Mental Notes # 13

I think I have an attraction to pain

I'm a car with a faulty steer.

Everytime I believe I'm in the lane

Into incoming traffic I always veer.

Stormchaser Day 1: Noon

Truth be told, Eddy really didn't know why he was sent to Japan to live with his Uncle. All the events that lead him, Ed, and Edd to his brother's trailer were kept a secret by the rest of the neighborhood as far as he knew. Johnny 2x4 was mad but he also wasn't a rat, Kevin made sure of that anyway. Eddy can't let those thoughts ruin his new life. Even though now it is now in a boiler room turning hot, humid, and boring as sin.

"Eddy quit spacing out, you're making me look good heh," Obe said poking Eddy's left cheek.

"Don't touch my face," Eddy reeled annoyed. He wiped the sweat from his forehead his his arm."Can't we turn on a fan or something? I'll turn into pottery in this place."

"Exposed wire, metal tubes, and a boy made of water and meat," Obe replied attempting to poke Eddy again on the latter which was met by a swat. "I told you to get a water bottle yesterday."

"No you didn't," Eddy fumed adding more heat to the room.

"I have a flask in the tools that I use for vermin cleaning jobs you can use," Obe smiled sheeply realizing his mistake.

"Why do you have a flask- never mind I don't really want to know," Eddy dropped the subject and left the room. He took note of the water fountain, and went to get the box. Due to Obe's natural order of obtuse rationality, Eddy found the box outside the building. Far away from where it would actually be useful. Fortunately unlike the suffocating intensity of the boiler, the air outside was bright and sunny with a soft cooling breeze. Knowing that he may lose a few pounds of water weight when all said and done, Eddy didn't see any harm in soaking in the breeze as long as he can. He sat down on the step leading to the entrance and just looked up at soft fluffs of white in the pale infinite. The mixture of everything in that moment filled him with an odd feeling of bliss. This sense of happiness lasted about 3-4 minutes.

"Enjoying yourself?" A deep harsh voice pulled Eddy out of his solitude. He looked to the source and saw an imposing giant of a man with short white hair, silver smoldering eyes, and teeth that looked like they could chew through a chain link fence. Before Eddy could react the man closed the gap, and hoisted him up by his collar like a doll. "I don't run a construction business for a snot nosed Gaijin to laze around on my time!"

"I just sat down for a minute," Eddy gasped. "What's your problem?"

"Whoever let you in is getting triple shifts," The man growled.

"Ino-hene!" Obe shouted. "Put him down! What's the meaning of this?!"

"Just policing the rules because apparently no one else does! No kids in the construction area! It's not safe," The man nicknamed Ino-hene switched gears in his tirade when a faint melody wafted over the courtyard. It was almost unnoticed in the chaos of construction. "And will someone silence whoever is playing that damn piano?! So help me God I will find them and tear them apart with my bare hands if it keeps up!" The man dropped Eddy to the ground where he landed on his back.

"You alright Eddy?" Obe asked as Eddy scrambled back to his feet.

"Who the hell you calling a kid?" Eddy seethed wanting to breathe steam through his nose. To prevent a dust-up, Obe stood between the dueling factions with a shaky grin.

"My sincerest apologies Ino, I forgot to add my nephew to the registry before I began," Obe conceded with a curt bow. "I was excited by the prospect of working with him that I wasn't thinking right."

"Your forgetfulness will get you killed one day McGee," Ino's eyes softened. Eddy was still fuming.

"That a threat old man?!" Eddy needled.

"I don't make threats. I act on them," Ino retorted stepping forward.

Obe started to sweat as panic filled his heart. "Wa-wa-wa-wait a minute, time out, time out!" He pulled Eddy aside with a swoop.

"You're just letting him walk over ya?" Eddy whispered his face red.

"He is literally fucking crazy right now, I would take this as an opportunity to meet new people," Obe shook like a leaf.

"What?" Eddy's color cooled down.

"Hey Ino~ my nephew volunteered to help you stop your piano problem!" Obe faced back to the gorilla and gave a wave for emphasis.

"Did he now?" Ino snorted cracking his hands.

"Are you serious? I didn't sign up to be an errand boy," Eddy whispered.

