Chapter 19
The
next morning Kenneth stopped at the Tuskino's to walk to school with
Reenie. As it turned out, Sammy and Mika had left early, so Reenie
and Kenneth were alone as they walked to the High School. On the way
to school, they talked.
"Isn't it annoying how they stop
whispering whenever you walk by?" Kenneth asked.
Reenie nodded in agreement. "It's even more annoying when you're in class and suddenly, right when you walk in the door, the whole class stops. I mean you could probably hear one of Kara's stuffed toys hit the floor," Reenie said.
Kenneth nodded. "I wonder if it's like this at the public schools where we come from?"
Reenie thought for a moment, then said, "You know I never thought about that. Maybe it is, or maybe teenagers are more mature than that."
Kenneth shrugged. "We'll never know," he said.
Reenie nodded. "I guess," she sighed. Then, "Doesn't that suck?"
"What?" Kenneth asked.
"That we'll never know," Reenie answered. "I mean, now that I'm thinking about it, I need to know the answer. I just can't stop thinking about it."
Kenneth smiled and shook his head. He could just imagine what would happen if they went to regular high school in the future. They walked a few minutes in silence, then Kenneth said, "I wonder what it would be like if we weren't who we were."
Reenie was confused by what her cousin said. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"You know," Kenneth told her. "If we went to the public schools. Not for speeches or anything, but actually went to the public schools."
Reenie
laughed lightly. "I can just imagine me begging mom," she
said, putting some of her long pink hair behind her ear.
"I
bet Puu would get really angry if we sneaked off to try and see how
it was," Kenneth said.
Reenie laughed and nodded. She knew that Puu would get really angry if they even tried. Reenie saw that they were near the school and said, "Another day full of hell."
Kenneth nodded as they walked inside the gates. "What's your first class?" he asked.
Reenie
thought for a moment than replied, "Since we start with block B,
it's Science. What's yours?"
"Science," Kenneth
replied. Then, "Teacher?"
"Mr. Aksia,"
Reenie said.
"Stay by your class," Kenneth said. "And
I'll pick you up after."
Reenie nodded and together they walked towards their classes.
At school, Michelle asked Kara, "Wanna come over today?"
Kara nodded. "I'll have to tell Reenie, though," Kara said.
Michelle nodded. "Reenie can walk with us and Kristy," Michelle said.
Kara nodded and for the rest of the day, she couldn't stop thinking that she had actually made a friend. She had friends in the future, but they were either related to her or her guardians. This was her first friend by choice.
Reenie
couldn't believe that it was only her second day of school and
already she had a big assignment to do and with a partner! She
couldn't believe who her partner was either. It was the red head. The
girl who was with Michelle yesterday.
Reenie waited for Kenneth
when the bell rang after class. She was about to walk out of class,
when she was stopped by the red head.
"Hi, Reenie,"
the red head said.
"Hello," Reenie said.
"Since we're partners, I thought I should introduce myself. I'm Kristy. My little sister's friends with yours."
Reenie
nodded. She remembered seeing Kristy after school with Kara's friend
yesterday.
"Anyway," Kristy said. "Michelle's
inviting your little sister over today, and since we're now partners,
I was wondering if you wanted to come over and work on the project
together?"
Reenie was taken aback, but quickly responded, "Okay. I'll see you after Math, then," and walked outside, where Kenneth was already waiting for her.
"Who
was that?" Kenneth asked.
"My new partner,"
Reenie informed him. "I'm going over to her house to work on our
Science project after school."
Kenneth
nodded, and asked, "Who's going to walk with Kara?"
"She'll probably come over and play with Michelle, Kristy's
little sister," Reenie said. "Look, I have to get going to
Computer Science. I'll see you later."
"See ya,"
Kenneth said, and they headed to their different classes.
Reenie reached her computer science class about ten minutes before the bell rang. She already knew that Melissa was in her class. Mika, too. She wasn't expecting for her friends to ask her the questions they did however. Reenie sat down beside her friend.
