Call It Whatever

Chapter 10

I wake up very slowly and peacefully. I feel happy, well-rested. I stretch out across my bed and let the warmth of the blanket keep me in this relaxed state. It's been awhile since I've woken up like this, like I'm finally safe and the war is over. I feel good right now, like nothing is going to go wrong today.

And then, it's ruined.

The memory hits me like a wave. Not a gentle, rolling wave that tosses water against your leg. No, a giant tsunami that rips your feet off the ground and destroys everything in its path.

The memory of Lui's lips touching mine.

The memory of his hands on my back and in my hair.

The memory of being sandwiched between his body and the wall.

Oh, make it go away! Give me back that relaxed feeling!

I feel sick to my stomach all of the sudden. I feel like I'm about to throw up everything that I've ever eaten in my life. I force myself into a sitting position. I then force myself to stand up. Maybe I need to interact with my friends to get my mind off this. I force myself to get dressed, and I head down the stairs. I can smell food: breakfast, it smells like. That scent fills me with bliss. Just imagine the taste of food. Don't worry about anything else.

"Hey! He's up!" Yugo says. "It's about time you're awake on time!"

"Shut up," I say. That's perfect. The first thing I say when I get up is 'shut up'.

Yugo snorts. He then goes back to eating his food. I hear his fork scrape against his plate and I cringe. There's nothing I hate more than that sound.

"You're just in time! Food is ready!" Xander says.

Why is everyone shouting? It's not what I need right now. I walk over to my spot at the table, and freeze.

It's what's-his-name.

He's in my chair.

That is my chair. I always sit right there. That is my spot, and nobody has the right to claim it, guest or not. I find myself frozen in place. Where else can I sit? It won't feel right if I'm not in my chair, on my side of the table.

"Is there a problem?" What's-his-name asks.

Xander stares at me for a second. He then laughs. "Oh, that's Ukyo's spot. He won't sit anywhere else."

What's-his-name stands up. He then gives me an apologetic bow. "My apologies. I didn't know."

I return the bow, for some reason. "It's fine," I say. I then take my spot in my chair and start helping myself to the food.

Am I being a bit ridiculous? Should I have just sucked it up and sat somewhere else?

Probably. But I didn't.

This is my spot, and my spot only. I won't sit anywhere else, and my other Sword Flames know that. They could have at least told what's-his-name that before I was forced to kick him out of my chair. But they didn't, so I had to do it myself. It's a small price to pay for making sure that my spot stays my spot.

Is this guy going to replace me like I replaced Quon?

No way. He's not Xander's friend. He's Xander's main rival. There is no way he would ever agree to join the Sword Flames.

I catch myself staring at him like Edward Cullen staring at Bella. He feels my stare at turns to look at me. I look away just in the nick of time. If he would have caught me staring, that would have been so embarrassing.

I'm Ukyo Ibuki.

I'm not Edward Cullen.

I'm better than that.