Ch 10

The next morning, I rolled out of bed and into a cold shower. I immediately sighed when I got in. The cold felt good against my skin and almost instantly cleared my mind of all previous half asleep thoughts. For a moment, I almost felt relaxed, the sound of the shower loud enough to drown out my own thoughts. However, that annoying little voice in the back of my mind, you know, the one who almost fearfully reminds of you of things that you dreaded the most, piped up. Don't forget to invite him.. My lips contorted into a scowl and something inside of me fluttered a little. Should I be excited or scared..? I stepped out of the shower and changed into the yellow marshmallow I called a uniform. After scarfing down a bowel of sugary cereal and hot coffee I escaped out the front door, but not fast enough to miss my mother's reminder from upstairs: "Don't forget to invite your friends, Mayumi!"

It took no time at all to get to the school, where I quietly walked to my locker and slipped in through the door of the classroom. There was the normal morning eagerness that I had no idea how most other student's had, when I walked in, however when the door thumped close, everyone jumped and all eyes landed on me, when I was almost at my seat. I looked around at the hungry set of eyes unsurely and saw that the twins were not even here yet. Not that it mattered. I doubt they would do anything about anyway. I felt blood rush up to my face and sat down, feeling myself tense under their intense stares and whispers most definately meant for me to hear. I pursed my lips, and I felt my heart start beating faster. And faster. And fast-

Thump! Matsu's hand slammed down on my desk making me jump and look up at her, eyebrows arched in surprise. "What?" She asked sharply, staring each and every one of them down until they silently turned around, scared to look her in the eye. When their loud chatter started up again, Matsu sat down backwards in the chair in front of me. "When they do that, act natural. They pretty much feed off your reaction.."

"How?" I asked wearily. Their eyes, beady little orbs, were always what got me the most.

"I don't know.. You read, don't you. Get lost in a book or something.." I nodded. I could try that.

"They're going to keep staring, aren't they? I'm really not that interesting to watch.."

"Yeah well, you are now that you have something to do with him." She said shooting a glance to the twins who just walked in through the doors, both with easy nonchalent faces. I stared helplessly as girls waited on them by their joint desks or rather 'thrones'. I frowned in distaste. How can they just throw themsleves at them? And then the twins act as of it was nothing! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matsu eyeing me funny.

"What..?" I asked cautuiosly.

She smiled. "Mayu, be honest. Do you like that jerk or what?" I fliched a little, taken aback by her sudden question.

"What? No! I-don't, I- just no." I said rubbing my arm for comfort. I didn't like him. Why would I anyway? It's not like he's been particularly kind or anything. Well not that much. I would never forget that streak of playfulness I saw in him that first day.. "I have to invite him to the party on Saturday.." I said miserably, putting my face to the desk. We had talked about it over the phone yesterday.

"Aw, come on, woman up! I bet he'll say yes."

"For all I know, he'll laugh in my face." I said.

"Psh!", she waved me off, "he's probably dying to see you in a dress."

I blushed. "Ha-ha," I said, "very funny. And he's already seen me in a dress." I said gesturing down at the uniform.

"That hardly counts. These are more like yellow..."

"Marshmallows..?" I offered.

"Exactly!" She snapped agreeing. A second later, the bell rang and she knocked on my desk before moving back to her own seat in the front. I picked my head up and looked around the room while sensei started to call attendance. I was lost in my own thoughts until he finally called "Hitachiin Hikaru!"

"Here." I looked over at his seat towards the front of the room as he lazily stood up. His brother was called next and did the same. Identical faces. Ever since kindergarten, when I had first met them, they were together always moving in-sync with each other and only each other. No one could get around that bubble, and even if you just touched it, you'd be roughly pushed back. And it hurt. Or at least, that's what it seemed like. Anyone who even attempted communication, would always end up hurt. Emotionally speaking. I, like any other kid, wondered the same thing as the rest. They were quiet too. Like me. I always imagined that if I did get the courage to talk to them, we'd have a lot in common. I wanted to so bad, when I was younger, but after watching kid after kid, each failing whatever test you needed to pass, I pretty much abandoned the idea completely. In middle school, when I was pretty much at my lowest point, with everyone attacking me, everybody left them alone. They were scared of them and their evil smirks that was pretty much a death sentence. And now, it seems as if it was all forgotten. They were popular, handsome, and pretty much thriving. I would have never expected to find all that under their smirks. Now that I more or less knew them, I think maybe it's best that I never talked to them in elementary school. They seemed crueler back then. Realizing I had been staring at Hikaru the whole time, I noticed Kaoru was looking at me with a curious, almost happy expression on his face. I gave him a shy embarrassed smile. He returned it and looked back down at his work. Strange. But instead of dwelling on it, I decided to concentrate. Focus on the lesson..

The lunch bell rang a few hours later, and I slowly moved out of the classroom with my lunch bag in tow. Standing next to the door, I held my breath as people pushed and shoved their way out towards the lunch room. While I looked down the long carpeted corridors, I jumped at the feel of a hand on my shoulder. With wide eyes, I turned around to see it was Matsu, with Nisa rocking back in forth be her side."Gosh Matsu,I thought you were him!" I said, lightly hitting her side. She smirked and Nisa piped up.

"We just wanted to say good luck!" She siad shifting her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

"Thanks," I said letting out the breath I'd been holding in for so long. "But I think I'll be okay."

"Of course. It shouldn't be too hard to ask your boyfriend." Matsu joked.

I rolled my eyes. "Fake boyfriend. To two people." I said wiggling my index and middle fingers at them.

