-.:Twilight of Escaflowne:.-
Chapter 8
Getting Comfortable
After we arrived at school that morning, we went our separate ways: he to his first hour which I discovered was Calculus and I to Japanese.
My first two periods went by fairly quickly. I didn't pay any attention to class. My mind was too occupied by the hottest guy in Escaflowne High.
I couldn't help but think about how different he was. It was like he had undergone a transformation the two weeks he was gone. Where did he go those two weeks? What did he do? Why did he go?
Not that I was complaining. I think I greatly prefer this new chivalrous Van over the hostile one I first met.
By the time I got to third period, I was practically in a daze; I couldn't get my mind off of him. I was even called on it a couple of times by the teacher who reprimanded me for not paying attention to the lecture. Finally he gave up and stopped pestering me.
I kept glancing at the clock, eagerly waiting for next period, Chemistry, where I'd see Van again. As the end of class drew nearer, my heart beat quickened, and I could feel my face beginning to color. I really didn't want to see Van now, 'cause I knew that my God awful cheeks would betray me. I tried to calm down before the bell rang but to no avail.
I gathered my stuff together and waited for it to ring. It felt like eternity, but class did finally come to an end. I was the first one out the door, and it was all I could do to keep from sprinting to class.
I was walking as fast as I could walk without running. I was about to turn the corner when I ran into Gaddess Crowley. The force of our collision sent me tumbling to the ground. I hastily began to gather my things.
"I'm terribly sorry. Here, let me give you a hand," Gaddess apologized.
He knelt down next to me and helped me pick my stuff up and then helped me to my feet. With a sigh, I gathered my composure.
"Hey Tomi? What's the rush? It's not like your going to be late or anything?" He asked.
"Yah, I know, I just like to have a few minutes to myself before class."
"I really am sorry. I didn't see you coming. What's your 4th period?"
"Chemistry." I blushed as I thought of what came with 4th period.
Mistaking my blush for shyness, he smiled and continued. "Ya know, there's a Sadie Hawkins's dance this Friday," he began.
I was really starting to get irritated with him. "Yah, so I've heard."
"How bout goin' with me to make up for our little rendezvous?"
I didn't like the terminology he used in that last sentence and I was going to be late for 4th period. "I thought it was girl's choice?" I frowned.
"Well, yah, but that doesn't mean I can't ask… You think about it and give me your answer tomorrow 'kay?" I nodded and quickly brushed past him.
I was successful in calming my nerves down before 4th period as I had completely forgot about Van after my unpleasant collision with Gaddess, that is, until I walked into class.
I hastily made my way back to the table I shared with Van, frowning as I sat down and situated myself. I was currently occupied with Gaddess's disturbing invitation when I heard the most beautiful voice I had ever heard.
"Penny for your thoughts?" I snapped out of it and made eye contact with the object of my attention during the first three classes.
I was dumbfounded. "What?"
He smiled and I could see a twinkle of amusement in those crimson orbs of his. "You seemed to be in such deep thought, that I couldn't help but wonder what was unnerving you."
I once again became irritated at the thought of Gaddess. "Oh, it's nothing. So how was your morning?" I attempted to change the subject.
He recognized my diversion, but didn't persist. "Oh, it went…slowly…" he said, giving me a pointed gaze.
I felt butterflies in my stomach at his foreshadowing, but couldn't hope. My heartbeat quickened and I felt my cheeks once again burst into flame.
He smiled knowingly. It didn't surprise me as he must have had many girls before me. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought.
I turned my attention to Mr. Reublin as he began to explain the lesson. I tried to pay attention, but couldn't with Adonis sitting next to me.
I felt my palms begin to sweat in my lap and the butterflies in my stomach beat their wings in a flurry. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Van staring at me; that didn't help the situation at all. My heart skipped a beat, and as if he heard it, he smirked at me.
When Mr. Reublin was finished explaining the lab, he began to pass the procedures out. I took a glance at them and recognized the lesson my chemistry class in Basram had done last semester. 'Thank God,' I thought because I didn't pay any attention to the lecture.
Working together, Van and I were the first group to finish. 'Either he's really smart, or he's done this before…' I mused to myself.
There was 15 minutes of class left by the time we finished so we spent it getting to know one another; personally, and physically.
As he talked, I examined his face to every last detail. I etched he strong brow, his perfectly straight nose, his perfectly chiseled and clean shaven jaw, and those oh so sensuous lips into my memory.
