AN: ur probably wondering why i'm updating so early. well, here's my excuse (omg, i can't belive i have to have an excuse for updating so early. will you ever forgive me! lol, jking of course) Well, you see the weather is kinda crumy and it's way to cold to go to the beach yet. sigh... so yeah, i've pretty much been stuck at home for the past few days. i've been typing stuff up to ease the bordem. without further delay here's my update

Sweet Sixteen chapter 7

The rest of the day crawled by painfully slow for Hitomi and Van. They spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around, idly watching television. After they'd finished shopping, Allen offered to walk Hitomi and Yukari home. Van had put a quick end to that by calmly stating that there was no need for him to do so since he was going that way anyways. Secretly, Van just didn't like the way Allen was looking at Hitomi. He sincerely felt that it was his responsibility to protect her from all the perverts and playboys. Unfortunately for Allen, Van had already branded him a playboy and rightly so because…well he was a playboy. So, the two groups went their separate ways after Allen practically begged for Hitomi's number, which she gave him. Van clamped his fists into a tight ball and gritted his teeth, but he didn't say a word.

"Van, your mom just called. You can go home if you want to." Mrs Kanzaki called from downstairs.

Hitomi sighed. "Well, I guess I'll see you at school on Monday." She half mumbled into the pillow she was clutching to in boredom.

Van reached up into a stretch. "Who said I was going? There's nothing for me to do at home anyways." His mouth contorted into a yawn.

"So you're spending another night here? Oh, woe is me! I have to endure your presence for yet another day." She uncurled herself across the sofa as she pretended to faint.

"Hey, I've been good. I even watched Merle and Seth for you while you shopped your heart out with Yukari." To punctuate his sentence, Van poked Hitomi's stomach playfully. As a result, Hitomi's pillow rose up to meet his head.

"Keep your hands to yourself, pally." Hitomi gruffly warned.

"Spaz…" He mumbled.

"I heard that, Van!" To Hitomi, that deserved another squishy pillow smack. A sentence she carried out gladly.

"Okay, Okay! Would you cut that out? I'm trying to watch T.V here." He grabbed the pillow from her clutches and stashed it neatly behind the sofa. Least she get a hold of it again. Hitomi huffed with displeasure but she didn't utter a word. The house became silent minus the blaring television and the odd yells of triumph coming from the basement. Seth and Merle pooled their meagre allowances together to buy a game at Future Shop they'd been drooling over.

"Hitomi dear, phone." Mrs Kanzaki walked upstairs in search of her daughter. Hitomi sprung off the couch in order to meet her.

"Thanks mom." She accepted the phone from her and made her way back to the sofa.

"Let me guess, it's Allen right?" Van didn't look very pleased.

Hitomi shrugged. "She didn't say."

"Hello?"

"Oh, hey Yukari." Hitomi said cheerfully. Van visibly relaxed, letting go of a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"So, what's up?" Hitomi bounced back down on the sofa again. On the other end of the line, Yukari was talking way to fast for comprehension combined with extreme loudness.

It was ear-numbing enough that the very perplexed Hitomi had to hold the phone quite a ways away from her ear. She shared a confused glance with Van before going back to the phone.

"Wow, my ear hurts. Okay Yukari, settle down. Repeat that again but this time make it a tad bit slower and a little less loud."

Yukari took a deep breath in and started over again. "Uhuh, yeah. A note you say? What did it say?" Hitomi leaned back into the sofa and concentrated on slowly taking in what Yukari was saying. For a few moments, Van could of mistaken her for a statue, unblinking and unmoving.

"A note from a secret admirer! Get out! Are you serious? I wonder who it's from…" She began to pace the room in a hectic fashion. Hitomi was just bursting with happiness for Yukari. Van was becoming dizzy just watching her walk back and forth. Eventually, Hitomi's little pacing excursion lead her down the hall and into her bedroom.

Van sighed, rolling his eyes. Yet another lengthy girlfriend to girlfriend talk. Doesn't surprise me in the least. Could have been worse…Allen could of called…What was this feeling circulating through him? Could it be jealousy? Van felt his heartbeat become faster, more erratic. No, I'm not jealous…I'm just worried about her. I mean, I should be right? I've known her since well…forever.

Ding dong…The doorbell rang cleanly through the air. Van straightened up from his slouch in semi-alarm. Who could that be?

"Hitomi could you get the door please. I'm to lazy to get up." Mrs Kanzaki yelled from the basement. Van heard Hitomi groan from down the hall.

"I'm in the middle of an important phone call. Van, could you get it for me please?"

"Sure, I've got it." Van jumped up off the couch and hurried to the door.

"Thanks a bunch."

"No problem." Van slowly turned the brass knob, opening the door with a click. He was very unprepared for what he was about to encounter.

"Is Hitomi around?" Allen Schezar coyly asked, grinning from ear to ear. Van jumped in shock. Calming down he gave Allen an intensely flat stare.

"What do you want?" Van's eyes narrowed with detest.

"To see Hitomi. Is she around?" Allen smiled brightly and tried looking around Van for her. Van naturally, blocked his way.

So this is the kind of game your playing Schezar. You don't phone her but instead come straight to her door. You're a crafty one aren't you? Well two can play at that game…

"She's not home." Van stated blankly.

"Oh, well where is she then? I'd like to talk to her, you know one-on-one." Allen looked thoroughly confused. "I could of swore she'd said that she'd be home." He wondered out loud.

"She's not home…" Van stated again this time with a venomous look. Allen laughed nervously.

"Okay then…I guess I'll just talk to her tomorrow or at school or something. Well, I'll see you later. Bye then." He started down the stairs almost desperate to get away from this very moody Van.

