[ D i s c l a i m e r ] nope
[ A u t h o r' s N o t e ] All right, so I decided to continue it. I'm going to try very hard to get out at least a chapter a month. So enjoy!
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Kari sighed and bit her lip. Tapping her pencil, she regarded the time for the seven hundred and thirty-eighth time. She had been waiting all day for school to just end and it was finally last period. Alas, last period was a double-edged sword. Sitting through six periods, well technically five because she was late, only to reach this seventh and last class, which would have been a breeze if it were any other class, Japaneese, History or Gym for example. But no, it had to be Chemistry. It just had to be fifty- three horrible, painstaking, torturous minutes of Chemistry.
That thought earned herself another deep sigh as she propped her chin up on her elbow in an attempt to keep from dozing off. When that didn't help she picked up her bag, strangely vacant of her usual stock of schoolbooks, and dug through it, searching for something to keep her mind occupied. Her eyes touched over a small folded piece of paper, which she inwardly suspected she had been subconsciously looking for the whole time. Unable to stop a smile, she blushed, hoping it went unnoticed and read the note again. She wondered what she'd done more that day, look at the clock or read Davis's note. That thought amused her and at the same time it kind of scared her. As completely, totally and utterly reluctant she was to admit it, TK had been right this morning. She'd never acted like this ever in her life. Even from when she'd first met Davis, she had always scoffed at his carefree, reckless and irresponsible behavior. But now it seemed contagious. Whenever she was with him, she was a different person. She was a happy person. He gave her such a precious gift without even knowing it. He gave her the will to be her own person. He gave her the will to be herself.
Snapping out of her daze, she noted happily that there was only five minutes left in class. Figuring she should at least attempt to figure out what had been discussed while she was daydreaming, she decided to actually listen to the teacher.
"...And that's your homework," he droned, almost like a monochrome lullaby while pointing to things he'd scribbled on the board, "Do not forget students, your final is next week. This shouldn't be news to any of you, as I have been mentioning it every day for the last-" the bell interrupted him, "All right students, remember your homework and have a good afternoon!"
Kari took out her notebook, where she usually scribbled her assignments. Nowhere was a Chemistry final written. Five or six other finals, however, were precisely penciled in. Groaning she stood and tossed a few books and things into her bag before slinging it over her shoulder. She'd done no studying so far and all of her final exams were the next week. She made a mental vow to devote all of her afternoons and weekends to studying as much as humanly possible.
Her classmates stood noisily, end of school excitement spreading like a disease. Pandemonium quickly enveloped all of them as they emptied out of the classroom and continued their after school antics in the disorderly halls. With a contemplative smile she left the room as well, finding the end of school demeanor as completely infectious as she had previously assessed it to be. A feeling of happiness and freedom waved over her as she started out on the journey to reach her locker, sifting through the crowded and jumbled halls, joking with and calling out to friends that she met along the way.
Finally she found her locker out of a line of perfectly identical ones and quickly opened it, tossing a few books in and pulling out others. She slammed the door shut only to gasp in surprise as she saw Davis standing there behind it. Her afternoon plans flooded back to her and the end of school feeling was melded together dangerously with giddy anticipation as she watched him gaze at her coolly from where he rested against the wall of lockers. Her promise to TK was long forgotten. Studying was long forgotten. All that was left was Davis, Davis and the moment, and she was going to make the best of it.
He shot her a cocky grin and took her backpack, throwing it over his shoulder. His own arms were empty of books but she didn't notice. Together with the screaming teenagers, his aura surrounded her and she felt like she was drowning in it slowly. The old Kari was drowning, dying. It was like a tangible substance around her and she couldn't help but breathe it in. The last remnants of her old self futilely fought for air. Her gaze caught Davis's. She smiled. He smiled. Deep within her a new Kari was born and blossomed. His shining eyes pulled the new Kari from her body. The pressure was swelling and swelling and with one touch from him it burst and the old Kari was dead, drowned by the new Kari flooding through her limbs, warming her to her fingers that were now laced with his. She loved this feeling, this warm feeling. He set off, leading her down the halls, sometimes looking back and shooting her a quick smile. She was dizzy. She was alive. She lived and thrived off of the person she was allowed to be when he was around. He was addictive, so very addictive.
