I threw off my suit the minute I got into my house and loosened my tie. Whoever the hell invented this, I swear I'll kill them. I pulled at the tucked in shirt and opened the cuffs of the sleeves then sighed in relief. I walked to the fridge and just as I pulled out a coke someone rang the doorbell.

"I swear…you leave for a few days and the minute you come back you're hounded up," I mumbled bitterly.

I flung the door open to see Amu standing there, hands on her hips and foot was tapping rhythmically.

"Where have you been?" she exclaimed barging into the house.

And I said she was upset. Hell with that. I grudgingly followed her into the house where she made herself at home at the kitchen table.

"Want anything?" I asked…sarcasm dripping from my voice as I took a seat right in front of her and sipped my coke.

"No, thank you. Where were you these past days?"

"On a business trip, anything else?"

"Come with me. You have to go back to work!" she exclaimed pulling me from the table.

"Woah, woah. Hold it."

I pulled my hand out of hers, and she turned around with an angry and confused expression.

"I just came back today from a trip. It wasn't even slightly fun. I come back; you barge into my house and pull me out of my house before I even got settled to go to work? No thank you."

"But you have to come!"

"Hate to break it to you, but I'm not. Now leave, so I can drink my coke in peace," I sighed.

"But Rima and Nagi got into a fight!"

"So what? They get into fights almost every other. Sometimes on a regular basis."

"You're not going to help?"

"Nope."

"Fine…then I'm leaving!"

"Bye."

"Jerk," she snapped as she picked up her bag.

"Don't I know it."

When the door slammed shut, I sighed in relief and walked over towards the couch where I plopped down and turned on the TV. Damn woman. Always wanting to help other people. Even though my favorite football team was on, it didn't seem to catch my interest. No, her past had caught my interest instead. I was just about to get my laptop when my phone rang.

For a moment I thought about disconnecting it, but instead I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Ikuto, meet me at the park."

"Wait? What? Nagi, is that you?"

"Yes. Come to the park."

The phone disconnected and I was just left there the phone in one hand the coke in the other.

"Damn. Fucking people won't leave me alone."

I snatched the keys from the counter and stormed to my car where I mumbled millions of curses.

Amu POV

I couldn't believe that pig. I mean you only asked him to help his friends. I pulled into the driveway of my house and slammed the door shut. I stormed to the door and flung the door open and then slammed it shut.

I saw Ami run down the stairs and stop midway on the step.

"What's got you so angry?"

"Ikuto…remember him?"

At this Ami seemed to be excited and so she rushed down and sat at the bottom step.

"So what happened?"

I eyed her carefully, but then sighed seeing that she wasn't catching on.

"My friends broke up and so I asked him to help out and he said no."

Before: Ami's mood: excited

After: Ami's mood: complete disappointment.

"That's it? You didn't find out anything?"

"What am I supposed to find out besides the fact that he's an inconsiderate jerk?"

"Nothing…never mind," she said heading back up the stairs.

Sighing, I walked back to the kitchen and sat down on the couch. I was just about to grab my laptop when my cell phone started to vibrate.

"Hello?"

"It's Rima! Amu, meet me at the park immediately!"

"Why?"

"It's important!"

"Okay, I'm coming."

I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse…again.

"Ami, take care of the house while I'm gone."

"Whatever."

I rushed out of the door and went back into my car. I pulled out of my driveway and started to go the park.

Ikuto POV

I slammed my door shut causing some of the nearby pigeons to fly away and nearly flinging the door off its hinges. Mumbling a few lines of curses, I started to look for Nagi, who I immediately spotted on top of the jungle gym. I walked over towards him.

"What do you want?"

"Oh hey Ikuto. Come up here and sit."

Shrugging I took to steps to the top. Note: It took me two steps. It's taking a nearby little kid a long time. I got back down again.

"Hey, kid. You want to get to the top?"

He nodded his head at a rapid pace.

"Hold onto my back kiddo."

He did as I told him and got on my back. Now taking smaller steps, I climbed the jungle gym…with a kid on my back and wearing a dress shirt and dress pants. When I was finally (quickly) at the top, the boy was now beaming at me.

"Thanks mister."

"Mhm."

At this, he climbed back down and ran to his small group of friends where he probably boasted about the current events. Smirking, I sat down next to Nagi who was also giving me a smile.

"'Thanks mister'," mimicked Nagi.

"Shut up. Okay what's the deal here?"

His eyes went dark and the corners of his mouth bent down a bit.

"It's Rima."

