Colors in bloom

Friends

Nagisa POV
Karma's place was huge. My entire house could fit in his foyer! I stood gawking at the double staircase in front of me. To my left was a sun room. The hall curved around behind the stairs. To the right was a kitchen. Karma had headed in that direction. He was talking but I was too mesmerized to listen.
“It's just a house, Nagisa.” He said. I blinked. He was leaning against the wall eating an apple. His shock of red hair a vibrant color in all the white.
“It looks so, sterile.” I commented.
“Well mom's a CEO for an airline and dad runs Akabane Labs. Both are hyped up on clean.” I heard a door open. A woman in a maid’s uniform walked out from behind the large stair case.
“Ah, young Master Karma, you have a guest.” She said eyeing me. He chuckled.
“Martia, this is Nagisa. He just moved into town.”
“Ah, so he doesn’t know how crazy you are yet?” she smiled fondly at my friend. Karma laughed a charming smile on his lips.
“I think he is getting an idea.” He joked. I laughed.
“Well since he is the first friend you ever brought here, I hope you are going to offer him something more than an apple!” the woman, short and stout with flowing dark hair and tanned skin, plucked the core from Karma's hand.
“That depends, what did you make me for lunch?” he asked arching an eyebrow. She ruffled his hair. Then turned to look at me.
“Hmmm, I think you look like a grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of kid. Milk or water?” she asked. I chucked.
“Milk please.” She nodded and motioned for us to follow her into the kitchen. The soup and sandwich were amazing. Once we finished, she swiped the plates away. Karma took me up to his room. I stood in the doorway.
“My entire apartment could fit in here!” I cried. I stood in a setting room that he had decked out for video game play. There was a 70-inch flat screen sitting on top of an electric fire place. Two gamer chairs faced this. A long black couch sat at the back of the room. A few plants were scattered about.
Through the next door I could see a large bed framed in tall posts. Black curtains hung from the top blocking all but the silhouette of the bed. A settee was at the foot, and more plants hung in windows. Karma was standing in front of a large walk in closet that looked to be larger than my entire bedroom. I walked toward him
My eye caught a huge gleaming steel bathroom. I inhaled sharply moving toward it. “It looks like the prefect’s bathroom from Harry Potter!” I exclaimed. Pipes ran down into a tub set deep into the floor. It was the size of a small swimming pool. A shower stall sat back taking up a large corner. There was a counter that stretched the width of the room with twin sinks in it.
“Yeah, I have a big house, not my fault.” Karma muttered. He turned to look out the window. It over looked a large tennis court. A skateboarding park was cuddled up beside the basketball court and then there it was.
“Whose house is that?” I asked. He snorted.
“I showed it to you, its Asano's.” he muttered. It hadn't looked that big from the front. “The skateboarding and basketball courts are mine though. Plus, I have an in ground indoor Olympic sized swimming pool. Heated.” He added. I laughed.
“I love to swim. I was on my swim team back at my old school. But mom says I can’t do that here.” I looked away before he saw the sadness in my eyes.
“Well anytime you want you can come swim here.” He offered. I beamed up at him.
“You're the best!” I cried, happily hugging him. I felt the tension in his body, he didn’t hug me back.
“Uh, sorry.” My face flamed as I backed away. “I can be a little too enthusiastic sometime.” I muttered. He laughed pulling me back for a hug.
“It's not a problem. I was just surprised. Hug me all you want.” He ruffled his hand through my hair. I laughed.
“What games do you have?” I asked. We spent the remainder of the afternoon playing his multiple gaming systems. I got a text from my mom telling me I had to come home. I told Karma.
“How about I come help you set up your room?” I gratefully accepted. He grinned. He had a nice smile. Wait, ugh come on Nagisa you can't start liking your only friend THAT way! I chided myself.
We drove back to my place. It only took a few minutes. When we got inside there were boxes everywhere. Karma and I began by getting the right boxes into the right rooms. He helped me set up our beds. Turns out he was pretty handy with tools. Was there anything this guy couldn't do? I wondered as I watched him.
We decided to start unpacking the kitchen first. “Hey I know this great pizza place, let me order, my treat.” Karma said pulling out his phone. Mom smiled thanking him for all his help. He stepped out of the room to call in the order.
“He seems like a nice young man, but remember nice girls don't take nice boys to their bedrooms.” She intoned. This was something she said often and the main reason I never brought people to my house.
“Still not a girl.” I mumbled not loud enough for her to hear. I didn’t want her hurting me in front of Karma of all people. He came back into the room.
“I got some boneless wings too. Yuma will be here in about forty five minutes.” He said picking up a box from the floor. He placed it on the table that he had recently put together.
“Thank you so much, Karma.” I said. He gave me one of his heart stopping smiles. I flushed, turning away. I ducked under the counter to take care of the pots and pans.
