Chapter 3: Confusion
Chad was determined to focus this time. He would pay close attention to Cree's teachings so he would become stronger as quickly as possible. However, there was a new distraction....
"What are you looking at?" demanded Cree, who was inspecting the bokken.
"Nothing," he lied, reddening and turning away. In truth, he had been staring at her--in her skin-tight body suit. She hadn't worn that last time.
She threw him a bokuto, which he didn't notice in time, and dropped. He had been too busy trying not to look at her. He picked it up off the floor. "Sorry," he mumbled.
She let out a somewhat depreciatory chuckle, then picked up a wooden sword herself. "Okay. Remember what we discussed last time? Show me your stance again."
-
Chad found himself knocked to the floor and at the tip of her bokuto once again.
Cree sighed. "Come on, get up. What is wrong with you today? Are you even paying attention?"
"Sorry," he said, for at least the thousandth time that day.
"Apologizing isn't good enough. The only thing you've said today is 'sorry'! You're not even looking at me! How are you supposed to learn anything?"
He inspected the wooden blade of his sword and said nothing.
She walked up to him and snatched the bokuto from him in frustration. "Will you answer me?!" she demanded.
Startled, he looked up, meeting her eyes. They were strangely fascinating.... He suddenly found himself caught between two vastly opposing feelings, and two very different actions. Finally, he pulled away, distinctly uncertain if he was making the right choice. He moved several steps away.
"If you don't want to do this, there's really no point." She made no effort to disguise the impatience in her voice.
"I do. I want to do this." He was at least certain of this.
"Then what's the problem? Talk to me, Chad, I'm not a mind reader."
He was certainly grateful for that. Of course, even if she could read his mind, would she be able to make any more sense of the jumbled feelings than he could?
He forced himself to look up at her. She was so perfect. He hated her for it. Or rather, he wished he could feel that way about her.
"You know what your problem is?" he finally spoke.
Cree pursed her lips warily. "What?"
"You're too perfect. It's annoying."
She laughed at this. "Well, I'm sorry, but that's what I do. I'm the best," she answered glibly.
Chad remembered when that used to be his line. That's right--he was used to being the best. And she came and beat him without even trying. He resented her for it! That must be what he was feeling, that was the cause of his sudden awkwardness, the noticeable thumping of his heart when he was near her--it was the mix of admiration and resentment. It had to be....
Now he could look her in the eye. Now he could walk up to her and snatch his bokken back from her hands. He gripped it tight and prepared himself for an attack. "Now I'm ready."
"Good. But your stance is still wrong."
He glared at her. "Shut up."
Cree sighed, rolling her eyes, then laughed.
---
The final bell rang, and the students exited the school in droves. Chad let himself be shoved along with the crowd, paying little attention to the direction he was going. Once outside, the pack thinned and he looked around. What was he doing out there? He was supposed to be at play rehersal....
It was then that a familiar face caught his eye. He was hard to miss, really, with his "inconspicuous" shades and bald head. Chad saw the boy from a distance, and froze, feeling a rush of hostility and anger that knotted his insides. He instinctively reached for a weapon he knew he didn't have. Nigel hadn't noticed him yet--he could still sneak up on him now and exact his revenge. The world grew eerily still, colors muted and sound hushed. All feeling but one left him--hatred. If it hadn't been for this boy, his life now would have been--
"Chad?"
He heard his name called, as if from far away. It was easily ignored as he approached his enemy. The one who betrayed him....
"Chad? What's wrong?"
Someone came to stand between him and his target. Someone he knew...who...?
Chad blinked several times, reorienting himself, shaking his head clear of the dark, hostile fog. "Cree," he said, finally recognizing her. He shivered. He was freezing.
She studied him. "What just happened there? You totally zoned out."
"I...don't know," he replied truthfully, still shaking from the cold. He avoided looking at her, glancing over to where Nigel was standing just moments before. He was gone.
But Cree continued to stare contemplatively. "It's weird, but I could have sworn..." she mumbled.
"Huh?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing, must have been imagining things." But then she suddenly frowned. "Hey--since when are you taller than me?
"What?" He looked at her, and realized he had to look down, just slightly, to meet her eyes. "Oh...huh. I don't know."
Cree shrugged. "So are we training now?"
"Oh, okay," he answered, walking with her. Then he stopped. "Wait. No, I can't now. I have play rehearsal."
"Play rehearsal," Cree stated, shaking her head incredulously. "Is there any club here at school you haven't joined?
"Well, yeah," replied Chad lamely.
Cree laughed. "I guess I'll see you later, Romeo." Still laughing, she walked away.
Chad pondered her last word for a moment. "Romeo...?" Oh wait, she was referring to his character in the play.... He headed back for the school.
---
TWACK!
His bokken flew from his grip and landed halfway across the room.
"Damn it," he swore under his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"No, that was better," encouraged Cree. "Your movements were much more controlled that time. Let's take a breather, we're both beat.
Chad unceremoniously flopped to the ground and leaned back against the wall. Cree walked over and sat beside him, much more gracefully. She took a draught from her water bottle, then offered it to Chad, which he accepted gratefully.
He handed it back to her after taking several large swallows. "Thanks." He gave her a sidelong glance, taking in her figure as she sat there beside him in her body-hugging outfit. But when his eyes traveled to her face, he saw that she was watching him. He blushed and looked away guiltily. "Crap, she caught me checking her out," and "What does she expect, wearing something like that?" flew through his mind almost simultaneously.
"Uh--isn't it hot, wearing that?" he attempted to explain his staring. He checked her face to see if she bought it. She was smiling. Or was that a smirk?
"No, actually, the material wicks the sweat away from my body, so I keep cool."
"Oh." He looked at her again to ponder over the material of her body suit, and found himself staring again. He turned away hastily, cursing himself silently.
"It's actually very comfortable. Maybe you should try getting one yourself."
Chad conjured a disturbing mental image of this and laughed. "I think I'll pass."
Now Cree was watching him, amused.
"What?"
"Nothing," she shook her head, smiling wider.
"No, really--what?"
"You think too much Chad," she laughed. "Don't overanalyze everything." She held the water bottle out to him again. He reached over for it, touching her hand as he took hold of it. For a brief moment she didn't release it, and he glanced up and met her unusual eyes. He suddenly became aware of his pounding heart.
Time must have stopped. They were the only two people in the entire universe that mattered, and the absolute purpose of the human existence was leading up to this very moment as they sat, hands touching, gazing into each other's eyes.
"You think too much Chad. Don't overanalyze everything."
Her words came back to echo in his brain. Time regained its rhythm. Cree pulled her hand away, breaking their gaze to lean back against the wall, stretching.
He took a sloppy swig at the bottle, hand shaking. Cold water dribbled down his chin.
---
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author's note: i just had to make reference to Chad's freakish growth spurt in LEADER. he grew about two feet in two weeks! ha, i know it's because there was supposed to be a season break between END and FUTURE. but still, freakish!
and in case you were wondering, yeah, Chad is an idiot. ::snerk::