Chapter Twenty-Two: New Romeo + Juliet:

It�s lucky I came alone to witness this. Sappoto-san would try to break them up. Andi would be squealing in delight at such a love story. Umiko would just be snarky about. No, this one I had to come alone on. I needed the quiet. I listened in closely to the two young lovers as they spoke.

�Where have you been?� the boy asked. �I thought that you wouldn�t come tonight.� Hiromi cuddled up close to his chest.

�I�m so sorry,� she said. �But my parents have guests over.�

�Guests?� her boyfriend asked. The girl nodded at him.

�Yep, two women,� she said. �One of them is a bisexual.�

�Oh,� he said. I raised an eyebrow at them. Why do they say it like that?, I thought. Hiromi stood on her tip-toes and licked her boyfriend on the neck.

�But I�m here now,� she said. His hand slipped down to her ass. I made a face at the gesture. Oh that perv!, I thought. I leaned in close for more. However when I did that, I nearly ended up falling over.

�Whoa!� I mumbled to myself. I paused when I felt eyes watching me. I looked up to see the young couple staring at me. I blinked for a moment.

�Oh�� I mumbled. Hiromi rushed over to me.

�Miho-san?� she asked. I gave her a little wave.

�Uh� hi�� I mumbled. She raced over to me and started pounding at my body with her small fists.

�They sent you out here, didn�t they?!?� she cried. �Didn�t they?!?� I tried to grab at her hands.

�Calm down!� I yelled. �They didn�t send me out here!� She froze and looked at me.

�Then, why are you here?� she asked. I gave her a calm smile.

�I heard your conversation over the phone,� I said. �After that, I followed you out here.� Hiromi�s face grew pale.

�Oh god,� she murmured to herself. �Oh god. Oh god.� Her boyfriend took her in his arms.

�Shhh,� he whispered. �It�s okay.�

�No!� she yelled. The girl broke away from his grasp and raced over to me. She grabbed onto my shirt. I tried to push her off as she panted.

�Whoa now!� I said. �Take it easy!�

�No!� Hiromi screamed again. �Don�t say a word! Don�t say a word!� I looked to her boyfriend for help. He only shrugged at me. I sighed to myself. This is why I hate dealing with teenagers.

Moments later, Hiromi finally calmed down enough so that I could talk to her. I sat before them, staring.

�Okay,� I said. �Even though I don�t really care, tell me how this all started. You�re going to tell me anyway.� Toshio, the boyfriend, held Hiromi�s hand.

�We might as well tell her,� he whispered. The girl narrowed her eyes at me.

�Promise you won�t tell?� she asked.

�Yes, yes,� I said.

�Do you mean it?� the girl pressed. I threw up my hands at her.

�Yes!� I insisted. �Just get on with it!� Hiromi tightly clutched Toshio�s hand.

�Alright,� she said. �It was spring of last year.�

�Okay,� I said.

�My hat flew off in the wind in the lake on my way to school and he caught it,� she said. Toshio put his arm around her.

�It�s been history ever since,� he said. I looked at the couple for a moment.

�So, why the secrecy?� I asked. Hiromi looked rater annoyed at my question as she frowned.

�Cause,� she said. �Our families hate each other.� I made a little face at them.

�Oh�� I mumbled. Hiromi squeezed on her lover�s hand tight enough to break it. I felt nervous for the guy as they she did so.

�You mustn�t tell our parents!� she yelled. �My father will kill Toshio-kun! I love him and he won�t understand!� I put up my hands.

�Okay, okay,� I said. �I won�t say a word.� Hiromi narrowed her eyes at me. My back broke into a small sweat. Damn, this girl scares the shit out of me.