"Just a second there Schezar…" Van started holding onto the door with a vice-like grip.

"Yeah?" Allen turned sharply, causing his long golden locks to ripple.

"I'm watching you…" Van growled like an over-protective father.

"What!" Allen was starting to become frightened for his life. Van's gaze was so sharp and piercing. Allen gulped.

"You heard me…" Van practically snarled. "You may go now…Just remember what I said, Comprende? Oh, and by the way…Stay away from Hitomi." His stance was even menacing like he was ready to kick Allen's ass if he said anything different.

"Ummmm sure?" Allen squeaked as he slowly backed away. Van was really freaking him out. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Allen broke out into an odd sort of jog. Van laughed quietly to himself. Score one: Van…Allen: zero. He walked casually back inside and plopped himself back onto the couch. Unconsciously, Van started grinning like a content tiger. He felt very proud of himself.

"So who was at the door?" Hitomi inquired with a blissful smile stretching across her lips.

"Just an annoying salesman…That's all." Van said with a straight and very convincingly honest face.

"Oh good. I always hate answering the door when I know there's a salesman standing outside my door. To tell you the truth, I was kinda hoping it would be Allen. Strange, wouldn't you say? He's been awfully nice to me lately. I wouldn't mind spending some time with him." She mused, as she sat down beside him.

Van smirked. "Well if Allen was the one at the door, I would of told him off. He's such a well…A heart breaker. I don't want you getting involved with all of that."

Hitomi gasped. "You so would not tell him off! You wouldn't have the guts to and besides if he wants to ask me out on a date, I'll gladly accept. He's really cute" She blushed. "I can take care of my own so you shouldn't have to worry about me."

Van barked a laugh. "What about Amano? Don't you still like him? He's a pretty decent guy. Why don't you just ask him out? I'm serious this time."

Hitomi giggled. "Well then, why don't you just go ask him out? You seem pretty interested him.." Van's stare did not look amused.

"Hitomi…I'm serious! You're too good for Allen. He's too much of a player."

She looked at him for a moment, too stunned for words. Hitomi gave him a questioning glance. "When did you get so protective of me?" She teased.

"Ever since Allen showed up at your doorstep." He grumbled. Hitomi's eyebrow rose, inclining at an angle. "Figuratively not literally, Hitomi."

"You are worried about me then aren't you?" She spoke softly.

"Well, duh!" He blew his ink-black hair out of his eyes.

"That's so sweet of you!" She exclaimed as she dove into his chest in a big bear hug. Van gasped for air as he blushed. She was squeezing him too tightly for comfort.

"Losing…Air…" He gasped between breaths.

"Oh, sorry…" She loosened her hold on the poor boy. "I'm just surprised, that's all. I didn't know that you cared about my well-being so much." She confessed, still clinging to him.

"Well, I do. Is there anything wrong with that?" His cheeks were positively flushed. "Are you going to let go now?"

"What if I don't want to?" She said jokingly. Van tried wiggling out of her grasp but to no avail.

"Hitomi, let go!"

"No."

"Hitomi…" Van froze. It was too horrible for him for words. Merle stood at the entrance way of the living room, an inch away from crawling on the floor with laughter.

"Red lobster suits you, Van." Merle was referring to the nice red hue Van's face was turning. Hitomi broke the hug off and shot up to see who was speaking.

"It's not what you think!" Van blurted to his sister, making the situation worse. Meanwhile, Merle was too busy laughing. After taking a good look at his red face, Hitomi laughed along with her.

"What's so funny now?" Mrs Kanzaki came up stairs to see what was going on. She looked at the two teen-aged girls roaring with laughter and the red-cheeked boy. Shaking her head fondly, she came to a concluding statement. "Okay, scratch that…I don't want to know." She sighed and headed back downstairs.

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Mornings always came early for Hitomi. Especially Monday mornings. Waking up at 6am early. She didn't mind though since it was for track. Actually she thoroughly enjoyed doing track this early. It was peacefully, calming, and she could forget everything for a few moments and focus on one thing; Running. A great start to her day.

The scenery wasn't too shabby either. Purple hued clouds mixed with the dull grey-blue of the parking lot contrasted with the deep burgundy red of the running track. Hitomi smiled as she bent over to tie her shoelace.

"Hitomi hurry up! I have to meet mystery boy before practice remember?" Hitomi noticed that Yukari seemed very excitable of late.

"Okay, Yukari." She laughed. "Maybe I should go wait by the bleachers."

"No, don't be silly. You probably want to meet him too, don't you? Come on, I know you do. So would you just hurry up?" Yukari sighed in exasperation as she practically dragged Hitomi away. "He wanted me to meet him by the big willow just over there." She pointed across the field with glee.

"Yeah, I know Yukari. You told me all about it over the phone." Hitomi let Yukari drag her along. She figured that Yukari needed to get rid of this excess energy somehow. They waited by the willow for at least ten minutes. Yukari was twitching with anxiousness. Hitomi was becoming anxious just watching her. Footsteps crunched against cold October grass. Their heads swivelled towards the noise.

"Did I keep you waiting long, Yukari?"

"Amano?" Together, their mouths and eyes went wide.

AN: i know, a cliff but more will becoming soon so don't worry. COOKIES TO ALL WHO REVIEW! well not real cookies but i would give you real ones if i could. lol, i hope this chapter is a nice subsitute...thanks to all who reviewed already. thanks so much, reviews really make me happy. you guys all get cookies too. WITH icecream...lol...not real icecream, mind u...would if i could. :)