Chapter Twenty-Six: Finally!
"Okay, that's it for today. Great job everyone. Remember dress rehearsal's in one week so memorize your lines!" Steve said through his microphone.
Hitomi sighed in relief and jumped of stage. She took a seat by the first row of chairs. Whipping her forehead with the back of her hand, she leaned back and took a deep breath. Who would have thought two hours of play practice would wear her out so quickly. Not only did her eyes hurt fro standing under intense lighting for too long, she was also mentally tired. So many lines, such difficult pronunciations. When did French become so complicated? She couldn't understand half of what she said.
"If it isn't Miss Perfect," a mocking voice disturbed Hitomi's resting. "Awww. Is acting a little too much for you to handle?"
Hitomi opened her eyes and glared at the red head. "Well it obviously was for you."
"I was doing just find before you came along and stole my part!" Meredith snapped.
"I didn't steal it, you lost it." She stood up to look her in the eye, "instead of doing your job, you were busy making out in the closet."
"Oh…"Meredith smirked, "so that's what it's all about. You're pissed that Allen chose a real woman over a tomboy." She waved her hand up and down at Hitomi. "Well you can't really blame him. The best guy deserves nothing but the best girl."
Hitomi looked over her shoulder to see Van talking to some stage crew and said, "you're absolutely right." She enjoyed the look of shock that appeared on her opponents face before saying, "I guess you shouldn't be keeping Allen waiting the. Sorry I'd lover to stay but I have a date that I must be getting to." She pushed past Meredith, walking straight towards the stage.
"Wait! I'm not done with you!" the enrage girl yelled after her, "Come back here!"
***
"Hitomi wait!" Allen ran up, holding a piece of paper in his hand. "I have something for you!"
"Not now Allen, I don't have time." She answered not even looking back.
"Wait," he grabbed her wrist forcing her to face him. "I didn't buy it this time. I made it myself."
"I said not now," she jerked her hand from his hold.
"But-"
"Allen!" a high pitched perky voice squalled in delight. Meredith ran up the stage and grabbed his arm, hugging it tightly. "Oh Allen…where have you been these passed few weeks, I've been so lonely without you."
Hitomi rolled her eyes and trying not to burst out laughing. That was just about the corniest live she's ever heard coming out of a human being's mouth. "Great, now that you've found him, why don't you two run to the nearest closest or dark corner and go make up for lost time."
Allen's face went from surprised to angry as her pushed Meredith away from him, "stay away from me, I don't want anything to do with you."
"You asshole!" Meredith raised her arm and slapped him across the face. "No wonder why you never had a steady girlfriend. One just isn't enough for you is it?" she stared at him in disgust. "Fine, be that way. Let's just see how many girls would want you now." she tossed her hair with a satisfied grunt and walked away. On her ways out, she grabbed the arm of Steve who was just standing in a corner dumb folded. " Come one Stevey-boy, I'll treat you to an ice cream."
Hitomi stared at them leave in amusement. Never in her widest dreams would she ever have imagined that one day, Meredith would ask Steve Earl out. Shaking her head slightly, she started to once more walk away from Allen, but her wasn't going to let her off the hook that easy. "Hitomi please," he dropped to his knees and begged, "My feelings for you are truly real. I…I love you! If you would only listen to my poem. I…" he began to unfold the paper but she stopped him.
"You know Allen it's a pity. If only you felt that way about me before I found out the kind of loser you are. Maybe I would have accepted all this," she gave him a sad smile. "I guess what they say is true. You never know what you have until it's gone."
"But what about, if you really love something, let it go. If it comes back to you…" Allen objected, nervously running out of ideas.
"Don't sweat it," she cut him off again, "this on isn't coming back."
***
"Do you think I was a little hard on him back there?" Hitomi sat across from Van and played with her coffee cup.
"No," he said straight out, "I think you did just fine."
"Thanks for not coming to my rescue again. I had fun blowing him off." She laughed at herself.
"Some on had to show him but just don't get used to the idea. I like my Hitomi sweet." He gave her an easy going smile buy quickly blushed as he realized what he said.
