Mottled Ink 2/?
Chapter Title: Home
Rating: T
A/N: Chapter 2 up. Not much else to say except...this suddenly connects to something else I just typed 8 pages up of. And a question: Do I write too much? (Also: How old is Bridget? Do we know yet?)
Warning(s): Drinking, people not studying when they should. Quotes from roommate about Pre-Cal books...um...yeah and that's it.
Edit: Sorry for it being all italicized ^^; Trying to fix it, but it's not...uh...letting me...*blinks*
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"Miranda?" Lenalee wondered, peering up from the large text book she had her nose currently in, "You’re home late, is Bridget home?"
Miranda smiled at the girl and slipped her way through the door easily, "Yes, actually, she just got home. She’s currently in the bath, though." This made Lenalee’s face sour, "She said…your brother…"
A sigh cut her off, "Aww, jeez, don’t tell me he overworked her again with his crazy antics?" She put the book down and Miranda more than saw the magazine there-so she was reading a magazine instead of studying? Oh dear. But she said nothing as Lenalee rolled over onto her stomach, to lean off the edge of the bed, cell phone suddenly out and in her hands.
"I’ll text him tonight and ask him about it. Was she the one that slammed the door?" Miranda found herself nodding her head, "He really must’ve done something. Is she going to bed after her bath, or?"
"I think so," She cut her off as politely as she could, "I…don’t think it would be best to b-bother her."
Lenalee nodded her head, "Okay then, and I won’t be seeing her tomorrow either," she clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth before shutting her phone, and slipping it back into her pocket, looking up, she smiled and motioned for Miranda to come closer, and reluctantly she did, "How was your day at work? Anything eventful happen at the library?"
Ah
Lenalee blinked, "Really? Who?" Then, "They weren’t mean, were they?"
"Klaud seems to think so," She looked down, sighing, "But actually he was very sweet. He helped me put away some books. His name was Lavi…Lavi Junior."
Eyes lit up immediately in recognition, "Oh! Him? Yes I know him, he’s a Senior. Everyone knows him." She tilted her head thoughtfully to the side, "But…I don’t get why he’d be at the library. Um, he…you know he usually doesn’t go, right?"
"Mm," Miranda nodded her head, watching as Lenalee rolled onto her back and motioned for her to come sit down. She did, slowly, "I…I’ve worked with his Grandfather a few times." She didn’t like the suddenly hollow look in the other girl’s eyes, "He doesn’t seem like the kind to, well…um…he just seems…"
"Cold?"
She flinched at the term, but nodded her head, "Y-Yes…"
"I was in the Office. I heard them…arguing," It was a terse explanation, "I think cold is the right word. But…at least he wasn’t mean to you. That’s good." But the way her eyes sparkled then-maybe telling her hadn’t been such a good idea-"Surprised he talked to you though. I mean, not that he’s mean or anything. He’s really nice. I talk to him a lot since he’s a teacher’s aid for one of my classes, he actually puts up with me and my magazines." She let out a soft giggle, "But…well, what’d he say? Anything interesting?" She paused, "Did he…do anything interesting?"
Miranda felt her face flush. Goodness Lenalee certainly wasn’t innocent by any means!
"So he did do something. What?" And she was a curious one to boot.
"Well…like I said, h-he helped me put up books." She blinked once, a silent And? Hanging there between them, "And then…he…when he was about to leave, he asked for my name. I-I gave it to him, of course, s-since he gave me his, and," she gripped one of her hands tightly. The one he had kissed, "Then he…kissed my hand."
"Like a gentleman?" she heard the dreamy quality in the girls voice and nodded her head. Lenalee rolled over again, and suddenly she was being dragged down too, on to the bed, "lucky! Like I said he’s nice, especially to women, I mean, I’m…I’m not that interested in him," she could tell that was a half lie, and it made something in her twinge with guilt, "but so many of the girl’s are, even though he seems like a bit of a skirt chaser."
"Can he get away with that, though?" Miranda wondered, relaxing easily in Lenalee’s grip, the girl would never hurt her, she knew that.
"With his grandfather the way he is? Hell no." Then she burst into another fit of giggles, "He’s notorious for showing up at the parties, flirting, but then never doing anything. I’d take a guess that he’s almost gay, you know? Except he doesn’t really show that kind of interest in guys. Unless the right one just hasn’t shown up yet." That deflated her ego a little bit, but a gentle squeeze snapped her out of it, "Don’t worry. Even if he likes guys too, it’s all too possible he's just Bi, and then, well, you’d have a bit more competition-but that doesn’t kick you out of the ruling just yet."
"I-I suppose it doesn’t." Wait…she hadn’t even said-"B-But…um…K-Klaud thinks he was just pulling a prank. She says she…sees him all the time, with…one of his…f-friends."
