"Here you go, it was a Fruit Buzz, wasn't it?" Marksmiled as he handed Zoey her drink. "Thanks," she smiled, still adoring the small pink teddy bear he had won her. The two sat on a bench, tired from the excitement of the fair. The day was crawling to a close. "Hey, I've got a Judo tournament this Wednesday. It's kind of a big one, if you want..." "I'd love to!" "Great, it starts at 6:30 pm."
As the two of them began walking home, an uneasy feeling began to fall upon Zoey. Oh no! What if I have to work in Café Mew! Elliot never gives days off, but it's Mark's tournament. I've said I'd go! I have to- "Zoey?" "Huh?" Shesnapped out of it. "This is your house, right?" He knows where I live! He walked me home! He's so cute! "Oh ya." "Well, I'll see you Monday, at school." "Oh ya, yup, you'll see me there!" She grinned and hurried inside.
That evening, as Zoey sat down in front of the T.V. With her parents, she was still daydreaming about Mark. "Zoey!" her Mum yelled. "Huh? W-what?" "Did you hear me, at all? I was saying Alan, a work friend of mine, is getting married Wednesday. How would you like to come and help me pick out an outfit Monday? I'll pick you up after school." "Oh sounds great, Mum, but I'm working Monday." Her Mum raised an eyebrow. "At Cafe Mew? Again? Zoey, you're working 5 days a week. I don't think that's the right amount of hours for a 15 year old girl. You have a life to live and besides you don't need the jopb." "Mum, U'm getting my independence. I can't be living off ye forever. And besides Wesley and Elliot give really good pay. More than double my pocket money." Her mum huffed in disagreement and turned back to the tele. Zoey had to admit she did hate juggling work, homework, friends, relaxtion and fighting to defen mankind but what could she do? That was her life!
Bleep,bleep...bleep, bleep...! Zoey turned in her bed. She rolled over to her side. Her clock on her bedside locker read 04:15 am. Who the heck is ringing at this time! Bleep, bleep...bleep, bleep...! She flipped up her phone. "Hello?" she yawned into it. "Zoey? Predicites, down by the park. Hurry!" Elliot's voice rang out. She quickly snapped out of her tired haze. She threw back the covers and lept to her window. After over 7 months at being a Mew Mew and recieving these phone calls at all strange hours she thought it only fitting to install a little ladder, outside her window. She had invested in a green coated one, which camouflaged into her house, it being green also. She was still waiting for the day her parents noticed it and woul interrogate her. Of course, she wouldn't give the real reason, that would be too ridiculous for them to take in. Zoey grabbed her phone and dashed out down the ladder. She bgan running down through the streets of Tokyo. A music festival had happened later that day and so the pubs were filled with people even at this time of the night.
Zoey cursed as she remembered she was still in her pyjamas and bare feet. She slowed to a jog as she rounded a corner and down the street were two very popular bars, each overflowing with drunks. There were large crowds outisde both with people smoking and drinking. Zoey bgan to start feeling a bit self-concious and began fiddling with the end of her pyjama top. She kept her eyes faced downwards as she slowly approached the crowds, careful not to stand on any broken glass. She quickly made her way through the first hurdle...and then the second. She gasped in relief as she walked slowly from the crowds. She was just about to turn the corner when she bumped into a group of men. There were 3of them and they were intoxicated with alcohol. One took hold of Zoey's wrist. "Bit late for you to be out, Princess, now ain't it?" he slurred. Zoey struggled to free herself but his grip only tightened. "Wanna come with us, Princess? We can show youround!" the other mumbled and together they all began shoving her back dow the street. Zoey's heart was racing with panic. A bouncer exitted one of the pubs, he noticed Zoey and she gave him a pleading expression. "Oi! Do you know these guys?" he called as he approached them. She shuck her head vigourously. The men began a heated arguement then, with the bouncer and in the chaos Zoey was able to escape the man's death hold. And she ran. She ran as fast as her legs could take her, until she came to the park gates.
