"What does she expect? I mean, come on! I told her about the letter, and she still expects me to fit in studying? Which planet is she from?"
"Best not to ask, Hwo. Remember, we are talking about the same woman who gave us a test on the second day back and then bitched at me for getting questions wrong on stuff we'd not even learned yet."
"Hmm...good point, Red. But still, I can't believe she tried to get Mishima to drop my interview!"
"...What do you need an interview for anyway? I mean, what's he gonna ask you? If you can fight? He's seen you often enough."
A shrug. "Hey, that last time wasn't my fault. The kid shouldn't have tried to half inch one of my cigs. Anyway, maybe he's just itching to know my secret. I could teach that doddering old bastard a few things!"
"Yeah, right, Hwoarang. Why would Xiao get a letter if that's true?"
"Cause he thinks she's hot? I dunno."
"Don't you mean you think she's hot?"
"That goes without saying, dear. Hey, the feeling's mutual, right?"
Hwoarang's arm around me snaps me out of my thoughts, and I shrug it off, glaring at him. He only grins at me, exchanging a look with Miharu.
"Xiao, what's up with you today? You're usually so much more violent."
"Sorry, but I have more important things to think about than you." I say icily, trying to push past him. I don't get very far though, due to the fact that he grabs my arm and pulls me back towards him, still wearing that infuriating grin.
"I'm hurt, Xiao." he tells me. "I'm hurt, shocked and upset."
"Is that so?"
"It's so."
I glare at him for a moment, cursing him for being so much taller than me, as it means I have to glare up at him, making me look like some kid who's being teased by her older brother. Contemplating whether to tolerate him further or just kick his ass, I decide on the former. Don't want to look like I can't take a joke, after all. So I sigh, blowing my fringe out of my eyes and tilting my head to the side.
"And why are you shocked and upset, may I ask?"
He lets go of me, rearranging my hair a little, and as I watch him, I can't help but feel a little better. He's got this look of intense concentration on his face as he smooths a few strands down, it's like a rare moment of seriousness. But said moment passes just as quickly as it began, and as his eyes lock with mine, the smirk he always wears returns.
"Because, not only do you refuse to satisfy me sexually, but it also looks like I've been replaced."
I blink, not following.
"What?"
"You don't care about me any more!" he whines. "You only care about him now!"
Another blink. If I were an anime character there'd be a question mark over my head right about now.
"Again I say, what?"
"Kazama." he says lowly. "You two seem to be together a lot, lately. How could you?"
He tries to look serious, but I can see the smile that he's trying so desperately to hide. I was doing so well. I'd managed not to think about Jin for almost half an hour, and then he has to go and remind me! Damn Hwoarang.
"I don't care about him." I say firmly. Well at least, it sounded firm in my head. When I say it I sound about as sincere as a coffee table. Hwoarang knows this, and he arches an eyebrow.
"Is that right?" he asks, amused, and I nod, not trusting myself to be able to say 'yes' with any more sincerity than any of my previous utterances.
"Well then, if we fight in the tournament, you'll be cheering me on, right?" A sly grin. "After all, you don't care about him."
I shoot him a glare.
"You won't get that far, love. Not if you have to fight me."
"Xiao, didn't you listen to a thing I said last night on the phone?" he asks, and I roll my eyes.
"Yeah, I did. But, I chose to disregard it."
And before he can answer back, as he's always one for doing, I exit stage left and leave him behind.
Now why can't I be like that with Jin? I mean, no, not Jin. Shut up, Xiao. I'm not supposed to be thinking about him. Which I'm not. I don't care. At all.
Which of course, is his cue to turn up. Which he does.
"Don't you have class?" he asks me as I wander down the corridor towards the Coke machine. Sometimes, caffiene's not enough. A girl needs sugar, too. Therefore, the pure genius that is Coke comes in handy.
"I'm sorry." I mutter, searching through my back pack for some change for the machine. "I forgot the part where that was any of your business."
He smirks. No, I'm not looking at him, as finding money for soda is more important, but he smirks. Believe me, I know.
"You always this cheerful?"
"Usually more so."
Aha. Money.
"Okay. What did I do this time?"
"What makes you think I'm in a bad mood because of you? You're not the centre of my universe." I slot coins in, slamming my fist against the button.
"Because you seemed to be a lot more talkative with your boyfriend back there."
And then, as the can clatters into the dispenser, I stiffen.
"Were you listening?" I ask, mentally slapping myself for sounding like there was something which constituted listening to, and mentally slapping Hwoarang for initating a conversation.
"As much as I'm interested in your trials and tribulations," he says in a voice dripping with sarcasm, "I didn't happen to overhear, no."
I ignore him, picking up the can and trying to stop myself from completely losing my temper. Why does he always have to act like this? He's so damned condescending sometimes. What happened to the Jin I showed around school on the first day?
"I hate you..." I mutter under my breath, stuffing the drink into my bag and trying to make at least a slightly dignified exit. I'm stopped by his hand closing around mine.
