'What in the hell is he doing here?'
My mind continues to scream this question over and over again as I watch Tadase Hotori maneuver his way to the front of the classroom. I duck my head quickly and try making myself look as small as possible. I pray he doesn't take notice of me.
'God, here I thought I'd have a nice, uncomplicated day at school. Just your luck to have an accidental and very unintentional meeting with one of Ikuto's friends from last night.' I huff to myself while shuffling lower down in my seat.
Tadase was in the middle of introducing himself to the class when somehow, with his damn spidey senses, he locked eyes with mine. I could feel my anxiety skyrocket instantly.
Tadase continues and explains that he is going to be our new teachers assistant. Apparently he is a new teacher in training and will be getting his hands on experience this year by helping out.
'Great! Now he is going to see me every day. Probably gonna tell Ikuto and his buddies all about how the crazy girl from the other night is now one of his students. I wouldn't put it past him, the damn sucks. He was actually one of Ikuto's nicer friends too.' I was mulling over the possibility that Tadase would be nice and just not say a thing to his friends when the class welcomed Tadase and he took his seat at the front with our teacher.
He looked more mature then he did last night, wasted with his friends, I'll give him that. It would be foolish to say he wasn't handsome, the suit he was wearing only served to make him look even better. I can literally hear the girls behind me whispering already.
Amu let out a heavy sigh before opening her text book to prepare for their lesson. The subject today was on world war two. I tried desperately to focus on my studies. It was all going well until the teacher turned the lesson over to Tadase. I couldn't very well just look away and ignore him now. I'm in the middle of taking notes for our upcoming test and I'd be damned if I let him mess up my grades.
Still, the entire lesson I was overcome with a sense of uneasiness.
Thankfully, Amu made it through the lesson and even manages to take notes when Tadase was teaching. She had to admit, he would be a great teacher one day. He had a way of explaining things to student that made it easy to comprehend. That's something you don't find in a lot of teachers anymore.
The bell rang and Amu quickly grabbed her things and bolted from the room before Tadase could even get the idea of attempting to talk with her.
'Okay, so maybe running away from him and avoiding him is a bit childish, but I don't care. I don't feel like explaining things to him about last night. Now I have to be even more careful with covering any injuries I may get at home before coming to school.' I thought to myself as I trudged my way to science class. My brain is so overcome with anxiety and worry that I didn't notice Utau running up behind me.
"Hey! You didn't even wait for me. I wanted to ask you what you thought of the new teachers assistant. Hot isn't he! Not my type but still nice to look at don't you think?" she asked, so I just smiled and nodded as she and I continued toward our next class.
"I think he seems nice and I'm sure the girls in our class are going to love the new piece of eye candy to enjoy. I'm sorry I left you. I just really want to get to science class. I've been looking forward to today's lesson on the periodic table...um, since last week." I lied through my teeth. I know what I'm spewing out sounds like bull but I appreciate that Utau just gives me a look like I've lost my mind and changes the subject.
They made It to class with time to spare, so the girls took their seats and talked a bit before the teacher called attention to the class.
The teacher began their lesson with a boring, mellow-toned voice. Amu really had no interest in the periodic table whatsoever. She didn't even bother to take notes, seeing that the lesson itself, wasn't of great importance.
After awhile the teachers voice seemed to fade and she felt herself slowly drift to sleep letting her surroundings slowly deteriorate. It wasn't long before she was engulfed in the darkness of her dreams.
"Amu..." She heard a familiar voice. "Amu." The voice persisted much to her annoyance. "Not now, I'm trying to sleep." Amu mumbled without thinking about where she was.
The sound of laughter sobered her up quickly, realizing instantly that she was still in class. Her eyes snapped open and she jerked up, almost falling out of her chair. The teacher glared down at her, if looks could kill, she'd be dead.
She was told to stand in the back of the class for the remainder of the lesson. It was quite difficult with her ankle not fully healed, not to mention her embarrassment, but she managed.
When second period finally ended, everyone bolted out the door. They all wanted get to the gymnasium, located on the other side of school, for gym class. Amu trudged to her locker and opened it, putting down her books and preparing to head out to the gym.
