----------------------
PART 25
MATSUURA - AUGUST 20TH
I glanced up and smiled at Miki's reflection in the dressing room mirror. I picked up the lip gloss and started applying it.
"We need to talk," she said in a serious voice. Surprised, I turned around.
"Ok..." I replied cautiously. "Is everything all right?"
"I know."
"You know what?"
"I know about your little crush. Yocchan told me." My eyes widened.
"What?! How did she even find out?" I panicked. Dammit. I'd thought I'd been fairly good at hiding it.
"She said she figured it out a while ago and just never said anything. She only told me because of the cell phone incident yesterday," Miki replied. I groaned and stood up.
"I'm sorry. I probably should have just told you myself, but I didn't want to cause unnecessary drama, you know?" I grabbed Miki's hand. "Seriously, it's just a stupid crush. I'm not going to act on it or anything, I swear."
"When did this start, though?" Miki replied, looking a bit uncomfortable. I thought for a moment.
"Probably when we kissed."
"Which time?"
"Huh?" I looked at her in confusion. "She's only ever kissed me once."
"...wait, what?" Miki looked just as confused as I was. We stared at each other in silence for a minute.
"Hold on, what exactly did Yossy tell you?" I finally asked.
"Yossy said you had a thing for me. She said you keep acting weird and blushing when she talks about me."
"YOU!?" I squealed with laughter. "Tan, I love you, but no."
"Who were you talking about then?" Miki demanded.
"Yossy!" I laughed. "I'm blushing because when she talks about you, she's usually making innuendos about her having sex. And, well, you know how my mind works"
"Wait - you have a crush on MY Yocchan!?" Miki exclaimed.
"Hey, so do you!" I protested. This threw her for a moment. "Besides, I think just about anyone would if she kissed them like that."
"...But I've kissed you like that before."
"Are you annoyed now that it's not you?" I asked.
"Not annoyed exactly," Miki corrected. "I'm just - "
"She's a better kisser, ok?" I retorted. "Now can we please never mention this again?"
"Wait, WHAT!?" Miki exclaimed. I glanced over her shoulder and saw Yossy walk by the open door. She must have seen us because she paused and peeked in with a mischievous grin. She winked at me and put a finger to her lips.
She walked in the room just as my best friend grabbed me by the waist and kissed me hard. Helpless to stop it, I could only watch Yossy's face as it changed from happiness to shock to horror to something I can't even describe. I can now honestly say that I've actually seen someone's heart break. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget that expression on her face. I pushed Miki off of me.
"It's not what you think!!" I called out, but it was too late; she was gone. Miki turned around and looked at the empty room in confusion.
"Who are you - "
"Your girlfriend just saw that!" I yelled. The color drained from Miki's face and she sprinted out of the room. I sighed and sank back down into the chair.
A few minutes later, Miki walked slowly back into my room.
"Did you catch her?" I asked. She shook her head.
"No, she was already in the car by the time I reached her."
I sighed. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for - "
"It's not your fault," she interrupted me. "I screwed up. You just happened to be there."
"Gee, thanks," I said dryly. She gave me a look.
"You know what I mean. Don't be all dramatic about it."
"You know what I mean, though!" I protested. "You came here to talk to me about my... feelings and - "
"I thought we weren't mentioning that again?" Miki cut me off. I stuck my tongue out at her. She returned the gesture and walked over to the window.
"Um, shouldn't you go after her?" I asked.
"Yeah, but she's really mad. I'm not sure what to say or do, so..." she trailed off.
"Just blame it on me," I suggested, coming up behind her and giving her a big hug. "Just say I'm the one who - "
"She saw," she interrupted again. "She knows I initiated it."
"Are you going to ever let me finish a sentence?" I grumbled, releasing her.
"I just did, didn't I?" Miki sighed and flicked her reflection in the glass. "Miki, you idiot."
-----------------------
JFC, you get a gold star for reading my mind yet again.