"Going to the party this Friday?" Dilandau asked.
"Huh?"
All seven of them were sitting outside under a tree. Dryden seemed to be trying very hard to keep his eyes off of Millerna. Her and Allen seemed close again. Every time Allen would reach up to brush some hair off her cheek or touch her arm, Dryden would clench a fist.
"Are you going to the party this Friday?" Dilandau repeated. "Mei is having one this weekend and next weekend. Her parents are gone for a couple weeks so she has the house to herself."
Mei was a senior like them. She had to be the richest, most beautiful, most popular, most anorexic girl at their school. Her hair was dyed a bright blonde to go with her blue contacts, her nails always done up in professional French manicures. For the longest time she had had her eye on Van but apart from a short fling with her in their sophomore year, he had never been too interested.
"I dunno," Merle drawled. She was lying on her back with her hips in her hands and legs straight up in the air. "That's an awful big favour you're asking Dilly. Don't know if we could do that."
"Why'd she ask you of all people anyways?" Millerna teased.
"She was probably hoping he's bring Van," said Allen.
Hitomi stuck out her tongue at him and lay back on her boyfriend's lap. He smiled down at her for a second before turning to Dryden.
"You coming man?"
"NnnyyI dunno... I'll think about it. We'll see if anything comes up."
"You should come Dryden," Millerna said.
Almost too quickly he replied, "I'll think about it."
"You up to it?" Van asked quietly and leaned down to catch Hitomi's mouth with his own.
"Sounds like fun," she murmured into his lips.
"Ahem," Dilandau coughed. Both of them looked up. "What have we said about the public displays of affection?"
Hitomi brushed some hair off her forehead as Van helped her back into a sitting position. She wiped her mouth quickly. "Yeah, sorry about that," she said, embarrassed.
Dilandau shrugged and went back to shredding grass. Merle kicked sharply into the air and Dryden watched as Millerna whispered into Allen's ear and he laughed. There was a silence after Allen finished laughing. He leaned over and said something quietly to Millerna and she nodded and started to stand.
"We're gonna go get some ice cream or something, maybe skip fourth, who knows. Anyone else up for it?" she asked.
The rest of them muttered a 'No, thanks,' or shook their heads. With a shrug, Millerna grabbed Allen's hand and ran off, her skirt swishing around her calves and a small span of tanned leg showing underneath. Hitomi and Van both stood then and muttered some excuse before leaving also. Merle lay flat and flipped onto her stomach. She looked back and forth between her two friends that were still sitting with her. For several moments they didn't move, not even when Merle threw a small rock at Dryden and it bounced off his face.
"This blows," Dilandau said, watching Hitomi's back.
"Tell me about it man." Dryden was still looking the direction Millerna had left.
Merle stood up and booted Dilandau in the leg before stalking off.
* * *
Hitomi walked into Van's room, towelling her hair just as he pulled on a shirt.
"Good shower?" he asked.
"Mmm hmm. Tonight's going to be awesome, I haven't been to one of Mei's parties for so long."
"Me neither." Then Van noticed her uneasy expression. "What's wrong? You look, I dunno... upset in some way. Are you alright?"
Hitomi nodded but the expression stayed on her face. "It's just, Van, you could have your choice out of how many girls? And you chose me. The one with the messed up family who tries to k-kill herself and can't do anything right."
Van walked over to her and put a hand on either side of her face. After looking into her eyes for a moment he said, "Maybe that's exactly what I like about you. Or maybe it's because none of those other girls know who I really am. But maybe it's just because I like Hitomi for who she is, mistakes and all."
"I'm sorry," she whispered as he pulled her into an embrace. "I just got worried. I mean... Mei likes you. And she's wanted by everyone but you."
"What can I say?" Van laughed. "I guess I've just found something better." Hitomi laughed weakly and he ruffled her hair. "Okay, finish getting beautiful so we can go."
* * *
"Hello?"
"Hi Daddy."
"Oh, Hitomi, it's you! How're you doing sweetheart?"
"I'm doing pretty good dad. But I have a favour to ask you."
"What would you like?"
"Can Mamoru stay with you for a while?"
"Why hunny?"
"I'm staying with Van because, well, mom's been kind of... psycho since the divorce and everything."
"Psycho how Hitomi?"
"She just hasn't been too nice."
"You're starting to scare me. What has your mother been doing?"
"Just... I don't want you to make a big deal out of it."
"I won't"
"You're lying and we both know it dad."
"True, but please tell me anyways."
"I didn't fall down the stairs dad."
"…"
"Dad?"
"Are you saying your mother pushed you?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Hitomi! That's serious, we have to call child services at once. Mamoru and you are going to live with me from now on. Your mother will be lucky if she even gets to see you on weekends! I'm going to come pick you up right now, where did you say you were?"
