Hey you guys! Sorry for not updating fast! The plot is not so solid right now, so if you guys are confused and whatnot, feel free to tell so. And also, this chappie is kind of hard to understand. Forgive me guys! I tried my best! And BTW, this is my first shot at light romance. Tell me if I'm doing my job right. Flames are welcome since I got this little thing called a fire extinguisher.
Flashback
"What's wrong, Atobe? You seem so...distracted." Oshitari directed his gaze toward the diva.
"Ore-sama is... a bit intrigued by that girl we saw in the gym yesterday," was the teen's reply.
"You mean Fujiwara-san?"
"Ah...yes. Ore-sama wants to get to know her better."
"What do you mean? You can always use Insight on her," Oshitari raised his eyebrows.
"That's just it. Insight does not work on her."
*****
Rukia's POV
Friends.
I have about a million of them back in Hawaii. But here in Japan? Zilch, nada, zip, zero.
So you must imagine how weird it was for THE Hyoutei Tennis Regulars to want to start hanging out with me, a small insignificant, nobody.
It made me feel insecure. They made me feel insecure. It sounds damn fucking pathetic I know, but they're kind of the first human interaction that I've had for who knows how many eons. They made me feel insecure, as if I wasn't good enough to be their friend.
As if in every single way, I'm not.
They made me feel pathetic. They were giving me pity and I did NOT like pity. They were only trying to become my friends because they felt sorry for me.
Gritting my teeth in frustration, I turned my mind to Jirou. The only regular I didn't feel any grudge against. He was sweet, friendly and warm. He understood me implicitly and he could be a bundle of laughs when he was in hyper mode.
He fit my guy description. Sweet. Caring. Friendly. Undeniably cute.
Where did that come from?!
Then, my mind took a turn down Atobe Lane.
He was handsome, sure. But, so what? I've met several charming guys in my life and he isn't someone who would stand out, honestly.
But there's just something about his personality that compels me to search for him whenever I see the regulars. It amuses me that he takes his ego to the extent that he believes himself a god.
But...he's just...
Too much like him.
I could almost hear Janni (1).
'You are so pathetic, Ru! Get up, go dress into something nice, call Atobe and the guys and tell them you wanna hang! Prove to them you're not a retarded whore! Prove you can have fun too.'
Well, bullshit to you Janni. I am staying here and loafing around the house.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Oh, bullshit.
******
Nobody's POV
"Did we really have to pick her up to go to the movie theater?" Moaned Gakuto, stretching in Atobe's limo, as said diva's chauffeur walked up the steps in front of Rukia's house.
Atobe merely raised an eyebrow at Gakuto and the rest of his teammates.
"Why, ore-sama is being kind! And besides, did you not express your wishes to get to know her better yourself, Gakuto?"
"Drop the act, Atobe."
"Well, Gakuto, if you want ore-sama to 'drop the act', then ore-sama bades you a good 34 kilometer walk back to your house." Atobe suggested, gesturing to the door.
If Atobe was honest, which he is most certainly not, he would have told his teammates that there was another reason why he wanted to get to know Fujiwara Rukia, aside from the fact that Insight did not work on her.
Ever since Atobe had seen her in the gym, the true her, he'd had this unexplainable feeling of wanting to be close to her, wanting to know he was of some significance to the one and only girl in the whole of Hyoutei who did not bow to Atobe.
He wanted to be her...what? Friend? More than?
What was this? Why did he want to see her so much? She was nothing and yet, she was everything. It was like love at first sight.
She wasn't even close to looking like his dream girl. Sure, she was really pretty, but that was it. All that Insight had told him that this girl was hiding under a cave of hurt and anger. His dream girl was graceful, polite, and ever beautiful. Rukia may be pretty, but she was far from beautiful, she wasn't polite (really, the words she spoke would shame a Sicilian capo) and she was not the least bit graceful.
Did he hate her?
No.
Did he like her?
That, Atobe considered, is a really good question.
******
Rukia's POV
Grumbling, I quickly tugged on a pair of skinny jeans.
My inner hermit crab was yelling at me to wear baggy jeans and maybe if, I was lucky, they would take one look at me and think I was the ugliest girl on this planet and run away screaming for their mommies.
