The Things I Do for Love

A/N: To make a long story short, my friend Adi's life is a cliche love story. No joke. This is based off what her bf did earlier this week. No joke. So cute I could die.

. . .

My fingers strum against the counter at the Crown Arcade. She's pretty late-even for a girl who frequents detention almost as much as she frequents this arcade. With detention she should have walked through the sliding doors half an hour ago. And needless to say: she has yet to arrive.

"She's not coming today."

I look up at the sound of Motoki's voice, unable to hide my confusion. Sometimes it bugs me how he knows me so well. My fingers pause and I wait for an explanation. This has to be a good one. What did she screw up this time?

He reaches over and snatches my long-empty cup of coffee as he reaches for the coffee pot. "Ami-chan says she wasn't at school today. Apparently Usagi felt sick when she woke up this morning."

Usa-Usagi-sick? I can only imagine...

The image of her sitting miserably in her bed, sniffing all day with her little nose all red...her cheeks...flushed. Her only source of entertainment being her little brother and her cat. Certainly there hasn't been anything interesting going on in her life today. And there certainly hasn't been anything interesting in my life today. Which makes me think.

I nod once before pushing my still full coffee cup back to Motoki. "Can I get a chocolate shake to-go?"

. . .

Knocking once, I brace myself for the worst. I've never been too good with meeting anybody's parents. Ever. It took me years to get used to being with Motoki's parents. I don't know what I'm going to do if one of her parents opens the door. There's a gift bag with an oversized stuffed rabbit spilling from the top and a melty chocolate milkshake in my hands. Not exactly the best impression.

For anyone.

"Tsukino Residence." A young voice calls before the door swings open. A young boy, maybe ten, stands in front of me with his hands curled at his hips. He looks at me for a second before taking into notice what I have in grasp. "Is someone really here for my idiot sister?"

"I'm...looking for Usagi." I lick nervously at my lips. There are two options right now: A) He laughs and slams the door in my face or B) He lets me in but proceeds to get his parents. The former seems preferable right now.

The kid laughs and shakes his head. "You must be just as stupid as she is." He opens the door wider before motioning me inside. "She's sleeping on the couch just inside the living room. But be quick-our parents will be home soon."

And with that, he's gone. I watch dumbly as he escapes up the stairs before shaking it off and stepping inside. What to do. What to do. I slide my shoes off and gently close the door behind me.

My heart pounds in my chest. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Maybe I shouldn't have done this and just stayed with Motoki and pouted. I am the last thing she wants to see probably. She hates me after all. But I just couldn't resist.

I wander into the living room to find her snuggled in a big purple comforter covered in both bunnies and moons. Of course. Her bedding would this sweet. Of course. Laughing to myself, I step closer. Another step.

Nope.

This is too much. Too much. I stop myself at the little table in front of the couch and unload the milkshake and the gift bag onto its surface. As I turn away I hear the quietest murmur. If I wasn't paying attention I would not have heard it.

"Mamoru-san? Is that you?"

I swallow. "Yes."

"Stay with me."

My eyebrows jump and I turn back around to see her blue eyes looking up at me. Is she serious?

But before I can respond in the other room I hear the door swing open and new voices to fill the house.

. . .

A/N: AHHH! I should have been writing revisions on my play tonight...but...there are a lot of non-required things I could be writing! Haha.

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