After only three total weeks of going to Han-a-High, it was safe to say...she HATED Japanese! Well...more to the precise point, she hated English class. First it was essays and now book reports!
Not only that, but she had to use the Dewey decimal system in total Japanese. God...if Kevin weren't around...she'd end up uselessly standing against the wall and wanting to blend in with it. The only thing she understood was the book she was supposed to find and read about.
She stopped only to roll her eyes at the teacher's methods of working with her. Did that lady actually think she could speak fluent Japanese and just chose not to TALK?? There was very little she knew, mostly from what Kevin taught her. 'Thank you; I'm sorry; pardon me; hello, my name is...'; a few other polite sayings; 'I don't speak your language', from Kevin; 'yes and no'...and that was about it. Her usage was HIGHLY limited. And she found no reason to change it. That's what she had Kevin for, and it wasn't like they were going to live here...
With Kevin hunting a few shelves over on the system, she finally found the assigned book and wrote down everything, maybe more than what was necessary. All she needed to know were the fiction and non-fiction words from him and away she'd go. She WOULD do SOME of this stupid report! The stubborn side reared up as she waited for him to finish. After whispering what she needed, he pointed out each section and she nodded. After a quick check that her book bag was still on the table she dropped it on earlier, she headed into the non-fiction, swallowed up by rows.
Her eyes kept going up and down...down to look at the last name of the author on her paper, and up to see if she was even in the right area. This was more frustrating than she thought. It didn't help that she felt like a complete moron for not knowing ANYTHING, but not bothering to try and learn the language...
Her jaw clenched as she nearly stomped away from the wall, having hit another dead-end in this entire row, and went another down. It was a possibility she could search the entire library and still not find the book in attendance! Eyes on the list again, almost wondering if she was EVER going to find the stupid writer, she nearly bumped into the sideways position of someone's arm. She stopped with a gasp, a hand on her chest to calm the sudden heart race. Lord almighty...this was just not her MONTH! First the blonde of the group those weeks ago, which thankfully was never brought up by any of his friends, and now the one that criticized her!
She quickly stepped back to avoid him, since his head was nearly covered in a book. He didn't seem to notice. If only she didn't need to check this aisle out, she'd leave. She didn't need anymore of this lanky, blue-haired boy's condemning her while not even KNOWING her.
"Need to get by?" He quietly and evenly asked. She startled and looked into his eyes. His face stayed in that book, an eye directed her way before it moved back. He made no immediate move to let her by.
A part of her seethed. He was doing it on PURPOSE, blast him! Hands clenched and the paper crinkled, reminding her of her mission. If she didn't get to that book, which just might be in this aisle, then she'd have to come back at lunch...which she didn't want to do. Why did this upstart think he was going to intimidate her - which he was doing to a tiny degree. His height was not making it easy to stare him down. But she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of letting him know she was unsure of herself around him. She wasn't going to let him know she was mildly cowering down by his cool attitude.
Silently, she twisted to the side and went around.
Rowen's jaw clenched as she passed, and the hand holding the book tightened. Why that little... Blue narrowed. She was doing it AGAIN. He only asked if she wanted to get by, while knowing not to be too friendly, and she ignored him AGAIN! All she had to do was say a simple YES and he'd move.
He was one of the group - aside from Sage probably - who mostly didn't care for her and thought it would be better if the school was rid of her. The five were known to be friendly due to their kanji and armors from the war a few years back, and the fact that friends were always something special. They respected everyone they came into contact with on some level...unless that person did something to annoy them.
Not thinking, but more than tired of being purposely avoided five days out of the week, a hand shot out and gripped her forearm. This had to stop, one way or the other. They either came to an agreement to keep away from each other, or she told him just what her problem was! His eyes narrowed even further when they met startled ones. "What's your PROBLEM?!" He hissed in English, taking a step forward.
In response, she took a small step back, a little shiver of fear touching her spine at his anger. It was hard to be defiant when this was the first time anyone had ever approached her with that question. She didn't know how to react, and it was hard to keep a cool head. His hand was tightened, and with him glaring at her, she felt like running away. There was something about those eyes of his...intense like the others, and angry.
