I'm just going to take this moment to inform you all that it's harder writing Mai's character and her POV than I thought it would be. Huuuuuurgh.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy chapter two.
Satan invented alarm clocks. Today, when mine goes off, ringing from its perch on my bedside table, it scares me so much that I nearly jump right off my bed. In a flash, I am sitting upright. The movement causes my cat, Harpy, to dash off of my legs, her favorite place to lay, to the far corner at the foot of the bed, ruffling up her fur.
"I'm sorry." I coo to her after slamming the OFF button on the alarm, reaching over to pat her soft fur back down. She gives a small sneeze and butts her head against my arm, beginning to purr – her scare already forgotten and I already forgiven.
I adore my cat. The only thing she ever thinks about me is I love you. I love you. I love you. She thinks it now as I scratch under her white chin, purring louder. I would never let Harpy go. I've owned her for almost five years now. She is the only thing I was really attached to; the only one I could count on to be there for me and the only one who'd never hurt me. My best friend.
When I first got Harpy, I had just graduated high school. She was just a kitten – a small ball of fluff – wandering along the side of the house. I wasn't intending on keeping her, but her loving ways and meows really got to me. It was the short, delicate mews that made me fall in love with her completely. She was so young, so helpless, that I couldn't bear to leave her.
I was able to get away with hiding her from my allergic mother for almost a year. I had given my mom this elaborate speech about how she needed to stay our of my room because she was suffocating me. Once I got her promise to not trespass in my territory, I had gone and bought a padlock for my door, keeping the key on a chain around my neck. And my secret kitty was safe.
But secrets never stay that way.
Usually mom worked all day, everyday – never home when I needed her. It had been like that since I was young. But, unfortunately, one day mom came home early. When she finally saw the reason for her constant allergies sitting on my lap as I watched TV, it was the fight to top all fights. What had been building up between my mother and I for over ten years finally exploded. And it was a loud, messy explosion. The result was I, packing everything I owned, moving into an apartment closer to my college with Harpy. I was already used to being alone, so I knew I would be fine.
And I have never looked back.
I get to my feet, giving a great yawn, and stumble into my bathroom. I turn the hot tap all the way, and then the cold halfway, letting the tub slowly fill with water that quickly steamed up the room. As I strip, the mirror fogs completely. Once the tub is full, I shut the water off and slide into the heat. I sigh, trying to get ready for another day. It's so comfortable lying naked in the hot water that I consider taking a long bath and skipping my first class. But that was not an option, espcially now that I was actually paying for my education. I wash my body and hair and, when I'm done and rinsed off, I pull the plug. I watch the water level fall for a bit, then stand.
Wrapping myself in a soft, clean towel, I go back to my room and sit in front of my vanity mirror to begin my makeup procedure. Then I dry completely and get out my clothes. The whole time I dress, Harpy watches me, sitting on top of my dresser. When I leave my room to fix breakfast, she jumps down and follows me, winding between my legs.
"I'll remember to get more food before coming home, okay?" I say later on, zipping up my ankle boots. I give her a quick kiss on her head and open the door, grabbing my keys off the hook. "I'm off."
I can hear her think, I love you! as I close the door, and I smile.
My walk to school is almost as bad as a criminal's walk to the electric chair. I could tell that today was going to be difficult. The sky was murky and there was a light fog laying low to the ground. I run my fingers through my hair carefully, happy that I remembered to put some anti-frizz spray on it. It's not that I didn't like working or going to school…it was the constant thoughts I didn't like. For example: a lot of the younger kids – the freshman and most sophomores – treat college just like you see in movies; a time for partying, not studying. I didn't want to hear their minds today... Actually, I never want to hear their thoughts. A jumble of messy, nasty things from sex to drugs to who's hot and who's not. And I've seen myself in more wild fantasies than I can even count.
The other students – juniors (like me) and seniors – were easier to be around by far. They were not so wild; not so picky on who's popular and all that crap. Still arrogant and snide, yes, but at least they understand that what you learn here counts. They don't waste it or their money.
"Hello." Someone says from behind me. I turn my head to see Kaiba walking by me, looking as stoic as ever. I blink, taken by surprise at my new walking buddy, but not entirely disappointed in seeing him. I couldn't say we were exactly friends, but we were not just acquaintances, either.
Kaiba and I were alike in a few ways, which is why we easily fell into this little arrangement. Unlike most others, I can talk to him and relate with him. We both were loners and smarter than most the others students – though he was smart because he had education drilled into him, whereas I was smart because I enjoyed learning, and, honestly, I enjoyed knowing that I was more clever than others. (Hey, I never said I wasn't arrogant myself.)
He, like I, simply chose the life of solitude. For him, it was both because he had no interest in anyone else and because a lot of people only try to get near him and be "friends" because of his background. The wealthy owner, Gozaburo, of the brand Kaiba Corp adopted Seto when he was young, nd now that said boy is the CEO – taking over since dear old dad died a few years back.
That was another thing we had in common: bad parents.
"Why aren't you riding in that fancy-schmancy limo of yours?" I ask, half-curious, half-teasing.
