October 27, 2008

Okay, it's really awkward bringing a guy you barely know to school. With all your friends…so awkward.

So this morning I got up and turned on my iPod, forgetting that there was someone else in the room next to me. I ran into Daisuke on my way into the bathroom. Thankfully, I was already in my uniform.

I said "sorry" and let him take the first turn in the bathroom (I was used to sharing, I used to share with my brother till he moved to the attic). Daisuke came out looking a bit more awake, and he headed for the kitchen.

I put on my contacts and make-up. Now, I only wear make-up to impress a guy. If I haven't made it clear-yes, I have a crush on our foreign exchange student. But I'm like his student guide, I told myself, I have to look good. I lie to myself a lot. But not here. Here, I'm perfectly honest.

Anyway, so I went into the kitchen and got Daisuke a Kudo bar, and one for me. Rob came down and threw an orange at me, which I dodged.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"Your music was too loud, so I broke your iPod," he replied.

"Give it back," I replied, reaching into his pocket and taking back my iPod. He was laughing. "It's not funny. Nothing's funny this early."

"Where are your parents?" Daisuke asked me.

"Mom left an hour ago," I replied. "And Dad doesn't get up for another hour. You ready?"

"Yes," he replied.

We left in my car. I'm an okay driver, and he fell asleep on the way there. I laughed and woke him up when we got there.

"You seem extra-tired. Did you have trouble sleeping?" I asked.

"I was up late…" he replied, yawning. "I'm not used to being up so early."

"And I bet you still have jet-lag too," I smiled.

Nothing much happened after that. We went into the building, got his schedule, and went to class. I sat with him in every class, even though it made my friends a bit irritated.

"W-Why are you sitting with me?" he asked the first time I sat down.

"Well," I replied. "We're friends. And friends sit together. Also, you don't know anyone here, so you have no one to sit with. I can't stand it when someone sits alone. It makes me sad."

Let me make this clear. I told him we were friends because that's all we are. It makes no difference what I want, it's what this kid needs right now, which is a friend. So that's what I'll be.

Anyway, so school was lame, Mr. Davis telling us we were incompetent. Daisuke asked me later if he was really allowed to talk like that, and I replied, "He always does."

I did notice Daisuke eyeing my gloves. I want to tell him why I wear them, really, but I can't. Maybe one day I will…

Later today we came home and I watched Charmed. I freaked out because one of my favorite songs was in one of the episodes. That made me so happy.

Daisuke seemed sad-ish, so I asked him what was wrong.

"I guess…I'm homesick…" he replied. His eyes were very sad.

I didn't think about what exactly I was doing, I just hugged him. I hug people when they're sad, ask any of my friends.

Immediately my vision went black, and I could feel, really feel. I felt a pain that wasn't my own; it was entirely Daisuke's. I broke away quickly.

"I'm sorry…I just thought that I could…" I trailed off quickly, then left him there. I left because for some reason, when I'm sad, I drain people a little bit without touching them. I didn't want to hurt him anymore then he was already hurting.

Now I debate: what was the pain? It felt like…rejection, mostly. Worthlessness. Heartsickness. But there was a spark, a spark of…joy. I don't know where it came from.

Aaaaa! He's here now, wants to talk to me. Be back.

Daisuke knocked on Krista's door. She answered, in her nightgown.

"What is it?" she said, letting him in.

"I…need to know something," he replied, sitting on her bed.

She closed the door.

"Huh?" She said, looking confused. "What about?"

"Did you…feel what I was feeling…somehow?"

"I'll only tell you if you promise to tell me why you felt that way."

"Okay. I promise."

Daisuke looked at her. This must be the secret, the one she didn't want him to know about.

"The reason why I wear gloves isn't a fashion statement. I wear them to protect everyone. If my hands touch you, I can read emotions. When I'm happy, sometimes I can heal things. And hugs…I can hear thoughts or read emotions."

"But last night…I shocked you!"

"Yes, that's never happened before. And I heard a thought that wasn't yours…I think I must have been hearing things."

"Y-Yes."

She must have heard Dark, he thought. Wait…did Dark use his magic to shock her?

"Well, I have to go to bed now. You should too. You don't want to be tired tomorrow like you were today. Besides, being tired makes you sadder."

"Really?"
"Yeah…Goodnight, Daisuke."

"Goodnight, Kuri-san."

Daisuke went to his room.

Dark! Tell me now! Did you hurt her? He demanded.

I was afraid that she would sense me, Dark replied. And I didn't shock her. It must have been because there's two of us and that's too much for her powers to handle. All I did was tell her to stay away.

Well, as long as you didn't hurt her…Daisuke replied.

October 28, 2008

I remembered this morning that I had forgotten to ask Daisuke why he had been so sad last night. I asked him this morning in the car.

"Why were you so sad last night?" I asked. "You never told me, and you promised you would."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I forgot."

"So?" I prompted. "Why were you so sad?"

"I…my girlfriend and I broke up…" he said softly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" I said, parking the car at the school.

I was silent for a moment.

"Look, Daisuke," I said. "I felt what you were feeling last night. So I guess what I'm trying to say is…I know how bad you feel and I just wish somehow I could cheer you up."

At that point, Tiffany, one of my best friends, knocked on my window.

"Hey!" she exclaimed.

I opened the door, and Daisuke opened his.

"What were you two talking about?" Tiffany asked me.

"Nothing, Tiffany," I said warily. I wasn't about to tell someone Daisuke's problems. Not even my best friend.

After that, not much happened. We had school, which was lame. Then I came home and felt really tired.

"Are you okay?" Daisuke asked me. We were sitting on the couch watching Charmed.

"I won't get sick," I said stubbornly. "I have a party and Fright Fest this weekend. It's Halloween for goodness sake!"

"Didn't you say something to Amber about bad luck or something?"

"October is my worst month. Last year it landed me in the hospital."

His eyes got big at that comment. I didn't mean to tell him that; it just slipped out.

"It's like this," I continued. "Ever since last October, I've had bad luck every October. All October, bad things happen to me. Me and Amber call it the October Curse."

"Oh…I'm sorry," he replied.

"Well, it's kind of a joke anyway," I laughed a little. "Everything's a joke with us."

"Yeah, you guys laugh a lot."

"We're loud too, I guess." I smiled, thinking about my friends. Suddenly I thought of something. "Oh! You must be missing your friends, I'm sorry."

"Oh…it's okay," Daisuke replied. He smiled a little. "They aren't anything like your friends."

I coughed. He looked concerned. "You'd better get some rest."

"No, no," I replied. "I can't go to bed till eight. I'll have nightmares. Or be in a bad mood. Too much sleep is bad for you. I have to get exactly eight hours. Any less or more, and I'm in a bad mood. I don't know why."

"O…kay," replied Daisuke