The Rolling Girl

Chapter 21: One More Time

Len's POV:

   Okay, mental note. When a telephone pole gets hit by a car, puddles can get electrified so do not let a girl walk through them unless she's wearing rubber boots.

It's like the universe wants me to live and Miku to die. I almost never  wear my rain boots, and yet they were the first shoes I saw when I noticed Meito standing outside my house.

   I was woken up by someone pounding on the door. Checking my alarm clock, I swung my feet over the side of my bed. It was way earlier in the morning than it usually is when I get woken up. My legs walked me outside my room and into the upstairs hall. The front door was still being pounded on.

"Coming!" Came my mom's voice. I watched as she hurried over to the door, putting her hair up as she went. 

I staggered down the stairs, rubbing my eyes. It wasn't time for Miku yet, unless she had changed the time she came. That didn't make any sense though, I haven't been able to wake myself up any earlier...the alarm clock is always my cue.

My mom opened the door to a familiar face. "Oh hello there, can I help you?"

Meito smiled winningly. "I'm Len's friend from school. I was going to ask him if we could walk together."

"Oh, it's very early for you to be walking to school." My mom speculated. You go mom.

I backed up the stairs silently and hurried into the bathroom. The window was right above the backyard's porch roof. If I could jump down from there, than I could sneak out without Meito seeing me.

Dude has got some serious persistence, I'll give him that.

   Climbing down the roof was harder than I thought it would be, but the jump wasn't too bad since it was a single story porch. Now all I have to do is run in the direction Miku usually comes from and keep her from coming to my house. Hopefully she still remembers everything.

   As I ran, I kept glancing behind myself just in case Meito was following. So far I seemed to be in the clear. He came to my house...I hope mom is okay.
Actually, she'll be fine. I would know, she can get pretty dang scary.

   There she was, running across the sidewalk towards me.

"Len!" Miku cried and threw herself against me. I got a little static shock, as if there was still electricity running through her.

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled, "I messed up again."

Instead of replying, she tightened her arms around me. I could feel her shaking.

"We can't go to my house. Meito's already there this time. I don't know where else to go...where else the likelihood of you dying would be low."

Miku took a small, frightened breath. "Thank you for trying so hard, Len. I'm glad you're my friend."

"Why does that sound like you're leaving?" I asked anxiously.

"I'm going to try something else to end the loop, I don't know if it will work though." She looked away and then took a step back. Her eyes were glinting with a tortured look, although she was smiling.

"Hey! Hold up!" I grabbed her arm before she could leave. There was something in her sleeve...

Something sharp.
The knife fell out and clattered menacingly on the sidewalk.

"No." I said blankly.

Miku made a grab for the knife but I got it first.

"Len..." She started crying and sunk to her knees. "Len just give it back, okay?"

I fingered the knife. This was her solution? This wasn't a solution!

"Please...please I just...I just want it all to end..." Miku sobbed.

"This isn't the answer," I tried to soothe her. "We can get through this Miku. We just have to do it together."

"No...no...I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I didn't mean for you to get caught up in this..."

"I want to help you." I reminded her. "And I can't let you kill yourself."

Miku stood up uncertainly, holding her quivering hand out. "It's...it's better this way. For everyone."

"Not for me it's not." I protested.

Miku shook her head sadly. "You don't think so, but it's true. You've wasted too much time on me anyway. Just...just give it back."

I clenched the knife harder, slitting a small cut into my finger. "No."

"Please...please Len! If you're really my friend you won't stop me."

"Miku that's not fair. I like you a lot...I really do. That's why I can't let you kill yourself."

Miku teared up again. "It'll be fine. I don't have anyone to care. Dad is gone, my mom is as good as gone...she doesn't love me..."

"I love you." I muttered.

Miku's head shot up. "Wha...what?!"

"I said I love you, okay!? Dying kinda binds you together for life, right?"

"But...but you're the most pop..."

"Frick being popular. I never tried to be. Can't I pick who I like? Don't you like me too?"

"I..."

"Come on, we're going to the park. That's a pretty public place. Besides, it's wide open so there can't be too much that could happen there."

I grabbed Miku's arm again and dragged her down the sidewalk. My phone kept going off, it was probably my mom wondering where I was.

I would deal with that later. Right now I had to give Miku another good day, otherwise I might not run into her again. She might end it all before I could even try to stop her.

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   We reached the park and walked around in silence for a while. Then Miku said she had to go to the bathroom so she ran into the public restrooms.

She better not do anything in there to hurt herself.

   Some random guy in his late thirties, early forties came up to me while I was waiting. He looked kinda perturbed.

"Excuse me son, could you tell me where I can find this address? I got myself pretty lost." He laughed and handed me a piece of paper.

"Oh yeah, sure. It's just down that way, actually." I pointed in the direction he needed to go.

"Thanks a bunch." He grinned and walked off.

"No problem." I called after him.

   Finally Miku came out of the bathroom. Her eyes on the dirt as they had been this whole time.

Alright, let's see how long I can keep her alive today.