Tuesday, July 14, 2009

A Smile and A Blush: Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not use big words and I do not own Bleach. Also, I do not have beta reader.


Just one look at the girl with her dirty sneakers and secondhand clothes, you will know that she does not belong in this school where most of its inhabitants are covered from head to toe with designer clothes, shoe, bags, you name it.

However she carries herself with an air of dignity. She does not give a damn about the things people think or talk about her. She knows she has to work thrice as hard just to get accepted in this school, not only academic wise but in actual term of working too. She has her regular day job to pay for the school fees and is working two part time jobs during the night for the books and other expenses.

So she is really looking forward for lunch break because it is the only time that she can relax. She stretches her leg and leans her weight on the tree trunk. She closes her eyes, hoping that she can steal a wink or two before the school bell rings again indicating the end of lunch break. She likes this particular spot, where nobody disturbs her as the tree provides shade from the glaring morning sun.

“Rukia!”

Well, nobody except for this guy.

Rukia ignores him.

“Hey Rukia!”

“What it is Renji?” asks Rukia without opening her eyes. She does not bother to disguises her annoyed tone either.

She had met Renji last two summers at the place she was working at. He came to the restaurant every single day and always left big tips if she was the one who attended to him. She got teased a lot because of it but she needed the money so she just ignored the jeers from the other older waitresses and continued with her job.

So imagined her shock when she saw him at the school the first day she was here. Renji on the other hand seemed extremely happy about it. He took her under his wing and showed her the way around school.

There were two thoughts that ran through her mind at that moment.

Thought #1: she has to stop taking tips from him.

Thought #2: she will get butchered.

Turned out she did get butchered however not by Renji but from a bunch of girls. Later on Rukia found out that those girls are members of Renji Fan Club. The girls continue to taunt Rukia with warnings and stupid pranks but Rukia refuse to take crap from anybody. She, who was used to abuse, took it with stride which made the girls even more pissed.

Her valor was quickly became the talk of the school.

She also made the headline for other reasons. The fact that she is poor but can afford this school makes the school buzz with speculations. Some say that she has a sugar daddy. Others say that she just has poor taste in fashion and she is not really poor. But the best so far was the one where she was a bank robber and has tones of money stashed somewhere. She just acted poor as a cover up so that the police will not suspect her. With that bank money, she also did a plastic surgery which explains why she is one of the prettiest girls in the school.

Soon enough she caught the eyes of several other male students and quickly became the enemy of even more girls.

“Rukia!” calls Renji again.

“Jeebus Renji! What do you want?!” Rukia opens her eyes, glaring at the grinning Renji standing in front of her. “What?!”

“Take a guess” beams Renji.

Rukia grunts and closes her eyes. Once again she leans her weight upon the tree. She is not playing this game with him.

“Aww come on now Rukia. Take a guess. It’s going to worth your time. I promise.”

Rukia ignores him.

“Alright, I’m feeling generous today so I’ll give you a hint. It has something to do with boobs!”

“Like I care?”

“You are no fun, you know that?”

“So I have been told.”

Renji does a facepalm. “Can you at least for one minute pretend that you are interested?”

Silence.

“Jeez Rukia!” Renji throws himself besides Rukia. His butt lands with a thud.

“Go away Renji,” says Rukia. Her eyes still close.

“Alright I’m going to tell you anyway. Inoue and Ishida have called it off. They are officially single for --,” Renji looks at his wrist watch. “6 minutes.”

If there is one thing Rukia dislike about Renji, it is his interest with other people’s business. He just loves gossips.

“Yippee!” says Rukia faking her excitements.

“Don’t you want to know why?”

“No,” Rukia yawns.

“You should though.”

“Why?”

“Because Inoue thinks Ishida has the hot for you.”

Rukia eyes shot open. She nearly chokes with laughter.

“I told you this is worthy of your time,” says Renji in between chuckles.

“That girl needs her head examine. Everyone knows Ishida is gay for her,” says Rukia after her laughter has subsides.

“I am not too sure about that, Rukia… You do have that charm to attract even the gayest boy in this school.”

Rukia snorts. “You are the gayest boy I know but you don’t have the hot for me,” jokes Rukia.

Renji jabs Rukia with his elbow which makes Rukia bawling with hilarity.

If only you knew, Rukia…

The school bells ring indicating the end of the lunch break. Rukia stands up and offers her hands towards Renji. Renji takes it and Rukia hauls him up. Renji always wonder where does she get her strength from.

“I guess that adds another girl to my enemy list,” Rukia says imperturbably.

Renji looks at the back of Rukia as she walks towards their classroom. He knows what she just said is true. Rukia needs to deal with the repercussion although it was not her fault. She is the scapegoat for the high society girls in this school. He wishes he could do something about it but…

With heart heavy with worry and regret, Renji follows Rukia.

--

Rukia takes her seat lazily besides the window. She takes out the Math book since the class is about to start soon. She flips through the pages but her eyes are looking out the window.

Renji who walks in after her take his seat as well. Several seats in front of him, a bunch of girls are gathering around Inoue, comforting the damsel in distress. Most of the girls look sneeringly at Rukia. No doubt hating the girl with the raven hair for once again is the cause of another couple break up.

Keigo and Mizuno come to his table and starts talking about the latest scandal that has taken the school by storm.

“You think Rukia-chan will hook up with Ishida soon?” asks Keigo. His eyes dart from Renji to Rukia to Inoue.

You can hear Inoue’s sobbing become louder.

Mizuno jabs Keigo to shush him up. “Be a little considerate, will you?”

“But I’m curious!” pouts Keigo. “You know I have the biggest crush on Rukia-chan!”

Renji is about to smack Keigo at the back of his head when Miss Unohana steps in the class. Students quickly take their places and greet their home room teacher.

Miss Unohana greets them back and then she signals her hand towards the door. Few seconds later, a student with bright orange hair walks in, caring his RAF bag over his shoulder. Once he enters the classroom, his eyes quickly scan the rooms as if he is looking for something or someone.

“Please introduce yourself,” instructs Miss Unohana after she told the class that this new guy is the new transfer student and wish everyone will help him to get use to the new school.

“Kurosaki Ichigo,” is all he said.

Everyone expects to hear more from the introduction but the new transfer student just stands there looking around the class.

The class quickly erupted with student asking questions one after the other. The girls are squealing to learn more about him and the guys are intrigue with his laid-back attitude.

Ichigo’s eyes continue to scan the room until it stops at one student who is the only one who is not paying attention to him or to the class. She is gazing out the window with a melancholy looks in her eyes. Her tiny hand continues to flip the book in front of her, from one page to the next.

Miss Unohana has to set order to the class before the student settle down again.

“I guess you can tell more about yourself once you are more acquainted with the rest of the student,” says Miss Unohana awkwardly. “You can have a seat now, Kurosaki. Choose any empty seat you like.”

“Thank you,” says Ichigo. He starts walking.

The girls in the class begin to squeal yet again, each hoping that he will seat either next to them or behind them or in front of them. Anywhere, as long as he is seating close by. But one by one the squeal is silenced as Ichigo walks directly to the back of the class where the only empty seat is the one behind Rukia.

As he walks pass Rukia, the girl finally acknowledges his existence as she looks at him nonchalantly. Ichigo feels like her big amethyst eyes are piercing right through his soul and he is strip naked in front of her so when Rukia smiles casually at him, he blushes the shade of red.


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