"Still planning on entering the tournament?"
"Yes." My reply comes through gritted teeth.
"You're sure?"
I press my lips together, getting more and more irritated. What is it about guys at the moment? No one seems to believe I can get anywhere in this tournament, not even Grandfather. When I told him about it, he gave me this doubtful look and said something really obtuse that I couldn't understand.
"Yes. I'm sure."
"Hmm." Jin gives me a speculative look, and I can't keep a lid on my temper any more. I wrench my hand from his grip, almost shaking with frustration, and place my hands on my hips.
"What is the matter with you?" I screech, voice echoing down the corridor. "Don't think I'm good enough to compete against the likes of you? You know, I got this from Hwoarang last night, too! The two of you make me sick!"
Jin opens him mouth to say something, but I cut him off, jabbing my index finger into his chest and regarding him through narrowed eyes.
"And don't even think about patronizing me with your 'it's too dangerous' garbage! We've already been through that!"
"Xiao..."
"Don't 'Xiao' me! You're just...just...infuriating! Why can't anyone have confidence in me? In fact!" I cry, throwing my hands up. "Why can't you just leave me alone? Would that be so difficult for you, Kazama?"
I'm so damned annoyed that I'm not even aware of how close he is until he reaches forward, brushing a loose lock of hair behind my ear. His expression is blank, his hand still in the same place as I trail off, silenced, and then as I close my mouth, he gently runs a finger down my burning face.
"What do you think you're..."
My eyes widen as he brushes his thumb over my lower lip, a faint smile on his face. Everything seems to slow, everything apart from my heart, which is hammering inside my chest so loudly that I wonder for a second, as most of the characters in the cliched romance novels that I read do, if everyone else can hear it.
"What do I think I'm what?" he asks with the slightest hint of playfulness, and I want to answer him with a well thought out retort, perhaps questioning his intelligence or similar, but I just...can't...think... Not with his eyes gazing into mine with such intensity. Not with my knees trembling the way they are. He moves ever so slightly closer to me.
Too close...
Can't move...
I can't speak, can't breathe. Jin brushes his lips against mine ever so slightly, and it feels as though I have pins and needles all over me. My entire body goes tingly. I feel on edge, I can't focus. He gently presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth, pulling me closer, his breath warm on my neck as he places a hand on my shoulder, pushing the material of my shirt away so his fingers rest on bare skin.
I wanted to be strong. I spent so much time musing to myself about how I was gonna be aloof with him, that he was gonna be the one confused by me. I tried my best to build up at least a flimsy defence, but as soon as he looked at me, everything shattered. Why does he always manage to do this to me?
I draw a shuddering breath as his lips trail down my neck, mind racing, trying to regain control as his mouth reaches my shoulder. What am I doing? What is he doing? Why now, when I was all set to give him the silent treatment for irritating me with the whole tournament thing? But, as he lifts his head to lock his gaze with mine, I can't even swallow, let alone glare at him and ask him what the heck he thinks he's doing. A teasing smile makes its way onto his face as he sees how flustered I am, and he finally presses his lips to mine.
My arms wrap around his neck almost automatically, and I rise onto my tiptoes to meet his kiss. His mouth on mine sends my senses into overdrive, I'm tingling, my body's almost shuddering as he softly nibbles my lower lip. I can't let him go, even as I feel him gently try to pull away. My arms tighten around him, not allowing him to end this, he can't break the kiss as long as I hold onto him, can't pull away now, not when he's made me feel like this.
He relaxes again, and I finally feel his arms slide almost lazily around my waist. I can't stand it. My own heart feels as though it's going to smash through my ribcage, it's beating so hard, but his? He's completely calm. I hate him for making me feel this way, but I can't let him go just yet. Not while his mouth is on mine like this. I don't know where this feeling came from, but I do know that it's like a spell, weaving itself around me, trying to push me over the edge. I'm pressed against him...so close...won't let go...can't let go...shameless...
Shameless...
My eyes flutter open, and I pull back suddenly, gasping with shock at my behaviour. What in the name of Hell am I doing?
"G-get off me!" I stammer, stumbling back a little, staring at Jin, a deep blush spreading over my face as I glance around the empty hallway and realise that anyone could have seen us. Seen me acting like...that. Kissing him like that. I've never kissed anyone before...but it felt so...natural.
Jin raises an eyebrow questioningly at me as I lock eyes with him again, and I turn my gaze away, mortified.
"S-sorry...I'm so-sorry."
"What for?" he asks, confused.
"I...I uh...I have to be...away f-from...you."
He looks like he wants to say something more, but I don't give him the chance. I turn around, needing to get away, I have to...oh God, what must he think of me? And why did I have to... I was supposed to be strong, I was supposed to be the cool, unavailable ice princess... Right now it feels like I'm on fire.
Training. That's what I need to be doing... The tournament. Focus on the tournament. Perhaps that'll strengthen me, both in body and in mind.