Recognition again, "That must be Allen," well, she answered that easily enough, "you know Cross is friends with Allen’s foster-father, right? You know about that?"
"I think Klaud’s mentioned it a few times?" again she was unsure, it could just be the wrong person.
"Mm, probably has, she…they don’t get along very well-her and Cross. It wouldn’t surprise me." She paused, staring at the ceiling for a moment, "But yeah, he’s…I guess that’s one guy he actually talks to on a regular basis, um, he helps tutor Allen-in English and in Math. He’s a really good tutor too, y’know? Especially now with the end of the semester in like, two months, especially in English they’re really piling on the work load."
"Really?" Lenalee nodded her head, "They really make you…write that much?"
"Not just writing. Allen hates reading," Miranda deflated a little at that, "But, y’know, Lavi loves to read. I bet when you saw him at the library, he had a stack of books with him, right?" She nodded her head, "Well, since he’s a Senior too, he’s probably already read what we read-even if he’s in an IB class, an’ all-so Allen tries to get him to help with the projects. Lavi doesn’t mind too much, but he tries to get Allen to read the books anyway-since he can’t help with the tests and all-and I think that’s what Allen gets so annoyed with."
"I-Isn’t that…cheating, though?"
"Our English teachers don’t really pay much attention to that." She waved it off easily enough, "Especially Allen’s-I had her too, last semester-" Oh, of course, she almost forgot that Lenalee was a junior. Allen was a year younger. Of course she would know that, "And, well, with her, as long as you don’t plagiarize, you’re pretty much good. She doesn’t really care if you use cheat sheets on the books-or if you look up themes in them. It’s just the papers she cares about."
"W-Well…I do remember writing many of them in…University." She hoped she was being helpful, "So I suppose it’s…to help you."
"Mm," Lenalee nodded her head lightly, "Yeah, she’s also a picky grader too, so Allen needs all the help he can get or else he’ll fail. And Lavi’s…a bit harsh about that. He’s got the mindset to achieve-I mean, I assume that’s the only way he’s been taught, with how far ahead he is of everyone else. Did you know? Because he doubled up on Math one year, and Science another, he has two free class periods a day-though one he goes to the local community college to get his credits for math-but what does he do instead of goof off? Err, well, for one he does, I mean-well, he takes another science class. And the one he’s a Teacher’s Assistant for? My Pre-Cal class. I don’t know what he wants to be when he graduates, or where he wants to go even-but rumor has it, he’s going to Harvard, or Yale, or one of those other top schools."
Miranda’s eyes widened. She hadn’t realized the boy was so smart! Though…of course…it wasn’t right of her to assume he just loved to read, "That’s amazing!"
"Isn’t it?" But there was something bitter there, too, an undertone she couldn’t quite grasp that made her worry, "Can’t help but wonder if he even wants to go to University though, I mean, with the way his Grandfather treats him, he might just, y’know, graduate from High school then disappear for a few years. Get a job, then pay his own way through University." She paused, and a thoughtful silence fell between them for a good couple of minutes.
Miranda didn’t much like silence, "S-So…most of the money is…his Grandfather’s?"
"I guess. Or else it’s his long dead parent’s, left to him when he Graduates. Turns twenty one, or something." Another short pause. A sigh, "Because if he had it when he turned Eighteen, then he’d probably be long gone now." Her expression was sour, lips drawn thin, "I mean, I guess I wasn’t supposed to overhear that conversation, but I was turning in the attendance and I got into a conversation with Mrs. Hearst-you know, Timothy’s mom? The mother of the boy I had to bring over once to babysit?-oh yes, she remembered that darling boy. He had been a bit smart-especially to Bridget and Klaud, but he had been so sweet to her. All smiles and laughs, and he had liked the book she had given him to read. Not that she got it back yet.
"And, well, yeah. She’s the attendance lady, and…I saw Lavi go in-say he was called in…and, um…they were still kinda arguing when he was checked out. He…looked really upset too, so…I can understand why he wouldn’t want to be under his grandfather’s wing for too much longer, much less four years." She sighed, "It really is difficult, isn’t it?"
"I would assume so." She felt herself nod in sympathy. Sympathy to the redhead whom she had just met earlier, whom had been so polite, that it had been surprising, and-and now she was hearing this. It hurt a little, "I hope he gets what he wants in the end."
"It’d be nice, wouldn’t it?"
"Mm," she closed her eyes for a moment, feeling Lenalee lean against her. She must be tired, goodness knows, even if she just worked at the local library-a place that seemed so relaxing-she practically stood all day, except on break, or in the rare chance that she was shelving books in the children’s section, where the shelves were so low you had to sit in order to reach them and not hurt your back. Of course she would be tired.
