Chapter 4

Meimi entered her front door and closed it very slowly. There was a way in her movement that told her surroundings that something was wrong. She kicked off her shoes lazily. Her face remained parallel with the ground as she headed for the stairs.

" Hey honey, how was school?" Meimi's mother said turning to look at her. Her body was covered with flour. She wiped her powdery hands on her apron before looking at her distraught daughter. " What's wrong, baby?" her voice filling with concern. Meimi's bangs covered her teary eyes as she shook her head. " I know something's wrong. It's not nothing." She said. Meimi looked up at her mom and let the loose tears trickle down her face.

" I know it's stupid mom. I know it's stupid, but it still hurts!" Meimi said burying her wet face into her mother stomach.

" What's stupid honey?" she asked her arms wrapping around her daughter comfortingly.

" I tried out for Romeo and Juliet. I played Juliet and this boy named Asuka Jr., that I always fight with, was Romeo." Meimi said hiccuping.

" The detectives son?" Meimi nodded. " Go on."

" We did the seen where Romeo sees Juliet and falls in love. We did the seen where they kiss Mom! We kissed! We kissed Mom!" Meimi said hysterically. She tightened her fists in her mother's apron.

" Calm down honey. It was just acting." She said stroking Meimi's head gently.

" No Mom! It felt real! I don't think it was acting!" Meimi cried.

" So what you're saying is that you like this boy or he likes you?" she asked quietly. Meimi calmed down and remained silent. Her face was hidden in her mother's apron as the question processed in her brain. " You don't have to answer. This is your personal life. All I'm saying is that it's important to stay friends. Don't let this tiny kiss ruin your friendship with this boy." Meimi's mother pulled her out of her apron. She looked in her eyes and smiled. " Everything will work out. It always does." She said wiping the tears off her daughter's cheeks. Meimi stared at her mother and smiled weakly.

" Thanks Mom." She said lovingly hugging her. Meimi let go of her and dashed quickly up the stairs. Her mother remained staring at the top of the stairs. She laughed to herself before walking back into the kitchen. Meimi lay down on her bed and stared at her ceiling. The depressed feeling that had been lifted came back again now that she was alone. Her mind was blank as she focused on the small designs imprinted in the ceiling paint.

(I don't like Asuka Jr. He's not even my friend. How could she even assume that?) Meimi said to herself convincingly. She sighed as she opened her homework and worked on it thoughtlessly. Her mind seemed to hold onto the scene of what happened that afternoon. Meimi rewound the scene over and over again. The scenery seemed to fade every time he came close to her. The scene was a lot shorter than what is seemed like in reality. Time stopped every time his green eyes peered into hers. No one was in the auditorium with them. There was no auditorium it seemed. Just him and her. Meimi realized that her pencil had stopped moving. She looked down at her barely finished homework. (I have to clear my head.) She thought to herself. She opened her door that creaked silently.

" I'm going for a walk Mom!" Meimi shouted through the house.

" Okay sweetie. Be back by dinner." Her mom replied. Meimi opened the door and exited her home. The streets had dawned a dim look. Twilight had overcome the outside world. The rooftops burned violently as the dulled sun shined down on them. Meimi's eyes ignored all the scenery. Her feet guided her as she wandered through the neighborhoods. The path seemed familiar to her. Meimi stopped suddenly as she looked up at the building towering over her. The steeple of the holy building climbed into the clouds. Stained glass allowed the little amount of light left to trickle into the building. Meimi walked up the concrete steps and opened the doors. Inside the church, the wooden pews were empty. Small candles surrounded the walls letting off a soft glow. The front central area of the church had longer candles that burned brightly. Meimi stepped forward to the altar and sat in the front row of pews. Her mind was strained of the recent thoughts that cluttered her brain. She lay her head on the wooden handrail and shut her eyes. The soft glow of the candles transcended through her eyelids.

The door opened and shut softly. Asuka Jr. stood at the entrance peering over the rows of pews. He spotted her orange hair and recognized her instantly.

" Haneoka…" he said softly. Meimi lifted her head drowsily and turned around. She flushed with embarrassment when their eyes met.

" W-What are you doing here?" she stuttered nervously. Asuka stepped closer to her his hands casually in his pants pockets.

" I come here to pray every night…for my dead mother." He said looking up at the gigantic organ pipes that covered the front wall. Meimi looked down at her hands that lay in her lap. Her face was still red. The church fell silent momentarily.

" Sorry." She said softly. Asuka Jr. shook his head.

" Mind if I…" he said pointing to the pew. Meimi shook her head quickly scooting over. Asuka sat down next her and hung his jacket over the rail. He placed his hands behind his head as he leaned backward. " I never really had a mom. Dad is always at his job so I'm usually on my own. But that's okay." He looked at her and smiled. " I try so hard at school to make my dad and mom proud. I don't really mind the other students picking on me 'cause they're just jealous." He said laughing. Meimi smiled nervously.

(Why is he telling me all of this? Because he's lonely?) She thought looking at his profile.

" So why are you here?" Asuka said facing her.

" Just thinking." Meimi muttered. Asuka Jr. cocked his head to one side.

" Are you sad? It looks like you've been crying. Your eyes are still a little puffy." He said staring at her directly. Meimi looked away.

" It's none of your business!" She snapped. Asuka Jr., surprised, returned his stare to the pipe organ. Meimi, feeling guilty, stared down at her palms. " Sorry." She whispered. " I-I'm just sad about not getting the part." Meimi explained. Asuka nodded his head as if understanding.

" I thought you were better than Takamiya. I dunno why you didn't get the part. I would of signed you up for sure but then again what do I know about theatre." Asuka said encouraging. Meimi smiled happily and stood up.

" Thank you." She inched by him brushing up against his warm legs. " I'll see you tomorrow at school, Asuka." She said and turned to the doors. Asuka looked over and watched her disappear from sight. He returned his stare to the organs and smiled.

(She's really nice when we're not fighting.) He thought resting his chin on the railing. He smiled to himself before standing up. He stretched momentarily and picked up his jacket. The cross loomed over him. He looked up. (See you later Mom.) Asuka bowed before leaving himself.