Outside of class I held the egg with disdain as I tapped my foot, waiting for Haru. What took him so long? Everyone had already gone out so why had I not seen him?

I looked into the classroom…ugh, he was talking to the teacher.

“Haru, can you hurry it up? I want to talk to you.”

There is no way I’m going to be stuck with him for a whole year.

I saw the teacher roll her eyes at me. He smiled gratefully to her and left, walking to me.

Now, Haru did not look like your typical dorks. Haru was actually pretty okay looking, I guess. He was rather tall and had a medium build. Had good short black hair and…whoa wait a minute…he had…since when did he have dark blue eyes? Is that even possible for us Asians? I have to admit…they were gorgeous!

What is it with these losers and good eyes? First Yumi and now him.

“What were you talking to her about?”

“If we could change partners.”

He wanted to change partners? He shouldn’t be talking.

“I tried that already.”

“Well, I asked nicely. And didn’t demean anyone in the process.”

Was he standing up to me? Who does he think he is?

“What would you have to complain about anyway? I’m the one with you.”

“I don’t want to be stuck with someone who’s going to be miserable with me the whole year.”

“Well, here this will make it all easier. I’ve decided that since you’re the one who cares more about his grades I will give this egg to you and basically let you do all the work. We’ll both get good grades, we won’t have to see each other and it all works out.”

“No, I won’t have that. I don’t plan to be pushed around by you.”

Back talk from a dork? What the heck kind of world are we living in now a days?

“Excuse me?”

“Besides…my grades are well off that I can fail this class and still graduate. How about yourself? You willing to put yourself up to that? If you failed this, would you be able to even graduate?”

I glared at him. He’s worse than dorks!

“Yeah, I know your type…shallow, self-centered girl who doesn’t give a damn about anything or anyone but herself. You push people around because you think you’re better than everyone else. Like air was just meant for you and we would have to go to you for permission.”

That actually hurt me.

“Oh, yeah, so now you have me all figured out, don’t you? How dare you make me so simple! How dare you act like you know me!”

“Just like you have me figured out? Didn’t even give this project one chance to get to know me and you’ve already dubbed me diseased freak for the year.”

We both glared at each other. This was going to be harder than I thought. But when I looked into his blue eyes, it struck me as to how serious he was. I think he’s the only one who has spoken back to me like this. I didn’t intimidate him…this is a first. I need a few minutes to figure out how I feel about this. Hmm…It’s so new. Hmm…I actually think…I respect him? Hmm…nope.

Ugh, its so much more effort to continue arguing for a whole year anyway…and I have that stupid Yumi on my list too…might as well make one of them easier.

I looked away and folded my arms over my chest. “Fine, I’ll work on this with you.”

His body stopped being so defensive and he sighed. “That wasn’t so bad…I figured I’d have to fight some more.”

I looked at him. “Don’t put your guard down so fast. This is new to me; no one’s talked to me like that before. I’m letting it sink in.”

“Well, there’s a first for everything.”

I began to walk ahead. He slowly followed. I softly said, “I want you to take back what you said about me.”

“What?” He looked down at me.

“Take it all back. That’s not how it is.”

“I’ll take it back if you do.”

“Oh, that’s mature.”

“Look, you took a shot at me first. I had to fire back. The last thing I want is the loss of my own dignity.”

“So you take it out on me?”

“You did, didn’t you?”

I don’t know what was worse. Dealing with a huge and complete dork or dealing with a dork with a mouth.

I scoffed. “I’m not taking it back because its all true, isn’t it? You’re completely weird. You stay after school for god knows how long doing who knows what on the computer and whatever else you do after school. You’re like a loner and freakishly mysterious about everything. Ugh, jeeze, I’m with you for a whole year.”

“How do you hear all that?”

“People!”

He sighed. “You know what then? You’re completely right about all of that. Completely right about me. Just keep thinking what you think. I give up. There’s no point in wasting any breath since you’re so convinced.”

“Fine.”

We walked in silence for a while…he just couldn’t let it go.

“It’s not like your insanely perfect either. You walk all over everyone because we’re all apparently less than you. You make, how do I put this…humane people feel horrible about themselves. And you’re not so opened to the world either, Sae, freakishly, no one knows much about you. I can only wonder sometimes how someone like you has any friends.”