Due to her untimely nap in class today, she wouldn't be change into her gym uniform. Instead, she had to write an essay about the lesson she missed while sleeping. A nice punishment from her second period teacher who'd already informed her gym teacher by the time she got to the gym.
After conversing with her gym teacher about her essay, Amu walked across the gym toward the girls locker room to get started.
Amu was writing about lithium when she felt her cell phone buzz in her back pocket. Amu took it out and checked her texts.
There was a text from her foster mother
Amu, You need to come home right now! Your father was in a car accident and is in the hospital. We need to go see him. Come home right now. I've already called and talked with your principal about it.
-Mom
She felt her hands begin to shake slightly, heart beating faster and thoughts going a mile a minute. The problem that Amu was facing at the moment is overwhelming. The fact of the matter is that she didn't feel anything compelling her to go home to check on a man who abuses her.
"Yes, he was in an accident. That is terrible, but karma's a bitch and I feel no remorse whatsoever." she mutter to herself before standing up and pacing back and forth between the lockers in the room.
A gut-wrenching feeling of worry came over her like a wav. Even though Amu hated her foster parents, she knew she'd have to go. All she had to do was let the teacher know what was going on and she could leave.
Amu gathered her backpack and school work before heading out in search of her teacher. Along the way she passed Utau, who inquired about where she was going and if she'd finished her essay.
Her friend didn't know the full extent of her family situation at home. No one knew that she'd been abused ever since her real parents died. They didn't know and she intended to keep it that way. Amu had always been careful about wearing long sleeved shirts and jeans to kept her scars and bruises hidden.
She would refused to go out partying, taking trips to the mall, or anywhere else that might lead to her wounds being discovered. Amu grew up to live life always on edge and hyper aware of herself. Her foster parents deprived her of a normalcy with their constant abuse.
Amu explain to Utau that there was a family emergency and she had to leave. Her friend expressed her understanding and asked Amu to call her later for an update. Amu promised, hugged her friend goodbye before checking out at the schools front office.
After exiting the school, Amu made her way off the schools property and began the ten minute journey home.
When she finally arrived, Amu used her key to unlock the door. When she stepped into the house she was meet by her foster mother sobbing on the floor in their living room. Not exactly sure how to proceed in this situation, Amu stop in the living room doorway. She had never seen her foster mother show any other emotion then anger, greed and sick amusement.
This was something she was unprepared for. While Amu didn't feel any empathy over the situation concerning her foster father, she wasn't completely heartless. Slowly Amu made her way across the room and over to her foster mother.
The women stiffened when she finally took notice of Amu's presence in the room. Slowly Amu knelt down and hugged her foster mother, offering some kind of comfort that the women didn't deserve. The sudden contact and the news of her husband must have sent her over the edge because the next thing Amu knew, she was on the floor, pain shooting through her jaw and ringing in her ears.
"You did this you cursed bitch! We took you in after your wretched family died in that car crash. Now look what you've done. You caused this to happen! He is in a coma because of you! You bring death wherever you go Amu! You'd be better off dead, you monster!" She screamed as she continued striking and kicking Amu in her rib cage.
The blows just kept coming. Over and over.
Instead of fighting back, Amu took a moment, as her foster mother continued to whale down on her, she thought about the women's words. Was she really the such a horrible person? Was that why no one looked at her as if she mattered? Was she really to blame for her family's death?
Deep down Amu knew this wasn't true. Sadly though, years of hearing someone talk down to you, making you feel like complete and utter shit, it was hard. It's difficult to not to believe that to an extent, what was being said to her was true. Truthfully, she really was abandoned as a child, the one no one wanted, hence the reason she ended up with foster parents who treated her this way.
In the end, after her foster mother was finished damn near beating her to death, Amu struggled to stand. Her foster mother had left after beating her to go see her husband in the hospital, leaving a bleeding Amu on the floor.
And as dusk settled outside and the natural light of the room started to disappear, Amu made a decision.
"I can't do this anymore. I maybe be a peice of shit that no one cares about, but I can't do this anymore." I whisper to myself, tasting the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. With great difficulty, Amu slowly sat up from the flood. She took a few minutes to catch her breath. Once she was okay she drug herself to her bedroom.
