Chapter 24: A Snowball to the Face

Hola again~! Here's another chapter of "Meltdown" where Rin will finally tell you all about her relationship with Aito and how that went down.


Rin's POV~~~

'Some things are meant to be.'

This past week I've been helping Aito prep for his confession. I've practiced with him and acted out Luka's reactions, which turned me into a blushing idiot whenever he would lean in and say, "I love you…

-Luka."

Just cut out "Luka" and replace it with "Rin". Place permanent glue on there, just to secure it. The glue would be visible for everyone to see, but it feels so good to write off the rules. I'd snap back to Earth and he'd take my hand, squeezing it with little pressure. At this point I would be as red as Miki's hair. Then, just as we'd meet eyes, that's when I'd nearly lose it.

His eyes didn't show the admiration and love that shined whenever he was with Luka. Instead, they just showed the same old friendliness I got everyday. I would instantly be bathed in regret for thinking of the chance that he'd return my feelings. Then Aito would curse and slap his forehead, complaining about how he sounded too weird that time or how he was too pitchy.

I sigh again and kick the snow under my feet. I've been thinking about these things ever since last week. And now here I am, sitting on my porch edge in the morning, looking like a fool and kicking the innocent snow. Normally I would be enjoying the white scenery, but all I can do is think about the past.

Our past relationship, I mean...

It all started when he appeared at my doorstep.

He asked me out of random.

I didn't know what to say.

"D-don't you like Luka?" I asked him, setting my hands down to my side.

"I've gotten over her," Aito said, avoiding my eyes.

Now that I think about it, maybe his cheeks were just red from the cold.

"But-"

"Rin, I really like you," Aito said and walked up to my porch, "and I would like it if you became my girlfriend."

If I was stronger, I wouldn't have agreed. If I was stronger, I wouldn't have burst out into a smile and hugged him. If I was stronger, I wouldn't have fallen so deep. If I was stronger, I wouldn't have pushed away the truth that he really still did love Luka.

But I was a fool in love.

We became like any other normal couple. He would take me to dates and we'd laugh and chat. We would hold hands in the cold. We'd argue about stupid things but we'd make up a day or two later. We had our awkward moments too. For some reason, whenever he was with me, I would always catch him looking at Luka. And I could hear others whispering about us. Aito may have great looks, but when he opened his mouth the first day here, all that vanished. People didn't hesitate to dismiss him as a cold-hearted judgmental person.

But I still loved him.

He was my first boyfriend, my first love, and my first kiss.

But as I said before, I could sense that things weren't right. I knew it from the beginning, and so did he. But I just kept pushing the truth aside.

'If I date him long enough, he will get over Luka. I just know it.'

That was all a lie. He didn't get any better. His eyes stayed on Luka. He cancelled dates just to hang out with Luka. And there were moments when he'd accidently call me Luka too.

I was walking towards our usual table when I looked over and saw Luka and Aito talking. Aito was randomly braiding Luka's hair and teasing her. Luka was rolling her eyes, but laughing right along with him. They look like good friends. And then I looked at his face. His eyes were so bright and he was glowing. And not literally glowing, but something about him just brightened up the room. That same smile could water me and make me grow warm and strong, but it could also flatten me. Just from looking into his eyes I could tell they were something more.

I stopped walking and just stood there, staring at the two and wishing that I could have that effect on him.

So, one day I decided that it would be better for us not to be together. I confronted him at his house in private, not because I was unsure of how he would react, but so if I busted out crying, at least he would be the only one to see.

"What are you talking about?" Aito asked.

I tried to play it off like I didn't care. Like it didn't matter to me.

"I think it would be better for us to…break up," I said, nervously messing with the bracelet on my wrist.

"Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?" Aito asked, lifting my chin up.

"None of this is your fault," I said and took his wrist and let it down by his side. "This was all my decision."

"Why?"

"You don't need me," I told him quietly, "but you won't leave me because you're afraid of the truth."

Aito stopped and looked at me, the tips of his mouth falling.

"You still love her Aito. You love her dearly."

"I…no.. no I don't."

"Yes, yes you do."

Aito frowned at me. "No I don't, Rin! I got over her! I am dating you, aren't I? Isn't that proof enough for you?"

I snapped as he yelled at me. "Are you trying to prove that to me, or to yourself?"

I continued as Aito's face paled.

"You still love her! I knew it every second that we were together and you knew it too! You need to stop trying to ignore it and just face it!"

"She will never feel the same way," Aito said quietly.

"It won't hurt to try," I told him and placed my hand on his shoulder. I gave him a small smile. "Anything can happen Aito. You just have to have faith in yourself."

It's a miracle that I didn't start crying at that moment. I just kept smiling at him and encouraging him to try his best all the while I was breaking inside. But that pain was nothing. As long as he was happy, then I was too. At least, I would try to be.

If I was stronger, a tear wouldn't be falling down my cheek right now. I lift my hand up to my eye and rub away the moist tears that are threatening to spill over. Look at how stupid I am, starting to randomly cry out here in the cold.

