Oh my god. It's been way too long. Curse you, writer's block!
Wednesday update, and a late one indeed. It's been a while since I've disciplined myself like this, updating weekly. I've fallen out of practice. It'll take a while to get back to constant writing, the way I was before. Please be patient with me, dear readers, because your writer not only happens to be a busy college student, she's also a complete idiot (?・ω・`)
I won't delay you any longer. Here's the next chapter.
Chapter Six
Confirmed total average waking hour capacity: Sixteen hours, one minute
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I woke up and I groaned. Then I remembered that I was on break, and I didn?t have to wake up early and dash off somewhere, so I sighed with some relief.
Then I noticed Maribel. I vaguely began to remember what had happened last night-- and so I remembered that Mary being awake was a very good thing.
She was sitting on the bed, the backpack that I had had to cram our stuff into next to her. She was turned away from me, and she was leaning forward, writing something in a notebook. I wanted to surprise her with a hug, so I crawled forward on the bed, noticing that I had been too tired to change into decent pajamas last night, and came up behind her. I sat back on my knees so that I overlooked her shoulders, ready to tacklehug her.
I did manage to catch a glimpse of what she was writing in her notebook: it was a series of numbers, arranged in two columns, copied from what seemed like scrap pieces of paper scattered over her lap. Vaguely, I wondered what use a psychology major would have for number lists, but that was irrelevant. First things first, after all.
So I threw my arms around Maribel. ?Good morning!?
?Ah!? Maribel looked startled; I hadn?t managed to do that good of a job concealing my noise as I approached, but she had been so absorbed in her writing that she hadn?t heard me coming. But the look of fear and surprise on her face soon wore off, and she smiled back, brushing the scraps of paper into her notebook and setting it down on the backpack. ?Hey, Renko.?
?Are you feeling all right?? I asked. Now the memory of last night was becoming clear to me. I hugged Maribel to me, happy to feel her safe in my arms. ?You fell pretty hard last night.?
?Oh, yeah,? Maribel replied, trailing off. She scratched her cheek with one hand. ?Sorry about that. I guess I must have fainted or something.?
?No, you didn?t.? I still remembered how my heart had leapt out of my chest and into my throat when I saw Maribel?s body lying on the ground like that last night-- and the relief when I realized that she had been fast asleep. ?You fell asleep, not fainted.?
When Maribel had woken up earlier, she must have been the one to open the windows and let the morning sunshine in. So there was enough light for me to see her face turn-- pale? What the hell for? Maybe she was embarrassed, but how could anyone be embarrassed for their sleeping habit-- oh. Maybe it was that...
?Ahahaha, that?s silly. Who ever heard of someone falling asleep while riding a moving bicycle??
But I already understood. I turned to her.
?It?s fine, Mary. I just figured out what you?re hiding.?
?Wh-- WHAT?!? Maribel stammered. She looked horrified at my discovering her secret. ?Wh-- how did you-- what did you--?
I shook my head. ?Did you really think I wouldn?t have figured it out by now? All the signs are there. You shouldn?t have tried to keep it a secret, Mary.?
She turned to me, putting her hands on my arms. ?But-- no, what--?
?You should have told me right off, before we went on expedition last night,? I went on, staring her down. ?What if something had happened? You could have gotten seriously hurt, and you almost DID get seriously hurt!?
?I?m so sorry,? she began, her eyes shining. ?Renko, I?m so sorry... I knew I should have told you from the start??
?It?s all right, Mary,? I assured her, clasping her hands. ?I completely understand.?
?Y-- you do?!? Maribel exclaimed. She began to smile a bit. ?R-really??
?Sure.? I returned the smile. ?That?s what friends are for.?
?Oh, thank you, Renko!? She pulled her hands out of mine and embraced me. ?Thank you so much!?
I patted her back. ?It?s the least I can do. So you don?t have to worry about a thing.?
?Oh, thank yo--?
?Because I?ll drive your car, just so you can get more rest.?
?Eh?? Maribel sounded surprised.
?That?s the least I can do, isn?t it? You?ve been putting up a brave front this whole time, but now that I know you?re severely sleep-deprived, you don?t have to hide your sleepiness in front of me any longer.?
Maribel released me from the hug and backed up. ?What??
?I?ve already driven your car before, you know,? I replied, hoping to settle her fears. ?I?ve got no problem with driving it to Ryōan-ji if you want to get some sleep in the back.?
?If you want to slee-- hah,? Maribel laughed. She sounded a bit angry for a moment, but it was gone quickly. ?Oh well.?
I frowned. ?Really, you should have told me this ages ago. I would have helped you out any way I could.?
