The Guy Next Door

Chapter 10
Tamako SachineRin's POV

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms as I laid back down on my pillow. "Len, can you talk to me seriously for once?" I asked. "I'm getting tired of your teasing." He pouted and I laughed. He really does look like...what's the word I'm looking for? Um...uh... Shouta! That's it! He looks like a little boy! How cute~

"Aw, what makes you think I'm teasing you, Rinny?" he asked.

"Because you're being really cheesy, Lenny," I pointed out. He laughed and dipped my towel in the ice water again. "Hey Len, can you do something for me? Look after Tamako. I'm gonna go to sleep." He smiled and adjusted my towel before he left. Okay, I admitted I lied. I was wide awake right now, but I wanted Len to make sure Tamako didn't get sick either. I stood up and tossed my towel into the ice water. I walked to my door and locked it before head to my desk. I opened my laptop and saw a new email in my inbox. I clicked it and saw that it was from Meiko.

Dear Rinny,

How is Tokyo? I hope you're having a bunch of fun! I'm with my little bro, Mieto, and we're having parties left and right here! Anyway, I heard that you found someone there that you liked~ How? Neru of course! She's texting us like crazy, as usual. Hey! I got another text from her right- YOU GOT RAPED? Oh my God, Rinny! I'm visiting you right now! I'm gonna ask your mom where in Tokyo your dad's villa is, so don't go anyway, okay? Bye!

Love, Mieko~

Why do I have a bad feeling about this? I sighed and shut my laptop. There's no need to respond if she's coming here. I think I should tell Neru about this. I wobbled back over to my bed and applied my towel to my head again before I texted Neru. Her response? Well, she didn't text me back, but I did hear certain screaming outside my door. I decided to close my eyes then and fall to sleep.

I woke up at six in the morning the next day and I groaned from my aching stomach. I can't believe I slept like a rock. The towel on my head was warm and I noticed my door was still locked. Oops. I felt better today, so I decided to take a shower and leave my room. Today, I wore a pink tank top and jean shorts. I also had my long blonde hair in two high ponytails, both to the back to my head. Bleh, it was really hot today. I tried to turn on the AC, but it was already on. There's no way I'd wanna go outside. I went downstairs to see everyone was still asleep. I can't believe it was this hot, this early! So for breakfask, I ate like four orange cream popsticles. Shh, don't tell anyone okay? I'd get in so much trouble if they found out. I went out to the pool out back and took off my flipflops to dip my feet in the water. Ahh, that's nice.

"I didn't know you'd be up so early." I turned around to see Miki there with a smile on her face. I looked at her in shock. "Oh, don't worry, I stayed over for the night in the guess bedroom." I nodded and she sat down next to me, dipping her feet into the water as well. "Don't you think it's really peaceful here?"

"Yeah," I said. "I've always liked the sound of swaying water. Like the sound you'd hear when you're by a stream."

"I love that sound!" she said. "You know, we have a waterfall in my backyard. I'd love to take you there! The view's really pretty."

"Really?" I asked. "That'd be wonderful!" I lied. There's no way in hell I'm going near a waterfall with Miki. Not after Rui almost died...maybe I should get a restraining order too...

"Hey, what do you think about Len?" Miki asked.

"Uh...he's flamboyant," I said. "He's a good friend, somewhat tsundere, and he's prone to violence." She giggled at the last part. "Um, Miki? Why did you kiss Jun in front of Len? Isn't he you're boyfriend?" Miki giggled again.

"Oh Rin, we're girls," she said, simply. "You know what, I'll show you how to be as flamboyant and as flirty as he is." She winked at me and my hands shot up like a guard.

"Oh no, that's just way too weird!" I said. "I think I'll stick to being myself, thanks." She giggled again and sighed.

"Well then, since you're really nice, I'll lend Len to you okay?" Miki asked. "But remember, he's still mine. I just have other things to do and I can't be with him all the time." I looked at her in shock, but she just smiled. "I need to go home now, so I'll see you later! Bye~" She skipped off and all I could do was watch in shock. What the hell?

"How do you lend someone to someone else like that?" I asked, out loud, not expecting an answer.

"You don't." I looked to my left to see Tamako walking towards me with her hands in her short pockets. "Good morning, Rin."

"Morning, Tamako," I said. "How are you?" She sat beside me and shrugged.

"I don't like being abandoned," she said. "So thank you for worrying about me. Len told me you sent him to take care of me." I nodded and patted her head. "I hate being small."

"Because you have to rely on others to help you?" I asked. She nodded. "I understand that." She leaned her head against my should and I smiled. She's such a nice kid, even if she really isn't a kid.

