The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Ten: Compromise

Kai Fukuda

"Wait!" I hear Olivia call behind me. I look over my shoulder to see her catching up.

"What shoes? Why in the world would you owe me a pair of shoes?"

I point at the black stain on her white Nike's and her gaze follows my finger.

"What, this? It was just some idiot that dropped his cigarette on my shoe," she scowls, bending her right leg behind her and rubbing the tar with her thumb.

"That idiot was me," I lift my hand.

She pauses and looks up, somehow balancing on one leg for an impressive amount of time.

"You were the asshole last week?" she asks, bewildered.

I jerk my head in a nod.

She scoffs, finally setting her foot down. "You know that shit kills?"

I hide an amused smile. That's what she's focused on?

"I had no idea," I drawl.

Her scowl deepens. "These were my favorite pair of sneakers."

"How much?" I ask.

"A hundred and fifty bucks."

I do the math in my head and wince.

Jesus, that's nearly 16,000 yen.

"How 'bout we compromise," I suggest. "I'll buy you a pair from ABC-Mart that doesn't cost my savings."

"And?" she asks slowly.

"And there you go, new shoes."

"How the hell is that a compromise?" she glares.

"I grade papers sometimes for Dr. Davis. I'll give you an A."

"I don't need your help to get an A," she crosses her arms.

My focus drifts down to where her breasts press against her arms. Like a lot of Japanese guys, I've always appreciated large tits. Most girls I've fucked were rightfully proud of theirs. Olivia's aren't large, per se, but hell they look tempting right now.

And what's with all her confidence? It doesn't irritate me as it should. If anything, it makes her fucking attractive. More than she already is, anyway.

Confused and a little annoyed, I turn and head to the direction of the nearest ABC-Mart. I hear her calling for me and the sound of her hurried footsteps follow.

"I'm choosing the nicest pair." She grumbles. "With extra socks".

I walk ahead so she doesn't see my smile.

***

The shopkeeper bows but I catch her dirty look on the way out.

"Look what you did," I say pointedly.

"What? They didn't have any pair I liked," Olivia shrugged.

We ended up staying in the shop for over half an hour as she practically tried on every pair in the store. I thought all of them looked nice on her, but she'd think about it for a while and then return it.

"Well, I can't pay 16,000 yen for a pair of shoes." I say in a clipped tone, hoping it hides my embarrassment.

She shakes her head, smirking. "You wouldn't be in this situation if you hadn't smoked in the first place."

"No," I correct. "I wouldn't be in this situation if I'd never met you."

"Hey, you were the one that dropped the cigarette on my shoe. I bet it was on purpose," she adds.