But inner Janni would not rest. She sliced up the hermit crab and served it for dinner.
I swear, I do not know why Atobe and the guys are even bothering. Clearly, I am not up to their standards so why won't they just leave me alone?
I'm already through enough pain. They just need to double it by making me feel like a complete retard shit loner.
My eye twitched and I fingered the fabric of a deep blue sleeveless shirt that I had gotten on my birthday. It was deep blue, with light blue strips and a small blue ribbon with a mini pearl on it.
It had been given to me...by... my ex-boyfriend.
Was I ready to enter that phase? Was I ready to atcually start healing? Or would I just toil in hurt and betrayalment for the rest of my life?
That was another reason for keeping to myself. Trust could sometimes be placed in the wrong persons and I had been stupid enough to give it to Lee. And he had been stupid enough to abuse it.
Sighing, I pushed the shirt to the back of my closet and plucked out a dark purple sleeveless with turquoise beads embedded on the front. What I forgot was the inscription in the back. If I had seen it there and then, I would have removed that shirt faster than you could say 'ketchup'. But since, I didn't, I merely tugged it on and raced down the stairs, saying goodbye to my excited mom and my all too unwilling dad.
*******
Atobe's POV
I watched her during the ride to the movie theater.
Well, I wasn't the only one. Oshitari, Gakuto, Shishido, and Ootori were staring at her too. Scrutinizing this girl who had managed to deflect Insight and probably wondering what the hell was so special about her.
The only one who wasn't watching Fujiwara was Jirou. And that was because of the fact that he was actually talking to her.
I watched as Jirou's orange locks mized with her ebony ones. His curls grazed the side of her cheek as he talked animatedly.
Suddenly, I felt a disturbing twinge in my heart. Hm. Must be the heat getting to me.
Frowning, I didn't see Oshitari smirking at me.
Why was Jirou so close to Fujiwara? He'd known her for approximately the same amount of time I did her. But why was he the only one Fujiwara talked to without the slightest trace of shyness or complete indifference?
Like she was with me.
Fujiwara was indifferent to me. She had merely said hi to me when she slid inside the limo. Then everybody started beaning her with questions to get to know her better.
I, on the other hand, watched and was mesmerized.
At how her ebony hair falls and follows her every move in one single wave. How her lips twitch when she fights a smile at the complete stupidness only the Hyoutei Tennis regulars can offer. At how her hazel eyes sparkle when they survey the surroundings, even though they are hidden by her glasses. At how her slender hand grasps the leather seats when she gets excited.
I could tell she was surprised and albeit offended when we offered to be her friend. She thought it was out of pity. But, with Jirou's cheerfulness and Gakuto's... lack of... well, everything that is considered smart, she consented, with a shy smile of her own.
That smile...I would like her... to smile for me.
******
Rukia's POV
"What movie?" I asked, pointing at the various posters around theater.
I cast a quizzical look at them. They all looked dumbfounded. Obviously, they did not think of picking movies before actually getting to the movie theater.
The day was starting out fine. Hm. Might as well go with the flow.
"Okay, let's just watch...Twilight?" I peered at the cover. It looked promising. I had already watched the trailer once and it sounded awesome. I was SO rooting for Bella and Edward.
Being the supreme romantic that he was, Oshitari immediately nodded a yes.
The others grumbled, a bit unsure whether Oshitari Yuushi's taste was to be trusted.
"Hey, I really wanna watch this one. It's got some action in it, and enough kisses to keep you guys excited." More like puke-induced.
Seven pairs of eyes questioned my sanity.
"No, just kidding guys! Can we just watch it anyway even though there aren't enough dirty scenes for your boyish testosterone fueled minds?" I put on my puppy dog eyes.
They crumbled.
I so won.
*******
Atobe's POV
Okay, so it wasn't entirely by chance.
So maybe I had purposely sidestepped Oshitari to be able to sit next to Fujiwara.
So what?
And so I also had purposely chosen the very end of the row of seats so that no Jirou would be hogging all her attention.
So what?
