AN: Well, here's another one. This one is dedicated to Teen-chan, my bestest best friend, twin and wife. XD;;;;; Yes. Don't ask. Her challenge words were 'Oh no', socks, and calculator. I hope I met your expectations, Teenee!

Stick Figures

Strawberry'd

23 October 2005

She was late. She wasn't usually late, just on this particular day. Bag bumping against her back as her feet hit the ground, Ryuuzaki Sakuno ran for her life.

As she flew by the houses and buildings, she failed to notice how it had rained the night before. Thus, puddles. Big large puddles of murky brown water. She splashed through quite a few of them on her way to school but took no heed. All Sakuno was concentrating on was getting to school before the gates closed on her.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," She cried as the school came into sight. It looked like she was going to be late… but maybe if she just ran a little faster… and with luck… yes! She made it!

Sakuno breathed hard on the other side of the wall. She grimaced at her reflection in the window. Her hair was windblown and messy. Sakuno tried to fix it as best she could without a brush. Her uniform wasn't as neat as she'd like it, but that couldn't be helped. As her eyes traveled down to her feet, she let out an involuntary gasp. Her socks… her white pristine clean socks… were blemished with dirty brown marks! Frantically, Sakuno bent down and tried to wipe them clean but only ended up making them dirtier.

Her mind half on her dirty socks, and the other half worrying about getting to class on time, Sakuno was torn. She ended up running up the stairs to class while rubbing her socks so she fell. Sakuno felt like crying. Here she was, sprawled on the ground with dirty brown socks that were supposed to be white and on top of that, she laughed dryly, she was on top of someone! Wait. Sakuno stopped, a wave of fear crashing over her. What…?

"Ryuuzaki. If it would bother you so much to get off of me?" A not-so-amused voice came from behind her. Sakuno wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She had fallen on Ryoma-kun! Springing up, Sakuno blushed beet red and bowed to him.

"I'm so sorry, Ryoma-kun! I wasn't looking where I was going and I was worrying about getting to class and my socks…"

"Yes. Yes." Ryoma waved her off. "You wouldn't have a calculator, would you? I need one for math class." Ryoma changed the subject.

Sakuno frowned and thought. "Um, I think so…" She bent down and rummaged through her bag, trying not to look too embarrassed. Catching sight of her bright blue calculator, Sakuno grabbed it and held it out to him. "Here!"

He nodded to her and took it. "Thanks."

Sakuno watched him go as he walked away. She rubbed her red cheeks and willed the hue would go away before she went to class. She bolted upright. Class! Sakuno took her bag and ran.

Too bad Sakuno didn't notice that when she pulled out her calculator to give to Ryoma, a small slip of paper got caught between the hinges of the cover.

Ryoma settled into his seat, thankful for the calculator, although not too grateful for the little… episode that happened prior. He frowned at the calculator, as if the owner could somehow feel his disapproval. That girl… she needed to be more careful and less clumsy.

The teacher passed around the test, claiming Ryoma's attention. He took his and wrote his name, and studied the first question. It wasn't too hard. He opened the calculator and a small piece of paper floated out.

Ryoma glanced at it distractedly. He only had so much time for the test, and he really didn't want to know what was in the notes she and that other girl passed around. Ryoma quickly finished the first few questions with ease, and decided to take a little, mini break. He rested his pencil down and sighed. He couldn't really remember why he was so worried about the test in the first place. It wasn't any different from any of the other ones he'd taken and aced.

The note from before caught his eye. Hmmm, I wonder what's in it… He knew he shouldn't look at other people's private conversations but it was only Ryuuzaki and her loud friend. He took a quick peck.

It wasn't a note. It was a drawing. A little stick figure wearing a hat and another little figure with two long pigtails. They were holding hands. Ryoma stared at it for a bit, wondering who the figures represented. He almost had it when a sharp tap came from the front of the room.

"Ten minutes left!" The teacher called. Ryoma jumped. He was in the middle of a test!

Later that day, after Ryoma gave Sakuno back her calculator sans the little drawing, the two freshmen walked home. They were somewhat in the same direction before they split up at the intersection.

Sakuno walked slightly ahead of Ryoma, not daring herself to walk beside him. Ryoma didn't really care what she did, as long as she didn't bother him too much.

They walked in silence. Step after step after step. Ryoma's gaze was on the girl in front of him. He watched her two long pigtails bounce up and down a little with every movement.

Wait a minute… Ryoma thought, his eyes widening in recognition. Two long pigtails? He dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out the drawing. On a whim he had kept it. He looked at it. The boy… with the hat. That must have been him, right? He smirked. Quickening his pace slightly, Ryoma caught up with the girl in front of him. He held out the picture.

Sakuno looked at him in confusion. "A-ano, Ryoma-kun?"

"This is yours right?" He waved the picture.

Sakuno blinked as her eyes registered on the quick little doodle she had done in English. She inhaled sharply. "Ah – that, where, I mean - no," She fumbled for words as her face grew steadily and steadily redder. She reached for the picture. Ryoma pulled it back a little.

"You drew this?" He asked.

Sakuno pressed her lips together tightly and nodded. He relinquished the picture to its owner and grabbed her hand while doing so.

Sakuno was in too much shock to utter a word. Ryoma glanced at her surprised face and said, "Well, you only had to ask."

Well, there's another one shot finished. Hee, I really like this one. I hope you did as well! Teen-chan, err, happy birthday? Your birthday drabble! You better've liked it! Review please!