(Nilla)
I jumped up with a start. I slammed my hand down on my alarm clock. It was Monday morning, bright and early at five thirty. I brushed a lock of auburn red hair out of my face, heading for the shower.
I turned the water on, brushed my teeth, and jumped into the steaming shower. I let the water rush over me, shocking me awake in a mist of billowing steam.
H'ana High. Maybe I did miss school over the summer a little. I missed hanging out, lounging around before class and listening to Lily's endless talk. Well, sometimes I listened, and sometimes I shut up the endless torrent of words.
Last year was amazing. I walked out of the shower, heading towards my room. I pulled out a photo album of my sophomore year while I started to get dressed. There were pictures of me holding my cello, playing at various concerts. Then, there were pictures of Lily and me sitting around in the living room or at birthday parties.
Then, there were the guys. Akio blushed in almost every picture because he detested getting his picture taken. Tomo stood there, looking stupid and tried to look manly. The two of them were unmistakably twins, no matter how much they tried to hide it.
Lee's face was a whole page of my photo album. Actually, he appeared in eighty-five percent of my pictures. He loved the camera, and his tan, well built body emphasized that. He stood in the middle of everyone for my birthday pictures and any other picture, for that matter.
I snorted as I flipped to the pictures of the orchestra concert. I looked very professional in one picture with my cello. In the neighboring picture, Ryo Sandra was posing with me, holding his trombone. In the next picture, he was caressing my cello. In the following picture, I was playing his trombone, and he was playing my cello.
In the final picture, Ryo slung his arm around my neck and undid his tie. He looked completely stoned, and I might have been riding a high. When I looked at that picture, I wasn't sure if he were about to kiss me or laugh in my ear. I sighed, putting away the book, grabbing my clothes.
I dried my auburn red hair, and it lay perfectly straight, without an ounce of curl. I ran downstairs, inhaling my cereal. It was time to drive. I'd gotten my license, and today I used it.
I loaded my older cello into the backseat. On an impulse, I buckled it up. Then, I jumped in the driver's side, unbelievably excited. I turned the key, feeling the rev of the engine. Then, I began gently backing the car out of the driveway. I headed down the crowded streets of Toyoma, carefully getting into my parking spot.
I unloaded my cello, carrying it the entire way to the orchestra hallway. I stored it away in a special, huge locker, where I stashed my coat and mailbag. There was no point in going to my locker when I'd be back here at the end of the day.
"I knew I'd find you here," Lily giggled, coming into the room. I smiled at my bubbly friend. Her sparkling sapphire eyes lit up on seeing me. "We have to find everybody!"
"Okay," I walked barely an inch taller than my petit friend did. "The halls are still empty."
"Oh, I know, but I got here
early." Lily tossed her sleek, ebony hair over her shoulder, and
waved to the only other person in the hallway. "It's a nice day,
though. I'd rather be outside. This summer seemed to go so fast,
I hardly knew school was here. But there it was, just in time for
autumn."
"Yeah," I sighed, remembering what I'd call the
oddest summer of my life. It had gone incredibly fast, and Ryo had
been gone. Lee left for a while, but I remembered him coming back.
"I can't believe Ryo left us this summer," Lily huffed. "I mean, just to pick up and leave? Lee didn't help things any. He went and got tan and met girls at some beach. What did they do? Leave us here."
"I know," I smirked at Lily's ability to just go on and on. "It's a shame. I did practice my cello more."
"I'm glad. You'll be so good this year no one will believe it. I missed the gang this summer, all the same. It's always been the six of us, and no one else, and we've always had so much fun." Lily stopped talking and waved to more people. Then, she flailed both of her arms, just in case Akio and Tomo had missed us.
"Glad to see you, too," Tomo snorted, walking up to us. He gave us a sleepy, sarcastic grin. We got out of the main traffic, moving towards the lockers. "You have too much energy."
"No I don't. Everyone else just needs to get up and smile." Lily took a breath, but Tomo interrupted. He ran his hand through his bowl cut raven black hair.
"Yeah, not this early. Bright and early, my butt. I still can't stand these stupid school hours." Tomo released a huge yawn. Akio stifled his yawn, nudging his brother in the side. He also repeated the annoying action of running his hand through his identical head of hair.
"Don't yawn around me. I get tired," Akio shook his head. His mild eyes, no matter how tired he was, showed he was definitely glad to see us. Lily most of all. She flitted her friendly glance everywhere, ensnaring her friend with its power.
"I can't believe I haven't see Lee," Tomo muttered. "I'm not even expecting to see Ryo."
"Where did he go?" Lily asked,
confusion etched across her radiant features. "I thought Ryo was
coming back to Han'A High this year. Did he move?"
"No,"
Akio shook his head. Akio's reasonable voice calmed Lily down a
little. "We're all coming back this year."
