Miki tapped the pen to her chin pondering the answer to the questions still running through her head. Despite all possible venues of information to find out ANYTHING about what it was that made Aaron look the way he did that night had come up time and time again as a brush off. If Miki tried to ask him about it, he'd just smile like Yuu would have done in a similar situation and he'd make her forget what she was asking. She blushed annoyed thinking, "it's like he knows I'll forget once I see that smile…that smile…it's so warm, every time I see it I just feel like melting. It's very strange." Miki shook her head and looked down to notice that she hadn't done a thing on her homework yet. "Ehhhhh!" Miki couldn't believe that she had become so preoccupied with everything going on that she had spent the last 3 hours not having done a thing. She started to rush through her homework as quickly as possible considering it was late. During her frantic rush to finish her homework she heard the door downstairs shut. It was 11pm and it was very odd to hear the door close at that hour. Miki thought for a second between her fanatic rushes to finish, "He must have gone out again. Maybe it's just normal for him? No, not with the look he has on his face. That can't be a normal thing for anyone that looked like that." She heard a knock on her door and she looked over at her door responding, "Come in."
Aaron opened the door and stood in the doorway slightly laughing, "Sounds like you didn't get your homework finished yet. I wanted to ask you if you needed anything since it sounds like you have a while to go yet."
Miki puffed her cheeks childishly and responded, "Well if you didn't assign such HARD homework maybe it wouldn't take me this long."
Aaron chuckled again and shook his head, "Don't be like that Miki, I know you were zoning out wondering about what I've been doing so late at night."
Miki blushed and looked away irritated, "Well you've been out so late, you expect me to just not care?"
Aaron shook his head, "No. Thank you for your concern."
Miki looked back over and could see Aaron looking away his eyes closed in a relaxed state a soft smile across his face. Miki opened her mouth to speak but waited before saying slightly shyly, "Ummm, I know it isn't any of my business to know, but, is everything ok? I know I've only known you a few days, but…I just get this feeling that something is bothering you quite a bit, and…if there is anything I can do to help."
Aaron looked back over at Miki and just stared at her. Miki blushed a little bit and stared back at him almost being drawn into his eyes that suddenly seemed firm, but calming. Somehow once again she was being drawn into his face. She studied it a little harder this time. The curves of his cheekbones, and the contours of his face. She could feel her face becoming more and more flush with each passing moment before Aaron suddenly responded to her, "Shouldn't you be finishing up your homework Miki-chan?"
Miki blinked and looked down at her desk where her half finished homework lay. "AHHHH!" She freaked out frantically starting on her homework again. "Oh no! This is all due tomorrow!"
Aaron chuckled a little and said with a kind tone, "Would you like some personal tutoring? Don't worry I won't charge…much."
Miki made a half-hesitant laugh, but nodded, "Thank you very much Tsukino-sensei!"
"Only in class Miki, only in class, here, I'm your friend. So let's keep it mellow."
Miki nodded as the late night study session kicked into full gear and Aaron laid down on the floor staring at the ceiling, and Miki would ask questions when she needed them.
Next morning…
Miki was drooling on her desk moaning for Yuu; as it appeared the spunky college girl was once again dreaming about her sweetheart. She turned her head and could feel the light of the new day basking her in warm light. She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Still a little unaware of everything that had been going on she sat up still half-asleep and looked at her alarm clock. Despite being a college girl she freaked out at the time and rushed around getting ready for her first class of the day. English. "Great, Tsukino-sensei is going to scold me for being late," she moaned rushing down the stairs. At the base of the stairs Aaron stood sighing and shook his head.
"You really need to get up in the morning," He joked with her.
She groaned and rushed into the kitchen snagging a few pieces of toast as Aaron tapped his foot impatiently. She stuck a piece in her mouth and rushed back over to the foyer slipping her shoes on. Aaron opened the door for her as she rushed out in a very big hurry. "Come on!" she yelled back at Aaron who was taking his sweet time leaving. "You don't want to be late for class!"
Aaron chuckled to himself and shook his head, "I'm not worried if I'm late," he yelled back.
Miki groaned and continued running to get to class on time. "Not worried if he's late. Must be nice being a teacher and not having a specific time period to be getting there."
Classroom…
Miki barely made it to class and flopped into her chair exhausted. That entire run tuckered her out; as she finished her toast she wondered how long it'd take Aaron to get to class considering he was going at a normal pace. She shook her head and slightly blushed pondering, "Why do I seem to think about him so much now? First I'm worried about what's bothering him, and now this?" The professor walked into class and quickly got to work collecting the homework from last night. As Miki pulled it out she remembered how Aaron had helped her finish it and how kind he was. "Why can't he always be like…" she stopped herself and remembered how she thought the same thing about Yuu shortly before falling in love with him totally. She blushed again and shook her head trying to forget that whole thought and handed her homework to the professor as he walked by.
