Home Room/ Study Hall

[GGJ5]

The day starts out with home room, and halfway through the day, just after lunch, students return to home room for a period of study hall. Of course, both classes are huge jokes. Although you can do your schoolwork or study, it doesn't mean it'll get done. As long as the noise level is moderately low, Mrs. Sampere won't say a word. Though if you disturb her secondary planning periods with too much chaos, she will crack down and resort to the old write-lines-in-the-hall discipline. Despite the fact that this isn't taken too kindly by the administration.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie had arrived at school early, hoping to catch Erin the second she came into homeroom. She hadn't had a chance to talk to her really since the phone call, and her mind had already worked out about a billion complicated scenarios over what had happened to her. Every few seconds she checked the doorway, then the clock on the wall, hoping to spot Erin and pounce before someone else did.

Come on...where are you? I seriously need to talk to you, Erin...I need to figure out what the hell you thought you were doing, first of all, and...I just need to talk to you?

As she waited, Cassie let her mind drift off towards Shelby, who hadn't woken up with her alarm that morning and had still been sleeping when Cassie had left with her mom on Kristen's way to work. Kristen hadn't seem too worried, but Cassie was--it wasn't like Shelby to sleep so late on a school day. Sure, there was always some grumbling--sometimes Cassie's dad had had to do the age old steal-the-covers-away trick, or ice cube down the back, but Shelby had always at least been ready to go to school on time. Adele, their cook, had promised to take Shelby once she woke up, but Cassie still wasn't sure. She was about to take out her phone and risk detention by calling home to see if Shelby had woken up yet when she saw movement in the doorway.

She stood up. "There you are!"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

The bad news first, Erin thought to herself. You stupidly smashed your head in and got a concussion. Parents freaked, albeit quietly. Then you get suspended for sleeping in class and willful disobedience too many times. Parents both freaked and disappointed. License-getting put on hold until I can prove myself 'worthy' and 'responsible', which will probably be when I'm like... twenty. And then I sneak out while grounded and suspended and waste my night on Bourbon Street and couldn't help but tell that to them so they wouldn't think Yukito was the bad guy... And she couldn't count --or rather, she really would rather not think about the number-- of punishments laden upon her head for the next dozen or so weeks. Involving an indefinite ban of her acquiring a driver's permit, much less a license. And no phone until further notice. Since her actual phone was currently AWOL anyway. Gotta get out of that habit of leaving my things everywhere... And very limited, very regulated outings with her boyfriend. Which sucked more than the no-driving thing... it felt like she'd been away from him forever, and now that they were really together again, Erin had to be the stupid idiot that got herself under practical parole.

However... the good news was that she had Yukito to be with again, even if only with crazy regulations and new rules from the parents. But it really was all worth it, because finally she could breathe again. Finally she could look at him and smile again, and it was like everything was right. Sort of, actually, like everything was better. Because they knew each other more. Things were a little more real now. They were more real. And it was beautiful.

Unfortunately, that beauty had to be framed by school. The break --erm, suspension-- was completely botched by the residual concussion effects and her melancholic attitude and capped with her little party adventure. And now she was back, her grades having dropped farther from the inability to earn make-up points since a suspension was unexcused, getting the "disappointed teacher" look --and sometimes lecture-- from her teachers. It's like she was a target for it, too, since her dad was friends with a bunch of them. Kind of sucked, really. Like she wanted more people hovering over her, reminding her how she kept botching things, especially academically.

At least homeroom would be a break.

Or so she'd thought.

"There you are!" Cassie called as soon as Erin's toe crossed the doorway. But it wasn't a "oh, I missed you the past couple of days here, and yay, you're back!" type of call, it was a "I have a bone to pick with you, kid," type, and Erin resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the less-than-cheerful greeting. Instead she cocked an eyebrow in Cassie's direction and asked, "Who spit in your grits this morning? Nice to see you, too..." And by the way, me and Yukito are really together this time, try not to be too excited for me.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Erin raised one eyebrow at Cassie's gruff greeting. Well, what were you expecting, me to forget the whole thing ever happened? To act like I wasn't worried? To welcome you back with a cake and streamers? God, Erin, have you met me?