Maribel paused for a moment. Then she got a strange look in her eye that I couldn?t immediately place and slowly took hold of my right hand. ?Do you really mean that??
?Yes,? I said, hoping my voice sounded firm. ?I do.?
Her other hand did not take hold of mine, but rather, she raised it up and put it on my shoulder, then ran it through my messy bedhead hair.
?Thank you,? she said with a smile. There was something about that smile that made my face feel hot, but I had no idea why. Even then, the sensation of her hand in my hair felt great, so I didn?t move her hand.
?I care for you, Mary. If I can help in any way, just tell me.?
?Okay then,? she agreed. I saw a faint blush come to her cheeks too. It made me smile to see her that happy.
Mary's lips parted, and for a half-second, I thought she was going to say something--
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
?Ah,? I said, feeling the haze in my head clear once and for all. ?It's 7:00 AM. G'morning, Mary.?
She hesitated for a moment, but then she smiled and nodded. ?Good morning, Renko.?
Remembering what time it was reminded me of what day it was, and I slapped my own forehead for my sleepiness-induced stupidity.
?It's Sunday,? I said, forgetting the actual date for a moment.
?October 18th,? Maribel clarified. ?We should be leaving soon, shouldn't we??
?Hm.? I fiddled with my tie, refocusing my mind on what needed to get done today. ?We're going to the Ryōan-ji temple for vacation, right??
She nodded, her blonde hair falling forward off her shoulders. ?We've still got to pack, though.?
I also nodded, but there was something that was bothering me that I couldn't quite put my finger on. ?Maybe we should get breakfast first, though.?
?I'm not sure what place is open this early,? she replied, wrapping one of her locks of blonde hair around her finger without seeming to notice. ?Maybe we could find a food stand.?
My eyes fixated on her finger, and then I had it.
?Mary, can you do me a favour?? I asked.
?What is it?? she asked as I stood up and undid my tie, then quickly unbuttoned my own shirt and tossed it to the side. ?Re--Renko! What are yo--?
?Last night, I had to leave your bike out on the street,? I replied, cutting her off as I reached into the small dresser where I kept my clothes to grab a shirt. It was a black dress shirt, which I was fine with. Dress shirts were my preferred shirts, and I threw it on, then undid the buttons on my black skirt while I turned around to grab a skirt or pair of pants, whichever met my hand first. ?And your backpack, too. I have to go pick it up before we leave and I forget all about it.?
?Re--Renko, put something on!? Maribel stammered as she pulled a pillow up to her red face.
I frowned at her. ?I am putting something on,? I said, kicking my skirt off while I buttoned up my new black shirt. ?I can't go out wearing the same clothes I did last night.?
?Bu--but we're riding in my car, aren't we?? she attempted to ask in a clear voice, but she was nervous. I could see why she may have been a bit embarrassed, since I was stripping down in front of her, but really, we were best friends. We'd both seen each other wearing less before, and besides, we were both girls, so what was the big deal?
I was tugging on a pair of gray pants as I answered, ?Yes, but I can't just leave your bike behind--? and then I remembered something else, so I pointed at Maribel's bare head. ?And I can't leave your hat behind, either.?
?Ah,? Maribel gave a small gasp as she touched the top of her head. ?I have some other hats, though...?
?Yes, but that one's your favourite, isn't it?? I buttoned up my pants and pulled on a pair of black tennis shoes, all the better for moving quickly. ?Sorry I had to leave them behind last night, but it was hard to carry you and all our stuff back here. I'll go grab 'em.? I tied up the tennis shoes, stood up, and reached over to the hook on the wall where my ties hung. ?If you can pack up our stuff in the meanwhile, that'd be great.?
She nodded, slowly pulling the pillow away from her face. ?Right then. Are you going on foot, Renko??
?Makes it easier to just ride your bike back here,? I explained, straightening my tie and adjusting my clothes. I reached over to the dresser where I had left my keyring and cell phone and nodded to Maribel. ?Well then, I'm off,? I said, pulling my hat off of the top of my desk chair. ?Back in a half hour.?
?Ah--? she was about to say something, but I was already halfway out the door.
But she was my best friend, so I couldn't just be a jerk and walk out. I popped my head back in before I had closed the door. ?What is it, Mary??
?Oh--? she seemed surprised that I had noticed. Maybe a bit nervous. She bit her lip.
I waited patiently, noting the digital clock behind her. 7:04 AM.
?I'll tell you later,? she said, waving me off. ?When we've got more time. Remind me later, okay??
I nodded, tipping my hat to her. ?Back in a bit, then.? I left, locking the door behind me.
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