"Hey, I have an idea!" Tamako said, her happy side returning. "How about we all go to the mall?"

"We all?"

"You, me, Neru, Miku, Gumi, and that girl that came here last night!" she said. "She had short brown hair and a huge bust!" I looked at her in surprise that she actually said that. "Well, that's what I heard Jun say." She crossed her arms.

"Um...okay?" I said, a bit unsure. "How about we head to the mall in the afternoon so people will actually be awake?"

Well, Mieko did drive us to the mall, but on the ride there, she started on and on about how reckless I was and how she wasn't ever going to let me out of her sight ever again. We took a five person car with six people, so Neru let Gumi let Tamako sit on her lap in the back seat. I thought of what Len said yesterday and I thought of what Miki told me. Rei wasn't kidding when he said Miki treats guys like she treats items. It also made me wonder what Len was doing right now. I hadn't seen him at breakfast and when I knocked on his door to say 'thank you,' he room was empty. Huh.

"Rinny, the first thing we're doing when we get to the mall is get you and Neru new outfits!" Miku said, turning around from the passenger's seat to look at us. "I'm getting tired of seeing you the same kind of clothes. We're changing your style!" I glared at her.

"I told you before, I like how I am," I said. "If you're going to change anyone's style, change you're own." Miku rolled her eyes and Gumi laughed. Mieko drove us into a parking spot and we walked into the mall. Now let me tell you. Tokyo malls are huge! There were like five floors? Neru helped me close my mouth.

"So, what should we do first?" Tamako asked, walking on her own. Wow, she wore something I didn't expect to be her style. She wore a gray t-shirt and skinny jeans with flipflops.

"Hmm, well we could see what that's about," Gumi said, pointing to something ahead of them. It was a huge stage in the middle of the mall and a table in front of it with people signing up for something.

"Maybe it's a singing contest," Miku said. We went over and a girl passed us a flyer. Miku read it out loud. "'Annual Singing Contest. All are encouraged to participate in a fun event and the first place winner wins a $600 free shopping spree.' Well, girls? Do you think we should try it out?" We looked at each other and we shrugged.

"Why not?" I asked. Neru and Gumi went off to sign us up and the rest of us just waited by a giant potted plant. Why do that have these in malls? It's really weird. My phone started ringing so I answered it. "Hello? Rin here."

"Guess where I got your number?"

"From your crazy stalker powers, Lenny?" I asked, jokingly. He chuckled. "Anyway, what's up?"

"I heard you went somewhere without me," he said. "It kinda makes me sad."

"Aw, did you want to carry our shopping bags for us?" I asked. "I would have let you if you wanted." I saw two arms wrap around my shoulders and felt pressure as I saw blonde hair from the corner of my eye.

"No, but I followed you anyway," Len said. I shut my phone and blushed a bit.

"You're such a stalker," I said, looking ahead.

"Who's this?" Mieko asked, narrowing her eyes at Len. "Is he the one that raped you?"

"No, that's Len," Miku said. "He saved Rin from getting raped. Mieko, Len Kagamine. Len, Mieko Sakine." Len smiled and shook her hand as I raised an eyebrow at him. "Hey Len, how did you get here anyway?"

"That would probably be because I drove him here," Mikuo said, walking to us. "Hey sis." Behind him was Ren and Jun. "Rei and Rui had a date and Miki's...you know." I nodded, but only Mieko was slightly confused. We'd have to tell her later. Neru and Gumi came back a few seconds later and announced that we were all signed in. I also noticed the Len was still on my shoulders and hugging me from behind. Let me tell you, Ren did not look very happy.

"I'm sorta afraid to ask how the ride here went," I said.

"Quiet," Mikuo said. "Almost dead quiet if the radio was off." He looked at Tamako and she held his hand. Jun tried not to scowl. "So, what did you girls sign up for?" Gumi pointed to the stage.

"A singing contest," she said.

"But a better question would be what are you guys doing here?" Neru asked, shoving her phone into her back pocket. "It doesn't seem normal for all of you to come to the mall just because Len wanted to stalk Rin here."

"Truth?" Ren said, almost through gritted teeth. "I wanted to see Rin too. Jun also wanted to apologize to-"

"Apologly declined," Tamako said, cheerfully. "Because I don't know anyone name Jun." We all looked at her and she just smiled.

"All contest participants please make their way back to the main stage," the PC called. Then it repeated itself.

"Well, we should be going," Mieko said. "Coming Rin?" I tried to move, but Len would release me.

"I'll only let you go if you kiss me yourself."

...What?