The Otaku and The Prince

Lost and Found

A/N: Alright so I can't find out how to move the chapter up but this is basically the chapter before 'Mom and Dad's past' Again, my bad I accidentally skipped this while uploading last night but yeah, it aint toooo tooo bad ya know? Anyway, bout to post the other chaps as promised. 

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I don't know how long I was in the catatonic state.

But I got up, searched for mom, but realized that she was at work so I just sat at the kitchen table. I heard the door open and when I looked up I saw Alison. She looked miserable, like she'd been crying, and when she saw me she glared at me. I don't know what I did to piss her off but I didn't care at the moment.

We stared at each other for a minute longer before she muttered something under her breath and continued up the stairs. I looked back forward and let my mind take over.

No, I didn't cry.

I couldn't.

I need to tell mom... that dad... died.

I tried to remember if we ever had a daughter/father moment. Was there any good memories that was locked up? I tried to seriously think but I couldn't remember one good time with him. Dad is- was an asshole who didn't care about our well being. It took mom a black eye and me a bloody nose for her to leave him. We were doing good on our own but then he did start trying to get closer to us... that was less than a year ago. That must have been when he was diagnosed. I eventually gave him my number before we left just because he was my father but he didn't know where we were leaving to and he didn't ask. I knew it upset him but he understood.

My father was an evil man who abused us... but even still. A part of me mourned for him, I never expected that he would die so soon. I pressed my fist to my cheek, trying to sort out my feelings. I don't know if I felt sorrow or nothing and to that answer I didn't know which one was worse.

I remember when I was eleven years old and I got an A on my test. Mom hung it on the fridge and was proud of me, dad hadn't been home for almost a week and at that moment he came back drunk.

What the hell are you doing? What is that shit? He took the paper from mom, saw the grade, and glared at me. Oh you think you're one of em white people now? You think you're so special now? Just wait till you grow up you stupid girl. He slapped me afterwards, mom yelled at him and so she got hit too.

I shuddered from the memory and stood up. "I can't be here." I muttered and walked out to the backyard. I was surprised to see that it was dark already, it seemed like moments ago it was still daytime.

I stared at the pool and clenched my hands.

Another memory came...

Daddy help me! I cried, my tiny arms were fighting the water. Daddy please! Girl shut up! You gotta learn how to swim! Stay in there! I lost the strength in my arms and started to descend into the five foot deep water. Dad never came to help me... mom found us in the community pool that night and rescued me. Again they fought and mom was beaten.

I was only eight that time.

Dad went to prison years before but he always found his way to us and each time that mom threatened to call the police he would scare her. Mom was weak then and a part of her relied on him... a part of her loved him because they were high school sweethearts. She had me when she was fourteen and he was the only one she had since my grandparents practically disowned her.

I sat at the edge of the pool and hugged my legs.

I hated him.

Now he's gone... back then I wished he'd never come back but now... I don't know how I felt.

Someone suddenly called out.

"Hey."

I turned to the left and found Kale standing on his side of the yard, his hands in his pockets.

"Hey." I replied, my voice sounded weak to my ears.

"You okay?"

I shrugged, "I don't know."

Kale hesitated, but ultimately came to me and sat down. "What's up?"

I was silent, I didn't really know how to actually say those words out loud just quite yet. I stared at the immobile pool water.

"What? Someone on your show die or something?" asked Kale.

"...Something like that."

"Speaking of which... do you have your PsP?"

"It's in my room."

"Do you want to watch that show?"

I looked at Kale, shocked. His face was unreadable and undeniably handsome. The shadows running across his face gave him even more of a striking mysterious appeal.

"Seriously?" I asked.

"Yeah. Why not."

Conflicting emotions swirled in my head. On one hand I wanted to be alone and mourn the death of my asshole father... on the other I didn't want to be alone with these miserable feelings. I wanted to be with someone, I just didn't think it was Kale.

"I... don't know." I finally sighed, then buried my face in-between my knees; hugging them harder.

"That's a first." Kale said, amusement coating his words. "The Otaku doesn't want to watch anime. You're giving your name a bad rep."

Words were on the tip of my tongue but it never made it pass my lips. My chest began to tighten and I could feel the rise of tears but I clenched down my jaw and squeezed my eyes shut so I didn't.

Maybe I should just be alone, I didn't want him seeing me cry.

"You sure you're okay?" Kale asked after a while.

"Yeah." I answered, fighting to keep my words strong but I don't really think I succeeded.

His hand suddenly weighed on my shoulder and he gave it a small squeeze. I curled my toes and tightened my hold on my legs.

"Can you just go?" I asked softly.

"How can I do that when you practically just guilt tripped me into staying?"

"I didn't."

"You're about to cry...."

"So?"

"So, I'm not leaving."

I picked my head up and looked at him, he wasn't looking at me though, he was staring forward. He glanced at me when I looked up and to my surprise his eyes had softened... genuinely like he actually cared.

"I don't get your character." I said, wanting to laugh but was to busy leveling up my depression.

Kale snorted, then shrugged, then with the most saddened look in his eyes he replied, "I don't get me either."

Kale's hand tightened and he pulled me closer to him, causing me to blush despite the situation. His warmth enveloped me and for the first time in my life I felt comfort from an actual person. This time it wasn't from my anime collection, this time I wasn't distracted, this time... I felt like I had someone. This time... my heart felt full, it wanted.... it needed.

As we sat under the full moon and blanket of stars in the sky I accepted that today, the day my father died, the day... a loved one past away... is the day that I also found love.

***

Alison stared at the two of them from her window and was filled with rage at the sight of the two.

Her breaths were chaotic, her fist clenching and un-clenching. This was the feeling she was afraid to have but now that she did all she could feel was hate.

No one is going to have them. Not even you Choca.

Alison's eyes were filled with a passionate loath. She's just like Hayley... but I won't let her win. Even if Choca has to die like Hayley... there can only be me.