"My driver ran into an idiotic dog on a skateboard. So I got out and decided to walk the rest of the way while he dealt with it." Is the acidic reply. I look forward, feeling that this "dog" he mentioned was not referring to the pet. And, not even a second later, I saw Jou's face flash through Kaiba's mind, and I felt his irritation, thus proving me right.
If reading minds has taught me nothing else, it's that many guys are so horny every moment of their lives is torture. But Kaiba is the exception. Maybe that's another reason I'm able to be around him more than others. He doesn't picture my boobs or ass every moment of the day. His thoughts aren't about girls or popularity or beauty or sex or anything else stupid like that. He's more of a calculating type. A worker.
Like now, since his irritation toward Jou is leaving his mind, he's thinking about where Kaiba Corp is in the stock market. I rub my nose, hiding my little smirk. One day he'll think about something other than work and himself, but who knows if I'll be there to see it? As of now, Kaiba is not interested in anything but making Kaiba Corp number one.
Suddenly, I am sideswiped by a snobby wave: Why does she wear those stupid corsets? As if she doesn't already get enough attention from everyone.
I can see the thinker by the school gates. A thin girl, arm in arm with a slouchy-looking guy. I immediately see why she is angry. Her boyfriend is staring at my boobs and picturing me taking a bubble bath in a mountainside river. (Poor bastard.) Apparently, she's also jealous because she's only an A cup and has a tiny, flat ass; whereas I have the curves she prays for every night before bed. And I'm not saying that to be mean; I can see it all right there in her thoughts. She wants to be me.
Oh, boy. If only she knew.
But still, that doesn't excuse her; after all, it's not like I want her man thinking about my naked body. It's not my fault she has no curves. So, without looking at her, I flip her the bird as Kaiba and I walk through the gates.
"Jesus!" She screams shrilly. "Get a life!" I only give my hair a small toss and keep walking. She huffs and marches to the school, dragging her boyfriend behind her. Such a bitch. I can't believe she had the nerve to do that. I bet she's fucked almost every guy here…
I roll my eyes. I'm not fazed by the insults the girl thought. Like I haven't heard allegations to my sexual life before. I've heard it all – and worse.
"What was that about?" Kaiba asks, but he sounds only slightly curious. The answer won't affect him at all.
"Girl shit." I mutter simply, jamming my hands into the pockets of my denim skirt.
Every morning before school we have an assembly. I like this college, I do, but this is the one part I can't stand. It's excruciating. It's supposed to be like some kind of outlet – let us all have a chance to speak about things and grow closer as one, big, happy student body. Building closeness within us makes us stronger against all adversity and blah, blah, blah. Most of us don't even pay attention to it. As we walk into the auditorium, I see Kaiba has already taken out a thick book to read.
After another moment, I notice Jou coming in late through the doors on the other side of the room, his arm in a sling. Judging by how he moves and grins when he sees his group of friends, I don't think he's hurt very bad. Probably just a sprain and some bruises. His best friend, Yugi, a short kid who looks about a couple years younger than his actual age, runs up to him, obviously concerned. I've talked to Yugi a few times; he's a good kid. Really good. Anzu and Tristan are nice, too, of course; but there was something special about Yugi. I have never heard one bad thought cross that kid's mind. Not one dark intent.
Of course, I also hadn't been around him too much to really know much, but still.
Suddenly, all four of them look over here, and I guess Jou had just told them exactly who had run him down earlier. Anzu, Tristan, and Yugi's minds are all shocked – their waves dulled because their distance from where I was standing. Jou's thought, however, sails across the room at me and lands on the cup of my ear as clear as glass: Sick.
I look away watch the principal – who's standing to the side of the stage, talking to some teachers. This is nothing new. You may assume he was thinking about his injury or Kaiba or something, but I know better. The word is definitely for me. He thinks "sick" almost every time he sees me. But I don't care what Jounouchi thinks about me, anyway. He's an idiot.
Mr. Brian, the principal, is now at the center of the stage, and the crowd of students starts to hush and focus on him as he calls out, "Good morning, everybody!" Some kids answer his greeting; others, like me, stay silent and wait. "We have a new foreign student joining our campus today," he announces, holding his hand out to a kid standing off to the side. The student steps forward, not looking the slightest bit embarrassed or weary as he scans the crowd in front of him. I catch the words Waste of time come from his mind. "This is Valon," Mr. Brian continues, "he's come here all the way from Australia. I wanted to bring him front and center so you all can see his face so you can help him if he needs it. Please make him feel welcome."
Valon gives us a small wave and then walks off the stage as Mr. Brian then asks, "Does anyone have anything they'd like to share?" A girl near the stage raises her hand, and he nods to her.
"I just wanted to say that I noticed the big tree in the middle of the courtyard is blooming," she says, "and I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of tree it is? It's very pretty."
"Ah, yes." He replies. "We are very lucky to have an Autumn Cherry tree on our campus. I think everyone should make the time to go enjoy its blooms while they're here. See the color, smell the petals, sit under the tree and enjoy the shade it gives you from the sun." He stretches out his arms as if the entire universe is giving him a massage. I hear a bunch of students – mostly male – think He's so gay… What a fag… and I have to stifle a laugh. "Thank you for giving us this wonderful reminder of how beautiful our world is."
I shit you not. This is what our morning meetings are about.
Welcome to my hell.