SPEED DIAL
By: Feathertop

Special Thanks to: Asurahaya020; framed-high ; shinjuku041; cassiopeia09; CuteBubbles; amyloveseli; Fled; kaurama-kasuki; imazuok; blargh; Miami (Do I know you personally?); anghelika; Screaming Siopao; idioticsmile; bluelover; beanutputter; Rhanie (omg. Imy.); cold summer night; Crystal Wings and Black Roses; animelyn23; corry-sshi.

A/N:Thank you for that last review that reminded me of this story and my apologies to those I've kept waiting. Really, I'm very sorry. Two years is a very long time but I hope you guys are still out there. Cheers to all you awesome people. (:

Disclaimer: I don't own GALS.

- Chapter 3 – Cancer (Aya's POV) -

The last thing I could remember before I was dragged into the clubroom by Mami was reading a cookbook about Italian meals on one hand and reviewing for our exam on Anatomy and Physiology on the other. Then again, I guess I was more focused on the cookbook than the textbook. I don't think I'll ever be able to cook anything close to those flawless pictures on the book though, and even if I tried, it'll probably come out as something black and inedible and… alien. I really do fail as a woman.

Sulk, sulk, sulk.

-Ah! I only have two weeks and a half till the prelim exams! Note to self: I have to reorganize my daily schedule and increase my study time to 4 hours per night.

Yosh, I'll make sure to do my very best!I smiled to myself, I feel so pumped up now. I'll have to do two weeks worth of requirements later so I'll have no distractions tonight. Now then, I have a report on microbiology to do and then there's the worksheets I ha—

"You're not listening!" Mami pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me, accusingly. The look on her face almost made me take a step back. Etoo, I forgot I should be paying attention. What was she talking about again? I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that new guy she keeps stalking- er- following around.

"Aya, guys won't find you attractive if you keep randomly changing your facial expressions like some mentally deranged person, you know."

I felt the heat rush up to my face and I quickly hid behind my handkerchief. "How embarrassing..." I muttered. Mami laughed, which caused my face to color even more.

"You're too funny!" She gradually stopped laughing, took a deep breath and pretended to wipe a tear from her eye. "Anyway, anyway. As I was saying. This guy in my English class is actually his roommate! Of course, I had to use all my connections just so I could sit next to the roommate guy. He even said that maybe we'd have lunch together sometime. This is too much, Aya! I'm so happy I could die! To think that I'm this close to eating lunch with my Prince! Ah, it starts with one lunch, then my prince would say that I'm- ah! Then we would-"

And there she went off to her fantasy land again. I watched as she did her routine dreamy sigh, staring up the ceiling, and second dreamy sigh. I laughed to myself. Mami sure works hard, even though most of her time ends up being spent day dreaming about her prince charming.

I wonder if I should try what she's doing sometime. After all, she seems like she's having so much fun. Then again, I don't think I can ever focus on anything non-academic. Much less stalk someone I barely even know. That would be so embarrassing. What would my parents think if they find out?

They'd be sure to disown me.

"Bookworm-chan."

I looked at Mami. Oh, she was finished with her fantasy?

"Yes, stalker-chan?" I ignored the bookworm comment and put on my sweetest smile, but to no avail. Mami's eyes had already turned into slits after hearing the word 'stalker'.

I suddenly fear for my life.

"I am not a stalker! I am a romantic!" She grabbed me by the shoulders. "A ROMANTIC!"

"Then, romantic stalker-chan?"

She had then begun shaking me. "ROMANTIC ONLY!"

"Hai, hai."

-x-o-x-o-x-o-

"Hoshino-san, you're early as usual." My chemistry instructor, Yunomi-sensei, said from the laboratory door. His gray hair was neatly brushed up and his white lab coat, carefully ironed. Needless to say, sensei was a man who was incredibly OC when it came to cleaning.

"Ohayo, sensei." I beamed. Chemistry was my 2nd subject in the morning and I dearly enjoy it.

I observed as sensei began unpacking his things on the table. I see he has prepared more worksheets for us today. His worksheets are usually practical so they're relatively easy. Sensei didn't like giving his students unnecessary hardships, after all.

"Ah. Ainoyu-san is retiring next week. So, Deinoyu-san and I, have to divide his students between the two of us. Kore wa, this class will have 6 new students. I'll have to reshuffle the groupings then." Sensei said with a dimpled smile, his eyes appeared like lines.