"I'm sick and tired of you walking around like no one's GOOD enough for you!" He continued when she didn't say anything, more tired than he'd ever let on. It was hard to be around people who didn't care about you. That was the story of his life and it brought back some sad images when she kept ignoring them. It reminded him of his parents and how they ignored him when he was a child in their own careers.
She thickly swallowed at how close he suddenly got, emotionally and physically. No one had ever dared to touch her like this, to speak to her in such a manner. Everyone simply ignored her...why wasn't this one doing the same?? Why couldn't he just let it go? But he wanted an answer...and she wasn't going to give him one! She'd be damned if SHE said anything!
Brown evened as her chin fought to stay up high. "That's none of your BUSINESS." She whispered, hoping her voice didn't shake.
"Don't give me that crap!" He harshly let go of her wrist, as if throwing it back to her, and closed his book with a low whoomp. It lay forgotten in his hand as arms self-righteously crossed, blocking her only exit to the rest of the library. The only thing behind her was the wall. "You've been studiously ignoring us since you GOT here. Why Kento pays you ANY mind is beyond me! You're nothing but a stuck-up snob who doesn't give a damn about people who're trying to lend you a hand of friendship!"
His words cut, and cut DEEP. She WASN'T a stuck-up snob...she was PROTECTING herself! Protecting her heart from getting HURT again...
But, another side whispered, he DID have a right to know...they all did. But, to pour her heart out and change things? She wasn't staying, she KNEW that. As long as she kept whispering that to her subconscious, it was easier to stay aloof and pretend she didn't care. Not make friends and keep those who she moved with close instead. It was the only way...
She couldn't stop the tears forming in her eyes. It was strange, that someone...whose name she didn't even know...would make her cry. But, she WOULDN'T cry! She COULDN'T! Not to him...and not to anyone.
Her head ducked and she fought not to sniffle right in front of him. Knowing this jerk, he'd probably taunt her for being a baby in public! "Y...you...you don't know...ANYTHING..." She brokenly whispered, feeling utterly forlorn. The paper twisted in her hands as she fidgeted, unable to hide it. He cut down all her self-confidence and now she almost felt empty inside. A deep frown marred her face and she quickly blinked before looking to the ground, and letting her bangs cover her eyes from his vantage point.
Oh no...she WASN'T...
A tear slowly tracked down her cheek before she whipped around and wiped it away. He felt like a heel. His shoulders slumped. He didn't mean to make her cry...REALLY he didn't. But he knew his anger got away from him sometimes, like it did now. He was normally more even-tempered than this...unless someone got under his skin. He just had to go and open up his big mouth and put him in a position he didn't know how to get out of.
Man...what he wouldn't give for the library to be stormed with a bucket-load of tin-heads right now! ANYTHING to get out of this!
His lips pressed together with an apology at the end of his tongue. Why should he apologize, when all his words were true? If she had a problem with it, then she shouldn't have acted that way in the FIRST place! A quiet sniff drew his attention away from his stubborn, hardheaded mind. Geez...THIS was why he preferred books to PEOPLE.
He took a tentative step forward, hand hovering in the air between them. "Hey...listen...I'm-"
She quickly stepped away when his hand lightly touched her shoulder, whipping around to face him. "Don't TOUCH me!" She hissed. She knew her eyes were red, mostly since they felt like they were burning up. But she still didn't cry, tried not to let too many tears slip. That small, awkward moment between them allowed her to let her swallow her emotions to be able to face him. Now that the fear and wish to disappear was gone, anger blazed. She was pissed and was going to lash out as he did.
She glared the most fiercest she could muster and wished he'd whither from it. "You have some NERVE." She lowly answered, fists shaking. "What gives YOU the privilege of writing me off like some snobbish bitch?" He looked away, a little nervous, but she didn't. "Just because I don't say two words to YOU is no reason for you to start spouting insults when MAYBE I don't feel inclined to talk to you!" She quickly hushed upon finding her voice rose too many decibels than was necessary. The LAST thing she wanted was a scene. This was more than she was able to handle already!
"Man...who's arguing so LOUDLY over here?" A quickly approaching voice and matching footsteps halted the argument and she wiped the tear tracks from her face and spun to face the bookshelf. "You'd think world war three broke out and...oh hey Rowen." A shaggy blue head popped out from the other side of a bookshelf and smiled. "What're YOU doing here? Something for your astronomy class?"
