Raye ignored Philip as she stared at the dark haired man. She tapped
her foot impatiently. "You're not allowed here. Leave immediately."
The dark haired man reached out for her arm. Pulling away, Raye
backed up into Phil. "Don't touch me!" He reached out for her again. Phil
stepped inbetween them, "She said not to touch her!" He didn't know what
was happening but he knew that Raye was upset. His knees felt weak from the
long walk here, so he knew that if the guy tried anything he probably
wouldn't be able to stop him, but the guy didn't know that.
Raye stepped around him, remaining out of reach of the man. "What do
you want?"
He dropped his hand, staring sadly at her. "I want to talk to you.
We have some things that need to be discussed."
Raye smirked. "We don't have anything to discuss. I think it's time
you leave. You're not wanted here!"
"Look Raye, we need to talk." He took out a business card and wrote
on the back of it. "I'm staying at this hotel and you can reach me at the
number there. I'll be there all week." He handed it to Raye. "Let's just
talk okay."
Raye dropped the business card. "We don't have anything to talk about
now if you don't mind just leave already."
"We don't want any trouble here at the Shrine, please go." Raye
stared behind the man at Jed, he stood not much taller then the other. They
contrasted each other in coloring. *But not in personality* Raye noted. They
were both the type you wanted to avoid at all costs. The mans mouth tightened
into a thin line. He nodded his head finally and turned towards the stairs.
"Call me, it's really important." That said he walked away.
Phil let out a breath. "Who was that guy?"
Raye stared after the retreating form. "Nobody, he wasn't anyone."
She turned away from him. "Thank you for walking me home. I'll see you around
okay?" She stared down at the ground.
Phil nodded questioningly. "Yeah sure. You okay?"
"Yes I'm fine."
"Okay then, I guess I'll go." Reluctantly he turned around and left.
Raye spotted the business card on the ground. She stared at it for
a second.
"Miss Raye. Are you alright?"
She bent over and picked it up. "I'm fine Jed." She turned around
heading for her room. Stopping suddenly she turned back to the blonde haired
man. "Jed," She sucked in her breath. "Thank you." He nodded towards her.
She turned away. *But I still think your up to something!*
In her room, Raye slipped on her robes, setting the business card
down on the dresser. Taking one last look at it she reread the inscription.
~Jonathan Hino
Vice President Hiro Co
Phone : 711-4111~
Setting it in the top dresser drawer she turned and headed towards the fire
room to pray.
__________________________________________________________________________
Phil didn't head back towards school. The long walk wasn't something he was
looking forward too and he didn't feel like talking to anyone. Instead he
headed over to the food court inside the mall and got something to eat.
Glancing at the clock, he winced. School was out already, that walk had taken
longer then he thought. Or maybe it was the walk here, concidering that he
was already feeling like he had jelly for legs, then he had to walk 'down'
the stairs and away from the shrine. He took a bite of his pizza, thinking
about Raye. He still wondered who that guy was. He sort of looked like Raye,
but then again that didn't mean anything. Then there was that blonde guy
that had told the guy to leave. He was wearing the robes of someone who
worked there. Maybe it was her boyfriend? He was rather old, but it would
explain why she was ignoring him. Sort of.
He looked at his reflection on the glass of water, messing with his
hair a little. There was no reason why anyone would ignore him. His hair was
fashioned so that it looked messed up, giving him a boyish charm. The dark
color of it offset his eyes, which were a rich forest green color.
"Oh, that is pathetic! What's the matter no mirrors anywhere?" Billy
grinned down at him, grabbing a piece of pizza and sliding into the booth.
Candice sat down beside him laughing. Meredith sat down next to him staring
at him a little angrily. "Where were you all day?"
Her voice was biting, but Phil was used to it. "I just decided to
cut class is all." He looked over at Billy, eating a piece of pizza. "I hope
you're planning on paying for that!"
Billy stopped in the middle of biting into his slice of pizza and
stared at Phil. "But it's already paid for, so why would I have to pay too?"
He grinned at the glaring Phil and pulled out his wallet, throwing some
money onto the table. "Happy now?" Phil didn't answer. Meredith pulled on
his arm, "What time are you picking me up for the dance?"
Phil took a drink of water before answering. "I'm not. I'm not going
to the dance with you Meredith."
She glared at him. "That's not funny Philip."
Billy pushed Candice out of the booth. "Hey, I can tell you two want
to be alone so we'll just take off. See yah!" He stepped away from the booth
then came back and took another piece of pizza. Turning around he pushed
Candice out of the food court.
Meredith stared at him. "I won't let you embarass me, now what time
are you picking me up?"
He shook his head. "Look, it's just not working out between us okay?
So it's best if we just don't see each other any more."
She frowned at him. "Fine, I don't know why I bother to waist my time
with you anyways Philip. You just aren't worth it. Don't bother trying to get
me back, because it's not going to happen." She stood up and walked out as
well. Phil picked up another piece of pizza and started eating it. *That
went better then I expected.*
____________________________________________________________________________
"Raye, is there something you want to tell me?" Her grandfather
stared at her, worried.
Raye looked up at him. "No."
"Oh." He looked sad for a moment and then grinned. "I went and got
the charms and did some advertising while I was out. So we start selling them
tomorrow."
Raye smirked. "And since it was Jed's idea, I think that he should
be the one to sell them."
Her grandpa frowned a bit. "Well now, we can't just let him do all
the work. And meet all the pretty girls." He added under his breath.
Raye heard him, standing up she walked by commenting as she went.
"Don't worry I'm sure Jed can handle it, and if he can't I'll do it so that
you don't have to work so hard. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight Grandpa."
He sighed, "Goodnight Raye."
____________________________________________________________________________
Phil waited after school for Raye. Finally she appeared at the front.
He caught up with her walking along side of her. "Hi!"
She glanced over at him. "Hi."
"So," He glanced over at her. "Where are you going?"
"Home."
He winced at the thought of another long walk. "Oh. Mind if I join
you?"
"No."
They walked together in silence. Finally he started to talk. "You
know, there's this dance coming up and I don't have a date. I was wondering
if you don't have anyone to go with....would you go with me?"
Raye stopped and stared at him. *Was this some kind of joke?* "Well
I'm not really allowed to date until I'm older.."
"It's not a date. Well not really. It's just a dance." He looked at
her hopefully. "Come on, just say you'll go."
Raye smiled a little. "Well, I'll have to think about it."
He jumped in. "Good!"
There was silence for a moment and then they continued on walking.
When they reached the steps of the shrine Raye stopped. "You don't have to
walk me up the stairs, but thanks for walking me home. I'll see you around
okay?"
He shook his head. "The exercise will do me good anyways. Besides,
what if half way up the stairs you decide to go to the dance with me but I'm
not there to hear your answer and then someone else asks you and you go with
them instead?" Half way up the stairs he remembered just how aweful it was.
Feeling like his legs were going to give out at any second, he gritted his
teeth, trying to make it to the top.
Raye stopped suddenly and turned to him. "I'll go with you to the
dance." She turned back and ran up the stairs towards the shrine. Phil stared
after her shocked. "Are you sure?" he called after her.
She reached the top and turned around towards him. "I'm sure."
"Well, Good!" He turned around and started to walk back down the
stairs. *Well at least I didn't have to walk all the way up them this time.
Then there's next time. And when I pick her up for the dance.* He smacked
his head. *Jeez, the stuff a guy goes through for love.*
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