After collecting the homework the professor began, "Aright class we're going to work on the paper that is due for your mid-term. Remember it must be at least 10 pages long; single space typed, and must have at least 100 words we haven't gone over in class. Remember the topic you're supposed to write is the one you chose when we first started this assignment at the beginning of the year. Good luck and see you tomorrow." The professor bowed respectfully and left the classroom. Students started conversing amongst themselves and Miki let out a sigh considering English was her only class today.
"I got up late and frantically ran to class for that?" She stared out the window to the high school next to the college and pondered her days as a high schooler. All the days she chatted with Meiko about life and her troubles in love. The days where she and Ginta would play tennis and Ginta would not hold back at all. The mess that Yuu put her in and the number of times she'd walked to school together with him. She relaxed and a smile came across her face as she remembered so many more wonderful times. "He'll be home in a couple of days," Miki thought. Miki shook her head snapping out of her trance and noticed she was the only one left in the classroom as all the other students had already left. She put her books into her bag and looked up to notice Aaron standing in the doorway almost as if he was waiting for her.
"Told you everything would be fine," he said with a confident yet cocky smile on his face.
Miki groaned and replied, "It's different for a professor than it is a student."
Aaron chuckled and replied, "I guess you're right. Come on, let's go get some real breakfast for you."
Miki looked at him a little confused and smiled responding, "Sure, you're buying though."
Aaron chuckled once more and replied, "But of course, and you best lead the way seeing as I don't know the best places to eat as of yet."
Miki prodded him in the ribs with her elbow and replied, "All that late night walking and you still don't know anything about this place?"
Aaron's smile turned serious and he responded, "I don't walk around at night to explore this place, Miki…"
Miki stepped back at the sudden seriousness of his tone and responded, "G-g-gomen!" she bowed quickly. "Woah, that was a scary change of face. Whatever he does at night must be something big!" she thought as she led Aaron away from the college toward the shopping centers and restaurants. Eventually they settled on an upscale coffee house like place called, 'Pizzarao!'.
Miki sat down relaxing in her chair and stretched looking out the window at the bustling hub of commerce. Aaron looked out the window across the street at the building opposite of the restaurant and saw in the window a pretty white dress. He squinted his eyes a little and found it to be a wedding dress store. He chuckled a little and allowed his mind to fill with fantasies of getting married, and how pretty his bride to be would look in a dress such as the one he was looking at. He turned an eye to Miki and noticed she was completely absorbed by something outside as well. Her cheeks were slightly rosy and she just stared with what appeared completely contempt. Aaron for the first time noticed how pretty Miki really was. It wasn't the kind that jumped out and hit you in the face. It was a subtle pretty, and it was one you had to look to really see for what it was. He stared at her for a few moments and shook his head before saying, "Miki. Miki! Hey! Earth to Miki come in Miki!"
Miki snapped out of her trance and looked over at Aaron embarrassed before laughing her cheeks rosier than before and responded, "Gomen! I was just thinking about something."
"Something outside I'd assume. You were completely engrossed in something out there. Your cheeks were red even. It was pretty cute I must admit." Miki blushed a little and lowered her head embarrassed. Aaron chuckled and replied, "its ok Miki don't feel like it's a bad thing. Whatever it is you were looking at must be something incredibly wonderful." Aaron blinked and looked down at the menu and said, "Speaking of which. Isn't it time we ordered something?"
Miki looked down at the menu and nodded, "This coffee cake sounds good."
Aaron made a slightly disgusted face and made Miki laugh a little. "Not my style. I'm not a coffee fan at all."
"You don't like coffee?"
Aaron shook his head, "Nope. Never been my style. I'm more of an energy drink person. Of course non-sugar energy drinks."
"Energy drinks?" Miki wasn't sure she knew what he meant.
"They're like pick me ups that are good for your body. Most of them aren't however because they're loaded with sugar and other things your body DOESN'T need. The only one I drink though has things your body DOES need and is good for you."
"So what are you going to get then?"
"Hmmm, I think I'll get some water since I'm not really hungry."
"Aright, just don't ask for any of my coffee cake cause you had a chance to get something," Miki said slyly.
