Author's Note: nothing to say people.
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Chapter 9: I'm Not Okay
He thought things between him and Misao would be better after the play. That they were together again in whatever it was they had.
And then the rumors started. Well, not really rumors as they were seeing each other...sort of.
He figured as much, popular people always loves to talk about things that weren't their business.
He just never thought Misao would react so poorly to them.
She didn't look at him in the hallways, she averted her gaze. And then...he overheard her in the library.
That was the last straw.
"I swear! Nothing is going on betweeen Shinomori and I! I mean he's too tall and gangly, and he's creepy!"
Her traitorous little voice...no mistake.
He was getting tired of it. All of it. Why bother hiding what was the truth? He thought maybe she was different...but apparently she wasn't.
Was what they had worth all this?
He didn't know anymore. He needed to think, and so he was perched in his usual spot on the stone wall, smoking.
He knew she was avoiding him, he knew she knew she was in trouble. Still didn't mean he wasn't going to confront her.
No. It was inevitable.
This time, if...and when he walked away...he wasn't going to sulk over her.
She wasn't worth it.
She was just a girl. Just a stupid girl.
He thought she would see past face value. But no, she was superficial after all.
And it hurt. It hurt cause it disappointed him. It hurt because she rejected him.
It hurt because...he would miss her still.
The traitorous little girl.
What will it take to show you that it's not the life it seems?
(I'm not okay)
I told you time and time again you sing the words but don't know what it means
(I'm not okay)
To be a joke and look, another line without a hook
I held you close as we both shook for the last time take a good hard look!
He was done.
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"You really are a dumb little girl, Makimachi."
Misao looked up surprised from her ice cream, blinking at the three girls around her.
She had finally confessed to Kaoru and Megumi about her and Aoshi, and Tokio who already knew, merely smirked slightly at their reactions.
"Ah, Takagi-san...that's a bit rude." Kaoru murmured.
"Meh, it's true." Megumi murmured, dipping her spoon into a banana split.
Misao ate more of her oreo ice cream and grumbled.
"Well what should I say? Yes people, I've been making out with Shinomori."
"Why not be honest?" Tokio asked.
Misao sighed.
"You wouldn't understand..."
"Don't give me that bullshit high school caste system crap. You like my cousin, he likes you. God, you popular people make things too complicated."
Kaoru and Megumi blinked at her, wondering if they should be offended.
"Can we..not talk about it? I mean everyone else is."
The girls returned to their ice cream.
"I still think it's dumb. I mean I'm dating Saitoh Hajime! Are you telling me even he gets someone and my poor cousin is alone?"
"Takagi-san...aren't you insulting yourself there?"
"Maybe not and maybe so, but the point is– Stop with all this drama! Whatever happened to boy meets girl boy dates girl."
"Boy hates girl's class. Blah blah blah. Well Misao, at least your man has or..well, had intelligence."
"Hey watch it Takani! I happen to be good pals with your Rooster."
"You're also dating his arch-nemesis."
"Ah, touche."
Misao sighed, and continued eating her ice cream.
She really sometimes wished she was someone else. This was one of those days.
"So Misao, how was Shinomori in bed, hmm?" Megumi asked.
And Misao turned redder than Tokio's shirt.
"Megumi-chan! I did not do that with him!"
"Oh? Pooh. Maybe then those rumors would be worth it, ne? Yea, social suicide, but for good sex...and I remember Shinomori-san used to take martial arts so all that stamina.."
"Takani-san, that's my cousin. Ew."
"Ah, sorry."
"And who are you to talk? You sleep with the Rooster."
"And you're screwing Saitoh!"
"At least my boyfriend can do math."
"At least my boyfriend is my bitch!"
"..."
"She kind of has you there." Kaoru murmured.
"HEY! Seriously! I'm not that kind of girl!"
"She's got a point. Misao's become a downright prude in her age." Kaoru sighed.
"Yes, indeed. I blame my rooster. He ruined you for life." Megumi sighed.
"He did not! I don't even remember what the hell he did."
"Good, that's for me to know. You're lucky that a: you two got drunk and nasty well before we dated and b: you can't remember how good he is."
There was silence.
"As sickening as this is for me to say as he is my family, but...I'd think my cousin is better in bed than Sano."
"Hmm..." Kaoru agreed.
Misao was red, and Megumi was scowling.
"Whatever, I like my Rooster."
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Misao was walking down the quiet hallway towards the library. It was her free study time, and she needed to catch up on reading and be alone. She didn't notice the hand reaching out to grab her as she was pulled into a storage closet.
"Ehh!"
She looked up into a pair of blue eyes.
"Aoshi..."
He looked down into her face...her pale, pretty face. Those large ocean blue eyes...
How he wish he hadn't of heard her words in the library...then he could pretend all this didn't bother her...pretend she cared...pretend she was his.
But she was, and she didn't, and she wasn't.
He traced the smooth flesh of her cheek and kissed her suddenly, brutally...harshly.
Then he pulled away, all his warmth leaving her...and she felt cold.
She didn't have a good feeling about any of this.
After looking at each other for what seemed like forever, he finally spoke.
Words that drove daggers into her heart.
"It's over." he said softly.
She blinked.
What?
What?
"What?" she finally voiced, stunned.
"I heard you Misao, in the library. I heard what you said. For all the secrets and all the hiding we do...I still thought you were different. Guess I was wrong."
"Aoshi..I! That was..."
"It was what? I tired of this Misao. All this. This is too melodramatic for me. I'm not sure...you're worth all this. You don't even want to be seen with me. Fine. It's over and done with. Have a nice life."
He turned to leave, but she grabbed the sleeve of his black uniform shirt, pulling hard.
"Wait Aoshi! Wait..."
He looked at her silently. Waiting.
"I...shouldn't have said those things, but you don't understand the kind of pressure I'm under. I didn't mean it, Aoshi. I care about you! Really I do! You're the only one! You...you're the only guy who doesn't care about my clothes or my income...you..."
She stopped, her voice wavering. This wasn't happening...they had just reconnected! The play...
But those damn rumors. And she didn't admit to them. She denied it. And it was biting her in the proverbial ass.
"You only care about your reputation and your popularity. Let me go, Misao."
She clenched at his shirt.
"I...can't."
"Then I'll make it easy for you."
He pushed her hand aside and left. Left her.
She bit her lip, and sat on a box...thinking.
But her mind was numb. Her hands were shaking.
Water was dripping onto her face, and it took her a moment to realize it was her tears.
She tucked her knees under her chin, and sobbed.
She did care...she had but...he just didn't understand. She had worked so hard. So hard to make something of herself...
She was pretty. Popular. Boys liked her. She was smart.
So why had she hooked up with a goth? Why had she gotten into the whole mess? Why had she put her heart on the line? Why did she care so much?
Why did she feel like her heart was bleeding and torn?
And so kept crying.
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Short again! But it was needed. Don't worry kids, I never leave em hanging for too long, ne?
