Part 1

Summertime came and I didn't want to have anything to do, so I decided to get a job. Not only was that my reason, but I needed money too. I got out of my room one afternoon and walked to the living room where my mom was watching TV.

I positioned myself right in front of her, blocking her view. She turned her eyes at me and glared.

"What is it, honey?" She asked.

"I need a job, mom."

"Then go get one."

"But you know people. You have to help me."

"Hitomi, you have to get one on your own. That's part of growing up."

"Mom, please! Just try to find a job for me! I really need your help!" I pleaded.

She sighed. "All right, maybe I do know some people who have things needed to do. I'll go talk to them. Happy now?"

"Yes! Thanks mom, love you." I kissed her lightly on the cheek and walked back to my room.

"You're welcome!" She called.

*********

The next day, she drove me to this mansion 10 minutes away from where we lived. The place was beautiful and the gardens were just so amazing. I stared in awe as she drove the car around the huge fountain in the middle.

"What's my job, mom? You promised to tell me once we got here." I reminded her.

"That's right, Hitomi." She smiled. We got out of the car and walked to the doorbell. "Your job is to tutor."

"To tutor??" I asked in surprised. "Tutor, like a kid or something?"

"Well, no, not exactly."

We walked to the porch and mom rang the doorbell.

The door opened and a maid came. "May I help you?"

"Hi, we're here for a job." My mom explained.

"Oh yes, come on in. She's waiting for you in the living room." She directed us. I stared at the house. And it was so beautiful. Purely amazing!

There was a woman my mom's age and she was Japanese just like us. My mom and her suddenly hugged and I felt like I missed something. I stood and awkwardly waited until they stopped greeting each other. Finally, they both looked at me and smiled approvingly, though I had no idea why.

"Hi, I'm Hitomi Kanzaki." I smiled and offered my hand.

"No need for introductions, my dear! Just call me Mrs. Fanel." She smiled back at me. "Or better yet, Varie, whichever you like."

"Oh, hi…"

"Varie is my best friend from high school, college, and now." Mom explained.

I almost glared at her for not telling me all this. "Oh."

"The job that you'll be doing is tutoring my son." Jennifer described. "I believe that he has the brains and gift to do well in school, but he chooses not to. I need him to pass high school or he will get sent back to the Japan to his dad."

"So he's my age?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes." They both answered.

'Oh no…what if I know him??' "Great."

"Would you like to meet him?"

"Um, yeah, sure." I looked down as the two of them headed upstairs.

I looked at all the paintings on the walls and the beautiful carpets. Even the hallways were fancy. Finally, we stopped at a room. Varie knocked on the door, but no one answered. She knocked again and no one answered.

"I think he's gone somewhere." She said silently. "But I'm sure he's here. Folken, is Van here??"

I heard his name and my body just stopped. 'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, it cannot be Van. Please don't tell me it's Van.' "Mom, what are their last names?" I whispered.

"Fanel."

I backed away from the door. "Um, I don't think I'll be taking this job." I smiled nervously, walking down the stairs.

"Why not??" My mom asked, followed by Varie.

"See, the thing is," I started to explain when the door opened.

"Yeah?" The deep voice I knew so well vibrated in my nerves.

'Oh no, oh no, oh no, please God, don't let him see me…' I inched down to the level floor, but he stopped me.

"Who are you?" I didn't turn around, afraid of his reaction.

"No one!" I chirped in a different voice.

"Uh…mom?"  He asked Varie.

"She's your tutor, honey, but I have no idea why she's walking away."

"Come on, just turn around." Van called.

"No thanks! You don't need to see my face!"

"Hitomi, what is going on?"

'DAMNIT!!' I scowled.

"Hitomi?" Van called.

I whimpered silently and finally turned around. Van's face was just of pure shock and I knew he was going to really explode soon. See, Van and I, we were huge enemies. We never, ever got along, no matter what. I met him when I got to high school and ever since, my life changed. It wasn't as fun anymore, and I really didn't look forward to going to school, because I knew he'd be there to just ruin my day and embarrass me.

"What the hell are you doing here??" His eyes turned ablaze and dark.

I looked away. "See why I can't tutor him?" I retorted, backing away.

