Okayyyy, I know I should be working on You Jump, I Jump, but alas! I got a major case of writer's block! Did I mention that school and my social life are killing me? Sweatdrop
But, after reading chapter 44 of the Shugo Chara manga, this plot came to mind and I had to write it down before I forgot about it…enjoy!
0.o.0
A/N: Assuming that Amu was 12 or so in the manga, we're going to fast forward about 6 years…
Amu POV
6 years later…
"No, this isn't right either!" I exclaimed, throwing the offensive sparkly pink barrette across the room. Ran, Miki, Su, and Diamond remained perched on my dresser, sweat dropping as I frantically tore my room apart to put together a first-day outfit. My high school uniform was on top of my bed, freshly washed and ironed.
"Your hair is so cute when you put it in braids, Amu-chan, why don't you braid it?" Su requested. I looked into the mirror of my vanity, fingering my pink hair, which was a little past shoulder length.
"Hmmmm, maybe you're right Su. I always put my hair in barrettes anyways for the first day of school," I amended as I sat down on the seat of my vanity, parting my hair to begin braiding.
'Maybe it's a good sign to be wearing a new hair style for Senior year, like a fresh start or something,' I thought, deftly braiding my hair into pigtails. The mindless action let my mind free to wander.
It's been six years since I had seen Ikuto. Since I've even talked to him. I don't know what hurt me more: his declaration of love or his aloofness to not even send a measly post card. I remember the first year he was gone, I would cry myself to sleep every night, wishing Ikuto would just invite himself through my window and tease me to death like he always has done. But after two years of mindless waiting, I have given up hope of Ikuto's promise to return to me.
Because of this fact, middle school wasn't exactly pleasant for me. None of the other guardians went to my middle school except for Rima. I pushed away everyone who ever tried to come close to me and I soon became untouchable. Except for Rima. She has become my best friend, the person I can rely on for anything.
High school was different though. Once I accepted that Ikuto wasn't going to be coming back, I was able to make more friends. My "cool and spicy" reputation preceded me through high school, and I became known as the "cool girl": All the girls want to be friends with me; all the guys want to date me. But when I turned down every guy who asked me out, they learned to pretty much give up and to admire me from far away. That is, except Yuuki Takadeshi. He is "the man" on campus: captain of the football team, vice president of the Student Council, star of the basketball team, pitcher for the baseball team…and did I mention he was extremely good looking?
I can't count how many times I have turned him down between Freshman and Junior year. It's not like Yuuki was arrogant or full of himself, I'm just not very attracted to him. He's one of my best friends, but I don't see us getting anything past that.
And me? I found that if I keep myself busy I don't get sad about Ikuto: I'm president of the Student council, captain of the soccer team, varsity cheerleader captain, involved in every club possible, and the president of the drama club. I learned how to read music in memory of Ikuto, so I could keep a little part of him with me always. Sometimes I played flute for the band during the Christmas concert and such. Music was my guilty pleasure, and not a lot of people know I can play the flute, except for my best friends.
Rima liked to joke that I was the living, breathing heart of the school, but I just like to think of myself as proactive is all.
Once my hair was in tidy braids, I brushed my bangs out, setting them across my eyes the way I liked them. Then, I did my makeup, deciding to make my eyes smoky, with hues of black and grey. After a little concealer and pink lip gloss, I put on my uniform, smoothed it out, and put on a pair of cute sneakers.
I studied myself in the mirror and marveled on how my body has changed over the last six years. I've grown about five inches taller, bringing me at 5'4". I finally had made the awkward progression from girl to woman with long, slim legs, wide hips and a narrow waist, paired together with a generous bust-line. I've grown out my hair ever-so-slightly, but besides all the changes I was still the same Amu, I noted proudly.
"Amu, its 7:40 and you still have to eat breakfast and pick up Rima," Ran reminded me, floating near my head.
"Oh shit, I'm going to be late!" I cursed, grabbing my backpack and my car keys off my desk and ran downstairs.
Mom and Dad were in the kitchen with Ami. Right when I walked into the kitchen, Mom and Dad pounced on me. Ami immediately spotted my charas and proceeded to chase them around the kitchen, her usual routine for the past eight years.
"It's Amu-chan's Eighteenth Birthday! Our little girl is growing up!" Mom exclaimed, squeezing the life out of me in a hug. Dad scooped both Mom and I into a bear hug.
"You're never, ever, ever leaving me!" Dad cried, still holding Mom and I hostage in a hug.
"Can't…breathe," I choked out, the air slowly leaking out of my lungs. Dad then finally let go, and then dashed to grab his camera.
