A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews and support everyone! I'm definitely looking forward to making this story long and beautiful!


Chapter 2: Livin' On A Prayer

I woke up in my bed feeling refreshed and well rested and I arose to the sound of the birds singing outside, my room had a pine tree right outside the window and some birds would hang out there sometimes in the mornings and it was a little annoying from time to time but on some days it was nice to hear, particularly this one.

I hadn't thought about that girl from Japan since I woke up and I went and made myself breakfast and got ready for the school day.

After getting all my things I headed out for school. My parents had offered to drive me this year but we lived close enough I wanted to walk this year.

A few minutes into my walk my mind went to school and what was going on and what it was gonna be like this year. And of course since I thought about school I thought about the girl from Japan, Omoharu. I thought about her and I kinda wished I had just put her out of my mind and never thought of her again because every time I did I got to feeling pretty sad and that's not the only thing I felt, I also felt guilt and shame and even a dash of anger as well because of what had happened.

Again, I wished I had never even spoken to her so this wouldn't have even been a problem but I just had to didn't I? Every time I tried to make new friends it always ended in some version of me getting the silent treatment or cold shoulder.

Whatever, I wasn't trying to be dramatic or wallow in my own feelings of pain or loneliness I just wanted… well I'm not sure what I wanted because I didn't wanna go to school or do anything except go home which I considered on my way there. Thought maybe I could just go back home and say I was feeling sick or something but I didn't. I wasn't sure what I even wanted in life right now because it wasn't school, and it wasn't graduation into the world of college because I felt that would just be more of the same, just another high school experience there and I didn't want that.

I didn't rightly know what I wanted.

Anyway; I made it past the open space near my house and down a quiet road and there was the school conveniently located right after a chain link fence there. It was a nice place where I grew up.

I went to the large entrance around back and joined the small groups waiting to get in and when the bell finally sounded we all went in and to our classes.

US History, math, then science where Omoharu was supposed to be but she never showed.

I sat there in class in disbelief- I did look for her and made sure she wasn't just dressed differently or hidden amongst the rest of the class but she wasn't. I didn't understand why she wasn't here and I guess that didn't really matter anyway because she -like everyone else- had given me the cold shoulder it seemed.

She didn't look at me yesterday after our chat in the field behind the school during the fire drill and I was just so hurt.

And yes I know she didn't have to speak to me if she didn't want to or if she wasn't feeling comfortable doing it; that's fine I didn't care to coerce someone to do something that they don't want to…

I was disappointed that's all; I felt such a connection with her and she was so kind to me and then she abruptly cut me off without explanation like everybody else had.

I was reluctant but I felt anger in that moment and I kept busy with the school work, our teacher passed out a bunch of assignments to us, it was a short quiz on what we'd learned so far in the class which wasn't much since it was just the beginning of the year. The teachers tended to jump right into the school work and start giving us work immediately and it piled up quickly and they never gave us a break, they never went easy in the first weeks of school they always just went right into it and gave us as much work as possible as quickly as they could.

Well I guess there was no point in delaying the inevitable so maybe that's what the teachers thought.

They were right if that's really what they were thinking.

The quiz was easy and I got a C- on it sadly. I think the poor grade was due to the fact I was already tired of school and that's why I messed up and I probably could've done better but I just didn't want to. I was still feeling down because the girl from Japan just went off and ignored me and I know she was just some shmuck I probably didn't need to get all worked up over but that didn't change the fact I still felt crappy about it.

It was such a letdown that she wouldn't even look my way anymore.

Alright I had to get a grip. It wasn't worth thinking about anymore I- I don't know why I kept pulling myself down like that.

I was gonna do my work and make new friends and it was gonna be a good year.

Sigh

…well I did the rest of the work after the quiz that we had and then it was off to the next period and then lunch, then the rest of my classes and then the sixth period which was P.E., right before the last class was my only other class the Japanese girl Omoharu was in.

I saw Omoharu there in the gym going to the locker room to change out.

Great, just what I needed.

I didn't wanna see her I just wanted to get through the day without feeling sad so I didn't pay her any attention.

In the locker room I just washed my hands and didn't change out because for starters I didn't even have any gym clothes and I hated changing out because the other guys in there would make pretty nasty comments and bother you in the changing area so I didn't change out. I just looked at myself in the mirror after washing my hands.

