What If..?

Chapter Eight

The fall dissipated, the colorful leaves crumbling from the trees as snow began to litter the ground. Staring out the cafeteria window from the little kitchen, Chihiro cocked his head slightly as he waited for the timer on the stove to go off. In just a few hours, the group would kick off their holiday party before everyone parted ways for Christmas vacation. Tomorrow morning, Chihiro would be catching a bus to his father's house alone, so he knew it was in his best interest to not go crazy with the alcohol this time. He didn't handle hang overs well at all and didn't want to show up at his father's door in a crabby mess.

Taking in a deep breath, his heart warmed at the smell of the cookies baking within the oven. The sugary scent filled his nose and he stared at the timer eagerly. Trips away from the academy always made him anxious, and it didn't matter how many times he went to see his father, he always got nervous butterflies. Maybe it was because he was finally feeling comfort within the academy walls, or because he had exciting news to babble on to his father over the holidays. But he was nervous.

"Man, that smells good," Leon whistled as he stepped into the doorway. He stopped, leaning his back against the door frame with an almost longing gaze out towards the dinning part of the cafeteria. "Are those Sayaka's cookies?"

"They are," Chihiro hummed with a brief roll of his eyes. It didn't matter how awkwardly obvious he was about his growing affection for Sayaka, the beautiful songbird never took notice. Or if she did, she was very smooth about denying him every step of the way. "She went to get ready for the party, though, and asked me to take them out of the oven."

"So she's not coming back here anytime soon?" Disappointment dripped from Leon's agape mouth. He gave a long side glance into cafeteria before staring above him where a mistletoe hung carefully from the frame.

"Probably not until the party," Chihiro offered, shaking his head slightly. They hung the mistletoe up as a joke and the only two people who would be caught kissing beneath it may be just himself and Mondo. Even though they had their little out almost a month ago, the affection hadn't gotten much more public than before, but Mondo was working on it.

Shrugging, Leon crossed his arms over his chest and pouted his lip a bit. "I'll wait then," he stated, staring back into the kitchen. "You excited to see your dad?"

The boy wavered on his heels for a moment as he readied himself with the nearby over mitts. Just a couple more minutes and those delicious sugar cookies would be done. The tables outside were already adorned with plenty of holidays sweets, but a few sugar cookies could certainly fit. "Yeah, I am," he mumbled with a brief, shaking smile. It was his father. There was really nothing to be nervous about. His father was a kind, nervous man who had always been very supportive of Chihiro's actions. Although telling him of a new boyfriend... or a relationship in general was going to come as quite a shock. But he knew his father would take it well. Hopefully. "It's been since the summer. I miss him a lot."

"Yeah, I miss my parents sometimes... but can't stick around them too long. They make me start cleaning and shit and it's like... I'm a grown man. I'll clean when I want," Leon ranted, wrinkling up his nose before flicking his tongue against his lip piercing. Chihiro hid back his comment about how alike he was to Mondo at times, with the rampant attitude and using backhanded statements to cover up their real feelings. Except that Mondo would never disrespect his mother. From the sounds of it, she would beat him if necessary.

"You would rather be staying with Maizono-san and her parents, correct?" Chihiro smirked from the side, rubbing his eager hands together as mere seconds counted down on those cookies now. He had been so busy all day doing his share to prepare for the party that he hadn't eaten. Yet another reason not to drink tonight. Alcohol would hit him like a truck.