Chapter 2

The next morning at seven-thirty I was sitting at the end of my garden path waiting for Shiru. Today was as cold as yesterday with an overcast sky glooming above. It was still dark out as I stood waiting. Seeing a silhouetted figure against the dark sky I know it's Shiru as he calls to me.

"Goodmorning Reina," Shiru says. A smile spread across my face as I saw him.

"Goodmorning Shiru," I replied. Walking towards him, I give him a short hug. The way to school we talked about anything and everything. The school day went quicker than I thought with Shiru by my side laughing at each other's jokes and helping each other with our homework and best of all was the look on Stacy's face when she saw Shiru standing next to me. It was at lunch break when I checked my planner and realized tomorrow was the dance. Shiru walked me home again. I ate dinner quickly and started laying out my dress, shoes, and make up. I took a shower too and painted my nails. It was weird because I have never really been to a dance before. Since today was the last day of school before christmas break I had a pile of over the holiday homework waiting for me at my desk. So having a bit of spare time I ended up doing some. I laid awake in my bed daydreaming about tomorrow when me and Shiru get to dance together, It was just like a real otome. Sighing, I checked my clock and noticed it was getting late so I decided to get to bed. Sitting at the dinner table looking at the clock It was around noon. My parents were at work and Emily was at her friends house. I could hear the grandfather clock ticking in the living room. I was having lunch with my phone propped up watching anime waiting till four to get ready for the dance. Hearing a doorbell ring I look up pausing my show and head to the door. I quickly opened the door and at the doorstep was Shiru.

"Shiru what are you doing here so early?" I ask, regretting not putting on more nicer clothes this morning. I was wearing simple jeans and a long sleeved blue top with little snowflakes and cartoon polar bears on it with old house shoes.

"Hey Reina, I was wanting to show you something," Shiru says excitedly, then winking at me he adds. "It's a surprise"

"Ok" I say, stepping outside and closing the door behind me. I shivered a bit as we took off down the garden path, wishing I grabbed my coat. Looking over I noticed Shiru didn't have a coat ethier.

"You don't have a coat on," I say. He smiles.

"Neither do you, I was in a hurry so I forgot to bring one" Shiru says, his breath visible in the cold.

"Hey it's so cold you can see our breath" I say, breathing out watching my warm breath linger in the air.

"Yeah you're right" Shiru says doing the same. I laugh. It was a short half walk and half run to Shiru's uncle's house. Walking up the old cracked icy pavement up to the backdoor. Shiru pulls open the screen door. I enter the backroom with coat racks and shoes lining the floor. Shiru puts his warm hands in front of my eyes.

"Close your eyes" Shiru says, guiding me to a box in the corner of the room. Putting his hands down. "You can open them now". Opening my eyes I look down in the box and see a mother cat nursing four young kittens.

"Aww they're so cute" I say in aww looking down at the little kittens. "Can I pet them" I ask Shiru.

"Yeah you can" Shiru replies smiling. I instantly crouch down, a smile spreading on my face as I pet the soft kittens and mother cat. Shiru next to me hands me a little tabby kitten. "Here you can hold her," Shiru says to me, handing me the little warm kitten and grabbing a black one with white paws. I grab the little kitten and cradle the purring ball of fur in my arms. Basically melting over the cute little baby cat in my arms. Not even noticing Shiru's warm smile. We then went upstairs to Shiru's room, because he had to show me his old japanese school reading books he let me borrow. Shiru's room was a small room with a bed on one side and a desk closet and bookshelf on the other. After that we played with the kittens some more and he even let me name the one I held first. I named the tabby one that I held first, Ichigo. Looking at the time I realized I should get home so I could get ready for the dance.

"Bye Shiru I'll see you around five" I said running off down the driveway waving goodbye as I dashed off. I got home in a matter of minutes. My parents and little sister just pulled in the driveway when I just finished cleaning up my lunch dishes and was heading upstairs. I started doing my makeup and hair. I did a light makeup with a sparkly pink lip gloss and my hair in light curls at the ends. Slipping on my dress. It looked prettier than in the shop I thought, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Digging through my closet I found a white shawl to wrap around my shoulders so I didn't freeze to death in my dress and my sparkly silver heels. When I was just doing some finishing touches I heard the doorbell ring downstairs. Quickly leaping up I trip on the hem of my dress as I yell "I got it". Getting up, I run down stairs. My mom already answered the door and was chatting with Shiru. Shiru was wearing a tuxedo with his hair all comed and looking so cute. My face blushed as I saw him. Shiru's face went red when he saw me too. I give a sweet smile looking at the hem of my dress suddenly feeling shy. My mom watches too many soaps, because she looked like she would have a stroke at any moment.