Soon they reached the outside and stopped to lean against the building to catch their breath. It was obvious that he had a plan for their walk home and he was in no hurry so she stood next to him, trusting him completely and anticipating his next move. Dutifully, he let go of her hand and she resisted the urge to pout, wondering where it came from. He dug through his pockets and produced a red lollipop, which he offered to her like a four year old giving his mother a picture he colored all by himself. A blush spread over her cheeks and she could do nothing to stop the huge grin that attacked her features.
"So," she said deviously, after waging a small war with the lollipop wrapper and popping it in her mouth, "what have you got planned Davis?"
He held his heart like she'd shot him and gave her a pitiful look, "Shnookems! I've planned nothing except escorting you home from school in a safe and time effective manner and then proceeding to my own place of residence so that you and I may give our homework our full attention like the good, studious children that we are."
She shot him a skeptical look and resisted the urge to break out in a giggling fit at his sarcastic answer, "Whatever," she started, rolling her eyes, "I never thought you'd lie to your shnookems like that."
He shrugged his shoulders like he didn't care but he was unable to stop a brilliant smile from lighting up his face. Unfamiliar feelings welled up in her. Butterflies beat frantically at her insides. She swallowed hard. She was doomed.
Getting down on his knees, he took one of her hands in both of his and put on his best pitiable look, "I'm sorry baby, it will never happen again. Ever. Forgive me?"
She couldn't help it; she broke out in laughter, giggling wildly until she was doubled over, holding her stomach with her free hand. When was the last time she had this much fun? Oh yea, this morning.
A pleased smile graced his features. He loved making her happy. She was always so uptight, so worried. Getting up off the ground and dusting off his knees quickly, he put an arm around her waist and led her away from school grounds, feigning an uneasy look, "C'mon hunny," he whispered close to her ear like she was a child, "Let's not go making a scene like last time."
She ceased her laughter but the ruddy glow remained on her cheeks. His breath caught in his throat, she looked like an angel. She locked her gaze with his and shot him a smile, placing a hand over his where he was holding her waist, "Sorry," she apologized, a twinkle of mischief evident in her eyes.
He didn't hear her words but forced back a smile, suddenly very concerned about whether or not he was still alive or if he had died and gone to heaven.
A little ways down the street he skillfully won back his hand much to her unspoken dismay. The silence that had enveloped them was a comfortable and pleasant one but she decided to break it with conversation anyway, "So. Are you going to tell me where we're going yet?"
"Well," he said, holding his chin like he was thinking, "It's actually very top secret government business, you know, really hush-hush," he shot her a knowing look, "And I really can't say anything, I could lose my job. Think of my kids, Kari, they could go hungry."
She gave him a skeptical look and rested her hands on her hips, stopping in her tracks. He puts his hands up in mock surrender. Words were not necessary.
"Ok, ok," he started, "You see that man over there?" he asked, pointing vaguely to a short, trench coat clad, bald man wearing sunglasses in a telephone booth. She crossed her arms and nodded, skeptical look still present and intact. He swallowed hard and offered her a sheepish smile, "Well, he's one of our best operatives. Agent Lieblingstein. Imported from Malaysia. He's the prime minister's son," Davis gave the man a weak wave before continuing them on their way, "At any rate, as I said before, this is very under wraps government stuff-."
"They who?" she asked with a laugh, arms crossed over her chest once again.
"The ASGCA of course!" he exclaimed, looking at her like she was crazy for not knowing.
She cocked an eyebrow, "Right... right... and who are they again?"
He offered her a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his head, "The... Anglo-Saxon... Golfing Cows Association?" he said weakly.
She couldn't stop a giggle, "Ok Davis, whatever you say."
He smiled; she was finally playing along, "This is where it gets serious," he said with a sigh, falling back into his feigned solemnity, "We need to rendezvous with Agent Lieblingstein at Pixie's Ice Cream Parlor at exactly 4:13 PM. At that point we are to order ice cream. I am to have a triple chocolate sundae deluxe. As for you, your order was not specified," he shot her a half smile, "Then we sit down in the nicest booth in the whole shop, preferably near a window. After that we will communicate with Agent Lieblingstein alternating between sign language and Morse code," he took her by the shoulders, "Do you understand?"
She nodded and donned a look of fierce determination. Smiling, he took her hand and started leading her to the ice cream shop, checking his watch once or twice, "Now," he started, "It's very important that no one discover our identities. Therefore, throughout the whole meal I will refer to you as Shnookems. You are to address me as Sugar Lips and feed me a spoon full of ice cream approximately every 5.19 minutes."
