35The Real Prize
By: Liv-x-Case-Benson
Ch. 8: Unsettled
Haruka couldn't meet her eyes. "You what?" she asked. It was a mixture of rage and pure agony in her voice. "You couldn't be honest?"
Michiru couldn't speak, stepping aside to let her into the room.
The racer graciously accepted. Everyone didn't need to hear this. "Listen, I-I can't handle this right now. Do you want a ride home?"
"That's what you ask me? Y-you're not enraged. O-or pissed th-that I-"
"No, I am. But I am aware that no matter how good and pure my intentions still are, I know I should've expected this to some point. You can't force someone to change, but I wasn't trying to..."
"Haruka, p-please, please listen. I-"
"What? Are you going to tell me it was a mistake? That you didn't go to him because... you don't care about me?"
Michiru sighed, collapsing on the couch. "I-it's not like that. I... they threatened to bar me. The owners of this place."
"So..it's for show?"
"A-at first. They told me right before I went on tonight."
"But...it's been going on for a while?" she asked.
She nodded. "I-I do care about you, but when I met him at the bar, it was like..."
"Like something was telling you I should only be a friend?" Haruka asked. "Look. I've told you before I'm fine with that."
Michiru shook her head. "At first, yeah, but now... I think I want to try. And I'm sorry you heard that. I'm not ashamed of you. It's just..."
"...you've never dealt with judgment like this? It scares you. You're so used to being loved for everything you do, but now people are judging you on something they can't understand. Something you don't understand."
"They knew before tonight, but tonight they gave me an ultimatum. Haruka, I love what I do and I don't want to stop, but... I also want you right there with me, but if you are, then I can't do what I love."
Haruka nodded. "I guess I understand. It's hard, but hiding in the closet is so much harder."
"I don't want to choose!" she said, as tears cascaded down her face.
The racer sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "It's not fair. I know."
Michiru leaned into her. "I'm sorry."
"Look, I do understand. People are jerks."
"The last way I ever want to seem to you is unfaithful," she replied honestly. "I know, it's stupid. We aren't dating or anything."
"So, are you saying you want to leave town? The way I see it, moving is the only way to get away from all the ridicule," Haruka said. "And, for the record, I think it's kinda sweet, not stupid. Your heart is already planning and your head doesn't know it."
"Eventually, yes. Now though, I need to tell him off," Michiru said.
"Does this mean...?"
She nodded. "Help me pack the room of my belongings, please?"
"You know, people are just jealous of us, right? They can't see what we see in each other. They think we'll never be happy without men."
Michiru smiled as she grabbed a box and started packing. Sure, she didn't have much here, but she was here often enough to have 'claimed' the dressing room.
"Hey Michiru?" Haruka asked. "The guy who attacked you..."
She sighed, turning back to her. "What about him?" She'd actually, somehow, looked forward to leaving before.
"You're sure you don't know him?"
"Does it matter now?" she asked. "I'll probably never be back here."
The racer shrugged. "Well, no, but I kinda wanted to get things sorted out..."
"Haruka-"
"Wait, wait, let me finish. You don't need to tell me everything, ever. Though I hope you can someday. I just want to help you. And I know things are moving at one hundred miles an hour now, but it's still going to be up to you."
Michiru nodded, sitting beside her. "I still have reservations about my house. I mean, my parents left it to me. How can I just sell it to a common buyer...?"
"Well, surely, we wouldn't move right now. If you want me with you, that is."
"I know. We're barely anything right now and...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared."
"Of me?"
The violinist rolled her eyes lightly. "No, not of you! It's just, this is all I've known. You seem calm and at ease. Like someone I need in my life in any way, shape, or form."
She chuckled smally. "Me? Calm? Have you seen me race? I'm never calm. I'm always focused on beating the next person out."
"Well, maybe calm isn't the word for how I perceive you, but you've certainly never gotten angry at me. Not really. Even though you have a reason to and I-"
Haruka cut her off, stroking her cheek. "Hey, whatever happened, it's already over."
"I know what I said about him, but I also know that you're different."
"Different? Like brute-force, yelling, screaming...?"
"No. Good different," Michiru pointed out. "I know I don't have my head wrapped around the concept of dating you yet. I'm not even sure how or if it'll work out. All I know is you...you protected me. You comforted me. You were there when I needed you and I think everyone needs someone like that in their lives."
Haruka smiled. "Yes they do."
"So," the violinist began as she packed her personal belongings, "what do we do after this?"
The sandy-blonde haired racer reached a few higher photos, placing them into the box. "Well, I wouldn't mind going home."
"Oh..." she said. "Separate?"
"Unless you'd rather I packed a bag and stayed with you, but I doubt we're at that point right now so..."
"I was going to ask if you would drive me," Michiru said.
"Oh!" Haruka said. "Yeah, I'll take you."
The break up with Rick hadn't gone well...for him as Haruka had ended up punching him.
"How can you deny us, Michiru?" he had asked. "With me you can do what you love."
The violinist had just smiled. "Maybe I've learned that trusting my heart is more important."
"Are you sure about all of this?" Haruka asked as they drove back to Michiru's. "I'm not forcing anything on you."
She smiled. "I never said you were. And I stand by what I said, trusting my heart is more important, but I am sorry if I ruined your friendship though."
"If?" the racer asked, then sighed. "I really don't care. If he can't respect my interest in you – whatever it may be – he's not worth having as a friend."
Michiru bit her lip.
"What? It's what I believe."
She shook her head. "It's not that. You're doing all of this for me and..."
"Don't start with that again," Haruka said. "I don't mind."
"But it would drive anyone else crazy, the lack intimacy, especially by now. So why doesn't it bother you?"
She smiled, pulling into the violinist's wrap-around driveway and stopping before killing the engine. Haruka's right hand caressed Michiru's cheek. "I happen to have some very old values and I also believe that you shouldn't be pushed. I'd rather...as they say wine and dine you and see where it goes. I don't have many friends anyway, especially female."
Michiru blushed. "So...it's all up to me?"
"Not all. I'm simply letting you be yourself. If something feels just right, I'll take the opportunity, but I promise it won't be anything too pressuring."
"But I'm not used to being that...strong."
Haruka shook her head. "You don't have to be physically strong. You just have to listen to what you really want."
Author's Note: Couldn't think of another way to end the chapter really.
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Reviews: Kahlel1588, Neptune's King, Keeper Aki & Guest
