Chapter Twelve: Day Off:

I was happy to wake up alone the next morning. I breathed out as I lied in bed staring at my ceiling. I don’t want to have to explain to my family about reluctantly having an affair with a killer vampire. I know I share things with them, but I can’t tell them about this. The blue light in my room didn’t help my mood either. “What am I going to do?” I thought.

A loud Jpop song in the background made me jump. I breathed when I realized that it was my phone. I felt myself relax for a second, but then I tensed up. “What if that’s him calling me?” I thought. No, it couldn’t be, could it? I don’t want to look. But, my phone keeps ringing. I wish I had the strength to throw it out the window. In the end, I just reach over to my dresser and answer it.

“Hello?” I whispered quickly.

“Setsuna, what’s the matter?” a girl’s voice asked. My heart slowed down to normal beating.

“Oh, Kiku, it’s you!” I said with a chuckle.

“Of course, silly!” she said. “Who else do you think it would be?” I gave off another nervous laugh.

“No one,” I lied.

“You sound down.”

My face dropped. “You can tell?”

“Still torn up about Aki’s death?”

“You can tell?”

“When was the last time you got out of your house and had fun?”

I thought about that for a moment. “Why?”

“Come out with me today!”

I sat up with big eyes. “What?”

“Come on, girl! You need to get out more.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah!”

I felt myself smiling. She did have a point there. It would be nice Help me unwind some. It wouldn’t hurt, I guess.

“What time?” I asked.

“At ten,” Kiku replied.

“Okay,” I replied. “See you then.”

“I’ll pick you up, okay?” Kiku asked.

“Alright,” I said. “See ya.”

“Bye,” she said back. We both hung. My mood perked up as I leapt out of bed. Maybe, this could be just what I needed. Oh, I need to get ready. I hurried over to my closet. In thirty minutes, I was showered, dressed, and ready to go. I made it down to the kitchen for breakfast. Only my parents were at the table this morning.

“Good morning!” I greeted them.

“Morning honey!” my father said. I sat down at the table with my parents. My father looked me up and down.

“You seem happy today,” he said.

“Uh-hm,” I said. “Kiku is taking me out today.”

“Oh, that’s good,” mama said. “Where will you be going?”

“Don’t know,” I replied. “I think she’s going to surprise me.” Papa nodded at me with a smile. I’m guessing that he’s happy to see me feeling better for a change. I finished up my rice as I found it easy to relax for one whole day.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. We all looked up.

“I think that’s her,” I said.

“Have a great time,” Papa said.

“I will,” I replied with a bow. Then, I got up from the table and headed to the door. Kiku greeted with a smile as I opened the door.

“Hey girl!” she cheered.

“Hi,” I said back.

“Ready to go?”

“Yes, take me with you!”

Kiku giggled her as she held up her hand. “Easy there girl.” She turned to my parents. “Good morning, Hirata-san and Hirata-san.” My parents gave her a little wave.

“Good morning, Niwa-chan,” my mother said. Kiku grinned as she put her arm around me.

“Don’t worry, Hirata-san!” she cheered. “I’ll take good care of your daughter for the day!” *Sweat drop on my head* She always does this to me when it’s just her and me. My mother smiled at us.

“I know you will,” she said. Kiku smiled in pride.

“See you around,” my friend boomed.

“Bye momma, papa,” I said.

“Have fun dear,” momma told me. Papa just waved at us. Then, Kiku and headed out the door.