She felt Lenalee rest a head against her shoulder, and mumble, almost sleepily, "If you run into Lavi again at th’ library…tell him I said ‘hi’, okay?"
"What if he asks how I know you?" After all, normally she wouldn’t know someone so young, "Y-you rarely come by the library either."
Lenalee let out a chuckle, "True, true. Then tell him we live together. Since we do. I think he might actually have my house address. Or at least he has my facebook. Not that I ever go on. Big brother says sites like that are bad."
Miranda thought that over for a moment, and smiled. It was such a big-brother thing to say.
"I don’t think it’s that bad though, y’know? With all the hype on it, an’ all. Like with how Shark Attacks really aren’t that common-you’re more likely to die from a soda pop machine that you are from a shark (1), did you know that? Lavi told me that."
Really?
" Yup. He knows stuff like that. Really amazing too, y’know?" She let out another half-tired giggle, "I never woulda thought of that. Would you?"
"No, it is amazing." She agreed wholeheartedly, and curiously , "You can learn so much from reading things. It’s amazing."
"It is."
And then, like all good things, Miranda knew of, the moment had to end. With a vibrating cell phone, and a sleepy yawn.
"That must be brother." She mumbled, forcing herself up, and extracting her arms from around Miranda’s waist, not that she had moved, nor minded, but she sat up as well. It was almost embarrassing-now that she thought about it-that she had laid there for so long! She needed to get to bed herself, and she needed to reprimand Lenalee for not studying. Or, no, not reprimand. How would she know if the girl was already done?
That was just it, she didn’t.
The sigh, however, drew her attention back to the teen, "Of course," she muttered lowly, before she sighed again, and, after typing a quick message, looked back at Miranda, "He doesn’t realize he’s doing half of what he’s doing. Silly isn’t it?"
Miranda blinked, "He doesn’t?"
"Not a clue." She stared at the screen, and sighed again, "He really is eccentric."
"Really?"
"Really."
A pause, this time, drawn out and awkward.
"How can you two be so different?" because as far as she knew, Lenalee was dependable, she never spazzed out over anything-or if she did, it meant she truly was frazzled-and as far as she knew, the only thing she was currently hooked on was the magazine currently resting in front of the text book she had been pretending to read.
"I ask myself that all the time." Her voice was flat, but loving, "I guess I’ll never know, y’know? But I’ll love him regardless, because he’s my brother, and who can’t love their family?"
The images that hit her then, she tried to push away. Of yelling father’s and mother’s who never said a word, and of sisters-she swallowed, and nodded her head, "Yes. Families are wonderful things." But if she thought hard enough, she could replace her family with a story book one, couldn’t she? Ones who wouldn’t reprimand every little thing.
It reminded her she hadn’t talked to them in so long.
Not that it mattered.
Not that she wanted it to matter. So she kept the smile on her face, and said, as cheerfully as she could muster, "But besides that, it’s getting late, isn’t it?" Lenalee glanced at the phone again, and gasped.
"That late?! And I haven’t even started on my Pre-Cal yet!"
She smiled distantly as the girl scrambled up off the bed, nearly losing her balance as she tripped over the strap to her purse (instead, thankfully, only knocking the contents out. Was that a banana?) to get to her bookbag that leaned against the wall by the door. Fumbling with the zipper she pulled out yet another text book-this one thicker than the one on her bed-and hauled it out.
"You know," she grunted cutely, turning on her heels to face Miranda once more, "If you…y’know…ever need to nail something together, but don’t wanna use a hammer," she held the book up with a smile, "You can always use this."
Miranda let out a chuckle, smiling at the girl’s attempts at humor, "But I wouldn’t want to break what I was nailing!" *
Lenalee looked from her, to the book, and for a moment her stomach dropped. Was the joke too corny? Old fashioned? But she swallowed those questions and waited, pensively, for that moment later when Lenalee laughed, just as cheerfully, "Yeah that’s true. Would you believe me when I say I haven’t even opened this thing yet?"
Yes, yes I would
But then she never did much like text book. Math based ones, anyway. She wasn’t a math person in general, "But I guess you have to now, don’t you?" she wondered as Lenalee walked back over to the bed (thankfully, side-stepping the banana and whatever other contents of her purse), and opened the book.
The numbers made her frown.
"Unfortunately," she sat down next to her, and groaned, "I’m not going to like it though."
"But you have to do it."
Another sigh, "Yeah."
"Th-Then…I should leave." Immediately she stood up, after all, it was getting late. She didn’t want to prevent Lenalee from doing homework, and if she remembered her schedule correctly, Pre-Cal was usually the class she had right before lunch. Or was it right after? Needless to say, even if she didn’t finish tonight, she…well, she would have time, somehow. But just in case.