“Yeah? Well let me make you happier. I don’t have any friends. Thank god.”

At the corner of my eye I noticed his face change. “What…?”

“What? Who needs friends? In the end they’re just going to let you down anyway. Why bother blindly hoping for something different?”

“They wouldn’t be your friends if they’re letting you down. Why expect everyone to mess up when you don’t even give them a chance? Everyone needs someone. No one was meant to be alone.”

Deep down…I really wanted to believe what he said. But it felt like such a weak thing to admit.

“Well, if you like it that way then I’m sure there are exceptions.”

“I don’t care who you are, no one likes being alone.”

It’s like he could read me…could he? I can’t let that happen.

I stopped and looked at him aggravatingly. “Look, okay, all we have to do is see each other for this stupid project. Don’t try getting to know me. Don’t start with me. I’m trying to make this as smooth for myself as possible so I don’t decide to become a murderer in the middle of my last year in high school.”

We both stared at each other. I crossed my arms over my chest.

“I have to be somewhere soon, so make this fast. Are we going to your place or mine?” I demanded.

“Mine…I don’t trust what could possibly be at your house.”

It was kept at that. We walked along the streets in silence. The directions he took…it was like heading to my place…too similar. We were passing by my apartment building…no, we were stopping in front of it? Wait…

“Where do you live?” I asked.

“Right here.”

My jaw nearly dropped. “What?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I don’t live in a luxurious mansion that you probably live in, with over 100 rooms and 100 servants and–”

“This can’t be. This is where I live.”

“What?”

“I live here. Top floor.” I said in disbelief.

“No way…how is it that…”

“…I’ve never seen you here before.” I added, completing his sentence.

“Well you have to admit…it is a pretty big building…and we probably leave for school at different times and come home at different times…it’s just possible. Why are you wondering anyway? Isn’t it a blessing you never saw me in public?”

There was so much scorn in his voice…

“Ugh, well now that I know you live here I’m probably going to be bumping into you ever so often.”

He sighed. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“Since you live here anyway, we’re going to my apartment.”

He didn’t argue. We stepped into the elevator and it was that awkward silence. It was deafening…almost annoying. Why did I have to live at the top floor?

When the doors opened I let out a sigh. He stepped out first and looked around like something was wrong.

“There’s only one door…?” He asked strangely.

I looked up at him as I pulled out my keys from the bag. “Yeah…isn’t that how it is on the other floors?”

“Um…no, there are about 20 different apartments on one floor.”

“Hmm…no wonder my parents said this was just for me…they must have arranged it so that…”

“You get the whole floor?!”

I opened the door quickly and stepped in. “Oh don’t be surprised, the best only deserve the best.”

“Right.”

I held the door opened but his feet were planted outside. “Would you hurry up? I have to be somewhere soon.”

His eyes glimmered as he took slow sure steps into my apartment. It was like a child walking into a candy store for the first time.

“Everything…it looks like the lobby of a hotel with the rooms of a hotel…its…”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah come on hurry it up. You’ve already spent too much time with me.”

“Are your parents home?”

“No, they’re not here.”

“Oh, okay.”

“So let’s get started.”

I led him into the living room and laid down all our paper work. All of this information was completely pointless. Who cares what gender or name or anything this stupid egg is? I let him do all the choosing, I didn’t care otherwise.

I gave him a weird look. “You seem to be into this stuff. A little too much.”

He got a little embarrassed. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

Not looking up from what he was writing he spat back, “What do you care, really?”

I scoffed and then leaned on the table while looking at him. “Look, Haru. Stop trying to play the big tough guy. It really doesn’t suite you. It’s already obvious that you aren’t afraid of me.”

He looked up at me. Those eyes of his, they were amazingly pretty but at the same time they can pierce right through you.

“So, what are you saying? That we try to get along?”

I smiled. “Don’t push it. I’m just saying that we try to get by without hating each other or liking each other. It’ll make things easier.”

He looked down at the paper and continued to write. “It’ll be easier on Leo too.”

“Leo?” I looked at him confused.

Then he lifted up the egg to his cheek and made one of the most stupid faces I’ve ever seen. “It kills him to see his parents fight.”

