CHAPTER 10
The weekend went by quicker than I could keep up and before I knew it; I was back in school again and it was Monday. I hated Mondays. They weren’t the greatest days for me. I might as well make the best of it though. I grab my books out of my locker. Ready for my class. All I wanted was for this day to end fast. Quietly minding my business, I heard my friends call my name.
“Reinaaaa.”
I spun around and quickly ran away from Sayu. She was running after me, trying to hug me. But I get the feeling it’s going to turn more into just a hug. I never really know with her. We’re running around in circles. She wouldn’t give up. Ai, Risa, and Koharu were standing to the side laughing, watching us. A little help would be nice to get her away! Instead of having me run around and embarrass myself.
“Reina why are you running away from me? I only want a hug.” Sayu stopped chasing me and put on a pout. I stopped to catch my breath. Her pouting wasn’t going to work on me! Oh no, not at all. I frown at her.
“Yeah right you are! I know about you and your grabby hands.” I crossed my arms over my chest. She gave a little smile. She didn’t say anything to deny it. She scares me sometimes.
“I’m not like that all the time. Only when I’m drunk.” She says sweetly
Why don’t I believe that?
I carefully watch her. I’m not letting my guard down this time! I don’t want to end up luckily groped again like before. She giggled. I must have been putting on a look of sheer terror. I scowled at her. She still holds her innocent face as if nothing happened. Ai laughs, stopping me from staring.
“The events from Saturday still haunt you Reina?” She jokes
Now I’m glaring at her instead. I don’t need to be reminded. I cringe.
“Well how would YOU react if Sayu groped you like that?” I snap
Ai goes quiet. At the corner of my eye, Koharu shifts. She looks kind of…sad? What’s up with her again? Risa cuts in defensively; all my forming questions about Koharu come to an end. Risa looked kind of mad too.
“Like that would ever happen. I would be sure to give Sayu a piece of my mind she did that.”
I look down scratching my head. I’m sorry I asked. Ai gave her a little nudge. Risa’s expression changes a little. She still holds the sternness to her words though. Ai smirks and chuckles.
“Are you…jealoussss?” She teases
Risa shook her heard so hard the braids in her hair swayed side to side. She couldn’t convince anyone here she wasn’t jealous. “The little green monster”, would be a little of an understatement. Jealousy; was written all over her face in permanent marker. She isn’t very good at concealing her emotions or facial expressions. That also was a little of a give away. I smiled, trying to hold in my snickering. She really loves Ai you can tell. But she still tries to show that she isn’t the ‘jealous’ type even when she’s been found out.
“Of course I’m not! I’m just letting her know what’s mine and YOU are mine.” She clarifies
That’s a good way to put it. But she’s now, not only jealous, but also a little possessive. Ai keeps laughing, enjoying every minute of her girlfriend’s reaction. She wrapped her arms around Risa’s waist, burying her face into the back of her neck. She whispers something to her. I couldn’t hear what though. A second later, Risa blushes bright red. Ai holds a smug smile on her lips. They really are cute together. Koharu suddenly, breaks the couple-y moment.
“Guess what next week issss.” she yells out excitingly.
Ai groans. I was curious. What was next week? It was the same as any ordinary week. Nothing special or it seemed that way to me. Risa held the same enthusiastic smile. I get the feeling that I have to know; and fast.
“That’s right…next week is a very special day.” Sayu joined in
Ai ducks her head annoyed. What is this all about?
I was still here completely lost. What were they not telling me that I should know? Is there a test next week?! Crap I didn’t study! Well I never study…but still! I hate surprise test that are worth a large part of my grade. That can’t be it though. Koharu wouldn’t be happy to take a test next week. Ok, I give up.
“Cut it out you guys it’s nothing worth it, to go crazy over.” Ai grumbles.
A faint blush was visible in her cheeks.
“What do you mean it’s not worth it? Ai-chan, your birthday is coming soon!” Risa announces
Her birthday?! This soon? I’ve never celebrated a friend’s birthday before. I do have friends over at Fukuoka, but those aren’t really my friends. I watched everyone argue with Ai. Saying, “How celebrating her birthday is important” She was fighting back saying, “It isn’t.” It’s pretty interesting. She is kind of stubborn.
“Hey guys, what’s up?”
Eri joins the group lost on what is going on. Hopefully, she remembers the news about Ai’s birthday. She looks to everyone still clueless. She raises a brow, her forehead scrunching up in confusion. Even with the small worry lines, she looks so cute. Sayu cries out and smacks her forehead with her palm.
“You always forget Eri! It’s like this every year. Next week is Ai’s birthday.”
And then it hits her like a fist to the face. She even smacks her own forehead once she remembers. She must feel stupid.
“I’m sorry Ai-chan. I always seem to forget!”
“It’s ok. It wouldn’t be you if you did remember.” Ai smiles
“What are we going to do for your birthday?” Koharu asks
That’s a good question. I would like to know that one. I also need to buy her a nice gift too! Oh, but I don’t know her that long to know what she’ll like! I’m doomed, so much for trying to be a good friend.
“We’re doing nothing, because we’re not celebrating it.”
