Episode #11 - A New Friend, but At What Price?
"Hotaru!" She turned around to see Robert running at top speed down the hall. She smiled and waved. He skidded to a halt infront of her. "Robert!" she said as he stopped. He smiled at her and caught his breath. He was winded when he stopped, but he soon recovered and looked at her seriously. "Just how many Guardians do you have girl?" he asked with a sarcastic look on his face. "Just the three of them, there a little over-protective, you'll have to excuse them" "Hey, no problem, I understand completely" he said with a small smile. Hotaru looked at him, he was wearing a gray blazer with black dress pants and a black shirt with a red tie. He carried his computer case in his right hand, and had a chrome-plated cane in his left. "What's with the cane?" "Oh. just felt like taking one today, completes the suit you know!" he said with a crooked smile. Hotaru looked at him. "Your lieing" said Hotaru. "Uh. well." The bell rang, signalling that the students had five minuets to get to class. "Gotta go! See you in Third!!" he said, running off again. "That was weird." she said as she walked into her class. Hotaru blew through her first two classes and awaited Robert in her third period class, English Literature. She sat down and began to write as she waited for him to show up. He walked into the class, walking with the cane. He sat down beside her and looked at her for a second. "Before you say anything, I'm going to tell you everything at lunch" Robert said quietly. Hotaru looked at him. He sat down and opened his computer case. The sensai walked in and began the class. Hotaru copied the work down and then began to do the questions. Robert pulled out a pair of headphones and plugged them into his computer, turning on his Cd player and listening to music as he tore into the work. The bell rang and Hotaru and Robert walked out of the class. They quickly went to the café and then outside to one of the tables that were set up around the campus. "So Robert, what's with the cane?" "Other than the obvious. not much" Hotaru looked at him. "I'm not kidding! I really need this to walk!" "Then why didn't you have it yesterday?" "Because yesterday I had my knee brace on, okay?" Hotaru looked at him. "Sorry. I guess you would've found out about this sooner or later anyways. you see.well. my family. their sorta. dead." "What?" she said in quiet disbelief. "Yeah. terrible car crash. I was driving for the first time after I got my driver's licence and a semi-truck T-boned us. killed everyone. 'cept for me of course.." He said with quiet disdain. "You don't look like you've been in a car crash," said Hotaru, instantly regretting it. Robert took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. "I've got more scars on me than America has roads" he said quietly, rolling up his sleeve. Most of the arm was fine, but the underside was all shiny and puckered. "Third degree burns on my arms, doorpost through my lower abdomen, collapsed lung, shattered left knee. And I was the lucky one." Hotaru looked at him. He wasn't lieing at all. "Don't you have anyone left in you family?" she asked softly. "Nope, Grandfather and Grandmother on my Father's side died when I was seven, and my mother's parents died when I was thirteen. and my parents were only children." he said grimly. Hotaru placed his hand on top of his, he looked up at her, a single tear shining in his eye. "I understand. my mother. she died when I was very young." Robert smiled a little. "At least you know how it feels. but you weren't responsible for the death of your entire family." he said quietly. He groaned slightly and began to weep a little. Hotaru just held his hand. "It's okay, there in a better place," said Robert as he put his hand on his lap. "Hotaru. well. I guess I can say that I amazed that your still sitting here with me after I just told you that." "It wasn't your fault, the truck hit you-" "Yeah, because I wasn't watching where I was going." "So. you made one mistake-" "That one mistake took the rest of my family away from me! I should've been the one to die! It was my fault!" he said, tears freely falling down one side of his face. Hotaru looked at him, she knew how he felt. her mother had died giving birth to her. "It's not like you're the only one with problems like that you know" Hotaru said coldly. "How would you know?" "My mother died giving birth to me" she said quietly. Robert looked at her. "Two of a kind." said a male voice behind them. Robert stood up and looked at the man behind him. There were two of them, one looked to be a football player, and the other was just massive. "What do you two want?" asked Robert, wiping his eyes. "We heard about what you said to Bobbi-Jo-" Robert sighed and looked at the two of them "So she's sent the goon squad out after me, alright, fine, let's get this over with" he said as he walked off of the school grounds. The two guys followed Robert, he was smiling to himself. Robert stopped and turned around. "So, any ground rules?" The two guys looked at him. "Are we having a free-for-all, or do you want to actually keep your bones intact?" "No bone breaking, no shots below the belt" said the larger guy. "Fine with me" said Robert. Hotaru came running after them, standing between the two guys and Robert. "You will not hurt him!" she