It left her wondering, too, if she should get more involved in the girl’s life. After all, Klaud knew the girls schedule like the back of her hand, But that’s because she’s the Vice President.
But then that didn’t explain how Bridget-Bridget works for Komui. Komui is Lenalee’s brother, he probably has a copy of her schedule that he needs to have, just in case he needs to pick her up from school.
"Miranda?" Her shoulders tensed immediately at the curious question, "You…okay?"
"F-Fine…just…long day."
"You aren’t thinking about Lavi, are you?" She felt her face flush, but thankfully the girl didn’t see it, "Not that I can blame you but, I don’t know if you’ll see him again. Ah, not to put a damper on your spirits or anything but."
"I understand," she cut her off, all smiles, happy-all smiles-"just…get to your Pre-Cal, even if, um, is it your class before or after lunch?"
"Before."
"So you won’t have much time to do it during your other classes."
The girl was silent for a moment before nodding her head, "Yeah, that’s true. I’ve got a vocab test in English-why we still have them I don’t know, and that’s first period-second period teacher isn’t exactly friendly about us doing homework during class, third I probably could, we’re watching a set of videos-did I tell you that? This one’s supposed to be on Hydrogen Bonds, exciting right?" She more than heard the sarcasm, "Fourth Period…that’s my French 2 class, I think we might have a sub tomorrow, since our teacher’s currently pregnant, and has an appointment, but I really don’t want to push it."
Another sigh.
"I-I’ll leave you alone then, G-Good night."
"Good night." She answered, somehow with the same cheerfulness she always had, and then, and only then was Miranda jealous. Maybe. A little bit.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t be like that. It almost hurt. Just a little, as she slipped out through the door, and into the dimly lit hall. It made her shiver, she never much liked the dark either. But she supposed that didn’t matter now, it wasn’t like she lived on her own in a place that wasn’t friendly.
No. No. No. Being jealous…that was wrong. She tried to smile, and it was able to stick. She had taken the first step and gotten out of that place-on her own free will, two feet, and she was here now, with people who were nice and kind and warm.
When she walked past the bathroom she immediately turned away, though the door was only a crack open, and the bath filled with bubbles, she could still see Bridgets form, relaxing back in the water.
Should I close the door
She took a deep breath and scurried past, two doors down. Left. As she reached her door, however, she heard the familiar sound of Klaud’s boots on the wooden flooring.
"Good lord, Bridge," the familiarity sent another twinge, but then she half expected it, "If you’re taking a bath, close the door. We have a minor living in our house."
Well, at least Klaud was willing to be brave enough.
"What? We’re all women here!"
"My case in point."
Even if, really, it didn’t make much sense. Miranda didn’t want to think too hard on that, though, as she quickly worked the doorknob, and forced the door open. Thankfully she slipped through before she heard the sound of a door closing. Before she heard the now oddly muffled voice of Klaud and-
She really didn’t want to think about what that meant. She just leaned against the door, and, well, listened. Nearly cursed her good hearing when, after a solid ten minutes, the door opened and closed again. Two loud voices now. Arguing.
"And I keep saying-"
"Did the bath do you any good?"
Intake of breath. They stopped in front of her room, but that was easy, because Bridget’s room was right across from hers. It was only natural.
"Well…yes."
"Then stop arguing and get some clothes on. I know you love to show off, but-at least Miranda didn’t see you! You know how she is!"
How I am
Maybe she was glad for once that someone knew. It was embarrassing, after all!
"And Lenalee too! If she hadn’t been studying and came out, then what?"
"Then what?" Bridget parroted back, too playful, too familiar. She heard another door slam a moment later, and then Klaud sighed.
"At least she’s feeling better." She heard her murmur, before her steps turned away, back down the hall, to her own room at the front of the house, by the kitchen. It was safe to not listen now, so she didn’t. She moved over to her bed-nice soft comforter, black, fluffy, with grey pillows, grey curtains. Maybe she needed a make over. Maybe she didn’t. She liked the somber colors.
The polka dots were bold, weren’t they? But they were only sheets. Hardly anyone but her saw them-she flushed at the thought-like anyone should-and she kicked her shoes off, falling back on the bed, to stare up at the ceiling. At the light she had forgotten to turn off when she left this morning, or maybe that Klaud knew to turn on for her.
She smiled, distantly, at the thought.
It was so nice to be home. To be at a place where they knew what you liked and what you didn’t without you having to say a word. She closed her eyes and curled up on her side.
Yes
…Home.
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(1)-
True fact is truthful. Yes, Marine Science is fun.
*- My roommate said something akin to this when we were nailing together a cubby/tv stand. I replied with much more dead-pan sarcasm, though. (than Miranda did XD) it was nice to be home.? ? But no. No she wouldn’t. If it was open that meant she had left it open on purpose. Not that she would expect anyone, right? Right.
