A/N: HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! Hope you guys like this chapter!

Chapter 11

I've never seen so much trash in my life. Honestly. College parties are absolutely horrifying! If nothing happens during the party, then you know that there's definitely something waiting for you in the bathroom. It's just disgusting. The Losers, Satoshi, and I must've spent at least three hours cleaning up. I remember looking at the clock after we were finished with the bathroom (hurl, gag) and pretty much passing out. I don't remember anything else. Not even walking over to my designated area in the living room to sleep.

I remember the smell of the house though. How awful it smelled with all the bleach and the cleaners and the... well, god knows what else we had missed. I really don't know why Kyo has these parties. Anyway... I'm pretty sure that we were all getting high off of the fumes that night. That might explain why we slept in until two or three Christmas afternoon. Well, I smelled that when I went to bed, and when I awoke, the most wonderful feeling filled my lungs. It smelled... well, like Christmas. At first, I could smell cookies, then I noticed other things. Eggs, waffles, and a variety of other breakfast items. I don't know how to explain it. I just woke up and I was... home.

I lifted my head from my pillow and yawned. My neck was stiff so I rolled onto my stomach and stretched. I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and looked around. Izumi, Kagura, and two other girls were still asleep nearby. I found it strange when I saw the men's sleeping bags empty...

"Morning, Risa-chan," Izumi mumbled, her eyes still closed. "If that is you anyway."

"It is." I sighed, relaxing and not really wanting to stand. "Are you going to get up?"

Izumi moaned and rolled to her stomach as well. With a heaving sigh, she pushed herself up and stood. She wobbled a bit, then smiled at me. I took the hand she offered and she helped me up. Then we weren't really sure of what to do. I was still looking around for the guys, and Izumi had just noticed that they were gone. She gave a strange, unbelieving look towards the kitchen, then began walking away. I quickly followed her, just as curious.

We let both our mouths hang open when we saw the sight. Satoshi, Kyo, and five other guys were crowded around the kitchen area, creating some kind of... super cooking machine. Two people were making waffles and pancakes, one person was making eggs (that really buff guy that Kagura said was sexy, I think...), two other people were doing the small things (like mixing more batter when needed, setting the table, cleaning up messes, etc.), and Satoshi was instructing Kyo on how to make French Toast.

"Holy mother of god," Izumi whispered to herself.

"Can these guys cook?" I asked, glancing at her. Izumi could only shrug and shake her head.

"I didn't think they could..."

"Ah! Good morning, Izumi!" Kyo said once he saw us. He hurried away from his cooking duties and embraced my friend. I stepped away, and stood alone, unsure of what to do. I saw Satoshi roll his eyes, then return to watching the task at hand. I had nothing better to do so I decided to go over.

"Good morning, Hi- I mean... Yitoren-san!" I said cheerfully. "What are you doing?"

Satoshi glanced at me, then shrugged, flipping a piece of bread. "Cooking." I could tell that he didn't really want to talk, and I couldn't really do anything about that. But that had never stopped me before, had it?

"Sleep well last night?" I asked, trying to start up a conversation.

Again, Satoshi shrugged. "If you're not helping, you might want to leave the kitchen. It's a little crowded..."

"So I'll help," I volunteered. "What can I do?"

Satoshi's head slowly turned towards me, confused. "Can you even cook, Harada-san?"

I paused at this, a little embarassed. "It's Risa. And, well... not really... I kind of failed my culinary arts class..." This didn't surprise him. He nodded, like he knew, and looked back at the frying pan. "But you could help me. Ever think of that?"

Satoshi flipped the second piece of bread, took the one he had flipped before, and put it on a dinner plate that was laying nearby. He then took a new piece of bread, dipped that into some kind of mixture, and placed it carefully on the frying pan. THEN he faced me. "Don't I already help you enough with your math homework?"

That was rude. Well... at least from my stand point it was. I kind of just stared at him, not really knowing what to do... again. It took me more than several seconds before I noticed that look in his eyes. I had seen it before... last night, as a matter of fact. And when he laughed at me when we had first arrived at the party. It didn't come up much at school, but every now and then I'd see it. It was... amusement. He was actually showing some happiness. I found it somewhat strange that there would be such an emotion as amusement in those eyes that used to stare at me and make me feel... well, for lack of better words, stupid. I blinked and waited for him to say something. I certainly couldn't. He merely twitched his head, beckoning me to come and watch over his shoulder.

"It's not hard," he explained. "Take two eggs and some milk and mix them together in a flat pan. Dip both sides of the bread in it, put the bread on the frying pan, and let it cook for about two and a half minutes. Then flip." He flipped the done piece of toast and set it on top of the one he had finished before and looked at me. "Go ahead."

I just stood there for a moment, then I moved. The mix that I had to dip the bread in was a little gross, and I was sure that Satoshi was having a grand time watching me struggle with the hardship. I actually managed to cook one piece of bread, but I had burnt it... badly. The other boys chuckled at my clumsiness and I could just twidle my thumbs, embarassed. I felt an elbow nudge my arm and I looked up from my hands. Satsohi gave me a small smile and winked.

"You'll get it," he said, doing his own ever-so-excellent job as French toast cooker.

I swear to god, he said that. I know I've exaggerated some things that he's done before, but... not this. He actually smiled. He actually winked. He actually encouraged me. Who was this kid and what did he do with Satoshi!

Or... then again... he may not have been Satoshi...