Aaron chuckled, "You really are a funny girl, Miki." Aaron gave her a warm melting smile. Miki blushed a little and hid her face behind her book bag. Aaron turned his head out the window again and looked at the wedding dress from before and let out a relaxed sigh. His mind allowed him to lose focus once more as he imagined thoughts of being married to someone he loved dearly. He imagined dancing with his would be wife on their wedding day and looking into her beautiful eyes and the joy on her smiling face. Somehow Miki's face appeared as the face in his daydream and he fell out of his chair shocked and confused as to why he suddenly had her face in his head. He blinked as people looked at him confused and bewildered. Aaron grinned stupidly and replied, "I slipped getting up it appears."
Miki looked at him and laughed lightly before asking, "Are you ok Aaron?"
Aaron chuckled before responding, "Just my pride is hurt nothing more."
The coffee cake Miki had ordered arrived and she squealed with delight at the taste of the coffee cake as she slowly devoured it's savory contents. Aaron smiled and listened as she talked about her friend Meiko and how they would go get cake similar to the one she was devouring oftentimes after school back when she was in high school. Aaron smiled as he enjoyed hearing Miki talk about stories of her high school days. Similarly Miki asked Aaron what his high school years were like. He hesitantly laughed at her request to find out more about him but agreed to tell her about his days of high school. Often times he could tell his own voice was trailing off when he wanted to explain certain things, but knew that he shouldn't. Many of his stories seemed sad. He wasn't a real popular kid at any point it sounded like and many times he seemed like he was just, alone without a friend. Miki felt something inside her hurt a little as she listened too more and more of his stories. It reminded her of Yuu's childhood and how lonely he seemed to be. How he kept his feelings bottled up for no one to know or understand. Aaron's entire high school experience seemed like a longer more painful version of Yuu's childhood experience. She could feel tears coming out of her eyes as Aaron continued on with his stories of high school. Aaron noticed she was crying and stopped his story and gave her his napkin to wipe her eyes with. "G-gomen Aaron. I didn't mean to cry."
"Is everything ok Miki? Are you going to be all right?"
"Yeah, it's just…Gomen…I feel so bad for you having gone through so much in high school. It must have been terrible for you not having any real friends or having anyone to be there for you."
Aaron shook his head, "It wasn't as hard as you'd expect, and thank you for your compassion Miki. It's been a while since someone had compassion for everything I'd been through."
"Didn't you have anyone?"
"I had…a couple of people, but it was a very unique situation. They are my friends and I still keep in contact with them to this day, however it's not easy talking to friends that live thousands of miles away from you about things that are as…personal as things that I would need to talk to people about."
"I mean didn't you have a girlfriend or something?"
"I…did before high school, but we broke up right before my first day of high school. I haven't heard from her since."
"Don't you have anyone that you like?"
"Of course I do, however past chances have shown I'm not in a favored light."
"How many different girls have you asked out?"
"To many to count," Aaron said with a slight chuckle, "and I've sorta gotten used to being rejected all the time. I don't like it, but what can I do? I'm considered the guy, girls' want, but when it comes down to it can't have because they consider me too…irresponsible I guess. Ironically I'm actually VERY responsible and I'm much more mellow than a lot of people realize. It's either that or the girls I like would much rather stay as 'friends' than anything more. Even then they lose touch with me a couple of months after."
"Hidoi…that's just so terrible that the girls you've been so kind to have treated you so unfairly," Miki's face was frustrated in a sympathetic kind of way, "they don't have any idea the kind of guy they rejected. You have no idea how many girls would do anything to have a wonderful boyfriend like you."
Aaron chuckled and shook his head, "I've heard that to many times to remember it's like a cliché. I guess considering I've yet to see it be true; it makes it harder and harder to believe every time I hear it."
Miki didn't know what else to say. What could she say? There was no real response she could give him that would make that statement true. She sat in her chair defeated; yet at the same time she had another feeling inside her. One she didn't think was real. She dismissed the other feeling thinking it a fleeting thought of compassion, but the feeling didn't subside. She couldn't understand why she was feeling this way. She clinched her hand and pushed it close to her chest unsure of why this feeling would not subside. Aaron smiled at her warmly and she melted again, the feeling inside her growing stronger and stronger inside the longer she looked at the smile. "What is going on? Why do I feel this way around him, and when he smiles, why do I melt so easily?" Miki questioned herself as she could only stare into Aaron's smile more and more.
Aaron could see Miki's relaxed yet somewhat pained expression on her face and asked softly, "Miki, are you ok really? You seem like you're in pain or something. Is there something I can do to help?"