Rating: T
A/N: Chapter 2 up. Not much else to say except...this suddenly connects to something else I just typed 8 pages up of. And a question: Do I write too much? (Also: How old is Bridget? Do we know yet?)
Warning(s): Drinking, people not studying when they should. Quotes from roommate about Pre-Cal books...um...yeah and that's it.
Edit: Sorry for it being all italicized ^^; Trying to fix it, but it's not...uh...letting me...*blinks*
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"Miranda?" Lenalee wondered, peering up from the large text book she had her nose currently in, "You’re home late, is Bridget home?"
Miranda smiled at the girl and slipped her way through the door easily, "Yes, actually, she just got home. She’s currently in the bath, though." This made Lenalee’s face sour, "She said…your brother…"
A sigh cut her off, "Aww, jeez, don’t tell me he overworked her again with his crazy antics?" She put the book down and Miranda more than saw the magazine there-so she was reading a magazine instead of studying? Oh dear. But she said nothing as Lenalee rolled over onto her stomach, to lean off the edge of the bed, cell phone suddenly out and in her hands.
"I’ll text him tonight and ask him about it. Was she the one that slammed the door?" Miranda found herself nodding her head, "He really must’ve done something. Is she going to bed after her bath, or?"
"I think so," She cut her off as politely as she could, "I…don’t think it would be best to b-bother her."
Lenalee nodded her head, "Okay then, and I won’t be seeing her tomorrow either," she clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth before shutting her phone, and slipping it back into her pocket, looking up, she smiled and motioned for Miranda to come closer, and reluctantly she did, "How was your day at work? Anything eventful happen at the library?"
Ah
Lenalee blinked, "Really? Who?" Then, "They weren’t mean, were they?"
"Klaud seems to think so," She looked down, sighing, "But actually he was very sweet. He helped me put away some books. His name was Lavi…Lavi Junior."
Eyes lit up immediately in recognition, "Oh! Him? Yes I know him, he’s a Senior. Everyone knows him." She tilted her head thoughtfully to the side, "But…I don’t get why he’d be at the library. Um, he…you know he usually doesn’t go, right?"
"Mm," Miranda nodded her head, watching as Lenalee rolled onto her back and motioned for her to come sit down. She did, slowly, "I…I’ve worked with his Grandfather a few times." She didn’t like the suddenly hollow look in the other girl’s eyes, "He doesn’t seem like the kind to, well…um…he just seems…"
"Cold?"
She flinched at the term, but nodded her head, "Y-Yes…"
"I was in the Office. I heard them…arguing," It was a terse explanation, "I think cold is the right word. But…at least he wasn’t mean to you. That’s good." But the way her eyes sparkled then-maybe telling her hadn’t been such a good idea-"Surprised he talked to you though. I mean, not that he’s mean or anything. He’s really nice. I talk to him a lot since he’s a teacher’s aid for one of my classes, he actually puts up with me and my magazines." She let out a soft giggle, "But…well, what’d he say? Anything interesting?" She paused, "Did he…do anything interesting?"
Miranda felt her face flush. Goodness Lenalee certainly wasn’t innocent by any means!
"So he did do something. What?" And she was a curious one to boot.
"Well…like I said, h-he helped me put up books." She blinked once, a silent And? Hanging there between them, "And then…he…when he was about to leave, he asked for my name. I-I gave it to him, of course, s-since he gave me his, and," she gripped one of her hands tightly. The one he had kissed, "Then he…kissed my hand."
"Like a gentleman?" she heard the dreamy quality in the girls voice and nodded her head. Lenalee rolled over again, and suddenly she was being dragged down too, on to the bed, "lucky! Like I said he’s nice, especially to women, I mean, I’m…I’m not that interested in him," she could tell that was a half lie, and it made something in her twinge with guilt, "but so many of the girl’s are, even though he seems like a bit of a skirt chaser."
"Can he get away with that, though?" Miranda wondered, relaxing easily in Lenalee’s grip, the girl would never hurt her, she knew that.
"With his grandfather the way he is? Hell no." Then she burst into another fit of giggles, "He’s notorious for showing up at the parties, flirting, but then never doing anything. I’d take a guess that he’s almost gay, you know? Except he doesn’t really show that kind of interest in guys. Unless the right one just hasn’t shown up yet." That deflated her ego a little bit, but a gentle squeeze snapped her out of it, "Don’t worry. Even if he likes guys too, it’s all too possible he's just Bi, and then, well, you’d have a bit more competition-but that doesn’t kick you out of the ruling just yet."
"I-I suppose it doesn’t." Wait…she hadn’t even said-"B-But…um…K-Klaud thinks he was just pulling a prank. She says she…sees him all the time, with…one of his…f-friends."
