Part 2 "Hey! One more beer!" Miki demanded.
The bartender brought it over to her. He was unaware that she was Morning Musume's Miki Fujimoto because of the wig and dark glasses she wore. Even though she was 20 and legal to drink she still had to keep a low profile as not to ruin Morning Musume's good image. Although Aya was still underaged, Miki would buy beer for them to take back to either her or Aya's apartment. There they'd get drunk and sing karaoke loudly until the neighbors complained. They'd wake up hungover the next morning wondering where all the mess came from. One night Aya had drank way too much and passed out on Miki's bed. She was so tempted to have her way with her but she had too much respect for Aya to do that. Instead she gave her one single kiss on the lips. Though it was short it felt like the world to Miki.
Good times. Miki thought as she guzzled down the bottle of beer. That was only a month ago. It has been a week now since she left Aya's apartment that one night. During that week she tried all she could to avoid her at work. Aya confronted Miki at one point and said that it was her that was pushing them away from each other. Miki knew she was right but she just couldn't see Aya the same way after what she did. She even went so far as to follow Aya around one night. She was envious seeing how happy she was with Keita. The way she laughs and smiles at him, putting her arm around his. It seemed like there was much more going on than Aya had told her. Miki felt like the only thing good in her life was being snatched away from her. What would be left for her now? Her career?
Screw it! She thought. It hasn't meant anything to her lately, especially since her solo career (which
was her other good thing) was taken away too. If she had a choice between the two, she'd rather be with Aya. Now the bottle has become her friend recently. Aya had told her not to drink unless she was with her or in the company of the older Hello Project members lest something should happen to her if she were alone. But she wanted to be alone anyway, that's how she's been feeling lately. As she finished off the last drop she felt the alcohol reaching her head and decided to stop before she wouldn't be able to get herself home. "I'm done!" she yelled out and threw some money on the table.
But she wasn't really through yet. She stopped by the convenient store only to get more beer and then hailed for a taxi to take her home. Inside, the driver kept bugging her with stupid questions. She remained quiet as she started drinking a bottle.
"You know what? You kinda look familar." He said looking at her from the rear view mirror. "You look like you could be a member of that group Morning Musume."
"Yeah?" She finally spoke. "Which one?"
"Hmm," He thought. "That cute one, umm...Ishikawa."
Miki glared at him behind her dark glasses.
"Pshh, she's a brat." She scoffed. "How about Fujimoto? I think I look like her the most."
"Nmm, nah she's a bit scary." Replied the driver.
What?! She glared at him once more.
"Isn't she the one that's mean to everyone?" He asked. "You don't seem to be that type of person."
I am her, dumbass! She yelled in her head.
And I'm not THAT mean! She really wanted to smash his head with one of those beer bottles, but decided it wasn't worth losing her temper over (or perhaps a life).
The taxi had finally reached her destination. As she got out she realized that she was at the wrong place. By then the taxi had already driven away. Instead of her apartment she ended up at Aya's.
"Damn!" she griped as she fumbled for the keys. She had been given a spare key to Aya's apartment because after all they are "friends". Miki came over so much that people suspect they were living together.
As she entered, the whole place remained the same as she left it last time she was there a week ago. She noticed a little box on the coffee table and picked it up.
From Keita. She read and opened it. Inside was a necklace. "How nice." Miki scoffed as she threw the box down. She opened another bottle and chugged it down. "Congratulations to the lovely couple!" She toasted to the air. "
Kampai!" By this time she was feeling fuzzy.
She turned on the stereo and Aya's "GOODBYE Natsuo" was playing. "Aya you dork!" She snorted out loud. Aya was such an egomaniac. She loved hearing her name. She loved listening and looking at herself, naming things after herself. The girl was absolutely in love with herself.
She probably loves herself more than I love her. Miki thought one time. Maybe that is why she never noticed her affection towards her (if only Miki knew she knew).
Miki sang along while she stumbled around the room until finally landing on the bed. She could smell Aya's scent on her pillow as she held on to it tightly. It flooded back memories of when she'd spend the night over. But still reminded of the past week she threw the pillow across the room. The ceiling almost seems to be closing in on her as she tried to focus her eyes on it. Her head felt dizzy and heavy and she eventually fell asleep.
It was probably close to an hour when the door of the apartment opened. Miki could hear two voices, a man and a woman's. She turned over and yelled out. "Hey shut up there! I'm sleeping!"
"Huh?" said the female voice and footsteps came foward. "Mikichan? What are you doing here?"
