A/N: Here's the next chapter. I hope everyone likes this story so far. Oh
and I'll give you a hint about the story. Most of the chapters have a song
that I like behind them. It's usually the name of the chapter. That didn't
happen in the first chapter, Saves the Day "Driving in the Dark" just
seemed like an appropriate name though. I figured out how the story is
going to end though. That's many chapters from now, but I'm very proud of
myself *smile*. I think the end will cause much controversy, that's your
only clue. Enjoy. (PS I don't own Escaflowne, nor do I own the characters.)
*~*~*~*
Van woke up, his eyes were hazy. Images blurred, merging together. He tried moving his neck only to find that it was all at once limited and painful. "Where the hell am I?" he mumbled.
"Oh, my goodness! Van, you're awake!" Millerna exclaim, sheer joy in her voice. She ran over to his side. As his eyes focused, he saw her long blonde hair falling around her face, her big blue eyes gazing, filled with concern. "How are you feeling!? Are you comfortable? Can I get anything for you?" Millerna placed her hands on Van's face. Looking lovingly into his eyes, "I thought I lost you." She gently kissed his lips.
"I feel like a train just ran into me, what the hell happened?" he muttered, livid at the fact that he could not move his head without hurting himself. Upon glancing around the room, Van realized he was in a hospital bed. His foot, hanging from the ceiling by a sling, was wrapped tightly in a cast. Touching his neck, he felt the brace that restricted his movement. His chest hurt, his face felt tender. **What? The last thing I remember is driving to see that movie.**
"Oh!" Millerna sobbed, tears filling her eyes. "You." Her voice seemed to quiver as she spoke. Whatever it was that was about to escape her lips would not be good. "You. Were in a horrible car crash. The doctors said you wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for Hitomi."
"Wait, English class Hitomi?" He questioned.
"Yes." Millerna nodded. "Her and Merle were on their way to a movie, when all of a sudden they saw your car. Hitomi got you out, all by herself. She only suffered a minor head injury. But if she hadn't." Millerna placed her hands to her face. Eyes red and puffy, she shivered slightly. "The car exploded. If you had been in there."
"DAMN IT!" Van yelled out of sheer frustration. "How am I ever going to find another car? That's my mode of transportation." He crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouting at the lost of his vehicle. "YOU!!" Millerna screamed. "YOU are such an idiot! Why do I even try with you!?" Face red with fury, she stormed out of the white room. "Oh come on, Millerna! That was an expensive car!" Van shouted after her. **Women.** He thought silently. Picking up the remote, he began scanning through different channels on the TV suspended from the wall. **Why'd she have to leave? I need someone to move the hair from my eyes. It's not like I can reach.** Frowning, Van tried to grab the ebony hair, blocking his maroon eyes from the TV.
*~*~*~*
"Hi, Allen." Hitomi opened her door to let him step in. **Right on time, as always.** She pouted slightly, unfortunately she was running late. "I'm, uhum. I need a little more time. To get ready." She looked down, avoiding his eyes as much as she possibly could. Hitomi could feel his glare as he replied, "Well hurry up."
Briskly walking to her room, she began to blow dry her short, brown hair. Green eyes vigilant as Allen stepped into the doorway. His long blonde hair was in a pony tail that went down to his lower back. Never taking his eyes off of her, he focused all his energy on to Hitomi's body. On to the movements she made, the breaths she took, the darts of her eyes.
Allen began to step toward her. **Breath Hitomi, just breath.** she pleaded with herself. Putting the blow drier down, she looked up at the mirror saying "There! I'm finished." Plastering a large smile onto her face. He was right behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. She jumped. Terrified of his touch, but not willing to leave it.
"Allen." She turned around, trying to slide out of his grasp. "I. I don't think that's the best idea right now." His face contorted. With a sudden swiftness, a complete contrast to his slow approach, Allen fiercely grabbed her arms. "Ouch, Allen!" Hitomi cringed, tears of fear and pain filling her eyes. "You're hurting me!"
"Oh yeah!" He spat in her face. "Why don't you think it's a good time?! Because your too busy thinking about that asshole, Van Fanel?" As he lifted her up, his grip tightened on her arms. Hitomi wiggled in his grasp. Her mouth was open from the pain. "NO! I.. I.." She struggled. "I don't want us to be late. I know how you hate being late!"
Throwing her on to the bed, he smacked her face with the back of his hand. "Liar! I know you want him! You gave him your pillow. You're always looking at him in school! Don't give me that bullshit!" Her brown hair sprawled out in the lime sheets, her arms were in so much pain, but she dare not take them from her face. Now throbbing. "No!! No, see!" Reached across her bed, grabbing the alleged pillow. "See! I have it right here!" She gave him a weak smile. "I only let him borrow it! I didn't gi-" She was hushed by another smack of him hand. "No more." she sobbed.