Recognition again, "That must be Allen," well, she answered that easily enough, "you know Cross is friends with Allen’s foster-father, right? You know about that?"
"I think Klaud’s mentioned it a few times?" again she was unsure, it could just be the wrong person.
"Mm, probably has, she…they don’t get along very well-her and Cross. It wouldn’t surprise me." She paused, staring at the ceiling for a moment, "But yeah, he’s…I guess that’s one guy he actually talks to on a regular basis, um, he helps tutor Allen-in English and in Math. He’s a really good tutor too, y’know? Especially now with the end of the semester in like, two months, especially in English they’re really piling on the work load."
"Really?" Lenalee nodded her head, "They really make you…write that much?"
"Not just writing. Allen hates reading," Miranda deflated a little at that, "But, y’know, Lavi loves to read. I bet when you saw him at the library, he had a stack of books with him, right?" She nodded her head, "Well, since he’s a Senior too, he’s probably already read what we read-even if he’s in an IB class, an’ all-so Allen tries to get him to help with the projects. Lavi doesn’t mind too much, but he tries to get Allen to read the books anyway-since he can’t help with the tests and all-and I think that’s what Allen gets so annoyed with."
"I-Isn’t that…cheating, though?"
"Our English teachers don’t really pay much attention to that." She waved it off easily enough, "Especially Allen’s-I had her too, last semester-" Oh, of course, she almost forgot that Lenalee was a junior. Allen was a year younger. Of course she would know that, "And, well, with her, as long as you don’t plagiarize, you’re pretty much good. She doesn’t really care if you use cheat sheets on the books-or if you look up themes in them. It’s just the papers she cares about."
"W-Well…I do remember writing many of them in…University." She hoped she was being helpful, "So I suppose it’s…to help you."
"Mm," Lenalee nodded her head lightly, "Yeah, she’s also a picky grader too, so Allen needs all the help he can get or else he’ll fail. And Lavi’s…a bit harsh about that. He’s got the mindset to achieve-I mean, I assume that’s the only way he’s been taught, with how far ahead he is of everyone else. Did you know? Because he doubled up on Math one year, and Science another, he has two free class periods a day-though one he goes to the local community college to get his credits for math-but what does he do instead of goof off? Err, well, for one he does, I mean-well, he takes another science class. And the one he’s a Teacher’s Assistant for? My Pre-Cal class. I don’t know what he wants to be when he graduates, or where he wants to go even-but rumor has it, he’s going to Harvard, or Yale, or one of those other top schools."
Miranda’s eyes widened. She hadn’t realized the boy was so smart! Though…of course…it wasn’t right of her to assume he just loved to read, "That’s amazing!"
"Isn’t it?" But there was something bitter there, too, an undertone she couldn’t quite grasp that made her worry, "Can’t help but wonder if he even wants to go to University though, I mean, with the way his Grandfather treats him, he might just, y’know, graduate from High school then disappear for a few years. Get a job, then pay his own way through University." She paused, and a thoughtful silence fell between them for a good couple of minutes.
Miranda didn’t much like silence, "S-So…most of the money is…his Grandfather’s?"
"I guess. Or else it’s his long dead parent’s, left to him when he Graduates. Turns twenty one, or something." Another short pause. A sigh, "Because if he had it when he turned Eighteen, then he’d probably be long gone now." Her expression was sour, lips drawn thin, "I mean, I guess I wasn’t supposed to overhear that conversation, but I was turning in the attendance and I got into a conversation with Mrs. Hearst-you know, Timothy’s mom? The mother of the boy I had to bring over once to babysit?-oh yes, she remembered that darling boy. He had been a bit smart-especially to Bridget and Klaud, but he had been so sweet to her. All smiles and laughs, and he had liked the book she had given him to read. Not that she got it back yet.
"And, well, yeah. She’s the attendance lady, and…I saw Lavi go in-say he was called in…and, um…they were still kinda arguing when he was checked out. He…looked really upset too, so…I can understand why he wouldn’t want to be under his grandfather’s wing for too much longer, much less four years." She sighed, "It really is difficult, isn’t it?"
"I would assume so." She felt herself nod in sympathy. Sympathy to the redhead whom she had just met earlier, whom had been so polite, that it had been surprising, and-and now she was hearing this. It hurt a little, "I hope he gets what he wants in the end."
"It’d be nice, wouldn’t it?"
"Mm," she closed her eyes for a moment, feeling Lenalee lean against her. She must be tired, goodness knows, even if she just worked at the local library-a place that seemed so relaxing-she practically stood all day, except on break, or in the rare chance that she was shelving books in the children’s section, where the shelves were so low you had to sit in order to reach them and not hurt your back. Of course she would be tired.
