Negative Triangle

Chapter 2
Sake, Leeks and Ice Cream

As Rin and Len finally arrived at Greenswurth Park, laden with picnic baskets and a cooler, they were immediately greeted by screaming Miku.

"Did you get all the food? You know, the leeks and stuff? The leeks?"

Rin smiled at how excited her friend was; eighteen and still the cutest darn thing there ever was.

"Yes, yes, we have the food," Len said, smiling as well. "And the leeks. Would you mind taking one of the baskets?"

Miku's face lit up. "Sure!"

"Kaito! Meiko! The foods here!" Miku called to the two figures sitting under one of the many magnificent oaks that stood towering over the park's boundaries. They sat up and came to meet them.

"Great timing," Meiko said, a hand on her hip. "Teto said on the phone that the UTAUs would be here in about 15 minutes."

Kaito took the blue cooler from Rin, opened it and looked inside, obviously looking for his favorite food, ice cream. Judging by the blissful expression on the blue-haired man's face, Rin figured he'd found it.

Meiko shut the cooler closed before Kaito could drool on the contents inside and aimed a punch at the younger man's shoulder.

"Ow!" Kaito yelped. "Okay, okay, I'm going, I'm going!"

Under the fully bloomed grand oak, Len pulled out a red and white checkered tablecloth, and spread it out on the ground.

They all sat down gratefully; it was one hot day.

A little while later, heads turned to the scene of five UTAUs marching towards them. It was Haku, Ted, Teto, Luka and Neru.

As they got closer, Rin noticed that Neru had a concentrated look on her face.

'I wonder what's up with her…' she thought curiously.

Usually Neru looked grumpy, with eyes fixed on her cellphone, but today there was no phone in sight. Shrugging it off, Rin waved enthusiastically to Teto and Haku. They were her two best friends, besides Len, of course.

They waved back happily, and ran over for a tackle hug. Lying flat on her back after the impact, Rin took in a deep breath, satisfied to be with her friends again. Haku smelled like alcohol and Teto reeked of fresh bread.

God she'd missed those scents.

How long had it been since she'd last seen them? Two months? Rin couldn't remember.

Suddenly ultra thankful that she'd planned this reunion, the short haired blonde melted into a pleasant conversation about tuna fish sandwiches.

The rest of the day passed in recalling old times, truth or dare and teasing. But late in the evening when the park lights starting to fire up, things took a very dramatic turn.

"Sh..so Neru… is there anyone you *hic* lhike…?" Meiko's words were slurred and sluggish, the woman was heavily drunk and on the verge of passing out.

Neru's face went blank for a second, surprised by the question.

"What? N-no!" the long-haired UTAU said a little too quickly.

"Ogh…? Who *hic ish it..? Ted?" Meiko paused to take another swig at the sake bottle clenched in her hand. "Ah! I knohw! It'sh L-*hic*Len!"

Silence fell over the group.

"M-me?" Len squeaked out suddenly.

"Yearh!" Meiko laughed stupidly. "Ne-Nehru w-*hic*wuves y-you!" And with that the brunette tipped over and lost consciousness, her head landing into a very dumbfounded Len's lap. The teenager's mouth was hanging open, his eye's were wide and glazed over, his whole body locked in a state of shock.

"I-I don't believe this!" Neru shouted, leaping to her feet, making everyone except Len and Meiko jump. "You're all idiots to believe that I'd ever like Len!"

"Neru!" gasped Ted and Luka at the same time.

Rin was slowly getting angrier and angrier. How could Neru like Len? Couldn't she tell that Rin-

'What am I thinking? Neru has every right to be attracted to Len. It's not like I care!' she thought savagely.

But deep down Rin knew her heart was steadily ripping in two. She did care, a lot for that matter. She-she-s-she….

"I LOVE HIM!"

Everyone's attention snapped to Rin, including Len's. What had she just said? Had she just said she "Loved him,"? Loved Len?

Tear's and a rush of hot blood rushed to Rin's face. She hadn't meant to say that out loud! She clasped her hands over her mouth and scrambled to her feet. One look at Neru's rage filled face and she was gone. She didn't where, but anywhere was better than Greenswurth Park.