She blushed as well but secretly jumped with joy, 'Hehe, his Hitomi. I like that sound of that…maybe he hasn't given up hope yet.' "So um…what do you have planned for this summer?" she asked, "after school's over." (A/N: Van transferred near the end of the school year.)
"Summer?" Van's voice became uneasy.
"Yes summer. You know the season that comes after spring and before autumn. Usually is around July and August."
"Oh…I'm-I…um, I don't think I have anything-I don't know," he turned to look out the window. "So what do you think about the play so far? Do you need help with your lines or anything?"
"Um, it's fine." Hitomi was puzzled at why Van refused to talk about his summer plans. "Just a few more lines and I'll have the whole thing memorized."
"That's good to hear."
For the rest of the night, van seemed a little distant. It was mostly Hitomi who talked and he just nodded and comment things once in a while. During the drive home, he was completely silent, making her afraid to talk. When they arrived at her driveway, Hitomi sat in silence and didn't make any effort to leave. "Look, I'm sorry if I said any that bothered you tonight." She finally spoke.
"You didn't do anything," he reassured her, look straight ahead.
"Then why did you hardly talk?" she waited for an answer but it never came, "Is there something bothering you? Do you want to talk about it?"
At first it seemed that Van was going to give in but instead he just smiled at her and insisted that he was fine. Disappointed, Hitomi pushed opened the door. Before she managed to get a foot out, Van leaned over and pulled the door shut. "Wait," he said with his hand still on the handle. Hitomi wanted open the door again but her mind was too preoccupied to respond. Half of it was still recovering from the shock while the other half was concentrating on the feeling of Van's body so close to hers. His abs pressed onto her legs; she could feel his hard muscles through his shirt. His face looked so good from the angle he was observing her. In his eye, his gorgeous sea blue eyes, she could see the same need that burned in hers. Slowly, she leaned over until their noses were barely touching. Their faces were so close she could feel his warm breath tingling on her skin. She watched his eyes dace with excitement as she waited for him to make the last move.
When their lips finally met, she felt 10 thousand fire works burst inside of her. His lips felt so soft against hers. She could feel his reluctance and his desire. He took time to savor each moment and to let her respond or pull away. It wasn't the kind of kiss she got with Allen. With him, it was hard and demanding, but Van didn't push her. His kiss was soft and shy. Although it only lasted seconds and their lips did nothing but simply touch, to Hitomi, it was the best kiss any person could have ever given her.
"God, I'm sorry, "Van murmured, as he pulled back, "I should have done…"
"Don't," she put a finger on his lips to silence him, "Don't be sorry," she whispered before their lips met once more.
***
Folken took a sip of his coffee and rested his elbows onto his legs. He had been sitting there in the park for over an hour doing nothing but sub-consciously playing with a piece of dried grass in his hands. He knew that he couldn't possibly run into Merle here because of the things he had said to her last night. For that, he was glad. He didn't want her disturbing his peace again. But thn why was he turning around to look at the bushes whenever he heard a noise? Why was he hoping that she would somehow walk thought them again? If she did come, all she'll do is argue with him she always found a way to argue about something. It's just like his grandfather used to say, 'It's better go be alone than in ill company.' Someone who yelled constantly would be nothing but ill company.
But then again, he had to admit; fighting with her was sort of amusing. She's the only person that dared to talk to him that way. She wasn't nice to him because she felt sorry for him; hell, she wasn't nice at all. Her eyes weren't filled with pity every time they fell onto him. She spoke to him like he was an ordinary human being, not he poor boy who lost his girlfriend in a hit-and-run. Maybe what Merle said was right. Maybe it was time for him to start a new life. It didn't necessarily mean he'd move on from Sora but he might be able to enjoy the things he used to like. No, he didn't want to forget about Sora but he didn't want people treating him like a outcast anymore.
'If you keep on holding everything in and pushing away everyone that tries to help, sooner of later you'll go crazy or something.' Merle's voice echoed through his mind.
Folken closed his eyes as his insides battled each other. If he moved on with his life, it would mean leaving Sora behind rather he liked it or not. How could he do that after all she's done for him? He couldn't just abandon her. Every time, just as he was about to give in, his guilt would away pull him back. He shook his head clear of those thoughts and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out his cell phone. Tonight, he was going to let everything out. He was just hoping that she was still willing to help.
