Chapter 2: Surprising Thoughts
Whee! Even if you guys don't review, I'm still gonna write the story! =P Hope you guys enjoy it ^^; Proud of myself! Not as much dialogue as my other fics o.O
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It was lunch, and Kitchel had a big sweatdrop on her head when she turned around to see what Thatz would eat for lunch. He had pulled out from out of nowhere a gigantic bag filled with food and was eating it rather happily.
"Are you a pig or something?!" Kitchel almost yelled in disbelief at the sight.
Thatz blinked and looked up, a piece of ham in his hand. "No…I just like to eat," he said matter-of-factly. He then resumed eating.
Rune was sitting behind Cesia, watching Thatz in disgust. "I can't believe you actually brought all of that! We'll be out of food by Wednesday at this rate!!"
"Oh, well then better get more!" He continued scarfing down on the food, not noticing his friend's annoyed look.
Kitchel sweatdropped and turned her attention to Cesia, who had been unusually quiet during the whole school day so far. She was eating, that was a good sign. But she seemed a little…stiff? Tense? Nervous maybe? Kitchel couldn't quite figure it out. She thought hard about what had happened earlier today. First she seemed to zone outside for some odd reason, then they saw Rath and she freaked out. Okay, well maybe not exactly freak out…Kitchel said silently to herself. At the thought of Rath she turned and looked past Cesia at the seat next to her. He was staring out the window, his obento untouched.
Thatz blinked and followed Kitchel's gaze, noticing Rath's forgotten lunch. "Hey Rath…can I have your lunch?" he asked.
"…Sure, go ahead," Rath said without turning.
"Yay!" Thatz said in pure delight.
"Is food all you think about?" Rune asked, but not with the same ferocity as he would normally use. He too had noticed his friend's odd behavior. Rath was usually livelier than this and would at least be talking to the girl that sat next to him.
At the thought, Rune leaned forward. "Cesia was your name, wasn't it?" From the corner of his eye he saw Rath stir. Hm…
Cesia started a bit and turned around in her seat to face Rune. "Yes, that's right," she said smiling. "How are you? Adjusting to the school alright?"
Rune noticed the light, pale look on her face. "Yes, this place is actually a lot better than the other schools we've been to."
Kitchel leaned over, listening in. "Oh, so you move around a lot?"
"No, not really," Thatz said in between bites. "This has been only our second actual move to a different city. He meant the other schools we've visited."
Rune coughed. "Thank you, Mr. Thatz," he said dryly.
Thatz shrugged and said, "No problem" in between bites.
Kitchel stared amazed at the transfer student behind her. She had never seen anyone eat so much and still be in such good shape. Her gaze trailed over to his two scars. "Hey Thatz…did you get into a school fight or something?"
By this time, Thatz had finally finished his lunch and was cleaning up. "I guess you could say that."
"What happened?"
"He was gambling again," Rune said while taking a drink.
Kitchel sweatdropped. "Oh, I see."
Cesia turned and blinked. "Gambling? Why would you want to do that? Isn't it illegal?"
Thatz sweatdropped. "Not that kind of gambling! It was just a few friendly bets and the loser didn't take it that well."
"Oh…" She turned back around only to find Rath staring at her, his head propped up by his hand, elbow on the table. She blinked and felt her heart hammering against her chest. It's the same as before… "Y-yes, Rath?" she stammered.
He sat there for a moment. "You're—" His words were cut off as the five-minute bell warning rang and the students started to file in. She blinked, waiting for him to continue finishing his sentence. He stared at her for a moment longer.
"Never mind" was his only response and turned his attention back to the front of the class as the final bell rang.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Cesia-chan, are you okay?" Kitchel asked as they gathered their things to leave. She blinked when her friend did not respond to her at first. "Cesia?"
Cesia blinked and looked up, only to find her friend's worried face watching her. She smiled a little. "Yes, I'm alright, K-chan…just a little tired, I guess."
"You've seem really out of it lately," Kitchel said as they walked out of the class. "Is something on your mind?" Silence. She turned and looked at her friend. "Is it…Rath?" She saw her friend start at his name. Aha! There we go!
