Sweet Naivety

Chapter 56: If You're Happy

Chapter 56: If You're Happy

X

X

X

I had just walked into my house, happy to find that Ichigo had left it unlocked, and discarded my bag by the door when I heard my uncle's voice.

"Juna..." His tone was disapproving. "It's very rude to invite guests over and then neglect them to go over to your boyfriend's house."

I chewed on my lower lip and bowed my head as I turned to face him. "I'm sorry, uncle."

His arms were crossed below his chest. His expression was unusually stern. "I'm not the one that you should be apologizing to."

"Oh, cut her some slack, Juushiro." Uncle Shunsui slurred as he came into the room. "She's new to this boyfriend stuff... and there's nothing wrong with her wanting to say hello to the guy before hanging out with her friends." He hiccupped as he elbowed Uncle Juushiro, holding onto his sake with his other hand. "And they're fine... they're totally occupied with that music stuff."

Uncle Juushiro sighed, glancing at Uncle Shunsui before looking back to me. "I still think it's rude... but I suppose that there's no harm done."

Uncle Shunsui grinned, walking past Uncle Juushiro and over to me. "See?! No harm done..." He grabbed my shoulders and started nudging me out of the room, whispering into my ear as he did. "Now hurry and go! I'll try to sneak you some booze later..."

I couldn't help but giggle. "Thanks, Uncle Shunsui."

X

X

X

I made it through our band practice successfully enough. We had decided to practice some cover songs so that we would have more material ready for Grimmjow's club on Friday. And if we could, then we were going to try and get in some more practice throughout the week... that meant that I was going to have to convince Grimmjow to give up some time with me on Tuesday, which was supposed to be his day... and try to skip out on my lesson with Kenpachi on Thursday, which was something else that Grimmjow spent time with me for... and I wasn't sure which of the two men I was more afraid of bailing on. I was just altogether terrified. If anything, I had warned the guys that they might have to practice without me... they weren't happy about the idea, but Renji and Ichigo could make due with singing my parts if I was absent. So, if it came down to it, I would just have to see if Uncle Juushiro would mind letting them into the music room without me there.

I was stressing about everything as I gathered some blankets and pillows from the linen closet. So I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a voice behind me.

"Your phone was beeping."

I turned around to see Renji standing behind me, holding out my phone. I struggled to catch my breath, trying to calm my heart back down. "Thanks."

He nodded, trading me my phone for the pile of pillows that I had stacked up. "I, uh... I know he gets irritated when you don't answer him... right? So... yeah..." He trailed off, avoiding eye contact as he shifted the stack of pillows in his arms.

I had been unlocking my phone to check my text from Grimmjow, but Renji's mumbling caught my attention. "How did you... know that?" I mumbled out my own words.

He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "Sorry... I guess looking at your phone is a bad habit."

I chewed on my lip, quickly looking down at my phone so that I could answer Grimmjow before he could get upset with me for taking too long. "I don't mind." I tried to assure Renji, because honestly I really didn't mind... other than the fact that he had seen that embarrassing photo.