If this wasn't the most detestable thing you've ever seen, then you weren't sure what it was. Groaning at your laptop, well more specifically at the images on your screen.
Pictures really.
Pictures you took, that made your eyebrow twitch with annoyance and disgust. Sitting before it, with a messy bun and red sleep shirt. Run a hand through your hair, with a heavy huff. Cheeks puffed out and deep frown dragged on your face. These pictures where...just...they where...you were so heated at, reading the time...5:47 am in the morning.
It was early, but how could you actually sleep really? When your mind wouldn't let you, it kept pricking and haunting with the horrible job you did. These pictures where just a disgrace. No wonder your professor sent what he did, in his email after you presented them to him after taking them. You had broken out in a sweat that you could have watered a flower, when he asked to see them. His face dropped then twisted with confusion, while his eyes flickered at you with questionable concern. If not disappointment that nearly sunk your soul.
You wanted to nearly cry, but didn't. Your head and eyes dropped to the side, ashamed. Slouched in your chair under his eyes. Cringed when he mildly sighed. And almost jumped out of your skin when he cleared his throat. He had every right to be this way towards you, after all he did to get you in this. It wasn't easy and he had to pull some strings. He had many other students to choose from and he choose you along with two others to be apart of this. As he said...
"You capture more than a picture. You capture essence."
Those words kept ringing in your mind, while your own criticism pounded. Rattling your mind with a headache that just wouldn't go away. What you needed to present, needed to be good...better...no..better than better. You had to bring more than you ever did. This...this whole thing could lead to so much more. Sure, you got your picture on the cover of a magazine in America, but it wasn't an impressive one. It was just the statue of liberty, anyone could take it. Even with a camera phone.
It wasn't wowing! It was just...done.
And these pictures from the race was just the same...even the ones with Haru and Asahi. Maybe only five of them came out good, even the pictures of that missile swimmer with those brown eyes. Clicking on one of them, managed to get a close up one of him, just as he came out the water for a second. Part of his face was submerged by the water, but his eyes so focused and stunning. With a driving force that swept over you, nearly gasped. Focusing more on his eyes, they where...beautiful. You had to admit that.
Feel your cheeks warm up and spread across your face. Instantly cover them with your hands. Shaking your head. Take a moment and deep breath come back without the thought of those eyes being...anyway, those brown eyes. Still staying on them, touch a finger lightly to the photo over them. It held your attention for quite some time, and flickered a memory.
Junior High, you where searching for someone. Looking throughout the school, something clung to your chest. Desperately trying to find them, find no trace of them. Not even in class, that day was...left your heart low. It wasn't the same, cause every time you lift your hanging head to look back in the corner of class where they sat, found it empty. Without Haru and Mako in the same class as you, you managed to make friends with someone new. Who kind of like you, wore it. They where you...from before. Who soon became friends with Haru and Mako, along with Asahi. Forming another swim team. The main person you talked to in class and greeted happily each day, whether it be rain or shine.
What was even better was that both your older siblings knew of each and from their time in Junior High, even at the pool where April was a junior lifeguard. They meet that way too. There was a bit of well...chemistry that bubbled between them, and like many April scared the living stuffing at them. A thought that made you laugh a bit. Their older sibling had brown eyes like them too, though they where more living and light-hearted. Freeing. Yet, oddly sharp.
Once if you could recall, they pressed the wrong button with April and she...well...she...scared many that day, it was worth in her eyes. Throwing a kickboard at their head and pinning them down with a twisted arm behind their back. Threating to take their life, which was kind of ironic considering her position. No one did a single thing, Mako and Haru well understood the result should one interfere. Asahi went white with fright and so did a few others.
Even yourself. That memory sent a shiver down your spine even now. Away from that, go back to trying to find that person. Get the news that shocked you, you rushed out of school the second the bell rang. Like a gazelle or cheetah, tears in the corner of your eyes and heart pounding. Pleading they where okay. Not even waiting for Mako or Haru, who saw you zoom right out and down the stairs. Almost twisted your ankle when you landed, but kept going. Not realizing you left your bag.
