The good news was that the Advanced Tennis class was on a different set of courts, so Inuyasha couldn't see how badly Kagome played. The bad news was that Rin was in Beginners with Kagome, except she was really good, and Kagome war terrible. Rin's swings were smooth and always connected with the ball. Kagome kept letting go of the tennis racket by accident and nearly beaned the instructor with it. She was pretty sure that Rin was laughing at her, and the tales of Kagome's incompetence would be traveling straight back to Kikyo.
By lunchtime, Kagome's arms ached and her hair was sticking to her face. She was so relieved when the instructor let them go, she didn't even care that now she'd have to face Kikyo and Inuyasha again. Kagome was gathering her stuff wh4en a voice said, '' Hey,'' behind her, and she jumped.
'' Sorry to startle you,'' Rin said, bouncing on her heels. '' I just wanted to say, don't worry, you'll get better. I was pretty bad when I started. I'm still not good enough for Intermediate or Advanced. ''
Kagome couldn't think of anything interesting to say. '' Um. Thanks,'' she managed. Rin kept looking at Kagome, as if she was thinking, How did a girl like you snag Inuyasha Takahashi? Kagome thought, I'll answer that if you can tell me why you agreed to be best friends with the scariest girl in school.
'' Well?'' Rin said.
'' Well what?'' Kagome asked.
'' Aren't you starving? Let's go to lunch.'' Let's? As in '' let us'' ? Us? Me and Rin Taisho? There's an us there?
Rin spun her racket impatiently and Kagome quickly grabbed her bag with the hat, the extra sunscreen, and the brown-bag lunch her mom had packed. She followed Rin up the walkway to a bunch of picnic tables under the tress. The other Tennis for Teens campers were gathering there, along with the lifegaurd training class from the pool and a group of basketball campers.
Inuyasha was already sitting at a table, unwrapping his lunch. His wet, long silver hair was half-wet from the showers and drying in the sun, so it was kind of shinier and spikier than usual. That day, his T-shirt was light blue making his amber eyes shine like the morning sunlight. He saw Kagome and waved.
'' Wow, '' Rin said. '' Did you see his face light up when he saw you? That's so cute. My boyfriend never looks that excited to see me. '' Yeah, I guess Inuyasha's a really good actor, Kagome thought.
'' You have a boyfriend? '' she said, but too quietly so Rin didn't hear her and she had to repeat herself.
'' Oh sure,'' Rin said. '' Sesshomaru Reijiero. Kikyo set us up in April.'' That made sense. Sesshomaru was athletic and was also an inuyoukai and was agreeable and would fit in well with Kikyo's idea of who her friends should date.
Rin peeled off to join Kikyo and her Glare of Death in the line for pizza, and Kagome hesitantly went over to Inuyasha's table. See, this was why Miroku should be there. She'd know exactly who to sit with and how. And if she wanted to spend lunchtime reading her books, he wouldn't mind. But of course she had to sit with Inuyasha, right? A girlfriend would normally sit with her boyfriend. That was the normal thing to do.
She set her lunch bag down on the table, opposite him, and he immediately reached out and grabbed it.
'' Hey,'' she said. '' Eat your own lunch.''
'' Sit next to me,'' he whispered frantically. ''Or else she will.''
Kagome looked up and saw Kikyo heading purposefully their way. She scooted quickly around the end of the table and managed to sit down next to Inuyasha before Kikyo plunked her tray down on the table.
'' Oh, Yashie,'' Kikyo said, ignoring Kagome, '' I saw you playing tennis when I went by the courts earilier. You are so talented.''
'' Thanks,'' Inuyasha said, opening Kagome's lunch.
'' Wow, Kagome, your mom reallying likes carrot sticks, doesn't she?''
'' We suspect she owns stock in them or something.'' Kagome joked. Inuyasha laughed . Kikyo didn't
'' Not to mention,'' Kikyo went on as if they hadn't spoken, '' You look so hot in shorts. Not every guy can pull off that look - right, Kagome? It must be so hard for you to concentrate with your boyfriend right there looking that hot.''
'' Oh, we're in two different classes,'' Kagome said awkwardly.
'' So which celebrities do you like Kagome?'' Kikyo asked. '' Any guys as cute as Inuyasha? Don't worry I'm sure he won't be jealous. Tell me your deep dark secret crush.''