"I really am a fool," I laugh sadly and place my hands back down on my lap. I breathe out and rub away the snowflakes as they fall down on my shoulders. I wonder how long I've been out here. I've been too wrapped up in my thoughts to realize that my body has been shivering for the past few minutes.

All that was so long ago, and I'm still thinking about it now.

I knew what would happen if I said yes to Aito.

I was left a fool.

I'm still a fool.

And now here I am, helping him get with one of my best friends. And I'm helping Luka get with Kaito. And I think Kaito still likes Meiko. But, who was she with last time? And what if he still likes Miku? But then, does Miku actually love Len? And then there's Gumi, who I think has a small crush on Aito.

Can fate really be this cruel to set up all these people like this?

This is why I don't like meddling in things like this. At first glance it all looks easy to fix, but as soon as you take off one layer, there's another below. You keep ripping off the layers just to find another one below.

And then suddenly, a cold snowball hits my side.

I scream and fall off my porch from surprise. I sit up and turn to my left to see Len laughing at me with a snowball in his hand.

"What the heck was that for?" I yell as I stand up and brush off the bits of snow still on my jacket.

"You were looking sad," Len replies with a cheeky grin.

"So you just hit me with a snowball? That is so logical!"

"It's way more logical than sitting out in the cold and crying!"

"I was NOT crying!"

Len laughs at my flushed face and I growl at him. Gosh, this guy just doesn't know when to stop, does he?

"I'll teach you a lesson!" I yell and bend down, quickly assembling a snowball of my own. Since I've never really had a snowball fight with anyone, it comes out a little rough around the edges.

"Oh~ I'm scared of Rin's disfigured snowball!" Len mocks and fakes a scared face.

"I'll wipe that grin off of your face!" I yell and throw my snowball. It hits his stomach and he doubles over. "Ha!"

"Now….it's war!" Len yells weakly, still clutching his stomach.

"I'd like to see you try!" I yell back, a smile coming to my face.


Normal POV~~~

Rin's House

"Aww, look honey, Rin's having fun," Rin's mother says, looking at Rin and Len from the window in the door.

"With who?" Rin's father asks, taking a sip of his hot cocoa.

"That charming boy that she was with on that game show. Do you think he's her boyfriend~?"

"WHAT?!" he yells and dashes over to the window. She moves her head over to show Rin and Len laughing and throwing snow at each other. "Why didn't you tell me before? I have to go and-"

"Honey, just let her be. She's actually smiling and having fun," she says grabs her husband's arm. "She hasn't been smiling for a while."

Rin's father frowns at first and looks over at their daughter. Rin yelps as a snowball hits her hair and she throws one at Len. She laughs as he falls down and places one foot on his back, making a Captain Morgan stance. The corners of his mouth slowly go up as he sees her laughing again.

"Well, it is just innocent game after all," he shrugs and returns to the couch. Rin's mother giggles and smiles at the two teenagers outside.

After almost an hour of hurling snowballs at one another, the two decide to go to Len's house and relax. Now they're sitting on Len's couch and enjoying hot cocoa. Rin blows on the hot liquid then lifts it up to her lips and takes a sip as Len wipes his mouth with a napkin.

"Hey Rinny, you've got some hot cocoa on your cheek," Len says and points.

"Hm? Can you give me napkin?" Rin asks.

"No need for one, I've got it."

Len proceeds to lean in and lightly lick her cheek, his lips brushing against her skin.

"There, all done."

"Len! I'll kill you!" Rin yells but Len keeps on laughing at her red face. "No, I'll just pour this hot cocoa all over you!"

"I regret nothing!"

"Dork," Rin mumbles and returns to drinking her hot cocoa. Her eyes sweep around his living room and find the place vacant of any Christmas decorations. "Hey Len, what do you do for Christmas?"

"What do you mean?" Len asks.

"Why don't you have any decorations up? Or a tree up at least?" Rin asks.

"Well, I don't really celebrate it," Len says and shrugs. "I get presents sent from my guardians, but that's all I think. Oliver will be leaving soon to go spend Christmas with his parents over the break. I'll just spend Christmas like any normal day."

Rin gasps and sets down her drink. "You don't have a special dinner or sit around a warm fire with people you love?"

"I don't have anyone I love," Len says, avoiding her eyes. Rin frowns at his reply and walks over in front of him to get his attention.

"Why don't you join my family and I for Christmas?" Rin offers. "It'll be fun! You can spend time with my crazy parents and we can have a warm dinner just the four of us! We can sing Christmas carols and then I can drag you downstairs in the morning to open up the presents~!"

"I thought it was supposed to be with people you love. W-who said I loved you?" Len stutters, his face turning red. Rin laughs and pokes his cheek.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Rin cajoles and grabs his hands. "We are friends, and that's what friends do right? I can't leave you here all alone for Christmas."

"I…I guess," Len admits and looks away, turning even more red. "T-thanks."