"It's…it's nothing," Cesia stammered as she quickly went down the stairs and to the locker area. "Nothing at all!"
Kitchel stood waiting and looked at her skeptically. "Nothing? Are you sure?"
"I have to get home and prepare something for the new neighbors," Cesia said quickly as she walked past her friend out the door. "Kitchel, would you like to help?"
"Alright! If I get to eat some of it first," she said happily. "Your cooking is always the best!" I'll let her get away for now…
"Arigato, K-chan," Cesia said smiling, already feeling her nerves finally calm down.
They walked down the quiet streets to Cesia's house, chatting about what the neighbors would be like. "Maybe an old couple?" "Maybe they're newlywed." "I wonder if they have any pets?" "I dunno, but I hope there are some cute boys!" "Oh, Kitchel!"
They soon reached Cesia's grand house. Kitchel was always amazed at how Cesia never seemed to feel lonely in the huge house, her parents always out of town on business. Kitchel's own family went out occasionally, but she could always find something to occupy herself with. She stopped by the garden to admire the beautiful flowers Cesia grew. The light petals seemed to shine in the sun and waved gently in the breeze, almost as if they were alive and were moving on their own to their own dance.
As they entered through the door, Kitchel couldn't believe how clean and tidy the house was. Not a single thing was out of place and dust could be considered extinct in this house. There was nothing out of place. Her gaze trailed over to the long line of photographs of Cesia's family. There were a lot of Cesia when she was a little girl, her mother and father playing with her, the look of pure joy overflowing on the faces. But Kitchel could not shake of this feeling of…oddness. Something didn't seem right. It didn't seem…real. She did not tell her friend what she was thinking, fearing that it would finally break whatever strain Cesia had at the moment. Also she just thought herself paranoid.
Cesia herself was deep in her own thoughts as they crossed the expansive living room, setting their things on to the couch, and into the kitchen. She could not get Rath's face out of her mind: that piercing stare, his eyes seeming to be filled with intense fire, his face not revealing any of his true emotions. She shook her head. No, I must concentrate at the task at hand, she told herself. But as she prepared the mix for the batter that would create the cake she and Kitchel were making, her thoughts strayed back to what Rath had been going to say when the bell rang. I'm what? She tried to figure out what he might have said. Did she do something to offend him that morning? Did he hate her for no apparent reason?
Kitchel glanced at her friend worriedly. Cesia was stirring the batter absentmindedly, not really paying attention. The awkward silence between them was killing her, and she wanted to do something to help her friend. If only she knew what was wrong! She cleared her throat, saying, "I bet Thatz would go ballistic if he saw what you were planning to cook." She blinked, wondering why in the world she said that. To her relief she heard Cesia laugh.
"I'm afraid everything would be gone by nine if he was here," she laughed. It felt good to laugh again. Cesia smiled at Kitchel, who smiled back and giggled.
After about an hour, the cake was finally complete. Kitchel had topped it off with a beautiful, freshly cut rose, thornless of course. It was a simple three-layered white chocolate cake, but it looked as if a master baker had baked it. The light pink tinted icing gave it a wedding cake sort of look.
"I wish I had a camera," Kitchel sighed. "It's a shame it will be eaten…"
Cesia laughed. "Don't worry. I can always make more, haha."
Kitchel smiled at her and handed her the cake. "Here you go! You go on ahead! I got freshen up a bit," she winked.
Cesia laughed and walked out of the house, careful to not hurt the cake. I hope they like this! she thought worriedly as she walked up the steps to the front door. She always thought this house was lovely, with its arches and gardens around. She shifted the cake to one arm and quickly rang the doorbell.
She smiled when she heard the door open. "Hi! I'm your new neigh—" She gasped an blinked. In front of her stood a young man with dark red hair, his pale red eyes looking at her a little surprised. He was wearing a loose black T-shirt and black pants. He also had an odd white lock of hair on the right side of his bangs. He was the person she had least expected to see. He was Rath.