Mad About You
Chapter 5: Confessions and a Sleepover
AN: This chapter is gonna be a good one! Kinda corny, but good! Please keep up the reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Kai, pass the popcorn!" Tyson called over the noise of the movie. Kai had been having the worst night of his life.
Max's father insisted on him sleeping over, instead of just driving Kai home. Max invited Tyson, Kenny, and Rei over for a sleepover, and they had gladly accepted.
"Come and take it. It's right here," Kai smirked. His look didn't have any feeling in it at all though. It seemed forced. His stomach had been feeling much better now that Ayame was gone, but every time one of the boys mentioned a female, he would have to vomit again.
"Hey, Kai, maybe that's one of those 24-hour stomach virus'," Kenny suggested. Max stared at Kai knowingly. On the way home, he had bugged Kai until he had told him what was wrong. Max knew everything.
"I'm going to bed," Kai said simply. He rolled over in his sleeping bag.
"It's only 7, though!" Tyson protested.
"Like I care."
"Fine then, go to sleep if you wanna be a little baby and go to bed the same time as a seven-year-old!" Tyson teased, his voice mimicking that of a child's.
Kai sat up. Tyson smirked. He apparently thought he had been successful in getting Kai to stay up. He was wrong.
Kai switched off the TV in the middle of the movie.
"HEY!" Rei cried. "That was the best part!" Kai smirked emptily again.
"I can't sleep with all of that noise. Besides, we have school tomorrow. Go to bed."
Tyson frowned and muttered something inappropriate under his breath. Then he rolled over and went to sleep.
*
Kai felt much better the next morning, which he resented, because it meant that the boys that had spent the night here really had succeeded in their goal - comforting him.
Did this mean that they were his friends?
Hell no, Kai decided. They were acquaintances. Not friends. Friends were a sign of weakness.
Just then, a cloud of remembrance flooded over Kai. Why he was here. One word summed up the experience.
Ayame.
Kai wondered what she was thinking right now. Was she crying? Or was she just indifferent? Maybe she hadn't thought about Kai at all.
Wait a minute! Why did Kai care what she felt!?
Either way, he sat up and got dressed quietly, careful not to wake the others, who were still sleeping. He grabbed his things and was about to exit the house when Max's dad stopped him.
"Where are you headed to this early, Kai? It's only 6!" he asked surprised, but a slight smile played on his lips.
"I need to leave. Go see someone."
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to interrogate you. Go on then." Mr. Tate moved aside so that Kai could step through the threshold. It was freezing outside.
Kai hesitated on whether to stop and answer or not. He decided on the former and turned around.
"Thank you," he said rather dryly, not sure of what else to say. He decided on "for everything." Then Kai turned back around and headed for Hiragara Avenue.
He knew exactly where he was going. She had described it so easily to him before, and Kai had paid close attention, just in case he needed the directions later. It was times like these when he loved his photographic memory[1].
As he turned left onto the street, he recalled the address easily. 5401. It was an apartment building, and he remembered the number as 6. He recalled when she had told him that Tyson lived next door at number 7, though Kai knew he was still at Max's.
He had finally reached the house.
He knocked twice, not really caring that he was probably waking someone up.
A few seconds later, a young man answered the door, looking quite sleepy. He was wearing blue pajamas, and his brown hair was clean and messy.
The man eyed Kai curiously, but he waited for Kai to say something first. Finally he gave in and asked "Yes?"
"Is Ayame home?" Kai asked quickly, the cold making his cheeks turn red. Not that they didn't turn red when he mentioned her name anyway..
"She's asleep." The man said briefly. He attempted to shut the door in Kai's face, but he grabbed it before it shut.
"Can I speak to her?" The man hesitated. "It'll be brief, and I came all the way here," Kai added, not sure why he was trying so hard.
"Fine." He held the door open enough for Kai to enter, and then shut it quickly. He led Kai to a bedroom door and pointed. Then he yawned and headed back to his own room.
Kai opened the door slowly, making sure Ayame wasn't changing or anything. When he didn't see her, he opened it all the way and entered.
The first thing he noticed was the room. It was a pretty shade of purple, and all of the furniture was white. The floor was a brown wood color, and there was a purple rug on it.
Then he noticed Ayame. She was lying on her bed, still asleep, and she was hugging her pillow. She was mumbling to herself and she has a frown on her face.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I will, I promise." She continued for a few seconds saying the same things over and over, and Kai took a step closer to her. He kneeled beside her bed and stared at her. He pretty black hair was ruffled, and Kai reached out to smooth it gently with his hand.
