The Final Mark

     Mai woke up in the morning feeling not too good. She couldn’t tell if it was the anxiety or just the day. There was an unpredicted snowstorm last night. Global warming my ass. That’s what she always though. It was late may and it snowed. Unfortunately her window was left open. It got cold.

     She had slept it, but it was the weekend, so it didn’t really matter. Mai was just that tired and cold. Cold. Why was it so cold? Mai never understood this. Snow in may? It’s nothing new, but you get used to it. Mai simply wandered downstairs to get something warm, but not too warm, to drink. The school has been closed. That’s what the news said. So much for studying today.

     Her parents were at work and her sister at tutoring. Home alone again. Should she start a party? Mai laughed at that thought. She didn’t have enough friends, or people who liked her or that matter, to have a party. Maybe Aiko could come over though.

     The message was sent before she realized it. She hoped that Aiko would be able to come over. That would be nice.

     It was about an hour before Aiko responded. It never took her this long to respond, but then again it was the weekend. Perhaps she was just asleep, but Mai didn’t care because Aiko agreed to come over. Yes.

     About an hour later the knock came on the door. Mai’s heart raced and she hurried for the door. Quickly she stopped by a mirror and made sure she looked presentable before opening the door. Aiko stood there. Mai’s mouth opened a little bit.

     “Don’t you look nice today,” said Mai. Mai then started blushing.

     Aiko blushed too, “why thank you.” Mai then invited Aiko in and they went to Mai’s room.

     “Thanks for an amazing school year so far,” said Mai to strike up conversation.

     “Don’t mention it,” said Aiko. Aiko started looking around Mai’s room. She seemed to like it a lot. “Nice little home you have here.”

     “Thank you,” replied Mai.

     “What do you all have here?”

     “Nothing much. Just little things.”

     “I see you like music.”

     “Ya, I do.”

     “Do you sing?”

     “Of course,” Mai said with almost too much confidence.

     Aiko turned back to her, “may I hear?” The question rang through Mai’s ears. Mai had a lot of trouble performing in front of others.

     “S-sure,” she stuttered. Her gathered her voice and started to sing. Only a minute of the song, but she song none the less. When Mai stopped she looked to Aiko.

     “Did it sound good?”

     “Good,” responded Aiko. She sat and thought for a few seconds. “No.” Mai’s smile instantly disappeared. “It sound beautiful.” Mai smiled a bit again and pushed Aiko.

     “Don’t do that to me,” said Mai. They both laughed. Her laugh. Again with these feelings.

     “Sorry,” Aiko joked. “Hey what’s this?” Aiko reached over and picked up a book. Mai’s heart dropped and she quickly snatched the book from Aiko’s hand and held it close to her. Instead Mai handed her another book in which she could gaze her eyes. People were always so curious.  Leave alone for a few minutes and they could wreck a place. They can be worse than cats. If curiosity killed that cat Mai did not want to know what curiosity did to people.