Rowen turned around and pasted on a grin. He held up the constellation book in his hand. "Kento...I think you're psychic now." He lamely kidded, hoping his friend wouldn't see Epiphany behind him. Too bad his frame wasn't wide enough to hide her behind him. "What're YOU doing here?"
Kento stopped and blinked, a small frown on his face as he surveyed the scene. His brows knit together. He knew just by the rambling his articulate friend was doing, also knowing he took English second hour, that he did something when it concerned the girl behind him. She looked highly agitated and tense, not that she normally WASN'T, but her shoulders were held so stiff, he wondered if she was going to break. There was a distinct stiff, cold expression on her face. She looked to the book section as if they didn't exist, then down at a wrinkled paper in her hands.
It didn't take long to make a conclusion about the two people in front of him. Kento KNEW Rowen didn't care for Epiphany since his heated outburst those few weeks ago. Since then, he was one of the few in the group who always wanted to sit somewhere else at lunch, or as far to the end of the table as possible. Though he, Ryo, and Sage took gym and could get any table they wanted, they either hit the lunch line early or their lockers before the lunchroom doors shut. So there was rarely anything left open for the five to sit...except that loner table.
To say he was a little upset was correct. He knew Rowen didn't approve of the girl, but for some reason, he chose to stick his nose in and let her have it. They would've been the people who he heard arguing. Though some of the words eluded his ears, he didn't miss out on the anger in the voices.
He crossed his arms and gave Rowen an irate look before stopping directly in front of his friend. This was NOT going to continue. Some sense was going to be talked into by ONE of them, and an agreement of some kind was going to be reached by one party. He was tired of his friends saying something, or mentioning how they didn't want to sit at the 'snob' table because everything else was too full.
"Rowen...may I have a WORD with you?" Kento nearly grit out, hand extending.
"But Kento, I'm kind of busy here and-WHOA!" Rowen didn't get a chance to finish his excuse as Kento's hand latched onto his arm and all but yanked it out of the socket as he was drug from the aisle and halfway across the library for privacy. When they stopped, Kento released his arm and Rowen rubbed his wrist. The warrior of Hardrock didn't lose his strength any in the time of peace. He almost wondered if Kento crushed a few blood vessels or something. "You could've let up there a little Kento." He quietly started, leaning against the wall.
"I'm going to get one thing straight with you Rowen." Kento lowly answered, mildly glaring his friend in the face. "WHATEVER you said to Epiphany...you're going to apologize for."
Rowen blinked. "What makes you think I said anything WRONG?" He side-stepped, raising an amused brow. Damn...when did Kento ever gain the ability to read people? Rowen thought that was Sage's job.
Kento gave his friend a bored look. "PLEASE Rowen. Cut me some slack. You think just because I'm all muscle, I've got no brains?" He didn't wait for a response, also knowing Rowen wouldn't want to put his foot in his mouth. "I come from a large family, and that makes it easy to know when people argue. Hell...I've done enough of it with my OWN siblings to be able to gain a sixth sense! Just what did you say to Epiphany exactly?"
Rowen's brows shot up. Did Kento REALLY expect him to say anything? "Why do you wanna know?" He side-stepped again. Oh man...if Kento heard what he said...his temper was going to snap. Kento was one for keeping the peace, mostly due to his upbringing with so many people around, and apologizing to Epiphany was a possibility.
Kento gave his friend another 'how dumb do you think I AM' look. "Rowen, you haven't really liked her since day one. You think I don't listen when you whine about her attitude?" His arms crossed. They slowly lowered as Rowen stepped nearer and whispered in his ear a rough estimate of what he told the Hispanic girl.
It took every ounce not to punch his good friend in the face. What right did he have to SAY those things? Didn't Rowen understand how bad the girl had it? Expecting her to fully adjust to this school, learn the ENTIRE Japanese language, open up, and be friendly didn't happen in a measly three weeks! He seemed to be the only one that UNDERSTOOD that.
Kento took a step back and gave Rowen his best, cold stare. If he were wearing his armor, he would've sworn his kanji would flash across his forehead. Justice...oh yes, there WOULD be justice alright...
"You've got some APOLOGIZING to do mister." He darkly answered, gripping Rowen's arm again. Without waiting to hear excuses or listening to Rowen's pleas to let go of his arm, he drug the bearer of Strata over to the side of the library.
