Chapter 2

Prom week arrived two weeks later, and with it came the usual buzz and chatter that accompanied these type of social events. Boys rushed to find girls to go with them to the dance, but not Shinji. He had already found himself a date. And he could not have been happier.

Shinji had been placed on the team responsible for decorating the school's gymnasium in preparation for the big night. To Shinji's great surprise and pleasure, so had Rei. Shinji looked around the gym to see who all else had been placed on the team.

He saw Asuka Langley Soryu, an exchange student from Germany. She flirted with Shinji a lot; way more than he was comfortable with. She was also very loud and, in Shinji's opinion, childish, despite her womanly figure.

Shinji also saw several more people he recognized by face, if not by name, and also-he let out a soft groan-Toji Suzuhara. Toji had been a bully towards Shinji right from the beginning. Shinji had a relatively light frame and slim build, and Toji was very athletically built. In fact, he was a star member of the wrestling team. Shinji had never had a problem with Toji beating him up; it was all name-calling, and pranks and the like, but Shinji knew that it was only a matter of time before it escalated. With this in mind, Shinji had started taking self-defense lessons from Kensuke's dad, who was a martial arts instructor. Shinji was no Bruce Lee, but he felt he could put up a decent fight, if need be.

Still, Shinji's attention remained fixated on Rei. As always, she had that air of sultry mystery about her. Shinji was finding it increasingly difficult to think about anyone or anything but her. Even at night, his dreams were filled with images of her. Shinji feared he was becoming obsessed with her. His thoughts were brought painfully back to reality when a board from one of the scaffolds came free and fell on Shinji's head. He toppled to the floor, pain-dazed and half-conscious

"Concussion," he dimly heard the supervising teacher said, " Nurse's office...help him up..."

Shinji drifted in and out of consciousness as he felt two people carry him down the hallway to the nurse. He awoke some time later and noticed two things immediately: one, his head hurt like a bitch. And two, he was at home.

"How...wha..." Shinji stammered groggily, trying to sit up.

"You shouldn't sit up yet," a girl's voice said. Shinji felt a pair of cool hands restrain him gently.

"Rei?" Shinji asked, "What're you doin' here?"

His speech was slightly slurred from his concussion. He felt embarrassed that Rei was seeing him in such a state. He heard his bedroom door slide open. In walked his mother, followed by his father, Kensuke, and Misato Katsuragi.

"How're ya feelin' rock head?" Kensuke asked jovially.

Shinji groaned, partly to tell Kensuke how he felt, but mostly because his head had just given a large, painful throb.

"That was quite a bump on the head you took," his mother said, putting an ice pack to his head.

"Nnn, feels good ma," Shinji sighed.

He thought of something.

"Mum," he said, "will I still be able to go to the prom?"

"I'd feel better if you stayed home and rested, sweetie," his mother replied.

"Mom, please," Shinji pleaded, "It's prom. The dance isn't until Saturday night. It's only Monday. I'll be fine by Friday, I promise."

"If he thinks he's healthy enough to go when he wakes up on Saturday, I say let him go, dear," Shinji's father said.

When it came to decisions about what Shinji could or could not do, Shinji's father usually stayed out of it unless he was trying to teach Shinji a life lesson.

"Fine," Yui conceded with an exasperated sigh, "But only on the condition that he stays in bed and resting until Friday."

"Deal," Shinji said eagerly. A week in bed? He could handle that. There was only one thing.

"What about my schoolwork?" he asked.

"I'm sure Kensuke or one of your other friends would be willing to bring it to you," Misato said.

"Sure," Kensuke said, "I'd be glad to—,"

"I'll bring it to him," Rei volunteered quietly.

A hush fell over the room as every pair of eyes turned on her. Anyone who knew Rei knew that she rarely volunteered to do anything unless asked to do so.

"Thanks, Rei," Shinji said, breaking the uneasy silence.

The next day, Rei came over with Shinji's books and gave him his assignments.

"How are you feeing today?" she asked.

"Much better," Shinji replied, "The pills that the doctor prescribed are really working great. I'll definitely be back up to speed by Saturday."

"That's good," Rei said.

They sat in Shinji's room together in silence for almost five minutes. Then Rei spoke.

"Shinji?" she asked softly.

"Yeah?" Shinji replied.

"About what happened to you..."

"It was an accident that happened because I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing in a construction zone," Shinji said, "That's all. I'm fine. Really."

"It wasn't an accident," Rei said.

"What are you saying, Rei? Of course it was."

"No, it wasn't," Rei said, "I saw Suzuhara loosen one of the scaffold boards."

"Toji?!" Shinji sputtered, his ire quickly rising, "Toji loosened--Toji loosened."

Shinji began to climb out of bed.

"Lie back down," Rei said calmly, "You're supposed to be resting. You can't go anywhere or do anything right now."

Again, Shinji felt her cool, sure hands guiding him back down. Grudgingly, he went along with her. Mentally, thought, he fumed and swirled with thoughts of revenge.

That bastard! he raged inwardly, He might have killed me! And for what? I haven't done anything to him!

"Why?!" Shinji demanded angrily, "What's his reason?!"

"I don't know," Rei said gently, "Perhaps he saw the way you were looking at me and became jealous. He has made advances towards me of a sexual nature in the past. I've ignored all his advances."

"I'll kill him," Shinji growled angrily.

"Shush, now," Rei said, gently stroking Shinji's hair and caressing his cheek at the same spot where she had kissed him two weeks prior.

Shinji felt his body heating up again. This time, he didn't resist. He reached up and ran his fingers through Rei's hair, then hooked his hand gently behind her head and drew her down to him. She didn't resist. Instead, Rei took Shinji's head in both her hands and brought her face closer to his. Their noses lightly touched. They could feel each other's breath. Their eyes locked for a moment, two, then their lips followed suit.

They kissed tentatively at first. Then, the kiss gradually deepened and became more passionate. Shinji's tongue lightly traced Rei's lips, as though it were asking permission to enter.

With the slightest of moans, Rei's lips parted to allow Shinji's tongue access to her mouth. Shinji's tongue entered Rei's mouth, only to encounter her tongue and engage in a fierce wrestling match with it.

This passionate moment was to be short-lived, however. Rei seemed to come to her senses after a minute or so. She broke away, hurriedly straightened her ruffled hair and clothes and got up to leave.

"Rei, wait!" Shinji said desperately, "Please wait! What's wrong?"

Rei didn't answer. She practically ran out of the house, feeling confused and frightened.

Shinji was heart-broken.

"What did I do wrong?" he asked aloud to his empty room, "Did I move too fast? I scared her away, I just know it! I'm such a loser. I have to talk to her just as soon as possible."

"Talk to who, sweetie," Yui asked stepping into the room, "That nice Ayanami girl? You know yesterday, when Miss Katsuragi brought you home, Rei didn't leave your side at all the whole day, except to use the bathroom once. She cares about you, sweetheart, even if she doesn't show it openly."

Shinji quietly disagreed with her.