Almost immediately, Melissa turned to Reenie and asked, "So, who was that guy you were with?"
Reenie
was taken aback by the question. "Wha... what guy?" Reenie
asked.
"You know," came Mika's voice from behind
Reenie.
Reenie turned around and saw Mika.
"That guy who was waiting for you by your science class," Mika said. "Kristy saw him. She said he was really cute. What happened? Second day at school and already met a cute boy?" A few of the other girls in the class were listening in on the conversation. So were some of the guys.
Reenie blushed. All this attention over a small conversation? "He's not my boyfriend," she replied. "He's my cousin. He's staying with Terence."
Mika nodded. She knew who Terence was. "So, he's related to Sammy, too, huh?" she asked.
Reenie
nodded.
"What's his name?" Melissa asked.
"Kenneth,"
Reenie muttered.
"What?" Melissa asked. Some of the
other girls were standing around Reenie's desk. It was obvious that
they knew who they were talking about.
"What's the guy's
name?" a maroon haired girl asked.
"Kenneth,"
Reenie replied.
"He's not your boyfriend?" one brown
haired girl asked, who had seen Kenneth and Reenie walking to school
together that morning.
Reenie
nodded. "He's not my boyfriend," she repeated. She heard a
few of the boys in the class give sighs and Reenie hid a giggle.
Just then, the teacher entered. The girls that had been
surrounding Reenie's desk sat back in their own, and everyone's
attention was focused to the front of the class.
Kenneth had a hard time concentrating in his next class. He kept thinking about the future, and wondering if everything was okay. He had an uneasy feeling that something had started up again, but he wasn't sure if that was just his nerves or if it was real. He shrugged it off hoping it was just nerves, and tried to concentrate on what his teacher was saying.
Sammy had been getting pretty annoyed by most of his friend's attitudes towards his cousin. Every time Reenie stopped to say hi to them in the halls, the guys would immediately shut up. The only one that was able to speak to her was Sammy. Sammy knew why, too. The guys shut up because they were probably talking about her. Sammy knew that one of the guys would want to ask Reenie out sooner or later. He'd have to deal with that when the time came.
After
school, Kristy and Reenie left together. They walked to the
elementary school to pick up Michelle and Kara. It had been silent
for awhile. Kristy was the first to break the silence. "How does
Mika know you?" Kristy wanted to know.
"Sammy's my
cousin," Reenie replied. "She was with Sammy at my aunt's
and uncle's house when my sister and I came."
Kirsty
nodded.
It was silent for a few minutes, but then Reenie got up
the nerve to ask Kristy, "Why does everyone stop talking
whenever me or Kenneth walk down the halls?"
"That's
easy," Kristy said. "A lot of girls like your cousin. And I
happen to know that a lot of guys think you're hot. My brother does,
for one."
Reenie was surprised by what Kristy was telling her. One: She didn't know that Kristy had a brother. Two: She didn't know that any of the guys at school liked her. Reenie smiled as she thought of how awkward it would be if anyone found out that she was from the future. A realization swept over Reenie. Kristy had probably known yesterday that her brother had liked her and she had also known that Reenie probably had no idea. It was possible that somehow them being partners had been set up although how, Reenie had no idea. Kristy had probably invited Reenie over to try and set her up with her brother. Reenie kept these thoughts to herself. If she was wrong, she didn't want Kristy to know what she had thought of her. Reenie saw that they were nearing the elementary school. She could see several girls sitting on the steps, one of them was Kara.
As they walked to the elementary school, Kristy began to realize how nice Reenie really was. She felt guilty for inviting her over just to set her up with her brother. Kristy also realized that by the expression on Reenie's face, Reenie probably already knew it, too. Kristy knew that she was going to have to apologize to Reenie. Now that she sort of knew Reenie, she wanted her as a friend. Kristy promised herself that she would apologize to Reenie at her house.