said. "Hotaru, move, it's a matter of honour now" said Robert, his tone stone cold and utterly devoid of emotion. Hotaru looked at him, his eyes were burning with rage and his fists were clenched tight. She stepped away from the men and Robert looked at them. "Whenever you're ready, Neanderthals" said Robert. The two guys charged at Robert, and he just stood there. The larger guy landed a punch right across Robert's jaw. "One" he said. The other decked him in the gut. "Two." The last guy kicked Robert in the small of the back. "Three" said Robert, springing into action. He snapped out his right hand, connecting with the larger guy, right in the forehead, then whipped it around and drove his elbow into the gut of the other guy "Three. two. one." said Robert, the two guys fell over in unison. Hotaru looked at him, he wasn't even hurt. "I guess I should' a told them I'm a black belt" Robert said as he walked over to Hotaru. She looked at him, he had a small smile on his face and a placid look on his face. Hotaru ran after him. "You okay?" "Yeah, uneducated jerks couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bazooka" Robert said. "About what I said before-" "It's okay. I just wanted you to know a little more about me," he said with a smile. Hotaru looked at him. "You sure your alright?" "I'm fine. they hit like little old women," He said with a chuckle. They walked back to their table and sat down. Robert put on a jazz Cd and they talked quietly until their lunch was over. "Well, I guess I'll see you after school" said Robert as he walked away. "Hey, wait up a second," said Hotaru. Robert stopped and turned around. Hotaru walked up to him and hugged him. He was stunned, but hugged her back lightly. "Uh. thank you." Robert said quietly as he stood there in stunned silence. Hotaru smiled at him and said "Better get moving, we've only got two minuets until class starts" "Uh-hun" he said in a daze as he walked slowly to his next class. Hotaru smiled at him and ran off to her next class. Robert was in a daze for the rest of the day. He did the work that was assigned, and then he just sat their, his eyes glassy as he thought about that hug, blinking every once in a while. Why had Hotaru hugged him? Did she really like him? He knew he liked her, but he didn't know if she liked him in the same way. Was she just hugging him to be a good friend and comforting him after what had gone on? So many questions, so little time to answer them all! He walked out of his class and went to his locker. Bobbi- Jo was waiting there for him. "Sorry about your little goon squad, I let them hit me three times, but they weren't up to the task" said Robert as he changed his books for his next class. "I know, and I'm sorry about what happened today, but." "Ms.Natira, I, to be totally frank, DO NOT GIVE A DAMN!" Robert said, raising his voice slightly. Bobbi-Jo looked at him. "What is your problem?" "You and your social levels," Robert said to her flatly. "To be truthful, I prefer the company of Ms.Tomoe to you and your trained poodles, so if you don't mind, please leave me alone!" he said, punctuating his statement by slamming his locker door closed. "I. I. I never! I try and be nice, and you chew me out! See if I ever talk to you again!" "That would be nice" Robert said. "ARGH!!" Bobbi-Jo nearly screamed as she stalked away from Robert, nearly knocking Hotaru over as she rounded the corner. "You can have that freak all to yourself!" Bobbi-Jo said to Hotaru as she stalked away. Hotaru looked at her for a second and then to Robert. Robert smiled and shrugged. She walked over to him and looked at him. "So, what exactly was that all about?" "Oh nothing, our illustrious friend was trying to get me to forget about you again, so I just laid it out on the table, clear as day for her to see" Hotaru looked at him. "You turned her down again?" "Yeah, I'd rather have one good friend than a bunch of trained poodles following me around and yammering in my ears for god-knows-how-long" said Robert, smiling at Hotaru. She smiled back. "I see your taking my advice" She looked at him quizzically. "Showing off that pretty smile of yours," He said with a warm smile. Hotaru blushed a little and smiled as she walked to her last class. Robert was happy, Hotaru was a true friend, maybe even more, but he couldn't ask her out, he had only known her for two days! He decided to wait for two weeks, then, if she was still interested, he would ask her out. He just hoped that she liked him the same way he liked her. He went to his last class and sat down. The sensai was drawing a prospective line drawing on the board. He knew what was coming. He got out his art book and sketching kit. The art class blew by, and he was soon finished his work. He exited the class and who would be waiting for him but Hotaru. "So, when exactly do I have to have you home by?" "Six" Robert looked at his watch, it was 3:30. "Fine with me!" he said as they walked out of the school. He flipped a small panel on his computer case and a small speaker was revealed. He cracked open the case and hit the play button. More Jazz came wafting out of the speakers as they walked around the city. It was quarter after four when they arrived at a mall. "Uhm.. Question, Hotaru" "Ask away" "You wanna catch a movie? My treat" Hotaru looked at him for a second.
