Hey there. Purple here. Nothing much to say, really. I hope you enjoy the first chapter, and review. I would really appreciate reviews. If you find a typo or something I can improve on, drop a line or two. It would mean a lot to me.


Chapter 1

"When they rounded the corner, they saw him standing there. And then Christian said…" Adrian said, trying very hard not to laugh.

The school was nearly empty. They were some of the stragglers who stayed behind just for the heck of it. The sun was about to set on that late summer afternoon. The four of them were walking home together – Michael, Adrian, Alice, and her.

Michael, Alice, and Adrian. She knew Michael and Alice since kindergarten. Adrian moved to the same street as them in second grade. They were their own little band of misfits. Neighbors who stuck together through elementary and junior high. They had their own rough patches which led them to learn the basics of self-defense in junior high, but here they were: high school sophomores. They won their battles, learned from their mistakes, got up when life decided it was fun to trip them. They got through it together.

Michael Gray. He's the smart one. The model student, top of the class, and all that jazz. Gifted in academics and chess, he tutored the others on several occasions. And with his windswept brown hair and blue eyes, he was not without admirers. Smart though he may be, he actually has a mischievous streak. But if you need him, you can always count on him.

Alice Gomez. The artist of our group. Small, shy and short-tempered. She rocks at drawing and painting – be it nature, make-believe or people. You name it, she can draw it. (Or her version of it.) She has tan skin, black hair and blue eyes. Alice is Hispanic, and she has this natural troublemaker look on her. She also has a tendency to speak in rapid Spanish when frustrated. She's really timid around others, but once she lets people in, you'll get shocked at her chatterbox tendencies. And never, ever mention her height if you want all of your body parts intact. She's the one who dug deeper in martial arts than all of them, saying something about teaching those bastards to never underestimate short girls.

Adrian Sanders. The sporty one. They didn't see each other much when he first moved in. Once, Adrian, Michael, and Alice went with him to school. One thing led to another, and he became a part of their dysfunctional group. He's the one with the laidback attitude. He had his fingers dipped in several sport pies. Part of the basketball team, therefore part of the crowd. He's not bad-looking either with his black hair and green eyes. He's also part of the photography club. They became wary of Adrian's camera after they saw his collection. (And they still dread the day Adrian will use it against them.)

And then there's Erin Stewart. She's the musical one, or so they say. She plays several instruments, some better than others like guitar, piano and flute. But that's just because they are almost similar. She had average looks. Dark brown hair and green eyes. She's taller than Alice, but shorter than the boys. Erin's sharp tongue both doomed and saved them on several occasions. She has made her friends sigh exasperatedly more than anyone could count because of her rants about her current obsession: Prince of Tennis. Or anime and manga, in general, really. You have to gag her to make her stop talking about RIkkai this or Marui that. She even forced her friends watch it because she got fed up with their blank stares.

All was well. The sky was blue, the grass was green; you know, normal shizz. Adrian was telling them a funny anecdote, and they laughed appreciatively. They arrived at the bus stop, talking about random things: school, homework, Erin's obsession (To which they all groaned, thinking, "How can she change the topic from Math to Prince of Tennis?"), unicorns (Alice's attempt at steering away from the rant-prone topic), club activity and Adrian's weird eating habits.

Some pinstriped-wearing, busy-looking people in their mid-thirties glared at the four teenagers, muttering under their breaths. (Not nice things, undoubtedly.) The aforementioned teens either didn't hear it or chose to ignore it. (Those or they were used to it.)

Just another day, really. Not. Adrian, Michael and Alice noticed that Erin was being a little quiet, Sure, she laughed and chattered with them, but she appeared quite sad whenever she thought the others weren't looking. Erin also missed the looks the three were exchanging.

When they were walking down the street where they all lived, Erin noticed Alice, whose house is the first they passed, didn't say, 'Cheesecream' as their way of saying, 'See you later.'

She turned to look at Alice. "Uh, we just passed your house," she said, pointing over her shoulder.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I lost my Science book. I'll borrow yours for the homework," Alice said sheepishly.

Behind Erin's back, Michael raised an eyebrow at Alice as if saying, "We don't have homework in Science."

Alice just shrugged her shoulders minutely, so that Erin didn't notice.

"Thanks for asking me first," she grumbled jokingly.

"Aw, you know you love us," Adrian grinned and put his arm around her playfully.

"Get off me," she sighed exasperatedly, "and cheesecream, you two."

"We're tagging along, muffincake (1)," Michael smirked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Erin sighed again. Even though inviting themselves over was normal (And it's not like she's one to talk.), she just wanted some time alone. Preferably on the roof, wondering why the three forgot her birthday.

With the three behind her, she entered her house.

"Mom! I'm home! And the three are home, too!" She crouched down to remove her shoes. When she straightened up, she saw some of her other friends, her cousins, parents, grandparents, and a cake with candles on top of it. (Sixteen, she counted.)

"Happy birthday, Erin!" they all shouted. Adrian, Alice and Michael yelled next to her ear, making her jump a little. She turned around to their grins and smirks, a look of surprise and shock on her face.

Her friends laughed heartily at her expression. All the people in the room started singing, 'Happy birthday,' and she turned to her friends who were smirking at her fidgeting. Feeling a little awkward at not knowing what to do while they were singing, she turned her eyes on the people in front of her.