As he turned on his cell, he realized that he didn't know Merle's number. He slapped himself on the head and thought, 'I can't use the phone book neither because I don't know her last name.' He sighed in frustration. There had to be some other kid of way. His head cleared suddenly, just as fast as dark clouds disappear after the bad guy is defeated in Disney movies. He had an idea that just might work. He punched in 7 digits while hoping this wasn't going to create such a fuss and waited for the other side to pick up.
"Hey Countryman, it's Lacour," Folken said after the other side picjked up. "Yeah I know its been a while…I'm fine…No, I don't think I'll be coming back onto the team…yeah…I know…hey-…No, I don't want to talk to Linda…it's great you guys hooked up again…hey I was wondering-…Hi Linda…It's nice to finally talk to you too…okay…No, I haven't heard about Eric…I don't-can you just give the phone back to Countryman…yeah, okay love you too…hey, look-…yes she's quite something…no, I don't regret dumping her…Brendon! Look I'm sorry but I don't have much time to chat. I just called to ask, can you still hack into the school's computer…that's great, I need you to look up someone for me…I know you're busy but it's important ("Or I wouldn't have called you," he silently added.)…great!…I don't know her last name…yes it's a her…no…no…no…look her name's Merle!…yeah…yes the paper lady…no…no…just look up her address and number and call me back…yeah okay…later." Folken shut his phone and sighed. 'Maybe I should rethink the whole moving on thing.' He thought to himself.
***
Merle typed in the last words for next week's events column. She stretched and yawned in contentment. "All I'll have to do is get Yukari to proof read it and I'm done." She smiled to herself. Her smile quickly faded as she looked at her calendar, "two more weeks until the end of year formal. Guess I'll be going along this year." She sighed as she thought of all her friends and their dates. She pictured herself standing all along in the middle of the dance floor and groaned.
"Urgh, screw that," she decided, getting up from her chair, "it's nothing unexpected. No use getting depressed." She reassured herself. "I know! A bowl of ice cream should cheer me up!" she skipped down the hall and descended the stairs merrily. If her parents saw her, they would have thought she had gone crazy.
Merle pulled opened the freezer door and shivered as a gust of cold air pushed passed her. She pushed a few boxes of frozen pizza aside and searched for the brand now box of cookies and cream ice cream. Before finding it, her search was interrupted by the doorbell.
"Who could it be at this hour?" she wondered, shutting the freezer door and making her way to the front door. "I got it!" she turned her head back to yelled as she opened the door. Turning her head back to the door, her eyes widen as she saw her visitor. Not knowing what to do, she panicked and shut the door close.
"Holly shit! What is he doing here?" she asked herself, leaning against the door. "Maybe I'm dreaming," she thought out loud. So she slowly opened the door and peeked outside only to see the amused look on Folken's face. She slammed the door closed again and said to herself, "Nope, he's here alright." She took a deep breath and opened the door. She waited for him to say something but he just stood there, staring at her.
"Well…what are you waiting for?" she asked.
"For you to shut the door again," he gave her a half smile.
'Wow,' she thought, 'that's the first time I've seen him smile. He looks better than I thought.' "Well I'm not. So go ahead and say what you came to say."
"I want to talk to you."
"I thought you said that you never wanted to see me again."
"And I thought you said that I'm a hideous bastard and that you hate me?"
"You are and I do."
"Then why are you still standing here smiling at me?" Folken smirked at the realization that he's won.
"Fine talk then," Merle wiped the smile of her face and blushed, "but I don't have much time so make it fast."
"I'll just say one thing and I'll leave you alone," he began. "Do you remember when you said to me that if I kept on holding everything in, sooner of later I'll go crazy?"
"Yeah so?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I don't want to go crazy."
***Hey, that was the next chapter like I promised. I think I'll be able to get back to my normal updating dates (once every 2 weeks), but no promises there. I hope this chapter was good. Everyone's been waiting for Allen to suffer, Hitomi and Van to get together, and something good to happen to Merle and Folken. Well, that's why this chapter is called 'Finally!'. Well for those who are reading, please please review. I'm really not sure if this was good enough. But the story's finished yet! Expect two or three more chapters.~Bishouji88***