"Who spit in your grits this morning? Nice to see you, too..." Erin said, a touch of snarkiness in her voice. Cassie ignored the jab. "Yeah, hi. I'm just wondering what exactly got into your head the other night, and why you chose to do whatever the heck you did--which I'm not even sure what you did, by the way, because I haven't, you know heard from you or Yukito since the night you decided to go all Grey's Anatomy on me and go to a bar to cope with relationship issues. What the heck, Erin?! I never thought you would do something like that. I mean, not saying you're stupid or anything, but...but what were you thinking?! Your phone call almost killed me--in fact, nothing will probably ever surprise me again because of that. Every time something unexpected happens I'll just shrug and say, 'Not as good as the Erin Incident'."

With a sigh, she sat down at her desk, looking up at Erin. "I just don't know why you didn't call me or something before you did that. And...there was something else..." Ah, well. I'll remember it later.

She shrugged and stood up, wrapping Erin in a hug. "How are you, anyway?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Who spit in your grits this morning? Nice to see you, too..."

Cassie bolted on, unfazed. "Yeah, hi. I'm just wondering what exactly got into your head the other night, and why you chose to do whatever the heck you did--which I'm not even sure what you did, by the way, because I haven't, you know heard from you or Yukito since the night you decided to go all Grey's Anatomy on me and go to a bar to cope with relationship issues. What the heck, Erin?! I never thought you would do something like that. I mean, not saying you're stupid or anything, but...but what were you thinking?! Your phone call almost killed me--in fact, nothing will probably ever surprise me again because of that. Every time something unexpected happens I'll just shrug and say, 'Not as good as the Erin Incident'."

She felt floored, taken aback by the unexpected bombardment that poured from Cassie. She'd expected a reaction from her parents, but that Cassie would still be so flustered by it all hadn't even occurred to her. And now it just seemed... weird. Her brow furrowed and her face fell, eyes shifting away from Cassie. "I didn't mean to call you, then, Cassie... It just happened that way. If I would've been thinking more I wouldn't have done that to you... I didn't think it would mean anything at the time, it just seemed... fun... I guess." She shrugged, not ignorant to the weakness of her argument. "And it wasn't a bar," she added lamely. "It was a club." As if that will make any difference.

With a sigh, Cassie resigned herself to her desk and looked up at Erin, who was half-sitting on the writing part of the desk across from her. "I just don't know why you didn't call me or something before you did that. And...there was something else..."

Now Erin sighed, only briefly meeting Cassie's eyes before she looked down at her knees and shrugged. "I didn't wanna load you down with more of my crap... I know it's stupid, but it made sense at the time... Yukito had just come over to apologize and stuff and I was confused because I thought I still wanted to be mad at him and that he would just hurt me all over again, and I felt all... torn and stuff, I guess... I dunno, I just felt, like... really... overwhelmed, and I didn't wanna make you listen to all that again when you have way more important things... I know it sounds stupid now, so you don't have to tell me."

Out of nowhere, Erin found Cassie hugging her as she asked, "How are you, anyway?"

Erin looked at Cassie for a second, a faint smile echoing her confusion. "I'm... good, I think... Cassie, are you mad at me or not?" She sighed again, shifting on the desk so that she sat backwards on the writing part, her feet on the seat. "I guess you probably wanna know what all happened, then, huh... since I freaked you out like that..." She smiled wryly.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Erin gave a heavy sigh, averting her eyes before she replied. "I didn't wanna load you down with more of my crap... I know it's stupid, but it made sense at the time..." Cassie echoed Erin's sigh. "Why? I can handle it, Erin...just because of what happened with me doesn't mean I can't..." she trailed off, unable to think of just how to finish that sentence as Erin continued. "Yukito had just come over to apologize and stuff and I was confused because I thought I still wanted to be mad at him and that he would just hurt me all over again, and I felt all... torn and stuff, I guess... I dunno, I just felt, like... really... overwhelmed, and I didn't wanna make you listen to all that again when you have way more important things... I know it sounds stupid now, so you don't have to tell me."

Cassie raised her eyebrows, surprised. "Yukito came over? Why didn't you tell me?" God, Erin...why can't you just talk to me? I've tried to tell you, just because I've got issues of my own doesn't mean I can't necessarily help you with yours...or talk about them or anything...To be honest, that's the part I find stupid! Not the going out part, not the forgetting about Yukito part, not the wanting to feel better part...I want to do the same thing sometimes. When I'm at home at night and Mom's out and Shelby's being a hermit and I'm all alone...and the house was never so scary before Dad left, it never was. Now I feel like it's just collapsing around me all the time, and it's scary...No, I don't blame you for wanting to forget about it for a little while...but why didn't you call me? I could have helped...