~*~*~
As soon as the two vacated the general vicinity, she pretended to keep looking until they were out of sight. As soon as her subtle sneaking didn't see them anywhere, she nearly ran from the aisle and to the safety of the far side of the library, as if she could hide behind her book bag. She was NOT going to stay around that area anymore! She'd get the book on her lunch. As long as she didn't have to see that stupid Rowen! Well...at least she finally had a name...
She rooted around in the worn bag, trying to keep busy. Kevin wasn't around, and for once, she was minutely thankful. If she was lucky, maybe she could get him to go look up the book. Maybe he'd have better luck than she did. This was the LAST time she let herself stray from his side. If he was around, maybe that jerk Rowen wouldn't have snapped at her. She knew part of her deserved those harsh remarks from him, but NO ONE should be yelled at like that. Not even her. Rowen didn't know anything, but yet there he was, making instigations about her personality without knowing her. She didn't do that to HIM!
Her eyes peeked up from the math homework she had yet to fully finish, now wishing Kevin were around. She needed his companionship, even if she wasn't going to tell him what just transpired. The last thing she needed was him going on the warpath and telling those five she was having a hard time and to back off. That would only lead to more questions, and then Kevin would be labeled snob as well. She wasn't going to let that happen. He was her only friend and nearest cousin, she wasn't going to let anything bad happen to him OR his reputation.
She sighed and tried not to let her thoughts get away from her. Now was the point to use this quiet time and build her walls back up. When lunch came around, unless she was able to get Kevin back up here, she'd most likely have to sit with the five at lunch. Looking at the unsolved problem on her paper, REALLY wishing Kevin were around, she dug in the top pouch and pulled out a high-tech calculator. Oh why couldn't her dad's head for math passed down to her? This was going to take longer than she thought.
Maybe five minutes later, still no closer to solving the stupid problem, a body stopped at the edge of her vision. With a sigh, a small smile tipped her lips. Thank god Kevin saw her here and found his book. Now maybe she could finish and drag him over to help her find hers. "Sit down and help me with this Kevin. You know how much I hate math." She muttered, that grin tilting a little more.
"Uh, sorry. No Kevin...just us."
Her head shot up with wide eyes. She stared into two pairs of blue, one smiling, the other looking to the opposite wall. Kento and Rowen.
Her eyes narrowed when they landed on the moron's form. "What does HE want?" She quietly asked, forgetting to speak in Spanish. Somehow, keeping these two away seemed more important than that. If she had to communicate with them, so be it.
Not to be shied away from her attitude, Kento tugged on Rowen's arm to bring his attention back to the situation. Getting him to apologize was going to be tough. He knew Rowen was stubborn...they all were to degree. "Rowen would like to say something to you." Rowen's mouth pursed, his hearing quite in working order, but still not looking at them. Kento's hand squeezed around his arm, getting a small wince. "DON'T you, Rowen?"
Rowen knew by that tone he should shove his pride aside and say he was sorry. But, part of him argued why he SHOULD. He was just saying what all five weren't going to! Even Kento was annoyed with this girl on SOME level...he just showed his friendly exterior instead.
Mouth still screwed in obstinacy, he looked down and noticed the work she was doing. It took all of ten seconds for the math problem to be solved in his head and, instead of saying what he should've, something else got past first. "That's not the right answer."
She dumbly blinked and stared at him like he just spoke in Japanese. But he said that quite clearly in English, and she was still clueless. Forgetting all about walls, anger, and pride, she continued to blink. "What? WHAT'S not right?"
Rowen jerked his arm from Kento's, ignoring the odd look from his friend, and leaned over the wood table. "You calculated this wrong." A finger pointed to her most current problem and he gave her another amused glance. "You're not very good in math, are you?"
She smarted, and slightly glared. Didn't Kento drag him over to APOLOGIZE? And Rowen even had to be dragged to say he was sorry! Some nerve!
Her mouth screwed up, as if she just ate a lemon, and her hand clenched the pencil she was using. "And what's THAT supposed to mean?" The librarian heard her more than library etiquette tone and loudly shushed them. The three quickly looked over before giving sheepish looks. She knew that outburst was louder than intended. A small blush lit her face at feeling some eyes from other passing students. Looking down, she idly tapped the pencil against the desk, pressing lips together.