I memorized the way they moved as he talked, and the way he had one persistent stand of hair that always fell in front of his eyes. His untamable hair was fixed in a way that only he could pull off.
I listened to his peculiar accent, trying to pinpoint its origins. Those eyes didn't require my careful scrutiny as they had already been burned into my memory at first sight, but that didn't stop me from gazing into them.
He too seemed to be taking my measures. Normally, under these circumstances, I'd be embarrassed to no end at a man's examination of me, but with him, I was just as intent upon learning him as he was me.
I wanted to know the feel of that deathly pale skin. I wanted to touch him and hold his hands. Would they be warm, for they looked cold? I wanted to know why his eyes were the burgundy red color that they were, for I had never seen eyes like his before.
I wondered what the feel of his lips on mine would be like. I wondered what it'd be like to have his hands hold mine. I wanted to run my hands though his wild hair. I wanted to correct that persistent strand that always fell in his face.
I wanted so much, but I was afraid to loose the friendly terms we were on. I had realized that not once had he ever touched me. Not so much as a brush of the hands, knees, or shoulders. It was like he was being extra careful to not touch me, and I wanted to know why.
I hadn't realized how long I had been sitting there simply staring at him as he had been me until Mr. Reublin began to collect the assignment three minute before the bell rang.
"Would you care to join me for lunch?" Van asked me
"With your family?" I asked, surprised.
"No, we'll sit at a table all to ourselves."
"Oh, ok. Sure."
I began to put my stuff away when I noticed that all Van carried around with him was a pencil and a notebook.
"Is that all you use in school?" I asked, suddenly curious.
"Pardon?"
"I mean just one notebook and a pencil? You don't have a separate notebook for each class? Do you even take notes during lectures?" I asked.
"Oh," he said, "No, I have no need to take notes. I just use this one for assignments."
"How do you get good grades in school?" I asked perplexed, "Do you cram before every test?"
He laughed at my innocent curiosity. "No, I don't really need to study."
Suddenly a thought hit me, "You must be one of those people that have a photographic memory or something, right?"
He smirked, "You could say that."
Before I could say anything else, the bell rang. I stood up, pushed my stool in, and headed towards the exit, with Van at my side.
We walked down the hall and into the cafeteria where Van and I sat at a table in the middle. I glanced around to notice Yukari and the others giving us wide-eyed expressions.
I looked in the Fanel's direction to see Merle and Dryden talking animatedly. Chid was sitting right next to Merle looking as bored as ever, and Millerna was glaring daggers at either me or Van, or both of us. I quickly looked away to see Van glaring daggers right back at her.
"You and Millerna don't get along very well?" I asked
Van looked at me surprised, "No, what makes you think that?"
"Oh, you guys were just immersed in your own silent little war, I assumed that you guys weren't on the best of terms."
"Well, Millerna has very different ideas and standards than I do, so we don't always get along, but I still love her like a sister. Millerna's just hard to please, that's all."
"Oh," I said and began to fiddle with my hands, now conscience of the whole cafeteria ogling in our direction. Van just simply sat there and stared at me.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
I looked up, "oh, no, I brought my lunch."
I reached into my bag and pulled out a banana bar. "That's all your going to eat?!" Van exclaimed.
"Yah. I don't have a very big appetite for lunch, and the cafeteria food doesn't look all that inviting," I said. "What about you? Aren't you going to eat anything?"
"No, I must agree with you on the cafeteria food," he chuckled.
I smiled and glanced over at the Fanels. Millerna was no longer glaring at us, but she still didn't look too happy. It made me wonder what had passed between her and Van. They all had a lunch in front of them, but from where I was sitting, I could see that they hadn't taken so much as a bite.
"I know!" I said as an idea to pass the time popped into my head. "Why don't we play a game?"
Van looked thoroughly interested. "Ok, what kind of game is it?"
"It's called 20 Questions. The name is self explanatory."
"So we pretty much ask each other questions?" he looked doubtful.
"Pretty much. It's a way to get to know each other. Me and my mom used to play it everyday after school." I smiled at the memory.
"Ok?" he asked.
"Each player has 20 questions to ask their partner. They can be any kind of question. They can be personal, trivial, political, riddles, jokes, worldly, opinions…anything you want to ask. And the person being asked MUST answer them truthfully."
"Ok, it's almost like that game Truth or Dare, except with out the Dare," he stated matter-of-factly.
"Exactly."
"Who goes first?" he asked.
"I'll start." I said. "What is your middle name?"
