Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter out. I was busy doing nothing. Not much of an excuse, huh? Anyway, here is Chapter 9.
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Tail. But I'm not telling who does. (I'm not cause it makes me feel better. Pathetic I know.)
Chapter 9
Meimi walked through the open doors of her school on time. She greeted many of her friends as she passed them by. She opened her locker to see Asuka join her next to her.
" Ready for the big gym test?" Asuka asked eagerly. Meimi looked at him unable to reply.
" What?" She asked finally coming to her senses.
" The gym test. It's today. Weren't you paying attention to the teacher last class?"
" Oh…Oh!" Meimi said finally remembering. She remembered sitting on the waxy floor of the gym listening to her teacher talk about something. Unfortunately, she had been stenciling the floor with her fingers. " Yeah I'm ready. Are you?" Meimi asked teasingly. Asuka smiled and nodded. " Let's see some of that action you use when you chase Saint Tail." She said. Meimi winked and walked into a nearby classroom. Asuka followed in her footsteps and sat down in his desk.
" Are you ready for the gym test Seira?" Meimi asked her.
" I don't have to take it." Seira said sticking out her tongue.
" What? Why?!" Meimi asked jealousy stinging her voice.
" Think about it Meimi. Have you ever seen me in gym class before?" Seira said patiently waiting for a thought out response.
" Hmm…guess I haven't. Where do you go?"
" The confessional. The Sisters excused me from gym so I can practice being a nun."
" Attention class. Let's begin." The teacher said clearing her throat noisily. Meimi returned to her seat. Class began and left as nervous stomachs and their carriers walked down to the gym. The prepared gym teachers were gathered in the center and hurrying students to their seats.
" Welcome class. I hope you all ate breakfast and had a good night's sleep because it is time to get sweaty!" A man gym teacher boomed over the microphone. Students let out groans following silence when the teachers gave out annoyed looks.
" Girls first. All boys please remain in their bleacher seats. It is required for girl's to have any hair below their shoulders pulled back. We have rubber bands for all girls who don't have a hair clip." The man said holding up a box. Meimi panicked when she saw Asuka staring down at her.
" Umm… Excuse me Mr. Chisoto. I can't really put my hair up." Meimi said in a quiet voice.
" And why is that Miss Haneoka?" Mr. Chisoto asked raising an eyebrow to the girl who defied him.
" Believe me, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me." Meimi said. As an answer, Mr. Chisoto dangled a rubber band in front of her face. She dropped her shoulders in defeat and grabbed the rubber band in despair. She pulled her hair back in a low ponytail.
" Up!" Mr. Chisoto yelled at her hair. Meimi uneasily pulled her hair back higher on her head. " Better." He said turning his back on her. Meimi quickly looked around for a place to hide. She squeezed into the crowd of girls waiting for their names to be called. Meimi looked up to Asuka who seemed to be searching for her. She quickly ducked down to her knees when he faced her way.
" Meimi what are you doing?" Ryoko asked staring down at her.
" N-Nothing. I don't want Asuka to see me with my hair up." She blurted out.
" Oh Meimi. You look fine." Ryoko said pulling her to her feet. Meimi squirmed out of her grasp and ducked again.
" Haneoka!" Mr. Chisoto yelled into the microphone.
" Meimi it's your turn. Go!" Ryoko said pushing out of the crowd. Meimi reluctantly stumbled forward. She could feel herself cower away from the bleachers. Her arms crossed across her chest nervously.
" Balance Beam!" He yelled at her pointing to its direction. She shakily made her way to the towering beam. She glanced back at Asuka who was watching her intently.
(He's gonna find out. He's gonna hate me!) Meimi thought sadly. A pained expression spread across her face as she mounted the beam. She spread out her arms gracefully and walked the beam's length. Meimi walked back steadily not faltering once.
