A/n: Woooow! I got so many reviews!! *Crys tears of happiness* Yay! I've actually got everything up to 5 written, but the 5th installment is giving me a wee bit of trouble... *glares* but I'll try and get it done and uploaded. I'll also post a new chapter a day, hurrah hurrah. Okay then. The second chapter, written on Cinderella's demand (lol!). I hope my readers find it enjoyable and. Yeah. Review!!
Disclaimer: see chapter 1
~The second chapter~
The second day of summer ah, the possibilities of what to do. Relax, watch TV, go swimming
I'm bored, declared Van from his position splayed out over the couch. Hitomi snorted, fanning herself with her hands.
Then why did you come over here? she asked. Why had her ac chosen today of all days to break?
said Van logically, I can. And because my house is currently a jumble of half unpacked boxes and random furniture.
So? Go over to somebody else's house, Hitomi said.
But when I went on my quest for a nail gun a few days ago, all I saw was either small children or little old ladies, replied Van with a grin, smiling up at Hitomi who was sitting with her legs over the top of the sofa.
replied Hitomi. How old are you, any way?
. Fifteen. Sixteen next March.
replied Hitomi. Sixteen in November.
replied Van carelessly, studying Hitomi with his eyes. Guess that means we'll be in the same grade next year.
Yeah. Whatever, replied Hitomi, hugging one of the couch pillows. What do you want to do?
I don't know, Van replied, trying to yank the pillow away.
Gee, you're helpful, said Hitomi, ignoring Van's tugs.
Maybe we could go swimming, or something, said Van. Hitomi sat up, letting go of the pillow just as Van tugged extra hard. Consequentially, he went rolling off of the couch, landing on the floor in what looked to be a slightly painful position.
Yeah, maybe, said Hitomi. Or we could go down to the shopping center-
Shopping? Yuuuuuuuuckk, came Van's muffled voice from the carpet. Hitomi leaned over the edge of the couch and helped him to pull himself to his feet.
- and go to the arcade, she offered. Van hopped up, his eyes starry.
he asked, hopping around like an overgrown Labrador.
Replied Hitomi cautiously.
Arcade arcade arcade! Van positively yelled. Score! Let's go!
Let me write a note Hitomi said, walking over to the phone and scribbling down where se would be on a yellow sticky note. She tore the note off the pad and set it on the phone.
Coool! I'll go tell Folken, Van said.
Hitomi asked in confusion, stepping into her flip-flops.
My brother, responded Van, opening the door and rushing outside. I'm living with him.
replied Hitomi, but she thought to herself, why is he living with his brother?' She shrugged it off and closed the door, locking it behind her and following Van across the street.
Hey Folken! Van yelled when they entered the house, causing Hitomi to clap her hands over her ears as his voice echoed about. I'm goin' to the arcade with Hitomi.
Van, Folken isn't here, said Merle, popping her head out of the kitchen door. I'll tell him when he gets back, though.
Thanks, sis, said Van, dashing over to Merle (but tripping over a couple of boxes on the way) and giving her a hug.
No problem, oh beloved sibling of mine, said Merle slightly sarcastically. She walked back into the kitchen and Van made his way over to Hitomi, tripping over several stray boxes in the process.
he said.
Van, you've got issues, declared Hitomi. Van ignored her, tore the door open, grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her out of the house. Somehow, Hitomi managed to shut the door behind her, letting out a small squeal as Van dragged her to the sidewalk, shooting off towards the end of the street.
Um, Van, said Hitomi, pointing over her left shoulder with her free hand. The arcade is that way.
said Van. He screeched to an abrupt halt, pivoted 180 degrees on his heels, and dashed off again, still dragging poor Hitomi along by the wrist.
~*&*~
Right, left up, no down.. gah! This is hard! Van wailed, randomly stomping at arrows on the Dance Dance Revolution machine.
Stop crying, said Hitomi. It's not that hard. The arrow comes up and you hit it. See? she said, putting her foot up on the mat and stomping the right arrow. Van glared at her.
I have no eye-foot coordination, so shut up, he said, randomly stomping at more arrows in bad time with the music, his arms flailing about. Suddenly, the sound of chains echoed from the machine, along with in large blue letters.
See? I can't do it, said Van. Hitomi patted his shoulder.
We'll come here a lot and you'll eventually get it. Watch, she said, hopping up onto the metal pad and putting a few quarters into the machine. She hit the arrows a few times to select the song, adjusted the level and pressed start.
