The next day was Friday.
As Haku walked through the school gates, she ignored the way the other girls turned their backs to her and jogged over to Luo, who was smiling and waiting for her.
"Hi!" Haku called.
"Hi," Luo responded. "excited for tonight?"
"Yes!" Haku could barely contain herself. Luo and Gongyu had invited her to stay at their house for the weekend. She had been delighted, her father even more so when his daughter asked him for permission. Aunt Meiko had been there when it happened and she, a little boldly, said "Haku's found herself a friend, finally!" and then smiled widely with her lips covered in a thick coating of the off-brand red lipstick she always wore.
The bell rang for first period. Haku barely avoided being reprimanded for being late because she had to find the best way to fit her overnight bag in her locker and still be able to close the door.
She and Luo sat at the same table and listened to the teacher drone on about acids and bases and pH whatevers. Sometime during the lesson she got the feeling that someone was staring.
She turned around to find that Gumi was staring longingly at Luo's back. She was twisting several forest-green strands of hair around her finger and had one hand supporting her chin in an almost seductive pose.
When she noticed Haku watching her, she glared and stuck out her chin in a "what are you looking at?" manner.
Haku hunched her shoulders a little and turned her attention back to her workbook.
It took Haku the next period and a lunch break for her to realise that what happened in Science wasn't just a one-off; Gumi was following them around and ogling at Luo, who had noticed by then too.
"It's starting to creep me out," Luo said over lunch, "I'm going to see what her deal is." She stood up and walked over to the next table.
"Gumi?"
The green-haired girl stopped absentmindedly fiddling with her steampunk goggles and looked up.
"I'd like to know why you keep staring at me."
Gumi giggled nervously. "What?"
"You keep staring at me. Stop it, please."
"I-I'm not s-staring," Gumi began to go red. She resumed messing with her goggles.
Luo sighed, annoyed. "Please, just stop. It really is starting to get creepy." She went back to her own table and sat down.
"I think she has a crush on me," Luo said with the corners of her lips turning up in an amused smile.
"I think so too. Did you see the way her face went all red?" Haku giggled.
"Wait til she finds out I'm not a lesbian."
Haku burst out laughing and Miku turned and yelled, "yeah yeah, you're a fuckin' riot now can you shut up and let decent people eat in peace?"
"She thinks she's decent but can't even say please?" Luo said in a low voice.
Haku didn't know why she found it so hilarious but she continued laughing, only stopping when Miku threw a half-eaten apple at her head.
After the end of school bell had sounded, Haku and Luo were on their way to Squatter's Lane. It was a beautiful afternoon. The sky was clear, the air was crisp. The sun was warm and bright. It shone over Luo's house as if it were a gateway to heaven.
When they entered, Gongyu wasn't there.
"She just texted to say that she's had to cover someone at work. She'll be back soon." Luo explained. "I'll go set up the extra mattress."
"Do you need any help?" Haku asked.
"No, I'll be fine. But there's some leftover pudding in the fridge. You can hear that up for us. I'll be down in a minute." Luo then disappeared upstairs.
Haku found the pudding in a microwave container in the fridge. She took off the lid and sniffed the contents. Chocolate. She placed it in the fridge and set it on high for thirty seconds.
As she did so, she heard a knock at the door. Haku ran into the hallway. "I'll get it!" She called up.
She pulled open the door, thinking it was Gongyu and her face dropped when she saw that it wasn't Gongyu who was standing there, but Gumi.
A/N: I just want to say that I'll be changing this story's rating to M next chapter...yeah