I was me, a young man like myself. I had dark brown messy hair, blue eyes and a fair peaches and cream complexion about me. That was me, pretty impressive, eh? Haha

I never really knew what my look meant, or who I was, I mean I felt comfortable in my skin and I wouldn't choose to be anyone else I really wouldn't.

I was me, the only person I wanted to be. And I liked myself.

I just felt I was never much good for anyone or I had a face that was too forgettable? I didn't know. Maybe I wasn't good looking or interesting enough for anybody.

I didn't think I was ugly, I was decent I thought at least but I was always uncertain about how other folks saw me.

I didn't think I was king of the world or anything I assure you, I just really didn't have a clue what to think other than I was special like my mother always told me, but I never really did anything special even though I felt I could do great things I just never really did all that much with my life and that bothered me.

Just turned eighteen years old and I hadn't really accomplished anything so far in my life.

Maybe if I wasn't so tired all the time and I had a friend to help me out then I would have the desire to go out and do more in life, but yeah, that didn't happen and it was probably my fault honestly because I really didn't like people all that much and I think folks finally were getting the message and were shunning me.

That's not what I wanted, I did want friends just not that many and I always wished I had someone special in my life..

That was all I really wanted in my life I just really wanted someone who loved me who I could love back and who'd be my best friend.

Since I became a teenager I wanted to fall in love and be loved dearly by that person and have someone like that in my life.

Someone who believes in me, you know?

Well that wasn't going to happen anytime soon because I was the quiet loner and no matter how much I prayed everything would change I would never see that change.

Whatever…well anyway after reflecting on my life like that and leaving the locker room I stepped outside. I just did as our coach told us, I got out to the gym and then we all went outside to the track field.

I saw the Omoharu girl again in her gym clothes and she was just standing out with the rest of the class while I stayed back away from the group of people like I usually did. I didn't stray far but I stayed close enough so the coach wouldn't care. I just did that and did whatever activity we were doing and I stayed out of the way because that's how it usually was.

She didn't look at me of course, Omoharu. She just looked at the coach and we were starting the semester with racket sports so we were gonna be playing some type of badminton today and I really didn't care about her nor the badminton.

I had played badminton for a while with my mom in our backyard and I had gotten into it for a while when I was younger but now I just didn't want to do anything because I was still feeling sad about the Omoharu girl.

I know I know, it was past time I just forgot about her already and I was trying to I really was. I was already done grieving I just still felt bad that I wouldn't be able to speak to her again or be friends, but I was ready to just put this whole thing out of my mind already.

It was getting annoying feeling so bad like this every day and so early in the school year, I really didn't need this right now- I was just ready for it to all stop.

'Screw her' I thought to myself. I didn't need to think about her anymore.

Anyway, everybody got rackets and the 'birdies' they used to play badminton and everybody partnered up with their best friend except for me of course and I'm not trying to act all gloomy or like the whole world was supposed to revolve around me or anything, it's just that I felt really lonely a lot of the time because nobody was ever interested in partnering with me for anything really, I'm certain that's no surprise to you now.

I would keep sighing but that was a waste of time so while everybody got a partner I just stood around the field off by myself as the odd man out and I merely walked around not doing anything. I did get a racket from the bin the coach had outside and I grabbed a birdie which is what they call the thing you hit with the racket but of course there was nobody to play with so I just just screwed around with the racket and walked around by myself.

The coach was a cool guy his name was Mr. Anders or Coach Anders, but even he didn't really care for me too much, and even though I had talked with him and he was pretty friendly actually and funny we just really hadn't talked in a while or very much this year either. The previous three years? Sure, Coach Anders and I had talked and he was an alright guy like I said, he even told me about his wife and daughter whom he had a picture of in his office there in the gym and that was all well and good it's just- I mean… that was the last couple years and we didn't talk really this year even and he didn't say anything about me being by myself today with no partner.

And that was unusual I thought because the teacher -regardless of what class- usually would say something if there was an odd person out when we did things like this that required a partner or two.

Either the teacher would make other people work with you or the teacher would take it upon themself to be your partner which I thought was really cool.

