by K L Ogden
“Yah, probably,” Hitomi agreed with a nod. She fixed her bag on her shoulder and turned back to Kerry, whose mouth was gaping open as her eyes fixated down the hall. Hitomi turned to follow her gaze.
Obi stepped through the main doorway of the school. His hair was a shiny midnight and his eyes were sparkling green. He wore a black leather jacket embellished with red on the arms over a crisp white button down shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. The outfit was completed with his worn in black boots. Behind him, Guri scooted in through the doorway and stepped up beside him. Guri’s hair had been dyed to a dark brown, but still looked just as messy. Guri had on his normal baggy faded jeans, black t-shirt and an unbuttoned flannel with his black Converse shoes. Obi’s jaw looked tense as they stood there, but Guri almost looked excited. Hitomi couldn’t help but roll her eyes a little at the thought of anyone being excited about high school.
“Oh my…” Kerry mumbled.
Obi glanced around until he locked eyes with Hitomi. She instantly felt her pulse quicken. Obi gave Guri a nudge and he spotted Hitomi.
“Oh crap. They’re looking over here,” Kerry said as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. Obi seemed to relax a little as he and Guri started walking towards them. “Oh my god, they’re coming over here.” Kerry elbowed Hitomi and turned to her. “Do I look alright?”
“Um hm.” Hitomi nodded and looked back over to them as they approached. Kerry spun back around and Hitomi had to contain a laugh.
“Hi. You must be the new students,” Kerry greeted with another hair toss as they stepped up to them.
Hitomi couldn’t take her eyes away from Obi. Obi gave Kerry a slight smirk and nodded before Guri stepped in front of him with his hand extended. Obi’s eyes fixed on Hitomi.
“I’m Guri and this…” He nudged Obi. “…is my cousin, Obsidian, or Obi.”
“I’m Kerry and this is Hitomi.”
Hitomi couldn’t understand why suddenly her cheeks turned crimson. There was something odd in the way that Obi was staring at her. He moved over to her and reached out taking her hand in his. “I believe we have first period together.” Hitomi watched from the corner of her eye as Kerry’s jaw practically dropped. She withheld a laugh. “I was hoping you could show me the way,” Obi added.
“Sure.” Hitomi grinned.
“You guys already know each other?” Kerry interrupted.
“We met…” Obi paused and tore his eyes away from Hitomi. “…before.”
The first bell rang and the people in the hallway began to scurry around.
“We should get to class,” Hitomi quickly said.
“I think we all have first period together. Can you show me where it is Kerry?” Guri replied as he offered his arm out to her.
“Um, okay.” Kerry agreed still watching Hitomi and Obi. She tore her eyes away from them and took his arm. They started down the hallway leaving Obi and Hitomi behind.
“What are you doing here?” Hitomi swiftly questioned.
“Well, Guri figured what better way to watch over you then to enroll in high school. Trust me, it wasn’t really my idea. But I did like the idea of being able to be with you more. And if that means I need to endure high school, then so be it.” Obi snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her heart thundered against her chest just being in his arms again.
“I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides, I didn’t really want to tell you while I was sneaking out your bedroom window this morning.” Hitomi smirked as he leaned down about to kiss her, just as the next bell rang. “See, now you made me late on my first day of school,” he joked.
“Great, now we’re going to have to stay for detention.” Hitomi sighed as he let her go and took her hand again intertwining his fingers with hers. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“As ready as I can be.” He shrugged and they started down the hall that was nearly void of any other students. Hitomi led him to the classroom and they walked in as Mr. Bardall was beginning his lecture.
“Nice of you to join us Ms. Beaumann. And I see you brought a friend,” Mr. Bardall said sarcastically. “Please take your seat Hitomi and I’ll be sure to see you in detention after school.”
Hitomi nodded and glanced up at Obi before letting go of his hand and moving back to her seat. She sat down next to Kerry and noticed Guri had somehow secured the seat in front of Kerry. Hitomi was thankful that the only other open seat in the room was in front of her.
“And who are you?” Mr. Bardall asked Obi. Obi handed him a slip of paper and he looked it over. “Okay, then Mr. McCullough, please take a seat in front of Ms. Beaumann and you can also join her in detention this afternoon. Welcome to Beach Village High.”