"I'll show you whose boss you whore!" Allen growled in her ear. He began to rip off her clothing, slapping her with force every once in a while. As her nose bled, he jerked off his belt, pulling down his pants. Her chest heaved, but she dare not speak a word. Her face was bleeding, she could feel the rushing fluids. Seconds later, Allen was ripping through her. She clung on to him, crying, contorting, screaming silently.
*~*~*~*
"Thanks for driving me to school, Millerna." Van glanced over to his girlfriend. He had been out of school for about a week. **Time to go back.** Millerna looked at him with her big blue eyes, "No problem, Van. You are my boyfriend." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He returned it with a tired look. She looked beautiful, blonde hair pulled up. Form fitting shirt, mid calf shirt. Every boys dream girl. Try and true, Millerna was always there. He cringed inwardly, always.
After a moment of silence, Van let out a breath. "I really want to thank Hitomi, you know? I've read all the stories. It's amazing that she did it. But." He glazed out the window, maroon eyes wide. "How do you thank someone for saving your life?" Without letting Millerna answer, he slipped Silverstein into the CD player.
**How do you thank someone you don't know?** Sure he and Hitomi had been in many of the same classes since she had moved to Gaea. But he and she had never actually spoken, well for long. Van knew she was a sweet, kind girl. She always made sure that others were comfortable. When he was lying down on the English floor, trying to take a nap after the exam, without a pillow; she had been there to lend out her own.
**But she always has a vacant look in her eyes. So lost, empty almost. Like she's given up on everything.**
Under his voice, he whispered. "How do you thank someone?"
*~*~*~*
Allen put the car in park. He grabbed Hitomi's face, kissed her roughly, and said "I love you." Then slipped out of the car. A tear ran down her face, she sighed deeply. "How can I say I love you back, when you never made me happy?" With that she got out of the car, reaching for Allen's out stretched hand.
She had tried to look presentable today. That didn't work out as well as she had hoped, not with Allen's sudden attack on her innocence that morning. She had to make due with what she had. Lose fitting dark blue jeans, and a pink button up shirt. Make up covered her facial bruises, and her bloody nose had stopped running. Hitomi looked over at Allen, he looked perfect. Blonde hair, clean and tidy, unlike her own brown that was sticking out every which way. His baggy jeans and blue shirt look amazing on him. The most distinct feature though, were his eyes and how the were confident and challenging. But what others would admire, Hitomi feared. He was on the hunt, and she was his prey today.
"Hitomi!" a voice called out behind her.
Stopping, she turned. Van hobbled over to her, his leg in a cast, crutches carrying him to her. "Hey, Hitomi." He panted, slightly out of breath. Millerna ambled behind him, holding his books. "Hitomi, do mind if I talk to you?" Van gave a charming smile.
Instinctively, Hitomi let go of Allen's hand, nodding to Van. Allen stiffened, grabbing her, staring down Van. Not afraid the least bit about the challenge, Van glared Allen up and down. "Mind if I speak with her, alone?" This time he asked Allen, knowing full well that Hitomi truly had no say in the matter. Letting out a viperous grunt, he threw Hitomi's hand away from his, stomping away. Millerna left, kissing Van on the cheek and giving Hitomi a look somewhere between pity and angst. She couldn't tell which. "I'll see you in class." Millerna called as she walked away.
"So." Hitomi replied, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.
Van beamed, looking down. "Yeah, uhum, I wanted to thank you. So much. It was a great thing you did. You didn't have to save me. But you stuck through there. I mean. How's your head?" Hitomi touched the scab on the back of her head. Waving the question off, she gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry. I've had worst."
"Well, I wanted to know if I could take you to the movies or dinner or something, as a thank you." He nodded, wobbling closer to her, so that they could both begin making their way to class. As they walked together, Van noticed how Hitomi's eyes would not stay on one fixed thing, but darted about. Yet in their darts, her greens eyes were so intense, he felt himself grow uneasy even though they were not focused on him. "I don't know, Van." She gulped, looking around them. "I mean, maybe. Just as friends right?"
"Yeah, of course. Come on, everyone has fun with me!" He joked.
Hitomi looked directly in his eyes, and smiled. **Man, she's gorgeous when she smiles.** Pondering for a moment, she finally replied. "Sure, why not? Just as friends." Van grinned, "Okay then. How about tomorrow night, at about five o'clock? I'll meet you at Sal's and we can go for dinner and a movie. As friends." He added as reassurance. He had a feeling he knew why she was so weary. His maroon eyes gave her one last glance, as he began hopping away.
"Do you need help?" She called out as he made his way to class. "No." He yelled back. Not turning his head due to the brace. With that, she spun around, smiling lightly to herself. She was almost to class, completely daydreaming about how the next day might go, when strong hands grabbed her and pushed her against the wall.
