Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews and tips! ^_~!
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Asuka watched Rei from across the classroom during class the next day. She caught Rei blushing twice at something the Ikari boy said. She wasn't liking this at all. Rei isn't supposed to like it here! It was supposed to be like back in their old town, Rei was suppose to me lonely and depressed, while she was the outgoing and popular one.
' I can't let her take my place!' Asuka thought frantically.
Rei on the other hand giggled at what Shinji e-mailed her. She looked up at him to see him wearing a cheesy grin on his face. Rei smiled brightly back. She liked this idea called 'friendship'.
After school Shinji walked home with Rei. Asuka was walking ahead of Rei as usual and with her whole clique. She had invited all of them over to her house to have a big sleep-over party. This of course was an attempt to keep her popularity intact. She would often glance back to see Shinji and Rei laugh and every time Asuka got angrier.
' I have to do something before she ruins me. Think Asuka THINK!'
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Shinji watched Rei as she grinned up at him. He couldn't help but grin back. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time. Not even with Touji and Kensuke, sure they were amusing to be around but he felt more free with Rei. He felt that he couldn't open up to her more, she seemed so understanding all of the time.
" You seem to enjoy your friends Ikari-kun." Rei said softly.
" Of course I do, everyone enjoys friends." Shinji answered.
" Is that so?" Rei asked after some hesitation.
" Rei?"
" Yes."
" Who were your friends from your old town?" Shinji asked shyly.
"...I had no friends." Rei answered.
" D-Do you mind if I asked why?" Shinji said surprised at his sudden boldness.
" Of course not." Rei smiled, Shinji looked at her expectantly and saw that her smile was not one of happiness but one of sadness.
" Rei, if you don't want to talk about it you don't have to. I was just curious that's all." Shinji said.
" No, it's alright Ikari-kun. I had no friends because no one wished to be my friend." Rei answered bluntly.
" Well that sums it up in a nutshell." Shinji replied sarcastically. Rei stared at him incredulously for a few seconds and Shinji was close to bend to his knees and beg for her to forgive him for his rude comment. But when she started to giggle softly he raised a brow which caused her to heave over with laughter.
" Ikari-kun, you are... humorous at times." Rei said wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes.
" Me? Funny? May I asked where that came from? I thought you were going to throw me in front of a car or something!" Shinji smiled.
" Why would I do that Ikari-kun?" Rei asked thoroughly confused. Shinji sighed and shook his head in a jokingly matter.
" Rei, Rei, Rei, you've got so much learning to do." He swung an arm loosely around Rei's shoulder.
" Do you plan to teach me, Ikari-kun?" Rei grinned.
" Absolutely." Shinji said in mock hurt.
" Then I'm glad." Rei nodded her head thoughtfully and looked ahead to see Asuka glance back at her.
" Ikari-kun?" Rei asked.
" Hmm?"
" Have you notice that Asuka's been acting...unusual lately?" Rei asked concerned.
" Unusual? Well I guess, I-I mean I don't really know her." Shinji said, Rei nodded in reply.
When they reached the Akimoto residence Asuka and her friends quickly rushed inside giggling, while Rei and Shinji stayed outside.
" Would you like to come inside, Ikari-kun?" Rei asked.
" Um...s-s-sure." Shinji smiled.
" Don't worry about my parents, they're not so bad." Rei smiled and offered Shinji a hand. Shinji took her hand and followed her into her apartment.
" Rei! There you are! I was wondering where you were." Rei's mother said.
" Mother, I would like you to introduce you to Ikari Shinji, Ikari-kun my mother." Rei introduced.
" It's nice to meet you Mrs. Akimoto." Shinji politely bowed.
" Oh what a nice boy." Rei's mother commented. " It a pleasure to meet you too Shinji, I've heard so much about you."
" Where's Asuka and her friends?" Rei asked.
" In her room why?" her mother said.
" No reason." Rei again took a hold of Shinji's hand and led him into another room.
" Where are you taking me Rei?" Shinji asked.
" My room." Shinji grew a deep shade of red.
" C-can't we stay out here?" Shinji asked.
" No."
" Why?"
" Because, my room is the furthest room from Asuka's" Rei answered
" Oh" Shinji swallowed a big gulp and entered Rei's room. He was surprised in what he saw. Rei's room was spotlessly clean and her walls her painted light blue that matched her hair. The room was virtually empty except for a nightstand with a lamp by her bed and a mirror hanging on the wall.
" Let me guess your favorite color is blue." Shinji grinned. Rei smiled.
" How did you guess?"
" What can I say, I'm psychic. " Shinji shrugged. Rei giggled and pushed Shinji playfully.
For the next two hours Shinji and Rei stayed in her room. This of course raised a few brows especially from Asuka.
" I wonder what they're doing in there." Asuka wondered to her friends.
" Oh well you know how boys can be." Kyoto said.
" What are you trying to say Kyoto?" Asuka said loudly.
" Forget her Asuka, by the way do any of you think Shinji's kind of cute?" Sami asked.
" I don't think so." Hikari huffed.
