Tears of the Clueless

Dang, I'm Smooth

I walked out of the academy, stretching one arm over my head as the other held all the books I had to study for my test tomorrow.

Thank god for photographic memories.

Anyways, I was walking when- can you guess?- someone ran into me and I went tumbling to the ground, books scattering.

"Damn, I'm sorry," the boy said. The back of my head hurt as I rubbed it.

"No worries, this isn't the first time that's happened," I assured. I got on my knees and started gathering my books.

"Here, let me help," he said. "I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it, I should have seen you."

I reached for the last book on the ground and I guess he did as well. His hand covered mine and we looked at each other.

Renji.

Okay, play it cool, Ali. No biggie. He's just a guy. You can do this. Say something witty.

"H-Hey."

Damn it, Ali!

He grinned at me and I felt my cheeks heat up. "We have got to stop running into each other this way."

Come on, second chance. Pull on your big girl pants and make him laugh. Now!

"Yeah..."

Oh, come on!

"You don't talk much, do you?" He asked as we stood. He handed me my books.

"No, well, not really," I rambled. "Not at first."

He grinned again. "I see, so I'll just have to get you warmed up to me, eh? Sounds good to me."

I blushed and looked down. "S-Study!"

I ran off, wanting to die.

Too late.

"Woah, that was painful," Ikkaku said as he and Yumichika appeared at my sides.

"Shut up," I grumbled, slowing down.

"He's right, you'll have to try harder than that," Yumichika agreed.

"I did try!" I said indignantly. "Er, at least, my mind did. My body, on the other hand, got nervous..."

"We could tell," they said together.

"Seriously, yelling 'study' and then running off?" Ikkaku laughed. "His face was priceless."

I sighed and stopped, leaning against a wall.

"Was it really that bad?" I asked weakly.

"Yes," Yumichika with not even a heartbeats hesitation. "Yes, it was."

I sighed. "I'm hopeless."

"Yup."

I hit Ikkaku over the head with my books.

"Hey!"

"Where's the support, damn it?! You're supposed to argue! 'No, Ali, don't worry! There's always next time!' I mean seriously man, what the hell?!" I yelled as he held his head in pain.

"Damn... Sorry..." He grumbled. "Just being honest..."

I sighed. "What are you guys doing here, anyways?"

"We're here to show you to your living quarters," Yumichika said cheerfully, not having tasted the pain and horror of my textbooks.

"Oh," I said, blinking. "I hadn't even thought about that..."

"Good job, Einstein."

I rose my books and Ikkaku appeared on the other side of Yumichika.

"Kidding, kidding!"

"Lets just go so I can forget about my embarrassment," I mumbled. They chuckled and we set off.