She smiled quickly and continued mumbling.
What the hell was he thinking!? He did not come here to touch her! He came here to talk!
But something made him want to touch her again. It was an uncontrollable feeling, like she was drawing him in. The tangible scent of strawberries entered his nose, and Kai was sure that it was her hair.
Kai brushed his hand against her cheek ever so gently, and she shivered as though he were tickling her.
Kai leaned in, not sure what he was doing, and brushed his lips against her cheek.
BLEEP!
Kai burst from his trance and pulled away quickly.
WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING?!
He didn't have time to ponder this, because Ayame reached up without opening her eyes and turned off her noisy alarm clock.
"God, I hate you," she said to the clock, opening her eyes a crack. As soon as she saw Kai staring at her, she sat up and opened her eyes fully.
Kai Hiwatari was sitting in her room. Just sitting there! Kai could feel his already hot cheeks getting hotter.
"I was going to wake you up," Kai said hesitantly. Ayame nodded, but stared at him in disbelief.
"Why are you here?" she asked cautiously. "I thought you hated me." She added coldly. She wasn't herself at all.
"I've had some time to think it over Kai, and I really don't think you should be here. You've thrown my whole life out of whack with that stupid.. yelling thing, and I just." The look in his eyes stopped her.
"What?"
"I came to apologize. I feel bad, really. And that's not easy for me to say."
Silence.
Ayame didn't reply at all, and she only stared at Kai. His eyes seemed to confirm his words, but she was still unsure. She flinched a little; his intense eyes were starting to bother her.
Kai was being pulled into her deep blue orbs, and he didn't know what was happening.
Suddenly he couldn't breathe.
He was drowning.
His breath caught in his throat, and he couldn't speak. He opened his mouth, but the words didn't come. What was he going to say?
"Ayame! Get dressed! School!" called her father's voice from the other room.
She tore her eyes away from Kai's and stood up. This was the first time Kai had seen what she was wearing.
She had on a white midriff showing tank-top and a pair of white sweatpants. Kai's face grew hot once more as he watched her peer into her closet, which was filled with school uniforms.
"Kai?" she asked. He had almost forgotten he himself was there. He felt like he was watching a movie instead of sitting in her room.
"Yeah?"
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, finally deciding on an outfit.
"You." Ayame turned around almost immediately. Kai couldn't believe he had just said that! How stupid could he be?! His mind was racing to think of an excuse.
"What?" she turned around to look at him, her cheeks a light pink.
"I said the flu. What's wrong with that?"
"The flu?" Ayame raised one eyebrow.
"Yeah, I've been feeling sick lately." It wasn't exactly a lie. He had thrown up many times the previous night.
"Oh. I thought you said something else. Never mind," she felt so stupid. How could she have thought Kai had said what she thought he had said? Mr. I- don't-like-anyone. She sighed.
"I need to change," she said quickly.
"Oh, right." Kai stood up and started to leave, but Ayame pushed the door shut.
"Stay here. I want to tell you something."
"WHAT?!" Kai had tried hard to keep his cool act up, but when she said that his face was redder than a tomato, and he practically screamed his response.
"Just stand here and face the door," she prompted, and went back over to her bed. As she dressed, Kai was very glad he didn't face her. If Ayame had seen the look on his face he was sure he would've died.
"Kai, I want to tell you something." He nodded simply.
"Do you remember when we first met, and our teacher asked me where I had been and I lied? Was it obvious?" Kai wasn't sure how to answer. It had been very obvious to him, but maybe it was because he was good at reading people.
"Yeah, I think it was. Why?"
"When my mother died, she told me that she liked my smile. She always told me to smile. It was the last thing she told me before she died. She made me promise that I wouldn't frown ever again. So I never have." Kai could only stare at the wall in awe. What the hell was she talking about? What did this have to do with school? Or him in that instance!
"I want you to know, that that's why I don't show my emotions so easily. I never cried. Not until you. You made me lie to my mother, Kai." She didn't sound like she was accusing him, but it felt that way.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't want sympathy. But I said all of that to say this. That day in school." she paused and then continued. "My father died 2 days before. That's why I was out so long. He had been in the hospital for months before, and I had to look after my little brother. So I hadn't attended school."
Kai had finally understood. Ayame wasn't perfect like she had seemed..
AN: Cliffy! I liked this chapter! Please review!
[1] I highly doubt that Kai has a photographic memory, but for this fic, pretend he does.