Naturally they were locked shut. She scouted around the exterior of the park until she came to a parting. A metal bar in the fence had rusted and deterriorated, creating a gap big enough for her to fit through. Once inside, Zoey came to a path. Why' it so quiet? She was glad her RDA was a cat, it enabled her to see at night but the problem was she couldn't see anyone. There were no terrified screams, no predicites, no Mew Mews. Is this some kind of joke? She turned round when suddenly she collided with something hard and stern. She stumbled backwards onto the ground. Zoey looked up and her face hardened. Elliot stood there with an equally displeased expression. "Well no need to say sorry or help me up like!" Zoey growled. "Where were you!" "I came as fast as I could but then these drunks grabbed-" "I don't want another one of your lame excusses. The girls were able to take care of this predicite but it was dangerous. You're strongest together the 5 of you! Zoey, you put all the girls in danger tonight, something bad could have happened!" "Dangerous! I could have-! You're the one having us run round Tokyo in the middle of the night! You're supposed to be in charge, making sure we're all ok! I was nearlt kidnapped tonight and you don't even care! Why don't you collect us in that snazzy Porsche of yours or send a taxi! Maybe then I'll be on time!" Elliot turned and began walking away. "You're working Monday. Work starts at 4:30 not 4:35 or 4:40. You think you can manage that?" Zoey bagan muttering away to herself as she made her way back to the gap in the fenceand out into the lonely street. Tokyo's so scary at night. She flipped up her phone. It read 5:30 am! Her dad would be getting up for work in half and hour and the quickest way home was back down that street with the two pubs. Zoey shivered at the thought of it but any other way would take too long. She was just about to step off the footpath and onto the road when a sleek black Porsche drove up beside her. The tinted window of the passengers seat came down. She scowled at the person inside. "Well are you just going to stand there or are you going to hop it?" "What's with you!" "What, cat got your tongue? All talk are you, Zoey?" She swung open the passenger door and slid in onto the black leather seat. Once the door was shut, Elliot quickly sped off. "You wanted a lift, I offered a lift! You give out wither way!" Elliot mused as Zoey sat pouting beside him. "Stop mocking me, I'm still angry with you!" "Angry, you, Strawberry? So that;s why your face looks like a mushed up tomato." Zoey grimaced. He always called her Strawberry, just to annoy her and it was always her, only her. Her never called Corina Mintor Bridget Lettuce. It was just Zoey.
"You're so immature! What age are you like? Nearly 18!" "I'm immature! Says the lady wearing teddy bear pyjamas! Some mature 15 year old you are!" The car slowed to a halt outside Zoey's house. As soon as it stopped, she lept out, slamming the door behind her. She needed to get away. Her face was burning with embarassment. Why did every other pyjamas I have had to be in the wash? Why this night? He'll never let me live this down! She fretted as she jogged back across the back yard and up the ladder. As she re-entered her bedroom she was greeted with the buzzing of her dad's alarm, coming from the next room. She was just in time. Zoey looked around her room. No way could she go back to bed, not after tonight's events and so she grabbed her towle and went for a shower.
Zoey's parents loved her. They also loved their jobs though. Both parents were high positioned business people and both were bringing in big pay-cheques. And so naturally, they worked long hours. They left before Zoey was usually awake yet for school and arrived home late, at 6:30 pm which just happened to be the same time Zoey finished work.
Zoey sat down on the leather sofa in front of the wide flat screened tele with a warm mug of tea. Since she had gotten up extra early that morning, she had had plenty of time to get ready. A good programme was about to start when she heard a horn blow outside. She went over to the window and peered through out through the blinds. The blach Porsche was parked right outisde her front gate. Zoey went and unlatched the front door. Elliot climbed out of the drivers seat and casually leaned against the car. "So are you coming?" he smirked. Zoey stood there for a few seconds before hurrying inside for her keys and school bag.
"What are you doing here?" she questioned as she buckled up. "Making sure my Strawberry get's to school safe. Tokyo's a dangerous place like," he smirked. My Strawberry! Most of the time he pretends not to know me! The Porsche pulled up outisde the school gates.
Elliot was waiting for Zoey at the front gates at 4 o clock that evening. "Ok, you're being way too nice, what's the catch?" He seemed to be in a less amusing mood this evening. He had a stern expression across his face. "What's with you? Elly! Elly!" "What!" "What's your problem?" "Dren and his gang are getting closer to finding Mew Aqua and where are we?" He parked the car in its usual spot behind the Café. "You know you don't need to keep giving me lifts. I can walk." Elliot got out and went to open Zoey's door. She sat in awe, staring up at him. His face quickly turned red with embarassment. "Get out, I need to lock it." "Oh, right." Zoey jolted upwards, a bit too fast because she tripped over her own feet and went flying into Elliot. The two of them tumbled to the ground. "Zoey!" he groaned, half laughing. "Opps..." she squeaked. The two of them sat up and began laughing. "A toddler would have more balance!" "Don't compare me to a toddler! I don't druel or try and eat crayons!" Elliot raised an eyebrow. "I've seen you alseep before so ya I'd say you druel." Zoey was mortified and Elliot had noticed. "Calm down, Strawberry! I won't tell," he winked. Zoey gave him a playful shove and stood up. She dusted her uniform down. It was only Monday and it was dirty already! Suddenly Elliot was quite close to her. She stared, simply gazed up at him. He was suddenly more handsome than what she remembered and when they weren't fighting he was actually quite nice...and kind...and caring...and... What are you doing! This is Elliot! She quickly bowed her head. He was holding her schoolbag. She took it from him and smiled, shyly. "Oh, Elly?" "What, Strawberry?" he asked softly looking down at her. She didn't dare gaze up again. "Erm, I was wondering...could I have Wednesday off? It's really important." "Why? What's so important that you have to abandon all us?" "Well you see... Mark has a really big tournament and-" "Oh." Zoey looked up. His face had grown cold and slightly angry again. There was a long pause. "Fine, if that's what you want. Organise it with the girls, get someone to fill in for you." And with that he walked away, so emotionlessly, so dead, so lonely.