Her parents beckoned her closer while they approached with the cake. "Make a wish, kiddo," her father smiled fondly at her.

She returned his smile and closed her eyes. What do I want? I have a loving family and friends. We're not poor. Hmm. She settled on, 'I wish all my dreams would come true.' Cheesy and vague, she knows, but she can't think of anything else.

They all clapped, and the small party started. A few dozen 'happy birthday's, several 'who are you dating?', and the occasional 'my son is about your age', and two hours later, most of the guests went home. Some adults lagged behind to catch up with her parents over a cup of coffee, while Alice, Adrian, and Michael waited till the party ended to give their gifts.

The four were in Erin's room. It was painted a light blue which is eclipsed by all the posters – all from the same anime. (Three guesses what.) It also had a bed made of white wood covered with blue and white sheets, a dark wooden dresser, a chest, a dark blue sofa bed, four bean bags, a desk and a computer. You know, the works. Except, maybe, the chest, and the figurines prominently displayed beside her dresser.

"You still haven't gotten over your Prince of Tennis phase?" Alice mock-lectured, her lips turned into a frown, and her arms akimbo.

Across her, Erin gasped dramatically. "Me? Get over Prince of Tennis? Blasphemy!"

They were currently sitting on the center of the room, each claiming a bean bag as if it has their name written on it.

"Well, it makes things easier for us," Michael dug through his bag, retrieving a rectangular box covered with green wrapping paper with a white bow.

Unwrapping it carefully, she saw the missing volume to complete her manga collection. "Volume fifteen! Yes! I love you, Michael!" Erin said, engulfing him in a bear hug.

"Aw, what about us?" Adrian pouted.

"Yeah, share the love," Alice joined Adrian in pouting at Erin. Adrian held out a square box, while Alice presented (rather dramatically, in Erin's opinion) a thin, flat, rectangular box. Both were covered with wrapping papers and bows. Erin unwrapped Adrian's first, since it's smaller. Inside was a tennis ball. She was about to ask what was so special about it, when Adrian motioned to turn it around. She gasped. There was a familiar face of a cap-wearing boy scribbled on it. Alice pestered her to, "open mine next! Open mine next!" Inside the box was a canvas. Painted on it was an anime-version of them four together with the Rikkai regulars. She laughed at their poses. Sanada and Jackal were stoic as ever; Niou had his arm around Yagyuu, grinning at her; Yukimura and Kirihara were flashing the V sign with the latter smiling goofily; Marui was… Marui had his arm around anime!Erin, grinning (adorably, in Erin's opinion). Beside her were Adrian, Michael and Alice in ridiculous poses.

"Alice! You're not that tall! And why'd you put Marui like that?" Erin demanded, willing silently for her blush to go away. It's no secret that Marui Bunta was Erin's favorite character.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Erin, honey, that's what you call creative license. In other words, I'm the artist. Whatever I say, goes. Besides, it's just us here. You don't have to pretend you don't like it," Alice said, somehow managing to stick her tongue out childishly while smirking triumphantly.

She stared at it, her gaze slowly traveling from each gift. The other three exchanged alarmed looks. A silent message passed between them: Take cover in 3… 2… 1…

They covered their ears with their hands in unison even when they knew that resistance was futile. A shriek only a fangirl can emit was heard throughout the house. Erin tackled Michael, Alice, and Adrian, managing to glomp the three. "You guys are the best! The very… best!"

"We… know, but… we… can't… breathe!" Alice gasped, wincing at Erin's voice, as did the two boys.

"And we're staying the night. We already have pyjamas, uniform, our parent's permission and everything," Michael said, straightening his clothes that was rumpled due to the glomp.

"Not too prepared, are you?" Erin grinned.

"Of course! You think we'd forget your birthday," Adrian gave her an affectionate noogie, while the other two ruffled her hair.

Erin flinched, and immediately tried to comb her hair with her hands. Adrian groaned. "Aw, she did!"

"Well…" they frowned at her thoughtfully. They already knew that she doesn't have the highest self-esteem even though she sometimes acts otherwise.

Michael sighed. "Just for that, we must drill the facts to your thick head today. Alice, Adrian, you may now start."

Alice, Adrian, and Michael turned to look at her with what she can only describe as evil. The three lunged and started tickling her sensitive spots, known through years of experience. Erin kicked and screamed, but her begs for mercy and attempts at blackmail and intimidation fell upon deaf ears. Salvation for Erin came in the form of her parents looking at them sternly from the doorway, telling them to go to sleep already.

They set up the sofa bed with a few more laughs. Alice slumped down next to her ("Budge over, yeh great lump.), while the boys fluffed their pillows on the sofa bed. As Erin slept, one of her most frequent dreams visited her that night: the one where she and her friends lived in the Prince of Tennis universe.

Above the quiet city, a shooting star streaked through the night sky.


(1) Cheesecream and muffincake. These are really small things in their conversation that stuck. A twist of the tongue, a mistake. They laughed at it, and liked the word, so they used it. It's like their version of Marco Polo. I meant it as a symbol of their friendship, more than anything.

Remember to drop a line or two. ;)

Prince of Tennis characters appear in the next chapter. :D