"Just as I said." Rowen quietly reiterated. "You're not good in math are you?" A brow rose as he awaited her answer. Was she going to clam up or verbally attack him again? This he could definitely do...if she would see it as a request for forgiveness. This was better than having to apologize. When she simply ducked her head and gave it a tiny shake, he snorted and moved to see the page, instead of upside-down. "It's just ALGEBRA."
"Oh, and I suppose YOU'RE the big math wizard?" Above them, Kento snorted at her unknowing statement and quickly covered his mouth, still smiling widely. She gave him an irked look. "What's so funny?"
His shoulders shaking in effort not to laugh and keep quiet, it took a minute for him to calm down. "Actually...Rowen IS a math wizard."
She blushed again at being humiliated once again. It deepened when she heard quiet laughter above her. "Very FUNNY." She muttered, scowling. "So what, you some kind of genius?"
A wide smile from above gave her the answer. "You should see my IQ statement." Rowen joked, wryly grinning. Kento gave into a short burst of laughter before the three were shushed a second time.
"So what's your POINT?" She darkly answered, crossing her arms to pout. This whole amusing thing between the two was over her head and she was beginning to feel more and more like the outcast she already was.
Instead of answering her, his hand not so subtly snaked around her and grabbed the paper. In a small span of silence, he already found three errors on her sheet. His brow rose in more amusement. He took back his original question...she was HORRIBLE at math. With a dry smile, he set the sheet down. "You really SUCK." He mused, leaning against the table.
She bristled and nearly slammed the pencil down. Without thought, she shot from the chair and looked up to him. She quickly wished she could look down on him, as he so deserved. "LISTEN you-" A body moved in their direction, interrupting the three.
"If you three don't keep it down, I'm kicking you out AND reporting you to your teachers!" A middle-aged woman ordered. The three looked down as she walked away.
Once the lady was out of sight, she continued her tirade. "Listen you," She hissed, closer to his face so she didn't have to worry about THAT threat, "you've ALREADY made me feel like scum, spoke words that you had NO right to say, made me cry, INSULTED me, and now you're doing it AGAIN?!"
"He made you CRY?" Kento quietly broke in, wide-eyed staring at Rowen. His gaze quickly turned judgmental. "Hashiba Rowen!"
So...she finally had a full name to put with the face, but that didn't lessen the glare any. This Rowen wasn't going to get off the hook for doing something that was utterly wrong. Course...how would he know, if she didn't say anything? Kind of how she was just sideways embarrassed for saying something she didn't know about HIM.
Rowen looked to Kento. The full truth was out of the bag now... He was in for an earful later if he was even REMOTELY close to being lucky. "Yea...yea." He muttered, bringing his attention back to the problem at hand. There was still the little matter of resolving this whole issue that they somehow stumbled into. More like he stumbled into...
"M'sorry about that." He mumbled. A hand scratched the back of his head, feeling uncomfortable for uttering those words. But he was a grown-up here, he had to act like one. Too bad that was a little hard at the moment. He was in quite an awkward situation here, with Epiphany in his face, inches away. Instinctively, he took a step back. Didn't she know of personal space?
She blinked and looked down. An apology...she never expected it. Though she knew he was probably getting to it, it was still odd to hear. This was a small peace treaty between the two and how did she act NOW? She didn't know. This was the first small bout of interaction between them and part of her desperately wished it never came about. She didn't want to know anyone here! Being alone, save for her family and Kevin, was all she wanted out of this horrid situation!
Her eyes softened upon instinct she couldn't keep away. He was sorry, she should be too. With a very small smile, a brow tilted the tiniest degree. "So...you're a genius huh?"
A brow shot up. After saying he was sorry, he surely didn't expect to hear THAT from her... More like she said she was sorry in return would've been nice... Skeptical at her question, his brow furrowed, eyes curiously narrowing. "Yea..."
"What math class do YOU take?"
He smirked a little. Sure he was only a junior, unlike Cye, but his intellect gained him the ability to take senior classes. "Trig."
Her mouth gaped open. Trigonometry was like...THE hardest thing she knew she had to face in school! "What?!" She nearly squeaked, making sure to keep her voice down. "HOW?"
