Author's notes: Hello all! I first wanted to say thank you for all of your reviews. I feel truly honored. I'm glad that you are enjoying the story. One in particular I wanted to respond to mentioned how goofy Mamoru is acting. When I first decided to re-release this story I reread it and was pleased with it for the most part. I was 16 at the time (now 21) writing in the mindset of a 14 year old so I didn't want to change much. His actions in the beginning are somewhat silly, but never fear… the Mamo-chan we know and love will emerge! Heh heh… I also wanted to tell you that this story is finished and I'll be releasing a chapter a day so don't worry about me not completing anything. It irks me when I fall in love with a story and it never concludes. Enjoy!
Standard disclaimer applies throughout the rest of the story.
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December 21st
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I spent the entire day making myself really nervous about going out with Mamoru. But this was just dinner, right. I mean, he was apologizing for spilling my drink on me. This was just a spur of the moment thing, wasn't it?
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wanted this to be more than an apology dinner. Maybe that's why I wore a long, blue dress with a white cardigan over it.
When he picked me up I knew I wasn't overdressed because he was wearing an expensive looking black suit. Something told me this wouldn't be a quick trip to McDonald's.
However, I was very surprised that he took me to a nice candlelit restaurant. The atmosphere was beautiful and so was the food.
I could not concentrate on any of that. So many emotions were running through my mind.
Is this a date? Does he like me?
Don't be silly I told myself. He's just doing this because of the drink. He's a college student. You're just a nice kid to him. I froze.
Just a kid.
I sat there torturing myself with the thought. I knew I loved him, now I was sure of it. But did he like me? Up until the last couple of days I would have said no. However, he had gone through such a transformation since the last time we fought. It was almost as though he'd become someone else. Or someone else had put him up to it.
Oh God… was it Motoki? Was he finally so tired of our fighting that he put Mamoru up to befriending me? Well, that could explain why I nearly ran into him several times in the mall. And perhaps Mamoru and Motoki planned the rose thing, which would explain how it got on the counter before he even arrived.
"Usagi?" Mamoru snapped me from my thoughts.
"Hm…?"
"I… You… er, look really nice tonight." Nice?
"Thank you."
We didn't talk much after that. I didn't eat much either. I just wanted to go home. I had surrendered to the idea that Mamoru would never like me for anything more than a friend.
The ride home I just stared out my window. It seemed to take forever, but finally we arrived at my house.
I opened the door and looked back to thank him, but he wasn't in the car. He was standing in front of me.
"Thank you for dinner, Mamoru. It was good and…" I couldn't say anymore. I just started walking to my door.
"Usagi," he said and followed me. "Are you okay? You've been really quiet."
"Yeah, fine." He grabbed my wrist to stop me.
"You seem like you are upset with me?"
I am, I thought as I faced him. I couldn't look into his eyes though. If I did, he would know.
You made me fall in love with you. I couldn't voice the words to tell him.
"Did I say something wrong?"
No. You said all the right things.
Neither of us spoke. Gently, he lifted my chin so I had no choice but to look right at him. An unstoppable tear ran down my cheek. Mamoru reached up with his finger and caught it.
"Usa?"
"I'm sorry. I have to go," I said and ran in the house before he could stop me.
I shut the door and leaned against it as another tear rolled down my cheek.
Great, stupid, you've blown it! I couldn't believe I had let my emotions take over me. It's not his fault I fell for him. I've seen girls walking down the street take second and third glances at him, falling over themselves.
I opened the door and ran down the walk hoping he hadn't left yet. By the time I got to the end I could see his car already down the street. I'd let him go. I was too much of a coward to tell him the truth. He probably hated me now.
I turned to walk back and saw something laying on my doorstep.
A white rose.
Rose number eight.