Are you sure you want to do it on expert mode? Van asked warily. Hitomi nodded, and music spread through the mostly-empty arcade. It was fast paced, and what seemed like a million flashing arrows (to Van, of course) zoomed through the screen. Hitomi began to hit the arrows with her feet, her legs moving seemingly faster than light (but only to Van, naturally.) A small crowd of the few people in the arcade gathered around to watch Hitomi. At one part she squatted down and hit the arrow behind her with her left hand, her face flushed. But she hopped up again, and fell to her knees somehow managing to hit the last few arrows as the song ended.
See? Not that bad, said Hitomi with a smile, standing up as the people gathered around clapped. You'll be able to do that, too, by the end of summer. She looked at her score.
she said, disappointed. I missed two.
Dude, but you got a hundred and ninety six! exclaimed Van, squinting at the count at the top of the screen. You still got an
Yeah, I guess, said Hitomi with a shrug. I'm thirsty. Let's go get a drink, she said as the crowd that had gathered around the DDR machine dispersed.
said Van, following Hitomi out of the arcade and along the concrete sidewalk of Schezar Shopping Center.' Hitomi pushed open the door to a small deli that was little more than a hole in the wall.
Hey Dryden, Hitomi said, walking up to the counter and leaning on it with her elbows. The cashier, Dryden, looked up from the book he was reading and smiled at Hitomi.
Hey Hitomi. Who's this? Dryden asked, jerking his head at Van.
New neighbor, Hitomi said, and then leaned in and whispered like a leech.
I heard that! said Van suddenly; looking away from the poster of a flying pig he had previously been staring at in a mix of awe and wonderment. I am not a leech. An obnoxious idiot, but not a leech. Leeches are green and yucky. Am I green and yucky? Noooo, he said. Dryden looked at Hitomi, confused.
Did you understand any of what he just said?
Yes, unfortunately, replied Hitomi. He said that he doesn't like it when I call him names.
said Van simply, making moose antlers out of his hands and putting them on top of his head. Dryden only raised an eyebrow, and turned back to Hitomi.
Right then. So, do you want the usual?
Yes please, sighed Hitomi, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. And get him a deli no. 3 and a sprite. Nothing with caffeine.
Got it, said Dryden, and he walked into the kitchen. Hitomi made her way over to Van, who was staring up at the poster of the pig again, and smacked him sharply upside the back of his head.
he said, rubbing his neck. That really, really hurt, he whined.
Shut up, you. You're intolerable.
Aw, but Hitomi, Van whined. Hitomi ignored him and sat down, reclining in the metal chair and propping her knees against the table. Van dropped like a stone into the chair next to her with a silly grin on his face.
Dude, Van, Hitomi said, Why are you so
Friendly? Energetic? Obnoxious? He asked with a devilish grin.
All of the above, Hitomi replied. Van put up the pretense of thinking, and then slammed his fist down on the table, causing Hitomi to jump a bit.
Well, lets see. I ate out most of a friend's food supply yesterday so that's been fueling me for the past twenty-four hours, I just got to see said friend kick some serious ass at a game I can barely figure out how to turn on, it's very pleasant outside and I had Coco puffs for breakfast.
I think the Coco puffs explain it, said Hitomi. You should eat healthier.
Healthy isn't fun, said Van.
Here you go Hitomi, psycho boy, said Dryden, setting two red plastic baskets in front of each person. Hitomi watched as Van immediately dug into his turnkey sub sandwich, and crammed her own into her mouth as daintily as possible. Van looked up at her with a smirk, a shred of turkey hanging out, and smirked.
he said, swallowing the turkey. Hitomi patted her mouth with her napkin.
I can't help. It's good, she said. Van stared at her plate, then at his.
Dude! You inhaled that thing! And mine is only half eaten. Holy shit! he said, his mouth hanging open. Hitomi crossed her hands over her chest, leaned back, and took a sip of her coke.
Well, I was hungry, she said. Van only stared and then shrugged, turning back to his plate and cramming the rest of his sandwich into his mouth at once. Hitomi ate a few chips and stood up, stretching her arms above her head.
Do you want to go back to the arcade? she asked, reaching into her pocket for her wallet and tossing a few crisp dollars onto the counter for Dryden.
Nah. Let's go back to your place, he said, skipping out the door. Hitomi followed, letting it ding!' behind her.