But not today, Mr. Anders my coach glanced at me several times but he did nothing about me being by myself and not participating. Everyone played badminton and he watched but said nothing to me.

Pffft, wow..

I didn't wanna look but I slipped up and glanced over towards where Omoharu was and she was playing badminton with another girl and some guy it looked like and she was having a hard time hitting the birdie with her racket.

She seemed to be socializing just fine and a helluva lot better than I ever could so I was happy for her but then I just kept thinking back to her giving me the cold shoulder and I got mad at first but then I got really upset and teared up because I just didn't want things to be this way and I really wanted to be her friend..

Shit, what was wrong with me? She was just some dumb girl I didn't need her, why was I getting so upset over this?

I just kept walking around aimlessly by myself and I went and sat on the bleachers they had out on the field that they used for soccer games and such. Everyone was talking and playing and Coach Anders was walking around with his hands behind him and just watching.

I really needed to get older already so I could leave school, I hated school so much it was like hating it was my passion.

Just then I looked over and Omoharu I saw was looking at me as well sitting over at the bleachers. It was a little hard to see since she had one of her eyes covered with a patch but I was pretty confident she was looking at me. Then she started walking towards me.

Oh…

That made my mind race with a million different things and that's putting it lightly.

She indeed was coming towards me because she kept walking and it was clear she wanted to say something to me.

Was she gonna tell me she didn't want to talk ever again? Tell me she didn't like me? Tell me she thought I was coming onto her and to stop? Tell me she had a boyfriend and to leave her alone?

That's usually how it was with me and I had heard everything, trust me. Every excuse, every put-down, every insult and retort- you name it I'd heard it.

I got nervous and I just watched as she came right up to me in her standard red and white gym clothes with her black jacket draped around her and when she finally stopped right in front of me she did a strange sort of bow, but not like she was done giving an on-stage performance or something like the sort, no she bowed just a little bit by tilting her upper body forward towards me.

I didn't know what to make of that but I must've looked like a deer in the headlights.

She then proceeded to say, "Hi, um.. Sam, right?"

I was pretty surprised at this point.. I mean she remembered my name at least.

I felt like I wanted to just disappear right then because I was so nervous… but I just had a feeling I should go ahead and talk to her so I trusted my conscience and I did,

"Uhh yeah." I managed then I pointed to her, "Omoharu, right?"

"Yes! Yes, thanks for remembering how to pronounce it." she replied and she smiled.

Okay this was awkwardly amusing to me but why was she talking to me now?

I thought she disliked me…

"C- can I help you with something Omoharu?" I asked her because I had no earthly idea what she possibly could've wanted and I thought she was giving me the cold shoulder so I didn't understand why she was talking to me now.

But she continued to talk to me.

She spoke to me like we were friends.

"Yeah, um, did you want to be my partner for the badminton?" she inquired.

"I- I uhh…" I hesitated. I wanted to be truthful with her and tell her how I felt and everything. So I did, I just mustered up the courage and I told her or asked her rather what was going on,

"Listen Omoharu… I don't- I don't get why you're talking to me now I thought you didn't like me?"

Her only visible eye widened and she looked anxious and started fidgeting with her hands and she answered me with,

"W- what do you mean you thought I didn't like you?"

Uugh I hope she didn't take that the wrong way because I mean like- as friends not the other way as in a crush. She didn't really think I meant it that way did she?

I had no clue I hope I didn't communicate the message the wrong way.

Oh shit..

I quickly decided to clarify with her what I mean so I gently threw up my hands, "Oh well I mean, you just sorta stopped talking to me yesterday once the fire drill was over? …and you never looked at me again so I thought you just didn't wanna talk to me anymore or something?"

I gotta admit this was very weird for me to be in an emotional situation like this with another person because I had never really done this. I mean with family I had been in fights and things of that sort like most families had but with another person I didn't know? This was uncharted territory for me it really was, and I felt very out of my comfort zone here and I didn't know what to say or how to communicate other than what I'd seen in movies and TV because that's where I mostly got my social skills from (yeah that's where I learned how people acted- sue me) and I guess that's not such a good thing because TV is different from reality…

In the moment though it felt like my life was a dramatic movie now I was actually the main character of the plot and I was here with another person deciding what to do at destiny's request.