Obi gave a nod as he took the piece of paper back. He moved down the row of desks as every girl in the classroom watched him. He slid into the desk in front of Hitomi and promptly turned around. “What’s detention?”
Hitomi stifled another laugh. “I’ll explain it later. Now turn around and pay attention before you get us in more trouble.”
“How can I pay attention when you’re right behind me?” he whispered.
“Mr. McCullough, turn around,” Hitomi warned with a smile. Obi slowly shifted back in his seat. Once he turned back around, Kerry reached over and smacked her arm. Hitomi glanced up at Kerry mouthing the word ‘wow’ referring to Obi. Hitomi turned her eyes back forward but couldn’t seem to take her gaze away from Obi. She couldn’t believe he was sitting there in front of her.
The entire class was a blur and she didn’t snap back into reality until the bell rang. She quickly gathered up her things and got up from her seat as Obi waited for her. Guri occupied Kerry while they walked out of class and Obi took her hand as they walked out. He stopped outside the doorway and kissed the top of her hand.
“I’ll see you at lunch time.”
“Alright.”
“Meet me up on the roof, okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed as she gave him an odd look.
He grabbed Guri’s arm as they walked away leaving her with Kerry. She had no idea what story she was going to give her. Kerry nudged Hitomi as they both watched Guri and Obi walk down the hall.
“Guri told me everything,” Kerry blurted out.
“Huh?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you had gone to Chicago before to get tests done?”
“Um…”
“Anyway,” Kerry continued. “Guri told me how you and Obi met when you were in Chicago before and how hurt Obi was when you came back to Beach Village. Then he came here and found you out with Bradley and caused the scene at the dance. But you got really sick after that and you had to go back to Chicago. Guri told me how Obi wouldn’t leave your side and when you got better Obi decided to move here to be with you. So Guri came with him too. Why didn’t you tell me any of this? I never would have pushed you into dating Bradley.”
Hitomi shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well, don’t you ever keep anything from me again.” She wrapped her arm around Hitomi’s. “Now, what can you tell me about Guri? He’s pretty cute.”
Hitomi laughed. “Kerry, you’re crazy.” She shook her head as they walked to their next class, but she felt guilty because there was so much she hadn’t told her best friend. There was too much she wanted to be able to confide in her, but she wasn’t able to.
It seemed like forever until lunch period, but when the bell rang Hitomi already had everything packed up and she rushed out of the classroom. She hurried down the hallway and found the door to the stairwell. Making sure no one was watching, she pushed the door open and ran up the steps. She opened up the door to the roof and stepped out. Obi was standing with his back to her looking down over the side. She dropped her bag by the door and walked over to him.
“Why’d you want to meet up here?” she questioned as her body shivered from the cold. The sky had stopped spitting out icy rain but the wind had picked up.
He shrugged his shoulders as he turned around. “This is sort of the place where my life began.”
“What do you mean?” She stepped up in front of him and he wrapped his arms around her. Hitomi nuzzled her head against his chest enjoying the heat from his body.
“This is where I first saw you. That’s the day that my life began. My former life meant nothing. Everything that happened was so we could have this moment right now.” He let out a deep breath and leaned down whispering in her ear. “I will always be with you.”
“Do you promise?” Her voice was muffled against his chest and she looked up at him. White flakes started falling from the sky and Obi turned his head up. The snow quickly dusted Obi’s hair as she looked up. The flakes became a thick cover of white in the air. Obi brought his head down with a smile on his face. He brushed the snow from her hair and took her face in his hands. As she closed her eyes, he leaned down and tenderly kissed her.
Just the beginning.
Sweet Burden Series
Book 2 coming soon!
K. L. Ogden a.k.a Kristi L. Ogden lives in Ohio with her husband, daughter and four dogs. She graduated from DePaul University in 2000 with a degree in Communication and Film. Besides being obsessed with writing, she loves photography, music, movies and everything Jeep. She is currently working on Book 2 of the Sweet Burden Series.
Stay updated at klogden.blogspot.com or the Sweet Burden Series page on Facebook.