"Uh, sure!" she said. They walked to the cinema and Robert paid for their admission. They exited at 5:30. "That was a really good movie, don't you think so Robert?" "It was good, little loud though," he said. "I'll agree with you there" said Hotaru. Robert and Hotaru walked back to her place and he dropped her off. "Robert, wait a second," said Hotaru as she was entering the house. "Sure" he said as he was leaving. Hotaru walked forward and smiled at him, hugged him, then kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thankyou for a wonderful time" she whispered into his ear as she went inside. Robert blinked a few times and smiled, then walked down the driveway. He felt like he was walking on air. Light as a feather! He had a serenely calm smile on his face and he was laughing slightly to himself. He was giddy! He was so happy that he was literally giddy! He got to his apartment and went up the elevator and entered his room. "WOHOO!!!!" He cried once the door had shut. "SHE LIKES ME!! SHE REALLY LIKES ME!!!" he said, nearly exploding with happiness. He laid down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. He couldn't remember feeling this good since.. Well, since ever! He was still chuckling to himself as he drifted off to sleep.
"Hotaru!" She turned around to see Robert running at top speed down the hall. She smiled and waved. He skidded to a halt infront of her. "Robert!" she said as he stopped. He smiled at her and caught his breath. He was winded when he stopped, but he soon recovered and looked at her seriously. "Just how many Guardians do you have girl?" he asked with a sarcastic look on his face. "Just the three of them, there a little over-protective, you'll have to excuse them" "Hey, no problem, I understand completely" he said with a small smile. Hotaru looked at him, he was wearing a gray blazer with black dress pants and a black shirt with a red tie. He carried his computer case in his right hand, and had a chrome-plated cane in his left. "What's with the cane?" "Oh. just felt like taking one today, completes the suit you know!" he said with a crooked smile. Hotaru looked at him. "Your lieing" said Hotaru. "Uh. well." The bell rang, signalling that the students had five minuets to get to class. "Gotta go! See you in Third!!" he said, running off again. "That was weird." she said as she walked into her class. Hotaru blew through her first two classes and awaited Robert in her third period class, English Literature. She sat down and began to write as she waited for him to show up. He walked into the class, walking with the cane. He sat down beside her and looked at her for a second. "Before you say anything, I'm going to tell you everything at lunch" Robert said quietly. Hotaru looked at him. He sat down and opened his computer case. The sensai walked in and began the class. Hotaru copied the work down and then began to do the questions. Robert pulled out a pair of headphones and plugged them into his computer, turning on his Cd player and listening to music as he tore into the work. The bell rang and Hotaru and Robert walked out of the class. They quickly went to the café and then outside to one of the tables that were set up around the campus. "So Robert, what's with the cane?" "Other than the obvious. not much" Hotaru looked at him. "I'm not kidding! I really need this to walk!" "Then why didn't you have it yesterday?" "Because yesterday I had my knee brace on, okay?" Hotaru looked at him. "Sorry. I guess you would've found out about this sooner or later anyways. you see.well. my family. their sorta. dead." "What?" she said in quiet disbelief. "Yeah. terrible car crash. I was driving for the first time after I got my driver's licence and a semi-truck T-boned us. killed everyone. 