"Mom, what the hell is going on?"

"Please don't use foul language when we have guests." Varie answered him. "I hired a tutor for you, because you are failing school and I don't want you to go to Japan back to your dad."

"A tutor." He was appalled at the idea.

"Varie, he didn't know??" My mom asked.

"I'm so sorry..." She tried to explain.

"You could have gotten me any tutor, but it had to be her??" He stared back at me coldly. "So you're one of those geeks, huh? Studying all the time, no time for parties? Fun?"

I glared back at him. "I don't get why you have to criticize everything I do. I'm not the perfect person in the world, but you don't have a right to make fun of me."

"Uh, yeah I do. And I'm not making fun of you. I'm just calling you names."

"God, Van, I could just slap you in the face right now." I said angrily.

"Why do you call me by my first name? I never gave you permission to do that."

"Fine!" I growled. "Fanel, you bastard! I hate you!"

"HEY!" The parents yelled. "No name-calling or curse words! Both of you get in that room and start doing some work!!"

My mom sent me a vicious glare and I had to walk up the stairs slowly, taking in every second I could. They both left and we went in the room. He sat on his bed, leaving me the chair by his desk to sit on or the exerciser.

"You're not allowed to sit anywhere." He said, lying down.

"It's not like I want to sit in this muck anyway." I replied.

I stood there, looking out the window, which was probably the only thing I could do, since neither of us were talking. I crossed my arms and just glanced around the room. It was huge and painted light blue. He had posters of different groups; mostly rap artists.

"Why'd you even want a job?" He asked finally.

I sighed. "There's nothing to do during summer. Besides, I need the money."

"You're so boring."

"At least I get money I work for! Not like you! Being a spoiled brat that you are." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Watch what you say to me, Kanzaki." He warned.

"Whatever." I looked away from his cold eyes.

He kept quiet a while. "Don't you try to at least have fun when you can?"

"Just because I study or stay in school doesn't mean I don't have fun." I finally looked at him. "I just don't have the same fun that you have."

"I'm curious to know what kind of fun you have." His eyes were so bright. They were beautiful. I didn't quite like that idea of mine, but it appeared anyway.

I glared. "First of all, I do go out with my friends, we watch movies, we hang out in the malls, and we sometimes go to the pool."

"So the nerd does have fun."

"Stop calling me that." I warned him.

"What are you gonna do? Punch me?" He smirked.

"I will." I said angrily.

He waved it off. "Ooh, violent."

I gave a low growl, and I walked to the door and opened it. My mom and Varie were down in the living room, staring up at me.

"Get back in there and don't come out after 1 hour." They ordered.

"Why?? We're not even doing anything!!" I whined.

"Hitomi, get back in there." My mom warned. I stuck out my tongue to her and went back in.

I immediately closed the door and sat on the carpet. "You don't mind me sitting on your dirty carpet?"

"No."

"Ok good." I hugged my knees close to me and looked up at the ceiling. "You're rich."

"Really??" He asked sarcastically. "Funny, the 17 years I lived here, I never knew that."

I rolled my eyes at him. "If only you grew up the nice guy, not the cold guy who acts tough just cause he wants to be cool."

"I don't act tough, because I want to be cool. I act tough, cause I have to."

"You're kidding."

"Oh you know what? I think I am!" He gave me a sarcastic look. "If you're a softie kind of guy in our school, no way in hell are you gonna survive 5 years of high school."

"I'm not saying that you should have been a softie, but you should have been at least nice. Not mean and taunting, and rude and disrespectful. I could make a list just to describe you, but I really wouldn't get to the bottom of it."

"What?" His face looked confused.

"No matter how you act outside, you can never hide what you really are inside."

"There's nothing to hide."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

"So your heart is gold? No feelings whatsoever?"

"Got that right." He twirled his basketball.

"You have a girlfriend?" I asked.

"Yep."

"What's her name?"

"Millerna." I knew who she was…I didn't like her at all.

"All right, so Millerna, do you love her?"

"Sort of."

"All right. Let's say Millerna's cheating behind your back. You find out from your best friend that she's cheating on you. Would you be hurt?"

"No." He shrugged.

"Why not?"

"I don't love her."

"You said you loved her."

"I lied."

