Chemistry

Chapter 7

It's an awkward lunch.  Tadashi and I sit across the big, round table, him trying to catch my eye, and myself trying to avoid it.  Finally, he gets up.

Wasabi catches my eye and indicates that I should follow him.

I get up and follow Tadashi.

We walk outside.

"Honey Lemon, I'm sorry--"

"What you did was really bad.  I was freaking out, and I'm sorry I got so mad." I rub my forehead, and laugh.  "It was pretty clever though."

Tadashi blushes slightly.  "Yeah, I just couldn't figure out how to ask for your number.  I never have before.  I'm sorry for stressing you."

I grin. 

I'm wearing platform shoes, so we're almost the same height.  I give him a light kiss on the lips.  "I forgive you."

He wraps his arms around me.  "I don't like it when you're shoes are tall."

Then the others come out of the door.  We step back awkwardly.

We climb into Wasabi's car, the one we use to get to lunch.  Fred offers to let us sit in the very back row, with a mischievous grin.  We decline, and he sits back there.

Gogo pulls down the sun visor and opens the mirror to fix her black and purple hair.  When she sees Tadashi and I holding hands, she rolls her eyes so I can see them and slams it closed.

I glance at Tadashi and he shrugs.

I'm actually glad that we made up, because, checking my bag, I realize I left my trolley money at home.

At the end of the school day, I clean up my chemicals from the day's work.

Tadashi is waiting for me again at the bottom of the stairs.  He stands up and kisses the top of my head, straining to reach.

I laugh and hug him, pressing my lips to his own in a quick kiss.

"Let's go." I say.

"Want to get dinner at my place?  Aunt Cass makes a mean tomato, basil, and cheese panini." he says, as we start to walk to the bike, on the other side of the parking lot.

"Sure," I laugh.

At the bike, he pulls out a new helmet.  I try on the pink and yellow helmet.

Tadashi adjusts it slightly, then plants his hand on the top of my head and wobbles it around.  "Like a glove," he says.

I climb on behind him and hold on to my own hand and his hat.

It's only a short drive there.  Cass is inside, cleaning up the closed store.

She opens the locked door and invites us in.

"Honey Lemon!" she says, as I come in.  She tiptoes to give me a hug.

"I'm sorry Hiro's not here.  He always seems to be out.  He's checking out a college somewhere.  Not that he's going to go." Cass explains to me, gesturing up the stairs.

Tadashi flashes me an apologetic grin.  I smile back and reach for his hand.

Cass looks away for a second.  Then she refocuses.

"Dinner?" she asks.

She leads us into the kitchen.  "Tadashi said you would want to try the TBC Panini.  That's Tomato, Basil, and Cheese, by the way.  Come on, sit down!"

Tadashi and I sit next to each other and Cass sits across from us.

She looks at us nostalgically before snapping out and passing a plate around.

I take one.

It is the best panini I've ever had.

After lunch, she herds the two of us upstairs and to the couches.  She wants to know everything.

I tell her all about my chemistry projects, and she wants to know about my home.  I tell her about that, too.

Tadashi catches my eye and smiles.  I smile slightly.

Cass stands awkwardly.  "I'll get the tea."

Tadashi leans towards me and whispers, "She's a little overprotective, but personally, I think she was just waiting for this moment.  Makes her feel like an accomplished guardian."

I laugh, and he kisses my cheek.

Casually, Tadashi puts his arm around my shoulder.  Well, casually until he knocked my glasses off my head.

I lean down to grab them, and he reaches for them.  We collide and I see stars.

"I'm so sorry!"  he says, ignoring the glasses and grabbing my head.  I laugh and sit up.

"It's alright." I laugh, "Are you okay though?"

He touches his forehead gingerly.  "Yep."