His smirk rose. "I told you, I'm a genius."
She momentarily smirked. "NO ONE'S a genius! Kevin's good at math, and HE'S no genius!"
A blue brow rose. "It shows. That explains why some of your answers are wrong."
She seethed again at the attack on her cherished blood relative. "Why you-" A large hand clamped on her mouth, though not her own, when Kento caught sight of the warning look from the librarian.
"Geez...COOL it you guys!" He whispered. "You argue worse than I do with RINFI." He removed his hand from her mouth and she turned to give him an indignant look.
What did he do THAT for? She didn't ask him to touch her! "You people sure think that pretenses can turn PHYSICAL." She muttered, giving Kento an odd, irate look.
Kento gave her almost the same look. "Excuse ME for trying to keep us from getting kicked out!" He hissed, taking a step closer. Here he was, trying to play peacekeeper and TRYING to smooth things over, and she was being ungrateful! Why the brat! "You want our TEACHER to know what happened? I don't need to get kicked out for talking too loud when the two of us should be WORKING. I don't need that on my record!"
She scowled at his attitude. So, it was back to the norm was it? That was fine, she didn't care for all the cheery attitudes ANYWAY. "Speak for yourself." She darkly muttered, arms crossing. "YOU know I don't speak much Japanese!" Her eyes shot down to the desk, to the piece of forgotten paper with her assigned book.
"Is THAT what you were doing?" Rowen quietly broke in.
She sullenly nodded without looking at him. "This's the LAST time I let Kevin go off on his own and try to go out on a limb." A deep frown marred her face. So much for trying...she wasn't going to do THAT again! She didn't care if people wondered about her and Kevin being attached to the hip!
Rowen picked up the paper and his brow rose. Was she KIDDING? He already read this book! Not to mention a few others from the same author. It was a snap. "Actually...you were in the right aisle..." He muttered, putting the paper back down. "I've read that book. Pretty interesting," He smirked, "if you know the words."
Her eyes narrowed. "Rub it IN, why don't you?" She retorted, anger beginning to boil. Lord almighty, where was Kevin?? Why didn't he chase these two yokels away and save her??
"Would you like some HELP?" Rowen almost sarcastically continued, giving her an amused look. He found her predicament funny, and seeing her short, stocky body shaking with suppressed anger made him smile.
Her chin instantly shot up at the offer. Never would she allow him to help her! That's what she had Kevin for! Why would she need Hashiba's Rowen help? Never! Did they actually think Kevin THAT unable to help that they offer their service? "I've already GOT help, thank you." She retorted, trying to regain the sting to her pride.
The worse part was, she DID need help! There was no denying that. And here it was, being offered by a Japanese native, who already knew the reading material she was assigned. Her jaw clenched. Oh Lord...HELP! God save her from the stupid people.
"Who is currently crossing the library." Kento quietly joked, breaking her from her thoughts. "Man...if looks could KILL..."
She whipped around and glared at Kento for the joke, but gave Kevin a smile when he stopped. She blinked at the protective look in his eyes, and her heart warmed. Her elder cousin was severely protective ever since he took this job. Not only was he getting paid to help, but he did it out of the kindness of his heart. Bless him.
"Epiphany..." Kevin gave her a brief nod, wary eyes on the other two. What were THEY doing here? As soon as he spotted them, he immediately knew they had to be harassing his cousin. Sheesh, didn't they get the hint?? "¿Está okay? ¿Ellos no te estuvieron acosando?" You're okay? They weren't harassing you?
Her heart swelled and a larger smile appeared. "Eh hehe...no estuvieron Kevin." A sheepish smile appeared. "Y puede usar inglés...I already have been since they arrived." And you can use English...
Kevin gave her a wide-eyed stare, like he couldn't comprehend what she just said. It was as if she just announced they were all moving back home! It just simply didn't happen to her. "You...you were WHAT-"
Kento clamped a hand down on Kevin's mouth, and put a finger to his lips when the tall youth glared at him. "Dude, chill. We already got shushed twice and talked to. Once more and the three of us are going to get kicked out."
"But, that's no biggie for me." Rowen quietly kidded. "I'm on a free period. It doesn't matter." The three in the English class turned to glare at him. He just grinned back.
"So, just WHAT are you two doing around Epi?" Kevin asked, mouth finally free.