"Aww you look beautiful Reina, well I leave her to you and make sure she's back by eleven" My mom says to Shiru smiling, leaving us ,and going into the kitchen where my dad was making dinner not wanting any part in my moms love abseshin. We didn't say a thing until we were outside.

"You look beautiful tonight Reina," Shiru says, his face red.

"Thank you, you look handsome tonight" I say, my face also going red. Shiru's uncle let Shiru borrow his car so Shiru drove to the dance. Parking the car we both walked up to the school. Pulling my white kitted shawl closer to me as I shivered from the Icy air. Shiru pulls open the door for me. I thank him. Grabbing my hand he leads me through the decorated halls to the gym. Music was playing loudly in the gym and there were many lights and streamers strung up everywhere. Tables were lined around the gym.

"Wanna dance," Shiru says, putting his hand up.

"Yeah" I say smiling, taking Shiru's hand we join in with the dancing. Laughing as we danced together until we decided to take a break and sit down. "That was fun" I say giggling. Shiru was laughing too.

"We suck at dancing" He laughs.

"I know" I say, giving in to another fit of laughter. "Hey I know what we should do, there's a pack of candy bars in my locker let's go get them" I say standing up and grabbing Shiru's hand. He agrees as I pull him off towards my locker.

"Hey Reina, why do you have candy bars in your locker?" Shiru says taking a bite of a chocolate bar.

"Well my friend, sometimes you need a bit of chocolate in your day to make it sweet and I also love chocolate" I say, taking another bite of my candy bar. Getting back to the gym the music was slower as they started the slow dances. Throwing our candy wrappers into the trash, Shiru grabs my hand and we start dancing again. Leaning on Shiru's warm chest. We start to dance slowly to the music. Peeking a glance at the clock it was around ten. Closing my eyes we danced together letting all my problems melt away. When the music stopped Shiru stopped making me realize that it was getting late.

"Come on, I have to get you home," Shiru says with a soft smile, Gently grabbing my hand as he leads us outside. There weren't any people outside as the snow gently fell from the dark sky. I look up at Shiru. He looks at me, suddenly Shiru kisses me. Instead of pulling back I leaned in feeling the warmth of his soft lips against mine. Pulling back Shiru doesn't look me in the eyes instead we both stand there faces red from blushing.

"I'm sorry I should have asked you first," Shiru says to me.

"No it's fine" I say looking up at him with a smile edging it's way onto my face"It was perfect". The whole car ride to my home we didn't say much until we arrived.

"I'll walk you up" Shiru says as we both get out of the car. Walking up my icy walkway we get to the front door. Shiru says a quick goodbye and turns to leave. Hurriedly I grab his hand and hug him. Surprised at first, but then I can feel his warm embrace.

"Thank you Shiru for everything," I say stepping back. Shiru smiles

"So you do like me" He says smiling wider.

"Of course I like you" I say smiling too.

"I like you too" Shiru says "That's why we're going skiing on sunday so I'll see you then". He bends down and gives me a kiss on the cheek, winks and leaves. I watched him leave then head inside my parents where watching tv together as I announced I was home. Before my mom could ask me about my time I hurriedly ran up to my bedroom, flopped myself onto my bed and screamed in my pillow. After a minute of this, I danced around my room in my dress.

"I'm in love" I whisper to myself giving a silent squeal of happiness as I lay exhausted on my bed. That night after I washed up and changed into a pair of light pink pajamas with little pandas and hearts on them. My parents went to bed already so I snuck downstairs and took a bucket of chocolate ice cream out of the freezer and wrote in my diary. I was so happy that it was hard to sleep that night. The next day I was in such a good mood even my little sister stealing my nail polish didn't even make me mad, granite I did steal it back from her. Even shoveling the driveway and walkway I was still humming and full of energy. I haven't even touched an otome game since Shiru showed up. Getting my skiing stuff around for tomorrow I make sure to get a backpack to fit an extra set of clothes towel and swimsuit because we were planning on going swimming after skiing to wash off the sweat at the resort pool. Just thinking about Shiru in a swimsuit made me smile.