"Nothing to it, buddy," Rin says and lets go of his hands and roughly pats his back, making him jerk forward.

Just then, the front door slams open to reveal a panting Oliver and an overly excited Teto.

"Did I just miss a bonding moment?" Teto asks and looks at Len's and Rin's shocked faces. "Dang it! I did!"

"Don't you know how to knock, Teto?" Len groans and facepalms himself as Oliver falls to the ground.

"What's up with him?" Rin asks and pokes Oliver's forehead.

"He spent the whole day helping me run errands and stalk people," Teto casually says, "you know, just normal, everyday stuff."

"I'm...barely alive…" Oliver grunts as he starts crawling towards the stairs.

"Where do you think you're going? I've still got a list of things to do!" Teto yells, waving her "Teto Plan Book" around. She grabs his foot and starts dragging him outside.

"Len! Rin! Help me!" Oliver yells and Teto shoots the two a look, making them freeze in their spots.

"Sorry Oliver," Len and Rin sheepishly say and hear Oliver yell in agony outside once more.

"Well…that was odd," Rin says after several minutes pass by.

"It's Teto, what do you expect?" Len groans.

"I HEARD THAT!"

Len and Rin shiver as they hear Teto's yelling continue outside.

"AND YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS, LEN! NOW SHUT UP AND GET A HINT ALREADY! YOU TOO, RIN!"

"Get a hint?" Rin asks, confused.

"AND NAME THE KID AFTER ME!"

"S-Shut up already, Teto!" Len yells as Rin's face grows red in an instant.

"What is with all the yelling out here?" Rin's father yells as he pokes his head out.

"JUST A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION MR. KAGAMINE!"

"Oh! Well, this is kinda fun!" he shouts back to Teto.

"I KNOW! YOU SHOULD TRY THIS MORE OFTEN!"

"I will!"

"My father is such an idiot," Rin groans as she facepalms herself.


After School~~~

Monday

"Where are you dragging me Teto?" Rin yells, trying to catch up with the redhead's speed.

"We're going to the auditorium, duh!" Teto yells back as if it was obvious. Teto stops at the doors and pushes them open to reveal a group of kids there talking and signing a piece of paper.

"What is all of this?" Rin asks, nervously biting her lip.

"Wow, I didn't really think you were trying out, Rin."

Teto and Rin turn back to see Neru and Miku enter the auditorium. Miku's eyes look Rin up and down and she rolls her eyes.

"Have fun trying," Miku laughs as she walks by them. Teto growls at Neru as she passes and Neru just looks away.

"Why am I here? What am I trying out for?" Rin asks as Teto leads her to the stage.

"Why, only the lead role of the play of course~!" Teto sings and points to her name. "See?"

"I-I never signed up!" Rin yells and grabs Teto's shoulders. "Teto, what did you do?"

"Don't worry, I signed Len up for the prince already."

"Eh?"

"Okay, so what are we doing here Oliver?"

"Just come along," Oliver says and brings him over to Rin and Teto.

"Good job Oliver!" Teto says and gives him a thumbs up.

"What am I doing here?" Len asks, boring his eyes at Teto's face.

"That's what I'd like to know as well," Rin says and Teto laughs.

"I signed you both up for the play! The auditions are this afternoon, so I hope you're ready!"

"A-auditions?" Rin asks. "But I don't know any lines!"

"Chillax," Teto reassures. "The theatre director will soon come and hand everyone applying for a role a different paper according to what part you're trying out for. You have a few minutes to look it over and you can go onstage and recite the lines with the paper, so you don't have to memorize it. But remember not to keep the paper too close to your face."

"But… I don't want to try out for the play." Rin frowns and looks at the big and empty stage.

"Miku's trying to be the main role. Don't you want to show her up?"

"I'm not that kind of girl Teto," Rin says. "I won't do this all out of spite. I know who I am and I don't feel the need to prove myself to her."

"Deep words Kagamine, deep," Teto says and dramatically places her hand over her heart.

"Come on, it won't hurt to try," Len says and Oliver looks at him oddly.

"You're actually going to try?"

"Sure," Len says and shrugs. "It seems like it'll be fun."

Teto nudges Rin and motions to Len. "What do you say?"

Rin looks at Len with surprise. She never took Len to actually take school things like this seriously. She sighs and smiles at them.

"Sure, I'll try my best."

"Then that settles it!" Teto yells and climbs onto the stage. She raises her right arm and sweeps it across the group of people. "All of you need to watch your backs because SHIT JUST GOT REAL!"


Yay! This chapter was really fun to write ^-^ I hope you all like it too~ Now to listen to "Never" by Len and Rin Kagamine.

Edit: Deleted the reviews. But at least this chapter is done! :D And no, I am so not listening to "Spice" by Len... *hides face*

Whoa, I never thought this would become such a liked story :O Anyways, thanks for reading and sticking with this for so long. I mean, we're already on chapter 25 here~ Review if you'd like down below. Bye bye~!