She said nothing... just laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
They reached the door of the shop and he entered cautiously, pulling her behind him. Reaching the predestined table, he produced two pairs of sunglasses from his pocket, giving her a pair and quickly donning the other one. She put them on dutifully but not before a giggle and a quick shake of the head.
They ordered and ice cream was delivered. Conversation was scarce but when present, codenames were indeed utilized. Everyone once in a while someone would walk by and Davis would shoot them a dirty look. She sighed with a smile and stirred her ice cream languidly. There was one thing she couldn't and didn't want to deny and that was she was having fun.
He studied her as she happily ate her ice cream, a look of deep content set on her features as she surveyed the outside world through the window. His crush on her was long faded but as he looked at her he was reminded again why said crush had been so hard to get rid of. She was beautiful and he supposed she always would be to him, even when she was old and wrinkled. It wasn't ironic at all that she was a child of light, partnered with an angel. Wherever she was and whatever mood she was in she always seemed to glow. She lit up rooms upon stepping into them. Her smile could cure any disease. When she was around he was always happy, and even if somehow he wasn't she would see to it. 'Yep', he said to himself, 'TK sure is a lucky man'. Something deep in him became wholly disparaged at that thought and he fixed his blank gaze on his ice cream while trying to push the feeling down. As long as he could be near her, it didn't matter who had her. He would always cherish her in his heart but it wasn't meant to be and he had accepted that long ago. Even if she was by some miracle interested in him he could never bring himself to go through with it. He wasn't good enough for her. He was a goof-off and reckless and if he was lucky his future would be a noodle cart. She deserved someone better, someone like TK. TK was a good guy, he deserved her. And Davis was ok with that because it was destiny.
"Davis?" her voice shattered his train of thought and brought him back to reality. He didn't answer her.
"Davis...?" she asked again. He cleared his throat and she shook her head while trying to hide a smile, "Sugar Lips?"
His head shot up and was adorned with a bright smile, "Yes Shnookems?"
She couldn't help but smile back as she took another bite of her ice cream, "Why does Agent Lieblingstein have a German name if he's from Malaysia?"
Wiping the chocolate off of his mouth, he eyed her warily, "Duh, Kari. It's an alias. I'm obviously not going to use his real name in public. The ASGCA could be listening. In fact, they're probably taping this whole conversation!"
Davis looked at his watch and silenced her before she could continue, not that he could ever grow tired of their back-and-forth witty reparté, "Oh no," he deadpanned.
"What is it?" she asked in mock concern.
"It's already been at least a half hour since we were supposed to meet with Lieblingstein. Something's gone horrible wrong," he said quietly, eyebrows furrowed in feigned confusion.
She leaned back in her seat and pushed her ice cream aside, finished with it, "Should we go look for him? See if he's ok?"
"Good idea Kari," he said throwing down some money and taking her hand, leading her out of the shop, "You're starting to get the hang of this," he said with a smile.
She blushed and followed him, lacing her fingers with his. He tried to hide his surprise. Before long they reached the park, stopping to rest near a fountain. They stood solemnly and watched the water sparkle in the sunlight as it streamed through the air. Davis dug through his pockets and produced two pennies. He handed one to Kari before mumbling something and throwing his in. She clenched the penny tightly in her fist and brought it to her chest. Her brows furrowed. She didn't know what to wish for. Looking up at Davis she noticed with a frown that his features were riddled with badly hidden dismay. She squeezed his hand reassuringly and leaned her head on his shoulder, hoping it would comfort him.
"Davis?" she asked, codenames aside, solemnity and concern evident in her voice.
"Yea?" he answered, voice conveying a hint of sadness.
"Nothing," she said. Quietly she closed her eyes and made her wish before tossing the penny into the fountain. It was late. The sun was going down. The water reflected the brilliant reds, oranges and pinks that painted the sky above them.
"Davis?" she asked again.
"Yea?" he answered same as before.
"What did you wish for?"
He looked down into her eyes that shone with concern and worry. He smiled because she was beautiful. Being with her made him the happiest and the saddest he'd ever been all at the same time, "I wished that someday we'd both be happy."
She offered him a sad smile and leaned into him once more, "Me too Davis. Me too."
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To Be Continued . . .