Suddenly, Nisa's bright eyes, became large and serious and full of respect. "Uh, Mayu I think you should get going.." She whispered looking starstruck at Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi who were chatting, already on their way to the lunchroom. My eyes widened.

"Yeah, I guess I should." I said, nervously eyeing them. "See you guys.." I said waving and starting to quickly catch up to their pace. After a few long strides, I was right behind them. I bit my lip nervously, and turned around to see that Nisa and Matsu were already gone. No turning back now.. I sucked in a breath and rolled my shoulders back. "Ahem.." I coughed loudly behind them, and immediately they turned around with curious faces. I felt my throat go dry as they all looked at me weirdly, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked up at Hikaru with big eyes. "Uhm, sh-should I-"

"I'll catch up with you guys later, in the cafeteria." He said.

"Sure," Said Haruhi.

"See you later Mayumi-chan." Called Kaoru over his shoulder as the pair walked away toward the lunchroom. When they disappeared from my field of vision, I looked up to find Hikaru looking at me curiously. He folded his arms over his chest and peered down at me.

"I don't need you for lunch today. You can run along outside with your little friends." He said wiggling his fingers toward the direction of the door with a smirk on his face.

Run along? What was I, five? Suddenly, my nerves had subsided. "Fine." I said crossing my own arms across my chest.

"Ooh! I'm so scared of this face," He said stepping closer and pinching my cheeks.

I tensed up at his sudden touch. My small flame of defiance was blown away, and taken over by a strange fluttery feeling and surprise. I swallowed and looked up at him confused from under my bangs as I felt my face tint pink.

He flashed a quick, tiny smile and immediately he turned away. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he blushed a little. Maybe he did.. "Later.." His voice echoed through the empty hall. I was the only one to hear it, feeling glued to the ground below me until he was out of sight.

I turned quickly and scrambled down the empty halls toward the exit. I touched my warm face with my cold hands to cool down. With my lunch bag swinging helplessly behind me, I marched with a pale face toward the big tree where my two friends sat. With confused faces, they spotted me as I sat wordlessly sat in between the two. They peered over me at each other before looking at me.

"Soooo.. What's up..?" asked Nisa although she seemed unsure of the question itself.

"He didn't need me for lunch today. No big deal." I said quickly.

"Well did you ask him?" Matsu asked nudging my shoulder.

"Errrm.."

"You should've just asked him!"

"I will. Later. It's just that I forgot right now.."

"Really? You forgot " Nisa said not believing me.

"Yeah! I swear!" I said, though even I noticed my voice rising a few octaves when I said that.

"Are you sure you don't like him?" Matsu asked pensively.

"I already told you no, okay! I just forgot. He's not my real boyfriend, I know that. How could I even like him? What would give you that idea!?" I exclaimed my face turning pink, and my eyebrows furrowed worriedly. I didn't like him, right? He was.. him. Liking him would be a waste of time. We don't fit together..

Why was I even thinking about this?!

"Well your cheeks are flushed.." Nisa said.

"Just look at your palms!" Matsu pointed out.

I stretched my hand out and glanced at the crescent moons that covered my palms. I sighed in defeat. Clenching my hands into fists was my nervous habit since I was little. That and blushing.

"Whatever..", I murmured, covering my hands with the sleeve of my sweater and running them down my face. "Let's just drop it, alright guys?" I said smiling tiredly at and Matus shot each other a look before shrugging their shoulders. Soon enough, conversation started again, although I was only half listening.

The lunch bell rang and I got up and headed for the bathroom inside. I stood in front of the last mirror and sink and tied my hair all the way back before splashing some cold water on my face. What did liking someone even mean? What did it.. require? I mean, I was still a girl and I knew what was..physically attractive, but I was sure liking someone was different. I had never really had a 'crush' per say on a boy. There was never a boy I was close enough to to like. But Hikaru was just.. different. I can't say that I exactly wanted to be his friend, but being around him was just felt.. right in a way. He kind of just popped into my life out of nowhere and although he was kind of a jerk at first, he seemed to be changing. Kind of. Well at least he wasn't so mean anymore. Just obnoxious. But I could live with that.. He wouldn't be Hikaru without being obnoxious anyways.

I washed my hands and threw out the paper towel on my way out of the bathroom. As I brushed some hair behind my ear and flipped my bangs back in place, I looked up to see that I had run into someone.

"Wah! I'm sorry!" I said stepping back, but when I looked up at the guy, I frowned in confusion. "Hikaru?"

He seemed to have been surprised at the sound of his name, but otherwise seemed amused at my reaction to bumbing into him. "Here." He said handing me card. I flipped it over and my eyes widened in surprise. It was the same host card he had given to me the first day I had tripped down the stairs. "Come to the club today."

"Ah I–"

"Nuh-uh-uh," he said waving a long finger at me, "No arguing with the boss." I squinted my eyes at him, when suddenly the bell rang. Gosh, I couldn't be late to clas anymore. I looked at him, opening my mouth, yet not saying anything. "Just go." He said shaking his head a little.

"Ye-yeah." I quickly made my way around him, trying to find the least crowded route to take to class. I was already a few feet in front of him when he called out.

"Hey! Katayama-chan! Don't rip this one up, alright?" I stopped dead in my tracks. He knew. I sucked in a sharp breath and abruptly turned around. Straining my neck and on my tip toes, I looked for him but he was no where to be seen in the sea of people. Question after question surfaced my mind but after being roughly pushed by a tall guy behind me, I frowned and scurried along back to class, where I spent the afternoon trying to keep my mind on triangles and formulas. It didn't work.

Hmm.. feelings are being realized!