Risa quickly obliges.
“We’re GOING to celebrate your birthday whether you like it or not!”
Before Ai could protest anymore the bell rings. We have to go before we’re late and I would hate to face the teachers here again. We say our goodbyes and hurry to where we need to go quickly. I’m really curious to this birthday celebration. It would be kind of fun. I just hope this time, no one finds saki again.
***
This day couldn’t go any slower! It was just pure torture. The teachers kept running on with the boring lectures they do and in the end, assignments were given. Homework for me seems to keep piling up. I had two reports due next week on the same day and a project due the day after. My teachers don’t like to give me a break! When school was over, I couldn’t be any happier. Finally I can get a break! I grabbed my belongings and left in a hurry. I met Eri out front. She spotted me and smiled, waving. I felt my stomach bunch up into a tight ball when she smiled at me. My hands automatically went to my tummy.
“Are you ok?”
She looks to my hands on my stomach. I put them to my side, chuckling nervously. My ears burned from embarrassment. Hopefully she couldn’t see it. I’m sure I looked like a complete idiot to her. I just keep smiling, nervously. Say something!
“I’m fine. I suddenly had a stomach ache for a second.”
She looks concerned.
“You aren’t getting sick are you?”
She’s so caring. That’s so sweet of her. Now, I’m sure, I’m smiling like a big idiot. She’s looking at me weird. Things are getting a little awkward really fast!
“No, no, I’m fine really.”
I clear my throat. I’m so nervous my throat went instantly dry. I’m doing things real smooth aren’t I? I swallow to clear my dry throat.
“You aren’t getting a ride home from Ai?”
She shakes her head.
“I don’t live far from here it’s fine.”
“I can walk you home.”
“No, no, it’s fine you don’t have to!” She denies.
She says that a little too quickly. She’s trying to get ride of me? It’s strange. She usually is never like this. It’s almost like she has something to hide, but I won’t ask what. I remember the talk Ai and I had a few days ago about Eri. And I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable when she’s around me. Besides we’re still getting to know each other.
“Ok you don’t have to yell about it. I’ll see you another time then.”
She nods, she probably feels guilty. I don’t know if it’s me, but she looks like she wants to say something. But, she said nothing and instead, looks away. Whatever it is that’s bothering her, it’s hurting her badly inside. I can tell in her eyes. I really want to help, but how can I help her without making her feeling like I’m invading her space? I’ll let Eri set the pace. I turn around to walk away. Our conversation was long over. I might as well go home. As I walk, a bunch of guys make their way pass us. I don’t think much about them. They’re mumbling and looking back to Eri then me a few times, but I don’t pay any mind. It’s only when I hear Eri give out a loud squeal and the group of guys chuckling; that I really pay attention then. Immediately, I spin around.
Did they just do what I think they did?!
My blood begins to boil just thinking about what they could have done to her!
Eri’s face is flushed; both hands are on her butt. The group of guys kept walking, laughing at one another. One tall guy gave, his short guy friend a high-five. I now know who did what. Seeing their smirks make my face burn with rage. I won’t let them get off so easy. Eri tries to stop me, but I open my mouth before hers.
“Hey! Assholes!”
They turn around. They aren’t smirking this time. They’re mad and that’s what I want them to be. They glare down at me since they’re much bigger than me, but that doesn’t scare me. I’m too angry to care. I also never back down from anyone. No matter how tall or strong they are.
“What did you say?” One guy hisses
The group walked closer, surrounding me by all sides. I place both hands on my hips, staring straight into their eyes. I could hear Eri whispering, pleading for me to stop and leave them alone. Screw that! Those guys touched her in a place they shouldn’t have! Thinking about it only adds more fuel to the fire. I’m not letting them go. I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.
“You heard me!”
The two guys beside the short guy that groped Eri’s butt go silent. They must have never seen a girl who wasn’t afraid of them to talk back. I’m glad to be their first then, I’ll leave one hell of an impression.
“I can do whatever the hell I want! You have problem with it well that’s too damn bad then, isn’t it?” The short one laughs
I try to contain myself from wanting to punch this bastard’s teeth out and breaking his face. I would do that normally. I never did talk about why I was going to punch someone’s lights out back in Fukuoka. I just do it and that’s that, but I’m trying to keep my new slate clean and start no problems. I already had enough back at Fukuoka. And there’s no telling how dirty that slate was. My fists shake from trying to hold all my hatred inside. I’ve gotten better. Normally I would punch someone’s face in after three seconds. This has to be a new record.
“Yeah, well, I would like to see you try what you did to her, on me then! You think you can get away with that?”
He grins at me with his stupid little smug smile. I want to just smack that look off his face so bad! He’ll get what’s coming to him though, if he has enough guts to do what I dared him to. He rubs his hands together looking at me like I was some piece of meat and reaches out. I stand there waiting. I’m waiting for him to get a little closer. His hand goes out straight to my chest. I feel one side of my mouth twitch into a fierce sneer. His finger taps my chest and in that second; I send my fist towards his stomach. He bends over in pain. I grab his head and slam my knee to his face. He falls to the ground yelling. His friends look at me in shock. I walk over to one of them and grab him by the collar of his uniform shirt. I place him so we’re meeting eye to eye.