"I made a special birthday breakfast for my special baby girl," Mom chimed, putting down a plate of fried eggs, sausage, pancakes, and bacon in my place.
"But Mom, I gotta be in school in twenty minutes, I can't possibly eat this much!" I whined.
"Eat as much as you want, I think you can be a little late on your birthday," Mom said sternly, and I couldn't possibly refuse when she held me by my shoulder to the chair.
I sped through my food, eating at least half of my plate to appease Mom. Once she approved that I had eat something, she let me go. I ran to my car in the drive-way (a Ford Focus, a sweet sixteen present), and revved the engine, taking off for Rima's house. Five minutes later, as I pulled into Rima's drive way, I was met with an exasperated Rima, tapping her toe impatiently with crossed arms.
"You're late," she said simply as she climbed into the passenger seat. I sighed.
"I'm sorry, my parents were keeping me hostage. Y'know, birthday stuff."
"It was your birthday today?" Rima asked, eyes- wide. I almost slammed on the brakes in shock. How could my best friend forget my birthday?
"Hahaha, just kidding!" Rima giggled, pulling out a cake and a plethora of big birthday balloons I didn't even see her put in the backseat. Is she a ninja or something?
"Not funny, Rima," I seethed, clenching the steering wheel. But, I couldn't help a small smile that stretched across my face, or the small chuckle that escaped my lips.
"How about we make a stop a Starbucks quick, my treat," Rima suggested. I grinned.
"You read my mind," I joked, pulling in to the nearest Starbuck's drive through. After that, we headed to school with our fresh cappuccinos.
I looked on the clock on my dashboard as we pulled into the student parking lot. 7:58. I sighed with relief. At least I wasn't going to be late on my first day.
I parked in the senior section, right next to Yuuki's car. Yuuki was sitting on the hood, talking to some of the football players. When he saw my car pull up, he smiled and jumped off quick, opening his trunk.
"Happy Birthday Amu!" he yelled as I got out of my car, Rima following close behind. Yuuki had a dark chocolate cake in front of him along with a million balloons, just like Rima had done.
"Aww, that's really sweet Yuuki," I cooed as I read the writing on the cake, 'To the prettiest girl in all of Japan, Happy Birthday!'
I hugged Yuuki after he helped me put the balloons in the car. I loved it when I hugged Yuuki; it was very warm and comforting, like hugging a teddy bear. Right as I pulled away, the first bell rung.
"Aw shit! I forgot my summer reading! Dr. Silvia is going to kill me! See ya later Amu, Rima!" he yelled, running to his first class. I chuckled.
"Shall we then?" I asked Rima. We had the first two classes of the day together: AP Calculus and AP English.
"We shall," she answered, and we hooked arms to walk to Calc together. As I walked up in the hallways, a blur of people came up to me, wishing me a Happy Birthday, giving me gifts, flowers, balloons, baked goods…I wasn't kidding when I said my reputation proceeded me!
I was only barely able to get through the door as the final bell rang, the gifts weighing me down immensely. Mr. Negima chuckled when he saw me barely being able to come through his door, the gifts almost covering my face completely.
"Looks like Ms. Popularity is just barely on time," he teased. I like Mr. Negima, he's also the advisor for the drama club so I have a pretty good relationship with him.
"I try," I teased back, setting down my gifts.
Nothing extraordinary happened, Mr. Negima just passed out the syllabus and went over the class rules: the same exact spiel I have been hearing since Freshman year.
Once the bell rung, Rima helped me carry some of my gifts to my locker, and then we walked together to class. But, it seems like between my locker and my next class that I only accumulated twice as many gifts as I had before…when was this going to end?
AP English was the same, and I had a feeling things weren't going to get more interesting. Instead, I went through my cell and texted people, asking who wanted to get together for my birthday at my house, but I got the same reply: "Sorry, we're busy, we'll celebrate another time!" Even the Guardians! It got so frustrating that at one point I banged my head down on my desk with a whap, sighing. Everyone in the class looked at me, but once they saw I wasn't hurt (much), they continued to listen to the teacher.
Rima poked me with a pencil from behind, and I turn my body around to face her.
"What's wrong?" she whispered, pretending to be paying attention to the teacher.
"Ugh, nobody wants to celebrate at my house tonight," I stated dejectedly, playing with my pencil.
"Well, there's still me! How about we got to that club downtown, y'know, the Ritz! We're both eighteen, so we can get in, it'll be a lot of fun!" Rima piped, beaming in my direction. I smiled.
"That's prefect! Thanks for being such a good friend!" I squealed a bit louder than I should have. Ms. Bodeker looked towards us, peering shrewdly.