Okay. What'll we do at my place? Hitomi asked.
I don't know. Bother the ac repairmen? Eat? Sit on the roof and watch the clouds? Take your pick. Van said, bounding along like the puppy he often seemed to be.
We'll figure it out when we get there, then, Hitomi said, following Van out of the concrete shopping center and through the asphalt parking lot, where heat radiated up at them, scorching through the bottoms of their sandals. Hitomi slipped on her sunglasses and dashed after Van, glad she could run so well.
Hey Hitomi, Van said once they had reached the sidewalk leading to their residential street. Race you.
You'll wish you hadn't done that, Hitomi called after him, pulling off her flip-flops and crouching low as he sped off.
One, two, three, she muttered, and shot off. She quickly closed the remaining distance between her and Van, and easily passed him.
Yelled Van as Hitomi sped off down the sidewalk. She laughed over her shoulder at him and turned the corner, her feet skidding and hurting a bit as the rough concrete bit at the fleshy underside of her toes. She continued running, turned another corner, crossed the street and dashed into her house, closing the door behind herself and locking it tight. Her mother still wasn't home typical. Hitomi dropped her flip-flops on the tile in the entryway and ran up her stairs, dashing into her room and hopping out onto the roof. Van was sluggishly attempting to finish the race, but it had been reduced to a pathetic panting, barely walking movement.
Hey slow poke! Yelled Hitomi from her roof, waving down at him with a grin. What took you so long?
You're really really fast, Van said, awkward scrambling up the tree. You should apply for the Olympics or something. Not noticing her stiffen, he continued. I mean, woah.
Right, right, right. What do you want to do? asked Hitomi slightly nervously. Van put his chin in his hands, still panting.
Well, you could let me think and catch my breath, he said. And then we could go inside, he said. Is the ac fixed yet? Hitomi stuck her hand in through the window.
No, but we can turn on the fans, she offered. Van nodded.
Okay. Fans. And we can eat ice cram and listen to music.
Van, we just ate, Hitomi pointed out. Is food all you think about?
Food and pretty girls, he said, shooting Hitomi a grin. Top two on the list of priorities.
Which goes first? Hitomi laughed. Van looked at her, grinning in a way that made Hitomi's stomach turn flip-flops.
Do you want to find out? he asked. Hitomi gulped, and Van smiled.
Just kidding, he laughed, backing off. He stood up, and pulled himself through Hitomi's window. Hitomi followed, wondering why her heart rate had gone crazy at Van's antics. Just a reflex, she told herself. But a reflex to what?
You coming? Van asked Hitomi. She nodded and followed him out of her room, turning off the fan on the way out.
So, music? Hitomi asked.
You know what? Van said suddenly. I have a really, really good idea.
Uh oh
~*&*~
And so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here, with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Coz you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no not I, I will survive
For as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
And I've got all my love to give
I'll survive
I will survive
Hey hey Come on Hitomi, you should sing too, Van insisted, singing very, very off key along with a cd he had managed to talk Hitomi into unearthing. She had instantly regretted it.
she said, sitting on the couch and painting her toenails a sparkly purple. I don't sing.
Sure you do, Van said, trying to tug her up by her wrists.
No, I don't, she replied, and I'm going to ram this bottle of nail polish up your
Just one song? Van begged, nevertheless stepping away.
Aww, Hitomi
I said no! exclaimed Hitomi. N-O. No. Not okay, not sure, NO.
Van whimpered, now cowering next to the TV. In the background, Diana Ross was blaring something about love and friendship. Hitomi sighed and tried a different tactic. She sniffed and looked away.
Can't you respect my wishes? she sniffled pathetically, wiping at her eyes.
Ha. That doesn't work on me. I'm immune, said Van, puffing out his chest. Hitomi looked up at him and glared, capping the bottle of nail polish.
Darn. Then there's only one other way to get you to shut up, Hitomi said.
And what would that- Van's words were cut off as a large tan pillow from the couch hit him in square in the face.
By force! yelled Hitomi over her shoulder as she ran up to her room. She shut the door behind her and locked it, giggling. She looked down at her sparkly purple toenails, glad that Van hadn't ruined her polishing, an action he would have had to pay for in blood.
wailed Van, pounding on the door. Why not?
