Chapter 14: Challenges and Heart Warming Words

Tuesday, October 16, 2006, park bench, 1 pm

Oh god, am I tired. I can barely write in you, dear diary. I'm like sweating everywhere, including my fingers.

I'm so mad at Mr. Benson, making the whole schoool engage in a school savanger hunt. I thought he was a school shrink! SCHOOL SHRINKS DO NOT LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES! Well, I know that's a stereo type, but I don't care. Why in the world would one want to promote school unity? Mr. Benson, that's who.

Okay, you're obviously confused, so I might as well tell you what's going on. First of all, remember Mr. Benson? That substitiute teacher/shrink that helped me out of my Kitty phase? Well, he decided to hold a school scavenger hunt. We're looking for the following things:

a) A dustpan

b) lip stick

c) a kiss- don't know how to get this and prove it, but whatever.

d) a cell phone

e) Mr. Benson's underwear

Note that e) isnt make believe. Its completely true. Somewhere in this section of Tokyo, Mr. Benson hid his precious, plaid, Hello Kitty men's underwear somewhere for us to find. I don't get it. Like, even if we find it, its not like we'd want to touch it or anything. Not saying that Mr. Benson isnt hygenic, he is, but he's a teacher. And as handsome as he is, he's still a teacher.

Now, I'm not one to compete. Especially for something as dumb as this. But, I have a very good reason. The prize-did I forget to mention a prize?- is a ticket to go anywhere in the world. Obviously, since I'm so selfless, I'm not going to use it. I'm going to give it to Ben so he can go to America and get into a good hospital and get cured!!!!!!!

When I told Tyson of this plan at school, he looked at me, shaking his head. "You are so dense."

I scoffed. "That's like the pot calling the kettle black."

Tyson looked at me, his face puzzled. "Huh?"

I laughed, unconvinced that he hadn't heard such a famous saying. "The pot is black, and so is the kettle. So, it'd be weird if the black pot called the black kettle black."

"Yeah, but I have a silver pot."

My laughing stopped and I stared at him with a dry expression. "You are so dense."

Tyson narrowed his eyes at me and glared. "You just don't want to tell him the truth." His eyes started to burn like always whenever he was mad.

I placed my hands on my hips and smirked. "Oh, look who knows everything. Listen, I like Ben, whether you like it or not, ok?" I stared Tyson down, and for a moment he looked sad. Although, he didn't show it if he was.

"Whatever," he said, turning from me, "just to make sure you tell Ben about us, I'm going to win the hunt." He started to walk away, leaving me angry and alone in the classroom. Who did he think he was anyway? To think, I thought about being with such a pig! You hear that! You're a disgusting pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, no! Someone's coming!!!!!!!!!

Same day, forest, 2: 20 pm

"Tyson, if you're looking for an apology, then you can forget it! I'm not going to..."

"Hilary, why are you talking to yourself?" I turned to see Mark, the funny yet perverted boy in my class. Funny how many people are telling me this. And funny how many people I'm referring to as Tyson.

I sighed. "Thank goodness it's only you!" I smiled at him, and he smiled back devilishly. Something was a little off about the vibes that were coming from him...

"So," Mark said, sitting down on the bench beside me, "how many items have you got?"

I open my bag to make sure my things were there. "I have everything but c) and e)." I replied. "I don't get how I can get the kiss though."

Mark looked at me with a puzzled look, then he smiled. "I know. How about we trade? One of your items for mine." he winked, smiling devilishly once more. I smiled, but I knew he was up to something.

"Okay! What do you need?"

Mark smiled, this time his eyes acting all funny. "I do need a kiss..."

I jumped up from my seat. "No way in heck I'm giving you a kiss!" I shouted, attracting all the attention from the people in the park. I blushed furiously, my head bent down in shame at me out burst.

"Fine," Mark said calmly, also standing up to meet my gaze, "I'll just have to tickle you."

Oh, wait. I forgot to mention one little thing about the hunt. If an opponent successfully tickles you and you say 'Uncle' or "I give up" or any word subjecting to a surrender, they get any item from your collection that you have. And yes, even the kiss.

I jump back, raising my fists in the air in a fighting stance. "You're not going to tickle me!" I exclaim, turning around and running out of the park. Mark was after me, yelling out "You won't win!" and "Might as well kiss me now!" Shudder.

I ran down the block, shoving and pushing crowds in downtown Tokyo. I ran in the mall, down an alleyway, across the street, past the river, and in the forest. I looked back and I saw that he wasnt following me.

"Whew," I panted, leaning on a nearby tree, "I lost him." I immediately sat down, taking you out and started to write. And I havent moved since.

