Chapter 7

Fumbling with her keys, Miku unlocked the door to her home and set her shoes in the cupboard. She sighed, feeling euphoric. Today had been enjoyable, the best day she'd had for as long as she could remember. She was completely oblivious to the wide smile that spread across her face until the ache in her cheeks alerted her to her own giddiness.

She looked at the time, 6:37pm...oh dear...

Miku gingerly stepped into the living room, only to find it empty along with the kitchen.

"Mother?" she politely called out but was not met with a response. It could only mean that she had left for work earlier than usual. Miku exhaled deeply in relief. At least, tonight, she would be safe from another scolding for being home late.

She climbed up the stairs and ran herself a bath, re-living the day with Luka over and over in her head. After their wonderful meal at the restaurant, they had gone for a walk, then sat and talked for hours by the riverside. The whole time was spent getting to know one another better and the more she spoke with Luka, the more she found herself leaving her world of pain and misery. That was, until her blessed moments with the pinkette had to draw to an end. It felt somehow painful to part ways with her. Miku couldn't quite place the emotion. It wasn't an upsetting feeling like you have when you leave a relative for a few days, but for of a longing...a desire, to be with that person. It seemed she found herself confused over her own feelings.

'I wonder how Luka feels about me?' she questioned herself.

The bath had filled and she stepped into the hot water. The tealette closed her eyes and sunk lower so the water came up to her neck. The warmth reminded her of Luka's kind and gentle embrace and she once again found herself smiling.

The wonderful bliss soon melted away as the evening passed. Reality sadly reminded her it was only a meeting between friends. Luka was an exceptionally attractive woman whom must have everyone -male and female- fawning all over her. Why would she want a scrawny, uninteresting, childish low-life like herself?

Everything seemed to spiral down from that little moment. Everything was different again, back to the way it was. She hadn't arranged another meeting with Luka, maybe the pinkette didn't want to waste any more of her precious time with someone as insignificant like Miku? Maybe she was just something to pass the time?

She shook her head to get rid of the awful thoughts. She prayed that Luka just forgot to arrange more time to spend with her, she was a University student afterall, maybe she was just busy? Although...it was half term for everyone. The tealette's fragile mind continued to rally to and from horrible thoughts and excuses, trying to convince herself that maybe Luka did like her, she just didn't have a strong longing to spend all her time with her like Miku did.

In the end, Miku couldn't handle the stress of the 'what if's' and decided to call it a night. She'd had a splendid day; and she hoped Luka did too. She didn't want to end it on a bad note, torturing herself with the endless mind games.

XXXXXXXXXX

"So, how'd it go?" Lily inquired with her feet up on Luka's coffee table and a beer in one hand. Luka entered her living room and clicked her tongue,

"What did I say about putting your feet on my furniture?" she scolded.

Lily sheepishly laughed and removed them, "Sorry, sorry. Anyway, answer me..." she persisted.

"Well, we went to that new restaurant that opened down the road? You know the one right?", she was responded with a firm nod from the blonde,

"...well, we had lunch there...we talked about ourselves, she is a high school student at our old school, she loves music and loves to sing,", Luka couldn't help but become enthusiastic at recalling everything about the teal haired girl. "She has a thing for leeks, oh...I had this delicious sushi dish and I fed her some, then we went f-". Her story was quickly interrupted by the rowdy blonde.

"Woah! Woah! Woah...", she stopped Luka who met her with a quizzical look and a tilted head, waiting for her friend to continue.

"You fed her?", she repeated incredulously.

"Yes, I did", Luka matter-of-factly replied as if it were normal to do with a friend the first time you go out.

"You FED her?" Lily emphasized a little louder. "Luka! Didn't I say to take things slow!", she reached to grab a chunk of hair on either side of her head in exasperation.

"Calm down Lily! It's not like we did anything, I just let her try some of my sushi..." she tried to assure her, but to no avail.

"No, it's not like you did anything, but with you, that IS something, Luka!"

The pinkette scoffed, "So what if I meant something by it? She's not like us anyway! It's not like she knew what I was thinking...".

The blonde sighed, feeling like she couldn't counter Luka, she shook her head.

"Just...please, please be careful. OK?" her eyes were serious though her tone was pleading. Luka responded with a faint nod, acknowledging her friends concerns.

"...anyway, like I was saying, we went for a walk together, then sat by the river bank. We spoke for so long neither of us realized how late it had gotten...". She chuckled, remembering the cute and panicked face of her little teal friend when she saw the time.

She sighed in bliss at the memories like they happened long ago, though it only occurred and hour or so ago. Her cheerful aura along with her gentle smile slowly faded when she realized that she didn't know when they'd meet again.

"'Sup?" Lily asked in a casual tone, sipping at her beer.

"It's just...we forgot to arrange to meet again..." she solemnly replied.

Lily waved her hand to dismiss her worries, "Ah, don't worry 'bout that, she lives across the road dummy!".

Luka frowned at her, "Are you tipsy?" she questioned even though she knew the answer.

Lily sleazily grinned, "Mm'yeah...", Lily chuckled, with no hint of shame.

"It's getting late, you should go".

The blonde set aside her empty can and rested her legs up on the couch, "Nah, I'm quite comfy here" she insisted as she closed her eyes in a way that told Luka she had no intention of leaving. The pinkette rolled her eyes and disappeared into another room. Lily cracked her eyes open to take a peek at where she'd gone but something warm and fluffy was harshly thrown in her face, "OOMF!" she muffled through the blanket.

"Night". Luka said bluntly. Lily chuckled and covered herself to go to sleep, "G'night, Lulu!".

"I said don't call me that!" she heard an angry yell from the pinkette's bedroom and she snorted into the blanket.

Continued in Ch. 8