She opened her mouth to placate Kevin, but was beaten to the punch. "Offering to help her with Algebra." Rowen answered. She swung around and gave him an odd, wide-eyed look.
Kevin gave nearly the same, but it was also tinged with doubtfulness. "I do all the helping if she needs it." He protectively denied, crossing his arms in a defensive posture. Who was THIS guy to step in like Epi needed HIS help and offer his services? The last he knew, she hated all of them!
Rowen gave a cocky grin, knowing this Kevin might be no better at math than Epiphany was. He looked to the sheet and resisted picking it up. "She's wrong on questions one, five, ten, and twelve already." A brow quirked. "Did you help her with those yet?"
"Kevin helps me with ALL my homework." She cut in, quick to defend. The look on Rowen's face wasn't one she liked and she didn't like the idea of ANYONE cutting down Kevin. He could help her just fine.
"I can do better." Rowen blurted out. The two Hispanics looked to him. He sheepishly grinned, not meaning to say it that quick. But it was true, he could. Hell...he passed Algebra YEARS ago! There was nothing hard about it! Not to sound too eager, he gave Epiphany a cool look. "If you doubt my ability, test me." He ended, opening up the challenge. It seemed they cooled the anger a little and threw playful insults back and forth more than actually communicating. That seemed the only way to do any talking.
Her eyes narrowed. Another sting to her pride rose her chin again. Damn it! Why couldn't she have been good at math? Why did she have something so horrible to be held over her head? And why did she want to agree? Her eyes quickly went to the clock and they widened. Geez! Only fifteen minutes till the bell rang! She'd NEVER get that book and the rest of those annoying problems finished in time!
Her head shook. "There's not enough time." She answered, pointing behind her. The others looked and a few imitated her shocked look. She smirked when Rowen looked back to her. "There's no way you'll get ten problems done before then."
He returned the grin with an amused grunt, more reassured than she would ever be. "Too EASY." He muttered.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa there..." Kevin intervened. "Epi can do her OWN work. And she's got a BOOK to find."
"Dude, that's what got her into trouble in the FIRST place." Rowen vaguely answered, already in 'math mode'. Solving problems was his thing. Even if they weren't his homework. He took one look at her calculator and shoved it in the middle of her backpack. Almost like it was the tool of the devil.
"Hey!" She burst out, quickly going for the poor thing. "I NEED this..."
Rowen snorted. "Calculators are for wussies." He grabbed her pencil and ignored the indignant glare.
With a sigh, she turned to her poor cousin, who stepped in the middle of something. Had he been there in the beginning...well...this most likely wouldn't have HAPPENED. With a tender, helpless smile, almost beseeching his help, she stood and handed the list to him. "Kevin, since you DO understand the language," She stopped and gave him her best puppy dog eyes, "could YOU find it for me? I looked and looked, and couldn't find it."
Kevin sighed, more than a little frustrated. Here was some lippy kid taking over HIS job, also wedging his way into helping. He wondered what happened the entire time he was gone. And why Epi wasn't doing anything to stop them or irritate them. Unless...perhaps, she already did and it had no effect. His shoulders slumped a little and he almost snatched the paper from her hand. Looking at the information, he looked over from a tap on his shoulder. With a raised brow, he gave Kento a sour 'what do YOU want' look.
"Hey, like some help?" Kento asked, giving a grin. The whole trouble seemed to've passed with those two going at it like they were bantering back and forth on PURPOSE. He almost felt like he was in the way now. He cast a quick look to the two sitting. Rowen held the position of a teacher, with Epiphany the stumped student. In the most quiet voice they could muster, the two went over a problem...the poor girl just not getting it.
"Unlike my cousin, I can comprehend the language just FINE." Kevin curtly answered.
"Yea I know that." Kento responded, putting up defensive hands. Geez, no need to get lippy. He was only offering. "But, being classmates and all, and already having my book, I just thought you'd like some help." His gaze strayed back to the table. "They don't look to need OUR help anymore."
Kevin stole a glance and his heart mildly clenched. That used to be HIM trying to patiently explain the how's and why's of Algebra to his cousin...
With an almost defeated posture, his head nodded. "Sure...why NOT?" What else was there to lose?
Kento smiled and headed for the section that started this whole mess.