Chapter Thirty-Six: Hot Then Cold:

So much can happened in three days.

-Vivian-

I don’t get it! The more I think about Mike, the more I want to scream. He’s just so… Argh! Hotaru doesn’t help matters either. She giggles when I complain about Mike.

“What’s so funny?” I asked. She gave me a goofy smile.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Hotaru asked.

“No…” I said. She leaned in with that creepy grin of hers.

“I believe that you like good old Mikey,” she said. I resisted the urge to vomit.

“What?!” I shouted. “No! That’s not…!”

“What? That’s not true? Your face says otherwise.”

I slapped my red cheeks. “Shut up!” Hotaru’s laughter made it worse. I tried not to scream, but she just… Urgh! I lowered my head. Hotaru patted on me.

“There, there,” she said. “Love is rather confusing at this time.”

I jerked my head upwards. “It’s not like that!”

Hotaru raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” I wanted to disappear into the floor. Why does she do this to me?

“Look,” she said. “Just admit it. It’s better than this battle you’re fighting with yourself.” I froze when I heard her say it. I might not like her message, but she had a point. Why was I going in circles with this? At this point, I was going nowhere. I dropped my shoulders.

“What should I do?” I asked.

“Be honest with yourself for one,” Hotaru said.

“But…”

She shrugged. “That’s up to you. I’m only saying what I think.”

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So now, I am stuck again. Yeah. I flopped back onto my bed. It’s true that Mike annoyed me. Still, he had some redeeming qualities. He is good with women. All during lunch yesterday, he wouldn’t let me pick up the tab.

“No, I got this,” he said.

“But…” I said.

“I got it,” Mike repeated. I sat back and let him pay the tab. I still can’t answer that myself.

I rolled over on my bed. Then he tries to look out for me. Last week, I left my workbook at home. To my surprise, Mike came by my school just to drop it off. He didn’t explain any motives. Mike dropped off my workbook and left.

I frowned. I couldn’t figure that guy out. What does he want from me? I buried my face in my pillow. What’s wrong with me? Hotaru’s words rang in my head.

“I believe you like good old Mikey.”

That statement made me shudder. Me? Liking me? No way! Is it true? I shut my eyes. I’m tired of this game. It’s getting me nowhere. You know what? I’m going to end this now! I pulled the pillow from my face. How do I do that? I glanced over at my clock. No more stalling with this crap. I’m just going to say it. I got up and walked out of my room.

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I walked up to Mike’s bedroom door. When I heard moaning on the other side, my stomach turned.

Don’t tell me… Maybe it’s not that. Against my judgement, I knocked on the door.

“Mike!” I shouted. “Could you come out here? I have something to tell you.” The noise inside went quiet. Maybe I should turn back, forget about it… I jumped back when the door opened. Mike stood in front of me in nothing but sheets around his waist. My cheek turned bright red. I didn’t notice the dull look in his eyes.

“What do you want?” he asked. I stared at him in a daze until I happened to glance behind him. A woman sat up in bed, covering her breasts with the sheets. My heart sank when our eyes met. No way! Mike tilted his head.

“What is it?” he asked. I backed away, shaking my head.

“I… I’m sorry to bother you!” I cried. I ran off with tears in my eyes. Why? Why? How could me? Why Mike? Why?

“Who was that?” I heard behind me down the hall. The door slowly pulled closed.