I nodded. I hope he assigns me a better partner this time. My last partner was completely lazy and made me do everything myself. She just simply watched as I performed the experiments and did the worksheets. It would've been okay if she didn't have a habit of commenting rudely on everything I do. Ah, but I really shouldn't complain. I couldn't do anything about it, after all.

More like, I don't want to do anything about it. I really don't want to cause any trouble to sensei.

"Yunomi-sensei!" A blonde boy wearing a cowboy's outfit rushed into the laboratory and ran up to sensei. "I have a favor to ask of you!"

"Nani, Asou-kun?" Sensei looked up from his papers with a serene look. "Ah, again with the peculiar attire, I see."

Ah, his name is Asou-san?

"Ehh, never mind my attire! Can I be assigned under you class? Please?" His voice sounded so desperate. I could almost imagine him on his knees, begging. I giggled to myself; he looked like a wounded puppy- a wounded cowboy puppy.

"The list is final, asou-kun."

Asou-san now looked like he was just informed that someone he loved died. He looked powerless, almost forlorn. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to grasp for words to say.

"..Come on, sensei, can't you do anything about it? This is a life and death situation!"

"And why is that?"

"You know how poor my performance in chemistry is, sensei! Chemistry and I just aren't meant to be. We're like water and oil! Fire and Ice! We REPEL each other! Two natural forces that just can't blend in harmony! Pieces in a puzzle that just won't fit together! It's like an unwritten law passed down by the universe itself!"

"Your first statement was enough to describe your situation, Asou-kun." Yunomi-sensei had a ghost of a smile, playing on his lips. "If the both of you just can't be together, switching you to my class won't mean better results."

"I knowww. But my friend is in this class! He's the only one who can help me with the tests and the worksheets!"

"You mean, you leech off of him?"

"What? No!" He now looked like he was about to pull his hair out. "Senseiiiii."

"Hontou ni, Asou-kun, I would like to help. But the list is final. If you really want to do something about it, you'll have to take the matter to the science department head."

The blonde seemed like his whole body had turned into stone as he listened to what the instructor said. With every succeeding word that came from the teacher's mouth, Asou-san's soul seemed to keep drifting further and further away from his body.

"A-Ah, sou desu ne." His voice came out in a whisper. "Thanks anyway, sensei."

"Gomen ne, Asou-kun. But if you'd like, you can ask Hoshino-san's help over there." Yunomi-sensei pointed over to me. Asou-san's amber eyes followed and settled on me as well. My own eyes widened by a fraction as surprise caught me for a second, but I quickly recovered and gave them both a smile.

But as soon as Asou-san's eyes have registered my presence, his face went red and he immediately looked away.

"A-ah, I don't want to trouble your students, sensei."

"You'd rather trouble old men?" Sensei rubbed his chin, trying hard not to laugh. "Well, if that's your preference, I won't say anything about it. You have the liberty, after all."

"W-what! Don't misunderstand!" He began making frantic hand movements as sensei couldn't control himself from laughing any longer.

"Most people are post-modernists now so it's really all right. However, I don't share your preference. I'm happily married for 35 years, after all."

"SENSEEEIII!"

Sensei chuckled even more. "Just teasing you, son. Well, now, second period's about to start. Hurry along."

"Evil old man." Asou-san grumbled but Yunomi-san only smiled at the comment.

I watched as the blonde cowboy left the laboratory. His broad back seemed to scream utter humiliation.

What a funny guy.

The bell for the second period had rung and it wasn't long before I completely forgot about the blonde cowboy. We were doing another experiment, after all.

I hummed and began to do my work, not bothering to wait for my partner.

-x-o-x-o-x-o-

"Ayaa! Over here!" Mami waved over to me. She was seated by the window a few feet away.

"You're only eating that for lunch?" I asked, staring at the bowl of vegetable salad she had.

"I need to keep my body fit, you know." She grinned and helped me with some of my books. "Oh, I have to tell you something. I skipped a couple of classes and checked through my prince's schedule but he wasn't in any of his morning classes! Oh God, did he get sick or something? What if some rabid psychotic stalker had abducted him? What if we never get to see each other again! What am I going to do?"

"You skipped a couple of your classes?" I frowned at her after carefully tucking a bookmark in one of my books.

"Never mind that! Such insignificant details don't really matter! What's more important is knowing where my prince is!"