She felt Lenalee rest a head against her shoulder, and mumble, almost sleepily, "If you run into Lavi again at th’ library…tell him I said ‘hi’, okay?"
"What if he asks how I know you?" After all, normally she wouldn’t know someone so young, "Y-you rarely come by the library either."
Lenalee let out a chuckle, "True, true. Then tell him we live together. Since we do. I think he might actually have my house address. Or at least he has my facebook. Not that I ever go on. Big brother says sites like that are bad."
Miranda thought that over for a moment, and smiled. It was such a big-brother thing to say.
"I don’t think it’s that bad though, y’know? With all the hype on it, an’ all. Like with how Shark Attacks really aren’t that common-you’re more likely to die from a soda pop machine that you are from a shark (1), did you know that? Lavi told me that."
Really?
" Yup. He knows stuff like that. Really amazing too, y’know?" She let out another half-tired giggle, "I never woulda thought of that. Would you?"
"No, it is amazing." She agreed wholeheartedly, and curiously , "You can learn so much from reading things. It’s amazing."
"It is."
And then, like all good things, Miranda knew of, the moment had to end. With a vibrating cell phone, and a sleepy yawn.
"That must be brother." She mumbled, forcing herself up, and extracting her arms from around Miranda’s waist, not that she had moved, nor minded, but she sat up as well. It was almost embarrassing-now that she thought about it-that she had laid there for so long! She needed to get to bed herself, and she needed to reprimand Lenalee for not studying. Or, no, not reprimand. How would she know if the girl was already done?
That was just it, she didn’t.
The sigh, however, drew her attention back to the teen, "Of course," she muttered lowly, before she sighed again, and, after typing a quick message, looked back at Miranda, "He doesn’t realize he’s doing half of what he’s doing. Silly isn’t it?"
Miranda blinked, "He doesn’t?"
"Not a clue." She stared at the screen, and sighed again, "He really is eccentric."
"Really?"
"Really."
A pause, this time, drawn out and awkward.
"How can you two be so different?" because as far as she knew, Lenalee was dependable, she never spazzed out over anything-or if she did, it meant she truly was frazzled-and as far as she knew, the only thing she was currently hooked on was the magazine currently resting in front of the text book she had been pretending to read.
"I ask myself that all the time." Her voice was flat, but loving, "I guess I’ll never know, y’know? But I’ll love him regardless, because he’s my brother, and who can’t love their family?"
The images that hit her then, she tried to push away. Of yelling father’s and mother’s who never said a word, and of sisters-she swallowed, and nodded her head, "Yes. Families are wonderful things." But if she thought hard enough, she could replace her family with a story book one, couldn’t she? Ones who wouldn’t reprimand every little thing.
It reminded her she hadn’t talked to them in so long.
Not that it mattered.
Not that she wanted it to matter. So she kept the smile on her face, and said, as cheerfully as she could muster, "But besides that, it’s getting late, isn’t it?" Lenalee glanced at the phone again, and gasped.
"That late?! And I haven’t even started on my Pre-Cal yet!"
She smiled distantly as the girl scrambled up off the bed, nearly losing her balance as she tripped over the strap to her purse (instead, thankfully, only knocking the contents out. Was that a banana?) to get to her bookbag that leaned against the wall by the door. Fumbling with the zipper she pulled out yet another text book-this one thicker than the one on her bed-and hauled it out.
"You know," she grunted cutely, turning on her heels to face Miranda once more, "If you…y’know…ever need to nail something together, but don’t wanna use a hammer," she held the book up with a smile, "You can always use this."
Miranda let out a chuckle, smiling at the girl’s attempts at humor, "But I wouldn’t want to break what I was nailing!" *
Lenalee looked from her, to the book, and for a moment her stomach dropped. Was the joke too corny? Old fashioned? But she swallowed those questions and waited, pensively, for that moment later when Lenalee laughed, just as cheerfully, "Yeah that’s true. Would you believe me when I say I haven’t even opened this thing yet?"
Yes, yes I would
But then she never did much like text book. Math based ones, anyway. She wasn’t a math person in general, "But I guess you have to now, don’t you?" she wondered as Lenalee walked back over to the bed (thankfully, side-stepping the banana and whatever other contents of her purse), and opened the book.
The numbers made her frown.
"Unfortunately," she sat down next to her, and groaned, "I’m not going to like it though."
"But you have to do it."
Another sigh, "Yeah."
"Th-Then…I should leave." Immediately she stood up, after all, it was getting late. She didn’t want to prevent Lenalee from doing homework, and if she remembered her schedule correctly, Pre-Cal was usually the class she had right before lunch. Or was it right after? Needless to say, even if she didn’t finish tonight, she…well, she would have time, somehow. But just in case.
It left her wondering, too, if she should get more involved in the girl’s life. After all, Klaud knew the girls schedule like the back of her hand, But that’s because she’s the Vice President.