" I know you can do better than that. And you better if you want a passing grade." A female gym teacher said angrily. Meimi looked at her desperately before giving up. She placed her left foot in front of her right and bent backwards. Her hands touched the soft beam as she felt her feet lift off the beam. Meimi watched her feet descend ahead off her as they touched down lightly. She bent forward and straightened and lifted her hands in the air. Meimi saw Asuka Jr. stare at her unblinkingly. Meimi lowered her head avoiding his eyes. She sprung off the beam and landed two feet behind where she was standing. Her back flip had been successful as the bleachers full of boys erupted. The girls chanted her name excitedly. Meimi felt her heart quicken as she smiled. She flipped forward off the beam and landed perfectly on the blue mats. Her face was wet with sweat as she bowed. Her smile faded when she did not feel her long hair dangle over her neck. Everyone clapped happily except Asuka. He sat on the bleacher with his hands entwined in front of his face covering his mouth. Meimi slowly raised her head. He stared unemotionally at her, his face blank. Meimi felt her face pale as she let her hair loose. She walked quickly back into the crowd of girls.
" Well done. I don't think anyone else here could do as good as a job as you did." Mr. Chisoto said in a beaming voice. He called out the next girl who was unfortunate to follow Meimi's performance.
" Hey Asuka. What do you think was wrong with Haneoka?" Sawatari asked. He sat next to him silently waiting for an answer. " Asuka?" He said waving a hand in front of Asuka's face. Asuka Jr. stared straight, unblinking. His mind swarmed with images and thoughts.
(Haneoka looks like Saint Tail. They both are agile. But why her? Why Haneoka? It couldn't be her. If Haneoka were Saint Tail, she would be avoiding me.) He argued in his head. (But that's why I like Haneoka. She looks like Saint Tail.)
" Asuka!" Sawatari screamed in his ear. Asuka flew away from Sawatari stunned by the loudness of his voice.
" What do you want?!" Asuka Jr. snapped trying to calm his racing heart.
" I already asked you. What do you think was wrong with Haneoka?" Sawatari asked again.
" Something's wrong with Haneoka?" Asuka Jr. asked.
" Probably nothing serious. She just looked sad. Especially when she looked at you. Did you say something to her? If you hurt her in any way…" Sawatari said angrily looming over Asuka.
" I d-didn't say anything. Calm down!" Asuka said pushing Sawatari off of him. He straightened his gym shirt. " I'll talk to her after class okay?"
" 'Kay." Sawatari said sitting straight again. The girl's session ended, as did the boy's. Meimi hurried out the gymnasium only to be stopped by Asuka Jr.
" We need to talk." Asuka said seriously. " Somewhere private." He added when he saw Sawatari peeking over her shoulder. He grabbed Meimi's hand tightly and dragged her into the church. He pushed her into an empty confessional and locked the door behind him. They stayed silent in the darkness. Asuka suddenly turned on the light allowing the light to spread across his anxious face. He breathed deeply and released it slowly.
" Y-You wanted to talk to me about something?" Meimi asked nervously. She wrenched her hands in her lap.
" Yes. I need to ask you something." Asuka replied softly. Meimi remained silent when he expected her to talk.
" Are you…" Asuka trailed off. He stared at her with a deciding look in his eyes. " Are you…Saint Tail?" He whispered. Meimi looked at him remotely. Her breath quickened as she fidgeted in her seat.
" I-I gotta go." Meimi said reaching for the doorknob. Asuka met her hand and encased it into his. Meimi looked at her trapped hand and then his. She followed his arm up to his face to meet his eyes. They were seriously green. " Let me go." Meimi whispered.
" Answer me first." He replied in a low tone.
" If I did, you might not let me go. Let me go." She repeated in a louder command. Asuka's grip did not loosen. She stared at him feeling anger rise to her face. Meimi looked around for an alternate exit to see the blind. She slowly pushed open the screened window and dived through. Asuka, surprised, released his grip. She shut and locked the blind before he could reach her. Meimi leaned on the screen as her breathing quavered with tears.
" I'm sorry Asuka. I didn't mean to hurt you." Meimi said crying. She could feel his bewildered gaze on her through the screen. She looked up when she felt his hand pressed against hers. The screen created a barrier between them, but they still were connected. Meimi continued to weep though his hand did offer her some relief. She felt his hand leave her's as he left the booth. Light poured in as quickly as it was shut out again. The door-slam echoed through the booth. Meimi felt her knees give out as she gripped the screen for support. Tears ran down her chin as she looked at the empty stall across from her.
Author's Note: Dum Dum Dum! Another cliff hanger. I know I suck. Maybe I'll get around to writing the next chapter in September. Maybe some encouragement (Cough, reviews) would push me to hurry the next chapter.