I took a deep breath like I was going into something really deep and I really needed that breath because I shook a little when I inhaled, then I continued,

"I- I just thought- that's just what I thought… I… I…."

I started stuttering.

"I… I…"

She looked even more anxious but I could tell she was making an effort to speak to me and she put her hands up at chest-level and answered my question without hesitating,

"Oh, I'm s- I'm so sorry I didn't mean to be rude or anything- I just thought we were done talking and I didn't wanna bother you or anything. I promise I wasn't ignoring you.."

Really? Seriously? I mean if that was the case then I was probably the happiest guy in that whole school right about now! But I did wonder why she didn't look at me though?

"Oh? Okay I… I just thought you were ignoring me because you turned away and didn't talk or even look at me anymore yesterday." I explained.

She moved her hands down and interlaced her fingers still looking anxious about talking and I really was trying to be reasonable here, I didn't want to make her uncomfortable in any way but it seemed she'd feel that way regardless so I kept talking and feeling bad about it because she was evidently uncomfortable,

"Sorry if I misconstrued things I just get really sensitive sometimes about people and th- the things they do. Sometimes someone will do something and I'll completely misread things, y- you know?"

She looked down like she was thinking and I added, "I'm sorry about that Omoharu, I didn't mean to be a jerk or anything I just-"

She cut me off, "Oh no no no, it's alright Sam it's totally my fault, I didn't communicate anything the way I really wanted to and also sorry I didn't look at you it's a habit I have."

"Oh, okay hey it's fine Omoharu really, I appreciate you being cool about it."

She nodded, "Great, thanks Sam you're really nice actually, heh."

I grinned and looked down at her boots before I spoke again, "So you have a habit of not making eye contact?" I asked her.

"Oh I- actually in Japan you didn't look people in the eye unless you're like talking to them or you're friends, it's considered rude and I have a habit of following that rule, it sort of stuck with me even after moving here."

Well I surely didn't expect that.

"Wow seriously?" I inquired,

"Yeah no joke, heh. It's rude to look someone in the eyes unless you're interacting with them. Depends on circumstances of course and there're exceptions but that's the general rule."

"That's pretty peculiar Omoharu, can I ask do you drive on the sidewalks too there in Japan?"

She chuckled pretty hard at my very bad joke, "No! No, we don't haha, but we do drive on the left rather than the right side of the road like you do here."

"Ah I thought that was just for those dumb brits, the driving on the wrong side of the road."

She chuckled again and harder this time, "No! No Sam, it's also in most Asian countries that they drive like that and Australia, hahahaha."

I found it very thrilling that I could make her laugh like that,

"Well it's strange but okay Omoharu.. you do know cars were originally meant to be driven on the right side- or the normal side right? Which is the right side?"

She chuckled again and was like, "Y- yes if you want to get very technical then Karl Benz who invented the automobile did in fact intend them to be driven on the right side of the road, I'm surprised you know about that!"

Huh, she was smart I'll give her that. And yeah she was very right about the Benz guy.

"Ah see you're all doing it wrong then Omoharu."

She smiled and rubbed her face with her gloved hand, "Okay well Sam Baker, if you're done insulting my home country did you want to be my partner for badminton then? I noticed you're just here by yourself, uh- I mean unless you're not feeling well or something in that case it's okay I just wanted to ask if you wanted to be my partner just in case."

Was she kidding? I didn't even hesitate!

And I didn't mean to insult her home country, I thought she was being funny but I apologized anyway,

"Oh, yeah! I'll absolutely be your partner if you want? And sorry I didn't mean to insult where you come from, I'm only kidding."

She looked anxiously at me, "Oh I know you're kidding, you're sweet thank you, and r- really? You'd be my partner?"

I stood up, "Yeah, if you're interested? I mean you are the one asking me after all Omoharu."

She gave me another one of her anxious smiles but I couldn't tell I was making her happy. She seemed like she couldn't judge whether I was being funny or serious about the whole situation but she answered me,

"Y- yeah totally let's go play then? I- I mean only if you're feeling up to it Sam." she nervously said.

"Yeah! Yeah I'm absolutely feeling up to it." I nodded (Anything to be able to talk to her I was up for, that is)

"Okay." she replied and she started fidgeting with her hands again.

"Okay." I replied.

