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Kevin moved forward when she got out of his way. "Yeah I know," he said remembering that a lot of the advanced courses that Natsuko and he were taking only had one in the school. Just another point that the other students aren't caring for the education, he thought as he felt someone grab his shoulder. He noticed it was Natsuko and shook her off when she made mention of him needing a friend. "I have my friends, thank you. I'd prefer not to acquire another one," he said sourly as he pressed through the crowd. They were closing in on the stairwell and knew that it would be just as packed, at least until the third flight. The top floor was mainly the advanced courses and where he, and most likely Natsuko, would be spending most of the school day.

As he pressed through a particularly clogged part he felt his shirt tug and turned to see, yet again, Natsuko holding on to him. "Great now I have a tag along," he said agitated again. He didn't try to shake her off for fear of ripping the shirt. The school gave two uniforms that needed to be cleaned and maintained. If you lost, tore, or stained any of them you had to pay for it. Kevin preferred not to. They finally reached the stairwell. Fortunately it was a bit easier because everyone was moving in the same direction. "It's the prestige and glory that go along with it," Kevin said out of nowhere in response to Natsuko's Valedictorian comment. "I'm sure I did just as well as you on the SAT and ACT. As well, we'd probably be accpeted into any college or university in the world," he continued as swarm of students diead out when they reached the last flight of stairs. It was now only them as they ascended the staircase.

"You can let me go now," Kevin told Natsuko with agitation in his voice. He looked at his watch and then said, "We've got another three minutes, we're fine. We'll make it."

Kevin was going to ignore her when he was stopped forcefully. "What the hell," he said as she started speaking. He listened to her and noticed her eyes starting to water. Before he could say anything she told him to forget it and then she stormed off. He stayed on the steps looking at her going up them. Why the hell does she want me as a friend? he thought confused and agitated. He didn't care that she was upset, it wasn't his problem. He scoffed a laugh as he started to ascend. Had he been given the time to answer he'd probably have said it was just her. And now after seeing her this way...he wouldn't change his mind.

It wasn't that he enjoyed repelling everybody. He just found it hard to hold any type of conversation with anybody that didn't turn out completely idiotic and retarded. Plus there was always a chance for caring 'too' much. Natsuko was a prime example of that. He didn't know what made her upset, but the fact that she was nearly in tears shows that something bad had happened. He walked into the classroom and nodded with a smile at the teacher. He walked towards his usual seat. He exhaled loudly and drooped his shoulders when he saw Natsuko sitting in the desk next to his. "Why are you following me around?" he asked as he placed his bag on the ground and taking his seat. As he started to unzip his bag he said, "If you want a friend, why don't you get one? Why does it have to be me? That girl behind you last period seemed to like you. What's wrong with her?" He pulled out his book and looked up at the clock. They had less than a minute before the class would start.

"Completely," Kevin said as he continued to gather things from his bag. He zipped it up again, leaving his Calculus book, a notebook, and two pencils on his desk. "Does that mean I don't have to go to the party anymore?" he asked feeling some type of relief. He then smiled a little bit and looked over at Natsuko. "You know, the description of that girl...it's basically the description of everyone at this school. It has to be, that's why you want to befriend me. So for once we are in agreement. The student body is moronic." His smile faded as he turned his attention to the teacher who was still talking to the student.

Kevin flipped the cover of his notebook open and started to write ideas for his English paper. He wrote four things down before he lay his pencil flat on the page and took a deep breath. "So that's the reason, you think I'm lonely? You think I need a friend?" he started interrogating Natsuko. "You don't know anything about me. For all you know I'm just an a** at school. I said I didn't need another friend and that's what I mean. I DON"T NEED ANOTHER FRIEND." The whole class had started to look at him as he raised his voice. The teacher even stopped his conversation and observed. Of course he ends up taking Natsuko's side. "Is there anything wrong miss?" he asked, "Is this young man bothering you?" He knew who Kevin was, everybody did, but the fact that Natsuko was popular trumped over Kevin. They were both favorites, but when needing to make a choice, Natsuko came out the victor. It's true, he thought, Come the end of the year I'll only be Saludictorain because she'll win the votes. Kevin turned away disgusted and looked back at his paper. His face then turned to sorrow.

"Great," Kevin said lowly, both to show sarcasm to Natsuko's threat as well as being relieved that class was starting. He looked over at Natsuko, "And these are the qualities you want in a friend?" he asked sardonically. He turned his attention back to the teacher who had paused a moment and waited for him to finish up and pay attention. This was certainly different for Kevin now. He was usually liked by the teachers...but since that outburst at Natsuko the math teacher seemed to be just as annoyed with Kevin as the entire student body. Kevin started to have a sense of defeat crawl into his mind, but he shoved it out and dropped it faster than it had moved in. Defeat was not something Kevin ever did. He'd compromise, manipulate, and deceive, but never lose.

