*sigh* I'm a pathetic creature, I know. I've been stuck at writer's block for who knows how long...It's a miracle I actually managed to get off of it.

This first attempt at a contest entry was the result of... weirdness. Don't ask. Please.

Anyhow, please read, and review.

There's nothing like a pissed off friend to ruin a perfectly good Saturday afternoon. Especially when that said friend has a tendency to blow up when she's pissed. And so, the consequences aren't really that good for your health, right? Blown up houses aren't beneficial for the already deteriorating health of the world.

It's times like these when I wonder why I hang out with people like that.

"ZELDA SHEIK HARKINIAN! YOU GET YOUR LAZY BUTT DOWN HERE BEFORE I COME UP AND KICK IT DOWN!" Samus hollered in an irritated voice. Dangit. I had no idea that the boys would actually be here before the expected time. Usually they were later than me. And that was saying something.

"Coming!" I yelled back as I swung my bag over my shoulder and dashed out the door. My cute-but not entirely utilitarian- sandals caused me to slip as I stumbled down the stairs two at a time. Adding to the huge racket was the long string of profanities I muttered as I hobbled down the stairway, trying – and failing—to keep my klutzy body upright. My problems with balance weren't entirely the shoes' fault; I could barely walk across a nice, stable surface without either tripping over my own feet or over nothing. Whichever came first. Or was more convenient.

"Sorry," I apologized quickly as I threw open the mahogany front door. Peach, bubbly as ever in her blush pink attire, smiled sweetly at me as I skidded to a stop. I couldn't help but smile back. Peach was one of those irresistible sweet blonds, the type that was gentle and would apologize if she even just breathed on you by accident. But behind the pretty face and makeup she was a walking-talking dormant volcano. Literally. In other words, if you riled Peach up beyond reason, you'd winning yourself a one-way, and not entirely healthy, expense-paid trip to the afterlife. Bowser Koopa learned that the hard way. Poor guy's probably traumatized for the rest of his life.

Despite the obvious—okay, maybe not—danger that Peach was, I wasn't worried about her just then. It was the ticking blond bomb in electric blue next to her that scared me silly. Think of a Guerilla Warfare Barbie, with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail wearing a lightning blue shirt and denim jeans. Then add a murderous smirk onto the Barbie's face. Ta-da! You've got a Samus.

Samus glared at me, her lip curling back dangerously. Like any sane person with survival skills would've done, I immediately moved back a pace before she could come into close quarters. Letting a pissed off Samus to get close to you is suicide. I know that first hand. Barbie dolls aren't usually life-threatening, but you'd be biting off more than you could ever chew with Samus. Trust me.

I am so screwed.

"Look," I protested as I continued to back up, keeping a safe distance between me and Samus's suspiciously twitching fingers, "I said I was sorry! Besides, it's not even 4:15 yet."

"We told you to meet us at 4:00," Samus growled, her expression murderous. "You've had us waiting out here for more than ten minutes. You get me? It's 4:13."

"Yes," I said in a placating tone. "It is. But remember, it's Marth, Ike, and the others who are picking us up, right?" I still maintained the length of a van between me and my best friend and soon-to-be murderer.

"Yes." Samus's answer was curt. I could tell she wanted to cut the chitchat and just get to strangling me.

"And they're usually at least fifteen minutes late," I stated proudly, a smug grin plastered across my face. Samus's murderous intentions faltered. She could see the infallible and undeniable logic behind my reasoning.

"Maybe you're right," Samus sighed, frowning.

"When am I not, Aran?"

"Don't push it, Harkinian." But her smile was genuine this time. That was good. My death was postponed to another time.

Peach giggled, and Samus and I couldn't help but join in. Charismatic little Peach could send a country on strike if she wanted to. But being docile pacifist, she preferred to keep the killing between me and Samus to a minimum, instead of inciting more not so eco-friendly wars.

"So, what's today's agenda?" I asked, hitching my knapsack a little higher up as Samus stared at the sky as if she were thinking about different ways to punish the boys for being so late. I pitied them. Peach opened her frilly bubblegum-pink planner that had been tucked under her arm and consulted it.

"Hmmm… Let's see. Today's the fifth of February. About nine days until Valentine 's Day... Well, I guess we'll be choosing which song to perform in honor of my favorite holiday." She snapped the book shut. "Pit said he was working on a special song."

"Probably to keep you happy," I muttered in undertone. "No sane person wants you trying to rip them limb from limb for ignoring your favorite holiday."

As I said before, an angry Peach is not something you'd ever want to see.

Peach giggled. "I guess I am a bit overprotective of Valentine's Day." Haha. No kidding.

"And enthusiastic," Samus added. "Last time, you decorated my whole house with red and pink roses. Just because we were celebrating didn't mean you had to unearth your whole garden and plop it into my living room."

Peach tittered, blushing. "I'm sorry, I got carried away."

"Don't I know it," Samus laughed. "But it actually looked nice, though."

"When does anything I ever dress up does look bad?" Peach questioned, looking amazed. "I wasn't aware that any of my works were a failure."

"…You don't need to rub it in."

"Teehee!"

The sudden sound of screeching tires turned our attention to the front of my driveway. A small green Honda parked at the edge of the sidewalk, and a slightly feminine looking azure-haired boy in blue hopped out of the vehicle, smiling apologetically. I checked my watch. 4:15 exactly. Samus and I exchanged amused glances as we walked toward the car.

Marth was still smiling sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that. We had to drop Ike off at Pit's, y'know, because there wouldn't be enough room for you guys. Anyways, Link's waiting."

He ushered us toward the car. Samus, Peach, and I clambered in as he slid into the front seat. Pop blared from the radio. The blond boy in the driver's seat turned to smirk crookedly at us, his cerulean eyes bright.