We all sat down for breakfast about twenty minutes later, wishing each other a merry Christmas day. It's amazing how big Kyo's house is. It's just... a mansion! I was so awed-! Anyway... after breakfast, we gathered around the Christmas tree and gave each other presents. I was grateful to Izumi for giving me a necklace and Kagura giving me a box of chocolates. Kyo had just given me a hideous bracelet that I would never wear, but we both knew that it was the thought that counted. As my friends were openeing their gifts and the others theirs, I saw Satoshi sitting on the arm of the couch, far away from the tree.

"Oh, Risa-chan! Thank you!" Izumi hugged me once she saw that I had gotten her some earrings. Kagura did the same thing when she saw that I had gotten her a new book to stuff her face in. I think everyone nearly puked when we saw that Kyo had bought a customized ornament for Izumi. One snowman with his name on it, one snow-woman with her name on it, hugging each other. Kagura made quiet gagging sounds in my ear when they hugged and... well, kind of made-out...

"Oi! Yitoren-san!" Kagura called, using him as a distraction. Satoshi looked up from his cup of hot chocolate. "Aren't you going to check for your presents?"

Satoshi didn't say anything. Just shook his head and took a sip of his drink. I felt bad for him, mostly because nobody else in the room had thought of buying him a gift. He didn't seem to mind, however, as we sat in a circle and talked about Christmas memories for a while. It must have been around five or six when we were all done. The girls had to wash up as well as the boys, and we bid each other good-byes. Of course, we would all see each other the next day or sometime during break, but still...

I waited for Kagura because she was my ride home (we decided to save gas), and saw her talking to that buff guy. She then came running up to me. "Hey, this guy just asked me if I could eat dinner with him! Isn't that great!" She then stopped. "We need to use my car though. He lives down the street and walked here."

It didn't seem too long ago that we had brunch, and I didn't really have a ride back to the dorm, but sure. Just leave me to die then. "Uhh... ok. That's fine... I just need to know how I'm getting back to school."

"I'll drive you, Harada-san," Satoshi said, suddenly appearing behind Kagura.

"It's Risa," I said not thinking. "And you don't have to..."

"It's nothing, really," he said, putting on his heavy coat. Kagura was more than happy to accept this offer. She squealed, thanked him maybe ten thousand times, then ran off, talking and swooning at the buff kid. I stared after her.

"Well," I murmured to myself. "I have caring friends."

"Yes, you do." I looked up at him, standing across of the doorway from me. He wasn't kidding. He was serious. Just then, I felt my knees go weak and I had to lean back against the door frame for support. Stupid intense, blue eyes...

I looked away and mumbled, "Thanks." As I stuffed my hands in my pockets, my hand hit a small object. I grasped it and took it out. It was the Christmas present that I was supposed to give him, but had completely forgotten about. I bit my lower lip, feeling the heat rise. "Hey, Hi- I mean... Yitoren-san... did you get any Christmas presents?"

Satoshi's eyes squinted, as if he was glaring at his hands as he put his gloves on. "No." My heart sank. "I have no need for them anyway."

"Oh," was all I said. "Well... do you want one?"

He looked up at me, curious. "Why ask?"

I shrugged, scraping my foot against the floor. "I just figured you wanted this." I couldn't even look at him as I held out the gift. When he didn't do anything, then I looked. He was just staring. It made me feel awkward so instead of simply holding out my hand forever and ever, I shoved it into his and walked towards his car. I hoped that he liked Beethoven as much as he liked Mozart. He would always listen to him (Mozart) whenever we were driving somewhere.

About ten minutes after I had climbed into the car, Satoshi did. Finally. Neither of us really knew what to say or do. So we sat there... in silence... for about another ten minutes. Then he spoke.

"Why did you buy me this CD?" he asked, holding the Beethoven CD in his hands.

I took a deep breath. "B-because... you never really seem to enjoy the holidays and I felt bad because I had bought all of my friends something, but I didn't buy you anything, and I thought that I should because you help me out with math so much, and it was like you never were given any presents so I thought that you might want one so I bought it for you..." I stopped, noticing how much I was rambling. Sure enough, my thumbs began to twidle. I could feel him staring at me.

"Alright." With this, he started the car and we pulled out of the driveway.

"You're welcome," I mumbled. He glanced at me, but soon turned his attention back to the road. I really had no idea what to do whatsoever. I felt so clueless these days. Well, anyway. To make a long story short, Satoshi drove me home and, just before I climbed out of the car, I wished him a merry Christmas. Then I kind of... ran up to my room.

Ok, ok. I sprinted.

When I reached my dorm room, I took a shower, packed some things in a suitcase, and bought my airplane ticket online. Did I mention that I'm going home to visit Mom and Dad over the holidays? Riku and Daisuke are coming too. I'm really excited for it! Especially because I need to get away from everything for now...

I get angry at myself for thinking so much about him. I mean... it's bad enough that I'm working with him in Child Care and Education, AND he's helping me with my math homework, AND everyone's telling me about how much I've 'changed' him... whatever that means. It's getting annoying really... and I don't really know how to respond to it all... and...

I just need a brake.

A/N: In the next chapter... everything becomes... serious. (pause) I thought this was a humor story... (shrugs) oh well. I guess you need to have a little bit of seriousness somewhere along the line. Chapter 12 is a perfect setting too. Risa sees Riku and Daisuke, they talk about school and such, then Risa asks if they've heard any news about- (stops) I really shouldn't have said that...