Nevertheless, he felt he had to do one of the three. Starting with compromise. As the teacher started to get into the flow of his lecture, Kevin turned back to Natsuko, "So you just want a friend right? That's it, I go to the party...talk about who knows what and then that's it? I mean we can...well have to talk during the school year to retain friendship status, but it doesn't have to be everyday does it?"

Kevin was looking at the teacher as Natsuko spoke to him, pretending to pay attention. When the teacher paused for a moment and then scolded both of them Kevin was shocked. He didn't say anything. He disliked the fact that the teachers were now annoyed with him and worst, that Natsuko seemed to be the root cause of all this. He gritted his teeth again and continued to jot down English notes...that subject was at least going to be fun once it's all done. Math right now was simple review from the previous Calculus class.

Love you! Kevin was able to keep himself from shouting aloud. I can't stand you, he kept his thoughts going as the tip of his pencil slowly danced along the paper leaving a faint pencil mark. What you fail to realize, is that I don't lose as well. This will make for a very interesting confrontation. He pondered on whether he should go to the party or not. The damage was done, now it was in his head and he was thinking about it. I never lose, he thought as he slowly nodded his head. Since negotiations didn't work, it was time for the next step, manipulate.

Kevin would agree to go to the party...socialize as Natsuko put it. She might feel she's won, but it's just a ploy to attract votes come the end of the year. It's now his intention to not lose Valedictorian because of popularity. But how? he thought wondering how he would attract the attention and votes of the other students without compromising his status.

As the bell rang, Kevin snapped out of his trance and realized that he drew over his page. It was light markings, so it could be erased easily. Kevin closed his book and started to pack his bag. As he leaned down to place his book into his bag he noticed Natsuko getting up, I hope she leaves without me. As he raised his head to gather his other things he felt a slightly warm touch under his chin. He realized that Natsuko hadn't left and instead was the one holding him under his chin. He could feel her breath against his cheek as she moved closer. A nervous fear struck over him. What is she doing? he thought slightly trying to pull away but didn't use much of his strength for fear of what might occur if he did. He wasn't sure how to react.

He heard her words then close to his ear in a whisper. He then noticed the class looking at him...them. Just great, now they'll think we're dating, he thought as he lifted his arm to push her away. Before his arm was halfway up she let him go. He was about to give a curt thanks when he tried to recall what she said. As he finally reached the part where she mentioned she was embarassed, Natsuko said something about him needing to go to the nurse for cream. Suddenly everything in him sank. She didn't, he wondered if it actually happened or if he was just having a nightmare. The rest of the class gave him peculiar looks. If he said anything then he'd have bit on the bait. If he didn't then it'd be rumor for who knows how long. Either way, he knew the rumor would be spreading right now.

Kevin's face molded from anger and annoyance to hatred. What the hell is she thinking? he thought as he just shoved the rest of the stuff into his bag. He zipped it most of the way up before standing and walking into the hallway. It was pretty cleared up, compared to the moronic classrooms downstairs. He spotted Natsuko heading towards Physics and followed after her. He placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her forcefully. "What the hell?" he said angrily. Surprisingly noone turned or stopped to watch...yet at least. "What was that all about?" The words she said before that embarassing outburst were no longer on his mind.

"You mistake me for caring," Kevin said coldly as he noticed Natsuko's hands raising. He then felt his glasses coming off as Natsuko was again explaining that he could be a better person if this or that happened. Kevin just sighed agitated. He was far-sighted so the image of Natsuko, and everything in the hallway, was blurrey beyond recognition. The only thing that assured him he was still talking to Natsuko and not a wall was the red blur that now seemed to be moving away. Kevin reached out in hopes to get his glasses back but ended up flailing around the air.

"Hey I need those," Kevin said holding out one arm to find the wall and door frame. When he felt the wall he slowly moved along it until he found the door. Looking inside, he couldn't tell anyone apart. The room was colorful, from the light entering in the window, so even the colors blurred together. "Natsuko," he said with a hint of worry in his voice, "I really need those. I can't see without them."

When Kevin got his glasses back, he straightened them on his face. "I'm fine," he said as he pulled away from Natsuko who was messing with his hair. "I just can't see without my glasses. How I sleep at night is not a concern of yours either," he said as he moved to the 'usual' seat in the class. His glasses were on the nightstand next to his bed. However, the school didn't have nightstands...only a desk, drawer, bed, and small loveseat, so Kevin would bring a small one from home to use. He didn't even bother to open his eyes in the morning when he woke up. He'd jsut reach out and grab his glasses. Once he put them on, he'd welcome the world. "I don't want surgery, I like my glasses."

As Kevin placed his bag down, he again noticed that Natsuko had rested her things on the desk next to him. He sighed deeply and turned around. "Must you continue to follow me? And I wouldn't exactly call you a nice person," he said as she seemed to be doing a lot of annoying things towards him. The biggest one was following him with no end. It was like a small child that wouldn't go away. Always asking questions and drooling over you.