If This Works

16

I'm feeling a bit pressured. My birthday is next month and Hikaru wanted to give me a "special" present. I think I scared myself even more when I looked up stuff on the internet. Well I can't think about that anymore because here comes Hikaru.

"Hey, are you okay? You look kind of out of it." Hikaru said setting down his lunch tray.

"I'm fine." I said.

"Something's up I can tell. Is this about you birthday?" He pressed.

"No, I was thinking about Aki." That was the easiest way to make him leave me alone. He had a really hard time hearing me talk about Aki.

"Come on, it's been two months. Aki doesn't-"

"I know. I'm sorry." I said.

"It's fine."

We are our lunch. He talked to me for a while. I didn't mind. Not until Aki went past. He looked right at us. He's done that for days now. Hikaru doesn't even seem to notice but I do. What really confused me was that that he walked back. Aki stopped right at our table. Hikaru stopped talking and looked at him.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked me.

When I stood up Hikaru grabbed my arm to stop me. He looked at me with deep concern. I shot him back a look as if to say "it's fine." He let go of me.

Aki lead me to the small room where the vending machines where held. It was a separate room, it even had a swinging door.

"He seems protective over you."

"That's just the way Hikaru is." I said.

"So have you two......I mean.......well......"

"What do you mean Aki?" I asked as if I didn't know.

"Have you slept with him?" He finally asked.

"No. We haven't. What does that have to do with you?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to say.....look I'm sorry. I'm sorry for overreacting, I'm sorry for kicking you out, I'm sorry for not calling back, I'm sorry for ignoring your texts. I just couldn't face you. I didn't know what to say. I still don't but this is a start."

"Aki." I said because I had nothing else to say.

"Don't say my name like that. Don't say it so innocently." He said sternly.

"What do you want from me?" I asked.

"I don't want anything from you." He said.

"Yes you do, you always do!" I shouted.

"Not this time Mouse. All I wanted was to apologize. To say I miss you. I really do." He said.

The bell rang out. It was time for class. It was also the perfect excuse for me to use to be out of this conversation.

"I have to go." I said.

"Mouse, do you love him?" Aki asked.

I stopped short of leaving. I never thought of that. Hikaru's never told me so. I never said anything about it either.

"I said I have to go." I said again.

When I walked out I wanted to cry.