"A…Aaron," Miki's voice trembled she slowly reached out her hand shaking but she set it down on the table and shook her head smiling, "No, everything is ok. I'm just feeling a little bit lightheaded is all. Perhaps I need to head home and lie down for a bit."
"Definitely, please don't push yourself on my account."
Miki nodded and put her hand on her forehead and stood up slowly. Aaron paid the bill and left with Miki making sure she got home safely.
That afternoon…
Miki moaned and awoke inside her room. She looked around unaware of how she had gotten to her room. The last thing she remembered was…she had fainted half way home. She looked outside her window at the beautiful day. The warm sunlight wrapping her room in light, and the birds chirping cheerfully outside. She put her hand to her head and thought, "Who carried me home? Was it Aaron?" she could feel her heart pound at the thought of that and shook her head, "No! I don't care for him like that! I only love…Yuu." She relaxed and laid on her stomach her face buried in her pillow. It was causing her all sorts of tension. Suddenly having these "feelings" for Aaron that she didn't think was even physically possible. She remembered thinking WAY back when if she would ever love someone other than Yuu, and she remembered telling herself she never would love someone like she loved Yuu. Suddenly that whole reminder was being brought into question. She pondered if she'd suddenly end up going out with Aaron. She wondered if she would be happier with him than Yuu. Each question caused her to want to scream out Yuu's name hoping he'd hear her and come home sooner. Two days was all that remained until he'd be home for Winter Vacation. Two simple days. She didn't know if her heart could stand two more days with the way it was being wretched left and right. She whispered Yuu's name repeatedly and kept telling herself there was no one else right for her but him. She repeated this over and over making sure she never forgot whom it was she loved. There was a knock at the door and she answered through her sobs, "C-come in." Aaron appeared at the door and looked surprised to see her crying.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to come in," Aaron turned around to leave.
Miki raised her hand toward him and said, "Wait!" Aaron stopped as Miki finished, "Please…don't leave, I should be ok. I was just…thinking about something."
Aaron turned around and faced Miki who tried to smile despite her tears. Aaron seemed hesitant to say anything and asked finally, "Is…it ok if I come in?"
Miki nodded and Aaron walked in and sat on her floor trying to keep some distance between himself and Miki. Miki wiped her eyes and smiled warmly at Aaron. Suddenly she remembered having fainted on the way home and asked Aaron, "Aaron, how did I get home after I fainted?"
Aaron rubbed the back on his neck sheepishly and replied, "Ummm, I sorta, carried you home. Some people were starting to wonder if you were ok after you fainted and I just picked you up and carried you home. Your parents were a little worried when they saw me carrying you and offered to help, but you weren't that heavy I thought. If anything you were pretty light as far as I was concerned.
Miki blushed and looked down, "Oh, well…thank you for carrying me home."
Aaron smiled, "Don't think anything of it. It's my way of saying thanks for helping take care of me while I'm over here."
"But isn't that a little much?"
"Maybe, but still. I figured it was the right thing to do given the circumstances."
Miki smiled and blushed again replying again, "Well in any case, thank you."
Aaron smiled and chuckled, "No biggie, I just was curious as to why your parents were acting all weird when they saw me carrying you in. I mean I can understand they were concerned but the look on their faces was more like, confusion or concern for the fact 'I' was carrying you or something."
"They're just weird," Miki said with a chuckle.
"They're good parents though. They keep mentioning someone named Yuu though and the fact he'll be back on Saturday."
Miki could feel her heart beating rapidly as she heard Yuu's name mentioned. "Yuu…"she thought feeling her heart hurt.
"Miki? You seem a little pale. Is everything ok?" Miki put her hand to her forehead and could feel her pain shooting into her forehead. Everything was becoming a mess in her mind. "Miki!" she could hear Aaron's voice slowly fading out and she looked at him as he yelled at her, but each time it sounded like he was getting farther and farther away. Her vision started to fade and she passed out on her bed.
Aaron screamed for Miki's parents and Jin came running up the stairs asking what the matter was. "I don't know what happened honest! She and I were just talking and all of a sudden she just started looking really pale and then she just fainted!"
Jin put the covers over his daughter and told Aaron softly, "Just let her get some rest. She's had a rough couple of weeks prior to you showing up."
Aaron nodded, "Not a problem. If you need me I'm going to head over to the college."
Jin nodded, "Thanks for letting us know."
Aaron walked out of the room heading off to the college and Jin stayed with his daughter. He looked down on his daughter's pale face and could see tears slowly trickling down. "He'll be home soon hun," he said wiping the tears off her face gently. "Just a few more days."