A/N: Honestly folks, I had given up hope on this story. But I thought with my other story completed why not pick it back up again? I hope you are all still interested in it and that I haven't lost the mine set of 22 year old Riku Harada.
Disclaimer: I do not own D N Angel or Lifetime, Barbie, Friends or whatever other refrerences appear in this story.
Time is a precious thing and when you don't have much of it to spare it flies right on by. See when your an aging adult and two months just pass by without you noticing- you worry. What was I doing all this time? Well when you have no social life of your own, you tend to drown yourself in work. I know what your thinking : How much work could a junior high P.E. coach have? Well I took the liberty to be a chaperon at all of the school functions. That's right, everything from bake sales to dances. At the time I was quite possibly the uncoolest twenty-two year old on the planet. Risa was having more fun then me and she was eight and a half months pregnant.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I spent it the same way I do most Sundays- doing laundry. My hygienic rituals were performed at my usual luandry mat, which I loved because it was cheap and fairly secluded. Unfortunately, the place wasn't as tenantless as I hoped. A tired, brunette woman was wrestling with a rather unruly child beside me and a young couple were occupying eachother in one of the far corners. None the less, the chore had to be completed.
As I began loading the machine the brass bell above the entrance chimed and as human nature would have it, everyone in the buidling turned to see who was passing through the glass door. It was only with my luck that it would be the same offensive man that I had met in this very laundry mat just months ago. Amethyst eyes surveyed the room and spotted me quickly. Dropping his sack of dirty clothes infront of the machine next to me, he turned and smiled at me cheekliy.
I could hear the woman to my left whisper "beautiful" under her breat before turning away with a slight blush. The couple in the corner just shrugged and continued their make-out session. Had the heavens really moved in such a way as to bring this idiotic excuse of a man back into my life? We shared the same laundry place- it was bound to happen eventually, right?
"Hello again," he smirked, turning the dials of the machine before lifting its lid.
"I don't have any change for you today," I grumbled tossing in a pair of socks.
"No need," he brushed back a stray strand of plum colored hair, "we're already acquainted, right Riku."
"Well normally your acquainted with someone before you mooch their change," I paused just short shutting the top of the machine. "You remembered my name?"
"Of course I did!" he chuckled, emptying the whole bag of clothes into the washer. "You didn't think I'd go through all that trouble just to forget it?"
"Hm, aren't you suppose to sort those first?" I gestured curiously toward the machine which he had just recklessly dumped his entire wardrobe into.
"No point really," he shrugged, "all my clothes are pretty much the same color."
Peering over, I realized just how right he was. The machine was filled to the rim with attire that was indeed all one color- black. How drab I thought, resting back on my heels. This guy obviously didn't know how to shop.
Deciding that was enough fraternizing with enemy, I ambled over toward the line of chairs and plopped down. After a few dull moments, my eyes began to study Dark as he continued loading the machine and later folowed my suit toward the chairs. He really was a strange man, whom my mind could not begin to comprehend. Yet there was something oddly alluring about him- other than his good looks, I mean. He had charisma that I had never seen in another man and soon found myself indulging in conversation with him.
"You're an art student?" my eyes narrowed skeptically.
"It's true," he nodded, " see I took a few years off after highschool until I decided what I really loved, which happend to be art."
"I never would I guessed," I ran a smooth hand through my hair absent-mindedly.
"Why not?" he inquired.
"You just don't seem that sophisticated," I choked nervously. Damn his eyes were intense.
"Well your not exactly the charmer yourself," he laughed just as the machines buzzed.
My cheeks went hot as he rose from his seat. I couldn't believe I just insulted him like that, now I was the obnoxious one. I followed tediously behind him, searching for any sign that he might be offended. Furrowing my brow, I realized that he didn't seem to be too upset. Maybe he was really as dense as I thought.
By the time I was done reloading the drier, Dark was already back in his seat humming with his MP3 player. Sighing, I melted down into the plastic chair. I felt so uncultured next to him like that. Why didn't I listen to music or study paintings? I knew what art was right? What the hell was I wasting my time doing?
In so many ways I was jealous of him. How could he sit there and smile like that? Didn't he have worries, resposibilities or even bills? Though it was evident that he was at least 2 or 3 years older than me, his nature was innocent and playful. There wasn't single wrinkle or anxiety line on his youthful face.
"It's alright you know," he closed his eyes, still bobbing his head to the music."I'm not mad; your intitled to your opinion."
My jaw hinged slightly, how could he tell I was upset? Now I was even more embarassed than before. What was with this guy? I considered myself a pretty collected girl, but this Dark Mousy character just managed to get right under my skin. How did he do this to me? Just as I was about to apologize, his eyes opened and a smirk snaked its way across his features.
"Besides how could I not forgive you?" he winked,"You're just so cute."
"Are you kidding me!" My mouth shot off before my mind could catch up, "I don't give a damn if I hurt your feelings or not, because you more than deserved it."
He just blinked at me from behind wine colored eyes, seemingly unfrazzled.I had every reason to fall over right then and there. Bombs could be dropping right outside this guys front door and he wouldn't even notice. After that last on slaught of raged, I figured that he'd run away sniveling like other men. Oh but it had become more than clear that Dark was not like other men.
By this point I was peering down at the floor in shame. As much as I accused him of being child-like, here I was out bursting like a 4-year-old. I knew better then to behave that way, I was an adult dammit! Once again, he managed to make me look like a complete fool.
"So what kind of music do you listen to?" Dark smiled, pulling the mini speakers out of his ears.
Surpised, I quirked my head up to stare at him. "Um, I don't listen to music much," I replied simply.
"Well here listen to this," he said passing the headphones my way.
My brain instantly searched it's cabinets for knowledge of any disease that could be spread through the sharing of earwax, but found none. Risking the deadly infection, I decided to have a listen. I was just complaining about not being refined anyway. Why not start learning now?
"It's jazz," I heard him explain as I slipped the pieces into my ears.
Jazz? I mused briefly. He was definately more intricate than I thought.
The sound that poured from the tiny machine was like melodic heaven. It slipped past ever doubt and wall that I had cast up, then right into my soul. I felt myself sooth and relax under its beat. The tenseness that I felt next to Dark vanishing with every saxaphone riff. It was like listening to romance. Is this what I had been missing? What I had traded for T.V. dinners and "Friends" reruns? My eyes had suddenly opened to the life I should have had.
"You like?" he pressed.
"Absolutely," I breathed, disengaging the speakers and slipping them back into his open palm.
"I know that band and they are going to be in town this Saturday," his expression brightened, "if you'd like to go to the concert with me?"
"I don't think so," I gathered myself out of the chair, "but thanks for the offer."
"Aw, why not?" his bottom lip pouted.
"Because," I bent down to pick up the laundry basket and headed toward the drier, " I'd like our relationship to stay strickly errand related."
"That's not fair," he followed me over to the tumbling machine, " I'm really a nice guy."
Gathering all my belongings into the hamper, I shut the drier door with my shoulder. "I guess I'll never know," I smiled weakly.
So I left Dark standing there, rejection heavy in the air. It was a relief to be outside the building and away from his penetrating presence. But I wasn't nearly as safe as I thought I was, because what I didn't know was: Dark Mousy always got what he wanted.
a/n: ah ((cries)) It sucks!