I'm back on my writing kick, woo! I wrote two drabbles yesterday and two today as well. Now I just have to keep it up, hehe! There's a good chance I'll have 'net access at least some of the time during my Europe trip, in which case I'll be able to put up some drabbles then. I am thinking about having someone post them for me, but I dunno, it feels kind of weird, y'know? I'm a little protective of my writing, I suppose.
Thanks to: sensei7
Contest: So, wow, 78 reviews. Not too many more til 100, I'm excited!! So, since this is 100 drabbles, when I get 100 reviews, I'll do a RanxGin (or GinxRan, same thing, right?) one-shot for the 100th reviewer.
24. Breaking Away
Rangiku stared up at the ceiling. She could not sleep listening to the sounds of her roommate breathing. It was too different from Gin's; he did not snore, and he slept without tossing and turning, with soft, deep breaths. The first night, she was too sick to notice, the second and third she was so enraptured by the luxury her roommate thought was below par that she slept well. Such soft, wonderful blankets and a warm room shut tight from drafts still awed her. But now, it was hard to sleep without her friend nearby. Now, everything seemed so strange and lonely.
In the morning, she had hoped to eat with Gin, but the dorms each had their own cafeteria, so Rangiku was once again stuck with the girls. She knew it was not a great start to life at the academy, but she sat alone, away from the rest of the girls. That morning, she just could not stomach the thought of breaking the morning fast with anyone other than Gin. She hardly ate two bites before she left for her first class.
Gin came up to her in the few minutes before they went inside the classroom. He handed her half an onigiri, and took a bite of the other half. Rangiku quickly followed suit, glad for a moment of comfort.
But all too quickly, class began, and seats were assigned. From her seat, Rangiku could not even see Gin without the teacher noticing.
It made it hard for Rangiku to pay attention, class after class, day after day, when she saw Gin only for moments. She looked forward to dinner; it got her through the day, because then she could sit with her friend for a little while.
A week later, Gin was late for supper. Rangiku could hardly stay in her seat; she kept turning to look towards the door and jabbing at her food with a chopstick. Where was he? He could not possibly have wandered off here as he so often did when they were in the rukongai.
"Hey," he said, scaring her out of a chopstick jab. "Ya haven't eaten any o' yer dinner yet."
"Wasn't hungry," Rangiku said, though now her appetite was back. She ate a bite.
Gin sat down. "Guess you're wondering where I've been."
"Yeah."
"Been talkin' wi' a bunch of teachers," Gin said and began eating. "It's kind of good news and bad news, I guess."
"What do you mean?"
"Guess I've been doin' real well," Gin said. "So well they say I shouldn' be in first year. Or in second year. So they're tossin' me in third."
Rangiku stared at her friend. "Third year?"
"They say I migh' graduate in two or three years," Gin said.
"That's great!" Rangiku put every scrap of excitement and good feeling she could muster before they all went away.
"Sorta," Gin said. "Means I'm gonna be aroun' even less. Won' even be here for dinner."
"I know," Rangiku said. She focused on her plate and putting one bite after another into her mouth.
"It'll be okay."
Rangiku nodded, but she was not sure when it would be okay again.
Poor Rangiku. I feel like I abuse her a little bit sometimes. But I love her!