"I would have tried to help if you had just talked to me," she said softly.

Not knowing what else to do, she gave Erin a hug, asking if she was okay. She smiled at the look of confusion that came over Erin's face at this. Well, what do you expect? I suck at yelling at people... Erin gave an uncertain smile. "I'm... good, I think... Cassie, are you mad at me or not?"

Cassie grinned. "Um...both?"

"I guess you probably wanna know what all happened, then, huh... since I freaked you out like that..."

Cassie nodded. "Yes, please! You only had me worrying all night afterwards...I called Yukito and ordered him to save you, I think...if I don't remember a lot it was because it was really late and I was exhausted...and then I called Aidousan, who came over at like three in the morning or something to come be with me...which was really nice of him, by the way..." She smiled a bit, remembering how he had given her his jacket and listened to her freaking out. You're one in a million, Aidousan. Thanks a lot. "And...yeah. So what happened?

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

When Cassie asserted that just because of her own problems, it didn't mean she couldn't be there for Erin's, too, she only shrugged in response. Cassie didn't get it--how it would just be mean and wrong and thoughtless of her to load her own petty crap on someone with real issues to deal with. Just because it was something that was huge to Erin didn't mean it was really huge, she knew that, and believed it. She couldn't make Cassie put up with all that, too, even if she was big enough for the both of them-- what kind of friend would that make her? "Here, you totally don't have enough garbage in your life, have some of mine! Pay attention to me while I whine about my life, when yours is so much more screwed!"

She couldn't explain that. Not without sounding like a heartless jerk. So she continued on with her other explanation: "Yukito had just come over to apologize and stuff and I was confused because I thought I still wanted to be mad at him and that he would just hurt me all over again, and I felt all... torn and stuff, I guess... I dunno, I just felt, like... really... overwhelmed, and I didn't wanna make you listen to all that again when you have way more important things... I know it sounds stupid now, so you don't have to tell me."

This news seemed to surprise Cassie, who quickly started, "Yukito came over? Why didn't you tell me?"

"He didn't do anything wrong, Cassie," Erin replied defensively. "What was there to tell? All he did was apologize, and I just... over-thought it all or something. Or under-thought, I dunno." I dunno, Cassie, I'm stupid nd stupid people do stupid things, okay? That's how it works. Even I get that.

"I would have tried to help if you had just talked to me," responded Cassie timidly, and Erin's face fell.

"I know you would've," she echoed, shifting again on the desk. "I didn't mean to do that to you, really."

By way of response, Cassie gave Erin a hug, asking her how she was with it all anyway, the warm action contrasting starkly with the cool Cassie that had greeted her moments ago. "I'm... good, I think... Cassie, are you mad at me or not?"

Cassie grinned. "Um...both?"

Now it was Erin's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Okay, then," she drawled out slowly, trying to figure how she could be both at the same time. She didn't try to figure it for long, though, and said to Cassie, "I guess you probably wanna know what all happened, then, huh... since I freaked you out like that..."

Cassie nodded. "Yes, please! You only had me worrying all night afterwards...I called Yukito and ordered him to save you, I think...if I don't remember a lot it was because it was really late and I was exhausted...and then I called Aidousan, who came over at like three in the morning or something to come be with me...which was really nice of him, by the way... And...yeah. So what happened?"

She sighed, sliding down to sit kneeling in the desk, turned backwards now and facing Cassie. She hadn't actually sat and thought back on all that stuff yet... it wasn't one of her most proud moments, and she only liked to think of the parts with Yukito, anyway, so Erin had to stay quiet for a minute to find the right starting place. "We were supposed to all get together for band stuff, and I've been sorta not paying attention to that, you know, whatever, so the others have taken to calling me to convince me to come and at least give my input if I didn't wanna play or anything... and I just kinda got to talking with Trent about it and we planned on me sneaking out and meeting up with him that night and he'd just take me out for a while to get away from it, 'cause he said I was too gloomy and into myself and it was weird and he didn't like it and stuff, you know? That it wasn't good for me and whatever, so..." she shrugged again. It all sounded so stupid now, like something ripped from a canceled TV show or something.

"I did wanna go out, though, and I liked having a reason to think of something besides me and Yukito, but I didn't mean to drink so much... Really, I didn't think I did." Another shrug. "I dunno if I told you but one time me and a couple of others snuck some wine from a wedding and I got tipsy way before anyone else, so I guess I have like... whatever that's called, like... low tolerance or whatever, and I didn't think about it, is all.