Because I say so, replied Hitomi, walking over to her radio and turning on one of Yukari's most lucid pop cd's full blast.
screeched Van from the other side of the door. Not Millerna Aston Hitomi cackled to herself and hopped deftly out of her window, climbing down the tree and running into the back yard, where the echoes of Millerna's song Bang me Baby One More Time, echoed down to. Hitomi looked around- where had Kiyoshi left it before he had gone off to live with their father? Hitomi let out an of triumph and snagged her younger brother's old super soaker, and pulled herself up the tree and through her window. Millerna's cd was still blaring, and out in the hallway, Van was shrieking stop the torture! Hitomi took pity on him and turned off the cd.
THANK GOD! Van yelled. Hitomi pumped the super soaker up, cocked it, and held it ready. She unlocked the door and Van burst in, only to find that his shirt was now soaked.
I got you! Hitomi yelled. Van growled and ran at her, jumping on her bed to try to get to her. She darted to the right, dropping the now empty super soaker and dashing out of the room, squealing and laughing as Van made a pathetic attempt at chasing her.
You're too fast, Dammit! he yelled as Hitomi ran down the stairs into the kitchen.
she asked once he had finally reached her, carrying the supersoaker.
yelled Van, squirting it up. He had somehow managed to refill it, and Hitomi squealed as her navy blue care bears tee became soaked.
You've defiled the care bears! she shrieked, leaping on top of Van and wrestling him to the floor. They rolled about, Van trying to get rid of Hitomi's death grip around his neck and she trying to strangle him, when the garage door opened. Mrs. Kanzaki walked in, and her eyes widened at the sight of her daughter sitting on top of the new boy.
Hi mom, she said.
Van gasped. Hitomi only pushed his head into the floor harder.
Shut up, you, she growled, and then turned to her mother again, smiling. How was your day?
~*& *~
That night, Hitomi sat at her desk, writing in her diary, when the window squeaked open. Van hopped into the room, grinning.
Hey Hitomi, he said.
Hey Van, Hitomi replied, capping the pen and closing her diary, throwing it carelessly into her desk. Van grinned.
Folken's set up our old telescope, he said. Hitomi pulled herself out of her chair.
she asked.
Van said, I was wondering if you wanted to come see the stars through it.
Are you serious? Hitomi asked. That'd be great. Van grinned, a light spreading across his face.
He hopped out of the window, and Hitomi followed him, down the tree and across the street. She stepped into the living room and was surprised at the progress that the Fanel family had managed to make in one day. The furniture was methodically arranged and most of the boxes were unpacked. Hitomi followed Van out into the back yard, and he pointed to an industrial-looking telescope. Hitomi walked over to it, and Van uncapped the lens.
Lets see, he said, putting his eye against it and moving it around. Here's Saturn. He stepped back and let Hitomi take a look.
Oh, wow, she breathed. It's gorgeous.
You think so? he asked. Hitomi pulled back from the telescope and nodded.
Yeah. What else is there?
Uh, let's see, Van said, stepping up to the telescope and swiveling it around a bit. Oh, here, look at this And the next half hour passed with the duo looking at the sky through the telescope, chattering amiably as the cool breeze blew leaves around then, swirling in eddies and tossing their hair.
I'd better get going, said Hitomi regretfully. We don't want my mom to have a heart attack or anything.
Guess not, replied Van with a grin. I'll see you tomorrow, he said.
Hitomi replied.
Bye, Van winked. Hitomi walked out of the backyard, but before leaving she turned to look at Van, who had his hands in his pockets, just staring up at the sky. Hitomi smiled, and left, walking back across the street to her house, climbing the tree, making her way across the roof and falling into her window.
came Mrs. Kanzaki's voice. Are you up there?
Yeah mom, called Hitomi, gathering her pajamas from the floor. I was listening to my walkman
Oh. Well, you need to go to bed, sweetheart. It's getting late.
Will do, Mom, Hitomi called, walking into the bathroom and changing into her pajamas. She brushed her teeth and tossed her clothes in a hamper, and then turned out the light and walked back into her room. She sighed and looked out the window, deciding to leave it open. The cool night air was pleasant, Hitomi thought, as she turned out her light and crawled beneath the sheets. She was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow, drifting through the land of dreams.
~*&*~
A/N: There's the second chapter yay! I hope everybody liked it, LoL. ^.^ review! And, because I am a lazy bum, I am not going to do review replies until the very end of the story. ^_^ heehee.
