probably take a walk to the park and get back before 9. There, she can get some quiet time to think. Making up her mind, Merle reached over for her jacket that was on the ground and walked out of her room. She made her way down a narrow hallway, passing the bathroom and her parent's master bedroom. Reaching the first floor, she made a quick detour to tell her mom where she was headed.
Once reaching the park, the first thing Merle saw was a couple making out under a tree. 'Great,' she thought, 'just what I needed.' Slowly, she began to wonder what it might be like if she was here with someone too. It'd be nice to have a guy kiss her and hold her the same way most couples did. But the she wanted some more than just an ordinary boyfriend. Merle wanted someone who liked her for who she was. Someone who can understand her, someone who would look at her the same way Van looked at Hitomi. And she knew exactly who she wanted that person to be.
It wasn't that Merle was unattractive. Guys told her that she was hot all the time, but it didn't make a difference. Realizing that she has been staring at the couple for a while, Merle quickly walked away, hoping that they did not notice her.
"I wonder what Folken is doing right now," she said to herself. Ever since this afternoon, she hasn't been able to stop thinking about him. In her mind, Merle played the conversation they had over and over again until something caught her attention. '"I perform, sometimes, at the coffee shop across the street."' A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she suddenly got an idea.
***Ick…sorry for the poor grammar and writing. I just had state testing all week and it killed the few brain cells I had. _ So what is Merle thinking? What will she do? Find out in the next chapter. What do you guys think about Allen? Do you think he really is sorry about what he did to Hitomi or does he have another reason for wanting her back so badly? Review and tell me what you think. Until then! Laterz! Bishouji88***