'cept for me of course.." He said with quiet disdain. "You don't look like you've been in a car crash," said Hotaru, instantly regretting it. Robert took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. "I've got more scars on me than America has roads" he said quietly, rolling up his sleeve. Most of the arm was fine, but the underside was all shiny and puckered. "Third degree burns on my arms, doorpost through my lower abdomen, collapsed lung, shattered left knee. And I was the lucky one." Hotaru looked at him. He wasn't lieing at all. "Don't you have anyone left in you family?" she asked softly. "Nope, Grandfather and Grandmother on my Father's side died when I was seven, and my mother's parents died when I was thirteen. and my parents were only children." he said grimly. Hotaru placed his hand on top of his, he looked up at her, a single tear shining in his eye. "I understand. my mother. she died when I was very young." Robert smiled a little. "At least you know how it feels. but you weren't responsible for the death of your entire family." he said quietly. He groaned slightly and began to weep a little. Hotaru just held his hand. "It's okay, there in a better place," said Robert as he put his hand on his lap. "Hotaru. well. I guess I can say that I amazed that your still sitting here with me after I just told you that." "It wasn't your fault, the truck hit you-" "Yeah, because I wasn't watching where I was going." "So. you made one mistake-" "That one mistake took the rest of my family away from me! I should've been the one to die! It was my fault!" he said, tears freely falling down one side of his face. Hotaru looked at him, she knew how he felt. her mother had died giving birth to her. "It's not like you're the only one with problems like that you know" Hotaru said coldly. "How would you know?" "My mother died giving birth to me" she said quietly. Robert looked at her. "Two of a kind." said a male voice behind them. Robert stood up and looked at the man behind him. There were two of them, one looked to be a football player, and the other was just massive. "What do you two want?" asked Robert, wiping his eyes. "We heard about what you said to Bobbi-Jo-" Robert sighed and looked at the two of them "So she's sent the goon squad out after me, alright, fine, let's get this over with" he said as he walked off of the school grounds. The two guys followed Robert, he was smiling to himself. Robert stopped and turned around. "So, any ground rules?" The two guys looked at him. "Are we having a free-for-all, or do you want to actually keep your bones intact?" "No bone breaking, no shots below the belt" said the larger guy. "Fine with me" said Robert. Hotaru came running after them, standing between the two guys and Robert. "You will not hurt him!" she said. "Hotaru, move, it's a matter of honour now" said Robert, his tone stone cold and utterly devoid of emotion. Hotaru looked at him, his eyes were burning with rage and his fists were clenched tight. She stepped away from the men and Robert looked at them. "Whenever you're ready, Neanderthals" said Robert. The two guys charged at Robert, and he just stood there. The larger guy landed a punch right across Robert's jaw. "One" he said. The other decked him in the gut. "Two." The last guy kicked Robert in the small of the back. "Three" said Robert, springing into action. He snapped out his right hand, connecting with the larger guy, right in the forehead, then whipped it around and drove his elbow into the gut of the other guy "Three. two. one." said Robert, the two guys fell over in unison. Hotaru looked at him, he wasn't even hurt. "I guess I should' a told them I'm a black belt" Robert said as he walked over to Hotaru. She looked at him, he had a small smile on his face and a placid look on his face. Hotaru ran after him. "You okay?" "Yeah, uneducated jerks couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bazooka" Robert said. "About what I said before-" "It's okay. I just wanted you to know a little more about me," he said with a smile. Hotaru looked at him. "You sure your alright?" "I'm fine. they hit like little old women," He said with a chuckle. They walked back to their table and sat down. Robert put on a jazz Cd and they talked quietly until their lunch was over. "Well, I guess I'll see you after school" said Robert as he walked away. "Hey, wait up a second," said Hotaru. Robert stopped and turned around. Hotaru walked up to him and hugged him. He was stunned, but hugged her back lightly. "Uh. thank you." Robert said quietly as he stood there in stunned silence. Hotaru smiled at him and said "Better get moving, we've only got two minuets until class starts" "Uh-hun" he said in a daze as he walked slowly to his next class. Hotaru smiled at him and ran off to her next class. Robert was in a daze for the rest of the day. He did the work that was assigned, and then he just sat their, his eyes glassy as he thought about that hug, blinking every once in a while. Why had Hotaru