I laughed and hit him, but quickly stopped myself and cleared my throat…what am I doing? I stood up and walked to the window. “Stop trying to be funny, it doesn’t suite you either.”

I watched him put the egg down and he smiled. Why was he smiling?

“Oh, and no interaction at school…unless I permit it. Okay?” I said softly.

He sighed but nodded his head nonetheless.

Be it hate, like or whatever in between. Dork, cool or average. It was nice…nice to have company.

“So, why?”

“I really want a family.”

I sighed and looked out the window once again.

You and me both.

---

I skated fiercely around the rink. She was late and this was getting annoying. How dare she make me wait for her?

“Miss Sae!”

I stopped abruptly and turned to the voice. It was Yumi. I crossed my arms and made her skate to me.

“You better have a good explanation as to why you’re late.”

“Miss Sae…I’m so sorry…my boyfriend came late so I didn’t have a ride I–”

“Why are you depending on him anyway? You find your ways to get here. Makes me sick that you depend on a guy to bring you to something you live for.”

She used her hand to rub her other arm, like she had been bruised. Yumi bit her lip as she looked down on the floor. “I’m sorry, Miss Sae…it won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” I sighed and pointed out to the ice, “Start skating.”

This was too dull. I skated along the edge of the ice as Yumi performed whatever it is I asked her to. She was getting better at least. She probably felt a little more comfortable in front of me.

“Miss Sae?”

“What?” I said a bit harshly.

“Do you…um…think that it’s possible that I could enter the state competition?”

Are you serious? “You’re not ready for it.”

She anxiously skated to me and started to talk a little too fast. “I’ll work extra hard I promise…I just really want to get into this competition…its my last year here since we’re going to college next year and I won’t have as much time to keep skating as my priority and I just–”

“Okay, stop talking.” I said while backing away from her and bringing my hand up to rub my temples.

“I guess if you work hard enough, you’ll be ready for it.” I said softly.

She’s not much competition…so that’s okay. But…when it comes to skating…she reminds me of myself…

During the session my temper slowly died down and rather at a demeaning level, I taught her constructively. The state competition, huh? At the pace she was going…I actually think she could make it to the semi-finals with me. But I think that’s as far as she’ll go. Or will it…did I have anything to worry about?

I looked over at her and she smiled sweetly at me.

---

So it’s been a good two months and things are running smoothly again.

Haru and I just meet two times a week…we make no contact in school…and we live our separate lives. We don’t hate each other and we don’t like each other. We’re just two people existing in the same school.

And Yumi’s skating is dramatically improving, but her overall personality still annoys me. And her threat to me in the competition is still unknown to me.

Ugh, great…I stayed an hour for detention for whatever I did wrong this time and I still see Alex and Chrysten standing by their lockers and talking. What the hell are they doing here…its an hour after school! They could be talking anywhere else.

I just decided to walk towards the back exit…it was a longer walk, but anything to avoid seeing them being stupid together.

I walked with a hurried pace towards the exit, but I gradually slowed down when I heard something coming from our second auditorium. It was an auditorium mainly used for practices and stuff…no one really uses it.

It was so quiet at this time that all I heard were my heels as I walked towards the door and the sound coming from within. It was music…a violin to be specific. I always liked the violin…but I only really liked it when they played sad music. Sad music on the violin was beautiful…I didn’t like any of that fiddle stuff.

I opened the door slowly and walked in silently. As I walked down the aisle, I attempted to keep my heels clank to a minimum as I tried to get a closer look because the person’s face was too far away to distinguish.

The music was hypnotizing almost…it was calming and melodic with a tint of melancholy. It drew me in until I was standing right in front of the stage.

It was…It was Haru…

I stood there, looking up at him…entranced. His eyes were closed as he felt the music.

The sad music caressed my skin until I got goose bumps and talked to me until I felt it engrave my soul.

It reminded me…reminded me of my loneliness…reminded me of all I longed for…of all I hoped for. But this time…it ran deeper than just my parents. So what…what did I long for? What did I hope for? What was missing?

Before I knew it…a single tear fell from my eye and rolled down my cheek.

The music stopped.

“Sae?”

So this…this is why you stay after school…