"I'm sure he'll be present tomorrow. You can tail him then. Ne, mami, do you think this part over here will come out in the exams? Hm, maybe I should just study everything. I still have enough time today. Ne, ne, maybe I can even study for the midterm lessons in advance if I finish early!"

"You get all excited over studying. How much more of a nerd can you get?"

"How mean! I'm only preparing for the exams." I exclaimed, surprised to find myself so flustered.

"Yeah, which is three weeks away."

"Two weeks and a half."

"Whatever. You're such a nerdy child, Aya." She scrunched up her nose and look at my books with disgust. "Why don't you eat your food first?"

"Hai, hai."

We ate in silence but Mami seemed restless.

When she was halfway done with her salad, she looked around the cafeteria, trying to spot someone. I was tempted to ask who she was looking for but decided against it. She's probably turned on her hot guy radar or something and sending her sensors all over the room.

"Ah!" She suddenly stood up and waved frantically to some person behind me. I didn't bother looking at the direction and just continued eating. She probably found another hot guy and is now trying to snatch his attention with the frantic waving.

"Roommate-of-my-prince-kun! Over here, over here!" Mami had now gone to fetch the person.

"Honda-san, I do have a name." came a male voice.

"Oh? What was it again? And you still haven't changed your outfit? "

I tried not to laugh. Poor roommate-kun, he should've known that Mami's memory rotates and revolves only around her prince.

"Yuya. Asou Yuya!"

"Asou-san?" I suddenly blurted out without even realizing just as I had turned around to look at the two of them. It really was that blonde cowboy from earlier!

"H-hoshino-san!" He turned red in an instant. "A-ah! Sorry about earlier! That was so embarrassing! I'm so sorry you had to witness that!"

"You two are acquainted! How wonderful! We should all go on a double date next time!" Mami exclaimed, enthusiastically. I could almost imagine her jumping up and down like a little kid.

"Honda-san! Isn't that a little too—"

"Hn, I really shouldn't have come here." I turned around to look at the owner of the voice. Heat immediately crept up to my face. He had such a handsome face. His dark brown hair looked almost black and it veiled his calm blue-gray eyes. It was like every angle of him was carved to perfection.

"Heh? Don't be like that, Rei! I promised I'd pay for your lunch today, after all."

"Hn." His mouth had formed a straight line as he took the seat across me and shifted his eyes on the window.

"So then, introductions, introductions. This is my buddy, Otohata Rei!" Asou-san declared. "Rei, this is Hoshino-san. And this is Honda-san. Eto, Honda-san? H-Honda-san, are you okay?"

I looked at Mami. She was starry eyed now and looked ready to faint. She must've been like this ever since Otohata-san arrived. How did I not notice? Otohata-san must be the prince she keeps following around!

She recovered after a few minutes and had grabbed Otohata-san's hand. "Rei-kun, what are you like?"

Otohata-san eyed her icily and calmly withdrew his hand. "What am I like?"

"Yes, yes. Describe yourself! I'd really like to know!" Mami's enthusiasm didn't falter.

I found myself wanting to know too. Oh God, has Mami's disease finally reached me? I knew it was communicable at some point!

"In terms of cancer, I'm benign- I keep to myself and I could care less about other people. That idiot over there, on the other hand, is malignant. He can't stay put. He constantly seeks attention and bothers everyone he knows. His brand of abnormal overgrowth invades and spreads like wildfire." He said plainly with a blunt affect. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Now, aho-kun, where is my lunch?"

"Oi, oi! Who are you calling a malignant cancer?" Asou-san reacted a few seconds later.

"Ahaha. You two really get along!" I giggled, and the two of them stared at me. Asou-san was red again while Otohata-san regarded me coolly. I stopped, almost regretting that I had laughed as Otohata-san continued to stare.

For a moment, I thought something flickered in his eyes but it had vanished just as it had appeared. I felt uncomfortable and looked at my feet, pretending to find it more interesting.

"Gomen." I tried to focus on Mami and wondered why she was so quiet. Perhaps she got too dazed and drifted to her fantasy world again upon hearing his voice? Perhaps.

Now that I've thought about it, his clear voice is rather... oddly calming.

It seemed oddly familiar too.

- End of Chapter -

A/N: Oh Gah! Aya's POV gave me a headache. And oh noes, I write like a twelve year old. D: I don't seem to know how to write stories anymore. Yare, yare. Even so, tell me what you think, yeah? Reviews make the world go round, after all. (: