A/N: I have an urge to write a really long chapter. Sorry if it's neither short nor long.
I Am Not Iseult!
Fourth Chapter: He's Just A Friend..Right?
Aidana smirked. Dillan started cracking up. Dilandau was screaming at the ticket woman for not letting his seven friends in without paying. He hadn't realized his arch rival was here yet.
Aidana turned to her brother, still smiling. "Betcha my math assignment that he takes his head off before it starts."
Dillan laughed back, "I don't make bets I know I'll lose."
Van gently steered Hitomi away from the speakers, and behind a group of people, hiding them from Dilandau. "Why did you do it?"
Hitomi shrugged. "I'm tired of being this quiet little girl who's picked on because she'd rather read fortunes. I decided I'd be a little different."
Van kissed the top of her head. "Ok. I'm here with Merle, and it looks like you're here with Dilandau's group through Aidana. To keep from getting you thrown out of this group I'll let you go. Dilandau would want you roasted for talking with me, but.." he trailed off, and Hitomi followed his gaze and giggled.
"He still hasn't given up..Van?" she looked up, but he was gone. She sighed, and walked back over to the speaker. "Don't worry about your life, Cuz if you hold it to close you'll lose it..Don't worry about your life, so won't ya let go, before it's gone?"
The concert was great, and after it started, she didn't think of Van, just of dancing and screaming louder than Celesi and kicking Dilandau off and on when he couldn't tell who did it.
As they were walking home about midnight, Aidana commented that the concert had started late. "Usually it starts at eight or nine. They must have gotten in late." She shrugged, and walked over to Dilandau and pushed him to the ground, before running into her house. "Enjoy school tomorrow!" she called.
They all groaned, except Celesi, who laughed at them. "Yep! I'm going to stay up chatting. You guys'll go home and crash only to get up in six hours!" she giggled and went into the house next to Aidana's.
Dilandau looked at Hitomi approvingly. "You've been a lot different than I expected. Now since you were singing with Aidana, what was your punishment?"
So they walked around, laughing, talking about different punishments they'd gotten for messing around at school. Hitomi laughed along with them. Dilandau actually was an orphan, and was living with Folken, paying rent.
He shrugged uncomfortably. "It's better than foster care." He muttered.
Hitomi nodded, and giggled. "I think your friends are ready to crash. See you tomorrow, Dillys'!" Dillan and Dilandau looked at each other, very angry, barely withholding it. "She. Called. Us. Dillys!?" They said unanimously.
The next day at school, Hitomi had black circles under her eyes. Millerna was sympathetic. "Allen used to drag me to all his favorite concerts when we were going out. Don't go with your group out of feeling to need to, to belong. It's not worth it."
Hitomi shook her head. "No, we went to a Skillet concert, that was awesome, and then afterwards we walked around until we saw police officers glaring at us. After dealing with our punishments, it was a nice relief."
Millerna blinked. "You mean, you were grounded, and you went out anyway?"
Hitomi was confused. "Yeah..why? I had to rehook my room, to be sure I could. Now I don't think I should have bothered, because I can hang out with them until they stop punishing me."
Van heard her, and muttered, "Until you start getting blamed for what they do. Popularity comes at a price, Hitomi."
Yukari, who Hitomi had realized the day before while she was dealing with the counselor also went, popped in, seeing Van walk by, and Hitomi's blush. "What's going on with you two, anyway?"
Hitomi saw Guimel, and jumped up. "Nothing! We're just friends!" she looked down, knowing the class was staring at her again, and she heard Van sigh. Suddenly her hands were very interesting.
I meant what I said, didn't I? We're just friends…right?
Aidana's walkman started as the bell rang, and Hitomi was pleased at the song. Universe calmed her down a little
"Like the river that runs to the sea
The oceans speak of your love for me
It's deeper than I can imagine
Higher than the sky is your love for me.."
The next verse jerked her.
I have no idea what I feel for him, but what does he think of me?
Van, listening from his seat next to her, thought the last verse applied very well to what he thought of her.
"..If I were to count every thought that you think of me
They would be more than the sand on the shore
When I'm awake you see what I'm thinking
And when I'm asleep, you're watching!"