"So what did you other boyfriend have to say, wench?" Allen hissed.
*~*~*~*
A/N: So that was chapter two. What does everyone think? A little intense I guess. I hope it's good though. *uneasy smile* Leave me notes. Talk to you all later.
*~*~*~*
Van woke up, his eyes were hazy. Images blurred, merging together. He tried moving his neck only to find that it was all at once limited and painful. "Where the hell am I?" he mumbled.
"Oh, my goodness! Van, you're awake!" Millerna exclaim, sheer joy in her voice. She ran over to his side. As his eyes focused, he saw her long blonde hair falling around her face, her big blue eyes gazing, filled with concern. "How are you feeling!? Are you comfortable? Can I get anything for you?" Millerna placed her hands on Van's face. Looking lovingly into his eyes, "I thought I lost you." She gently kissed his lips.
"I feel like a train just ran into me, what the hell happened?" he muttered, livid at the fact that he could not move his head without hurting himself. Upon glancing around the room, Van realized he was in a hospital bed. His foot, hanging from the ceiling by a sling, was wrapped tightly in a cast. Touching his neck, he felt the brace that restricted his movement. His chest hurt, his face felt tender. **What? The last thing I remember is driving to see that movie.**
"Oh!" Millerna sobbed, tears filling her eyes. "You." Her voice seemed to quiver as she spoke. Whatever it was that was about to escape her lips would not be good. "You. Were in a horrible car crash. The doctors said you wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for Hitomi."
"Wait, English class Hitomi?" He questioned.
"Yes." Millerna nodded. "Her and Merle were on their way to a movie, when all of a sudden they saw your car. Hitomi got you out, all by herself. She only suffered a minor head injury. But if she hadn't." Millerna placed her hands to her face. Eyes red and puffy, she shivered slightly. "The car exploded. If you had been in there."
"DAMN IT!" Van yelled out of sheer frustration. "How am I ever going to find another car? That's my mode of transportation." He crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouting at the lost of his vehicle. "YOU!!" Millerna screamed. "YOU are such an idiot! Why do I even try with you!?" Face red with fury, she stormed out of the white room. "Oh come on, Millerna! That was an expensive car!" Van shouted after her. **Women.** He thought silently. Picking up the remote, he began scanning through different channels on the TV suspended from the wall. **Why'd she have to leave? I need someone to move the hair from my eyes. It's not like I can reach.** Frowning, Van tried to grab the ebony hair, blocking his maroon eyes from the TV.
*~*~*~*
"Hi, Allen." Hitomi opened her door to let him step in. **Right on time, as always.** She pouted slightly, unfortunately she was running late. "I'm, uhum. I need a little more time. To get ready." She looked down, avoiding his eyes as much as she possibly could. Hitomi could feel his glare as he replied, "Well hurry up."
Briskly walking to her room, she began to blow dry her short, brown hair. Green eyes vigilant as Allen stepped into the doorway. His long blonde hair was in a pony tail that went down to his lower back. Never taking his eyes off of her, he focused all his energy on to Hitomi's body. On to the movements she made, the breaths she took, the darts of her eyes.
Allen began to step toward her. **Breath Hitomi, just breath.** she pleaded with herself. Putting the blow drier down, she looked up at the mirror saying "There! I'm finished." Plastering a large smile onto her face. He was right behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. She jumped. Terrified of his touch, but not willing to leave it.
"Allen." She turned around, trying to slide out of his grasp. "I. I don't think that's the best idea right now." His face contorted. With a sudden swiftness, a complete contrast to his slow approach, Allen fiercely grabbed her arms. "Ouch, Allen!" Hitomi cringed, tears of fear and pain filling her eyes. "You're hurting me!"
"Oh yeah!" He spat in her face. "Why don't you think it's a good time?! Because your too busy thinking about that asshole, Van Fanel?" As he lifted her up, his grip tightened on her arms. Hitomi wiggled in his grasp. Her mouth was open from the pain. "NO! I.. I.." She struggled. "I don't want us to be late. I know how you hate being late!"
Throwing her on to the bed, he smacked her face with the back of his hand. "Liar! I know you want him! You gave him your pillow. You're always looking at him in school! Don't give me that bullshit!" Her brown hair sprawled out in the lime sheets, her arms were in so much pain, but she dare not take them from her face. Now throbbing. "No!! No, see!" Reached across her bed, grabbing the alleged pillow. "See! I have it right here!" She gave him a weak smile. "I only let him borrow it! I didn't gi-" She was hushed by another smack of him hand. "No more." she sobbed.
"I'll show you whose boss you whore!" Allen growled in her ear. He began to rip off her clothing, slapping her with force every once in a while. As her nose bled, he jerked off his belt, pulling down his pants. Her chest heaved, but she dare not speak a word. Her face was bleeding, she could feel the rushing fluids. Seconds later, Allen was ripping through her. She clung on to him, crying, contorting, screaming silently.
