Chapter Four
The weird thing about going to high school with your ex is that they're inescapable. Everywhere you turn, there they are.
It's not like I hate Luca so much I want him completely out of my life. I just find it weird sometimes to be so near him when we both know the way he ended things between us was not exactly amicable and that it lacked closure.
Anyway, the reason why I've been thinking about my former flame again is because we were assigned to work together once more. The editor-in-chief of the school paper liked the article Luca and I did about the basketball team and now he wanted us to do a feature on this another school athlete and fellow senior, Tsubasa Andou.
Andou is a swimmer and he's been winning all these competitions. He's got another one later after school at sports complex so Luca and I have to go there to cover the tournament and interview the guy.
It is kind of a hassle since I've already made plans with Hotaru to go to Central Town later and check out the newly opened seafood restaurant, and now I have to cancel it.
Oh, yeah. Hotaru and I, we're like BFFs now. Who would've guessed, right? We started hanging out after she gave me a ride home a couple of weeks ago. I find her fun and cool to be with despite her being a little weird. If Luna were still alive, they would've shared nothing in common but I think they would've gotten along just fine.
"So no crab cakes then." said Hotaru at lunch when I told her about the swimming tournament later.
"Yup, sorry. We can go tomorrow instead."
"Or I can go there later by myself."
"You're a selfish pig. No wonder you were a loner."
"Look who's talking."
"Yeah, well, like I had a choice."
"You're right. While it was my choice to be like this, you, on the other hand, were left alone by your so-called friends."
"Wow, that's just harsh, Hotaru." I said but not taking offense. I've already realized during the earlier days of our friendship that this girl could be brutally honest. I have no complaints, though. I prefer her that way.
"Anyway, that partner of yours, he's your ex right?" asked Hotaru heedlessly.
"Yep, the one and only." I replied while munching on my burger.
"How liberal of you to work with him considering your history and all."
"Again, like I have a choice."
Hotaru just smirked at my response.
When the bell rang for the next period, Hotaru and I went our separate ways and headed to our respective classes. I invited her to come with me to the swimming tournament but she declined, saying she'd rather laze in front of her television at home and watch Discovery Channel than torture her eyes by watching guys at the sports complex prance around wearing nothing but tight trunks and get wet in the pool. I see her point. It's usually the kind of stuff that girls like Sumire Shouda would appreciate.
The sports complex was already full of people when I arrived. Luca turned up several minutes later after me.
Before the event started, Luca went to look for Tsubasa Andou and secured us an interview with him. I guess it wasn't really hard for Luca to get Andou to cooperate with us for this assignment since the two are in friendly terms at school.
The tournament ended with Andou winning first place. To my surprise, Andou gave me a free pass to stay near the pool area while he competed. It allowed me to take pictures of him through the entire competition without hassles. I initially thought he was going to give me a hard time doing my job but I was wrong. I used to think he was one of those arrogant rich kids in Alice Academy who would bully other students just for the fun of it since this guy also hangs out a lot with Hiro Akiyama and his buddies at school. But I guessed I judged him too soon.
"Thanks for the time, man. And congratulations again for winning first place." said Luca after they finished the interview.
"No problem. So when's my feature going to be out? Do I have to do autograph-signing or something like that?" asked Tsubasa jokingly, his eyes on Luca and then on me.
Luca laughed and lightly hit Tsubasa's shoulder with his fist and said, "Yeah, you wish," before turning his back and started packing his things.
I proceeded on doing the same so I can finally go home.
I was about to put my camera inside my backpack when Tsubasa spoke again,
"Hey, Mikan. Do you have a ride home? You can ride with me if you don't have."
I froze for a fraction of a second in surprise.
What's up with people offering me rides these days? First Hotaru and now Tsubasa; one more car ride offer and I'll start to think the universe is up to something.
To my side, I caught a sight of Luca looking slightly stunned as well by Tsubasa's sudden invitation.
"Uh, I brought my car here with me. But thanks anyway." I replied, looking baffled and stupid with my hand still in midair, holding my camera.
"Oh. Okay. I'll see you at school, then." said Tsubasa and then left for the changing room, but not before giving me a smile so knee-weakening the girls at school will surely cut my head off if they knew about this.
Still feeling slightly dazed, I didn't realize Luca had already left the building until I heard the fairly loud slamming of the door.
Later that night in my bedroom, after I'm done with all the schoolwork, I opened my laptop and logged on to my messenger. I saw Hotaru was already online.
Mikan0101: Hey, BFF
H_Imai: I forbid you to call me that, idiot
Mikan0101: Fine. Hey, emo girl
H_Imai: I'm not emo
Mikan0101: yeah, u are
H_Imai: whatever
Mikan0101: So something weird happened today
H_Imai: what?
Mikan0101: Tsubasa Andou offered to give me a ride after the tournament
H_Imai: and?
Mikan0101: That's it. I turned it down tho coz I had my car with me
H_Imai: what's so weird abt that?
Mikan0101: it's weird bcoz He. Offered. Me. A. Ride.
H_Imai: right. bcos getting an offer like that is crucial to one's being
H_Imai: U're overreacting
Mikan0101: he also smiled at me and gave me a free pass so I can stay at the pool area during the competition
H_Imai: Andou smiles at everybody all the time and he only probably gave u a free pass so u can take good photos of him. it's for his own benefit
Mikan0101: but why wud he ask me to ride w/ him?
H_Imai: U think he likes u that's why he did that?
Mikan0101: I'm not saying he likes me!
H_Imai: But u're thinking it. I offered u a ride before, does that mean I like u?
Mikan0101: well, u cud be a lesbian for all I know
H_Imai: I cud be but I'm not. And even if I were, u wouldn't be my type. I have taste, woman
Mikan0101: u wudnt be my type too if I were a lesbian, emo girl
Mikan0101: don't u think the universe is trying to tell me something? Like maybe I should get rid of my car alrdy coz it's so old
H_Imai: god. U've been an outcast for too long. Someone offered u a ride and u alrdy got ur panties in a twist
Mikan0101: hmm
Mikan0101: yeah, u're ryt. I'm overreacting
Mikan0101: u're a gud friend, Hotaru Imai
Mikan0101: tnx for enlightening me
H_Imai: u're welcome
H_Imai: gotta go, my pizza's here
Mikan0101: u haven't had dinner yet?
H_Imai: I've had dinner an hour ago
Mikan0101: pig
H_Imai: I luv my life. Bye
Mikan0101: lol. Bye
H_Imai has signed out of messenger.
I smiled foolishly to myself.
Hotaru's right. I've been an outcast and friendless for too long. Someone was suddenly being a little kind to me and I'm already out of my wits. How freaking sad is that.
As there was nothing else for me to do online, I decided to update my iTunes without bothering to log out of my messenger. I was nearly finished adding new songs to my library when a chatbox suddenly popped up on my computer screen.
NHyuuga: Hey
::-::
Reviews are loved, people. :)
I've already finished writing the next chapter. If you guys are nice (and by 'nice', I mean leaving me a review), I may upload it a lot sooner. ;)