"What about Rima? I already know you two got into one of your usual fights. Amu told me."

"I'm giving up on her."

"What happened?"

And so Nagi explained the dinner they went to. Then the next day he overheard Rima telling Amu that he was just some spoiled rich kid…ect.

"I see. You still have feelings for her?"

"I don't know anymore."

"That was a yes or no question."

"…I really don't know Ikuto. I really don't know anymore."

Amu POV

I pulled into the parking lot of the park and something black immediately caught my eye. It was a black convertible. Is he here? No…of course no. Silly Amu. Everyone has a black convertible. Heck, you have a white one. The minute I got out of my car, I saw Rima run up towards me out of nowhere.

"Amu…they're…here!" panted Rima.

"Who's here?"

"Come…with…me," she said grabbing my arm.

She pushed through a bunch of kids and then made me sit on a bench.

"Look at the top of the jungle gym! They're there!"

I craned my neck sideways and then saw both Ikuto and Nagi on top of the jungle gym chatting with each other…pleasantly! I got up and was just about to walk over there when Rima grabbed my hand.

"No! You can't go!"

"Why not?"

"Because…he's angry with me…he doesn't want to see me."

"Oh please Rima. You will never make it better by just sitting around and hoping he'll forgive you one day. Now suck it up and follow me."

I started to make my way towards the two men…Rima slowly following behind me. Ironic how I was the youngest of the group but I had the boldest personality. I now stood in front of them, Rima standing behind me. Their eyes wide with confusion.

"What are you doing here?" asked Ikuto his voice cool.

Did I say 'their eyes'? Sorry I mean Nagi's eyes…Ikuto here apparently has no emotion.

"Nothing," I said trying to match the coolness of my voice to his. "Just taking a walk when we spotted you guys and thought we'd go out to lunch."

I said that…then flashed my killer smile.

"What do you say boys? Want to accompany two hungry gals to lunch?" I asked again.

"Sure thing girlies. Let's go," said Ikuto jumping off the play equipment.

Few Minutes Later

"I say we go to a-

"Go to Marianne's," finished Ikuto.

"Hey! I wanted to say café!"

"Amu…I agree with Ikuto. Let's go to Marianne's," agreed Rima.

"Me too," said Nagi.

"Whatever," I said storming ahead.

Ikuto breezed right over towards me.

"Sorry Princess. You may have started the game but I'm dominating it."

"Don't flatter yourself," I sneered. "Don't pre-judge me before you know my intentions, pretty-boy."

We walked into the diner and I looked around in awe. It was nothing like I was expecting. It looked so…American. White and black checkered marble floor with pin red cushions for seats and rectangular tables. There was an old fashioned juke box in the corner near the glass door that lit up. On the counter was a jar that had a sign visibly taped on to it that said 'TIPS' in big bold letters.

We took a seat at one of the tables. And I had purposely done this too…Rima next to me but across her was Nagi…unfortunately that left Ikuto across from me but if this helped Rima in the long run it was worth it. Soon a woman skated over towards us in a brown dress with a white apron but on her feet were hot pink skates with electric blue wheels. Her blonde hair was left open.

"Are you ready to order?" she asked.

"4 hamburgers with everything in them-

"I don't want cheese," I interjected.

"Okay so 3 3hamburgers with-

"Now that I think about it, no pickles either."

I shot Ikuto a quick smirk.

"3 hamburgers with everything and 1 with no cheese or pickles, 3 onion rings, 3 fries and 4 sodas."

"Would that be all?"

"Oooh! I'd like some chocolate cake!" I announced.

"Okay, it'll be ready in about 8 minutes."

Rima was now snickering and Nagi was trying hard to laugh. Ikuto's brows were furrowed beneath his forehead. I shot him a dirty smile.

"Just can't make up your mind can you?" asked Ikuto.

"Of course I can. It was part of my plan…see now they're laughing."

Rima and Nagi suddenly looked up and looked at each other then stopped laughing.

"Well that plan failed a little too quickly didn't it?"

"Depends on how you look at it doesn't it?"

"Amu…settle down!" hissed Rima.

"You too!" hissed Nagi.

"Here's your food!" exclaimed the cheery waitress who was completely unaware of the heated argument.

"Thanks," I smiled kicking Ikuto from under the table.

"Yeah…thanks," gritted Ikuto with clenched teeth.

We picked up our food and began to eat without another word. In the meantime I started thinking about ways to get Rima and Nagi together. Once we were finished we threw the garbage away, left a tip, and stood outside.

"I say we go explore some. Kind of early to go home right now," I said.