"Ugh, there's no point talking to you! Seriously!! Can't you at least be honest for once??"

"Look, stop being Dr. Phil and making me feel crap! I don't care! Got it??"

"Got it." I backed off.

*********

Finally, my mom let me out. I didn't feel like I needed to say goodbye to Van, so I just shut the door behind me and went with my mom.

"Will I be seeing you here tomorrow, Hitomi?" Varie asked.

Mom glanced at me. "It's your decision."

I looked up at the room on the 2nd floor. I nodded. "I'll be here by 2pm, Mrs. Fanel."

"Ok good." She smiled happily. "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye guys!"

"Bye!"

*********

"How was it?" Mom asked me in the car.

"It was really bad."

"So why'd you agree?"

"I feel like it's my business now about what he's going through. I mean, I do, I hate him so much, and I can't do anything about it. Everything he says just hurts me a lot, but I'm surprised that I'm still not crying after all the taunts. For every word he throws at me, it just makes me stronger, and I'm glad for that. He doesn't make me feel uncomfortable or in danger, quite the opposite, really."

"That's interesting."

"I know." I smiled lightly.

*********

The next day, I drove over to the house and got in the house. I stayed in the living room while I waited for Van to get back from his outing with his girlfriend. Varie told me to stay and eat some stuff she prepared. I watched a show while waiting. After about 15 minutes or so, I heard two pairs of laughter coming from the door. I knew it was the couple, so I decided to keep myself in hiding. I kind of hid my face a bit and continued watching TV. I heard their footsteps coming closer, so I kind of panicked, but stayed alive. I wore a hat that day and I was really regretting it.

"Hey mom." Van said. He thought I was his mom and leaned down to kiss me on the cheek.

"I'm not your mom." I whispered.

He had already kissed me on the cheek. I felt a huge tingle run down my spine to my heart. "What??" He backed away and looked at me. "Kanzaki??"

I glanced at Millerna who was glaring at me from the other couch. "Hitomi Kanzaki? The geek from our school??"

Somehow her words just plain hurt me. "I do have feelings, you know."

"Oh, well, whatever."

"You're the dumbest blonde in the school. Why do think you're better than everyone?"

"Simple. I got the looks. You don't."

"Hmm." I pretended to think for a second. "Let's see…where do looks get you?" I thought again. "Barber shop, maybe? Oh I know, stripper territory."

Van stifled a laugh from the back. I turned to him and almost smiled, but let it go. "Van, do not dare laugh at me."

"I'm not!" He protested, covering his mouth.

"You were the one who kissed her!!" Millerna yelled.

"Ok look, I thought you were my mom, and I'm sorry!" He told both of us.

"Who are you apologizing to?" I asked.

"Uh, both of you."

"Apology accepted, sweetie." Millerna smiled and walked over to him.

I merely nodded. I glanced at them hugging and couldn't help but feel jealous. I knew why Millerna and Van would go together. They were brats…alike in many ways. They belonged together! Why did that thought irritate so much??

"Millerna, do you mind going home today? Van has to do some tutoring." Varie said when she came out.

"Sure, no problem, Varie." She grinned.

Van and her cuddled up even more and I almost puked of disgust, so I turned away and walked outside to the huge pool. The garden was just lovely, with flowers of every kind and the pool was glimmering from the sun.

"Hey." I heard a deep voice. I turned around and saw a different version of Van, except older-looking and more mature.

"Hi." I said shyly.

"Are you Van's tutor?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm his brother, Folken."

"I'm Hitomi." We shook hands.

Right after, Van showed up. "Kanzaki, come on." He told me.

I looked up and waved at Folken. "Nice meeting you."

"You too." He grinned and sat back on the bench.

*********

I followed Van to his room and he looked kind of mad. He didn't talk or anything. As soon as we got to his room, he sat on his desk and started doing homework, which was very unlikely to happen. I sat on the carpet once again.

"You can sit on the bed if you want." He muttered.

"Oh, thanks." I said quietly and sat on the edge. "So, do you need help?"

"No." He answered shortly.

"Ok-" Before I could finish my sentence, he interrupted.

"Why did you go and talk to my brother?"

"I-I…"

"My mom didn't give you the right to go tour around our house."

