Chapter 1

If turmoil had a name, it would be Hotaru Tomoe. The resident goth of Rei's high school, this girl was hardly ever to be noticed, let alone involved. Rei was queen bee and the most respected student -- albeit silently.

Someone like Tomoe never even crossed her mind -- until today. Raven locks askew on her desk, Rei groaned inwardly. Then why exactly did the girl keep running through her mind? Usually, the miko would hardly even notice someone as reserved and seemingly unimportant as Tomoe. But not today.

---------Flashback---------

Rei drummed her pencil, bored to death. She had long forgotten why she had taken this English Literature class. She stared blankly at nothing in particular with her chin resting on her hand.

"Rei?" The raven-haired student snapped back into reality when the teacher called her name.

"Yes, ma'am?" She asked flatly. The teacher sighed.

"You really need to pay a little more attention, Ms. Hino. Your midterms are coming up." Her educator scolded, and then continued. "I said, 'At whose estate did Fitzwilliam Darcy deliver his love letter to Elizabeth?'"

"The short guy. The cousin or something. The one who married the sister. Uh, I don't recall his n--" Someone to Rei's right shifted and the teacher averted her gaze.

"Yes, Ms. Tomoe?"

"Mr. Collins. Married to Charlotte. It was their estate at which the letter was delivered." The person said matter-of-factly.

"Yes. That's right, Hotaru. Now, someone tell me…" The teacher continued to speak as Rei looked to her right, catching sight of a very smug, but somehow indifferent Hotaru Tomoe. No one had ever been so bold as to interrupt Rei Hino before, much less correct her in the process. Rei inspected the girl. Jet-black hair fell just to her black-clad shoulders. She was looking ahead, listening to the lecture, not even paying Rei the slightest of heed. Hotaru held the raven-haired senshi's attention, without her knowledge, for the rest of the class.

Even after class, Rei was still shocked. Someone had dared do something like that to her in the middle of class? She would not have thought that could happen in a million years, much less by Hotaru Tomoe. The girl was usually so quiet and reserved. Not to mention, Rei was the most popular girl in school, whereas Hotaru was most likely the least popular. Ms. Queen Bee made a fool by Gothika herself.

Rei and her three closest friends, Minako, Ami, and Makoto, walked into the lunchroom with a very sophisticated air about them. However, none rivaled that of Haruka and Michiru -- the cutest, most successful, and incredibly nonchalant couple that ever did live. Even the inners had to admit that the two musicians were exactly what everyone wanted to be.

They all met at their usual table against the wall farthest from the entrance. As much as they tried not to, the group always held the attention of everyone who walked into the room. They tried to keep themselves as overlooked as possible, but being the best-looking people at the school, that was always difficult.

"I wish they would gawk elsewhere." Haruka sighed. The tall blonde hated being watched all day as if she were a very interesting movie.

"We all know you like the attention, love." said Michiru proudly.

"Yeah, but she doesn't like you getting the same attention. You could just walk past the football team and have them all on their knees." Minako observed matter-of-factly.

Haruka shot her a glare, causing Minako to giggle innocently and change the subject to a date she apparently had on Saturday. She had been dating some mystery person for a few weeks now, but refused to allow her friends to meet them. She said they would meet when the time was right, which apparently, it was not.

As Mina gushed, Makoto said just loud enough for the others to hear, "Have you noticed how distant Rei is being?" Everyone immediately looked toward the miko with interest. She had indeed been quite reserved since hour three. She was spaced out with an empty gaze directed toward the lunchroom's entrance as she hugged her knees to her chest, leaning back against her chair.

"Rei?" Ami moved her hand in front of Rei's face, trying to catch her attention. Abruptly, Rei's body hardened, along with her expression. Her eyes widened in what seemed to be anger and/or interest. Everyone tried to see what exactly their friend had, but saw absolutely nothing of interest -- everyone except Michiru, who noticed exactly what had affected Rei. She smirked with wisdom as everyone else strained to understand Rei's issue.

The fire senshi pulled herself from her reverie, noticing four questioning gazes and one of intrigue and amusement fall upon her. She shrugged and pulled out her iPod, her music a happy escape from reality. The rest of the gang left her alone, seeing that it was probably just an off day for Rei and that it would most likely be better not to cross her. As nosy as they all were, they were also understanding.

---------End Flashback---------

Sighing for what seemed the millionth time in the past few hours, Rei heard her cell ring a familiar, soft violin solo. She flipped it open and spoke. "Yes, Michi?"

"Are you still pining after forbidden fruit?" came an amused voice from the other end.

Rei almost exclaimed, "What on Earth do you mean by that?"

"Hotaru Tomoe." Michiru stated blatantly.

"Still at a loss here."

"I saw how you were acting at lunch. Everyone did. But it was I who discovered why."

Sarcasm ever-present, Rei sighed. "I'm befuddled as to what you mean, guru."

"Oh, stop that. You know exactly what I mean. She irks you for some reason. You like her, don't you?"

"No, she just annoys me. Especially today."

Giggles and scolding ensued in the background and Rei rolled her eyes. "Let's meet for lunch tomorrow. I have a very needy Ruka-koi to attend to right now."

"Eew. Okay, how about eleven?"

"Sounds good."

Rei closed her phone and groaned at the thought of having to explain herself to the all-knowing Michiru tomorrow. It would be nothing but prying and intuitive feedback. Why did she always have to know everything?