She sat in the back of the class watching the clock as it ticks away the seconds she will never get back.
With legs folded underneath her desk, and pencil in her mouth she watches as the hands slowly move clockwise. The ticking sound almost taunting her with the taste of freedom at her fingertips. She bites her pencil as the clock turns 3'oclock.
Only 10 more minutes before school is over.
Only 10 more minutes before her shift starts.
Matsuri gives a loud sigh as she releases her grip on her pencil leaving the taste of wood on her tounge. She glances down at her maths book and tries to recall what exactly they were revising. Not that it really matters, maths is one of her weaker subjects. Even if she did understand what's going on it wouldn't benefit her because by the next day, everything that she would have learned would have flown out of her head, replaced with other matters she was dealing with.
Matters such as him.
Matsuri stiffened in her chair as the memories flooded back to just a month ago when she had her strange and almost off-putting second encounter with the mysterious red head. You would of thought that after two meetings that she would of gotten his name by now, but he came across as someone who wasn't very comfortable with giving out personal information, even if it was as simple as asking his name.
Raising her arm she gently touched the cheek that had been slapped, trying to remember his touch. His hands felt warm and smooth as if he just spent hours scrubbing his hands and putting on moisturiser. His eyes were so full of mirth and understanding as if he could see right into her soul, but he gave off an aura of such rage that could only be described as wanting to murder someone. His lips looked so soft that she was attempted to just reach over the counter top, grab him by the collar and kiss him right there.
Realising what she just thought Matsuri furiously shook her head trying to delete images of him out of her mind. Clutching the sides of her desk she looked up at the clock once more.
3:08. Only two minutes left before freedom.
She stared at the board full of maths problems that had been solved and noticed the teacher writing down the homework. She quickly jotted the questions down and was then rewarded with the sounds of the school bell indicating the end of school. Her maths teacher Kurenai turned around to stand in front of her student.
"Alright class well continue this the next day. Please take down your homework off the board and actually attempt it this time" she said in an agitated manner. Matsuri quickly gathered her stuff and made her way towards the door, but before she could leave she was stopped by her teacher.
"Matsuri can I talk to you for a minute"
Biting her lip, she turned to look at her teacher. She stood in front of her with long black silky hair and deep brown hues. Her lips were painted with a bright red lipstick and her knee length red dress did nothing to hide her small but profound baby bump, courtesy of her fiancé Asuma who just so happens to be the most ruthless football trainer her school has ever had. Her nails were painted purple and her feet were dressed in brown gladiator sandals. Despite her warm and friendly appearance, Kurenai can be very strict when it comes to students behaviour and work in school. Matsuri knew why she wanted to talk to her and she wasn't in the mood for another lecture.
"What's up?"
"I was looking through some documents, particularly your school documents. It was pretty interesting to discover that your assignments dew for different classes were never handed up, also the fact that you haven't been paying attention in class, or to your studies"
With a incoherent sigh Matsuri seated herself on the nearest desk and hunched over so that her elbows were resting on her thighs. with her hair covering her face she spoke.
"Kurenai no matter how many times we have this conversation we both know that it's not gonna lead us anywhere. I have other things on my mind than some stupid school project that means nothing."
"That "stupid school project" cost for 20% of your overall grade. If you don't hand it up sooner or later you will miss this opportunity and you will regret it in the future"
With a scoff Matsuri lifted her head up to glare at her teacher.
"I've done far more worst things that I regret more, than a stupid project. I don't care if it costs 20% of my grade even with it I'm still gonna fail the bloody thing and then what Kurenai, your gonna scold me some more until I bow down on my knees for forgiveness. Huh! your getting your hopes up"
"I'm just looking out for what's best for you Matsuri, your ruining your life by doing this. What are you gonna do for the rest of your life? keep taking orders from that café of yours?"
"If it gets food on the table and helps me with the bills I'll try my fucking best"
She knew this was going to far but how could she just judge her like that?! She wasn't brought up the easy way. Her life wasn't handed to her on a silver platter. She didn't have anyone to say "Welcome Home" to anymore. She doesn't have anyone to trust anymore. Her man-whore of a father can't be trusted because at every chance he gets he spends her money on strippers and poker and sex, not even thinking about going around to the chipper and getting her a bag of chips while he's out. Matsuri can stand for a lot of things but she will not stand for being judged. Especially when it was coming from some who she felt was a second mom to her. She can't take this judging bullshit anymore.
"Matsuri, please!, I know your mom wouldn't want you to throw your life away-"
Matsuri practically jumped from the chair, it screeching back from the impact."Don't you dare talk about my fucking mother in front of me!" She muttered while glaring at Kurenai.
"Don't act as if you know what I have been through. You have no idea how much I have suffered just because my parents were both too selfish to put their child's needs before their own."
"Matsuri calm down-"
"No, I'm sick and tired of people telling me that they know how it feels when they consider the worst day of their life would be if they lost their phone charger or something. I have had it up to here with the "I'm sorry" and "Everything is fine Matsuri" and the "Momma will be home soon pet don't worry". When will that be. It has already been 7 years, no post card, no address, no phone call or email. So don't tell me that my mom want's what's best for me cause if she did she would taken me along with her instead of leaving me with her burden".
"Matsuri listen, I'm just trying to say that-"
"Save it Kurenai, cause as far as I'm concerned, nobody wants a girl with a fucked up soul".
Feeling angry and overwhelmed, Matsuri furiously ripped open the classroom door and marched out of the school, leaving Kurenai staring at the empty desk she stood at.