Miki woke from her drunken slumber and looked up. "Ah darling, you're home!" She slurred. "Give me a kiss." She raised her arms up and puckered her lips.
"Miki, you're drunk. What did I tell-"
"Wow! What are you wearing?" she cut her off, looking at the black dress Aya wore. "Did that dummy Keita get you that 'cause I don't remember you getting that."
"Is everything all right?" Entered the male voice.
"Keita! How the hell are you?" Miki squeaked.
Aya, completely embarassed by Miki's behavoir, turned to Keita. "Keita, this is a bad time...again. I'll see you later ok?" He nodded as he gave her a hug.
"Feel better Fujimoto-san." He said to her.
"Un." Miki mumbled.
Aya waited for the door to close before she went at Miki.
"What's wrong with you?" She said very aggravated.
"Now you want to talk to me?" Miki mumbled.
"Me? You're the one who's not talking to me."
"Did you have fun with loverboy?" Miki changed the subject.
"What? Anyway, why are you drinking?"
"You want one? I think there's still some mo-"
"Miki, why are you acting like this?"
Miki squinted her eyes trying to look up at her. "You don't spend time with me anymore." she whined.
"The reason is because YOU don't want to be near me. You've been avoiding me for the past week. Everytime I get close to you you back away like I'm diseased or something."
Aya was right, Miki had be treating her like she was a leper. She was very possessive when it comes to Aya, but she just couldn't stand the thought of her with someone else.
"Not even a 'hi, how are you?' or anything." She continued. "Why are you being this way? As a friend, I thought you'd understand."
"Why are you so happy when you're with Keita?" Miki blurted out. "I thought you didn't like him."
"What? Have you been spying on me? How could you?"
"I...I..." Miki stuttered.
Aya scoffed at her. "How could you do that? And I'm only just...pretending." She said half truthfully. She realized that she did have a good time when she went out with Keita. She was starting to feel guilty about it now.
"Why?" Miki mumbled. "We'll never see each other anymore if you start to like him. Why are you doing this?"
"Because of my career-" Aya blurted then corrected herself. "I mean..." She didn't finish.
She looked at Miki nervously hoping she didn't hear her. It seemed like she didn't because she was half asleep. She was still upset that Miki had to spy on her. She couldn't believe she did something like that. Then again she was fooling herself as well. She shook her head and realized why was she even telling Miki this, she isn't going to remember anything anyway.
"I'm sorry Miki, you need to go." She said quietly this time.
"Aa, can't I stay? I'm already here." Miki pleaded.
Aya gave up. "Fine, but please don't talk to me."
"What?" Miki watched Aya leave the room.
Aya settled herself in the living room on the couch. It was getting late and she didn't feel like dealing with her drunken friend. It was Miki's fault for the silent hostility between them this past week but it was her fault for getting into this situation in the first place.
Damnit, why did I agree to do this? She thought.
It's only making it worse. She wondered who she should feel sorry for. Miki, her always so strong friend who has now turned herself into a drunken mess or Keita, who was absolutely clueless to the real reason why she's only going out with him. Or perhaps her own self for thinking only about her career. As she pondered these thoughts in her head Miki incessantly called out to her.
"Aya, come here!"
"No, you've completely embarassed me back there. Leave me alone!" She yelled back.
"Ayaya!" Miki growled.
"Shut up before the neighbors complain!"
"Aya!" But her calls were ignored. Miki felt too tired to get up and go to her so she kept calling her. "Aya, please come here." Her voice lowered to a desperate plea now. "Aya...I...love you!" She suddenly began to cry. "I love you!" She yelled louder but was unaware of the words she was saying. "All I want is to be...with you." She whispered to herself now between her sobs. "But I've waited too long...now...I've missed my chance." She eventually cried herself to sleep.
In the living room Aya clenched her teeth, fighting back the tears that were forming. She finally heard the words Miki wanted to tell her, but she didn't want to hear it. Not like that. Miki wasn't the kind of girl who'd make a fool out of herself. If anyone knew Miki better than anyone it would be Aya. Despite what everyone says about her, Miki was really a sweet girl. Her behavoir since she found out about the incident was the first time Aya had seen a big change in Miki and she felt responsible for that. She realized that Miki was desperate now. Aya herself was feeling frustrated and confused.
"Miki..." She sighed.
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bluekinoko, thanks for the compliment. It's funny since writing's not my best form of art. And I didn't think I'd end up writing fanfics either. But it's fun.