"Do I need to separate you girls?" she warned, giving us a harsh look.
"No Ms. Bodeker," Rima and I chimed.
After another skeptical look in our direction, Ms. Bodeker continued to go over the syllabus.
Ram, Miki, Su, and Diamond whizzed around my heard, each doing their own activity. Ram was expertly bouncing a soccer ball on her feet repeatedly, Miki was holding a miniature script and reciting lines, and Su was cooking up…what was it…cookies? Diamond wasn't doing anything, just watching her sister with curiosity.
"Guys, why are you so animated today?" I whispered, pretending to write down notes.
"I'm excited for the soccer team meeting!" Ram piped.
"Can't wait for the drama meeting!" Miki cheered, continuing to flash dramatic poses.
"And cooking club is going to be so much fun desu ~" Su said, whipping the cookie dough in a small bowl.
"Gah, why do I have so much stuff to do already, and on my birthday of all days!" I exclaimed silently, resting my head on my arms. But, a small smile reached my lips. Secretly, I was glad that I had so many things to do and that people looked up to me. It made me happy…well, as happy Ikuto made me.
Right when I was getting flashbacks of Ikuto, the bell saved me of that torture and signaled the end of English. Only two more periods until my next lunch period, which was awesome because I had all my friends in lunch today, including Rima and Yuuki.
I made a stop back at my locker to leave all my gifts, and then headed to AP Japanese. My other three close friends, Sora, Kagome, and Kanna. They were gossiping about the newest music teacher. Apparently, he was fairly young, in his early 20s, and incredibly handsome. It's rumored that he used to come to this school…hmmm…maybe I'll ask Utau if she knows who he might me.
Faster than I expected, lunch dawned upon me. Yuuki and Rima were right there waiting for me, a table set aside where all our friends were sitting. Balloons and gifts littered the table, and a cake was in the middle, set with eighteen candles. Yuuki quickly pulled a lighter out of his pocket and lit the candles. I looked around to see if any teachers would scold him, but all the teachers looked on, small smiles on their faces. Everyone sang "Happy Birthday", even the quiet kids in the corner. I closed my eyes and made a wish.
'I wish…to find someone who will love me for my true self. Not because they think I'm pretty or smart, but because they love me…they love Amu.'
With that, I blew out the candles. Everyone applauded, and I smiled, grabbing the plastic cutting knife and asking everyone if they wanted a slice. By the time the cake was distributed, lunch period was over. I sighed, my stomach rumbling from lack of food. Maybe one of my teachers would let me nibble a bit in their class…
Government and Physics passed rather quickly. The teachers only passed out the syllabuses and then left us to our devices, so I chatted with Ram, Miki, Su, and Diamond about tonight, after school, and other things. Finally, I was stopping at my locker to put my gifts away, and on my way to my favorite class of the day: AP Musical Theory.
Last year, our teacher would just teach us the basics of reading music and then let us do whatever we wanted for the rest of the period. I loved to play my flute during this time; it was a great day to unwind after a stressful day.
Kagome had this class with me, so I walked in and sat at the desk next to her. We chatted until the late bell rung, and then the class turned quiet, waiting for the teacher to get to the front of the class. I was too engrossed in conversation to notice the teacher up there until he was writing his name on the board.
"Good afternoon class, I'm your new musical theory teacher, Mr. Tsukiyomi. Before we get down to business, let me take role…" he said monotonously. My head snapped up, and I slowly turned his way. I only know one person with that last name.
The girls were right, he was in his early 20s. He was about 6'2", slim but toned, and beseechingly handsome. He also had dark-bluish hair…
The breath was knocked out of me. I couldn't breathe. My lungs refused to work. It felt like my heart was about to burst out of my chest, working overtime. I could feel my face first turn pink, then red.
"Yo, Amu, are you okay? Do you need to go to the nurse?" Kagome asked, concern seeping through her voice. I couldn't respond, my mouth wouldn't open. My mind was revolving around one thought:
'Ikuto…here…in my high school…as my teacher…'
He worked his way down the list, and finally to the H's
"…Higurashi, Takashi…Hinamori, Amu?" Ikuto asked in the same professional, monotone voice, as if he had never met me in his life.
As if we were never in love…
"YOU ASSHOLE!" I screamed, getting out of my seat. Well, my mouth finally works, unfortunately at the wrong time. The pour down my face, and before I can humiliate myself even more, I run. I feel my chair fall to the tears ground as I sprint out of the classroom, slamming the door behind me.