"Dad! Don't freak out! I'm at Van's house and I'm fine. I've been staying here for the last couple nights. Mr and Mrs Fanel have been great, they say I can stay as long as I want. I haven't been home yet, I just wanted to tell you not to send Mamoru home."
"I won't, don't worry."
"Thanks dad. But I gotta go; I'll talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you too sweetie."
* * *
Van stood leaning against the fireplace with Mei talking to him on his right. His eyes scanned the room for Hitomi but he couldn't see her anywhere.
Millerna came running and hopping by yelling, "I'm a pony! I'm a pony!" with Allen following close behind. "She's had a bit too much to drink," he said with a grimace. (A/N: One of my friends actually did the whole "I'm a pony!" thing when she was drunk. It's quite comical, take my word for it.)
"Seen Hitomi anywhere?" Van yelled over the music.
"Nope, but I'll tell her you're looking for her if I see her, okay?" Van nodded and Allen chased after Millerna.
"Van," Mei yelled. He didn't pay any attention to her, he was still scanning for Hitomi. "Van," she said again, louder still. When she got no response she shrieked, "VAN!"
Van had finally seen Hitomi. She had caught his eye just as Mei had yelled in his ear. "What?" he asked impatiently and turned to look at her. She flung both arms around his neck and pressed heavily glossed lips to his own. After a couple seconds, the shock of what Mei was doing wore off and he shoved her off him. Without any reply to her annoying voice, he looked for Hitomi again. She had left the room.
* * *
Hitomi stumbled into someone and looked up, green eyes streaming. Dilandau stood in front of her looking concerned. He set down his bottle on the nearest table and grabbed Hitomi's hand. He dragged her into a room and closed the door. Sitting her down on the bed he stared at her face.
"Spill 'Tomi. What happened?"
"Mei," Hitomi wailed. "And Van! Together!"
"Huh?"
"He kissed her! She kissed him! Whatever! They kissed!! AND I WAS IN THE SAME ROOM!" She didn't care that her voice was incredibly loud at the moment. It was unlikely anyone could hear it over the yelling and music in the other rooms.
Dilandau sat beside her on the bed and put his arms around her. For a moment she just let herself be held. Then she pulled away slightly and looked into his face. Concern and several other things were etched there. It was hard for her to tell who moved first; it must have been him. But the next thing either of them knew, both of their eyes were closed and their mouths were crushed together in a kiss. It wasn't either of them that broke it. It was the slam that came from the door as it was thrown open.
"Dilandau, you're fucking dead!"
Both him and Hitomi stood up as Van stepped into the room and strode towards Dilandau, most likely not with good intentions.
"Leave him alone Van," Hitomi cried.
"Wha - what?! 'Leave him alone'? Hitomi! Does every guy have the right to go around kissing you?"
Dilandau looked at both of them, jumped over the bed and left the room, shutting the door. He leaned on the outside for a moment. What had he just done? How long he had dreamed of doing that? But dreaming and doing were two very different things.
"No! But I can tell you don't feel the same! You can go around kissing whoever you want and I'm bound to one person, is that it Van?" Hitomi shouted at him. She had started crying again. In truth, she couldn't remember if she had even stopped.
"What? Hitomi, no!" Van reached for her hand. She moved it away from him before he touched it and lurched backwards towards the door.
"Don't you come near me Van Fanel. Don't come near me ever again."
She staggered out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Van was left staring at the wall. He sat down on the bed and put his face in his hands.
Hitomi half ran, half stumbled out of Mei's house, crying her heart out. She fell onto the lawn on her hands and knees. For a moment she stared at the ground, tears blurring her vision. Then she started retching. After several minutes of unsuccessful gagging, Hitomi felt a hand on her shoulder. She immediately thought it was Van and turned quickly. Dilandau was standing behind her with Merle beside him. Both looked concerned and Hitomi started sobbing as Dilandau stood her up and pulled her into a hug. Merle put one hand on her shoulder.
"We should take you home Hitomi," she said.
Hitomi just nodded as she was led to Merle's car and both her and Dilandau got into the back. He cradled her until they got to his house. Kissing her cheek, he left. Merle drove quickly until they arrived at her house. She helped Hitomi out of the car and up the stairs to the front door.
(A/N: There was a nice long chapter for you! Was it angsty? Well, slightly? Please? Maybe not but I tried! Don't worry, everything will turn out fine in the end, I just had to take it away from Hitomi's mom for a while. And plus, no one's relationship works 100% of the time, right? Right. I'm glad we all agree on that. Now you should Review it because I love Reviews and you love my story! Don't you?)