I've discovered setting a deadline for the next chapter helps me write a little bit sooner. I hope you enjoy this chapter, might help make things a little more dramatic? Yes?

"We're just friends everyone, so stop freaking out," Here I am, standing before the school surrounded by a bunch of whining girls. As soon as I told them that Yumiko-chan and I were just friends they seemed a little happier then dispersed. Yumiko-chan seriously exaggerated how bad the gossiping was. Oh well, it's all over with now, time to go to class.

"Kirihara-kun," Upon entering the classroom Kasumi-chan calls my name. What in the world does she want?

"Oh… hello Kasumi-chan," I'm sure to keep my voice clear of emotion because I've learned it's best not to insult a girl in any way, even if said girl is annoying.

"Kirihara-kun, would you like the assignments you missed from yesterday?" She has such an innocent look on her face right now. In fact, it's too innocent and makes her look extremely creepy!

"No, our coach already gave us our assignments as part of the deal for yesterday," Only partially true. Our coach did say that in order for us to go we would have to do our make-up work, but we would also have to get it ourselves. And I would have said yes just now, but Kasumi-chan is seriously freaking me out with that look of hers.

"Alright then, if you need any help just let me know," Thankfully, she turned her back to me and began talking to our other classmates. Yumiko-chan came in at around this time and sat down, getting her school stuff out. To get yesterday's class work she is probably my best option. Why didn't I ask her yesterday?

As class began I pulled out a piece of paper and wrote 'What were yesterday's assignments?' The teacher came in as I began folding up the paper. When it was small enough I tossed it to Yumiko-chan, watching as it landed in the exact middle of her desk. Yes! Perfect aiming!

A few moments later that same piece of paper landed on the corner of my desk… and almost fell off. Next time I teach her tennis we're going to have to work on Yumiko-chan's aim. Unfolding it, I read 'Can't this wait until after class?'

GAH! She doesn't understand the severity of the situation! Once again, the paper lands in the middle of her desk. 'No, it cannot wait! I need to know now!'

"Passing notes? Must be more important that what I'm teaching," When did the teacher get there? I made sure he wasn't watching before I tossed it! Oh well, nothing I can do now so I just stand like I'm supposed to Slowly, the teacher picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it. Oh no! Is he going to read it out loud? Kasumi-chan is going to kill me for lying to her! The last time I lied to her was in elementary school when we were best friends, barely survived with my life! Haven't been friends with her since, so I'm sure I won't survive this time.

"Kirihara-san, if you needed the work you should have asked before or after class, not during," The teacher paused, obviously thinking of a punishment. "You will stay here during lunch to make up your assignments."

"Yes, sensei," I bow, feeling my face turn red. Sitting down, I catch a glimpse of Kasumi-chan's face. She seems to be glaring daggers at Yumiko-chan. Just last week they were getting along just fine, weren't they? What a creepy girl…

"Need help?" I look up to see Yumiko-chan standing over me. It is lunch time and I am stuck in this stuffy classroom. I thought everyone had left to go eat their lunch since I've been sitting here for a few minutes already, struggling on yesterday's assignments.

"Yes! This is so unfair, I don't understand any of this," My stomach growls as I'm saying this and Yumiko-chan starts laughing. "Yumiko-chan, do you have any food? Maybe that's why I don't understand anything!"

"Of course, that has to be the reason and not because you don't pay attention," She put a tray of food on my desk. "And I left because I asked the teacher if I could bring you food since I doubted you had any of your own."

"Thank you!" Immediately, I scarfed the food down, and I notice Yumiko-chan is staring at me, wide-eyed.

"What," I ask with a mouthful of food which I immediately swallowed.

"Did you even taste any of that?" She asks, sitting in her normal seat next to me.

"Yes! I was just really hungry!"

"Obviously… But you ate that really fast! One second the food was there then it wasn't," Yumiko-chan shakes her head as she begins to eat her own food. "Now, what do you need help in?"

And that's how the lunch break was spent. This is what I get for always daydreaming in class, and I know there were a few times when Yumiko-chan wanted to yell at me and call me names for being so stupid. Yet, she didn't. Turns out, she's really smart which I kind of find that hard to believe. I wonder if most girls are this smart.

