The day: Part III (Chapter 8)
"Back." I said as I sat on my chair. She smiled. "So......Haruka, my mother told me that you go to Dawn Creek Academy. Are you new here?" Michiru asked. I sighed. For mostly my whole life, Michiru went to the same school as I did. Kindergarten, elementary, and two years of high school. I guess she didn't notice. I don't blame her. "No, I'm not new. I went to Dawn Creek for two years now, this year being my third." I said. She blushed. "Oh. Sorry. I-I just.." It was her turn to stutter. I put my hand up. "No need to apologize. I'm not much of a social person anyways. So....what classes do you have, Michiru?" I asked. I wanted to change the subject. Hey, I'm not as nervous as I before. I guess it was when I put my anger out on the dumb waiter. Who's complaining?
Michiru relaxed, a little. "I have Honors Calculus, A.P. Physics, Band, Art, Japanese 3, and U.S. History. It's a lot of pressure. I love art and playing the violin. I can express my feelings through painting and music. Oh, and I love swimming! It's my favorite hobby too. What about you, Haruka?" Damn.... Advanced Placement Physics???! I couldn't even survive in regular science. And Calculus.....I can't even start. I'm guessing she is much stronger than me...surviving all this pressure. "Well.." I shrugged. "I'm not in advanced placement or in Honors, but I do other stuff...um...I play the piano...sometimes..." She seemed surprised. "Piano?? Oh Haruka!! I wrote a duet song for the piano and the violin." She said happily. She clasped her hands together and smiled. "I have a great idea. Why don't we play the song together? I mean, if you want to..." Want to??? I WOULD LOVE TO!!! "Sure...." I said. That was lame. But, hey, at least I didn't disappoint her or myself. She responded with a smile on her face. I could faint anytime now.....
A waitress brought our food in. I guess that *waiter* was too chicken to come out again. Heh. She slowly ate her food. "So....uh....aren't you like busy...like...uh..extra curriculum..er....hang out....with friends...I mean...not that I don't want you here....it's just that....you're....like.....popular...and.....sort of...busy....." I stammered. WHAT WAS THAT??? That wasn't even a sentence. Oh my god. She must think I'm a complete idiot now. My palms were beginning to sweat. Great, I'm nervous again. I wonder if she understood it. Fear ran to my whole body. Just perfect. I'm nervous AND worrying about her reaction. I picked up my cup of ice water and drank it. It was the only thing to do....that I had in mind. My cheeseburger was getting cold. I didn't care about eating anymore. It took her a few moments to respond.
"Yeah, I'm popular but it's not really 'all that' great, you know? I mean, if I mess up, my whole reputation is ruined. All the guys want me and I get sick of it....My friends are cool...but there are some things that they'll never understand. You, Haruka, you're independent and everything. At least your parents don't pressure you. I mean, to everybody, I'm like perfect....." She paused. TO ME, SHE'S PERFECT!! "To almost everyone, popularity is everything. Getting fame and recognition from other people is great, but just being alone to think is impossible. I want freedom. From everything, pressure...boys...stress....homework...." She stopped talking and continued eating. I guess she was done. I was confused. Hey, I really listened this time. "Well, I know a place where it's nice and quiet." I blurted. I didn't know what to say. Sadly, that was the thing I could think of. Great. But, I did know a place that's nice and quiet.
She lightened up. "Really? Can you take me there?" I'll do anything to make my goddess happy. If she's happy, I'm happy. "Yeah. We can go there right now." My heart was jumping everywhere. If I could, I would jump around and yell, "I'm so happy! Yes!!!" But, it wasn't the time to do that. Michiru was finishing up her lunch. "Aren't you going to eat, Haruka?" "I'm not really hungry now." I told her. "Do you want me to pay now?" She smiled and nodded. I waved a hand at one of the waiters and told them that I was ready to pay. A few minutes later, the same waitress that brought our food in gave me the bill. I paid and we were off. It'll only take about twenty-five minutes to go there. Plenty of time to talk.
"Where are we going, Haruka?" Michiru asked. I smiled and told her, "You'll see." It was 2:00 P.M. We spent an hour in the cafe. It didn't seem that long though. Time pass by so quickly when you least expect it.
