Forever

December 1st

Ion Castro

The half-Romanian, half-Portuguese

The clumsy idiot that lived down the hall

The tall, lean and deliciously dark neighbor

The boy who was cheesy and determined enough to want to change her.

Ion Castro

The one who Misaki stared at as he pranced around her Grandma's kitchen in a pink, striped apron and flour on his jaw.

"You look stupid," She laughed as she tumbled into a dining chair.

"Never insult the person that makes your food. I just might poison you." He whispered in her ears when he passed her.

"Advice taken. So what's for breakfast?"

"Homemade pancakes with a dab of syrup."

Her stomach groaned in anticipation. "Sounds yum. When will it be ready?"

"Should be done by the time you wash up." He poured a cup of milk into the bowl of white.

Misaki scoped herself. "Wash up? Why? - I'm clean."

"Have you truly taken a whiff of yourself?" Ion leaned on the counter, shooting her a look with the raise of a brow. "I can smell your bio from across the room. And your hair looks worse than a bird's nest. There are bed marks all over your face and red lines straining your eyes an-"

"Okay, okay, no need to thoroughly point out my ugliness." She puffed.

He cracked a grin and the insult of his statement dwindled.

"I'll clean up but I want those pancakes by the time I'm done." She ordered as she stood up.

"Yes ma'am." The flash of his teeth was teasing now.

Misaki honored him with an eyeroll.

+++++

By the time she was dressed for school, Ion was done with breakfast. Or at least she thought he was since she had been smelling the enticing aroma of pancakes for about fifteen minutes now.

Misaki decided to dress uber casual. Today was her last day of exams and her friends and her were planning on hitting the Ice Cream Parlor after school to celebrate. So she wore a simple jeans and long-sleeved tee, putting her hair up in a pony tail; deliberately letting some strands fall out. She covered herself with her favorite purple winter coat and smacked a big black beanie over her head while shoving her stockinged feet into worn boots. Warm, purple-furred gloves found their way on her hands and she topped off the winter outfit with a pair of silver, flower-shaped studs being placed in her ear-piercings.

Ion thought she looked extremely pretty and adorable when she came downstairs.

Takashi Haruki agreed silently.

Haruki was an old woman who had more of grey than brown hair and was a little bent over. Crinkles appeared around her eyes whenever she smiled, which was all the time. Haruki was very kind and generous with an easy-going nature and a love for pleasing people. She was too old to be handling a teenager, not to talk of two, but because of the mistakes of her daughter, Kokoro Evans Takashi, Misaki was her responsibility.

Ion was only under her care because of a temporary favor.

"Morning Grandma." Misaki pecked her on the cheek before sitting down next to her.

"Good morning, [1]ojou. I hope you have prepared for today's subjects?"

"Yes, Gran. I'll bring in an A as always."