Period 2: Literature
Theme 7: Essay
Words: 367
Author: Lillie Bell
"Mamoru." Usagi plopped down in his booth without even asking if he was using the space. He wasn't, but, when Usagi was involved, sometimes it was just better if he was.
She flapped a notepad full of papers down on the counter and started opening them. She sighed dramatically the whole time.
"Look," she turned to him. "I have to write an essay on some really boring dude. And I figured who else would know stuff about boring people but Mamoru."
"Hey."
"Shut it."
Usagi had come on a mission.
"You're going to help me with this essay."
"Odango, if you think I'm going to write this essay, let alone help you in any way to do your homework—which you'll learn much better if you do it yourself—then you've gone completely bananas."
She turned on the waterworks. "But if I don't get an A on this essay I'll flunk out and never be good at anything and never get to go to high school with the girls."
"Kill the theatrics. I'm not helping." To prove his point, he pulled out a pair of heavy-duty noise-cancelling headphones. "See?" he said rather loudly. "I'm completely immune to your attempts to make me write your essay."
She leaned in towards him, he leaned away.
"Oh yeah?" she mouthed, then lifted one of the headphones. Mamoru cringed for the incoming eardrum eruption.
"What if I tell your fanclub your favorite hideout in the library?" she whispered serenely.
His eyes tripled in size. She laid the earpiece back into place and moved to collect her things and step away. He ripped off the headset—much to his chagrin—and grabbed her wrist.
"Who told you?" he growled. Her eyes traced to Motoki's back so innocently facing them while he helped customers.
"I'll kill him."
Just as he was about to jump over the counter and beat his friend with who knows what—an ice cream spoon?—Usagi stopped him.
"Killing him won't stop the leak of information," she sang softly.
He paused, turning his murderous gaze towards her. She faced him without fear. Her fingers drummed against the notepad.
"About that essay…" Mamoru began, gracefully climbing off of the counter.