Sweet Burden (20 page)

“Oh. Yah.”

“So, do you like him?” Kerry smirked.

“He’s nice. A little into himself though.”

“All guys are like that.” Kerry shrugged. “I’m just glad you decided to give Bradley a chance. I mean, it is our senior year. You should have had at least one boyfriend when you go to college.”

“But I don’t want a boyfriend, just to have one.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

Hitomi gave a shrug and glanced around at the people wanting to get off the topic of boys.

“You haven’t said anything about the person following you lately,” Kerry commented sensing Hitomi’s irritation with the boyfriend conversation.

“I haven’t sensed it for awhile.” The last time she had the feeling was right before she met Rediisu.

“That’s good.”

“Punch for the ladies.” Shane set a glass down for Kerry and sat down next to her. Bradley gave Hitomi a glass and took a seat. They sat for awhile and talked and then Shane and Kerry headed to the dance floor.

“Do you want to dance?” Bradley asked.

“Um, maybe a slow one. I’m not a very good dancer.”

“Same here. But I would have embarrassed myself if it would have made you laugh.”

Hitomi smiled.

“You seem like you have something else on your mind tonight. You were quiet through dinner and you haven’t said much since we got here.”

“I’m sorry. I do have something else on my mind, but I’ll be fine.”

Bradley stood up and held out his arm. “Let’s go embarrass ourselves.”

She took his arm and they went out onto the dance floor.

****

Thunder began rumbling and Obsidian and Domitori both looked up to the sky as it lit up with lightning.

“Is it time to head in yet? It’s been a couple hours,” Domitori whined.

Obi stood up and dusted himself off.

“About time,” Dom mumbled following Obi through the door to the stairwell. Once they hit the stairs, Obi turned around and grabbed Domitori by the neck slamming him against the wall.

“Let’s get this straight. You are not to touch her,” Obi growled.

A sly smile crept across Domitori’s face. “As long as you take care of it, I won’t have to.”

Obi held himself back from squeezing his neck. He dropped his head and released the grip around Dom’s throat. “Stay here.”

“But…”

Obi took a few steps and turned back around to him. “I said stay here.” He hurried down the steps and ended up in a long hallway. He knew that it would only be a short time before Domitori would wander down to see what was taking so long. He had to make sure Hitomi would be alright. Walking down the hallway he became nervous about seeing her.

****

Hitomi and Bradley walked off the dance floor to the table. She sat down and looked around for Kerry and Shane.

“Do you know where Kerry and Shane are?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. There are a couple people I want to go talk to.”

“Okay. I’m just going to stay here.”

“I’ll bring you back a fresh drink.” He put his hand on her shoulder and slowly trailed it down her skin. She gave him a nod just wanting him to leave. He walked away and she picked up her empty glass. She rolled it in between her hands and then glanced up searching for Kerry.

Hitomi let out a gasp as her eyes stopped at the gymnasium entrance. Dressed in a black suit and red button down shirt and looking absolutely perfect, Obi stood there staring at her. She quickly turned away from him as her heart pounded. She couldn’t believe he was there. It had to have been her imagination or wishful thinking. So she turned back around to the entrance and peered at him again. But he wasn’t standing there, he was coming towards her.

Her mind raced. She didn’t know what to do. She was still upset with him, but just seeing Obi made her think about how much she had missed him. But she couldn’t talk to him now without running the risk of falling down into tears again.

Quickly she got up and started hurrying through the people.

“Hitomi!”

She didn’t dare turn around.

“Hitomi, please stop!”

She pushed her way through the dancing couples.

“I didn’t mean any of it!”

Hitomi stopped, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn around. She had no idea what to say to him, but she hoped that she had heard him correctly.

“Hitomi,” he walked up behind her and grabbed her elbow. He spun her around to face him and grabbed both of her arms. “I need to talk to you.”

She lifted her head and their eyes met. Her lips trembled. “I think you said enough yesterday.” She pulled her arms out of his grip. “You should go before my date comes to find me.”