"Yeah, and the bell is going to ring," Tomo snorted, walking down the hall. "See you later."
"You, too," I shrugged, walking away, feeling slightly disconnected. The lingering feelings of isolation I'd had during the long June days returned. All I'd done was play my cello, and it was lonely.
(Kaede)
I sat up in the stark naked darkness. My covers were gone, and I sat in my spaghetti strap and thong. Nothing kept me transfixed, but the inability to move in the frigid room. I slept in my basement, so no sun warmed my room. Even at the end of a summer, my room remained locked in a chill.
I jumped at the sound of my alarm clock. It was morning. I turned off the alarm, and flicked on the lights. The silver comforter and white flannel sheets lay rumpled up on the floor. I quickly hurried to my closet.
"What to wear?" I smirked, adoring my wardrobe. Pink was too pretty, black too dark, and brown, white, and gray too plain. I reached into the back of my closet, grabbing a Kaede Mione favorite. The slinky navy blue dress came down to my knees. The three finger width straps held it over my shoulders, and a sexy v cut went down both back and front. I grabbed my silver link belt and a pair of very elegant silver sandals. The heels were high and stiletto and designed to accentuate the legs.
I showered in a quick, warm lather. I shaved my ivory legs. Not quite pale, I let my natural skin color show through instead of killing my skin in a tanning booth. I dried out my long, thick hair. I curled the ends, letting my prize-winning locks hang down below my shoulders.
I put on my dress, applying my foundation and powder afterwards. I carefully applied silver eye shadow, black eyeliner and mascara, and a perfect amount of creamy white lipstick. My lips sparkled, looked large and succulent, yet still tastefully in tune with my look of the day.
I grabbed my black leather purse, and gave myself a quick sprit of Love Spell, my favorite perfume. I checked myself in the mirror. Oh yes, it was time to stun, embitter, and ultimately rule my world.
Another year at Han'A High was about to begin.
"Morning," I pleasantly told my aunt as I walked upstairs. She looked over her newspaper. "You working at the old folk's home today?"
"No, Kitten, your uncle's pulling the yen in today," she looked me over several times. "What poor boys are you going to give erections to, now?"
"Yani!" I always called my aunt by her first name, even after she'd offended me. "I just like to look really good. Boys happen to like that."
"Kitten's get themselves into trouble, even when they're grown up cats," she smirked at me. In her playful way, she got her warning across not to have sex. I grabbed my cup of coffee, gave Yani a hug, and headed towards my car. I liked the lovely silver Toyota. I hopped in, turned on a rock station, and drove out to get Sean.
I pulled up in Sean's driveway, and honked my horn. The native New York boy bounded out of the door, two poptarts and piece of toast in hand. "Nice to see you." I drummed my fingers against the wheel. I waited until Sean got in to pull out of the driveway.
"Girl, you're a lifesaver." Sean laughed, cramming all of his food down his throat in several minutes. "You know, my sis is going to high school."
"She's a freshmen, and you're a junior. No sweat," I shrugged, but thought twice about Nakeisha. "She won't give you or me any problems, Sean."
"She bugs me, man!" Sean sighed, reclining the seat the whole way. "She's been angry ever since she ran away."
"Yeah, that was an inconsiderate thing to do," I turned away from the school, towards Bahkura's house. "Don't let her bother you."
"I guess you're right. We're gonna have fun this year." Sean got restless leaning back, and put the seat upright again, and began fidgeting with the radio. "I like this song."
"I swear you have ADD," Sean began to bob along to the steady base line. The unintelligible voice of the rapper mixed in with the beat that coursed through my body. I pulled in to Bahkura's house, and Sean went in to rouse the lazy muscle head. Both guys came out and took a seat in the back.
"You look sweet, Kaede," Bahkura added. I chuckled, knowing he'd never ask me out. I really didn't want him to, either. "Kento and I've known you're ways too long to go out with you, though."
"You two never met my high boyfriend standards," I smirked, as I turned onto Kento's road. I pulled up to his house, and Sean ran in to get him. Sean came out alone, however, frowning slightly, a look of bewilderment on his face.
"Where's Rei Faun?" Bahkura
grumbled in his low, base voice. He scratched his head, running his
hand across his buzz cut hair. "We need our garbage can."
"That's
really witty of you, Bahkura, for this early. I predict a high grade
in at least one class this year." Bahkura punched the back of my
seat. After being startled, I let out a short, clear burst of
laughter.
"Seriously, where is Kento?" Bahkura leaned forward, where Sean sat in the front seat again.
"His parents told me he's moved, but he's still going to school with us. He just got another ride." Sean's pathetic, confused lost puppy look struck me. Kento, Sean, and Bahkura all bonded immediately when Sean came because, well, they were all rock heads. Nothing existed in their brains but sports, food, loud music, pummeling things, and girls.