Yeah, that would be ... Inuyasha '' Um... I don't know,'' Kagome mumbled. '' Maybe Jake Gyleenhaal.''
Kikyo rolled her eyes. '' Like we haven't all heard that one before.'' she said.
'' Here, Kagome,'' Inuyasha said, and she realized he was saying her name a lot more than usual. He broke his cookie in half and handed her the bigger portion. '' To make up for all those carrot sticks.''
'' Really?'' Kagome said. She met his amber eyes as he handed her the cookie. He looked so worried, she couldn't stop herself from smiling at him.
'' That is so cute,'' Rin said, sliding onto the bench, next to Kikyo. '' Sesshomaru totally refuses to share his food with me. I once ate a French fry off his plate when he had clearly finished eating, and he, like didn't speak to me for the rest of the weekend. ''
'' He's probably helping you watch your weight,'' Kikyo said nastily. '' I'd say he's doing you a favor.''
Rin looked hurt. She stared down at her pizza, poking it with her plastic fork but not eating. Kagome wished she was brave enough to tell Rin that Kikyo was being crazy - and mean for no reason - but she was too afraid to butt into their conversation. Kikyo had enough reasons to hate her.
'' So, what are you going to do for your afternoon activity?'' Inuyasha asked Kagome. She realized there were sign-up sheets on all the tables. The list of choices included more tennis ( No, thanks.), learning to papier - mache, (maybe if I was still eight years old), Ultimate Frisbee, and pool volleyball. Sadly, going home and watching TV with Miroku wasn't on the list.
'' I don't know,'' Kagome said. '' None of this is my idea of fu. I guess Frisbee sounds the least painful. ''
'' Really?'' Kikyo pounced. '' I thought for sure you'd want to hand out with him but I' sure that's not true.''
Kagome gave Inuyasha a confused look, and he tapped POOL VOLLEYBALL with one finger. '' I'm team captain,'' he said. '' Cynthia, - the woman in charge of pool activities - asked me to because I've had lifeguard training. ''
'' Oh, '' she said. Now what? On one hand, if she stuck with frisbee, she wouldn't be acting like a real girlfriend, would she? But on the other hand ... pool volleyball meant a bathing suit. In front of Inuyasha and , worse, Kikyo. At least the red bikini was safely hidden under he bed at home.
'' Come on, '' Inuyasha said, taking one of her hands in both of his larger ones. '' It'll be fun.''
'' You don't really want me on your team.'' Kagome said. '' I'm totally terrible.''
'' I know, '' Inuyasha said. '' I want you on the other guy's team.''
Kagome swatted him with her free hand. '' That is no way to talk to your girlfriend.'' she said, forgetting for a moment that Kikyo was right there, intently watching them.
'' You're right,'' he said. '' My apologies, sugar plum. I'm sorry honey pie. I'll never do it again, my little pumpkin. Is that better?''
She wrinkled her nose at him. '' I feel so edible all of a sudden.''
'' Cute enough to eat,'' he said. Kagome looked down at the table, turning slight pink. He didn't have to overact quite so much. Kikyo would catch on if he kept being ridiculous.
'' Adorable,'' Rin said, shaking her haid. '' I aspire to be that adorable.''
Kikyo stood oup, grabbed Rin's arm, and yanked her away. As they hurried off, Kagome heard Kikyo whisper '' Nauseating,'' just loudly enough for Kagome to hear. But because of Inuyasha's heritage. He also heard it.
Kagome pulled her hand free and wrapped up the remains of her sandwich. Now that they were gone, how was she supposed to act?
'' I think it's going well,'' Inuyasha said. '' Don't you?''
'' Um, sure.'' Kagome said. In the sense of my not being literally dead yet, anyway.
'' You don't really have to do volleyball if you don't want to.'' he said.
'' That's okay.'' Kagome said. '' I'm sure it'll be fun. Besides, after tennis, I could use a swim.''
'' Have I said thank you for this?'' Inuyasha asked. '' Because seriously, thank you for this.''
'' I'm not sure I'm helping.'' Kagome said. '' She's still paying so much attention to you.''
'' I'm sure she'll get over it soon,'' Inuyasha said. '' You won't have to pretend for much longer.''
So, insetad of pretending to date you ... I can go back to pretending I don't like you. Kagome sighed. When do I finally get to stop pretending?