But then that didn’t explain how Bridget-Bridget works for Komui. Komui is Lenalee’s brother, he probably has a copy of her schedule that he needs to have, just in case he needs to pick her up from school.
"Miranda?" Her shoulders tensed immediately at the curious question, "You…okay?"
"F-Fine…just…long day."
"You aren’t thinking about Lavi, are you?" She felt her face flush, but thankfully the girl didn’t see it, "Not that I can blame you but, I don’t know if you’ll see him again. Ah, not to put a damper on your spirits or anything but."
"I understand," she cut her off, all smiles, happy-all smiles-"just…get to your Pre-Cal, even if, um, is it your class before or after lunch?"
"Before."
"So you won’t have much time to do it during your other classes."
The girl was silent for a moment before nodding her head, "Yeah, that’s true. I’ve got a vocab test in English-why we still have them I don’t know, and that’s first period-second period teacher isn’t exactly friendly about us doing homework during class, third I probably could, we’re watching a set of videos-did I tell you that? This one’s supposed to be on Hydrogen Bonds, exciting right?" She more than heard the sarcasm, "Fourth Period…that’s my French 2 class, I think we might have a sub tomorrow, since our teacher’s currently pregnant, and has an appointment, but I really don’t want to push it."
Another sigh.
"I-I’ll leave you alone then, G-Good night."
"Good night." She answered, somehow with the same cheerfulness she always had, and then, and only then was Miranda jealous. Maybe. A little bit.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t be like that. It almost hurt. Just a little, as she slipped out through the door, and into the dimly lit hall. It made her shiver, she never much liked the dark either. But she supposed that didn’t matter now, it wasn’t like she lived on her own in a place that wasn’t friendly.
No. No. No. Being jealous…that was wrong. She tried to smile, and it was able to stick. She had taken the first step and gotten out of that place-on her own free will, two feet, and she was here now, with people who were nice and kind and warm.
When she walked past the bathroom she immediately turned away, though the door was only a crack open, and the bath filled with bubbles, she could still see Bridgets form, relaxing back in the water.
Should I close the door
She took a deep breath and scurried past, two doors down. Left. As she reached her door, however, she heard the familiar sound of Klaud’s boots on the wooden flooring.
"Good lord, Bridge," the familiarity sent another twinge, but then she half expected it, "If you’re taking a bath, close the door. We have a minor living in our house."
Well, at least Klaud was willing to be brave enough.
"What? We’re all women here!"
"My case in point."
Even if, really, it didn’t make much sense. Miranda didn’t want to think too hard on that, though, as she quickly worked the doorknob, and forced the door open. Thankfully she slipped through before she heard the sound of a door closing. Before she heard the now oddly muffled voice of Klaud and-
She really didn’t want to think about what that meant. She just leaned against the door, and, well, listened. Nearly cursed her good hearing when, after a solid ten minutes, the door opened and closed again. Two loud voices now. Arguing.
"And I keep saying-"
"Did the bath do you any good?"
Intake of breath. They stopped in front of her room, but that was easy, because Bridget’s room was right across from hers. It was only natural.
"Well…yes."
"Then stop arguing and get some clothes on. I know you love to show off, but-at least Miranda didn’t see you! You know how she is!"
How I am
Maybe she was glad for once that someone knew. It was embarrassing, after all!
"And Lenalee too! If she hadn’t been studying and came out, then what?"
"Then what?" Bridget parroted back, too playful, too familiar. She heard another door slam a moment later, and then Klaud sighed.
"At least she’s feeling better." She heard her murmur, before her steps turned away, back down the hall, to her own room at the front of the house, by the kitchen. It was safe to not listen now, so she didn’t. She moved over to her bed-nice soft comforter, black, fluffy, with grey pillows, grey curtains. Maybe she needed a make over. Maybe she didn’t. She liked the somber colors.
The polka dots were bold, weren’t they? But they were only sheets. Hardly anyone but her saw them-she flushed at the thought-like anyone should-and she kicked her shoes off, falling back on the bed, to stare up at the ceiling. At the light she had forgotten to turn off when she left this morning, or maybe that Klaud knew to turn on for her.
She smiled, distantly, at the thought.
It was so nice to be home. To be at a place where they knew what you liked and what you didn’t without you having to say a word. She closed her eyes and curled up on her side.
Yes
…Home.
-------------------
(1)-
True fact is truthful. Yes, Marine Science is fun.
*- My roommate said something akin to this when we were nailing together a cubby/tv stand. I replied with much more dead-pan sarcasm, though. (than Miranda did XD) it was nice to be home.? ? But no. No she wouldn’t. If it was open that meant she had left it open on purpose. Not that she would expect anyone, right? Right.