"Don't feel bad, Sean, at least you'll start in basketball this year," I pacified Sean's distress. He grinned like he was five and given a box of lollipops. "We'll be at all your games."
"Man, I've waited for this!" Sean jumped in his seat. I laughed, pulling into my parking spot. I grabbed my coffee, opening the door, and locked the car. I slid the keys in my purse, and glided into the building on my heels.
I noticed the stares at first, but ignored them gradually, making my way through the crowd. I walked along, until I came to our corner. It over looked a single set of stairs, descending from the wing with the cafeterias and the gym. It boarded the huge intersection, but branched off towards the side. A bulletin board hung above it, advertising something or other. I walked over, leaning on the railing.
Everyone in the cafeterias, intersection, and everyone coming up the stairs could see me here.
"We've got our spot," I turned to my two male friends. They both nodded, and Bahkura shooed away a group of sophomores trying to take our spot with pummeling threats. I finished my coffee and threw away the cup.
"Almost like old times," Sean sighed, waving to a group of girls. "Ladies, happy Monday!"
"You, too, Sean!" One of the girls replied, heading down the hall. I looked up, and I pointed, hoping Sean and Bahkura would notice. Kento ambled toward our corner. He waved, nodding to me. Sean noticed first, running and giving Kento a slap on the back.
"Rei Faun," Bahkura lightly punched Kento's shoulder. "Where've you been? We would've given you a ride."
"I know, but I'm living out of
town, at a type of men's boarding house." Kento's cheeks got a
little red. Was Kento slightly flustered?
"Why not a girl's
boarding house?" Sean smirked. "I'd rather be sleeping with a
bunch of naked girls than dudes."
"Sean, you're sick," I gave Kento a what-are-you-going-to-do grin complete with a shrug. "Well, glad you're back. I must say, my refrigerator is too full."
"Seriously?" Kento looked as if I'd produce a burger from my purse. I tilted my head back and laughed deeply.
"I'll bring you a snack tomorrow." Bahkura and Sean both let out a deep, manly guttural laugh at Kento's stupidity. It would have worked on any of them, so I laughed, too.
"See you!" Kento turned away, walking down the stairs. I watched his muscular, bulky body descend, his unkempt locks bobbing with his heavy footfalls.
I looked after him, as Sean and Bahkura began to talk. He waved to a shorter boy with sandy hair. They began to talk, walking away together down the hall. I leaned forward as much as I dared, watching the two of them talk like they'd lived together for years.
"My," I muttered to myself as the bell rang. I moved from my spot, walking down the stairs. Kento lingered on my mind as I approached the door to my first period, barely thirty seconds away from where I'd sat.
"World Cultures. You might learn the world has many cultures," I looked up to this very sarcastic comment. A tall, thin guy wearing a leather jacket and black pants made the comment. Beside him walked another guy, almost as tall and with creamy silk colored skin and more muscle.
At first glance, the blond with shiny, wavy hair appeared incredibly gorgeous. Then, the navy blue hair struck my eye, and I noticed the lithe figure clad in slightly punk and gothic apparel. My, I knew I'd never seen them before. I knew every good-looking guy in the school, and this pair would not have escaped my attention.
I followed the two in the room, sitting right in front of the punk. "I need to cut my hair," I heard the blond mumble. I peered over my shoulder, watching him fix his gleaming gelled locks of sunshine.
"Aw, it's okay. I'm sure the gel fairy will help you." The blond shot the punk, who had a whimsical gleam in his eyes, a disdainful look. "Would you like me to go get a pair of scissors and give your hair a fix right now?"
"No thanks," the blond rolled his eyes. He'd now begun to straighten his shirt out, studying every wrinkle. The punk looked at him, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and flipped it up.
"Rowen!" The blond turned down
his collar. The punk went into suppressed hysterics, and looked over
at his annoyed friend. "Could you stop it for one second? This
shirt is a mess because you can't keep anything in the closet neat
and wrinkle-free."
"Okay, for you, Abercrombie, I'll make
an effort." The punk sighed, a huge amused grin coming across his
face.
"Stop it." I turned fully around, absorbed in the interaction. The blond looked satisfied with his appearance, but his perfect skin and proportionate facial features were distorted with annoyance.
"What, Abercrombie?"
"Stop calling me that name."
"What did you say, Abercrombie?" The blond smacked the punk across the arm with his notebook. This got another fit of laughter from the punk, who muffled his laughter immediately. Then, he looked away for a second, and noticed I stared right at him.
His face went blank, as he observed me. His playful eyes became calculating and serious, looking at my every feature. He studied me with falcon like intensity. I knew he must find me attractive, because I sure thought he was an interesting find.