"I called Yukito... I think it was before I called you, but I don't really know... and I think I told him I loved him, and... other stuff..." It was hard to tell now, having been a couple of days and the fact that it all was mixed up and half-dreamlike in her head, and Erin didn't feel comfortable with that. "Anyway, I guess it was pretty obvious to him where I was, because he came and got me..." A smile rose to her face as she thought about that. He came and got me. Like a rescuer. So romantic... "Trent was with me, though, so it's not like I was with a total stranger, but... Yukito... I think he got into a fight with him or something... I don't--" Wait... oh my god, did I really set myself up for that? He was holding me in his arms like that when Yukito came, wasn't he? And he was... "Oh my god, he was flirting with me. Like, a lot, too... He's a flirt to anyone, but that wasn't..." She grimaced at the thought-- it was just wrong-- she didn't want that at all-- she wanted just Yukito chasing after her, not.... no, not friends, especially people in her band-- that would ruin everything! "Bastard," she grumbled, more to herself than Cassie.

"Yukito made him leave and he took me home, but to his home, because he didn't want me going to my home like that, even though it's not like I could hide it from them very long anyway, but he tried and...." The smile returned, eyes those of a daydreamer as she recalled waking up to see his face, to feel his arm safe around her. "He's perfect, Cassie," she announced breezily. "He let me fall asleep beside him and stayed there with me until I woke again, and took care of me when I felt so bad, and made me smile, and held me, and hugged me, and kissed me, and--" She paused, running short on words to describe the happiness that threatened to spill over, and rested her chin on her hands, which she folded onto Cassie's desk. "He said he loved me, and I know, know, know he means it, and he's so beautiful when he's asleep, Cassie; when I woke up he was right there asleep, keeping me, and it was so..." She sighed. "I have to be in love."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Erin gave another sigh, one that would have rivaled one of Shelby's for depressingness. Please stop that. Don't sigh anymore. I get enough of that at home...Can we have a No-Sigh Zone, please? Kind of like a No-Fly Zone? Oh, god, I'm such a dork...I don't know why people even put up with me...

Erin spoke. "We were supposed to all get together for band stuff, and I've been sorta not paying attention to that, you know, whatever, so the others have taken to calling me to convince me to come and at least give my input if I didn't wanna play or anything... and I just kinda got to talking with Trent about it and we planned on me sneaking out and meeting up with him that night and he'd just take me out for a while to get away from it, 'cause he said I was too gloomy and into myself and it was weird and he didn't like it and stuff, you know? That it wasn't good for me and whatever, so..."

Cassie nodded, wracking her brain trying to figure out which one of Erin's band mates was Trent. She didn't blame him for wanting to help Erin, but she wanted to be able to place him in a crowd in case she saw him. Because there was no way he was going to walk away without getting a piece of Cassie's mind about his stupidity. He probably doesn't even realize how dangerous and ridiculous what he did could have been...I mean, his heart was in the right place, but...he's not number one on my list right now, that's for sure.

"I sort of get his point," she mused, more to herself than Erin as Erin continued. "He's right, it wasn't very good for you, but...think about it, it could have been so much worse. Just look at..." My sister. "...other people."

"I did wanna go out, though, and I liked having a reason to think of something besides me and Yukito, but I didn't mean to drink so much... Really, I didn't think I did." Erin shrugged. "I dunno if I told you but one time me and a couple of others snuck some wine from a wedding and I got tipsy way before anyone else, so I guess I have like... whatever that's called, like... low tolerance or whatever, and I didn't think about it, is all."

Cassie gave a little smirk at this. "I'm the same way, believe me...ask me about my brother's graduation party. Yeah, not my finest hour. If witnesses are to be believed, I went up and shouted Shakespeare lines from the widow's walk of my house." She shook her head. "It was freshman year, and we had just finished reading Romeo and Juliet in school." She looked away. "Just thinking about it makes me want to kill myself."

"I called Yukito... I think it was before I called you, but I don't really know... and I think I told him I loved him, and... other stuff..." Cassie's eyes widened at this revelation but she said nothing. She tried to remember if Yukito had mentioned Erin calling him during their brief conversation, but she couldn't. "Anyway, I guess it was pretty obvious to him where I was, because he came and got me...Trent was with me, though, so it's not like I was with a total stranger, but...Yukito... I think he got into a fight with him or something... I don't--"

"He did what?" Cassie asked incredulously. Seriously?! Yukito punched him? Oh god...this is so much worse than I thought...