Forty- five minutes exactly our doorbell rang for the first time. I walked over to open it. A boy about my age stood there. He had short brown hair and piercing eyes. A huge smile spread over his face. “Hi there, you must be new to town.” He greeted. He was good looking and appeared nice, yet next to Karma he had little going for him. I smiled politely.
“Yes, my mom and I just moved in today.” I said. I stepped back so he could enter with the hot pizza bag.
“Hey, Karma.” He greeted the red head.
“Yuma Isogai,” he said walking up beside me. “This is Shiota Nagisa. He likes to be called Nagisa.” He introduced us as Isogai placed the food on the table.
“How'd you two meet already?” he asked. Karma was counting out the money.
“Oh, um at camp over the summer.” I told him. He smiled again.
“Well are you going to be in our high school?” he asked.
“Yes, he will.” There was a slight aggressive tone to Karma's voice when he answered.
“Wow, that's great. Look here…” Isogai pulled out a business card. It had his name on the top and stayed he was a general handy man. In smaller letters it said snow plowing, landscaping and lawn mowing. Then at the bottom it had his phone number a face book page, Twitter and Instagram account information.
“I just wanted to make sure you had my number. Classes don't start until Wednesday, maybe we could all hang out. I don't work tomorrow or Tuesday.” He informed us.
“Oh, that's great. I would like that.” I smiled happy to be getting to know some of the kids I would be going to school with.
“How about we meet at my place tomorrow?” Karma offered. “We could go to the mall have lunch, say ten ish?” He asked scrunching up his face in a ‘what do you think' kind of look. I smiled. It looked so cute on his pale face.
‘Stop that Nagisa!’ I yelled in my head.
“Um, mom is that ok?” I asked. I knew I had a lot of unpacking to do.
“No. You have to get your room in order. I need you here tomorrow.” She flashed me one of her looks. I swallowed. Great.
“Sorry, maybe another time?” I asked.
“Why don't we just all come here? I can get some of the other guys. We could help you unpack, mow and clean up outside. Paint if you like.” Isogai offered.
“Sounds good to me.” Karma agreed in his slow easy manner.
“That would be fine, but I can't pay you right away.” Mom said. Isogai gave her a rather warm and charming smile.
“Tomorrow is on the house. If you like my work and wish to hire me, Nagisa has my number.” He was so friendly and flexible.
“That will be fine, thank you.” Mom nodded. Isogai had to leave as he had more pizza to deliver.
“It was nice meeting you.” He waved to me as he hurried out. I waved back. Yeah nice to meet you.
Mom gave us some plates and cups. We sat at the table eating. Karma was telling us about the classes, school codes and teachers as we ate. He mentioned a few of the guys in our class stating what they were like.
“What of the girls?” mom asked. Karma gave me a side eye look.
“Well, they are nice enough. I don't know many of them.” He hedged.
“A nice boy like you?” mom teased. “I bet you are one of the most popular.” She giggled. I slunk lower in my seat. Here was just one of the many other reasons I never invited kids to my house.
“Oh, how I wished Shiota had such wonderfully red hair. I could just imagine how beautiful it would look all long and flowing.” She grinned.
“Um, yeah I guess.” Karma glanced at me for help.
“Mom, please, you're embarrassing him.” I said as gently as I could. But I saw it. The flash so quick in her eyes. My body responded instantly. I shoved back as far as I could in my chair. Pulling my shoulders inward I tried to make myself as small as possible.
“He isn’t embarrassed, Shiota,” she huffed. “Please be more polite.” She rose taking her dishes to the sink.
“Uh, Karma, its, uh getting late.” I stammered. “I’m sure you have to get home soon.” Karma flashed me a perfect smile. I had to steady myself to not lick or bite my lips looking at it.
“Yeah, I do. It was really nice meeting you, Mrs. Nagisa.” He called. She gave him a vague nod and wave. I walked him to the door.
“Is everything alright?” he asked beside his truck. I glanced back at the door. She was watching us from the window beside it.
“Yeah, it's fine.” I said. “Thanks for everything today.” I waved stepping back. He took the hint and got into his truck. I stood there watching him drive away. I knew I was only prolonging the unavoidable. Turing, I saw her looking at me, fire in her eyes.
I barely opened the door before she was dragging me in. She kicked me, punched me in the stomach and back, yelling the entire time about how ungrateful I was. I lived under her roof ate her food and I embarrassed her in front of her quests. I just laid curled up until it was over with.
She told me I had better shower and wear something pretty to bed. All of my clothes for home were girly. I typically wore shorts and a tee shirt around the house, then slept in the nude. But not tonight. When she was in one of her moods, who knew what she was going to do. I went to shower and get ready for bed. I hoped Karma came back after today. I swiped a tear from my eye, I wasn’t going to cry like some feeble damsel in distress.