I know I haven't updated in a long time. You'll live. Anyway, if any of you are interested, I have a new story up. It's nothing particularly magical.
-o-o-o-o-
Eiri woke up at 11:00 am on Monday. Looking around, he found his own clothing scattered over the floor, and an empty spot beside him on the bed. Taking an involuntary sniff, he smelled sex in the air. Shuichi.
"Shit." He muttered under his breath, falling back against the pillow and heaving a sigh. There's nothing like waking up to the sun coming in softly through the half-closed blinds and remembering that last night you fucked your best friend. Your male best friend. "What the hell is wrong with me?"
He grabbed the pillow beneath his head and smashed it over his face, apparently attempting to smother himself. When that failed, Eiri stood up and walked over to his dresser. Opening the bottom left drawer, he threw on a pair of boxers and left the room to search his house. In the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the dining room, in the living room, in the spare bedroom. Nothing.
'At least we skipped the infamous awkward morning.' His thoughts were chanted in a sarcastic voice, and Eiri couldn't help but feel that he had just screwed up big time. Of course he had. He slept with Shuichi.
"Ugh." Eiri huffed as he fell heavily onto the navy blue couch where this had all begun. With his head in his hands, he silently berated himself for his actions. And that's how he spent his entire holiday: Sitting on the couch in various positions, muttering to himself and dreading the next day.
-o-o-o-o-
It was 5:00 in the morning when Ueseugi Eiri pulled up to the parking lot. He got out and walked briskly to the front doors. He had no time to waste; he had to talk to Shuichi.
Shoes tapped against the floor in a steady pace as he passed door after door. 'E135, E136…Here, E137.' The door was usually open, welcoming people in with the warm smell of coffee every morning. Now, it was closed, standing there like a block of ice. Impermeable. He knocked several times on the door, and then stood quietly in front of it. When he got no response, he knocked again. No answer. 'He's probably not here yet.' He reasoned, and leaned against the wall next classroom entrance.
By 5:30, Shuichi was still not there, and Eiri was tired of waiting. 'I'll catch him at lunch…I guess.'
He walked up to his room only to find Hanako Ruri sitting right next to the classroom. She smiled at him as soon as she saw him and stood up quickly. "Hello, Ueseugi-sensei!" She chirped, and stepped aside as he reached for his keys to open the door. "How are you this morning?"
"Fine," He lied in a word, and then turned to her, "but what are you doing here so early, Hanako-san?"
"Oh, well, I woke up at 3:45 this morning and watched the sunrise through the trees. It was gorgeous. The sun's rays just light the leaves so perfectly when it glitters on their surfaces. So, I felt that since it started out as a special day, why not continue that? Instead of walking to school at 5: 30, I biked here at 4:50. I love bike riding, don't you? It's so…"
That was about where Eiri tuned out. 'Man, this girl can talk forever. Doesn't she ever annoy herself?' He nodded occasionally, as he unpacked his things for the briefcase he brought to school every day. When he had finished that, she was still talking, so he leaned his head in his hands and continued thinking about Shuichi. What was he going to say when they finally saw each other? Would they still be close after that? Is there any chance of the feelings being mutual? He sighed. 'Probably not. God, what have I done?'
"Ueseugi-sensei?" Ruri asked with a tinge of concern. Eiri looked up from the desk and stared at her. "Is something wrong, Ueseugi-sensei?"
"No." He said quickly, putting his head back in his hands. It wasn't a convincing answer, but he didn't have time to chit-chat.
"Okay…" She said tentatively, "but if there ever is anything wrong…you can tell me. My friends say I'm really good at making people feel better."
Eiri knew she didn't mean to annoy him, but everything did that morning. She was being nothing but kind, yet still he could not feel better. He needed to see Shuichi, and needed to talk to him before he could even think about feeling better.
"Thanks Hanako-san, but I'm fine," He repeated, "I'll write the assignment on the board. That should give you something to do." She looked hurt, but he didn't care. He had too much on his mind already.
"Yes, Ueseugi-sensei." She muttered stiffly, and so began the school day.
-o-o-o-o-
Eiri walked to his car with a dejected air. At lunch hour, he had hurried down to Shuichi's classroom as soon as the bell rang, only to find a sub sitting in his seat. When he asked the sub where Shindou was, he simply replied that he called in sick this morning. Eiri had an idea why.
When he climbed into his sleek, black Mercedes Benz, he face planted right into the steering wheel. Then he lifted his head an inch and plopped back down, making the horn beep slightly. "What will I do?" He muttered.
Then he remembered that, tucked away in the front pocket of his briefcase were the directions to Shuichi's apartment. He had given them to Eiri the day he was supposed to come for dinner to talk to Kyo. Kyo…Just the thought of that name drove him mad with jealousy. 'Now I know why I didn't like him…' His brain muttered, but he ignored it and scrambled around in the front pocket of his briefcase for Shuichi's apartment number. When he found, it carefully read it over and pulled out of the parking lot, heading the complete opposite direction of his house.
His knock was firm and steady, even though his insides were clenched in hesitation. It took about a minute before anyone even answered the door, and once it was opened he regretted knocking. Shuichi's eyes were red and puffy, as though a loved one had just died, and his apartment was in a state of disrepair. All he could see was the entrance, which was scattered with beer cans and broken glasses. He guessed that's why Shuichi stayed in his outdoor shoes.
"…" He stood there silently as Shuichi's eyes widened at the sight of him. What was he supposed to say now? 'Perhaps I should have thought this over more…' He thought as Shuichi backed away from him a bit, fresh tears appearing in his eyes. A choking sound came from the younger male's throat, and Eiri's eyebrows furrowed. Obviously he was not the only one having trouble at deciding what to say. "Hello, Shuichi."
"……Ueseugi-san." He said quietly. Eiri noticed the change in the way Shuichi addressed him, but there were more pressing matters at hand. Shuichi's hand was clenching the doorknob. Eiri's eyes lingered on his friend's whitening knuckles before looking him straight in the eye.
"Can I come in?"
-o-o-o-o-
Sorry this chapter was kind of boring. I promise the next one will be better. I'll try not to take forever to update, too.