With what energy she could muster, Amu push through the pain and grab a suitcase out from under her bed. She'd always intended to leave this god forsaken house. She wanted to run away countless times, but she always decided to wait until she graduated. At least then she could go legally and the governmental system wouldn't drag her back here. She had this year left and then she was done. Unfortunately though, tonight's events had pushed Amu passed her breaking point.
She had to leave. It was now or never.
All she wanted to do right now was be alone and disappeared. Go where no one would find her so she could have some peace. That's all she could hope for at this point, she didn't believe in love anymore. She didn't trust anyone anymore except her maybe her closest friends. And even then she couldn't tell anybody about her pain, about how she felt. Amu sighed turning her eyes to her closet.
For the next two hours Amu managed to pack all of her clothes, toiletries, photos and momentos. She made sure to grab her money that she had been saving throughout the years as well. Since she was able to start working, Amu had been putting money away for this moment. She kept most of her money hidden inside her mattress. It was the only place her foster parents wouldn't find it. She had managed to save about five thousand dollars. It wasn't much, but it would be enough to do what she intended.
Amu had set things in motion, but first she had to go to a urgent care to get checked out and treated. Amu called a cab and was told someone would pick her up in about ten minutes. So Amu gathered her things and went to wait on the front porch.
And as the cab pulled up to the house a while later, Amu knew it was time. So with a with a deep breath amu limped her way to the cab and got inside.
It's been about a week since Amu left and reclaimed her freedom. After getting several stitches, having her broken nose reset and having a boot put on her sprained ankle, the urgent care finally allowed Amu to leave. It took a lot of convincing to get them to believe she fell down the stairs, but in the end the doctor let it go.
She ended up in a hotel that night, planning on going apartment hunting first thing in the morning. She also called Utau the previous night and explained that she moved out. She refused to tell her the reason but she did let Utau know she would be out from school for a while and to take notes for her.
Many apartment tours later, Amu settled on a place that was conveniently downtown near the club she worked at, which is where she was headed currently.
Amu was hobbling as fast as she could. She has less than thirty minutes to be at work and she was having trouble walking to work in her ankle brace.
Amu finally made it to the back door of the club and quickly slipped into the staff room to drop off her things. After clocking in she went to look for her manager. She wanted to discuss where her second tonight would be because she really didn't want to have to be on the top floor of the club having to walk up and down the stairs in her ankle brace.
When she walked out from the staff room, she saw him, the pervert with midnight blue hair who also happens to be the club owner. She tried to go unseen and slowly make her way toward her manager who was just passed the bar behind the young man.
But just her luck, Ikuto spotted her. She stopped walking and stood there as their eyes connected for a few moments. And ike that, ikuto started to make his way towards her, face unreadable.
"I understand your complaint and I assure you that I'll have someone out here to fix it first thing on monday. In the meantime, i'll talk to the manager about getting some extra staff in tonight to help with the bar's dishes." Ikuto was reassuring the clubs bartender that the bar dishwasher was going to be replaced when he saw a flash of pink out of his peripheral view. Quickly, Ikuto wrapped up his conversation and turned around only to be face to face with the pink haired beauty that he hadn't seen in a little over a week and a half.
But the thrill of seeing the young lady again was short lived when ikuto took in the pinkette.
She had an ankle boot on her left foot, stitches that were just above her right eyebrow and her face had healing bruises long the right side of her jaw and cheek bone.
Instantly it felt like there was acid in Ikuto's stomach. 'What the hell happened to her' Ikuto thought to himself as he slowly made his way toward the waitress.
Once he reached her, he was a at a loss as to wear to start. He had so many thing he wanted to say but he couldn't until he found out what happened to her. So giving in to curiosity he asked, "Um hey, what happened to you? Are you alright?" Ikuto awkwardly looked off to the side, not used to the feeling he was currently having. Not used to caring about anyone's well being besides his own.
Amu cleared her throat and replied, "I fell down the stairs. It's nothing to concern yourself about. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to get to work." Amu tried to walk passed him but he stopped her before she could leave.
He failed last time at catching the young ladies interest but not this time around, no. Now that he knew she was okay and just a clutes he could continue with his plans for the evening.