But, now I wonder how Tyson's doing with his hunt. Before we were dismissed to look for the items, I saw Kimiko attach herself to him like they were born that way. I guess that's what I deserve for lying about our relationship. It's weird, the way I say I don't want Tyson to be with any other girl, bu yet I'm sort of with Ben.

Thats being a hypocrite.

But I'm not one! I know how I feel about Tyson! I know that I-

Same day, school, 3 pm

"Hilary?" asked a voice from behind me that I could identitfy anywhere. "What are you doing here?" his voice was laced with worry. Looking back, I didn't really notice; I was too angry at him for calling me dense.

"None of your business." I replied out of impulse, turning away. I was still angry at him for being so selfish and rude towards Ben. Why couldnt Tyson see him the way I did?

Tyson pouted. "I'm just worried."

"Well, don't be."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm fine."

"Why?"

"Because..."

"Why?"

I turned around sharply. "Stop doing that!" I exclaimed, angry at his smug look. I wanted to smack away all his confidence and that annoying smirk of his.

"Relax!" Tyson laughed. "I'm kidding around. Now, c'mon, Hil. Tell me why you're here."

And I told him. How I found some items on the list. How Mark found me and wanted a kiss. How he chased me around town and I had to hide here to escape. Tyson's face varied from laughter to anger; mostly anger.

"I'm gonna kill him..." muttered Tyson angrily, referring to Mark. I smiled. "You don't have to,:" I assured him, "I'm not a baby. I can do things my own way."

"So, how'll you tell Ben about us?"he asked me, watching me through narrowed eyes. I felt myself shink under his gaze.

"I might tell him at the dance tonight." I answered, already regretting what I said. I didnt tell him that Ben asked me if he could escort me to the dance, and I had agreed readily. After all, I didnt think Tyson would ask me.

"HE'S COMING!" he yelled, jumping up. He looked so angry, and I hated myself for being so selfish.

"Well...he asked me and I couldn't say no..."

"But I was going to ask you!"

Silence.

I stared at him, my face expressing confusion and shock. He was going to ask me? Why would he ask me? I had heard Kimiko had asked him...

"Y-you...but I-I thought...really?" I stammered, obviously dumb stricken. I just couldnt get my head around the fact that he was going to ask me to the dance. We'd probably be arguing and fighting over the punch table or something.

Tyson, still angry, replied "Yeah!", like it was my fault. I stood up violently, my brain starting to work properly again. "Hey, wait a minute! You should have asked sooner!"

"Well, I-" he babbled, a loss for words. I took it as a chance to continue. "I'ts not my fault Ben asked me! He is more considerate than you are. He certainly doesnt FLIRT with other girls. AND, I bet you werent going to ask me anyways. You'd wait until a minute before the dance to ask me. Why didn't you ask sooner?" I concluded, feeling a bit better that I got some heat off my chest. I felt alot lighter without carrying such a burden.

"Hilary," Tyson whispered softly, so softly that I hardly caught the next sentence, "I was scared."

And then, rapidly, in the blink of an eye, Tyson was right in front of me, his arms wrapped around my waist, his head buried in my neck. My eyes shot open, and my arms went right to my sides, afraid if I move, I'd wake up from such a great dream.

"I was scared," he repeated, "I thought you'd reject me and I'd be so sad. I guess I just don't want any of this to end." his hot breath was tickling my neck, and I felt my breath get caught in my throat.

"But why did you say..." I asked, referring to when he told me he didnt want me as his fiancee.

"Hil," he said, removing his head from my neck, placing his cheek on my neck, "I don't mean that, any of it. Hil, I'm not a touchy- feely kind of guy. I can't just say how I feel." He paused for a bit, catching up to his thoughts, before continuing.

"But just because I don't like to say what I feel doesnt mean that I dont know how I feel, you know? We're together now, you're my fiancee," his grip on my waist tightened, "and I'm not letting you go."

Now, if it wasnt for his hold on my waist, my knees would have gived way at all his words. Here was Tyson, who I thought for sure hated to be engaged to me, holding me tight and whispering sweet nothings in my ear. My heart was thumping so loud, I thought he'd hear it.

So after a bit of confessions, we left the forest toward school. We were in silence all the way there, but it wasnt an uncomfortable silence. He and I were just...collecting our thoughts. And man, did I have alot of thoughts to collect! TYSON LIKES ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ME!!!!!!!!!!!! PLAIN OLD HILARY TATIBANA/ INSANELY HOT KITTY/ INSANELY INSANE ME!!!!!!!!!!! I feel so happy right now I can probably fly!!!!!!!

Oh, wait. The dance is tonight. I better go home and get ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!