Chapter Seventeen

"Len! What are you two doing?" Rin demands. Len and I immediately pull away from each other and blurt out two different lies. Rin rolls her eyes.

"What kind of- ugh!" Rin stutters. "I'm not an idiot!"

"Sorry Rin, we were just-"

"No, you "weren't just"! I'm so tired of you running off with girls and just-! Ugh!" Rin nearly screams, clutching fistfuls of her blonde hair.

I stare at Len intensely. Running of with girls? Is that what Rin was angry about? Suddenly, I get a really uncomfortable feeling that I'm not Len's first kiss. Apparently, it shows on my face.

"Madoka-sama, that's not true! It's not what you think!" he starts, a concerned countenance on his creased face. His deep cerulean eyes jump from apologetic to fearful.

"Len, what does she mean running off with girls?" I demand.

"Nothing! I don't- You're the only-" Len stammers. Unexpectedly, I feel as if a part of me is being torn in two- just like Teto's notebook.

"Rin! Is this true?" I ask. Len's eyes widen, something brimming inside of them. My voice cracks.

"Yes! I'm not a liar, either!" Rin yells, grabbing Len's arm. "Come on, we have to go. You're late to Jazz Band anyway!" she growls, dragging him out into the hall down in the other direction. "And you're not coming over again, Madoka! Ever!"

She shouldn't have to worry. I'm never even speaking to Len again.

As soon as I get into the faculty room, Gumi, Luka, Ia, and Sweet Ann are already gathered around the table talking and giggling.

"I can't wait! It's going to be so dreamlike with everyone dancing!" Sweet Ann swoons, closing her eyes.

"Are you going with anyone?" Luka asks Ann.

"Of course! My sweet Big Ally-poo," Sweet Ann giggles, flicking Luka in the shoulder. Luka flicks her back in the forehead.

Love. How stupid. It's strange how for a minute you can think one thing about something, then the next- you're totally opposed to even hearing the idea.

"Are you going with anyone?" asks Gumi, seeing me walk in.

"Well, I was," I grumble. Ia shows a look of concern.

"What happened?" she asks.

"Who was it?" inquires Luka.

"Are you okay?" Sweet Ann pipes in.

"I'm fine, you guys… I guess. And i-it was uh…" I stutter.

"Who was it? I'll be sure to punch whoever it was straight in the face!" Gumi growls, lifting her fists up.

"Len Kagamine," I sigh. Gumi slams them down on the table and nearly faints.

"Len Kagamine? But he's so… nice! He would never-"

"It wasn't really him. Well, it was… but… it was more…" I splutter. "Gumi, has Len ever kissed anyone?" I ask, "O-Or do you know?"

Gumi takes a moment to think. "Well, once in second grade, he kissed Miku, but that was on the cheek… and because of a dare that Kaito made," she tells me.

"Really? That's it?" I ask, contorting my face into a confused frown.

"Yeah. Why?" she asks.

"No reason. On a completely different topic, do you play guitar?" I ask her. Gumi brightens up a little bit.

"Guitar? Heck yeah! Have you ever heard my song My Crush was a Monster Boy?" she says enthusiastically.

"Oh boy, here we go," says Luka, her head in her hands.

"That was all me! Oh, oh! And my other song called Ten Faced! I mean, that didn't really have much guitar in it, but it was really good!" she boasts.

"Cool, Gumi. I only needed a simple yes," I sigh. Luka looks at me, with a nod of her head and flip of her hand. "And I'll be sure to listen to those," I quickly add. Luka, Sweet Ann, and Ia all simultaneously give me thumbs up.

"Well, Miku, Len and I are working on our song for Songwriting class, and we all just thought it would be nice if you could play guitar with us," I say. Gumi practically flies out of her seat, her shoulder-length emerald hair flying with her.

"Of course, Madoka-san! I'd love to!" she says, breathlessly. I smile. At least one thing went right at the end of today.