STUTTER

Chapter 4

At lunch, I noticed a few things about Scott just by watching him eat and talk. His tongue was split down the middle and piercings littered his ears. He had his bottom lip and eyebrow pierced as well. He spoke mostly about love stories and how he was looking for a boyfriend. He also had quite a bubbly personality and could probably make a joke about any given item.

"Why did you move so far from America?"

"Hm? Oh.", he smiled weakly. "My mother died."

Idiot. I shouldn't have asked.

"What?! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"You didn't. It was only a question, no big deal." I could tell he wanted me to change the subject.

"So how do you like it here?"

"Honestly....it's not the easiest getting accustomed to this. People here are so nice and- and you have to take your shoes off when you go inside and it's rude to look at old people-"

"Well first of all, don't call them old people. It's disrespectful."

He groaned and dropped his head down against his desk. "See what I mean? I can't do anything right. Cant even use chopsticks."

"Then use a fork.", I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Not helpful." He sighed softly and sat up, shoulders slumped. "I actually didn't want to move at all." He had an accent which I found oddly charming. He even stumbled on his words occasionally due to recently learning the language. "I wanted to be with my mom but...Dad didn't. I can't even visit her grave now that I'm here."

Within just an hour of meeting this boy and I already know how much he hates living here.

"Honestly...", I began to tug at the sleeve of my jacket, pulling it down to the tips of my fingers. "I can't stand this place. It's too crowded."

"Then why are you here?"

"My sister wants me to finish my education before we move."

"You have a sister?"

"Yeah. She has a daughter named Sara and she works as a teacher here."

"Do you still live with your parents?", he leaned on his fist, interested to hear about my own life. I didn't feel like sharing but this was the first time I'd made a friend that even bothered to ask.

"What parents?", I looked off to the side.

His face turned a pale white. "Wait- you're an orphan?!"

"Yeah.", I leaned back. "My sister and I lived in an orphanage. She moved out and got a place four years ago. When I turned seventeen, they let me stay with her since she's the only family I've got. It works out fine since we both have jobs."

"Who taught you how to read? And how to write and treat people?!"

"My nanny."

"What about her? What was she like?"

"She was...well she wasn't so bad. Just a bit old and hard of hearing. I liked her."

"Did she like kids?"

"Of course! Why else would she apply for a job taking care of so many children?...at first I actually thought she hated us but everyone seemed to love her. I kept my distance until she actually brought me a present for my birthday."

"What was it?"

"She got me a book that my sister helped pick out. Of course, I didn't know how to read it yet so she taught me. I still have it back at home."

"Do you still talk to her?"

"No. She died last year."

A familiar female ran into the room and over to Scott. She was clearly worried. "I need advice!"

"I'm the wrong person to ask", he rolled his eyes.

"Let me guess...Because you don't care?"

Watching her, my face slowly started to turn red. He smiled brightly. "Exactly! Why are you bugging me when I'm with a hot guy?"

Wait what?! My eyes widened at that. What's that supposed to mean?

"It's important!"

He turned to me and sighed. "Masaki, this is my friend Fukushima."

"Keiji!", she smiled brightly at me. My face grew so warm that I thought it would burn.

Both of them are-

"Hey! D-Don't call me that so nonchalantly! Just call me Masaki!"

"So you two know each other already?", Scott gave me a knowing grin, which made me want to punch him in the nuts.

They're both so cute...

"Yeah! He's in most of my classes.", she pulled a chair over and sat at the side of my desk. "You two must have really hit it off if you're already having lunch together."

I started to fidget more with my sleeve. Why was she here? What did she need advice for? "Uh hey-"

"Oh my god!", she flinched and quickly grabbed my jaw, turning my head to the side. "What happened to you?"

"Don't just touch me!", I quickly shoved her hand away and pulled my knees up to my chest. I buried my reddening face in my knees and closed my eyes.

"You're all red.", she laughed a bit. "Sorry, I suppose I should have asked first huh?"

"Yes!", I scoffed.

"But your eye...it's bruised. Did something happen?"

Shit. I forgot. I carefully put my knees down and relaxed a little. "Uh...no. No nothing happened I just fell-"

"Yeah, right into someone's fist.", Scott rolled his eyes. "I heard from some of the girls that you got in a fight this morning."

"Shut up!", I glared at him. "What I do is nobody's business but my own."

"Want me to go get you some ice? It's kinda swollen.", Mai carefully pushed my hair out of the way and looked closer at my eye.

"Hey...uh Y-You're touching me again."

"Sorry!" She drew her hand back.

"Ice would be great, thank you."

"Aye aye captain!" She ran out of the room and down the hall. I relaxed before I turned to Scott. Seeing him smiling brightly made me tense up and blush again.

"So you like Fukushima?"

"Uh..." Looking at him this close, I wasn't sure who I liked. Or even what I liked. "I don't know yet."

"Oh so I've still got a shot?"

"Stop saying things like that!", I banged my head against the desk a couple times and closed my eyes. "I don't like getting compliments!"

"Really? Your ears are turning red."

I covered my ears. "You don't have to point it out!"