LoveStoned

LoveStoned
Chapter 3
The Invite


After the initial shock had warn off Lavi found himself wondering what had brought the reasonably wealthy son of a Japanese tycoon doing in this side of town. I mean Lenalee and her brother were well off from their inheritance but this was definitely not the taller boy's side of town but yet here he was. Walking around. Like it was completely natural.

His cold stare was as chilling as ever as Kanda sized him up. Lavi drew back a litter, Oh great. He must be wondering "what kinda freak wonders around at this hour?" But wait! He's out here too. Stop looking at me so accusingly you hypocrite!
The redhead found himself beginning to narrow his teal eyes into a mirroring suspicious glare.
"What are you doing here?"
"Walking. What are you doing?" he replied quickly and coldly.
"Same."
"I see."

It was silent now except for the faint sound of summer cicadas in the nearby trees and a single cricket chirping somewhere in the grass, "No seriously…what are you doing?" Lavi finally gave in and rubbed the back of his neck trying to appear casual as he stuffed a hand into his jean pocket. Kanda's face gave away nothing as he stood, still silent. Lavi finally sighed.
"Look nevermind, it's none of my business. Excuse me."
The slightly shorter boy shrugged and dropped his hand from his neck and moved to walk past the black haired boy. Lavi was only a few inches past him when Kanda finally spoke, "I'm…I was looking for the…uh…Seven Eleven that’s a few miles from my house…I…I got lost."

Kanda crossed his arms as he turned to stare at the redheads back. Lavi detected the I-dare-you-to-laugh vibe emitting from the stoic boy as he stared at his back.
"……I must have taken a wrong turn-" Kanda continued with a grumble, "-and before I knew it was dark."
Lavi nodded and faced him, "So where do you live?"
Kanda suddenly glared at him with irritation, "…Knolls." He finally said averting his eyes in embarrassment.

Lavi's jaw dropped, "You walk all the way from Knolls?! It's all the way on the other side of town!"
The Knolls, short for the Rolling Knolls, was a neighborhood built up in the hilly section of the town and housed the biggest and most expensive houses outside of the city borders. The redhead's eyes narrowed in slight suspicion, why in the world would Kanda walk all the way down here just to go to a Seven Eleven? Something was up…something the dark haired boy wasn't telling him. Kanda must have noticed his sudden suspicious and he instantly drew back his shoulders and glared a little narrower at Lavi.
"You gonna help me get back or what? If not then piss off."
Lavi tensed and the corner of his mouth twitched into a frown, There I go pissing him off again…but god he's so cranky all the time.
"Fine. I'll help you I guess…I'll get you back to a familiar place then you will have to go back yourself the rest of the way. My guardian will freak if I don't report in soon."

Lavi rubbed his visible eye and walked past the other boy, who was sure to move as far back as possible from the redhead, "Come on."
Kanda said nothing and waited for Lavi to be a few steps ahead before following after, "So…what do you mean report in?"
The redhead coughed into his fist and hoped to quickly brush off that question, "Uh, I go to school here but really I kinda belong to the government. My parent died when I was really young and well…panda-san hasn't finished all the red tape for my adoption."

Kanda stared at him with a puzzled but still slightly irritated look, "Panda…san?"
"Oh yeah, heh…that's what I call him, he is a tutor of some kind but anyway does anything look familiar yet?"
The long haired boy scoffed and quickly looked around and then just as quickly turned back to Lavi, "No."
"You hardly even glanced!"
Kanda scowled, "You calling me a liar? I said I don't know so I don't know!"
Lavi gritted his teeth slightly and quickly flicked one of the rubber bracelets he liked to wear, I spent all my time thinking he personally didn't like me but now I see! He's an asshole to everyone! How completely unattractive…how do the girls like him?
The long haired boy noticed the way Lavi was staring at him with a look of disgust when he thought his head was turned and quickly flared in rage,
"I didn't ask you to help me so if it's such a bother why not just go home!"

Kanda turned on his heel and quickly began to walk away from the scowling red haired boy who was now frowning in annoyed confusion.
"Hey! I didn't offer to help you! You tricked me into it-hey! Hey wait!"
Kanda was half jogging away from Lavi now and the redhead could feel his cheeks growing hot, "You're going the wrong way! Just stop okay?"
The blue haired teen whipped around and stood glaring straight into Lavi's eyes expectantly, "Fine. Which way."

Lavi sighed heavily This guy is hopeless! He's so…
Lavi's thoughts stopped as he noticed the way Kanda wouldn't look him in the eyes. Maybe he regretted acting like such a child now. Dark eyes quickly flashed up in time to see the soft way the other boy was looking at him and growled, "What the hell are you looking at? If you know where we're going then go already."
The redhead bit back the insult that was forming on his tongue and gave a grunt of contempt as he pushed past Kanda.

They spent the next twenty or so minutes in silence, Lavi walking slowly in front with his hands deep inside is pockets as Kanda trailed behind. The roads were beginning to slope more which was the first sign they were getting closer to the Knolls.
"Hey-" Lavi called over his shoulder to Kanda, -"this looking familiar yet?"

Kanda sighed, "Yeah. I live up the road a little more but I know where we are."
Lavi tried to hide his relief as he stopped and waited for the long haired boy to stand next to him underneath the street lamp.
"Okay well…I better head back. It will be morning by the time I get home." Lavi chuckled to himself, exhausted from the long walk. Without another word he headed back down the slope until he felt a hand tug on his upper arm.

"Uh, hey."
Lavi looked over the visibly awkward boy as he grimaced, "Thanks for the help. I guess I'll see you at school…you still have to finish your column right? You can come by whenever…"
Lavi tried to hide a small smile and he nodded silently.
"Well…bye."
Kanda turned and headed off leaving Lavi looking after him as he went.
He has such creepy mood swings! One minute he's biting my head off and the next he's being all shy and nice…he rarely ever hangs out with anyone so maybe…maybe he's so awkward because he doesn't know how to talk to anyone.

Pity it seemed compelled him to yell after the Japanese boy.
"Hey! Kanda!"
Dark eyes looked down at him with interest, "You know…Allen, Lenalee, and me were going to go out on Friday night. Some of the kendo club people may be there too…do you want to come with us?"

He could have sworn he saw Kanda's face flare up but it was dark and no way would that cold faced guy ever blush. However his voice wavered slightly as he answered, "Er-…alright. I'll meet you guys after school I guess."
The redhead grinned, "Great. See you." With one last wave Lavi headed down the slope quickly back to the main street and only when he was sure Kanda was far far away he grabbed a fistful of his hair and kicked at the ground.
"Stupid stupid stupid! Why the hell would I randomly invite some hardass guy I barely know- Jesus the others are going to hate him." He chuckled darkly as he stuffed his hands back in his pockets and walked down the street.
The sun was starting to rise and the trees had taken a red tint and the leaves transparent from the rays.

"Panda-san is going to be so sooo pissed."