Chapter One

She was not a girlfriend you brought home to meet your parents. Nor was she the friend you told your folks about, or the type of girl you were supposed to admire or even associate with at school.

But, she was exotic to the kids at school who stressed over their tests. She was dangerous and exciting, like strong alcohol.

She was a teen idol.

Sixteen and beautiful; long legs, short hair. Doleful brown eyes that feigned innocence on a regular basis and a smirk so severe that even grown adults tended to avoid it.

A thrilling mix between gorgeous and dangerous.

Another boring class. What was she supposed to be learning about? By this point, she had stock answers for everything. If she had history class, she'd glance at the board and look for clues before pulling a year out of the blue. In literature, she made up something dumb about a character or meaning. Maths was easier still; glance at the book next to her and answer with confidence.

'Was the year 1887? No? Oh, how embarrassing, I meant 1894.'

'Personally, Sir, I think the line of the poem is referencing to the author's inner torment. All those blue melancholy colours, Sir, they have to mean something.'

'The answer to question seven…is thirteen point five.'

She wasn't completely lazy. Unmotivated. Had better things to do with her time; parties to go to, people to meet. Rules to disobey and points to make.

"Meiko?"

The said girl turned her head, having been yanked rudely out of her thoughts. "Hm?" There was almost always some sort of arrogance in her voice, but it could hardly be helped.

Miki smiled at her friend shyly. There was an unlikely pair. The teachers were always dumbfounded. "Homework. Teacher wants it…You can copy mine, you know! Offer's always there."

The red haired girl continued to smile at her friend, despite the fact that Meiko looked unimpressed. Meiko hated homework more than anything. What a stupid, childish sounding word. What a stupid thing to give out. What was the point? What was the point in any of it at all? She had better things to waste her life with.

Totally uncool.

"You know I haven't done or copied your homework for at least a year and a half."

Miki's smile faltered. The teacher lingered behind Meiko's chair with a stubborn scowl.

"I have noticed," he scolded. "So I'll just have to keep you after class to tell you how idiotic it is to keep this act up."

"I'm a good actress," Meiko replied, smiling up at the man. "I could keep this up for the longest time."

When the teacher wandered away, all the other pieces of homework collected, Miki smiled uneasily at her friend. Best friend. Childhood friend.

People always seemed shocked when they learnt that Miki was friends with the infamous Meiko Sakine. They were exact opposites. Even their taste is music was massively different: Miki liked sweet and sugary bubblegum pop whereas Meiko wanted strong, powerful guitars and melancholy lyrics.

Miki wanted her teachers to favour her and like her. Meiko wanted to teach them all a lesson or two herself, prove a point that she had yet to find.

Miki wanted a sweet boyfriend who told her he loved her and lent her his jumper. Meiko despised the very thought.

The one thing they perhaps did have in common, was the painful need to be loved. However, it was also this fact that made them very different.

Miki was a chaser, whereas Meiko was indifferent. You could love her if you liked, but it didn't mean she'd recognise it.

However, they liked each other. They were close. Perhaps they didn't understand each other all the time, but it was close enough for them.

'Poor Meiko,' Miki thought. 'She just goes about things the wrong way.'

Tick, tick, tick.

Come on, you bastard.

"So, class, I'll have the homework marked by next Wednesday, alright? In the meantime you can revise in your study booklets, pages thirty two to thirty four. Revise hard because…-"

Tick, tick, tick.

Ten seconds.

Come on, come on!

Meiko did not pretend to be a patient person. Especially not when it came to waiting for classes to end. She wanted to leave and she wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Come one.

"So the test is now next Friday."

Suddenly, brilliantly, the bell rang. All at once, the students were scraping their chairs back, opening the door and filling the corridors.

Perhaps Meiko could sneak away, if she was quick enough. She stood up and tried to merge in with the stampede of her peers.

"Meiko? I remember asking you to stay behind for a word, no?"

The girl turned begrudgingly. "No?"

"Very funny." The teacher, Mr Honne, stood up and eyed his disobedient pupil. He had to admit, he didn't dislike Meiko. She had good aspects to her for a teenager, and Mr Honne could hardly claim to being an angel back in the day either.

However, at the end of the day, she was unstructured, and didn't complete any of the work he set.

"So. Why no homework? And do you want to do up your top button while you're here?"

