Chapter 45: Now is the Time to Plot
Hello again, everyone! A chapter of just before the trip for the juniors (you'll learn as you read)! Tomorrow's my birthday, so the chances of me uploading that big chapter of the two-day event aren't too big, but oh well, please enjoy this chapter ^_^
Rin's House~~~
Rin's POV
There.
I said it.
Luka scratches her head and pauses to answer. "Well, I guess that would be a little weird."
"Eh?"
Okay hold on a bit, and rewind.
"Why would that be weird?" I ask, raising my eyebrows. Weird because you don't like him, weird because he's never said anything about it...?
"Well, I guess to explain it-" At just that moment, Luka's phone decides to go off, playing the piano version of "Double Lariat". Her hand swipes over the sheets to get it.
"Ah, it's Lulu. I think she wants me to come home."
But we didn't even get to talk much! And- and-
"It's okay, I understand," I lie and stand up from my spot. I grab my own phone too, only to find a couple messages from Len.
I set it back down and look at her, sighing. "I guess it's a relief that he doesn't like you like that, huh?"
"Well, it's not like I would mind if he ever told me something like this," Luka replies, looking like she's trying hard on how to word her sentence.
Damn it, just give me a straight answer, woman!
She laughs at the thought. "Besides, he likes Gumi, so don't be silly."
"Yeah, yeah. He likes Gumi, of course."
"Oh yeah, I never asked- why did you two break up?"
Actually, you did ask, but you can't remember the bullshit answer I gave you.
"Oh, just differences between us, haha," I play off, waving my hand in dismissal. "It was just one of those just-for-fun relationships anyways."
Luka nods and grabs her stuff as we walk out of my room. "You two looked cute together though."
I force myself to laugh and open the door for her. We say our goodbyes and she's out the door and walking back to her house.
Ah, I think that talk did more harm to me than help.
The Next Morning~~~
Mrs. Megurine begins writing on the chalk board, large enough for everyone to see.
"This weekend there will be a two day student activity where all of the junior class will head over to camp and do trust bonding exercises."
She sets down the chalk and dusts her hands off.
"Or at least, that's what the principal calls it," she says and turns back to face us. "But don't think that I don't know that some of you will try something. After all, it is in a forest area. But there will be supervisors watching you for every event, so don't pull anything fishy."
She looks over at a couple snickering boys. "No pranks," she orders and begins counting down the rest of the rules.
"Couples will remain visible at all times.
Don't attract unneeded attention from the opposite sex.
Always travel in groups of four.
No spaghetti straps, short shorts, or low cut shirts. Absolutely no cleavage."
Psh, like I have any to show.
"Curfew will be at 10:30. Do not sneak out unless you want to cause trouble for the entire camp. We can send you back home at your parent's inconvenience.
There are also the basic forest rules, like don't eat anything that looks suspicious, leave the animals alone, etc..."
Mrs. Megurine kinda sounds tired saying all these things with a drag in her voice.
"Be on your best behavior and don't cuss or say inappropriate things. This is supposed to be an educational trip, not free-time."
And with that, the bell rings to dismiss us. Everyone starts fumbling with their things, standing up and waiting for friends. Out of habit, I look over to Miku, who is neatly putting her things away.
I wonder, will she be coming too? Lately, she's been kinda... odd. Did Len and Miku ever officially break up? Or did something bad happen between the two?
She must have noticed me staring because she looks up and blankly stares at me. No glare, nothing. Just two dull teal eyes staring right back at me.
Somehow, that unnerves me.
I quickly turn around and shuffle over to Len, who's rubbing his eyes. Oh gosh, don't tell me he fell asleep in class again.
"You know you're supposed to fall asleep at night, right?" I say with an annoyed tone, poking his forehead.
Len just yawns and waves my hand away.
"What time did you go to sleep anyways?"
"About two or something..."
"Why so late?"
His arms stretch out as he yawns again. "I keep hearing some weird noises in the vents or something. And it's kinda creepy."
"You're right, that is kinda creepy," I say as I hear Galaco yelling out Oliver's name in the background.
"Ollie! Wanna go get some ice-cream with me?"
"Maybe I need my Rinny there to help me sleep," Len mutters, pulling back his arms and grabbing my waist as my face heats up.
"W-what are you talking about? You can't speed things up like t-that!"
Len smirks. "I just meant to snuggle or something. But if you're thinking of that..."
"I-idiot!" I yell and smack his hand away. Len just laughs and stands up, adjusting the straps on his backpack. Geez, he's always so stupid.
"Come on, let's walk home."
"Yeah yeah, I'm going."
Just before we leave the room, I look over at Gumi, who's reading a small pink Post-it. She looks up at me and I nod back, finally walking out of the room.
Good, she got the note.
Just Outside the School~~~
Normal POV
"Ollie! Ollie, just listen to me!"
"Galaco, I have a date with my girlfriend!" Oliver yells, trying to pull away from Galaco.
Galaco is holding on to his jacket, and Neru is holding on to his left arm.
"Back off, freak!" Neru angrily spits out.
"Y-you're causing a scene, G-Galaco," Oliver tries to calmly say but his voice breaks at the eyes of everyone watching them.
"How could you just treat me like this after all we've been through? Your childhood friend comes over and wants to hang out with you and you won't even talk to her!"
Teto pulls Gumi and Miki to a stop, holding the pink Post-it note in her right hand.
"A scandal?" she asks, excited.
"Apparently," Miki says, undisturbed.
"Oh dear," Gumi says, worried.
"Who's this freak anyways?" Neru asks, successfully pulling Oliver a bit farther away and stepping back. "Are you seeing someone behind my back?"
"N-no!"
"Well then?"
