Well, kiddies, I'm pretty sure that my brain's just about ready to go into meltdown mode. I've been thinking about that big stupidhead - as Miharu referred to him as we walked to English class this morning - all day. When I woke up, I decided to take Miharu's advice and go ask Jin what the hell he was on about the last time we talked, but he's been making himself scarce all day. I had classes with him, but I daren't try to get his attention in case I got caught by the lecturer. Or, as Mi and I call him, the 'lech-turer', to accomodate for the fact that he is, as the nickname would suggest, a complete lech. And I didn't want to give him the excuse to keep me behind after class.
I haven't seen Jin at all since that class, and now I'm leaning against the wall, waiting for Mi to get out of her Geography class so that we can go get coffee or something. Hwoarang's standing next to me, but he's been unusually subdued all day. I asked him what was wrong, but he just shrugged it off as extra training sessions with Baek. I'm not buying it, though. He is usually quiet after getting his ass kicked, but not this much. I think it might have something to do with yesterday in the psuedo-Starbucks. I was thinking about it after I got home, and y'know, he may like to tease me every now and again, but he's never gone that far. Maybe I'm just being arrogant, but I'm sure there was something in that incident. I'm more worried about my reaction to it, though. Where was my usual quip/slap combo? Why did I just sit there and go all quivery and tingly? Jin's the only one who's managed to make me feel like that before, and in all the time I've known Hwoarang, he's never made me feel that way. I mean, he's Hwoarang!
As if I don't have enough on my plate at the moment anyway? Tournaments, exams, responsible stuff! I've got no time for melting into a puddle of slush every time a guy flirts with me.
"Hey..." Miharu groans, throwing her bag over her shoulder and regarding us through glum eyes.
"You okay?" Hwoarang asks.
"Not really. Did I ever tell you guys how much Geography sucks?" she asks wearily. "Jesus, all I need to know is where five places are; Milan, London, Paris, Dusseldorf and NY."
"Why? And where the hell is Dusseldorf?"
She arches an eyebrow at Hwoarang.
"Hello? The Fashion Capitals? And learn Geography."
"...Uh-huh."
"Speaking of fashion, you guys up for some shopping?"
Hwoarang rolls his eyes while I tilt my head, confused.
"I thought you had no money, Mi?"
She grins, rummaging in her purse before holding up a cash card, a triumphant grin on her face.
"No, babes, but I do have an overdraft!"
"Well, count me out." Hwo mutters, nudging a pebble with his boot. "I learnt my lesson last time."
"Oh, don't be like that!" Miharu cries, throwing her hands up. "We're only going to a few stores, promise!"
"Forget it." he says flatly.
Mi scowls, then gets a sly glint in her eye.
"Oh, fine, be that way." she snaps. "Xiao, come on. I need new lingerie. And I need someone to tell me what looks right." She winks at me, and I share a grin with her, brushing off my skirt.
"Okay. Where first? Agent Provocateur?"
"Nah, I reckon Ann Summers'll do."
Slowly, Miharu turns to face Hwoarang, who hasn't moved much, but has managed a smirk.
"Do we need a guy's point of view?" she asks me.
I frown, pretending to think about it.
"Hmm... I'm not sure..."
He opens his mouth, no doubt to say something perverted, when someone behind us catches his eye, and the smirk falls away to be replaced by an stony glare.
"Won't be long, ladies. Wait here." he says icily, brushing past Mi and walking past the music block, disappearing behind the science one. I share a confused look with Miharu, snatch my bag up, and set off in pursuit, heels clacking on the paving slabs. When we round the corner, Hwoarang's standing still, a little way away from us. And a certain someone stands even further away, his back to us.
"Kazama!" he growls, and I hear a muttered 'oh, great', from Miharu.
Jin turns around, face expressionless, eyes slightly narrowed, hair slightly ruffled, looking slightly sexy, lips parting to say something, and making me want to punch my own lights out to stop myself from thinking those thoughts.
However, I'm not the one who gets a fist in the face. I'll give you one guess who is.