AN: This chapter is gonna be a good one! Kinda corny, but good! Please keep up the reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Kai, pass the popcorn!" Tyson called over the noise of the movie. Kai had been having the worst night of his life.
Max's father insisted on him sleeping over, instead of just driving Kai home. Max invited Tyson, Kenny, and Rei over for a sleepover, and they had gladly accepted.
"Come and take it. It's right here," Kai smirked. His look didn't have any feeling in it at all though. It seemed forced. His stomach had been feeling much better now that Ayame was gone, but every time one of the boys mentioned a female, he would have to vomit again.
"Hey, Kai, maybe that's one of those 24-hour stomach virus'," Kenny suggested. Max stared at Kai knowingly. On the way home, he had bugged Kai until he had told him what was wrong. Max knew everything.
"I'm going to bed," Kai said simply. He rolled over in his sleeping bag.
"It's only 7, though!" Tyson protested.
"Like I care."
"Fine then, go to sleep if you wanna be a little baby and go to bed the same time as a seven-year-old!" Tyson teased, his voice mimicking that of a child's.
Kai sat up. Tyson smirked. He apparently thought he had been successful in getting Kai to stay up. He was wrong.
Kai switched off the TV in the middle of the movie.
"HEY!" Rei cried. "That was the best part!" Kai smirked emptily again.
"I can't sleep with all of that noise. Besides, we have school tomorrow. Go to bed."
Tyson frowned and muttered something inappropriate under his breath. Then he rolled over and went to sleep.
*
Kai felt much better the next morning, which he resented, because it meant that the boys that had spent the night here really had succeeded in their goal - comforting him.
Did this mean that they were his friends?
Hell no, Kai decided. They were acquaintances. Not friends. Friends were a sign of weakness.
Just then, a cloud of remembrance flooded over Kai. Why he was here. One word summed up the experience.
Ayame.
Kai wondered what she was thinking right now. Was she crying? Or was she just indifferent? Maybe she hadn't thought about Kai at all.
Wait a minute! Why did Kai care what she felt!?
Either way, he sat up and got dressed quietly, careful not to wake the others, who were still sleeping. He grabbed his things and was about to exit the house when Max's dad stopped him.
"Where are you headed to this early, Kai? It's only 6!" he asked surprised, but a slight smile played on his lips.
"I need to leave. Go see someone."
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to interrogate you. Go on then." Mr. Tate moved aside so that Kai could step through the threshold. It was freezing outside.
Kai hesitated on whether to stop and answer or not. He decided on the former and turned around.
"Thank you," he said rather dryly, not sure of what else to say. He decided on "for everything." Then Kai turned back around and headed for Hiragara Avenue.
He knew exactly where he was going. She had described it so easily to him before, and Kai had paid close attention, just in case he needed the directions later. It was times like these when he loved his photographic memory[1].
As he turned left onto the street, he recalled the address easily. 5401. It was an apartment building, and he remembered the number as 6. He recalled when she had told him that Tyson lived next door at number 7, though Kai knew he was still at Max's.
He had finally reached the house.
He knocked twice, not really caring that he was probably waking someone up.
A few seconds later, a young man answered the door, looking quite sleepy. He was wearing blue pajamas, and his brown hair was clean and messy.
The man eyed Kai curiously, but he waited for Kai to say something first. Finally he gave in and asked "Yes?"
"Is Ayame home?" Kai asked quickly, the cold making his cheeks turn red. Not that they didn't turn red when he mentioned her name anyway..
"She's asleep." The man said briefly. He attempted to shut the door in Kai's face, but he grabbed it before it shut.
"Can I speak to her?" The man hesitated. "It'll be brief, and I came all the way here," Kai added, not sure why he was trying so hard.
"Fine." He held the door open enough for Kai to enter, and then shut it quickly. He led Kai to a bedroom door and pointed. Then he yawned and headed back to his own room.
Kai opened the door slowly, making sure Ayame wasn't changing or anything. When he didn't see her, he opened it all the way and entered.
The first thing he noticed was the room. It was a pretty shade of purple, and all of the furniture was white. The floor was a brown wood color, and there was a purple rug on it.
Then he noticed Ayame. She was lying on her bed, still asleep, and she was hugging her pillow. She was mumbling to herself and she has a frown on her face.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I will, I promise." She continued for a few seconds saying the same things over and over, and Kai took a step closer to her. He kneeled beside her bed and stared at her. He pretty black hair was ruffled, and Kai reached out to smooth it gently with his hand.