Down the street you ran, between others. Squeezing between a few, nearly stumbled when you arrived...to the hospital. Almost ran into the lobby desk, catching your breath, shout asking for them. They direct to the floor and room. You wasted no time and hurried, taking the stairs instead. Even if it was six flights. Reach it on your last breath, push further to their room. Swing the door wide open, your wide eyes lock with their surprised ones. You still remembered your lips trembling when you threw yourself on them, crying. Crying because it hurt seeing like this and because you where happy they were alright. While begging them never to scare you again like that, their older sibling was there too. Watching the scene before their brown eyes tenderly. Smirking to themselves.
So many tears ran down your eyes that day, it was that day your golden-yellow eyes locked with their brown ones. Strongly. Despite the tears still falling, firmly told them with your eyes never to...
Those eyes, you reminisce. Sit back look up at your ceiling. Notice the sun slowly rising over the area. What time was it now? Looking at the clock in the corner of your screen...it was going on 6:30.
Time sure went by fast, stretching and rolling your shoulders. Then twist a bit cracking your back just a little. Rei told you not to do it, but you didn't listen and he wasn't here. Twist to hard and get a second paralysis, falling over.
Curse his name under your breath. Sit back up, giving your lower back a rub. Reach for your phone, find a good morning text. Making you smile. Reading the time of it see it was just a few minutes ago, right before the video chat. You were so caught up in what you where doing, didn't realize you missed it. Sunk your heart.
Opening your phone about to call them back, stop realize by now they would be on their morning run to the pool. So it was best not to call. Instead respond with a 'Good morning :)'. Set your phone down. Feel your stomach growl.
Time for something to eat. Rising from your spot walk to the kitchen, with a thought in mind. Open the fridge take out what you needed, open some cabinets and take out what you needed. Turn on the stove, take down some oil. Put in two caps full. Getting the bowl, crack an egg, add two cups of flour. Some sugar...and whatever else was needed. With a large wooden spoon mix everything together. Take the bowl to the heated skillet, get a whiff hot oil. Pour in the light brown liquid. Hear it sizzle and the scent of cinnamon rise.
Pancakes sounded perfect. Leaving it, turn on another lite, this time add some milk and let it simmer. Turn back the cooking pancake, flip it over. Allow that side to cook. Turn back to the milk and add a few things, you didn't realize what it was till it was done. Stood there surprised at what it was. After making a few pancakes. Take down your blender and put in some fruit, mix it and make green smoothie. Along with some bacon, plate your breakfast. Your simple breakfast.
No eggs. Not in the mood.
Collecting your items, take out a fork and knife. Eat at the counter.
"Hmm," you thought. "not bad. Next time I'll add some nuts. Or maybe make some banana puree."
While you ate, your phone still at the coffee table buzzed a few times. But, you paid it no mind. Your mind was on what you should do, what you would present. Have displayed. What you would capture...there where so many ideas that ran through your mind. Only added pressure and took away the tasteful breakfast. Swallowing even was hard.
Humming in thought, what could you do? This was important, this wasn't elementary, junior high or high school. Those kinds of pictures wouldn't be...suitable. It had to be something wonderful that showed...showed essence. That breathed life. What where the other two going to bring?
Pondering it, set your fork aside next to your half eaten food, turn and lean back on the counter. Why was this...your phone buzzed again and again. Sighing, push off and walk back to the stove. To the pot you had still there. Taking the wood spoon stir it and lift some of it up to see what it was. Find some of it covered in a thick green custard. Taking a whiff it, realize the smell.
"Pistachio?"
Peering in, see the green stuff. You hadn't made this flavor in some time, if not years. Why did you make it now? Thinking about it, you only made this flavor really for one person. Who though?
Your mind searched and searched. Slowly it moved to the light. To be pushed aside by consumed thoughts of your project.
"Great..."you mutter, rubbing your neck. Just what you needed. It was good thing you didn't have class at this moment.
Picking up your plate in no mood to eat, throw the rest away. Though keep your smoothie, pack the pudding, and walk back to the coffee table. Stop, you needed to clear your mind. Turning away from it, walk to the bathroom for a much needed bubble bath. Unaware your phone was buzzing again and again.