Today, he and Tadase planned on hanging out at the club after Ikuto checked in to make sure things at the club were running smoothly. Believe it or not he does actually do his job and take care of the establishment when he comes to visit, contrary to popular belief. Things just happened to be made better now that he knew amu was working tonight.
Ikuto loosens his hold on the waitress arm and chuckles at her shocked face. Of course, he knew that the pinkette wanted to ran away, he could see it in her eyes. When Ikuto finally let go of her arm only to quickly slipped his arms around her waist instead. He slowly leaned down near her ear to whisper in her ear. "My dear, why are you alway trying to run away? Am I that horrible of a person? Am I such a monster to you?"
Amu stiffens at the word monster.
'You'd be better off dead, you monster!' Amu can hear her foster mothers words echo hauntingly in the back of her mind. They are etched into her mind, permanently there as a reminder that she was the monster here...no the man in front of her. With a heavy sigh amu turned in the man's arms and locked eyes with him.
"Your not a monster. Perhaps a bit narcissistic, but not a monster." Amu said in a tone that was to serious for the young man's liking. Ikuto noted that Amu looked a bit sad, so in an attempt to lighted the sudden mood, he poked at her cheek while making popping noises until she cracked a smile.
Ikuto let out a chuckle and let the pinkette go. It was then that he notices that all the eyes were trained on them. Some jealous and others curious, but no matter who was watching, he couldn't keep his eyes off the strange girl in front of him.
"Hey why don't you take the evening off an hang out with Tadase and I? I'll talk to the manager and get someone to cover your tables." Ikuto suggested with his trademark smirk on his face.
This knocked some sense back into the young waitress because Amu did not want to spend her work day entertaining the two men. Especially one who was kind of her teacher now. Amu simply shook her head, "Thank you, but I have bills to pay and the last time I took the night off with you, I didn't make a dime. Now if you'll excuse me I have some tables to tend to."
And like that, Amu walked away from Ikuto, leaving him baffled yet again as to why she didn't want to spend time with him. 'What girl in her right mind would want to work over hanging out with me? And also, she left before I could even tip her for the other night! I'm not a chintzy tipper! I have plenty of money to tip. What the hell is she implying, that I'm too cheap to tip my own staff! Oh I'll show her.' Ikuto though defensively to himself.
He was plotting and planning how to make sure the waitress got lots of tips that night when tadase walked up beside him.
"Sorry I'm late, traffic was horrible." Tadase apologized, shrugging off his jacket and setting it on a nearby table. The appearance of his friend drew Ikuto out of his thoughts. "Hey Tadase. How's it going?" he asked, gesturing for the other man to take a seat at the booth next to them.
The two took their seats and discussed work and upcoming plans with their other friends for a time; unfortunately Tadase noticed that Ikuto kept looking around the club and seemed a bit distracted.
It wasn't until he saw a set of familiar golden eyes that Tadase understood what was going on. Ikuto's eyes were glued to the back of the young waitress serving a family three tables down from them.
Tadase also noticed she was wearing a ankle brace but brushed it off due to an idea that popped in his head.
'Oh this is going to be fun.' The blond haired man grinned evilly to himself. He waited for Amu to finished with the other table before waving his hand up high and shouting across the room, "Hey! Hinamori-chan, over here!
The young waitress looked over and took in the sight of the two men seated in a booth a fre tables down from her. Tadase continued to call her from across the room.
This irritated the pink-haired girl, not that there were many people in the club this early during the day but still. Amu really didn't want to deal with either men tonight but she sighed in defeat, making her way over to their table, a strained smile on her face. "Hi Mr. Hotori. It's nice to see you again. You too Mr. Tsukiyomi. Is there anything I can do for you two?" Amu asked politely while looking a bit uncomfortable.
"No we're fine, I just wanted to say hello. You haven't been in class recently. I heard about your father. I hope everything is alright." Tadase stated, making the girl visibly uncomfortable. Amu started wringing her hands together and biting her lip.
"Um yeah, I have just been taking some personal days…that's all. You know, umm as much as I'd love to stay and talk I really have to get back to work. I'll send over some drinks for you guy, okay." Amu said as she slowly started retreating backwards.