"Hi," he said, acknowledging that I was sitting there. The blond looked up, a slight look of embarrassment crossing his face. They both stared at me for several seconds before I said anything.
"I couldn't help but overhearing both of you." I gave them both a friendly smile. I crossed my legs, gently putting one smooth leg over the other. "I haven't seen you here before."
"We're new," the blond replied, smiling at me. "And you are?"
"Kaede Mione," I shook hands with both of them. Then, the second bell rang, and the teacher came in. I reluctantly turned around, uncrossing my legs. Oh yes, this would be a school year to remember.
(Nilla)
I made my way into the Trig classroom second period. I sat down, opening my notebook. "Nilla!" I jumped slightly, then just giggled. Lily walked into the room, her eyes sparkling like diamonds. She blabbed to a couple people before taking the seat beside me. "Oh my god, Nilla, I'm having the best time today because I have classes with all the nice people this year that I know."
"I see. I wish I had . .
."
"Hello," Lily turned around and began talking to the boy
with sandy hair that slipped in while I was preoccupied. "I had
last period with you."
"Yeah," he nodded, peering over at me. His softly tan skin held a pair of sincere blue eyes. "This is your friend?"
"Yes," I smiled. Even if his
Japanese would have been smooth, he was obviously right off the boat.
"I'm Nilla."
"I've never met a foreign exchange
student before. Where are you from? I don't speak very good
English, but your accent sounds very English, like the proper type,
not the American type."
I shook my head in amazement to Lily's babble. The boy blushed slightly, and he was looking naturally flustered by Lily's charm. "He's from the United Kingdom, Lily."
"Oh! That's so exciting! Do you like Japan?" She paused to breathe. The quiet boy looked like he was going to speak. "Is it different than England? I think it would be different. Oh my god, if I went to a new country, I'd be so lost!"
"It's okay," the boy grinned sheepishly. He met my eyes, then looked quickly back to Lily, who'd started rambling about something. I watched him, stare steadily at her, as she just rambled. I turned away so they wouldn't see me laugh. I got the feeling he didn't understand a word she was speaking, now.
I gazed off, thinking about the little romantic farce happening right beside me. Lily had never tried her giddy charm on a foreigner before. What year! I felt the headaches and excitement already start to come. I turned, a stupidly huge smile plastered all over my face at the thought of the cute couple.
"So, what's your name? Lily obviously knows, but I don't," I chortled, stunning the boy with my change in tone.
"I'm Cye Mouri," he smiled sheepishly. He looked like a little frog in the middle of the road as it realized a big rig was hitting it. I let Lily keep talking, and I turned away again to snicker to myself at his confused gaze.
My lips fell, and my eyes met an odd figure. His incredibly wide eyes fixed deeply on Lily, carefully observing her. I'd never seen thick, greasy seaweed green hair like his before. His skin was the monotone color of pasty cream plaster. His clothing was so odd, I knew he didn't belong in this school. I saw a set of hilts, but his ornate samurai armor struck my eye more than any weapon.
I heard no sound. I perceived no motion but the ponderous fix of his gaze. He cocked his head slightly, seeming to have made a decision. Then, he turned, and his eyes became even more unnaturally large as he gazed at Cye with loathing.
Then, in an instant the huge, violet eyes locked into mine. They widened further, staring deeply inside of my soul. I jumped, falling to the ground, knocking my desk over. Cold shivers erupted all over my body. For a moment, I felt disconnected, as if I'd jumped out of my skin.
"Nilla!" I could hear sounds. "Oh my god, Nilla, are you okay? What happened? You're as white as a ghost!"
"I saw . . ." I paused, realizing a huge group, including the teacher, were surrounding me. I held my tongue, not about to reveal that I'd seen some type of hallucination. " . . . a spider. It was huge."
"I don't see anything," the teacher looked around. She gave me a questionable stare, then returned to the front of the room. "You want a pass to the nurse's office, Nilla? You look terribly ill."
"Okay," I said the word like a wispy cloud on exhaling. I turned back, after grabbing the pass, watching Lily's concerned eyes pan me. I realized I stood on the spot where I'd seen him. I looked at Cye, whose face was etched with a deep frown. I gave them both a weak smile as I reached the door.
Whatever that was, I realized it was no hallucination. It felt so real. If I'd reached out my hand or spoke, I was sure I'd been seen and heard. The way he gazed at Lily and Cye, like he'd seen them before convicted something deeply inside of me.
The worst was, I'd seen him before, but where?
A/N: Thanks to all of my loyal reviewers. To ladykittywidlfire, it's a definite thing who Nilla saw. Why did she see the particular vision? Well . . . you'll see. I'm glad to hear from you with suggestions. Thanks, MorganRay.