hugged him? Did she really like him? He knew he liked her, but he didn't know if she liked him in the same way. Was she just hugging him to be a good friend and comforting him after what had gone on? So many questions, so little time to answer them all! He walked out of his class and went to his locker. Bobbi- Jo was waiting there for him. "Sorry about your little goon squad, I let them hit me three times, but they weren't up to the task" said Robert as he changed his books for his next class. "I know, and I'm sorry about what happened today, but." "Ms.Natira, I, to be totally frank, DO NOT GIVE A DAMN!" Robert said, raising his voice slightly. Bobbi-Jo looked at him. "What is your problem?" "You and your social levels," Robert said to her flatly. "To be truthful, I prefer the company of Ms.Tomoe to you and your trained poodles, so if you don't mind, please leave me alone!" he said, punctuating his statement by slamming his locker door closed. "I. I. I never! I try and be nice, and you chew me out! See if I ever talk to you again!" "That would be nice" Robert said. "ARGH!!" Bobbi-Jo nearly screamed as she stalked away from Robert, nearly knocking Hotaru over as she rounded the corner. "You can have that freak all to yourself!" Bobbi-Jo said to Hotaru as she stalked away. Hotaru looked at her for a second and then to Robert. Robert smiled and shrugged. She walked over to him and looked at him. "So, what exactly was that all about?" "Oh nothing, our illustrious friend was trying to get me to forget about you again, so I just laid it out on the table, clear as day for her to see" Hotaru looked at him. "You turned her down again?" "Yeah, I'd rather have one good friend than a bunch of trained poodles following me around and yammering in my ears for god-knows-how-long" said Robert, smiling at Hotaru. She smiled back. "I see your taking my advice" She looked at him quizzically. "Showing off that pretty smile of yours," He said with a warm smile. Hotaru blushed a little and smiled as she walked to her last class. Robert was happy, Hotaru was a true friend, maybe even more, but he couldn't ask her out, he had only known her for two days! He decided to wait for two weeks, then, if she was still interested, he would ask her out. He just hoped that she liked him the same way he liked her. He went to his last class and sat down. The sensai was drawing a prospective line drawing on the board. He knew what was coming. He got out his art book and sketching kit. The art class blew by, and he was soon finished his work. He exited the class and who would be waiting for him but Hotaru. "So, when exactly do I have to have you home by?" "Six" Robert looked at his watch, it was 3:30. "Fine with me!" he said as they walked out of the school. He flipped a small panel on his computer case and a small speaker was revealed. He cracked open the case and hit the play button. More Jazz came wafting out of the speakers as they walked around the city. It was quarter after four when they arrived at a mall. "Uhm.. Question, Hotaru" "Ask away" "You wanna catch a movie? My treat" Hotaru looked at him for a second.
"Uh, sure!" she said. They walked to the cinema and Robert paid for their admission. They exited at 5:30. "That was a really good movie, don't you think so Robert?" "It was good, little loud though," he said. "I'll agree with you there" said Hotaru. Robert and Hotaru walked back to her place and he dropped her off. "Robert, wait a second," said Hotaru as she was entering the house. "Sure" he said as he was leaving. Hotaru walked forward and smiled at him, hugged him, then kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thankyou for a wonderful time" she whispered into his ear as she went inside. Robert blinked a few times and smiled, then walked down the driveway. He felt like he was walking on air. Light as a feather! He had a serenely calm smile on his face and he was laughing slightly to himself. He was giddy! He was so happy that he was literally giddy! He got to his apartment and went up the elevator and entered his room. "WOHOO!!!!" He cried once the door had shut. "SHE LIKES ME!! SHE REALLY LIKES ME!!!" he said, nearly exploding with happiness. He laid down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. He couldn't remember feeling this good since.. Well, since ever! He was still chuckling to himself as he drifted off to sleep.