I was messing with her.

She looked at me with an anxious expression again, "O- okay…?"

Then I smiled, "Alright dude let's go hahaha."

Her anxious expression changed to a softer happier one and she turned and we both walked over to where everyone else was playing and we started playing ourselves.

Wow this was incredible- everything was alright again! Like, I was so afraid she hated me or something but really it was just a misunderstanding haha, and the thing about Japanese not looking you in the eye, man- that was so funny.

I mean it was so funny that was a real thing over there and that's the reason she didn't look at me.

It wasn't because she hated me it's because she was Japanese and it's rude to look someone in the eyes like that over there, hahahahaha!

Oh man that was funny!

Everything was cool now and she was talking to me again and we were gonna play badminton together.

Good times.

But getting back to the story: She was a very friendly girl Omoharu, she seemed to really be invested in being well mannered and being respectful. I guessed it was probably because she was from Japan and they had a different way of doing things there and her different personality was easy for me to pick up on, and it definitely was there.

She had a- she had a… oh man..

She had a very… charming personality… there I said it.

I know I was being mushy and everything but it was true, she was very kind and that was the most charming thing about her personality at least as far as I'd seen.

Omoharu.

I wondered again what that name meant.. she was very interesting and I wanted to know everything about her, I seriously did. I wanted to know where she came from and what her name meant and just.. everything. I wanted to know all about her.

I felt in my heart that I needed to be careful though because she was a person- she had her own thoughts and her own feelings and her own life as well and she was someone else, yeah? She was someone and she was here living a life of her own and she probably had her own personal problems she dealt with (not to mention school work) and her own family and all the things that came with all that.

She was someone's daughter too.

I didn't wanna bother her or be any trouble to her and I didn't wanna intrude on her personal life or god forbid make her feel uncomfortable.

I really just wanted to make sure I wasn't any trouble for her even though I wanted nothing more than to know her I just.. I knew she didn't have to do anything for me and I knew I probably didn't even deserve a friend in the first place especially one like her.

But I mean, she was here now and I knew in my heart there had to be some reason I'd met her, right?

I was getting hopeful I think and I had the presence of mind to ensure I wasn't going too far and getting all worked up and excited over nothing. I didn't expect anything from her but I was gonna try and be her friend because it was time- I had gone so long without making a friend and I was gonna try now and see if she wanted to be friends with me.

I just wasn't gonna get my hopes up so they wouldn't be crushed if things went wrong, yeah?

Okay, so while we played badminton I thought for a moment and then I asked her if she lived around the school, I thought that was a good idea to start a conversation and get to know her.

"So um Omoharu do you live around here, close to school by any chance?" I asked her,

"Y- yes I do just a few blocks actually." she replied.

"Cool, cool, I live a bit farther down that way but still close enough to walk." I told her pointing in the direction of my house.

We hit the birdie a few times back and forth between us but we weren't sure how or why we were playing badminton in the first place because there was no net so we just sort of tried to hit it between us but she… well, to be honest she wasn't very good at it.

Not to be mean or anything she was trying she just didn't seem to be too experienced in it and I was happy to help her get better if at all possible and she looked very nice today in her gym clothes.

Wait what? Umm I don't know why I said that last part-

Never mind..

Anyway I was pretty seasoned in badminton for the reasons I mentioned before and I was pretty adventurous personally and I enjoyed outdoor activities so even though I wasn't an athlete necessarily I was still experienced in sports and it was a little weird actually to see her being so clumsy.

I mean, I wasn't mad or anything I actually thought she was kinda cute when she screwed up.

Heh, she was really good looking actually if I didn't mention, she was very pretty.

Gah, what was I thinking? I- I had no right to think that about her.

Anyway- I played badminton with her and it was the most fun I'd had in years it really was, and we didn't talk too much we just talked about what teachers we had and hit the birdie back and forth.

I did wanna ask her more questions and ask her about her personal life more but I felt that would be rude if I did so I didn't pry, I just played with her and she got better at hitting the birdie and we had a good little back-and-forth with it for a minute before she screwed up again but I didn't care I just encouraged her to keep trying and she seemed to really like when I did that.

The sad part was the class went by fast and before I could ask her more questions about herself the coach said it was time to go in so we all went in. I checked my watch and sure enough it was around forty five minutes we had been out already.