Oliver looks back at Galaco and then at Neru. "I honestly don't know her and have never seen her in my life! She-she's just some weird stalker!"
Galaco drops her hold on Oliver's jacket.
"Really? Just a 'weird stalker'?"
Oliver stutters with his words. "J-just leave me alone, freak!"
"Whoa, things just got sentimental," Teto mutters, pulling out her phone to text IA. She pulls Miki and Gumi along, trying to avoid Neru's glare.
Galaco's face falls to a frown as she looks up at him. She begins to sniffle and rub her eyes.
"H-how could you say that- say that to me?"
Before Oliver has the chance to say anything else, Neru pulls him away, beginning to walk off elsewhere.
'Galaco now marked as a stalker,' Teto texts IA, looking back at the crowd of people who are whispering and staring at Galaco.
"I'll make you change back to how you were before, Oliver! I-I promise it!"
But he can't hear her anymore.
Some Random Ice-Cream Shop~~~
Miki's POV
"It's like it came straight out of a shoujo manga or something," Teto mutters, licking her spoon full of gingerbread flavored ice-cream. "By the way, Gumi, have you finished that manga I gave you?"
Poor Gumi turns bright red and begins coughing. "T-Teto, that manga h-has ecchi and yuri!"
"So?"
Gumi cools herself with a spoonful of ultimate carrot cake ice-cream.
"Sorry, but I don't like those kinds of things," Gumi says, making Teto groan.
"But yuri is the best! Ugh, no one understands me but my Internet friends!"
Hm, I'm not sure if I should bring him up during her random negative moment.
Teto's head snaps up. "I sense Miki's eyes boring into me."
Gumi looks over at me as well.
"It's not really anything big, I suppose," I say, then remind myself to get to the point. "But do you happen to know anything about Piko? You know, the one in our class?"
"Ah, I thought he would be on your mind recently," Teto says, pulling out her "Plan Book" as I roll my eyes. "Let's see, what about Piko?"
"Well, he was distant with me at the New Year's Eve Party, but now he's trying to talk to me again and it's kinda awkward..."
"Oh, he could be playing hard to get," Gumi pipes in, wanting to give advice too. Unfortunately, Gumi is not good with advice.
"Piko, playing hard to get?" Teto laughs and shifts through her little notebook. "That's as probably as Miki playing hard to get. And Miki's very straight to the point."
"Oh yeah, I remember when she turned down Leon in sixth grade. That was pretty hilarious."
I looked at the bear in front of my desk. It was obvious who gave it to me. I mean, I may just be a sixth grader, but I could sense Leon's awkwardness from a mile away.
"Leon, what is this doing here?" I asked while girls were giggling about who it could be. You know, a normal girl would have blushed at the gift and wondered who would be so sweet to do this. Then the guy would "cooly" ask her out and after blushing a lot more, she'd agree. Yeah, cut the romantic crap, I just wanted to get this over with.
"Eh? Oh I, I don't know! But it's a really sweet gesture!"
"I suppose," I replied. "Now, Leon-"
"Okay, it was me!"
Idiot.
I could sense Lola's eyes on me. She was expecting a teddy bear from him, no doubt.
"In fact, Miki, I-I really like you, and I want you to be my girlfriend!"
By now, all the girls were clapping and cheering on Leon's impulsive speech.
"I promise to love you forever and ever!"
"Ah , now that I remember it, it was kinda funny, but you were really harsh on him," Gumi says, scooping up some more ice-cream as Teto nods.
"For starters, those are complete lies. You and I have barely shared a two minute conversation and even then it's just polite small talk. There is no way that you love me, or even understand what love means," I quickly retorted, crossing my arms. "Secondly, I refuse. I do not see you in any type of romantic light."
I grabbed my satchel and placed it over my head and shoulder.
"Now if you will excuse me, I will be heading off home. Have a nice Valentine's Day, Leon."
Damn, for a sixth grader, I was a bitch.
Hopefully if something like that ever happens again I'm a lot more kind to the other person.
"I heard the poor guy cried," Teto says, looking at Leon's little folder of information. "But shortly after, he went out with Lola and they've been together ever since."
"Anyways, what about Piko?" I ask, not wanting to go off into a tangent.
"Yep, typical blunt Miki," Teto says and flips back to hopefully Piko's page. "Strange, I don't have much on him. I just know he lives with his mother and siblings. And his mother dates around often. Oh, she's known to pick up douchebags. Let's see... he walks to school and walks back home alone, and he's rarely seen outside of his house except for a few events. A loner of sorts."
Geez, when she says it so factual like that it makes him sound pathetic.
"Are you still worrying over what he said?" Gumi asks, watching me poke my ice-cream.
"Of course, what kind of girl wouldn't be?" I say rather harshly. Oops, I don't mean to be mean to her, just to Piko. But Gumi understands enough after being with me for so often.
"Talk with him again. Maybe he'll clear something up," Teto suggests as she writes something down.
"What are you writing down now?" Gumi asks, scooting over and looking at the notebook. "Hey, what's with all these scribbles?"
"I write in a secret language just in case this baby ever gets lost." Teto laughs and closes the book. "Anyways, you guys have any plans for that trip all the juniors are taking?"
"Shouldn't we be asking you that?" Gumi laughs as I just smile and nod.
I've never really liked things like this, but I suppose I'll try and have fun on this trip.
We all know Teto's going to come up with some crazy schemes during the trip- maybe to push some certain people together? Or to accidentally drive some couples apart?
I'll talk about everyone in the next chapter, so don't worry if your favorite character or such has been ignored XD
If you would like to review, you can always do so down below, and thank you for reading this chapter of "Meltdown"! Bye bye~!
