Chapter One, Love is Torture

Makoto sighed and shifted in her seat once more. She gently tapped her pen on her teeth, her other hand toying furiously with a stray strand of her hair. Ami warned her that this test was going to be tough, but just how tough wasn't really clarified. Now Makoto knew the answer, it was DAMN tough. Tough enough to almost make the normally strong girl break into tears of frustration….almost. She let her head fall to the desk with a very audible thud, gathering unwanted attention from her classmates and teacher. Ms. Miyamoto looked up at the distraught senshi, who was now quite aware that everyone was staring at her.

"Problems Ms. Kino?" asked Miyamoto-sensei.

Makoto simply shook her head no, too embarrassed to speak. Ms. Miyamoto nodded and went back to reading her teachers handbook. Makoto shifted her glance across the room, Usagi was staring, confused at her test. Ami was, of course, already done, papers neatly stacked at the top of her desk, face down. And then there was Minako, she was bobbing her head side to side, humming something. Makoto boggled a little at her blonde friend, why was she so upbeat? That's when Makoto noticed the wires hanging from her friends ears. They were attached to a CD player that was conveniently hidden in Minako's tote bag. Makoto smirked a little, how Minako got away with half of what she did was beyond her.

"Must be a blonde thing." Though Makoto.

Mercifully, the tone sounded signifying lunch break.

"Tests face down, you can resume when you return from break." Said Ms. Miyamoto. With that, the students made their way to lunch.

101010101010101010

Lunch was as typical as ever, Makoto found herself sitting by the tree she once occupied all to herself, only now she was surrounded by her friends. Sometimes, though she never let them know it, she wished the others would give her some space, sure she had been alone most of her life, but that didn't mean she needed attention all the time. She was a big girl right? Makoto grinned a little at her thoughts as she popped another piece of fried squid into her mouth. She glanced up at everyone, they were all minding their business, Usagi was gabbing to Naru, Ami was reading her chem. Book, and Minako was….staring at her? With a very, VERY mischievous smirk on her face. Makoto paused, mouth full and stared back at the blonde.

"What?" She asked, her voice garbled by the food stuffed in her mouth.

Minako simply giggled a little, "Nothing, you just seem to REALLY be enjoying that food."

Makoto swallowed and smiled a little, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment, "Well, I sorta skipped breakfast, and…"

Minako just giggled and went back to talking to Naru and Usagi. Makoto simply shook her head, what the hell was it with that girl? Makoto had been…well…crushing on Minako for a long time now, almost since the moment they met. Sure she went boy chasing with Minako and all that junk, but it was just an excuse to get closer to her. And when Makoto got upset because Minako was "stealing" a guy from her, it was actually the thought of Minako with that GUY instead of HER that made her angry. Of course, this all had to stay hidden, Makoto liked having Minako as a friend, and if any of this secret "crush" came out, it would more than likely be the end of their friendship. Then again….

Makoto couldn't help but wonder sometimes, Minako DID seem to always be smirking at her when she wasn't paying attention, and she DID like to act "like a couple" with Makoto sometimes, but Minako insisted that it was only in order to make a scene, nothing else. Makoto sighed, if only Minako knew what that did to her, she probably wouldn't think it was such a funny game at all. Makoto simply went back to her food, Minako didn't have THOSE sorts of feelings for her, no way, it was simply the ranting of a desperate mind, it had to be. Makoto simply enjoyed her meal, that is until a pair of arms wrapped around Makoto's shoulders from behind.

"We can't date, because well, Makoto's my girlfriend." Stated Minako.

Makoto coughed as she choked on some of the rice that had been in her mouth at the moment of that statement. Quickly she spun around to face Minako, who was talking to a rather attractive, if not overly confident, man.

"Huh…wha..mppph!" Minako placed a hand over Makoto's mouth before she could finish her statement.

"She's just shy about it that's all," said Minako, "But, I can't go out with you, she's just too special."

Makoto glared daggers at Minako who simply grinned back, "Aww, don't be so shy hun."

The boy simply grunted, "You're seriously going to turn me down for that….Amazon?"

Makoto slung a muffled curse from beneath Minako's hand, but Minako giggled again, leaving her hand in place, "Hell yes, she's sweet, and strong, more of a man than you'll ever be."

Makoto simply raised an eyebrow and glared angrily at Minako, who just sweatdropped and giggled nervously.

But the boy wouldn't give up, "Yeah, well I know one way I'm more of a man than her." He said smirking.

Minako again, giggled and went even DEEPER into the lie, "Yeah, well I will have you know that Makoto here is a wildcat in bed, why just the other night…" A strong grip to Minako's hair quickly silenced her. Makoto was bright red from embarrassment, and twitching with anger as her fist clenched Minako's long blonde hair.

"See, I think Im getting…ow…her worked…ow..up as we speak." Said Minako, trying to hide her pain. "I think I should..eeek…be alone with her for a moment."

With that, Minako and Makoto stood up, Makoto still clenched onto the blondes hair. They quietly shuffled to the bathroom, and once inside all hell broke loose.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" screamed Makoto.

Minako gave her best puppy dog eyes and Makoto melted inside, "Don't get mad, you just saved me."

"At the cost of my reputation!" yelled Makoto.

"Oh because the guys are just knocking down YOUR door right?" asked Minako in a teasing tone.

"That…that's not the point!" Yelled Makoto, flustered, "The point is, NOW I have to live with this lie for the rest of the school year!"

"Oh, and being my secret yuri lover is so disgusting to you is it?" asked Minako, smirking.

Makoto didn't know what to say, did Minako know? "Errm…well…it's not…I just can't live a lie like that!" Makoto cursed her inability to just say yes to the question.

Minako smiled, "Oh c'mon, I will break up with you when I meet a guy I like, and we can just both play it off like we're bi."

"How can you make it sound that simple?" asked Makoto, resigning to her fate as Minako's faux lover.

"Well, if you're not attracted to me, then it should be that simple right?" asked Minako, smirking yet again.

Makoto groaned, "There's that smirk again," she thought, "Does she know or is she just evil?"

Minako perked up at Makoto's groan, "Okay, it's settled then, now, get out there and act like my girlfriend!"

The two exited the Bathroom and rejoined everyone at the tree, the boy was STILL waiting, but now his friends had decided to gather and watch the show.

"So, did you go in there to break up with her?" he asked in an arrogant tone.

Minako rolled her eyes and looked at Makoto who was already back to eating her lunch. She smiled and looked deeply at the tall brunette. Makoto looked up to see Minako's sultry glare, she knew where this was heading. She shook her head and silently mouthed "no" but Minako nodded and moved in, closer and closer. Makoto turned nearly purple as Minako's lips brushed hers. Then Minako pulled back quickly, leaving Makoto nearly comatose.

"Any more and I will have to charge you for the show." Said Minako to the now VERY dejected boy.

The boy walked off, mumbling curses under his breath, Minako turned to Makoto, who was now staring blankly at nothing. "You okay?" she asked the shell shocked brunette.

Makoto nodded slowly, she was about to make a statement when the bell rang for class. It was probably for the better that it interrupted her, she had totally forgotten how to speak, let alone make a statement.