"Back." I said as I sat on my chair. She smiled. "So......Haruka, my mother told me that you go to Dawn Creek Academy. Are you new here?" Michiru asked. I sighed. For mostly my whole life, Michiru went to the same school as I did. Kindergarten, elementary, and two years of high school. I guess she didn't notice. I don't blame her. "No, I'm not new. I went to Dawn Creek for two years now, this year being my third." I said. She blushed. "Oh. Sorry. I-I just.." It was her turn to stutter. I put my hand up. "No need to apologize. I'm not much of a social person anyways. So....what classes do you have, Michiru?" I asked. I wanted to change the subject. Hey, I'm not as nervous as I before. I guess it was when I put my anger out on the dumb waiter. Who's complaining?
Michiru relaxed, a little. "I have Honors Calculus, A.P. Physics, Band, Art, Japanese 3, and U.S. History. It's a lot of pressure. I love art and playing the violin. I can express my feelings through painting and music. Oh, and I love swimming! It's my favorite hobby too. What about you, Haruka?" Damn.... Advanced Placement Physics???! I couldn't even survive in regular science. And Calculus.....I can't even start. I'm guessing she is much stronger than me...surviving all this pressure. "Well.." I shrugged. "I'm not in advanced placement or in Honors, but I do other stuff...um...I play the piano...sometimes..." She seemed surprised. "Piano?? Oh Haruka!! I wrote a duet song for the piano and the violin." She said happily. She clasped her hands together and smiled. "I have a great idea. Why don't we play the song together? I mean, if you want to..." Want to??? I WOULD LOVE TO!!! "Sure...." I said. That was lame. But, hey, at least I didn't disappoint her or myself. She responded with a smile on her face. I could faint anytime now.....
A waitress brought our food in. I guess that *waiter* was too chicken to come out again. Heh. She slowly ate her food. "So....uh....aren't you like busy...like...uh..extra curriculum..er....hang out....with friends...I mean...not that I don't want you here....it's just that....you're....like.....popular...and.....sort of...busy....." I stammered. WHAT WAS THAT??? That wasn't even a sentence. Oh my god. She must think I'm a complete idiot now. My palms were beginning to sweat. Great, I'm nervous again. I wonder if she understood it. Fear ran to my whole body. Just perfect. I'm nervous AND worrying about her reaction. I picked up my cup of ice water and drank it. It was the only thing to do....that I had in mind. My cheeseburger was getting cold. I didn't care about eating anymore. It took her a few moments to respond.
"Yeah, I'm popular but it's not really 'all that' great, you know? I mean, if I mess up, my whole reputation is ruined. All the guys want me and I get sick of it....My friends are cool...but there are some things that they'll never understand. You, Haruka, you're independent and everything. At least your parents don't pressure you. I mean, to everybody, I'm like perfect....." She paused. TO ME, SHE'S PERFECT!! "To almost everyone, popularity is everything. Getting fame and recognition from other people is great, but just being alone to think is impossible. I want freedom. From everything, pressure...boys...stress....homework...." She stopped talking and continued eating. I guess she was done. I was confused. Hey, I really listened this time. "Well, I know a place where it's nice and quiet." I blurted. I didn't know what to say. Sadly, that was the thing I could think of. Great. But, I did know a place that's nice and quiet.
She lightened up. "Really? Can you take me there?" I'll do anything to make my goddess happy. If she's happy, I'm happy. "Yeah. We can go there right now." My heart was jumping everywhere. If I could, I would jump around and yell, "I'm so happy! Yes!!!" But, it wasn't the time to do that. Michiru was finishing up her lunch. "Aren't you going to eat, Haruka?" "I'm not really hungry now." I told her. "Do you want me to pay now?" She smiled and nodded. I waved a hand at one of the waiters and told them that I was ready to pay. A few minutes later, the same waitress that brought our food in gave me the bill. I paid and we were off. It'll only take about twenty-five minutes to go there. Plenty of time to talk.
"Where are we going, Haruka?" Michiru asked. I smiled and told her, "You'll see." It was 2:00 P.M. We spent an hour in the cafe. It didn't seem that long though. Time pass by so quickly when you least expect it.