Kara could see both Kristy and Reenie walking together. Kara smiled. Michelle had known that everything was going to be allowed in the first place! Kara and Michelle began to put their books away. Both of them couldn't wait until they got to Michelle's house.
Kenneth was walking home and was thinking about the future when suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out his name.
"Ken!" a male voice called out. "Yo, Ken! Wait!" Kenneth turned around and spotted a guy that look familiar.
Kenneth
thought that he recognized him from one of his classes. He waited
until the guy caught up with him, than they started walking. "Hey,
Rodney!" Kenneth said. There was no tone in Kenneth's voice. No
emotion.
"Ken, I was wondering if you wanted to try out for
track?" the guy asked.
Kenneth
remembered what track was. He and Reenie went every year to the
school's track meets with other schools. He remembered wishing how
much he wanted to participate. "I don't know," Kenneth
replied.
"Come on," Rodney pleaded. "Why not?"
"I don't know how long I'll be staying here in Tokyo,"
was Kenneth's reply.
"So?" Rodney said. "Are you
in any sports back home?"
Kenneth
shook his head. As if his father would allow him to join any sorts.
With his status, it would be considered improper. But then again that
was in the future. He was no longer in the future. He was in the
past. His thoughts were again interrupted when Rodney asked, "Why
not?"
"I never had the time," Kenneth replied.
Boy, was that true. Always having to go to openings. Ceremonies.
Balls. Crownings. One of the Scouts's newest achievements was always
being celebrated.
"Are you sure that you don't want to try
out?" Rodney asked.
Kenneth thought about it for a moment. In the future, he had very much wanted to be in track. He still wanted to. "I'll have to ask my uncle," Kenneth said. "But I think he'll say yes."
Rodney smiled. "Yes," he said. "If he says yes, tryouts are tomorrow at 3:30." And with that, Rodney said good-bye, and walked away, saying that he'd see Kenneth tomorrow.
Kenneth said good-bye and continued to walk towards his home in the past. He hoped that his father would say yes. Kenneth wanted to experience track at least once.
Reenie, Kristy, Kara, and Michelle were in front of Kara's and Kristy's home. Kristy opened the door. She knew that her mom would be home. "Mom!" Kristy called.
A woman of about 41, with light blue hair, and green eyes appeared in the doorway. The woman spotted Reenie and Kara right away. "This must be Kara and Reenie Tuskino," the woman greeted them. "I'm Mrs. Kirsta." Reenie and Kara politely said, hello. The woman asked if they wanted anything to eat, and they kindly said no.
After that, Michelle and Kara disappeared to Michelle's room, and Kristy led Reenie up to hers.
In Kristy's room, Reenie sat on a beanie bag, and Kristy sat down by her cd player. "What do you want to listen to?" Kristy asked.
Reenie
shrugged. She didn't want to tell Kristy what she wanted to listen
to. The bands that she listened to probably didn't even exist in this
time period. Maybe they were some kind of garage band here in the
past and if that was true, than she would definitely have a lot of
explaining to do. Kristy put in a Kelly Clarkson CD and then started
to pull out some books from her pack.
"Reenie," Kristy
said, looking at her bag and not Reenie. "You know why I asked
you to come over, don't you?"
Reenie shook her head. She had some thoughts, but she didn't want to say anything. Not yet, anyways.
"Yes, you do," Kristy said. "You knew why, right when I told you that my brother likes you."
So, Reenie had been right! Kristy wanted this to be a set up! Reenie wondered what Kristy's brother had offered to do in return. She was used to being set up. Her parents were always trying to set her up with some boy that they knew the parents of really well or that they really liked. "I kind of guessed," Reenie admitted. "I'm kind of used to being set up."
Kristy was surprised by this. She thought somebody as pretty as Reenie Tsukino would be able to get a date on her own. Why would she need to be set up with someone? "Yeah, well," Kristy began, feeling a little sheepish, "I'm sorry."
Reenie smiled. She knew how tough it was for Kristy to admit this. She could hear it in Kristy's voice. "It's okay," Reenie told her, waving it off. "Now what are we going to do about that Science project?"
