Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive
Chapter Three
Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into at the time. It wasn't because I was bored or lonely. There was just this feeling that maybe, just maybe, you would need me as much as I needed you. For me there was never the option of saying 'No'.
…
I sat across the table from Keiko at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the center of town. We were both munching on boneless wings while digging through meaningless small chat. Through all of it, however, Keiko was studying my every move with her all knowing rich brown gaze. I felt like a lab experiment, but I didn't want to see the end results.
I placed another piece of my parmesan garlic wings on the end of my fork. Keiko swallowed her bite before speaking again. "On a serious note Botan, you are not the same girl who left here three years ago, are you? I mean, really, you physically are, I get that." She rolled her eyes at her own comment. "But, what happened to you? And I don't want you to get defensive. I'm asking as your best friend, not a judgement peer."
"Where do you want me to start?" I gave a self-pitying laugh. Setting my fork down, I reached my hands up to run them through my loose blue hair. Rarely was my hair ever down anymore. When it wasn't required to have it up in a bun or ponytail for work, I made a point to leave it down.
"When you left here for school three years ago, you were so…" she paused, circling her fork in the air like it was the loading wheel on an internet browser. "Bubbly? Energetic? So full of life! You were practically ready to be friends with anyone who would talk to you. That even included becoming 'friends' with Hiei." Her tone implied she was using 'friends' lightly. Flicking her wrist, Keiko waved off the thought of any type of connection between Brandon and myself.
"Is there a question in there?" I couldn't help the snicker that came from my lips.
"It's good to hear you laugh," Keiko settled her hands on the edge of the table. "But what happened in this last year to make you so…." She took a deep breath and a second to find the right words. I wasn't used to seeing Keiko struggle with getting her point across. She's always been the most articulate person that I know. "So cut off. Hollow. It's almost like only half of you is actually here." Letting a dramatic pause hang in the air, she made sure to lock gazes. "You brought back the sadder half."
"I dumped the happier half in the quarry. The water will wash away the evidence in time," I shrugged one shoulder, lowering my gaze when I saw her eyebrows raise. She was challenging my attempt at throwing off her questions. Really, it was only a mild attempt; I knew it wouldn't have worked.
"Come on Botan," she urged.
"What happened," I swallowed the lump in throat. "A boy happened."
"What does that mean?" Keiko asked after I didn't continue right away. Looking down at the food on my fork, I felt myself drift back to the months I was with him. My muscles tightened in anticipation and my lungs felt heavy. Almost like each breath was forming concrete at the base of my lungs and dragging me down.
"I don't know if I can talk about it," I told her honestly. "It too soon for me." And to be completely real, 'too soon' meant I still had the final reminisces of a bruise on my hip. One I got a few days before I left that city. It was his final goodbye.
"But it was bad. Obviously."
"Obviously." I echoed and nodded. Setting my fork down on my still folded napkin, I looked back up at her and the concern in her eyes made me feel like my heart was beating for the first time in what felt like years. "I've been home two weeks. I left school because of him. I'd see him everywhere and it was too much. There was no escape." I had to stop talking, because I could feel the rambling start. If I let my words start now, it would only spiral out of control. She let me sit in silence while I collected my emotions. A makeshift lid was put on them and I hoped that it would hold tight. "I moved back in with my parents; in my old room."
"Wait, your dad was ok with this?" Keiko raised her eyebrows at that.
Shrugging, I said, "Well for now he is, but I'm sure I'm on a time limit. It can't be long before he starts to unwind again. I don't know what I'm going to do though. I mean, Koenma gave me a nice raise with the ASM promotion."
"Poor George," Keiko snickered about the older man who had worked there as long as I had.
"I don't think he was too upset," I smiled at the thought. "It would mean being around Koenma a lot more often and I get the feeling that he got his fill while I was at college. And not taking the job means he gets to spend more time with his family."
"Have you looked for places to live around here now that you have a decent paying wage?" Keiko asked, taking a sip of her cherry soda. My eyes followed the dark liquid as it rose through the clear straw.
Taking another deep breath, I thought about my answer. I have been doing that a lot more often the last few months. A lot of sighing and deep breathing. "I've looked, but things are kind of out of my price range."
"What about a roommate?"
Raising my brown eyebrows, I searched her facial expression which she cleverly left blank. "You and Yusuke have a spare room?"
She picked that moment to take another sip and I knew I probably wouldn't like her suggestion. "Kurama's looking for a roommate. Hiei moved out to go live in a high end studio closer to the city."
"Seriously Keiko?" I laughed, not because I thought it was funny. But because I couldn't believe she just suggested it.
"He hasn't put an ad out yet, but I promise you that he's looking for someone," Keiko quickly said. "I mean you guys obviously have met and seem to get a long-"
"I've seen him, maybe, a total of four times," I injected, but she kept going like I hadn't said a word. My mouth was hanging open in shock.
"- And I'm sure you want to move out before your dad loses his cool. Which we both know won't be long," Keiko finished and I shut my mouth tightly. "Just think about it, because I know you and I know your family. You are not going to last long living with your parents. Yeah, sure, your mom is amazing, but your dad. He will not help your situation. Nope."
"Alright," I said after a moment. "I'll talk to him if he comes in tomorrow. I'm humoring you, that's all." I shook my head in disbelief. "I can't believe you have me actually thinking about moving in with this guy."
Keiko smiled brightly, like she'd been awarded some kind of "Helped the needy' trophy. "I'm just looking out for you, hun. But on a better note...Eighty's romance movie today?" She made me smile. She knew exactly what I needed. "The Princess Bride, Romancing the Stone, Big, One Crazy Summer, Blind Date… the list goes on. When Harry Met Sally, Overboard, Better Off Dead, Say Anything, or even a little Breakfast Club. What say you?"
"I'm kinda feeling Romancing the Stone right about now," I nodded slowly along with my train of thought.
"Let's do it!" Keiko said flagging down our recently-turned-eighteen-years-old server.