“Not until I talk to you. Just a few minutes and then if you want me to leave, I will.” He had a look of desperation on his face.

“Fine.” She walked off the dance floor over to a side wall and turned back around to him as she leaned back against the wall. She crossed her arms in front of her. “Are you just trying to ruin my night?”

“No,” Obi shook his head.

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I needed to tell you that I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean any of it.”

“Why did you say those things?”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you.” Obi moved closer to her and she lowered her head.

“But you did,” she mumbled.

“I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know how I am going to live with the fact that I’ve hurt you when all I’ve wanted to do is protect you.”

She had no response. He was basically standing there telling her that he cared about her and her mind had gone blank.

Obi reached out his hand to her. “Will you dance with me?” She stared at his hand. “Please?”

She wanted to tell him ‘no’ and yell at him. But she couldn’t. The way that he stood so vulnerable in front of her with is hand reached out to her, made her want to jump into his arms and stay there forever.

Hitomi hesitantly put her hand in his. He grasped her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Turning and facing her, he rested his other hand on her waist. She kept her head down as she moved her free hand up to his shoulder and they slowly started swaying to the slow song.

“I really am sorry. For everything,” Obi stated.

Hitomi gave a little shrug and stared at his chest. He let go of her hand and placed a finger underneath her chin tilting her head up to look at him.

“I’m sorry,” he said again staring into her eyes.

She felt her chest thumping harder ready to burst out and it was hard for her to catch her breath. She accepted that he was apologetic, but she still needed the reasoning behind his actions. Hitomi needed to know why he had said those things to her and tried to make her hate him.

“Why?” she asked quietly.

“Why am I sorry?”

“No. Why were you trying to make me hate you?”

Obi took a deep breath and glanced around, and then focused back on her. “To try to protect you.”

“Protect me? From what?”

His jaw clenched. “Partially from me,” he said. “I’m not who you think I am. I’m a bad…person.”

“I don’t believe that,” Hitomi replied quickly.

“And that’s why I said those things. If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been angry at me. I needed you to let me leave.”

“But why did you have to leave?”

“Hitomi,” his voice waivered as he leaned closer to her, “there are a lot of things I haven’t told you.”

“You haven’t told me
anything
,” she shot back.

“I know. I’ve been afraid to tell you, because it’s not good. But now is not the time. I promise I will tell you everything that I can. I wish I could keep it from you, but I want you to know
me
.”

She watched him as he glanced around again. There was no way this boy could be as bad as he was setting up. He had saved her. For the most part, he had been nothing but concerned for her. Someone evil could never do those things.

“Whatever it is, I’ll understand.”

“Don’t say that,” he shook his head. “We don’t have much time.”

“What do you mean?” her eyes widened as her chest tightened again. “You’re not leaving again, are you?”

“Sort of.”

“Either you are or you’re not. Is this some sort of ‘goodbye’? Because I’m…”

“Hitomi.” Obi suddenly took her face in his hands surprising her. “There is some purpose to why I met you. I’m not here to say goodbye. I’m here because you’ve become important to me.”

His hands were hot on her face and she felt prickles of electricity shooting through her body. “Important to you?”

He drew his face closer and whispered, “Why are you important to me?”

Hitomi stared at his lips as they were slowly shortening the distance to hers. She suddenly forgot how to breathe. She watched his eyes lazily close as his mouth was nearly an inch away. She felt his breath hot against her lips as the excitement built in her stomach. Her mouth tingled with anticipation.

“What the hell is going on here?” Bradley shouted and Obi was quickly yanked away from her. Bradley stood behind Obi with a firm grip on his shoulder. Obi brushed Bradley’s hand away and turned and faced him. “Who is this guy?” Bradley inquired to Hitomi.

Hitomi opened her mouth, but before she could say anything Obi was already speaking.

“Who are you?” Obi replied.

“That’s my date you’re dancing with buddy.” Hitomi’s watched as Bradley’s face contorted angrily.