Erin seemed to have come to some sort of realization as well, for she said, "Oh my god, he was flirting with me. Like, a lot, too... He's a flirt to anyone, but that wasn't..." She trailed off before tacking on "Bastard," as an afterthought. My sentiments exactly, Cassie thought.

"Yukito made him leave and he took me home, but to his home, because he didn't want me going to my home like that, even though it's not like I could hide it from them very long anyway, but he tried and...." Erin beamed, then, looking for the first time in a long time like the person she had been before the breakup and the dance. "He's perfect, Cassie. He let me fall asleep beside him and stayed there with me until I woke again, and took care of me when I felt so bad, and made me smile, and held me, and hugged me, and kissed me, and--"

AWWWW! Just....AWWWWWWW! This is so great! I'm so happy for them! I mean, the whole getting drunk and fighting thing sucks, but if it actually helped them see they can't live without each other...

"He said he loved me, and I know, know, know he means it, and he's so beautiful when he's asleep, Cassie; when I woke up he was right there asleep, keeping me, and it was so...I have to be in love."

Although Cassie tried, she couldn't hold back her excited, high-pitched shriek. She hugged Erin again. "Oh my god, Erin! That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard--I'm so happy for you guys!" She laughed. "See, maybe things like that are meant to happen or something. Maybe there are some people who can actually get the whole loving somebody thing right." She pretended to pout for a second. "But now I guess I'll just have to be a crazy old cat lady by myself...you selfish thing, ruining all my plans with your freaking happiness..." She grinned again. "But I'll survive. Just make me your maid of honor and invite me over to eat yummy Japanese food every so often so I won't be totally alone all the time."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Cassie snickered a bit at Erin's weak excuse for having drank too much, and she felt like she'd just hit a new level of stupid until her friend explained, "I'm the same way, believe me...ask me about my brother's graduation party. Yeah, not my finest hour. If witnesses are to be believed, I went up and shouted Shakespeare lines from the widow's walk of my house." She shook her head, but really it kind of helped to know Erin wasn't the only one that was so... weak? "It was freshman year, and we had just finished reading Romeo and Juliet in school." Erin cracked a smile at that, though Cassie didn't see-- she wasn't looking at her. "Just thinking about it makes me want to kill myself."

"Aww," Erin said through a chuckle. "At least it was smart-people type stuff you rambled about-- it could've been way worse. Nah, I just get to be louder, clumsi[/i]er, and clingy... er.

"I called Yukito... I think it was before I called you, but I don't really know... and I think I told him I loved him, and... other stuff... Anyway, I guess it was pretty obvious to him where I was, because he came and got me...Trent was with me, though, so it's not like I was with a total stranger, but...Yukito... I think he got into a fight with him or something... I don't--"

"He did what?" Cassie put in, apparently way more taken aback by that than anything else that might have happened.

Erin thought about that, too, not sure if it was just a smack to his face or a full-blown fight, and she reran the images through her memory. "Oh my god, he was flirting with me. Like, a lot, too... He's a flirt to anyone, but that wasn't..." She trailed off before tacking on "Bastard." I thought he was my friend, too... This doesn't bode well at all!! She frowned at the thoughts.

"Yukito made him leave and he took me home, but to his home, because he didn't want me going to my home like that, even though it's not like I could hide it from them very long anyway, but he tried and...." Her downturned face shifted dramatically as the thought of waking next to his peaceful face surfaced in her mind. She beamed as she told her dreamily, "He's perfect, Cassie. He let me fall asleep beside him and stayed there with me until I woke again, and took care of me when I felt so bad, and made me smile, and held me, and hugged me, and kissed me, and--" She sighed, this time very happily. "He said he loved me, and I know, know, know he means it, and he's so beautiful when he's asleep, Cassie; when I woke up he was right there asleep, keeping me, and it was so...I have to be in love."

Suddenly Cassie let out an excited squeal, attacking Erin in an elated hug. Erin's dreamy smile split into a wider smile from which a bright laugh emerged. That was more like it, that was what she'd hoped to hear. "Oh my god, Erin! That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard--I'm so happy for you guys!" She laughed, and Erin laughed with her-- "Me too!"

