I got up the next morning bright and early as usual. Though, I was a bit tired still from the night before. I hadn't gotten to bed until after two, and then I had tossed and turned the whole night thinking about that kiss Arata had given me. Did he do that to just any girl? I wondered. Then, I pushed all thoughts of that kid to the back of my mind and got out of bed.
A shower was in order first; after, I dressed, I turned on my computer and waited for it to turn on. I had to check my emails, to see if my professors had sent out anything I needed for class. My eleven o'clock class was canceled. That left my whole afternoon free.
I grabbed my phone and texted Kyo. Our 11 class is canceled. I shoved my phone in my pocket and grabbed my bookbag, shoving the books I needed for my nine o'clock class.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Kyo had responded. What do you want to do instead?
I smiled at this and replied. How about some lunch? I kinda wanted to go to the new restaurant downtown anyway. This would be a great excuse.
Heaving my bag over my shoulder, I didn't bother to lock the room behind me, as my roommate was still sleeping. She had gotten into the room long after I had, so she was probably going to be skipping her morning classes. She liked to go out and get drunk and stupid on the weekends.
My phone went off again. Lunch and a movie? There's supposed to be some good ones playing.
I nodded to myself. That would be perfect. The place I want to eat at is by the theater. It's that Italian restaurant. I bounded down the steps of the dorms and out of the building, now fully awake.
I hurried to class and took my seat in the middle of the classroom, like always. My phone went off again. Great. I'll swing by your room to pick you up.
I turned my phone off and shoved it into my pocket. That's just what I needed. Time with Kyo and time to quit thinking about Arata, though I found that it wasn't that simple.
~.~
"That place was pretty good!" Kyo said, holding the door open for me so that I could walk through. He followed at me heels.
I nodded. "It was better than I thought it would be," I agreed as we ran across the street to the giant theater on the other side of the street.
"So, which movie do you want to see?" Kyo asked as we walked inside.
I didn't say anything as I saw Arata and his posse of drunkards. I sighed. I had wanted to get away from him, and here I was running into him. It was as though fate wanted us to keep meeting. Well, sorry, fate, but I don't want anything more to do with him.
I saw the kid, Seiji whispered to Arata, bumping his shoulder to Arata's. Arata looked back to see me and Kyo. I held back the desire to roll my eyes at him.
"Well, look! If it isn't Kyo! va" vlad said.
"Are you gonna see that new scary one? You know, it would give you a chance to kiss... What's your name, babe?" Seiji asked. I hated that pet-name, and I wanted so badly to just put him in his place right then and there, but I didn't want to cause a scene.
Seiji was a rotten pig, and he was never going to go anywhere in his life if this was all he was going to do. I was not going to sit there and let him talk down to me like that. I was not some object to be oogled and used and made fun of.
"It's Aaralyn, " Kyo answered for me as we walked ahead.
"Well have fun sucking face!" seiji yelled after us.
I was about to turn around and say something back, but Kyo grabbed my wrist and shook his head. "They aren't worth it. Just let it go."
We paid for some tickets to an action flick. As we waited in line for some popcorn, i glanced over and met Arata's gaze. We stared at each other for a long time. I hope he saw the pain and hurt in my eyes that he and his dumb friends had caused. I looked away finally and let my hair block my eyes.
"Kyo, I'm going to go to the bathroom. Just go in and save me a seat." I told him as I walked to the bathroom.
I looked into the mirrors after using the facilities. Why was I getting so worked up about this? Arata was just some kid that I randomly met. But, there was something about him that made me feel connected to him some how. And, he said he had met me a few years ago.
I probably should ask him about that. Maybe he could give me some sort of clue as to what I was doing, where I had been. I tried to concentrate hard on the memory that Arata said we shared on the bus a few years ago. Nothing was coming to mind.
Wait. I thought harder. I could see myself looking out the window of the bus and then looking up as a boy sat down on the bus. Arata? It was him, though he didn't look so... hard. He looked more open and kind than he was now. But, I couldn't remember anything else.
Dang, now I had a headache. Whether I wanted to or not, I would have to find Arata and ask him about that time. But, was it really worth getting close to him? Kyo would say no. But, I also wanted to know why I felt so drawn to him as well. Maybe Arata had the answers I needed.
