Thank you for the reviews! No, really. (;
lols, anyways, how many of you guys remember my other deleted un-finished story called, 'Can't Happen Here'? Y'know… where Toshi held Momo captive-ish bcos he robbed a bank and they ended up getting stuck inside a cabin together and shizzle…
No one? Not a spark of remembrance? Haha, that's okay, but for those of you who do remember, I'm thinking about re-posting it up. O.O Not fer ser tho, still 50/50.
Chapter eight: Project Partners
"Hina, we've been friends for a long time, so when I ask you this I want the truth." Karin had said the moment she released my arm. She had dragged me over to another part of the school; it was faintly secluded, with very few students present.
I nodded; I already had a stabbing feeling about what this conversation was going to lead to. "Sure, what's up?"
The frown that had formed on her face deepened, "Do you like Toushiro?" the question was so forward and straight to the point that I was clueless at first. She tapped her foot on the ground, impatiently waiting for my answer. "Well?"
Normally in a situation like this, I would instantly be shocked and back myself up with saying no, but in this case, I could only laugh nervously. I knew the answer in my head. There was no way I liked him, not one little bit. Hell, the snow white wasn't even on my top ten list—not like I had one—but even so, why couldn't I find it within myself to deny her question?
"Karin, what made you say that?" I figured it was alright to ask, because if I knew what I had done to spark her sudden jealousy in the two of us, then all I had to do was not do whatever it was I had done. Heavens, the drama of being a teenage girl.
Karin sighed, slightly annoyed with me asking my own question over hers. "Like I said, we've been friends for a long time, in fact, I love you like my second sister," she paused for a bit, "and Hina, whether I'm right or wrong, I just can't shake the feeling that somehow, you actually do like him."
I clenched my teeth and smiled nervously, "Oh… well…" I let out a small laugh to try and break the sudden tension between us, "Honestly, you don't have to worry about that, there's no way I feel anything for the snow white."
She cocked her head to the side in confusion, "Snow white?"
Grinning, I pointed to my hair, "You know… white?"
Her lips formed an 'o' as she understood. Her frown had disappeared and she gave me one of her rare sweet smiles, "You're a great friend Momo." She said, surprisingly innocently that it sparked my own suspicions, "That's why… I'd like you to help me."
My brows knotted in confusion, as usual, Karin's rare smiles came at a price. "Help you with what?"
Her gaze softened as she placed both hands on my shoulders, "Hina," she started, her voice low and uncertain, "this is embarrassing to admit, but in the four years of knowing Toushiro I've never actually had the courage to talk to him the way you do and you've only known him for like three days…"
I nodded, still unsure of where she was heading, "And that's why… after seeing you guys today, I thought that maybe you could get him to take notice of me." Tears pooled in her eyes as she asked me this, and the grip she had on my shoulders tightened.
"Karin… I--,"
"I know I'm not as pretty as the other girls that are constantly around him, and that I'm more boyish than I am girlish, but Hina, I'm trying so hard! And I've been trying for so long now, doing things that are completely out of character, and he still hasn't noticed me!" By now the tears had streaked down her cheeks, her eyes pained and hopeless.
For the second time today, I felt my own eyes beginning to well up. I embraced her in a hug, and her head rested on my shoulder as she cried. I rubbed her back and did my best to comfort her; the girl was pouring her heart out and doing her best to be noticed by the guy she likes.
"Karin, you have no idea how wrong you are—you're a beautiful, caring and just a naturally great person to be around. Whenever something happens between friends, your always there to comfort them, even if you yourself, have your own problems to deal with." She shook her head, not trusting my words. But I wasn't lying, not one word was a lie.
"You don't give yourself the credit you deserve, you say I care more about my friends than I do myself, but the truth is, you're the one who would jump in front of a speeding bullet to save someone you care for. Because Karin, that's the kind of person you are, and you shouldn't have to change who you are for a boy who's to dense to see who you really are, or what your worth."
She pulled back from the embrace, her cheeks flushed and eyes puffy and red. With a small smile, she wiped away the remnants of her tears and stood tall, "Thank you Hina, you always seem to know the right things to say."
