She (TakashiMorinozukaxOC)

Chapter Thirteen: Come Undone

Her mother. 

Takashi could hardly imagine it-- hating his mother. 

Takashi loved his mother. Hekima was a strong force of wit and beauty. He loved his brother, too, who took more after their mother than Takashi did. The two loved to laugh and crack jokes and express themselves freely. A stark contrast to himself and his father-- who were like mountains that stood tall and strong, unmoving but not unchanging. They hardly ever spoke unless spoken to unless he was tired or had something important to say. And he loved his father, too, and respected him beyond compare. 

Everyone loved each other, and most importantly, everyone was together. 

From Takashi's understanding, Jenni loved her father well enough, but was seemingly not in the picture anymore. As in, gone. He wasn't sure how, and he wouldn't ask her, but Takashi found himself unable to help himself. 

Why did she hate her mother so much? And where was she? 

As far as he knew, Jenni lived with her Uncle and Aunt and their daughter, Sarah. Jenni talked about her little cousin often and with fondness. They were more like sisters than cousins; and Jenni seemed to love her a lot. 

He remembered the glaze of sadness in her eyes when she had said "My dad would've liked you." 

The way she battled waves on the shore of Okinawa-- how she had looked at them as if they held something that she was missing. She stared at the waves like they were in on an inside joke or story that only they knew and that she held deep in her heart. 

"Kyoya-kun," Takashi leaned back in his chair and forced himself to shut the curtain at his side. He was already regretting what he was about to do, "I need the file on Jenni-chan." 

Through the phone, Takashi could almost see Kyoya's interested face. 

"Very well, then. Is there anything in particular that you're looking for?" 

Takashi shook his head at himself. 

Stupid, stupid, stupid. 

He couldn't think of anyone other than Kyoya? 

Who was he kidding? Kyoya had everything on everybody. He could break down every firewall and encryption or pay to get any information he wanted on anybody. He was foul and dirty that way-- Takashi knew he shouldn't be asking Kyoya for information of the girl he liked. It was so intriguing and she was in such a state when he had held her crying form. 

He'd never seen anyone cry like that before. She cried that same way she laughed-- loudly and without inhibition. 

He wanted to know-- needed to know how to make her feel better. 

Still, he felt awful and twisted in his gut. Is that what he was doing? Stalking his crush? 

Was he really that childish? 

But it was too late. Kyoya hadn't waited for an answer. A ping from Kyoya came up in Takashi's inbox. 

"Arigato, Kyoya-kun." 

Kyoya paused with a smirk, "No problem." 

As soon as the phone hung up, Takashi paused, staring at his inbox. A file a few pages long-- all about Jenni-- ready to open in front of him. His breath hitched in his throat. His head swam with what he was doing-- why he was doing it. His screen mocked him. His phone vibrated once-- a text from Honey. 

Takashi read it passively, and sighed. Eyes casted back up to the screen. 

Styles.Jen.fullfile