I stare at the clock in a daze, not processing what the teacher at the front of the classroom is saying.
What sick bastard decided to make fourth period, 5 minutes longer than the rest? To be fair, I'm not the only one in the classroom that looks like they're dozing off with their eyes open. Nearly every person in the room looks like they're on standby; even the teachers are mindlessly reading a meaningless chapter from the textbook to fill the awkward silence.
You have to wonder why they don't start holidays earlier for the seniors, by now everyone is just preparing for college. Actual learning has gone out the window now that exams are finished and grades are set in stone.
"Psst, Kuon," a familiar voice behind me mutters and breaks me out of my musings. I spin around, grin already in place. "Tsk tsk, members of the student council shouldn't be daydreaming in class." Yashiro's condescending tone cuts through the drone of the teacher's voice.
"Members of the student council should also not be sneaking into other peoples classes" I retort my eyes crinkling in amusement as a smile surfaces on my face.
Yashiro smirks in reply, adjusting his lopsided glasses. "So have you met Mrs Crazi-zuri yet?"
"No, I have not. Thank you. "I reply trying not to smile, at our soccer team's nickname for Ruriko.
"Well, you know. I didn't want to tell you but-,"Yashiro starts, but is cut off by the sound of the bell ringing, signalling the end of period 4.
All at once the living statues in the classroom come back to life and loud mundane chatter and laughter wrecks the peace of the classroom as all the students try to squish through the exit all at once.
We wait until the traffic has died down, and then slowly make our way through the nearly empty classroom to the exit.
"Hey, didn't you see you guys at lunch." Kijima nags, as we spot him waiting outside the classroom door.
"I was helping out the drama club, with their props for the musical." Yashiro swiftly replies.
"And I was uhh… called to the office about student council stuff." I coolly lie, I can't bring myself to tell them I was avoiding Ruriko by lurking around in the library (the only place Ruriko would never look) all break, after specifically telling them I'd confront her first thing today.
"Sure you were," Kijima winks at me, "Are you sure you weren't hiding from a special little lady? Oh I dunno, maybe someone whose name starts with Ruri- and ends with -iiiiko" His voice slurs her name sarcastically.
"What gave it away?" I say rolling my eyes in annoyance.
"I say, it was the look of fear in your eyes!" Yashiro chimes in rather unhelpfully.
"That and the fact that I saw you creeping around the library during lunch, you really shouldn't take advantage of Ruriko's inability to read, like that!" Kijima pretends to scold me in a mocking voice.
"On the subject of Ruriko, have you guys heard that she's officially hooked up with Fuwa Sho from that famous band? I tried to tell you before Kuon." Yashiro utters.
"Ooooh! Burn, that means your breakup is now official, she'll be coming to get you man! You can run, but you can't hide from the Crazi-zuri!" Kijima cracks up laughing at his own joke. "So Kuon, how does it feel to be committing social suicide?" Kijima continues, clearly highly entertained by the frustration evident on my face.
"Just shut u- "
"Kuon darling is that you?" A high pitched nasally voice cuts me of. A shiver of dread runs down my spine. I turn around slowly. Hoping to prolong time before I have to see her.
There she is in colourful clothes, new tan and blond highlights spotlessly in place, fully rejuvenated, I try to steel myself, closing my eyes for a moment hoping that if I close my eyes long enough that she'll go away, then opening one and peering out. There's no helping it. It's Ruriko, and she's not happy.
"Hi Ruriko, fancy meeting you here…huh …" I trail off unconvincingly giving a chuckle, at the suspicious expression plastered all over her face.
"Have you been avoiding me? I haven't seen you all day! I looked everywhere Kuon, and I mean EVERYWHERE." She looks at me expectantly, as though I might drop on my knees and burst out crying at the very thought of inconveniencing her.
I think back to all those endless hours of accompanying her to shopping trips or the time she made me drive halfway across the state to get her the right tint of nail polish, and I cannot help but feel bitter feeling rise up over me. Bloody hell! Why is that every relationship I enter into seems to take a similar route, how do other people do it?
They all make it seem so easy! No matter how committed I try to be in relationship they all end up dumping me, every single one. Saying, I'm not committed and I don't really love them. I mean even someone as self-centred as Ruriko thinks she can do better.
Without meaning to, I snap back at her, "Well, I'm not the one who hasn't replied to any of the texts on my mobile for the past 2 weeks, you know Ruriko, I'm sick of you. Don't think I don't know about you and your fling over the spring break, I have never in my life met someone as selfish, manipulative and self-centred as you. We are over." I finish with a huff.
Crap, I did it. I managed to piss her off even more. Ruriko looks as though I've just declared that I've had a sudden change of heart and have said I'm going to do commercials advertising Johnson's baby powder and carpets for a living now.
"Did you just snap at me?" Ruriko's voice wavers a little, face deadpan with shock.
I can feel the explosion waiting to occur behind her strained expression.
"Uh… sorry?" I mutter. Fully wishing that I could go back in time and hit myself over the head.
And then the dam of tears bursts, and Ruriko is shrieking, wailing and sobbing all at once.
Dammit, I knew I should have run straight to the library after school...
Thank you so much for all the reviews! They really gave me encouragement! Hopefully you like the new chapter. :)