"See, maybe things like that are meant to happen or something. Maybe there are some people who can actually get the whole loving somebody thing right." Cassie pouted, and Erin wasn't sure if she was supposed to take her seriously or not-- for a moment she felt kind of bad about it, and her face faltered briefly. However, Cassie proved her lighthearted mood remained with, "But now I guess I'll just have to be a crazy old cat lady by myself...you selfish thing, ruining all my plans with your freaking happiness..." Cassie's smile was contagious-- not that it took much to make her smile at the moment.

"Noo, no cat lady! It's illegal!"

Cassie grinned again. "But I'll survive. Just make me your maid of honor and invite me over to eat yummy Japanese food every so often so I won't be totally alone all the time."

It was probably impossible for Erin's own smile to get much bigger. "Totally!" She laughed, remembering how Yukito constantly insisted how horrible he was in the kitchen and his little aid for breakfast, and she said, "If you don't mind lots of onions!"

She smiled another smile, though more daydreamy than the laughing one. "Our names do sound good together, don't they?" She giggled, herself elated, and an idea struck her. "And now I miss him." She turned conspiratorially to Cassie and said lowly, "Hey! What do you think if I say I'm going to the restroom and go see him instead? It'd only be for a minute anyway, and can you imagine his face?" She smiled brightly.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Noo, no cat lady! It's illegal!" Erin protested. Cassie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Not for me. I'm too awesome." And too pathetic. You just wait, Erin. At this rate I'm gonna be like a maiden aunt in a Jane Austen movie or something. Not that that would be so bad, I guess, but... "But I'll survive. Just make me your maid of honor and invite me over to eat yummy Japanese food every so often so I won't be totally alone all the time."

Erin beamed at her, the person she had been before the dance blowout coming out of hiding at last. It was if the events after Halloween hadn't happened at all, and everything was just as it had been before. Which it sort of was, although Cassie knew in her heart that it would be different this time around. Her friends had learned something from this, something that certainly wouldn't be forgotten any time soon. Everything's almost the way it used to be. Everything's good now. I wonder what it would take for something like this to happen for my parents? For Shelby?

"Totally!" Erin said with another laugh. "If you don't mind lots of onions!" Cassie gave a shrug at this. "Onions? Sure."

Erin smiled once again, but in truth she seemed far away from the walls of the classroom and their current conversation. "Our names do sound good together, don't they?"

Cassie gave a mischievous grin. "Yeeeees...Erin and Yukito. Yukito and Erin. Yukito and Erin Maki. Mrs. Yukito Maki..." She grabbed a notebook out of Erin's bag and began to scribble a few of the names she mentioned on the cover as she talked. "Simply marvelous."

"And now I miss him. Hey! What do you think if I say I'm going to the restroom and go see him instead? It'd only be for a minute anyway, and can you imagine his face?"[/b]

If this had been any other day, Cassie would have told Erin to do just that--if she had a death wish. Now, she just shrugged. "I say go for it. I'll cover for you--But only if you promise to never do anything like that again. Deal?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Totally!" Erin replied with a laugh to Cassie's remark. "If you don't mind lots of onions!" Unaware of the background to that comment, Cassie just shrugged. "Onions? Sure."

Another laugh. "Okay, I have to tell you, like, forever ago he told me how he couldn't cook worth crap and is always going on about how he can't even boil water or whatever, right? So, okay, his mom started making breakfast for us and he went to help her and just chopped up the onions for her, sooo, logically, that must mean the only thing Yukito will ever do in the kitchen is cut up onions!" She paused for a moment in pretend-thought. "Unless I'm there to help him..." Her mind conjured up scenarios of them together in the kitchen, attempting to cook together and reeking havoc in the process. She smiled through her daydream and commented airily, "Our names do sound good together, don't they?"

Smiling impishly, Cassie slowly drew out, "Yeeeees...Erin and Yukito. Yukito and Erin. Yukito and Erin Maki. Mrs. Yukito Maki..." Erin grinned brightly at the names, even though in the past she'd gawked at girls who stuck their names to their boyfriends'. But it was different with her, because she actually was in love, so it was fun to dream and play around like that. Because it was just right.