Wow I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.

Omoharu and I went back to the gym together all the while I told her she did really good at the badminton and I wasn't just telling her that, she really had gotten a little bit better than when we first started.

She really seemed to like that because she smiled a lot when I told her.

We went to where the locker rooms were and she went in to change out and I didn't have my gym clothes so I didn't need to so I waited near the gym entrance to see if she still wanted to walk with me.

She looked nice in her gym clothes by the way she looked really cool in them.

Once she came back out dressed in her usual outfit she came right over to me and we kept on talking.

I just told her about badminton and how I had played it a lot in my backyard as a kid and how I thought she could get to be pretty good at it if she practiced and she actually was very happy to hear that. She didn't say much she just listened and looked at me and that was very sweet of her and I really wanted to know more about her personally but the bell sounded and that meant of course that we had just minutes to get to the next class and so I told her I'd see her later and she said the same back to me.

"See you later Sam."

I still remember those words.

I definitely wanted to see her later..

…more than anything.

Sigh…

I went to my next class and once that was done I went home since right after P.E. it was the last period. I walked myself home and went straight to my room for a minute to put my things away although I didn't have much I just had my notebook, and I sat on my bed for a minute to think about the day and the only thing I could think of was Omoharu.

After thinking for a few more minutes I got up and took a shower and let the hot water relax me and I even sat down in the shower which was unusual for me to do but I felt these were unusual circumstances so I reasoned I was acting differently because of that, and I let the thoughts swirl around in my head about school and Omoharu and I really felt like she was… like…

I didn't know… I had a hard time interpreting my feelings surrounding her and I wasn't even sure what it was exactly that I was feeling.

Yeah I know I'm screwed up you don't have to tell me twice.

I just tried to gather my thoughts and enjoy the shower and once I was finished I got out and after getting my pajamas on I climbed into bed and I stayed there slumped over on my side just thinking about Omoharu and how much I enjoyed her.

Her beautiful and awesomely styled hair, her beautiful fair skin and her gorgeous face..

I think I had a crush on her now.

Oh man.

Well maybe I just thought she was cute that had happened before and it wasn't necessarily indicative of a crush or anything of that nature so I reasoned it maybe was just that. I just thought she was cute and it would soon pass and that would be the end of it.

Yeah, that's sounded good, I just thought she was cute and that was it, I didn't actually have a crush on her or anything! Haha

Yeah I really hoped that was true- or maybe I didn't…sigh, I don't know.. I was just scared deep down I think because I knew where this may have been going. Yeah you guessed it, I might've been crushing on her and I was afraid it would end with me crying my heart out like these things usually did.

I'll be and admit it: I was scared and worried and I didn't wanna deal with the consequences I really didn't.

I just… I wasn't good enough I didn't think.

I don't know.. was I? Was I good enough to be significant in somebody's life?

Sigh

Whatever I wasn't gonna worry myself or keep sighing, I just needed to get some sleep even though it was only like three o'clock in the afternoon I just wanted to sleep because the whole day had been draining on me except for the part when Omoharu and I talked and played badminton together in P.E., that was something that didn't suck the life outta me.

In fact it made me feel better… much better.

Ugh what was happening to me?

I… I… I was so scared, I was scared to death I really in all honesty was… scared of being rejected again by someone, scared of being put down… I just grabbed the covers and I wrapped myself up in them and tried my best to get to sleep. My mom came knocking at my bedroom door asking me if I was okay and I told her I was and that I was just tired so she left.

I really wasn't acting like myself today and it was obvious to anyone around me.

I grabbed my mp3 player and put the earbuds in and listened to music until I fell asleep.

Smooth jazz mostly this time and eighties pop-rock to a lesser degree but I did like Bon Jovi, Cutting Crew and so on. I liked music because it soothed me when I was feeling down and I liked love songs (don't hold it against me).

Huey Lewis, Bon Jovi and Chuck Mangione this time are what I fell asleep to.

The inspiring sound of Huey Lewis's singing voice helped me get through the first phase of getting to sleep as did the guitar from Bon Jovi, and then the soft and sweet sound of Chuck Mangione's flugelhorn finally took my consciousness away and sleep overcame me.