Me: It's finally done! *cheers* Thanks for all the reviews! They really pushed me to write faster! *tears up* This a sad chapter...
Lulucutie12 DOES NOT OWN GHOST HUNT OR IT'S CHARACTERS! She just uses to them to depress people...
Bright Lights And Memories
"Mai! Mai, stop it!" Keiko yelled frantically at the said brunette.
"Noooo waaay!" Mai chanted as she stood through the sunroof of the car, waving her arms. "I feel like I'm flying!"
"Mai, will you just sit down before you hurt yourself." Michiru's voice was a mix of genuine concern and equally genuine exasperation. Outside, next to the car, a car honk could be heard along with a few hoots. All three girls, including Michiru who probably should've been focused on driving, swiveled to the car window to see a couple of boys who looked like they were about in college. A very engaged Keiko flushed and quickly turned away, then screamed at Michiru to keep her eyes on the road instead of trying to twirl her hair seductively. Mai managed to give the guys a flirty wink before turning red and collapsing back into the car in a fit of giggles.
"Stop complaining or I'll let Mai drive and then we'll all be screwed." Michiru said blatantly, unconcerned with the fact that Mai was quite literally less than a foot away from her. Needless to say, Mai wasn't pleased.
"You're so mean! My driving is perfectly fine!"
"No, it's not." Her friends responded in practically unison. Mai pouted and flopped across the back seats.
"You guys are worse than Akira." Keiko peered back at Mai from the passenger seat.
"Hey speaking of Kira, why didn't she want to come along?"
"I said Akira, not Kira." Keiko scrunched her tiny nose.
"Blah, blah. Their names are so similar, it's weird. They have like, only an 'A' separating them. Anyways, answer my question, why didn't she come?" Mai blew air into her cheeks, puffing them out.
"She said there was no way in hell she was going to spend hours getting shoved by sweaty, screaming fanatics in the dark."
"...I see."
The concert, which was being held outdoors, was a visually epic concoction of neon laser lights, fog machines, and glow sticks that most of the audience, including the trio, had donned themselves with. After they arrived to a spot close to the stage, Mai began bouncing on the balls of her wedged sneaker clad feet in excitement and anticipation. Her layered, multicolored skirt fluttered around her upper thighs. Along with the skirt, our favorite brunette was wearing a cropped fitted band (the very one whose concert the girls were at) t-shirt. Michiru tugged on her arm.
"If you keep bouncing like that, you'll end up giving everyone a panty flash." She insisted. The designer was strutting her own mahogany colored gladiator boots. The boots completed her outfit, a shimmery gold romper with a matching brown leather belt cinching the fabric around her narrow waist. Keiko who, unlike her friends, was more on the timid side, also choose an ensemble that captured her personality. She sported a pair of high-waisted jean shorts, layered shirts, and black ankle boots. Her signature pigtails were tied with cute lace ribbons.
"I can't wait to see the band! Didn't they look so handsome in their new music video?!" Keiko said, pink dusting her cheeks.
"Nice to see you're so loyal to Kazuto." Mai commented, an edge of annoyance in her voice. Michiru flicked the brunette on the head.
"Of course Miss Single has a few bitter words to share." A crease appeared on Mai's forehead.
"Says the girl who hasn't had a relationship lasting a month since high school!" Mai spat back. Keiko hushed the two before Michiru could respond.
"Shh! They're about to perform the opening!" She squealed happily. Suddenly Mai got a strange feeling. Like her body was waiting, anticipating, for something awful to occur. I
t was a familiar feeling, and Mai knew that she wasn't going to like the outcome. But there was nothing to do, but wait.
Although she had been worried, Mai quickly forgot about her instincts as the band began to play. Together, she and her best friends shouted along to the songs and dance like fools until their voices cracked and their feet were sore. Filled with adrenaline, Mai wrapped her arms around Michiru's shoulders and tossing her head back as trio laughed giddily. Before they could call it a night and start leaving, the band's MC grabbed the microphone.