*~*~*~*
"Thanks for driving me to school, Millerna." Van glanced over to his girlfriend. He had been out of school for about a week. **Time to go back.** Millerna looked at him with her big blue eyes, "No problem, Van. You are my boyfriend." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He returned it with a tired look. She looked beautiful, blonde hair pulled up. Form fitting shirt, mid calf shirt. Every boys dream girl. Try and true, Millerna was always there. He cringed inwardly, always.
After a moment of silence, Van let out a breath. "I really want to thank Hitomi, you know? I've read all the stories. It's amazing that she did it. But." He glazed out the window, maroon eyes wide. "How do you thank someone for saving your life?" Without letting Millerna answer, he slipped Silverstein into the CD player.
**How do you thank someone you don't know?** Sure he and Hitomi had been in many of the same classes since she had moved to Gaea. But he and she had never actually spoken, well for long. Van knew she was a sweet, kind girl. She always made sure that others were comfortable. When he was lying down on the English floor, trying to take a nap after the exam, without a pillow; she had been there to lend out her own.
**But she always has a vacant look in her eyes. So lost, empty almost. Like she's given up on everything.**
Under his voice, he whispered. "How do you thank someone?"
*~*~*~*
Allen put the car in park. He grabbed Hitomi's face, kissed her roughly, and said "I love you." Then slipped out of the car. A tear ran down her face, she sighed deeply. "How can I say I love you back, when you never made me happy?" With that she got out of the car, reaching for Allen's out stretched hand.
She had tried to look presentable today. That didn't work out as well as she had hoped, not with Allen's sudden attack on her innocence that morning. She had to make due with what she had. Lose fitting dark blue jeans, and a pink button up shirt. Make up covered her facial bruises, and her bloody nose had stopped running. Hitomi looked over at Allen, he looked perfect. Blonde hair, clean and tidy, unlike her own brown that was sticking out every which way. His baggy jeans and blue shirt look amazing on him. The most distinct feature though, were his eyes and how the were confident and challenging. But what others would admire, Hitomi feared. He was on the hunt, and she was his prey today.
"Hitomi!" a voice called out behind her.
Stopping, she turned. Van hobbled over to her, his leg in a cast, crutches carrying him to her. "Hey, Hitomi." He panted, slightly out of breath. Millerna ambled behind him, holding his books. "Hitomi, do mind if I talk to you?" Van gave a charming smile.
Instinctively, Hitomi let go of Allen's hand, nodding to Van. Allen stiffened, grabbing her, staring down Van. Not afraid the least bit about the challenge, Van glared Allen up and down. "Mind if I speak with her, alone?" This time he asked Allen, knowing full well that Hitomi truly had no say in the matter. Letting out a viperous grunt, he threw Hitomi's hand away from his, stomping away. Millerna left, kissing Van on the cheek and giving Hitomi a look somewhere between pity and angst. She couldn't tell which. "I'll see you in class." Millerna called as she walked away.
"So." Hitomi replied, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.
Van beamed, looking down. "Yeah, uhum, I wanted to thank you. So much. It was a great thing you did. You didn't have to save me. But you stuck through there. I mean. How's your head?" Hitomi touched the scab on the back of her head. Waving the question off, she gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry. I've had worst."
"Well, I wanted to know if I could take you to the movies or dinner or something, as a thank you." He nodded, wobbling closer to her, so that they could both begin making their way to class. As they walked together, Van noticed how Hitomi's eyes would not stay on one fixed thing, but darted about. Yet in their darts, her greens eyes were so intense, he felt himself grow uneasy even though they were not focused on him. "I don't know, Van." She gulped, looking around them. "I mean, maybe. Just as friends right?"
"Yeah, of course. Come on, everyone has fun with me!" He joked.
Hitomi looked directly in his eyes, and smiled. **Man, she's gorgeous when she smiles.** Pondering for a moment, she finally replied. "Sure, why not? Just as friends." Van grinned, "Okay then. How about tomorrow night, at about five o'clock? I'll meet you at Sal's and we can go for dinner and a movie. As friends." He added as reassurance. He had a feeling he knew why she was so weary. His maroon eyes gave her one last glance, as he began hopping away.
"Do you need help?" She called out as he made his way to class. "No." He yelled back. Not turning his head due to the brace. With that, she spun around, smiling lightly to herself. She was almost to class, completely daydreaming about how the next day might go, when strong hands grabbed her and pushed her against the wall.
"So what did you other boyfriend have to say, wench?" Allen hissed.
*~*~*~*
A/N: So that was chapter two. What does everyone think? A little intense I guess. I hope it's good though. *uneasy smile* Leave me notes. Talk to you all later.