She smiled quickly and continued mumbling.
What the hell was he thinking!? He did not come here to touch her! He came here to talk!
But something made him want to touch her again. It was an uncontrollable feeling, like she was drawing him in. The tangible scent of strawberries entered his nose, and Kai was sure that it was her hair.
Kai brushed his hand against her cheek ever so gently, and she shivered as though he were tickling her.
Kai leaned in, not sure what he was doing, and brushed his lips against her cheek.
BLEEP!
Kai burst from his trance and pulled away quickly.
WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING?!
He didn't have time to ponder this, because Ayame reached up without opening her eyes and turned off her noisy alarm clock.
"God, I hate you," she said to the clock, opening her eyes a crack. As soon as she saw Kai staring at her, she sat up and opened her eyes fully.
Kai Hiwatari was sitting in her room. Just sitting there! Kai could feel his already hot cheeks getting hotter.
"I was going to wake you up," Kai said hesitantly. Ayame nodded, but stared at him in disbelief.
"Why are you here?" she asked cautiously. "I thought you hated me." She added coldly. She wasn't herself at all.
"I've had some time to think it over Kai, and I really don't think you should be here. You've thrown my whole life out of whack with that stupid.. yelling thing, and I just." The look in his eyes stopped her.
"What?"
"I came to apologize. I feel bad, really. And that's not easy for me to say."
Silence.
Ayame didn't reply at all, and she only stared at Kai. His eyes seemed to confirm his words, but she was still unsure. She flinched a little; his intense eyes were starting to bother her.
Kai was being pulled into her deep blue orbs, and he didn't know what was happening.
Suddenly he couldn't breathe.
He was drowning.
His breath caught in his throat, and he couldn't speak. He opened his mouth, but the words didn't come. What was he going to say?
"Ayame! Get dressed! School!" called her father's voice from the other room.
She tore her eyes away from Kai's and stood up. This was the first time Kai had seen what she was wearing.
She had on a white midriff showing tank-top and a pair of white sweatpants. Kai's face grew hot once more as he watched her peer into her closet, which was filled with school uniforms.
"Kai?" she asked. He had almost forgotten he himself was there. He felt like he was watching a movie instead of sitting in her room.
"Yeah?"
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, finally deciding on an outfit.
"You." Ayame turned around almost immediately. Kai couldn't believe he had just said that! How stupid could he be?! His mind was racing to think of an excuse.
"What?" she turned around to look at him, her cheeks a light pink.
"I said the flu. What's wrong with that?"
"The flu?" Ayame raised one eyebrow.
"Yeah, I've been feeling sick lately." It wasn't exactly a lie. He had thrown up many times the previous night.
"Oh. I thought you said something else. Never mind," she felt so stupid. How could she have thought Kai had said what she thought he had said? Mr. I- don't-like-anyone. She sighed.
"I need to change," she said quickly.
"Oh, right." Kai stood up and started to leave, but Ayame pushed the door shut.
"Stay here. I want to tell you something."
"WHAT?!" Kai had tried hard to keep his cool act up, but when she said that his face was redder than a tomato, and he practically screamed his response.
"Just stand here and face the door," she prompted, and went back over to her bed. As she dressed, Kai was very glad he didn't face her. If Ayame had seen the look on his face he was sure he would've died.
"Kai, I want to tell you something." He nodded simply.
"Do you remember when we first met, and our teacher asked me where I had been and I lied? Was it obvious?" Kai wasn't sure how to answer. It had been very obvious to him, but maybe it was because he was good at reading people.
"Yeah, I think it was. Why?"
"When my mother died, she told me that she liked my smile. She always told me to smile. It was the last thing she told me before she died. She made me promise that I wouldn't frown ever again. So I never have." Kai could only stare at the wall in awe. What the hell was she talking about? What did this have to do with school? Or him in that instance!
"I want you to know, that that's why I don't show my emotions so easily. I never cried. Not until you. You made me lie to my mother, Kai." She didn't sound like she was accusing him, but it felt that way.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't want sympathy. But I said all of that to say this. That day in school." she paused and then continued. "My father died 2 days before. That's why I was out so long. He had been in the hospital for months before, and I had to look after my little brother. So I hadn't attended school."
Kai had finally understood. Ayame wasn't perfect like she had seemed..
AN: Cliffy! I liked this chapter! Please review!
[1] I highly doubt that Kai has a photographic memory, but for this fic, pretend he does.