“If you EVER come here again and touch HER, me, or ANY of the girls here…you’ll end up with something broken, got it?!”
He nods frantically. His face is covered in sweat. I push him to the ground watching him scurry off the floor. I was so busy looking at him, I forgot the other guy. He was sneaking behind me, for a hit.
“Reina watch out!” Eri screams
I turn my head and quickly run out from his range just before his fist met my head. He falls to the floor and I kick him a bunch of times. I hate when people try to sneak up on me. That’s another thing that pisses me off. I kick him again in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. I was beyond angry. I repeatedly kicked him over and over. I was lost in my own anger. I felt something soft and warm on my shoulder.
“Please stop?”
I stop mid-kick. Eri looks at me freaked. She shouldn’t see this side of me. This part of me was supposed to be in the past. It was supposed to be left back at home. But I guess it is true when they say: “Old habits die hard.” I feel bad for having to put her through this. I soften and nod. The three guys get up and run away. That ought to teach them to mess with me! I cast my eyes down to my feet.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper
Eri puts both hands on my shoulder getting me to look back up.
She puts on a forgiving smile. It isn’t a happy one, but it’s better than having to see her so terrified because of me. She drops one hand at her side and the other one slides down my arm and wraps around my wrist. I feel a tingle run up and down my arm when I felt her skin touch mine. I’ve never felt this strange feeling before.
“Let’s just go home, ok?”
I nod. I don’t look her in the eye again.
“I can…walk you home.”
It’s the least I can do for making her nearly die of a heart attack.
“Ok.”
I lift my head. I was a little happy that she agreed. I’m not sure why, but I was. I guess I just like being around her. She might not talk much to me, but even in those few words I feel that I have to be around her. I smile. She leads me in the direction to her house. We’re quiet most of the time. I can’t tell if it’s a good type of quiet. I feel that I should say something for my behavior, something to comfort her.
“I’m sorry.”
I went over that already! It seems that’s all I can say for now. This whole talking thing isn’t going so well. Eri glances at me, but she keeps walking. She doesn’t turn around. The grip on my wrist tightens only a little. Is she angry? I really can’t tell. Ok…I’ll just try again.
“I didn’t…mean to scare you. It’s just…when I see guys do that to girls. It makes me…SO mad! That’s how I got expelled at my last school, honestly.”
She stops. Maybe I shouldn’t have told her the last part. I was never good at talking unless it was blunt. And not a lot of people like it when I’m straightforward. Not that I care, it just keeps me out of trouble and that’s something I want to keep to the minimum. I can’t tell the expression Eri has this time. I’m a little jittery. She’s the first friend I’ve told about me being expelled. I feel that I can with her though.
“How many times did you get expelled?” She asks, softly
I’m a little timid to answer. I don’t know what she’ll think of me after I tell her. It’ll be bad enough to have teachers after me once those boys squeal on me. I don’t need her to baby me into doing the right things. She’s a little impatient. I sigh. Being sure to keep my emotionless face on and my ‘I-don’t-care’ attitude in check.
“I’ve been expelled three times.”
She looks at me surprised. She’s speechless and I can’t tell which one is better, Eri probably lecturing me on doing the right thing or being silent. I look to my shoes. I kick a rock far to the side and watch it skid across the street smoothly.
“You’re not going to be expelled again are you Reina?” She sounds frightened
That’s something new someone’s told me. I lift my head. Her face looks a little down. She’s not asking how I got expelled that’s good. I shake my head. She smiles, her hand laces through my fingers and locks into place. My heart starts to race quicker than it ever had before.
“I don’t want you to get expelled again. I like having you around already. I want you to stay with me.”
I smile too. My stomach flutters. I have someone who knows the truth and they still want to be friends with me. For some reason, my body suddenly feels hot. I’m uneasy again and begin to fidget. What is it with me today?! My confidence just went out the window abruptly. Eri starts walking again down the sidewalk. Our hands are still in the same handgrip the whole time. Strangely enough, I don’t want our hands to part…ever. I want them to stay together just like that. It’s silent the entire way, but it isn’t filled with high tension like before. Everything is more relaxed. It didn’t take us long before we reached Eri’s house.
“I’ll…see you tomorrow.” She mumbles
Bashfully she looked away and tucked a short piece of black hair behind her ear. She looked cute when she did that. I walk her to the front door. I was sure to keep our hands still together along the short walk.
“Eri…if you need anything…I’m always here for you.” I vow
Her eyes light up and slowly a smile appears. It’s a real smile this time, one that shows all her teeth. She has a cute little fang on the side. Without realizing, I’m smiling too, the same way. She bows her head and slowly; our hands break apart. I stop myself from frowning feeling our hands slip away. When they’re both no longer connected, I feel a little strange with it gone. I make sure to hold my smile in place and watch Eri go safely inside. I let out a soft sigh. I look forward to see her again.
Topic: This Thing Called Love(UPDATED 11/26/14) [COMPLETE] (Read 150128 times)