" Of course YOU don't Hiki, you like Touji." Asuka teased. Hikari blushed and pushed Asuka.
" Shut up."
" Come on back on topic." Sami said. " You all have got to admit Shinji is pretty hot and not to mention REALLY sweet." Sami giggled. " I wouldn't mind being his girlfriend one bit."
' Girlfriend, hmmm.' Asuka thought to herself.
" Hey do you think Shinji and Rei make a cute couple?" Kyoto asked.
" What?!" Asuka shot up from her seat and spat out water that she just drunk.
" Calm down Asuka, geesh." Kyoto grinned.
" Don't joke about THAT! Who would want to date Miss-doll in there! She has a lousy personality and is always so creepy!" Asuka shrieked.
" Rei, is kind of weird you guys. I mean she's always so calm and stuff." Sami shuddered.
Their conversation abruptly ended when Shinji and Rei came out of their room. Both was surprised to see Asuka and her friends so close to her room. They all had a look of guilt plastered over their faces and Rei knew immediately that they were talking about her...again. Rei shrugged it off and smiled at Shinji.
" I'm glad we could spend time together Ikari-kun." Rei and Shinji walked past the group of girls and towards the door.
" Me too, say..." Shinji started nervously. " wouldyouliketogotothemoviessometimes." Shinji finished in a hurry. Rei giggled and shook her head.
" You don't have to be so nervous with me Ikari-kun, of course I'll go with you." at this Shinji seemed to calm down a lot.
" Great, how about tomorrow?" Rei nodded and smiled. The two teens walked out of the apartment.
" Goodnight Rei, I really had a great time tonight." Shinji said.
" Me too, do you want me to walk you home?" Rei asked. Shinji smiled at her, he really didn't want tonight to end for some odd reason but knew it had to sometime.
" No that's ok, I can make it home alright." Shinji said.
" Ok, then goodnight Ikari-kun." Rei said, she quickly leaned forward and gave Shinji a peck on the cheek. Rei turned around and closed the door before she could see Shinji grow beet red. Shinji sighed and walked off towards the direction of his home. In that quick second Rei kissed him he felt a wave of warmth sweep over him, he smiled at the memory of it and shook his head.
" Rei, you have so much learning to do." with that Shinji walked home in silence replaying that moment over and over in his head.
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Rei walked back to her room seeing that the group of gossipers were gone. She sighed in relief, she really didn't need any of Asuka's relentless teasing, she had too much of a good day for her to come and ruin it.
Rei walked into her room and slid her door close. She sighed and fell back on her bed. A slow smile crept on her face. When she gave Shinji a kiss on the cheek of few minutes ago, she felt a strange feeling, like a tingling in her stomach. She dismissed it as another friendship thing (something Shinji had explained to her).
She closed her eyes and before she knew it she was swept into a deep slumber, only to be awakened by Asuka and her friends. She glanced at the small clock by her bed. it read 5:00. What could they be doing at five in the morning? Finally curiosity got the best of her and she opened her door and walked out to see what was happening. She walked into the living room to see Asuka and her friends rolling over laughing.
" Asuka, what are you doing up so late?" Rei asked wiping the sleep from her eyes.
" I'm sorry Rei, did I wake you?" Asuka asked innocently.
" You should go to sleep." Rei said quietly.
" Oh don't be a party pooper, come down and sit with us." Asuka said moving aside so Rei could have room to sit. Rei's eyes widened slightly. Why was Asuka being so nice to her all of a sudden? Rei shrugged the thought aside and decided to sit. She took a seat next to Asuka.
" So Rei, how did you know Shinji?" Sami asked.
" Sami shut up! Rei you don't have to answer her." Kyoto said.
" Yeah, Sami just wants to get into his pants." Hikari said. Rei's furrowed her eye brows. She didn't understand that comment.
" I-I don't understand." Rei said softly.
" Oh it's nothing Rei." Asuka said before the group erupted laughing, except Rei. For the next half hour Rei sat beside Asuka and observed the scene in from of her. Why were they laughing when they were insulted? Why do they make hurtful comments?
" So Rei, could you know, hook me up with Shinji or something?" Sami asked her.
" I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean?" Rei answered confused. What was this hooking up. (I know I kind of make Rei seem like some kind of alien or something, but remember, she had never had friends before, therefore isn't really part of the whole "society" thing)
" Rei how dense can you be? I swear you can be as dense as a rock sometimes." Asuka remarked making Rei blush. The group laughed again and Rei suddenly stood up.
" Excuse me, it's been a long day. I think I'll go to sleep now." Rei said walking away.
" Rei your not mad are you? That was a joke!" Asuka giggled. Rei kept on walking ignoring Asuka. Once she was back in her room she laid back on her bed.
A joke? How can a comment like that be a joke? She remembered what something Shinji had told her early today.
' Rei, Rei, Rei, you have so much to learn'
" Your right Ikari-kun, I do have much more to learn." with that thought Rei closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.
TBC: Thanks again for the wonderful reviews! And thanks T. Storm for correcting my error. Thanks again and don't forget to review! ^_^!