Meiko nearly cringed, reluctantly doing up the top button of her uniform shirt. She could sense it already: he was not going to shout at her. He was going to try and be understanding.

That was the worst.

"I didn't have time to do the homework," she muttered, tousling her hair with one hand before meeting the teacher's eyes. "I already knew how to do it. I didn't need any practice."

How arrogant of her.

Mr Honne's eyes washed over her. She didn't look guilty. She looked bored. "And what of your other classes?" he questioned. "Do you hand in the work for your other teachers?"

"No."

"But you know how to do everything."

"My C grade average has yet to be challenged."

The teacher didn't allow himself to smile. Just as he was about to make more of a cutting remark, there was a polite knock on the door. He glanced over, and saw Meiko smiling at him mischievously, as if she knew that his would-have-been rant had been cut off.

"Come in," Honne sighed wearily.

The door edged open shyly, and through it came Luka Megurine, another girl in Meiko's year group. They only knew each other through rumour and gossip, but could easily recognise each other.

Simply put, Luka was a very attractive young woman. She and Meiko were around the same height, both of them being decently tall. Defined features and vivid eyes. An aurora of elegance and mystery. Meiko recognised the other girl's beauty, and, who could blame her?

Meiko liked girls, and she liked to admire them, even if it was for mainly superficial reasons.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Sir," Luka began. She was confident enough, hardly interested in Meiko at all. "I just had that work to hand in."

A small smirk appeared on the teacher's face. "See, Meiko. This is what good students do. They hand in work and respect their teachers."

Meiko held back a disrespectful and possible detention worthy remark. Mr Honne seemed pleased. That smirk of triumph was still painted on his face, and Meiko decided to let him have it, this time.

"I'm giving you another sheet," the teacher continued. "I want it in on Wednesday, and that's final."

"Sir yes sir," Meiko chimed.

"I'm sorry for keeping you Luka. Meiko, you are excused."

And finally, she was free. The brunette slung her bag over her shoulder, striding to the door and opening it. She was polite enough to also hold it open for Luka whilst she walked through.

The pair began to walk in the same direction, although, Meiko was hurrying ahead. She didn't look rushed, but she looked quick. It was one thing admiring a girl, but right now all she needed was a smoke. Not some sappy conversation with a slightly preppy, although very gorgeous, girl.

Of course, Luka had heard all about Meiko Sakine. The gaggle of girls she was friends with adored retelling stories of what she's done with who and where. They all ridiculed her.

But Luka? She couldn't help but find it…interesting. She was no goody two shoes, but she wasn't rebelling, either. She happily stood at the middle of the spectrum, popular enough to be admired, and smart enough not to get herself into too much trouble. She kept her parents happy and her desires to herself.

And this interest, wondering what it would be like to be on the other side, to be Meiko, is what lead her to ask the question.

"Are you…Are you going to the party this Friday?" Her words were cool. Casual sounding.

Meiko turned, smiling, but also looking surprised. "And why would you want to know?"

"I was just wondering," Luka muttered, feeling stupid for having asked the question. "There's no need to be arrogant about it."

There was a small pause.

No point offending a pretty face, right?

"I'm going. Of course I'm going." Meiko looked at Luka curiously. "Now, seriously. Why are you so interested?"

"I'm going too."

"Oh yeah? First timer?"

"Don't be stupid."

Another mischievous and teasing grin found it's way on Meiko's face. "Party regular?"

"I've been to enough," Luka retorted haughtily. "I guess I'll see you there, unless you're too busy doing maths homework."

The pink haired girl gave Meiko her own little smirk as she walked past her, before swaggering down the corridor and disappearing down the stairs.

Meiko had to pause for a second. So. She'd see Luka at the party?

And for some reason, she was interested in her, hm?

However, the brunette was only left with her thought for a second, as soon enough, Miki jogged up the stairs and met Meiko in the corridor.

"Thought I'd find you here. Was Mr Honne tough on you? I hope not. I mean, you can just do the homework some other time, right?"

Meiko disregarded her comments. "Are you going to that party on Friday?"

"Huh?" Miki's eyes widened, but then she had to pause, and think. "I wasn't planning to…But, maybe?"

Sometimes Miki avoided parties simply to avoid seeing Meiko drunk.

The brunette started to head down the corridor. "Yeah. I'm going."

AN: Please read and review. I'm very interested in feedback and thoughts.