Woohoo! School is over today! Now time for practice! Today has been kind of hard and extremely long… but at least I can blow off steam on the courts. Tennis club really is the highlight of my day because I can always count on it to cheer me up!

Everyone was getting ready by the time I got into the locker room, so I hurried up. It would look really bad if I was behind everyone being their captain and all. I would have to assign myself some laps! Practice was normal, as I expected it to be. After our full day of practice yesterday I could clearly see a lot of improvement! The coach and I should plan another trip like that one, maybe even longer next time. Last year's senior regulars could possibly show up as well to help train everyone… Minus Marui-senpai and Niou-senpai, though. All they would do is be a disturbance…

Feeling refreshed, I dismiss everyone after a good practice. "Alright, great practice everyone! Now go home!"

Now time for the worst part of the day, forcing myself to do today's homework without getting distracted. Thank goodness I got Yumiko-chan's help with yesterday's work otherwise I might not have been able to do anything! It doesn't take long for me to get home and that makes me drag my feet trying to delay the inevitable. Wait, is there someone standing outside my house leaning on the gate? That's odd; I wonder who it is…

As I get closer, I am able to make out that the person is Kasumi-chan. Great. What does that creepy girl want? "Kasumi-chan?"

"Oh, hello Kirihara-kun!"

"What are you doing outside my house?" I ask her. She has that same creepy smile plastered on her face.

"I was just in the neighborhood and I realized you lived around here. So I stopped by to say hello," She tilts her head which only makes me want to run in the other direction… which is the direction of her house if I remember correctly. So what was she doing over here?

"And you were just standing there, why?"

"Because I was trying to figure out if you were home or not before I went and knocked on your door," Kasumi-chan is really freaking me out. She was clearly leaning on the gate, so she might have been there for a while. I don't really know, but that makes more sense than what she is saying. "Kirihara-kun, do you think you will need help with your homework?"

Yes, but would it be wise to tell her that? If I do, she will insist on coming inside to help me. Then again, would that be bad? I mean, I do need help… and really, what could she do right now? It doesn't appear as if she wants to hurt me despite her being weird and creepy.

"Yeah, kind of," I finally said, my hand rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment.

"Would you mind if I helped you?"

"If you want to," Just as I thought. That was probably the real reason she was standing outside my house. Oh well, at least I know that work will actually be better than my usual. We head inside, me leading the way. I call out, but no one seems to be home. This makes me hesitate a little. I'm fine with getting help and all, but that doesn't change the fact that she is creepy. No way to back out now, I guess.

"Kirihara-kun, let's go study in your room!"

Her smile is different. Creepier. Definitely a bad idea. "I'd rather not. Too many distractions in there."

Appearing to pout, Kasumi-chan agrees. Studying with her was very different than studying with Yumiko-chan. Every chance Kasumi-chan got she leaned closer unnecessarily and was always calling me something different ranging from baka to silly. It also just made me more confused and annoyed.

"I think this was a very productive study session," Kasumi-chan said. "Too bad I should get going."

Finally! I am never, I repeat never, studying with her again! Next time I'll just call Yumiko-chan, which means I'm going to need to get her number tomorrow!

"Thanks for your help, see you at school!" I say, on the verge of pushing her out the door.

"Oh! Kirihara-kun! Can I tell you something really quick?"

What? She was so close to being gone, but she had to stop in the doorway! "What is it?"

"You see, it's just this one little thing. I feel as if it's a problem, actually. And strangely, it's about Yumiko-chan," Kasumi-chan hesitates.

"What about her?" I ask, kind of interested in what she has to say.

"I'm not going to let her have you," She looks me directly in the eyes now. "And yes, I do know the two of you are not actually dating, but she's the first girl you have had as a friend since our friendship fell apart. We've known each other a long time, and I feel as I need to protect you from her which is why I'm telling you this. I see the way you look at her when she says something. You just have such a pained expression, that I want to reach over and punch her in the face! That's just how I feel. So I've decided. She. Cannot. Have you. That's all."

And she walked off. I stood there, too stunned to close the door. That… was weird.

Please tell me what you think! Are things getting a little more dramatic?