ch 4

The first thing I felt was a dull, throbbing pain on my forehead. Propping myself up on my elbow, my hand searched for the source of pain on my head. When I felt bandage around my head, I snapped my eyes open and was taken aback by the first thing I saw. It was a huge flat screen tv that I knew definitely did not belong to me. Where was I?

"Huuuuhhh," a voice behind me sighed so loud that I nearly fell off the bed in surprise at the fact that someone had been there the whole time. I hastily turned around at the sound and when I saw who it was, I blinked hard in surprise. Hikaru Hitachiin, or Kaoru for all I knew, was sitting right in front of me. Legs crossed and signature indifferent face, he stared hard and long at me while my cheeks flushed and I started to touch my face. It was an old habit of mine to look for something on my face if I was being stared at. When my hand fluttered around my nose and felt dry blood, a sudden feeling of self consciousness came over me. I instinctively clamped both hands over my nose and looked up at the boy next to me. "Ti-tissue?" I stuttered feeling a bit vulnerable. I was all alone with a boy I barely knew, much less talked to. He grimaced before turning around and grabbing a box from the wooden drawer behind him. I cautiously took the box from his hands and attempted to be discreet by turning around so my back faced him. As I blindly tried to rub off all the blood without a mirror, I could still feel his gaze on my back boring into me, making me shift uncomfortably. My face burned red with embarrassment when the real question hit me. Why am I even here, alone, with him?!

"I'm pretty sure that nosebleed is least of your problems right now." I suddenly tensed when I heard him say that, and turned to face him.

"Why are you here?", I asked without realizing how stupid the question sounded. He rolled his eyes before answering.

"We'll I don't know. Why would I be in my house? he sarcastically responded.

I sighed and dragged my hand down my face.

"Okay.. Stupid question.." I mumbled the last bit, "So why am I atyour house?" I said my hand stuck still on my mouth.

"Would you have preferred lying unconscious under the stairwell at school. From what I know, you don't like to draw attention, right?"

I looked down at my lap having nothing to say. Finally I looked up and quietly said the only thing I could,"Thank you. For helping me–twice."

"Twice?" he asked.

I half smiled before I answered. "I'm the clumsy girl who tripped down the stairs a couple days ago.."

"Oh yes, now I remember. New girl!"

"What was that?" I looked up. I didn't think he had heard me..

"Well.. it's just... I'm not new. I've been going to this school for a quite a while actually."

"Oh.." He said looking a bit dumbfounded, as if he didn't think I could respond. "Well.. your new to me.. I don't believe I've ever seen you at the club?"

"Nope."

"..Why?" He asked, as if insulted.

"I mean.. It's just not my cup of tea. That's all.." I said the last part rather shyly, and looked away suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh.." Was all he said for a while looking a bit lost. He seemed to have brushed it off in few seconds though. "So, I guess now you owe me.." He said with a smirk returning to his face, while raising his head as if to look down on me. I sighed internally.

I wondered how much I'd have to give him..

"I guess so." We were silent for a few moments. The only noise came from outside of the room of maids chatting and cleaning. I awkwardly stared down at my legs underneath the cover. What now? After a few moments I decided to get up. It was getting late and I was already past curfew. But as soon as my foot touched the ground, I collapsed on all fours and grunted with pain. Hikaru dashed around the bed to where I was and helped me sit back on the bed while I stared and poked at my swollen red ankle.

"I'll get a doct–"

"No!" I said a little louder than usual. "I just.. You've done enough for me already. Can you please just take me home?" My voice sounded airy and tired. The truth was I was exhausted. I felt as if someone were hammering armor in my head. When I looked up he was staring at me strangely, as if I were an alien.

"Alright. Let's go." He said tersely.

XxX

I couldn't look at his face as he carried me slung over his shoulder. I was glad. I wouldn't have been able to stand it if he saw how embarrassed I was to be in this position. My face was flushed the whole way through the corridors and into the car. The ride was even more awkward. It was completely silent except for the few directions I gave to my house. We were there in less than fifteen minuets. But my heart stopped the second we pulled up in my driveway and I saw my father's car. I had almost forgotten that today was the day my father got home from his business trip. I was supposed to go to the airport right after school. Knowing my mother, she must have already sent out a search party.

"Ohh on.." I mumbled mostly to myself.

"I'll help you to the door if that's what's wrong." I put my face in my hands as I looked at the time. I wasway past curfew.

"I'm so dead..", I whispered to myself.

"Care to explain?" he asked pointedly.

"I'm past curfew. And just look at me! My parents will freak if they find out what happened, especially my dad."

"Well what did happen? You didn't explain to me either." I shifted a little in my seat, uncomfortable. I didn't really want to tell him that I was beat up for throwing away the card he gave me. But at the same time, I knew that he deserved an explanation.

"Some girls beat me up."

He stared at me for a while before answering."You know you're really good at pointing out the obvious."

I sighed. "I'd rather just leave it at that."

"Fine. But let's go." He quickly pulled the keys out and opened the door.

"Wait! What? No I'm not rea–"

"Want to pay me back? Play dead."

I stared hard at him as he walked over to my side of the car an opened the door. "What?" I asked confused.

His arms were spread out wide as he urged me toward him. "Or pretend to sleep. I'll explain to your parents...And not get you in trouble." He added the last part as an after thought.

"What- what do you mean?"

"Just hurry up and you'll see. C'mon!" I stared at him for while. I didn't know him, at all really. My mind didn't want to trust him. It really didn't want to trust anyone.. however he did just.. well save me, and I didn't have much of a choice. At that moment this was my only option. So I took it.

As we approached the front door, he reached out to knock, but I grabbed his fist beforehand. "Wait!" He lifted an eyebrow in question. "My name is Mayumi. Katayama Mayumi..", I said softly.

He smiled down at me cockily and shook my hand. "Hitachiin Hikaru". When he said that I couldn't help but smile too. Maybe it was his friendly tone or natural charm but I felt a little giddy when I saw him smile for me for the first time, although I'd never admit it. "Now sleep." He knocked the door three times and in no less than three seconds I heard the door click and swing open. I didn't have to open my eyes to know it was my mother.

"Oh my.. Mayumi! What happened?! Ambulance. I'll call one right awa—" I could hear my mother starting to shuffle around for her phone.

"Don't worry Mayu-chan is alright. She just needs some rest", he said calmly.

"Wh-rest? I..she..look at her!", I knew my mother was about to start hyperventilating soon.

"She just got hurt in accident at school," I felt him shift and since my face was facing his chest, I opened my eye. He put one hand on my mom's shoulder. I was surprised that she actually calmed down. "I brought her home and took care of her. I'll explain but I think we should put her in her bed first."

"Al-alright.." My mother had always been a headstrong woman. What she says goes, however now she was letting a high schooler sway her. Maybe it's the voice or the pretending to be considerate, but I couldn't understand how he had such an effect on women.

I hear the clicking of my mother's heels in front of us as she lead the way to my room. When I heard the door creak open and felt Hikaru lay me down on my bed. They soon left my room and I was able to open my eyes. I pressed my ear to the door and was able to hear Hikaru explaining to my mother about the "accident" at school. Apparently, I tripped and fell down into the steep part of the woods after school when I had tried to catch a ball for the baseball team. Not the best excuse, but I couldn't say I'd come up with any better. But then I heard a third voice. My father.

"So what exactly do you have to do with all this?"

"The infirmary was closed and I didn't know her home address so I took her to my house. I am her boyfriend after all."