"After that, leave or sign the register," Ino commanded leaving the two sweating engineers. "Building 2 level 3 hallway."

And so Eddy went off to find the mysterious pianist. "Picking battles is what sets us apart from the animals, what a load of croc," Eddy grumbled as he ascended the the stairs in Building 2. Just like where he was stationed the air was humid and stale. "I'd like to show that Ino guy some picking battles that's for god damn sure."

The music was louder now so at least he wasn't going in circles. The rooms were what one would expect in a high school setting: desks, boards, windows, the fear of failure, and built in closets. Eddy caught sunlight coming in from the room at the end of the hallway so Eddy ignored the rest. Eddy poked his head into the door and saw a wall of clear glass overlooking the skyline. Eddy whistled in awe at the schools budget. He looked around the room, pool table, ping pong, coffee table and chairs in front of a flat screen television and the source of the music: a large white grand piano with a girl at the keys. The girl was 5'7 with an athletic build and long chestnut brown hair that was half going before her ears and the rest pulled into a ponytail by a white and blue ribbon at the top. She was deeply focused on a black composite notebook resting on top of the keys. She was in the middle of making small adjustments when the utility worker approached. With just a glance at the girl, Eddy felt intimidated. She had a stare that seemed able to build him up, and tear him down at the same time. Before he noticed her emerald eyes meeting his cobalt, he had a blush in his cheeks.

"Hello, do you want a turn?" The girl spoke with a smile as her eyes glowing in the sunlight. Eddy just stood like a statue, then with a slight shake he spoke.

"Hey uh- my boss said that if I find the source of the music that was bothering him and stop it then I can go home," Eddy spoke like he was having a stroke.

"You're working for Nejima? I wasn't expecting him to send someone so young this time," The girl laughed.

Eddy scratched the back of his head a little embarrassed. This time? Is this an ongoing thing? "Well, this is more of a part-time gig while I -uh- go to school."

"Don't mind me asking, but are you enrolled here by chance?" A shine appeared in the girl's eyes when she asked that.

"I-i will be enrolled a-after the festival," Eddy was starting to sweat. He hoped it didn't show.

"It's always refreshing to see new people for a change," The girl mused looking out the window. After a few moments she turned back. "What's your name?"

"Eddy McGee, and you are?"

"Monika," The girl bounced up out of her seat cause her skirt to bellow. Eddy noticed the knee-high socks and …thighs. "Mind if I ask you a followup question?"

"S-sure ask away," Eddy laughed nervously.

"What are your feelings about literature?" Monika asked her face beaming.

This question threw Eddy off for a bit.

"L-like books and that?" Eddy finally stammered out. "I wouldn't know, I don't really- read that much."

"That's pretty honest," Monika remarked walking from the piano. "You'd be surprised how many people would exaggerate around me."

"What can I say?" Eddy was not above getting an ego boost from time to time. "There's no use in lying."

"To answer your question, literature can be more than books: movies, music, we even have a club member who keeps manga in the clubhouse closet." Monika gave a wink.

"Is this a sales pitch?" Eddy asked with a laugh. Eddy's scam radar sounded off a bit. Monika looked like she wasn't prepared for a curve like that.

"I-I was just saying I am the president of a club that specializes in- Literature of all kinds, a-and if you have time in your part-time job maybe you would be interested in coming by for a meeting." Monika's confidence wavered slightly. This was not unnoticed. Eddy felt more calm talking to Monika but something in the back of his mind told him he shouldn't be. A scammer's eyes are powerful tools in times like this.

"I'll keep that in mind, do you have a flyer?" Eddy probed with a smile. He didn't trust her, she was too perfect, too doctored, a Venus fly trap in a tight uniform. He still had to act like he was gullible though.

"I only have my notes, but they're posted on the bulletin boards around the school," Monika pointed to the board across the room.

"Yeah I guessed I missed them," Eddy laughed.

"Sorry to leave, but I have club matters I must attend to, it's nice meeting you Eddy," Monika held out her hand.

"T-the pleasure's all mine," Eddy said grabbing her hand into a handshake. Her hand felt ice cold.

She's going to be a problem. Wait, Literature Club? Isn't that the club Boss is a part of? Eddy pushed the thought out of his head when he realized he was alone.