"Yeah!" cheered Rima.

"Do you even know where you're going?" asked Ikuto.

"Of course we do…let's go to an arcade! I've never been to one before!"

Rima, Nagi, and Ikuto exchanged glances but it was Ikuto who spoke up.

"You've never been to arcade? What kind of stupid childhood did you have?"

I fell silent and struggled for the loss of words. But not again…he wasn't going to question my childhood again.

"Let's just say it was complicated," I shrugged walking towards my car.

"Rima go with Nagi…Ikuto and I will go with my car."

"Are you sure Amu?"

"Of course I am. Now go!"

I got into the driver's seat of my car while Ikuto sat in the passenger's seat. It's not like we were going to talk or anything. Once Rima and Nagi sped off, I followed them. But I was careful to go slow enough to give them some space. I put on my sunglasses and turned on the radio and the song 'Please Don't Go' by Mike Posner started on and I started to hum along.

I turned onto the highway and started to head towards the mall we went to a while ago when they were trying to welcome me. But as I turned the wheel to the next lane…the next thing that happened made me wish I had never suggested this drive. The car started to drive slower and slower no matter how hard I pressed the gas pedal and before soon the car stopped. I kicked the gas pedal a couple times and when the car didn't move I took a little peek at the top screen and noticed that the car was out of gas.

"Please tell that what I think just happened didn't happen?" asked Ikuto.

"…Yes…" I said offering a smile.

"What happened?"

"We're out of um…gas."

"OUT OF GAS?"

Ikuto flung the door open and stormed to my side of the car where he also forcefully opened the door and pulled me out. Now that I was standing on the side of the road, he stuck his head in the doorway and checked the top screen and saw the gas icon flashing red. He came back out and clenched his fists.

"Call someone," he said finally.

"Sure thing."

I pulled out my cell phone and just as I was about to dial the number my phone made a –ding ding- sound and the screen went dark.

"What was that?"

"My phone went out of battery."

"Course it did," mumbled Ikuto bitterly. "Let's push the car."

"What about your cell phone?"

"It's in my car!"

"Gosh, no need to get fussy."

I started to get into the driver's seat when Ikuto grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.

"You're pushing princess."

"It's my car!"

"But you did this!"

"You know what? I'll prove it to you and your macho attitude that I can push this car!"

"Careful not to break your Guuchi sunglasses!" I heard him call out.

I smirked but I was not going to let him get the better of me. I pushed the sleeves of my shirt up and took a deep breath…and started to push. And to my surprise and most likely Ikuto the car actually started to move and I smiled in triumph. I was pushing! I was actually pushing a 700 pound car by myself…well with the help of Ikuto but who needs him anyways.

After a long time of pushing my arms started to give in a bit and I could I was pushing a bit slower. I'm sure Ikuto had noticed too because he called out to me.

"Hey? You want me to push now? You've already pushed 1 entire mile!"

"Nah…I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Of course I am."

Of course I'm not! Sighing, I continued pushing the car. As I pushed a car came up from behind, honked at us, turned their car to the left, ran into a mud puddle and splashed me with mud. I was drenched in wet mud and I heard Ikuto slam his fist on the hunk a several times and shout out some curses.

"Stop moving the car Amu!"

"But-

"STOP!"

I stopped pushing, and he walked towards me and took one good look at me. I knew what he was looking at. Mud covered my pink hair, my clothes…everywhere. I looked like someone out of a zombie movie minus all the scariness.

"Don't rub it in," I mumbled bitterly.

But instead of rubbing it in, he started to take off his jacket and put it around my shoulders. I stared at him dumbfounded but he just shrugged it off.

"Rima's going to bite at me if she sees you like that anyway. Saving myself the hassle…go sit at the driver's seat. I'll push the rest of the way…princess."

"Whatever pretty-boy," I smirked. "Thanks."

Author's Notes

Hey there everyone! Sorry for the really late update…I'll make it up to you with two extra chapters! How's that? Anyways, this chapter has a lot of dialogue! A LOT! Or so I think so.

Hmm…I've currently been into a new story…not dishing out any details right now. But I certainly have an interest in this idea. Oh…this may sound childish but I've also taken an interest in writing a story about Courtney and Duncan from Total Drama Island. I've never done anything but Anime…specifically Amuto. I don't really write about any other couples unless I've taken an interest…and I did just today(ish). Feel really bad for Courtney despite what people have said. Guess I'm going to write about it.

Anyways:

Read~Review~Enjoy

Neko-Meme