"Hey, Zel, Samus, Peach." Link grinned at the annoyed look on Samus's face. "Sorry about being late and all. Sam, when we get to Pit's house, keep the mauling and killing to a minimum, alright? Pit'll be mad if you get rid of the bassist and keyboard pianist. And he'll be worse if he has to clean up the blood stains." The green of his T-shirt accented the nice blue of his eyes. Mmm….

Samus huffed as she turned away, muttering, "Stupid. What's wrong with a little blood? Geez.."

Link turned his gaze on me before turning back around. My heart spluttered hyperactively like a jackhammer on a sugar high. Samus had lost her angry pout and was now giving me an amused look.

Dammit, Marth. I want your seat.

"You like him, Zel." Peach's soft whisper broke through my fruitless attempt at telepathically ejecting Marth out the window.

"Hm?" I mumbled, disoriented. "Who?"

"The blond guy you've been drooling over since hour one," Samus chimed in proudly. I was miffed.

"Link and I have been friends since childhood," I retorted, shooting a worried glance at Link and Marth. Luckily, the music was loud enough to mask our whispers. And to make thing a little safer, Marth and Link were having a heated debate. "I wasn't lewd at the age of eight."

"But you are now." Samus was still grinning.

"Because of your influence," I grumbled, turning away with poor grace. It didn't matter what I said now. Samus would always be convinced that she was right.

As much as I wished she weren't, she was. Not that I would ever let her know it.

It wasn't that Link was probably the cutest guy in the world. That was only part of it. We were friends since childhood. Link was an orphan. His parents, who were friends of mine, died in a car crash. When that happened, my father and mother took him in while his uncle mad his way across the country. Once his uncle had found lodging for both him and Link, Link moved in with only living relative. But his apartment was near my family's home, so he visited often. We were nearly inseparable in elementary school. We walked together to school. Had study lessons at my house. Watched rented movies at his.

Link was the best friend I could ever ask for. He was everything a girl could want. He'd always been cute, sure. But he had a good temper too, considering that he was able to put up with a short-fused bomb like me. He had a good sense of humor, one that could cheer me up no matter what, whether I did horrible on a test or I was just mad for the heck of it. He was always ready to make time for me. But he had his faults, too, such as being too nice at times and having a tendency to talk to animals. But those faults made me like him more. After all, he was only human. I wanted to damn him to the deepest pits of hell for being such an irresistible guy.

On second thought… no, I wouldn't do that. But I wish I could do something to make Link less decent and more of a stuck up bastard. Then maybe I wouldn't be so attracted to him.

Maybe. Okay, probably not.

"We're here," Peach said, prodding me in the side so I squeaked. I thrust the door and open and climbed out the car, miraculously keeping my balance for the moment. Peach, Samus, and Marth followed as Link turned off the ignition and joined us. The house in front of us was huge, white and picturesque as any mansion in fairytales. I could see a petite brunette boy peering out from behind one of the curtains. Marth waved, and Pit came out of the house, looking disgruntled.

"Good, you're here. Hurry up, into the music room! Go go go!" It was remarkable how the small blue-eyed brunette boy managed to look almost as threatening as Samus armed with a bazooka. I decided I didn't like that, and hurried to make it to the door before he found something to urge us with.

I did the natural thing. I tripped.

As I stumbled on my way to the door, a strong hand grasped me from behind. I retained by balance with the steady strength Link gave me, silently cursing myself for being so clumsy.

"You okay?" Link asked quietly, a look of concern in his eyes. Let me see, Link. I've been in love with you for who knows how long, and you probably think of me as nothing more than a sister. Oh, and I'm deathly afraid that Samus is gonna tell you, because I'm too much of a coward to say it myself. Besides, there's a Calculus test next week, and I'm afraid I'm going to fail.

"I'm fine," I mumbled. He could see through the façade, obviously. But he just pursed his lips together and studied me curiously. I looked down, not meeting his eyes as we made our way to Pit's music room. Luckily, I didn't trip this time. A miracle.

Pit was tapping his foot impatiently as Link and I stepped into the room. That wasn't a good sign.

"'Bout time," he muttered, beginning to pace back and forth. The music room's ceilings to floor windows were open, letting the cool breeze to filter in. Golden light drifted through, emphasizing the wooden panels of the floor naturally. Ike, a blue-haired boy with extremely messy hair was sitting at the drums, was retying his red bandana over and over. Marth was sitting cross-legged on the floor, Peach and Samus lounging near him. Link and I sat down, too, and all of us stared at Pit with enough intensity to burn a hole through his shirt.

"Pit's being grumpy," Ike said, smiling at us.

"No kidding," I muttered sarcastically.

"Now that the whole band's assembled, we can get started," Ike continued, ignoring me.

The seven of us, Pit, Link, Marth, Ike, Peach, Samus, and me were a band. A pop band, actually. We didn't for it for school or anything. It was simply what it was; a group of friends interested in the same thing. Samus was lead guitar, and Link was bass. Marth was the keyboard pianist. Ike was drums. Peach was the rhythm guitarist and back-up vocalist. Pit was our song-writer. I was the lead vocalist and sometimes rhythm guitarist, when Peach wanted to try her hand at being lead. Heaven forbid, we weren't the type of band to go around parading madly. How could we, when their lead vocalist (AKA yours truly) had stage fright? It wasn't the best thing to do when trying to show off your skills, if you catch my drift.

"Anyways," Pit continued, still pacing back and forth. "I need to tell you this. The student council's given us a request."

"Hm?" Samus asked, looking up from her seat on the wooden floor. "What request?"

Pit took in a deep breath. "They want us to perform at the Valentine's Day festival."

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