"Thank you everyone for coming out tonight! The 'The Meisters' wouldn't have gone anywhere if it wasn't for loyal fans like you! We'd also like to thank a special group of people who made performing to you guys here possible. I'd like to introduce, Shibuya Psychic Research!"
Mai's heart dropped to her stomach. Michiru and Keiko swung to face her, their eyes filled with worry. "Maybe he won't be here." Keiko whispered.
"Yeah, he hates this type of thing." Michiru encouraged. Naru did hate these kind of things. But that fact didn't couldn't correct the sight our favorite narcissist up on that stage, stoic as a statue, with Lin and Yasu. Mai could feel her throat constricting her breath.
Twice in a week she'd run into him! In a span of six months, she hadn't had any unpremeditated meetings with him. She didn't want a repeat of the tense atmosphere in the ballroom. She didn't want to see those eyes again, with their pain and useless apologies. Mai pulled away from her friends and began to push through the crowd of sweaty people. Oh yes, as the blonde had predicted, the audience were soaking wet. Yuck.
She had to get out of here. Keiko and Michiru's eyes didn't follow Mai's retreating form, instead their gaze shifted to a certain man dressed in all black attire despite the hot weather. A man who quickly exited the stage when he saw that his reason for even accepting this very irritating and very loud case, was making her way off the concert grounds.
"So your plan is to just ignore me?" Oliver commented dryly, when he found Mai sitting on the hood of Michiru's car. She just had to be an idiot and forget to grab the car keys.
"And is your plan to stalk me?" Mai responded sharply. His stormy blue eyes shifted off her for a second, before they met her cinnamon ones again.
"It's been six months." He said quietly. "I…find myself missing you. Often." Mai turned her head away. "I realize I didn't make a satisfactory boyfriend. But I care about you, deeply. You to have known that." Mai sniffed and wiped her wet doe eyes.
"I know." It was practically a whisper, but Naru's keen ears caught it. "But that's not the problem."
"Then tell me what the problem is!" Mai winced at volume of his tone, but quickly recovered.
"I don't know what to tell you!" She shouted back, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. "It's over! It's over…. Just accept it Noll." The tears ran freely now, as Mai sobbed and hugged her sides.
Oliver, now regretful, moved and wrapped his arms around her petite form. Despite herself, the brunette settled against his chest. She had dearly missed moments like these. So much comfort, so much warmth…. But she also knew why she had given them up. As she pushed away from him, Mai looked directly into Naru's eyes. "I'm… I'm going on a date the day after tomorrow." Mai wished she didn't have to say those words and see the ache in those beautiful blue eyes. But she needed to do this. For him and her. "Keiko arranged it for me." If looks could kill.
"I see." Naru's voice was colder than ice. He could sense that Mai's friends had arrived. "Well Lin's most likely waiting for me. I should go back to the base. Goodbye Mai."
Before Mai could respond, Naru swiftly leaned forward and brushed his pale lips against her pink cheek. By the time Mai had realized what had occurred, he was gone. The two girls looked at their friend with immense concern. She was as still as a statue.
"Mai….." Her eyes widened.
"Oh…" Without another word, our favorite psychic burst into tears. In a millisecond, she was sandwiched between her friends. They whispered comforting nonsense into her ears and held her as she cried.
It was stupid of her to be sent into tears by something as small as that. It was just a memory. Only a thing of the past. She had moved on from it, she had needed too.
Even so, that kiss….
That time much long ago….
But that kiss, no the memory of that kiss was gone.
That time was still over and she had to live in the present. And so, she took comfort in her companions' embrace. After all, what else could a person do?
Don't kill me! I'm sorry about how depressing this was... I spent all day wondering why I'm such a cruel person. I also apologize for the wait. Unfortunately, the next chapter my tale even longer. I'm going to be participating in the National Writing Month Challenge. Wish me luck! Also read the A/N in the next post! It's got important info!