"Okay then, see you later Hinamori-san." Tadase said with a little wave before turning back to Ikuto who was now fuming. Completely ignoring the irritation rolling off of his friend, Tadase asked, "What happened to her? She looks pretty beat up."
"She fell. Now what the hell was that?" he asked with jealousy in his voice. Startled by his friends tone, tadase replied in confusion,"What's what?" giving Ikuto a look of fake confusion.
"That whole thing about you being her teacher? I knew you started that internship but you didn't tell me you were Amu's teacher!" Ikuro growled out, crossing his arms and leaning back against the booth.
Tadase smirked at his friends obvious jealousy. "I didn't realize I was required to tell you Ikuto. Does it bother you that I get to see Hinamori-san?" Tadase asked with amusement and taunting in his voice.
Ikuto glared at Tadase and replied with venom spewing from his voice, "No! I can see her any time I want. You are limited to school hours, which I am not." Ikuro said with a smirk spreading on his face.
"Oh really? You sure Amu even wants to be around you? Because if I recall correctly, she doesn't particularly like you." Tadase replied with a smug look that Ikuto wanted to whip right off his face. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about. She likes me just fine. You on the other hand, well that's debatable." Ikuto replied. They were silent for a minute or two, both men gauging the others reaction.
FInally tadase broke the silence, "I'll tell you what. How about you and I make a little bet?" A mischievous grin overtaking his face. His eyes locked with the dark headed friend across from him.
'What kind of bet are we talking here?" Ikuto asked. He was always up for a good bet. "It's simple, whoever can fuck her first wins and the loser has to do whatever the winner says... for a month." Tadase smiled with a innocent face that Ikuto knew from experience was a complete front. Tadase was a little shit and he knew it.
Ikuto grinned after thinking it over for a moment, he wouldn't lose this bet. 'There is no way Amu would sleep with her teacher and I think mister wanna be king over there seems to forget that little fact.' Ikuto thought joyously to himself.
"Deal" Ikuto replied with his hand out for the other man to shake. "You are going to be my personal assistant for a month. Just you watch." Ikuto chuckled before taking a sip from a drink he hadn't noticed was placed in front of him earlier.
Tadase just cackled and told his friend to be on his toes.
The two men eventually moved on to other topics and talked for a while. When it started getting late, tadase said his goodbyes, stating that he had papers to grade that were due back to his students monday.
Once Ikuto was alone, he stood and went to locate the manager of the club. He found the man in the kitchen and asked to speak with him.
"Does this have something to do with the new bar dishwasher?" The manager inquired. Ikuto just smiled and shook his head. "Actually, I just realized I never tipped Ms. Hinamori the last time she served my friends and I. Can you please give this to her? Just don't tell her it was from me. Tell her it was from some random customer." Ikuto explained as he took out five one hundred dollar bills from his wallet and handed them to the manager.
The manager stood there shocked by the amount he was tipping. He quickly recovered and told Ikuto that he would make sure the money got to her and that he was glad that she served them so well to deserve such a large tip.
Once the manager took his leave, Ikuto left the kitchen with the intent of going home for the night, it wasn't until he was walking toward the exit that he stopped for a moment.
To his right he could see Amu playing peek a boo with one of the customers children. The sight of the encounter warmed his heart and put a genuine smile on his face. 'That's actually really sweet.' Ikuto thought to himself before finally exiting the building.
He weared his way through the throngs of people headed inside the club. The DJ was about to show up and the night crowd was on its way in to enjoy an evening out at the club. This pleased ikuto. It was always nice to see his establishments doing well.
When he was finally seated in his car, Ikuto pulled out his cell phone and texted Kukai about his bet with Tadase.
-Any ideas that'll help me out?
Kukai would help him. While it is true that he and Tadase were friends, he just didn't have that deep friendship that he had with Kukai. He and Kukai had been friends since they were born.
A few minutes had passed and Ikuto was already driving home when he heard his phone ding.
He waited to get to a red light before looking at his messages. Kukai's reply caused him to smirk.
He quickly typed out his thanks to his friend and then continued to drive the long journey back to his home with a new confidants the put him at ease for the rest of the night.