I smiled, albeit cheesily and patted her head, "Why of course, I learn from the master—now turn that frown upside down."
A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she shook her head at my lame sense of humor. "So… does that mean that you'll help me?" she gave me the cutest of her pouts as she asked, hands clasped together in a pleading way.
Sighing, I gave in to her wishes; after all, what could go wrong? "Of course I'll help you Karin."
Her eyes shined in pure delight as she hugged me briefly and twirled around—completely out of character—and gave me a thumbs up, "I'm counting on you, Momo!" her smile widened and she bowed quickly in gratitude, you could hardly tell that she had been crying in the first place.
"Thanks again, Hina!" Karin called, clearly ecstatic as she jogged off.
I waved lazily, and rolled my eyes. That girl never ceases to amaze me.
The moment I stepped into my apartment, I was flooded with relief and tranquility. Honestly, school was made to torture kids. Nagging teachers, truck loads of homework and assignments and to top it off, some of the students had a stick shoved so far up their rear it drove me crazy.
I set my bag down and kicked my shoes off before I wandered off into my room. School uniforms sucked, to put it simply, but at least I didn't have to worry about what to wear every morning.
As I re-changed into something comfortable—a baggy grey jumper and white shorts—to be exact, a light knock sounded from the door. In a rush, a tidied up what little mess I had made since arriving back home and scampered to the door. All instincts told me it was Karin, but as I opened the door, I was given a not to pleasant surprise.
"Afternoon Baka-peach."
Embarrassed with my attire I hid behind the door and poked my head out, frowning in displeasure at his presence. "What the hell, did you follow me home?" were my first words before I finished with, "Stalker!"
He rolled his eyes at my immaturity and said, "Is that how you greet people?"
I frowned, he was going to get me into trouble with Karin again, and since she was only one floor below me… heck, I didn't even want to know the consequences. "What are you doing here?" I inquired, thoroughly annoyed.
He shrugged, running his fingers through his hair, "Were project partners and I figured, the sooner we get it finished the better."
My lips formed an 'o' as I understood his explanation. The sooner we finished, the sooner I didn't I have to worry about him. And then I realized, this would be the perfect opportunity to get Karin noticed by him. I went through all the pros and con's but thought of nothing other than how over the joy Karin would be to finally be dating the boy.
"Well…" He said, interrupting my thoughts as he stood awkwardly outside my apartment, "Aren't you going to let me in?"
I shook my head, mentally scolding myself for tuning out. "Oh, right, come on in," stepping out of the way, I allowed him entrance.
He stepped inside, hands inside his pockets, as he looked around my small apartment. "No parents?" he asked, scanning over my belongings and searching for any other human life.
I shook my head and shut the door, "I have parents, but their sorta living in New Zealand at the moment…" walking over to my couch I sat down and crossed my legs, much like a little kid would do in primary school and patted a spot beside me, "You can sit, you know—I don't bite."
His dazzling smirk stunned me momentarily as he went to sit beside me. I had to constantly remind myself that Karin was the one who liked him—not me!
"So… where do we start, whitey?"
Ignoring the name he leaned in further into the couch, his arms folding behind his head, "We could just make a simple DNA model, or whatever, I don't really care." His eyes glanced around the room one more time, "So, does that mean were alone?"
I looked at him, puzzled, before realizing what he meant. "Don't even think about it." I warned, scooting further away from him so that I was more on the floor than on the couch.
He chuckled, amused with my reaction before grabbing my wrist and pulling me closer to him. A teasing smile evident on his handsome face, "I was kidding," he held onto my wrist firmly, not yet letting go, "besides, you're not my type."
As he leaned forward, I leaned backwards, in the process trapping myself between the couch and him. "Are you making fun of me?" I said, my annoyance with him expanding, "Because I've heard a lot of pick-up lines and getting made fun of definitely takes the prize."
Toushiro's ever charming smirk once again played across his lips as his spare hand rested lightly on my hip, his breath was hot on my neck.
"Who say's I'm trying to come on to you?"
What? Toushiro's coming on to Hina? /gasp/
Sucha Pimp. lolol.
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