Cassie plucked Erin's notebook out of her bag and started doodling the various words across its cover. "Simply marvelous," she commented dramatically as Erin grinned at the labels. Then, "Hey, wait! I'm supposed to be doing that." With a playful expression, Erin whisked the pen out of her friend's hand and started her own doodling, hearts and treble clefs and other such things she'd previously marked as lame and cheesy as she explained to Cassie, "I can't have my boyfriend's name all over in your handwriting!" She colored in the star she'd drawn between their names with a black pen.

"And now I miss him. Hey!" she started excitedly. "What do you think if I say I'm going to the restroom and go see him instead? It'd only be for a minute anyway, and can you imagine his face?"

To Erin's pleasant surprise, Cassie shrugged. "I say go for it. I'll cover for you--But only if you promise to never do anything like that again. Deal?"

After letting out a delighted squeal at her friend's consent-- even though she would have gone anyway without it-- Erin gave Cassie a quick hug and told her, "You're the best, Cassie, thank you! But you know I can't promise that!" She skipped over to and out the door without a word to respond to the irritated questions of her teacher: "Where are you going, Erin?" Out the door, louder: "Erin Spenser, we have hall passes for a reason!"

Still smiling, she turned the corner of the hall and broke into a run.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

He'd been sitting silently at his desk way earlier than he needed to be in home room, everyone around him talking or shouting out hello to their friends. Yukito just sat, his fingers tapping out a beat on the desk's top, a little smile on his face. He wasn't going to tell anyone here about what it was that made him look like he'd just gotten away with something really nasty or found out he'd just made a hundred dollars for smiling into the camera. Nope, not him. He would celebrate silently, like he was meant to. Erin Spenser is my girlfriend again, and not yours, you suckers! And I'm not gonna screw this up. He tried to make himself sober down a little bit from this, since he had to think. He had to focus on something besides the boxing session going on with his intestines, and keep in mind that however good this felt right now, he couldn't screw it up this time. I should talk to her about stuff. I shouldn't hide things. I need to remind her what I feel about her is real, and it's not like the other gossipy, drama-queen stuff you get in high school...

And he looked up and stared off with a glazed expression on his face, a ghost of a smile still on his lips. His eyes settled on the doorway, as if he was expecting someone very important to come through. And so she did. He didn't know if that was normal or not, but it was like he had known she was coming through. No, that's lame and very Hollywood. Just stop now and you might save some face.

He stood up slowly and sent her a smirk, "Hey, there, gorgeous," he said quietly to her, moving towards her and automatically wrapping his arms around her shoulders. His nose touched hers gently, and he kissed her by way of additional greeting. "I keep reaching for my phone to text you, but I don't think that'll work right now." A little sigh escaped him, and he started to sway a little back and forth while holding her, "So what brings you here? You didn't get moved up in grades or anything did you?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

She stopped just inside the other classroom door and smiled, pleasantly surprised to see Yukito already looking her way. Like he knew. It made her feel special to him.

Before his teacher could say anything, Erin told her that she had a note to give to Yukito Maki from one of his teachers. The excuse seemed to satisfy her, since she didn't stop Yukito from getting out of his seat and coming to Erin at the door. She stepped back across the threshold, intending to pass on the fictional message privately.

"Hey, there, gorgeous," he greeted her en route, smirking charmingly. Yukito stepped next to her, naturally putting his arms around her, touching his nose to hers, Erin still beaming over his compliment-slash-greeting. He gave her a kiss, reviving Erin's smile once more. I'm so lucky to be here with you.. people dream of this, you know? "Hi, kareshi," she answered, arms around his waist. "That didn't count to my dozen, did it? 'Cause that was a hello-kiss, and those don't count."

"I keep reaching for my phone to text you, but I don't think that'll work right now."

"Aww," Erin gave a little pout. "I miss texting you." A little sigh escaped him, and Yukito rocked a little back and forth, still keeping Erin in his arms. Hmm... this is love, she thought to herself, smiling at him in the same manner she'd smiled when she'd talked to Cassie about him earlier. "So what brings you here? You didn't get moved up in grades or anything did you?"

Erin let out a giggle. "Yeah, they rewarded my suspension with senior status so they'd be done with me sooner." She pulled closer so she could put her head on him and added, "I just wanted to see you, that's all. Cassie made me explain why I called her in the middle of the night, and so I got to talking about you, and then I missed you, so I left to come visit you." She looked up at him with a proud and bright expression.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Hi, kareshi," she wrapped her arms around his waist, and he smiled, "That didn't count to my dozen, did it? 'Cause that was a hello-kiss, and those don't count."