I wanted to know what I was feeling for her. And I would find out.
I watched as Fujiwara's eyes brightened as the credits began to roll.
Throughout the whole movie, I watched her bite her bottom lip at the part where the blond haired vampire tricks the female lead into thinking that her mother is with him.
She grinned and blushed lightly at the kissing scenes. Her lips twitched at the humor. Her fingers drummed on the seat.
"Do you want some popcorn?" I asked. My lips were barely a millimeter from her ear.
I felt her stiffen as she felt my breath on her cheek. Pink colored her cheeks as she finally assessed how close we were.
Somehow, A smirk made its' way to my mouth. I liked seeing her blush.
"N-no, thanks anyway," She stuttered, bending her head down low.
Grinning, I pulled away to give her some space. The poor girl looked like she was hyperventilating.
******
Rukia's POV
This is so not happening.
Keigo Atobe did not just do...that.
He did not just blow into your ear. You do not feel static electricity now.
Yeah right, I snorted, and when I see Shishido, I see flowers and hearts!
Narrowing my eyes, I tried to focus my stare at the huge movie screen. James was trying to kill Bella.
"Ne, Ruki-chan, do you think Bella's going to die?" I turned to look at Jirou who was in the row in front of me and Atobe, self proclaimed womanizer.
"No, Jirou-kun, I don't think so. Edward'll come get her. Just wait." I replied confidently, shifting in my seat.
"How come you know and I don't?" Jirou pouted.
"I just do. Edward is that sort of guy who'll do anything for Bella." I smiled cheerfully at Jirou. He grinned at me then proceeded to watch with big, warm brown eyes.
Sighing, I shifted a little bit.
Gosh, hasn't Atobe ever heard of personal space? I can practically feel his body heat.
I blushed once, as I felt fingers playing with my hair. What the hell did Atobe think he was doing?!
Was he suicidal?!
******
Atobe's POV
Smiling, I absentmindedly started playing with her hair.
If Jirou had ways of to steal her attention, I had ways to get them back.
I looked over at her for her reaction and I was not disappointed.
Her cheeks turned from pale cream to bright pink to crimson red and then to a passable imitation of Gakuto's hair.
Sighing, I settled back into the seat and continued watching my own personal "movie".
******
Rukia's POV
Life sucks and then you die (2).
I thought about this as me and Atobe rode home. It was raining. All the other regulars had either been dropped off at their respectable homes, or left to amuse themselves in the Arcade, leaving me and Atobe alone.
Dear God save me.
"Mm... tell me, Fujiwara-san. Why are you so cold to me?" He asked. I could feel him pulling at my hair gently.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Atobe-san." I turned my head away and willed myself to squash the urge to throw something.
"See, Fujiwara-san? There you go again. You know, the whole reason I've been trying to get your attention is that you seem to like Jirou more than me," Atobe unleashed the power of his left eyebrow at me.
Stunned, I turned to look at him in disbelief.
He took the chance and whipped my glasses off.
"Hm...your eyes are beautiful, Fujiwara-san," He mumbled.
I felt goose bumps spread across my skin. I have a sickness! Take me home! Take me home I'm begging you!
Gently, he swooped down and kissed by right cheek lightly.
I was beyond shocked.
"What was that for?!' I squeaked.
He shrugged, smirking.
"It said so on the back of your shirt."
'Kiss me now.'
(1): Janni- is one of Rukia's more outgoing friends make in Hawaii.
(2): Life sucks and then you die. - Jacob's "introduction" to his side of the story in Breaking Dawn.
GAH! What happens next? The suspense is killing me! (ironic, since I write this story) I'm sorry but you'll have to wait till I update again! I promise I'll speed it up! This fic is taking a major turn to AtobeXOC. I wanna hear your opinion, guys! Is Atobe OOC? Sorry if he is! Anyways, I am a total Twilight fan. I know it sounds suckish, believe me I also thought it was suckish when I first laid eyes on it. And here i am now, reading Breaking Dawn which is the last of the series. Thanks so much for reading! I love you all! And I want to thank you because without your continuing help and whatnot, I wouldn't have the imagination to make this fic!!!
-Miyu