"Slanzar," he said as he scratched the back of his neck.
"That's a cool name… I said, what's its orgin?"
"Hey now, isn't it my turn?" he smirked.
"Oh right, sorry…" I blushed.
"What's your middle name?" he asked after a brief pause.
"Iris."
"Very pretty. You look like an iris…"
"Thank you," I blushed deeper. "Hmmm…what is your favorite color?"
"Red."
"Like your eyes?"
"Is that your third question?"
"No."
"Then it's my turn. What's your favorite color."
"Green."
"Like your eyes?"
"Is that your third question?"
He smirked before answering, "yes."
"Yes, my eyes are green, but that's not why green is my favorite color…" I said.
"Then what is it?" he asked
"Is that your fourth question?"
"Yes."
"Green is my favorite color, because it's the color of the earth."
"Ah yes, it is a green planet, but it is also called a blue planet," his eyes twinkled with amusement. I glared back at him.
"Alright smarty pants," I huffed. "Why is red your favorite color?"
"Because it's the color of blood." He seemed to have a deeper meaning behind his words. It was almost as if his eyes were daring me to ask.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
His eyes danced with a hidden secret. He wagged his pointer finger at me. "It's my turn.
When's your birthday?"
"October 2." I was about to ask what he meant by his last question, but then the bell rang. Van gave me a triumphant smile as if he had won an inner battle.
I grabbed my bag and noticed how the Fanels threw their untouched food in the garbage. 'Now what's the point in that?' I thought. "I guess I'll see you later."
"Farewell, Tomi," he said before we went our separate ways.
As I made my way to government, I couldn't help but ponder the meaning behind Van's words. What did he mean by red being the color of blood his reason as to why it was his favorite color? What did that strange look in his eyes mean? Is he hiding something? And if he is, what is it?
All through government and gym, I thought about Van. I couldn't get him out of my thoughts.
When school had ended, I walked from the gym to the parking lot, and ran into Miguel Yorki.
He smiled at me in a cocky way. "Yo Tomi. I heard you don't have a date to the Sadie Hawkins's dance," he began casually. Personally, he kind of scared me.
"No, I don't, and I wasn't planning on going," I added.
"Aw, come on Tomi. If you go with me, I'll be sure to make it a night to remember." I felt a chill go from my head to my toes at those words, and it wasn't a good chill either.
"Thanks, but no thanks. Later Miguel." I brusquely pushed past him. I didn't want to see his reaction to my rejection. In all honesty, I really wasn't planning on going, and besides, I already had Gaddess ask me, and it was hard enough getting out of that.
"Miguel doesn't seem too happy." I looked to see Van leaning casually against my car.
"Great," I sighed, "just what I need."
"Let me guess. He asked you to the Sadie Hawkins's dance and you turned him down."
"Right on the money," I rolled my eyes. "I already had Gaddess ask me this morning before 4th hour."
"Oh, so that's what had you so concerned."
"Yah," I sighed. "I really don't want to go; I can't dance worth beans, and I don't see why they'd want to go with someone like me…" I said.
He gave me an unreadable expression. "You really don't give yourself enough credit." I looked at him, startled by his words. He smiled before continuing, "Have a safe drive home, not that you could get an any kind of serious accident with this old rusted piece of metal, but nevertheless, be safe."
I was touched by his concern, but in the same breath, offended at his mockery of my car. "You watch it mister. My car is the kind of car that would clobber the cheap metal of yours."
He smirked and raised an eyebrow at me. "Is that so?" He opened my door for me as I got in. "Ciao." He closed my door as I started the engine and backed out. As I drove away, I saw him standing in the same place where I had left him. He hadn't so much as taken a step, and he simply watched me as I disappeared around the corner.
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AN: Wow, that was one loooooong chapter. The longest I've written yet!!
Good news!!: I have finally gotten off my lazy butt and outlined my thoughts for this story!! So that means it'll be easier to write the chapters, and that means (hopefully) more frequent updates!! Lol Up until now, I had been writing this story as it had come to me which is probably why I had sooo much writer's block… heh heh…
Well, for anyone who's interested, here's Hitomi's and Van's schedules
Hitomi:
1. Japanese
2. English
3. Pre-Cal
4. Chemistry
- Lunch
5. Government
6. Gym
Van:
1. Calculus
2. Japanese
3. English
4. Chemistry
- Lunch
5. Gym
6. Government
Don't forget to review on your way out
Ciao
TEE