He stopped to think about this one for a moment, staring off into the distance above and behind her for awhile. "Hm.....I guess it doesn't. Because hello-kisses don't count." So he kissed her again to make sure he got a chance to get to all twelve kisses before they got distracted. "What number was that again?" he asked breathlessly.

"I keep reaching for my phone to text you, but I don't think that'll work right now."

"Aww," Erin gave a little pout, a gesture he loved. "I miss texting you." He nodded to assure her he felt the same, starting to rock her back and forth in his arms to the beat of the music in his head. 'Gosh, that dumb song is so catchy....'I can't be too late, to say I was so wrong...'

"So what brings you here? You didn't get moved up in grades or anything did you?" he questioned her, and received a giggle in return for his curiosity.

"Yeah, they rewarded my suspension with senior status so they'd be done with me sooner." She pulled him closer, "I just wanted to see you, that's all. Cassie made me explain why I called her in the middle of the night, and so I got to talking about you, and then I missed you, so I left to come visit you." She sent him one of those prize-winning smiles that lit up her face, and Yukito couldn't help smiling in return.

"Well, that's --"

"Maki! If you would care to join us!" came a serious voice, barking over the din of the class to call him back over. Yukito rolled his eyes, since the teacher couldn't see.

Then he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I'll see you later, then?" another kiss, "That was a goodbye-kiss, so it doesn't count to your dozen." He met her eyes, and was distracted for a few moments staring into her large, expressive brown eyes. "I love you."

Then he smiled, "Now go, before you get suspended again or something."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"That didn't count to my dozen, did it?" Erin asked, linking her arms about him. "'Cause that was a hello-kiss, and those don't count."

Yukito seemed to consider this for a minute, staring up past her until she rolled her eyes with a smile at his slow response. "Hm.....I guess it doesn't. Because hello-kisses don't count." She smiled at that, falling easily into the second kiss until he parted and asked airily, "What number was that again?"

"Three," Erin lied with a grin. But we can start over if you want, she thought, and nearly said so when Yukito commented, "I keep reaching for my phone to text you, but I don't think that'll work right now."

"Aww, I miss texting you." Yukito just nodded, swaying with her in his arms a little; it made her smile as she briefly wondered at what was in his head.

"So what brings you here? You didn't get moved up in grades or anything did you?"

Erin gave a little laugh in response to that. "Yeah, they rewarded my suspension with senior status so they'd be done with me sooner." She pulled him closer. "I just wanted to see you, that's all. Cassie made me explain why I called her in the middle of the night, and so I got to talking about you, and then I missed you, so I left to come visit you." She looked up at him brightly to see him smiling back at her. God, how amazing he looked when he smiled like that... I wish you would smile like that more often, Yukito. I love it when I see you like this.

"Well, that's--" he started, but was cut of by the sound of a curt voice demanding his return. And promptly. Erin sent a glower towards the classroom-- how rude, interrupting them like that.

Yukito rolled his eyes before whispering to Erin, "I'll see you later, then?" He gave her another kiss before quickly adding, "That was a goodbye-kiss, so it doesn't count to your dozen."

"Good," she replied, chin up with a lithe smile. He was looking back at her, too, and it was better than anything plastic-y Hollywood played at when he broke the silence with an honest, "I love you."

Oh, didn't he know how much that made her want to stay with him more? To keep her arms about him and to give him three times the kisses and to stay right there beside him until her legs gave way? Oh, and then he'd carry her, her arms around his neck, and it really wasn't a bad idea at all... She hugged her cheek next to his by her hand in his hair and, trying in vain to keep her voice low, squealed out, "I love you, too!" She pulled back so she could watch his face.

He smiled again, to her joy. "Now go, before you get suspended again or something."

She held his hands in hers, lingering as long as she could, then impulsively pressed her lips to his once again. Unfortunately, just as his teacher, impatient, opened the door into the hallway, and Erin disgruntledly parted, dropping her hands limp. "Last I checked, this wasn't the Love Shack. Back in class," was the curt expression to Yukito. And to Erin, "Both of you just earned detention. And a write-up is going to your father, Erin." Turning back to the class, Erin didn't miss the comment, "She'll be the death of him."

"Sorry," Erin muttered to Yukito before she left. A smile grew on her face again, though, as she added, "Bye, kareshi!"

Back in her own class, Erin's grin remained as she dropped back in a seat beside Cassie. "I'm back!" she announced to her friend breathlessly.