"Hwoarang!" Miharu screeches, and he starts, turning to us in surprise as Jin steps back a little, giving his head a shake and wiping the blood from his mouth.
"Miharu, Xiao, this has nothing to do with you!" he snaps. "Get lost."
By this time, of course, the shock's worn off, and Jin grabs Hwoarang's collar, socking him in the jaw.
"How about taking your own advice?" he sneers down at Hwo, who's struggling back to his feet.
"Oh yeah? You wanna start something, Kazama? 'Cause I'll take you on right here!"
"There will be no 'starting' of anything!" Miharu yells, storming over and grabbing him by the arm, death glare that's worthy of being patented firmly in place. He tries to twist out of her grip, Jin stands there grinning, and Mi stamps on Hwo's foot with her new platforms.
"Xiao, you stay with Spikes, and Red?" He struggles once more and she stamps again for good measure, "You're coming with me." She sounds furious, and Mi's really scary when she's mad, so even though I want to kill her for taking the opportunity to leave me alone with the poster child for asshole-ish-ness, I squeak out an 'okay', and walk over to Jin to see if he's hurt.
Judging by the smirk, I figure he's okay. But I still have to open my big mouth.
"Uh, are you hurt at all?" I ask, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
"No, are you?"
"Why would I -" I make the mistake of looking up. Friggin' hell.
"I'm wondering, Xiao. What is it I have to say to get you to stay the hell away from me?" Jin asks nonchalantly. He scrutinizes my face for a reaction.
"So that's why you said all that stuff last time? To get me to leave you alone?" I ask quietly. "Most people would say something like....oh, I dunno...maybe 'stay the hell away from me'."
"I'm not most people."
"Nah, you're not, Jin. You're special." I snap, repeating a line I heard when Miharu and I were watching Buffy the other day. Yeah, I'm so pathetic that I can't think up comebacks all on my own. Your point being?
He doesn't retort, just smirks. What else is new?
"You have any other expressions?" I sneer.
"Why are you still talking to me?" he wonders. "Why are you bothering?"
"Because I - "
"Why did you bother in the first place?" he interrupts.
"Why did you come see me?" I fire back.
He doesn't answer, but since I can't tear my eyes away from his, I see a flicker of...something.
"Does it matter?" he asks eventually.
"Yeah. I'm curious."
We glare at each other for a few more moments, before Jin sighs, shaking his head.
"...Just stay away, Xiao." he groans, turning his back on me and walking away. Now, anyone else would have done as he said, I suppose, but I'm not anyone else. And I can be a stubborn little madam when I want to be. And at the moment, I do want to be. So I follow him.
He doesn't turn back, but I know he knows I'm following him. I carry on, past the Languages block, through the car park, all the way to the black limo that's waiting patiently in front of the building. He gets in, slams the door, and I let him. In the back of my mind, I ponder what the hell's come over me as I walk around to the front of the car and put my hands on the bonnet. And I stay put, ignoring the driver as he presses the horn five times in a row, six times, seven times...
The door opens, and Jin leans out, scowling.
"Move." he snaps.
"Make me."
"Xiao, you're really starting to piss me off."
"And?" I examine the nails on my right hand, my left still resting on the bonnet. I need my nail polish touching up. Suddenly, I hear deep laughter from inside the limo, and the passenger door opens, revealing, to my horror, Heihachi Mishima. I back away from the vehicle instantly, moving out of its path and feeling heat rising to my face.
"M-m-mr Mishima!" I stammer. "I'm sorry, I didn't know - "
"Miss Ling, no apologies, please." Heihachi laughs, walking up to me and putting a heavy arm around my shoulders. "Please, pay no attention to that grandson of mine." He starts to walk, steering me back towards the limo. "I have a few questions I neglected to ask you at your interview." he carries on. "I was going to send you out another invite, but since you're here, well, you may as well come along right now!"
"Well, I...uh..."
He gives another merry laugh, making me wonder whether the limo has a mini-bar.
"Oh, forgive my rudeness, are you busy today, my dear?"
"Well....no..."
"Good, good! Splendid! Hop in, then!"
No good can come of this. No good at all.