When It Rains, It Pours
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Chapter Four: Get it? Got it? Good.
She knew she shouldn't, especially while working, but what other choice did she have? She couldn't hold it in anymore, her self control could only withstand so much. What was the chance that a costumer would come up to the register right then and there anyway? Besides, it would only take a second.
Leaning against the counter, the maitre'd of the small cafe let out a long, drone, sigh as she collapsed onto the counter.
"I'm sorry," snapped a female costumer, who seemed to of instantly appeared out of thin air. Her faux-tanned, orange skin had received so many facelifts that it seemed to give her a permanent look of discontent. "I didn't mean to bore you."
"Oh no, ma'am," The maitre'd instantly stammered, mentally kicking herself for not listening to her voice of reason. Of course the one time she misbehaves, a costumer would be standing there. "I'm just a little sleepy, that's all."
The woman was not listening, since she decided that it would be the perfect time to call her friend on her cell phone. She handed the maitre'd her check from her meal and her gold credit card, which she rung up quickly on the register.
"Thank you for eating at Cafe Culture," the maitre'd grinned bitterly as she returned the credit card to its owner. "We hope to see you again soon."
The woman simply nodded and turned to exit the restaurant, too engrossed in her phone conversation to notice the rude gestures she was receiving behind her back.
"Kana, you know that's not very nice."
Kaname instantly stopped her antics and turned to see Kyouko standing behind her, holding a large sliver serving tray.
"Yeah I know," she smiled at her friend. "But sometimes people just deserve it."
Kyouko didn't look convinced, "You look tired, Kana. Maybe you should've in call in sick today."
Kaname nearly jumped at the statement. Of course she was tired, after the ordeal in class yesterday; she had a complete emotional breakdown in the girls' bathroom. Kyouko had stood in front of the door, begging for her to come out. Kaname was still too embarrassed to leave or face anyone at that point. Sometime during their exchange, Kyouko began to talk to someone else outside the bathroom. The venom in her voice was frightening, and Kaname pushed her ear against the bathroom door to hear.
'You don't understand!' she heard Kyouko nearly shout. 'You always hurt Kana's feelings, and you never learn from your mistakes! And now look what you've done! You've hurt her now worse than ever before!'
There was a low rumble, but Kaname couldn't hear who it was. However, considering the circumstances, she had a pretty good guess. There was more yelling from Kyouko, which still sounded strange to her considering she had never heard her best friend lose her temper before.
'Just...go away.'
With that, Kaname knew it was over. She could barely make out the low rumbling, before it was replaced by hurried footsteps. After a few moments, she gained enough courage to open the bathroom door a crack.
'Is he gone?'
Kyouko nodded as she tried to whip away some of the stray tears.
With a long sigh, Kaname opened the door and faced her friend who instantly tacked her with a hug.
'Kaaa-naaaa-mayyyyy!' she cried, hugging the life out of Kaname. 'I'm sorry...I feel terrible.'
'It's alright, Kyouko," Kaname tried to smile, but it felt strange. It was out of place, but she knew she couldn't worry Kyouko. 'You weren't the one who read my diary out loud, or the one who ran out of the classroom. You didn't do anything wrong.'
'No...But, I'm always making up excuses for Sousuke and telling you that he isn't so bad. But, Kana...what he did today, there wasn't any excuse for. Maybe, he'll never change.'
As much as Kaname wanted to, she couldn't help but agree with Kyouko. It was time for her to be realistic and stop lying to herself.
Sousuke would always be Sousuke.
He was her body guard, and that was all it was between them. He didn't care about her, because he couldn't care about her unless he was ordered too.
'Come on, Kana,' Kaname's thoughts were broken by Kyouko pulling her by the hand and leading her down the hallway. 'Let's go to the nurse's office, maybe she'll let you lay down.'
When the two girls had gotten to the nurse's office, the nurse instantly informed Kaname that she was needed by the principal. Knowing what it was about, Kaname lied and told the nurse that she had already gone and settled everything just before, but was suddenly feeling very sick and light headed due to her allergies and wished to go home early. Noticing Kaname's red eyes and knowing full well she was a model student, she allowed Kaname to leave the grounds early, but informed her that such leniency will not be granted again.
However, that was all in the past, and today was Saturday. Kaname had made up her mind and was not going to let him get to her again. She had successfully avoided him the entire night and that morning on her way to work. If he needed to guard her, then so be it, but there was no rule or regulation that insisted they had to speak or make eye contact.
So with a brave smile she answered Kyouko's question, "Actually, I'm happy I didn't call in sick today. I think a day of work is just the distraction I need. I'm going to be okay."
And she honestly thought that.
Until, of course, he walked in carrying a piece of paper.
"Ah, Chidori," Sousuke said, as he made his way to the register. "There's something I need to discuss with you."
Kaname eyed the paper in his hand, as if it were an atom bomb. She swallowed hard and plastered a fake smile on her face, confusing Sousuke instantly.
"Good afternoon, and welcome to Cafe Culture," she said, still smiling. "Would you prefer to be seated at a table in our smoking area or our nonsmoking area, sir?"
"Chidori, I do not wish to be seated at a table."
"Oh, my mistake. A bar seat it is then."
"Uh…no, I think you are still mistaken. I don't want to sit down anywhere."
"You don't," Kaname pressed a finger on her chin, faking thought. "I don't think we allow our costumers to eat standing up, sir."
"No, what I mean is that I wanted to talk to you."
"I'm sorry, sir," the maitre'd continued to smile, "But as you can see I am very busy, and I don't have time to chit-chat with costumers."
"But I-"
"Sir, if you are not here to eat then I am going to have to ask you to leave for there are many people waiting here who are."
Sousuke's eye's softened, and Kaname saw that he finally realized what she was doing. He bit his bottom lip, crumpled the piece of paper and threw it on her counter before storming out.
When she was sure he was gone, she took the crumpled paper into her hands.
It was a peace treaty.
Yuck, talk about a boring filler chapter. There was no fun here, except maybe a little bit of some Sousuke angst and Kaname pretending to not know him. The next chapter is better - or at least I think so - since now we're done with the rising actions and getting to the real meat and potatoes...my creative writing teacher used to say that. I still don't really get what she meant.
As I'm writing this particular author note I'm also watching Project Runway, and besides the fact that I cannot get over the fact that Swede (who I think is absolutely hysterical simply due to the fact that he speaks in the third person) won the challenge with that hideous tutu-material stripped-dress thing, I noticed that Natalie Portman is the celebrity guest judge. She went to the same high school as me, and she even graduated with my friend's older sister. I just think it's strange because until fairly recently I never really saw celebrities as (sort of) real people, and yet there is an alumni of my high school sitting on this television show telling me this disgusting dress is fashionable and something she'd actually wear. We sat in the same classroom, walked through the same halls, and yet she makes a bazillion dollars for being beautiful and debatably talented, and my friend's older sister is a librarian. It's all just very bizarre where the people you graduate with end up.
Next chapter up soon...ish. :)