Kristy smiled. She couldn't believe how easily Reenie could forgive and forget. If it was her, she would probably be mad at her friend. And she wasn't even Reenie's friend!
Rodney
opened the door to his house, called a hello to his mom, and then
headed up the stairs. On the second floor, he heard two voices coming
from his sister's room. He opened the door, and was surprised to find
Reenie Tsukino sitting on a beanie bag across from his sister.
"Hey, Rodney," Kristy said to her brother. "Rod,
do you know Reenie Tuskino?"
Rodney nodded, not able to speak. What was Kristy doing! This was supposed to have been done at school, not here! Not at his home! "Hey, Reenie," Rodney said, surprised that he was able to speak.
Reenie smiled back at him. "Hi, Rodney."
Rodney
couldn't believe how wonderful her voice sounded.
"Rodney,"
Kristy said. "Me and Reenie were talking and I was wondering if
you wanted to go on a date with her?"
Rodney practically choked on his own saliva. What the hell was sister doing! She wasn't supposed to ask Reenie in front of him! What if he said something stupid? Or dumb? Rodney nodded. He didn't say anything. At this moment, he didn't trust that his brain and mouth would be working together.
Reenie smiled. "I'll see you this Friday, then?" Reenie asked. It was more of a reassurance to Reenie, than anything else. She was still smiling.
Rodney loved that smile. He nodded. "I'll see you then," he said and left the room. He could hear giggling behind the door. What the hell are they talking about now? Rodney wondered. He wanted to stay in that room to find out, but instead he headed to his own to do his homework. Kristy had done what she was supposed to do, and Rodney had done what Kristy had wanted him to do. Now it was only fate that would lead them.
Rodney has just left Kristy's room.
"That's
your brother?" Reenie asked, her voice low.
"Yeah,"
Kristy said. "I can't believe you said yes to him."
"Why?" Reenie asked. Personally, Reenie had thought
that Rodney was kind of cute what with his orange hair, blue eyes and
muscular build. Kristy looked at Reenie and asked, "You really
like him?"
Reenie shrugged. "He seems a lot nicer than a lot of the other jerks that I've gone out with," Reenie said.
Kristy shrugged. She couldn't say anything. She had no idea how many jerks Reenie had gone out with.
Reenie looked around Kristy's room, and noticing all the medals, said, "I see you're on the track team."
Kristy nodded. "I was," she admitted. "I still have to try out again for this year, though."
Reenie nodded. It seemed to her that with all the medals on the walls, it would be no problem for Kristy to get on the team. Reenie's thoughts were interrupted by Kristy's voice. "You gonna try out for tack?" Kristy asked.
Reenie
shook her head and let out what almost seemed like a laugh. "No,"
she said. "I've never participated in sports all that much."
That was true, Reenie thought. It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to,
it was just that her parents wouldn't let a girl of her status tryout
for sports. She didn't even go to a normal high school. She had a
Sailor Scout teaching her, her little sister, and her cousin. She
knew how much both she and Kenneth had wanted to try and get into the
school sports but both of their parents had forbidden it.
"Really?"
Kristy said. It sounded as if there was amazement in her voice. To
Kristy, Reenie seemed like the person who would do any sport she
could.
Reenie
nodded. "Maybe I'll try out," she said. "We'll see."
Secretly though, Reenie knew that she would have to ask Serena before
she made any decisions herself on trying out for the team.
"Well,
I'm going to try out," Kristy told her. Then, "You should,
too. You'll meet a lot more people. More guys," she added, as
though that might persuade Reenie.
Reenie giggled as Kristy added the "more guys" part in. She had met plenty of guys in her fifteen year old lifetime and knew that she was going to meet many more. "I don't think meeting guys will be a problem, Kristy," Reenie said. Especially not with their reaction at school, she thought to herself with a smile.
Kristy nodded her agreement, then the two girls got to work on their science project.