"I-you were busy and I had nothing to do. I just thought…that it was ok. I'm sorry." I replied, looking at my hands. "I didn't mean to…"

He sighed. "Why'd you go and talk to my brother?"

"He introduced himself. I didn't even know he was there."

"Look, don't think of getting yourself involved with him, all right?"

"Just because I meet a guy doesn't mean I want to get involved with him." I answered back. "And why not?"

"Because!"

"Because??" I stood up.

"You just can't, all right??"

"Tell me why not."

"I can't tell you!"

"You're not being very reasonable! Are you not letting me date him??"

"Damn right."

"Van-uh, Fanel!" I corrected. "Give me one reason and if he does ask me out, then maybe I'll say no."

"I don't want you to."

"Not a reason."

"It's a reason."

"Not a very good one, though."

"Fine, you know what, date him."

"What?"
He finally looked at me and stood up, so we were inches apart, but he was about a head taller than me. "Folken's the kind of guy girls fall in love with everyday. He's a charmer, born a heartbreaker. Get it?"

I nodded. "That doesn't mean I'll fall in love with him."

"Millerna fell in love with him."

"Yeah, so? She's in love with you now!"

"Yesterday, you asked me about the thing about Millerna and cheating, remember?"

"Uh-huh."

"It happened before. Millerna cheated on me with Folken, and Allen, my best friend, told me. All right?"

"Oh." I stopped. "I didn't know…sorry."

"No big deal. I got over it after a while, she pleaded to be my girlfriend again. That's why if she does it again, it won't hurt me as much."

We stopped for a while and I turned away from him. "Can't I just call you Van? It's a whole lot easer." I mumbled.

He smirked at me. "Fine."

"Thanks."

"Can I call you Hitomi?" He asked me.

I was surprised at that question, but smiled. "Yeah sure."

"All right." He said gruffly.

I sat on the bed and looked at his notes, trying to figure out a way to explain to him the subject. After a few minutes, I got some papers and started drawing diagrams to tell him how algebra worked. Soon, he got it, and the time for the day was done.

I stood up. "I'll be back tomorrow." I told him.

He nodded. "Know the way out?"

"Yeah. Bye." I waved and closed the door behind me.

I walked down the stairs and sat on the last step putting on my shoes. Folken came and sat beside me. I smiled and kept tying the laces.

"So how's the studying going?" He asked.

"It's going fine. We've only just started, since yesterday, we just kept on screaming at each other."

"You and Van got some serious problems."

I nodded. "But I'm trying really hard becoming his friend. I don't like to have enemies, but it just so happens that I do have some."

"Well I'm not your enemy." He grinned.

"I'm glad." I smiled back. "I gotta go. I'll be back tomorrow. Bye."

"See you, Hitomi."

I waved one last time and headed home.

*Normal POV*

Van went downstairs and walked to the living room. He started to watch TV when Folken came in and sat on the couch beside his. "What are we watching?"

"I don't know. I just turned it on." Van answered.

"Why do you hate Hitomi?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

"So…is it all right if I…ask her out?"

Van finally looked at his brother. "You're 20. She's 17. No."

"Come on, Van! Why would you care anyway?? You don't like her, you don't care about her, how about I care about her then?"

He sighed. "You're a player, man."

"I'm not anymore. I swear."

"You go to college."

"So? I'll just date her during summer!"

Van set his jaw. "No."

"Why not??"

"After summer, what happens? What if she's totally in love with you and you break up with her??"

"Why do you care??"

"Why DON'T YOU care??"

"Look, when the time comes, I'll deal with it!"

"You know what? Fine! Date her. Whatever! I don't give a damn about her." Van tightly lied.

Folken stood up and went out of the room. Van sighed angrily and turned the TV off. 'I have a girlfriend and I'm thinking about Hitomi…ugh…' He stood up and walked to the kitchen, getting a pop, and then headed to the pool. He sat on one of the white seats and just relaxed under the drowning sun.

"Hi Van. How was tutoring?" His mom asked.

Van kept his eyes closed. "Fine."

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"Van…"

"Folken wants to go out with Hitomi."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

"Are you all right with it?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" He asked nervously.

"Nothing…" 

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