AN: kinda short but I thought I'd post it anyways. J drop me a review and tell me what you thought
The person in front of them was indeed Amano. Short chin-length brown hair, hazel eyes, and tall athletic body. Defiantly Amano. "Amano, were you the one who sent me this?" Yukari stepped forward with a dumbfounded expression on her face with the crinkled note in her hand.
"Well ummmm yeah. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you sooner about it. It' just that I came to your house over the weekend but I couldn't summon up enough courage to talk to you. Instead I left you a note on your doorstep. I see you got it…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly in embarrassment. Yukari stared at him with unblinking eyes. "You probably hate me now…" Amano looked down at his feet.
"How could I possibly be mad at you after you thoughtfully wrote me a note saying how great you think I am? It was such a nice gesture…" Yukari's cheeks flushed prettily. Amano slowly lifted his gaze to hers and smiled confidently.
"I don't think you're great, I know you are. You're just an over-all kind and loving person and every time I talk to you I feel so…positive and happy. I would feel very honoured if you would allow me the pleasure of escorting you to Millerna's party. In short, would you be my girlfriend?" His eyes glowed with adoration for her. Yukari couldn't resist his slow shy smile curving his mouth upward.
"I'd…I'd like that." Yukari stammered, cheeks aglow. A relived smile washed over Amano's face.
Hitomi felt that her presence was clearly an invasion of privacy. Amano…She couldn't help but look sad and disappointed. She'd had her heart set on Amano since track started. Watching them exchange mutual glances of affection was tearing her apart from the inside-out.
"I should go. See you guys around." Hitomi's features became morbid. Staring down at her track shoes, she made her way across the field. Hitomi turned around to check for any sign of protest from Yukari, but found none. The happy couple were eagerly chatting away. She wondered if they even noticed her leaving at all.
I should of just said something to him. I should of let him know how I felt. It's too late now, he clearly likes Yukari. Maybe if I told Yukari earlier about my crush, things wouldn't of ended up like this…Wait, no. maybe it's for the best I didn't say anything. They do look happy together. Hitomi's green eyes coated over with a glossy sheen of unshed tears. Life can be so unfair sometimes…
She found herself sitting on the curb of the sidewalk that connected the track field to the parking lot.
"Hey, you okay Hitomi?" A concerned voice asked, speaking down on her.
Clinging to the gritty curb, Hitomi craned her neck up to look at the speaker. "Van? What the….What are you doing here? I mean it's so early…why are you up?" She stammered out, wiping her moist eyes.
Van rubbed the back of his head. "I came to watch your practice. I was up early anyways making cookies. Just wanted to stop by, I guess." Normally, Hitomi would of laughed at the thought of Van wearing his mother's pink frilly apron while making cookies but she didn't feel much like laughing now.
"Hitomi what's wrong? You don't look so good." He sat down on the curb beside her, brow wrinkled with concern.
"It's…It's nothing." Her voice wavered followed by a quivering bottom lip. Van analyzed her facial features and shook his head.
"You're a bad liar. Something's gotta be wrong." Van hurriedly went through his knapsack and brought out a brown paper bag, a large canteen, and two coffee mugs. Hitomi stared at him in wonder.
"What's all this?" She asked, plainly confused.
"Like I said before, I was up early making cookies. I knew that you had practice today so I put some cookies into this bag, made some hot cocoa, and decided to come down and watch you. This was supposed to be for after but I though that you might tell me what's bothering you over some cookies and cocoa." He looked at her sincerely as she continued to openly gape at him, eyes watering. Van poured some of the steamy sugary liquid into the coffee mugs, blind to the fact Hitomi was about to burst into water works.
"Van…" Her bottom lip wobbled violently. Out of nowhere she broke out into tears, burying her face into her hands. It wasn't quite the reaction he was expecting.
"Hitomi!" Rightfully alarmed, he almost dropped the canteen. "Please tell me what's wrong." His burgundy eyes became softer.
"It's just…Amano asked Yukari out and I wanted him to ask me out…This is so unfair." She spoke into her palms.