Still, nothing. Nagisa sighs. Looking at his phone, Gou and Rei do the same with their phones. "Did you get her?" He asked the other two.
They shake their heads. "No. Nothing." Rei reports. "Well, did text her since this morning. Perhaps she's busy."
"Ill say." Gou tilts her head whining with a long face. "She hasn't send me any gorgeous muscle pictures."
Rei rolls his eyes at her personal sorrow. Pushes up his classes. "Well, I'm sure she'll respond soon. She's pretty good that. Unless she's focusing on schooling. We know how important that is for her. She is in college now. So-"
"So what!" Nagisa buts in, whining. "May-May is just being mean right! And after all the delicious pictures I sent her."
Both he and Gou where taking this ignoring very personal. Rei remained the only one with a clear mind. Discards their sadness. They had been trying to get in contact with May since this morning. They needed her and hoped maybe...just maybe she would consider doing it. After all she was rather good at it and Rei felt it would help out the new team greatly. Those keen eyes of hers would help. Though of course if she could get away from school for a bit, from the emails they've sent, it seem to fit around her schedule. It would work.
Also, it would be great to see her again. Nagisa and Gou both agreed to it, though the newest members of the club weren't sure who they where talking about. And when Nagisa tried to give a description of them, only made it worse. They decided to just wait and see this...May person. In person, that if she was coming to their training.
Still nothing. Sighing Rei sets his phone down. "Eventually."
Eventually Aiichiro would get a response from May, too. He sent her a message not long ago asking for her to come. Hopefully. He knew she was busy and it was a lot to ask really. But, he knew she'd come. After all, Momo to his surprise was the one who thought of the idea of her coming. She along with another person from Samezuka was invited to join them on their training camp.
Setting the phone aside, Momo appears over his shoulder. "Did she respond?" He blurts impatiently.
"Nope. Nothing yet."
Earning a huff from Momo. "Seriously? Come on, what's she doing that so important?" He whines a bit. Aiichiro tried his best not smile and laugh at his friend. And the long disappointed face he had.
It was hard to believe he couldn't stand May before, now...well...now it was different. Out of everyone Momo was the most broken up. When she went off, though he tried to hide it. Having caught him a few times crying with his plushie beetle she gave him as a gift. He tried to deny it many times but it was clear. The many times those two where at each others throats about to tear the other one apart or say something that instantly cause the other one to flare. They where some times more alike than the realized.
"She's just busy." Aiichiro tells him. "She is in college right now."
Momo rolls his eyes discarding that. "So? She keeps in contact with Rin," shrugging his shoulders. "and he's in another country. We're right here. Just a couple of hours away. Not to mention we take care of her family! Is it that hard to send a simple text!?"
He had a point. "Well, she and Rin are..." Aiichiro scratches his cheek a bit. "you see..."
Nothing he was going to say would work on Momo. Who's eyes burned furiously. "There's not reason! She has to come! We're practically family." He tosses out. Quickly turns red. "Wait I didn't mean that!"
Too late, he said it. Laughing at him now Aiichiro heard it, clear as day. His laughing only made Momo grow redder and redder. Till he screamed.
A scream that made you stop for a moment before answering a call from a certain old...flame. Now friend. "Weird..."you mutter. Arching a brow. Thinking nothing of it, answer the call. "Hey Sosuke. What?" That was a surprise, give it a thought. "Yeah, sure, I should have the time. When is it?"
Checking your calendar see it didn't affect anything, actually this would work out well. You'd be able to get some great pictures. "You know what, Sosuke, I can do it. Yeah. Thanks so much for the information. Okay, see you there."
Hanging up, you smile at the thought. This was exciting, it tingled all through your body. About to burst, picking up your phone find their number and press it with a bubbling smile. You couldn't wait to tell them, about it. Holding your breath listening to the repeated rings over and over. Get their voicemail...again. You could have left a message, but didn't. Instead opt to texting them. For the tenth time.
They hadn't responding. Normally they would respond once they finished. You knew the time they had practice and when they kind of took their break. It was around one of those times. Still nothing.
Guess...they...where...busy...
Trying not think much of it, when your mind needed to focus right now. Turn your attention, while every so often glancing at your still phone.