'Anywhere but here, anywhere but here, anywhere but here…' Ithought, that single thought repeating over and over in my mind. I could go to the student council lounge, but I didn't want people asking why I was skipping class and in hysterics. Finally, after much thought, I went to the parking lot and headed for my car. I turned it on and was about to peel out of there, but remembered that I was Rima's only ride home and she would NEVER forgive me if I left her stranded at school.
So I just turned on the radio to some rock and blasted the air conditioning. I looked in the mirror, hoping my makeup wasn't too smudged. Seeing that it was, I took out my makeup kit and retouched my eyes. Then, I just put my seat back and grabbed the brownies Rima made for me and placed them on my lap. I didn't really have much of an appetite after my episode, but maybe some food in my stomach would make me less prone to vomit.
I felt a little better after lying back with my eyes closed and munching. But then, I heard a tap on the window. I stiffened, and slowly opened my eyes.
Ikuto was outside the passenger side, leaning down so that he was looking at me through the window. I glared at him as much as I could with puffy eyes, and let down the window slightly so he could talk.
"Can I come in?" he asked, still not letting go of his professional façade. But, in his eyes I still saw a bit of concern.
"Mr. Tsukiyomi, I think it is very improper for a teacher to be in a student's car," I said with doe-like eyes, hoping I looked completely innocent. That finally broke Ikuto's professional façade.
"Don't give me that shit, just let me in," he pleaded, looking genuinely worried. After some deliberation, I unlocked the door, and he slid in, sitting in the passenger seat. An awkward silence passed between us, and I fussed with my bangs, because they got screwed up in my fit. I decided to break the silence.
"How did you know which car I drive?" I asked harshly, throwing the brownies into the backseat.
"I…saw you drive in this morning with Rima," he confessed.
"And why are you out here right now? Don't you have a class to teach sensei?" I demanded, emphasizing sensei. I saw him flinch from the corner of my eye.
"I had my teaching assistant take over after you left. And because I love you," he said plainly, as if it was a common fact.
"Really now?" I asked sarcastically, sniffling a little bit from all the crying I had done.
"Aw, how can I not love a cute, perverted kid like you?" he said softly, trying to touch my cheek. My mind was telling my hand to slap his warm touch away, but my heart told my mind to shut up.
"But I'm not a kid anymore, I'm eighteen," I whined, getting frustrated extremely fast.
Ikuto gave me the look over, you know, when you meet a guy for the first time and it feels like they're undressing you with their eyes. He took in a sharp gulp and said, "I noticed."
I finally slapped my hand away and crossed my arms across my chest, feeling extremely violated.
"Stupid perverted cat!" I screeched. He smirked. Then, his smirk turned into a smile. He took out a rather large box, wrapped in shiny gold paper and tied with a pink ribbon.
"I got you a birthday present, just something I got on the road. It made me think of you," he purred, trying to smolder me with his eyes.
"I don't want it," I refused petulantly, turning away from him. Just as I said this, the dismissal bell rung, signaling the end of the day. Rima would soon come looking for me and hopefully save me from Ikuto.
"That's too bad," Ikuto reprimanded, and then in the blink of an eye, he threw it in the back of my car. I was flustered. With all the balloons and gifts in the back, there is no way I would find it immediately!
"I-KU-TO," I bellowed, my hands balling into fists. Finally, I could see Rima on her way to my car and, bless her heart, with all the gifts that were in my locker. How could one person carry so many things?
My face was pink with rage at Ikuto, but he saw Rima too and saved himself from my wrath.
"I take this as my queue to leave. I'll see you tonight!" he piped cheerfully.
"What do you mean tonight??" I yelled back, seething. Only Ikuto could leave the supposedly perfect Amu this confused.
Rima made eye contact with Ikuto and her mouth turned into a silent "o". She then started walking faster towards my car and dumped everything in the trunk. I got out of the car and turned to her. She was about to open her mouth to ask what was wrong, but one look at my puffy eyes was all it took to tell her.
"It's all around the school that you had a fit in Ikuto's class," she said. I groaned. This is just what I need, for people to think I was loopy.
"Aw, it's okay Amu, everything will be just fine," Rima assured. Rima was the only person who believed full heartedly that Ikuto would come back for me. Of course she would say this.
I looked at the clock in the car quick and closed my door, locking up my car. "Quick! We gotta run or else we'll be late for hosting the soccer team meeting!" I hollered, pulling Rima along behind me.
If Ikuto took his sweet time to get back to me, who says I can't take my sweet time to get back to him?
0.o.0
AHHHH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I WASTED A DAY OF HOMEWORK FOR THIS! *SIGH*
Oh well, I think it was the right choice lol, because I thoroughly enjoyed this
I'm not even thinking of updating until at least 10 reviews, so REVIEW!
-Love always,
The Pink Panda