Van nodded calmly and added. "Let me guess, you didn't tell her about your little crush either?" Like Van predicted, Hitomi nodded, still not looking up. With a firm hand, Van gently brought her hands away form her tear-stained face, slowly placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face up to look at him eye-to-eye. "Hitomi, I'm no expert on love or dating but I do know this; There are plenty of other guys out there so keep your chin up. Crying won't do you any good, at least my mom always tells me that…"
Hitomi held in a sniffle. "You're right. Crying won't do any good…" She spoke softly.
Van smiled kindly. "You know, a cookie would make you feel much better. It might even make you smile." He chuckled and handed her one of the coffee mugs. She smiled shyly, wrapping her chilly fingers around the steaming cup.
"It's a good thing I did come today, seeing how I brought the comfort food." Van held the bag of cookies out to Hitomi. She reached out for it but he swung it out of her reach. It crinkled as it rocked back and forth.
"Not so fast Hitomi." His tone became serious. "You only get a cookie if I see a real smile from you. I don't give away cookies that easily." A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Hitomi stuck her tongue out in protest and made another grab for the bag. After a few moments of giggling as she awkwardly tried to capture the cookie bag, Van gasped mockingly.
"My, my. It that a smile I see Miss Kanzaki? How glad you have made this poor soul!" He proclaimed, throwing his hands into the air.
"Yeah, yeah. Just hand over the cookies." She said with an amused look.
Van sighed. "Fine, anything for your happiness. Just don't eat them all on me okay?" He surrendered the bag of cookies to her.
Sticking her hand happily into the bag, Hitomi pulled out a large round cookie. "Chocolate chip? My favourite!" She squealed with glee, dunking the cookie into her cocoa. "Mmmmmmmmm so good!" She said with her mouth half full.
Van grinned smugly, munching on his own cookie. "Mother's recipe. Same with the cocoa. I made it all from scratch." He seemed very pleased with himself.
Hitomi stopped in mid-bite. "From scratch? You made hot cocoa from scratch, for me?" She stopped a moment to ponder. "Okay Van, what did you do? Now's the time for a confession." She gave him a stern look.
"What! I didn't do anything!" He protested, almost dropping his cookie. In fact he did. Van whimpered in mourning at his poor cookie laying on the sidewalk. "No…No…No… it wasn't supposed to end up this way…" He murmured.
Hitomi rolled her eyes and picked the cookie up. "Five second rule, remember?"
"Heh, heh. Oh yeah, forgot about that rule…" Van rejoiced silently as Hitomi handed him the cookie.
"You didn't do all this for me because you did something….so what did you do it for then?"
"Just because, I guess." He shrugged.
"That's just it. You never do stuff "Just because" "
"Well maybe that's why I decided to start." He looked slightly flustered.
She stared at him a moment before her mouth sprouted into a small smile. "Thanks…You know, for cheering me up." She took a sip of her cocoa.
Van's face went slightly pink. "No problem."
Footsteps tapped the concrete behind them. Hitomi jerked her head around to find Amano and Yukari standing there, hands clasped together.
"Hey Hitomi, do you want to start warming up with us? The rest of the team will be here any minute." Yukari's smile mirrored Amano's.
"Sure, I'll be there in a second."
"Okay, we'll wait."
Hitomi smiled at Van. "Thanks for the cocoa and cookies." Van became stunned when she moved in to give him a light kiss. It was a quick peck and no more. You would of thought she had frenched him, judging from the look Yukari was giving her. Gathering up her stuff, she walked after Amano and Yukari.
Van sat there for a moment, blinking in amazement. She kissed me…Get a hold of yourself, Fanel. It probably didn't mean anything…She was just happy that I made her cookies. Well, I didn't make them just for her…His hand went into the bag again. Van was in a chipper mood. Hitomi thought he was the sweetest man alive, he had his cookies, and there was no Allen in sight. Yep, things couldn't get any better. Oh just wait a second, things did get a little bit better for him. Several cute long-legged girls on Hitomi's track team were walking his way. Grandly, Van held the bag out to the giggling girls and coyly asked.
"Cookies, anyone?" Now, all he had to do was keep Allen away from her all day.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love you guys! You all get cookies.