Chapter Three

By Monday morning, Relena's guilt was overwhelming. She had followed Dorothy and Catherine out to the street where they easily found Heero's car. She didn't ask why Dorothy had shoe polish in her purse. She stood back and watched as the girls wrote obscene things on the windows and doors. She decided they needed a look out. No one was outside and if they were, everyone was enjoying the back yard that had a campfire and large porch. Dorothy and Catherine giggled uncontrollably as they worked. Finally, they asked Relena to participate. She had dreaded this moment. She knew that they wouldn't want to be her friend any more if she didn't, but she really didn't want to vandalize someone's property. Even though he was mean and rude to her, she didn't feel like this was the way to get back at him. She never felt revenge was a good solution.

"Oh, come on! He's been nothing but rude to you! It's shoe polish! It comes off," Dorothy coaxed.

Relena didn't know if she told the truth or not, but it sounded convincing enough. It came off, right? Nodding slowly, she bent down next to the girls and tried to think of something vulgar to write. She was never keen on profanities, but she racked her brain for something insulting. She had heard someone reference a beaver once and decided to draw it as artistically as she could. Dorothy and Catherine laughed, taking the polish away from her and running.

Relena followed, panic searing through her in hopes that they hadn't been caught. The three of them piled into a small car, gold accessories littering that interior, laughing hysterically. No one had followed them.

"Where should we go? That party was boring." Dorothy said, starting up the car.

"I can't go home. My parents will want to talk to me," Catherine said, laughing.

"We could go to my house. My parents won't bother us," Relena offered. She would be happy to have company in their house now.

Now, Monday was upon them and Relena avoided the cafeteria at all costs. She was glad that the only class she had with Heero was the last one of the day and she had heard through the grapevine that they were watching a movie. She was happy for this news. Usually she despised movies, but today she didn't want to have to speak to Heero about their assignment. She wanted to avoid Heero in any way she could.

Dorothy had a few classes with her, to her surprise. After their first class, Dorothy came up to her laughing, "Duo told me off for the graffiti on Heero's car. I explained that I was innocent."

"Dorothy, you should have apologized."

"No! He needs to learn some manners. Being crazy or whatever isn't a good excuse to treat people like crap."

"He's crazy?"

"Uh yeah, he went to some loony bin for a few months last year."

"That's not nice, Dorothy."

The blonde shrugged, walking off which meant Relena was to follow her to their next class. "What do you want to do today? Other than wallow in guilt about vandalizing Yuy's car."

Relena huffed heavily, "I have a lot of homework to do. Afterward, we might be able to do something."

"Pfft, brownnoser. You shouldn't work so hard, Relena. This is our last year of school and you want to waste it by studying for a college you already got into?"

"Not the point, Dorothy. I still want to keep my grades up."

"Uh, whatever."

They separated once inside the classroom. Relena took the seat in the back of the classroom like she always did while Dorothy sat with other girls. Relena wasn't sure if she was ready to merge into Dorothy's group yet. She was still trying to figure out whether or not this platinum blonde would be a good friend or not. So far, she was proving not to be.

She watched as her classmates filed into the room, trying to brace herself for when Heero would walk in. She had practiced her poker face all weekend. When guilt took over her, she had a tendency to speak a lot and ramble in apologies once she was found out. She was afraid that this would be no different.

"Okay everyone," the teacher said, quieting the classroom once the bell rang. "I'm sure all of you know that we'll be watching a movie today. It's actually very educational so I hope all of you will pay attention. There will be a quiz tomorrow over the movie."

Relena smiled lightly, straightening her back on the seat while everyone else groaned in disappointment. As the lights turned off, desks moved and hushed whispers filled the room as the opening theme started to play. She recognized the movie immediately and became engrossed. She saw movement beside her but paid no attention. She flipped open her notebook and started scribbling notes that she thought would be on the quiz. As the actors mentioned factual dates and events, she wrote them down along with the character that said them. However, after several minutes of the movie, action rose and she forgot the notebook. Once the action settled down, she reached for the notebook again, but it was gone. Her bare arms met with the cold top of the desk instead of the warmth of the paper. She panicked, checking the floor beside her in case she had knocked it off. But there, scribbling in her notebook was Heero. His dark blue eyes fixed on the TV, but his hands moving quickly.

Without asking for it back, she ripped it away from him, rolling her eyes at his rudeness. In curvy handwriting that was uncharacteristic to him, she saw a note:

I know you did it. I expect payment or some kind of reimbursement for the paint that came off with it. Also, what was with the beav-

Relena felt her cheek flush and felt rushed to reply back. Heero pulled out his own notebook and, to cover the fact that they were writing notes, finished his note. Relena tilted her notebook for Heero to read:

I will pay anything you want. I was told show polish wouldn't damage your car. I only drew the beaver because I couldn't think of anything mean to say.

A beaver isn't mean. And that wasn't shoe polish. Like I said, be careful with whom you hang out with.

Relena scowled at his note. She wasn't sure she could trust Dorothy, but Heero was definitely someone she didn't trust. She feeling that Heero and Dorothy may have dated for a while and things ended badly. She ignored his warning and wrote:

What do you want me to do? I don't have the money to repaint your car.

Heero smirked, looking around the room to check for the teacher before replying with:

How about I come over to your house so we can thoroughly discuss the topic of our report?

Relena cocked an eyebrow and looked at him. That was it? All he wanted as payment was whatever topic he wanted to write about? That wasn't a fair trade. She'd more than likely be able to weasel money out of her parents to fix the paint on his car.

The day ended with the shrill sound of the bell. Relena had written down her address for Heero and passed it off to him without a second thought. She was game for anything when it came to schoolwork. Dorothy joined her in the hallway, smiled brightly.

"Have you decided to come over after school or not?"

Relena shook her head, "I can't. I have homework and Heero's coming over so we can work on the history report."

"Heero?" Dorothy stopped dead in her tracks, "You have got to be kidding me. He's rude to you all the time and you invited him over to your house?"

"As payment for ruining his car; by the way, what did you use on his car? He said it wasn't shoe polish."

Dorothy stuck her nose up in the air and walked off without answering her. Relena slowed her steps I rejection. She didn't see why the blonde was upset. She had only asked a question. She saw Dorothy stop at some other girl's locker and started whispering in her ear. The other girl laughed, forgetting her opened locker and turned away from it. Relena tried not to get too paranoid about it. Surely Dorothy had other things to talk about than her study habits with Heero Yuy.

She brushed the rejection off, raising her head as she passed them by. She walked home alone and was glad to see Heero's black car sitting out front when she arrived.

"This isn't a date," he said as she came closer.

She stopped, staring at him confusedly, "I know. I never said it was."

"Well, word spread around already that we were going on a date. This isn't a date."

"Dammit! I'm really starting to think you're right about Dorothy."

Heero smirked, pulling his book bag right on his shoulder and started to follow her up the steps to her home. The door opened and she called for her mother. Peering from the kitchen, her mother waved and looked surprised when her eyes fell onto Heero.

"Company?"

"He's my history partner so we have to work on the writing assignment," Relena explained, feeling flustered.

"Dorothy called just a minute ago. She wanted to know if you wanted to get pizza tonight."

"No, I don't." Relena snapped, marching up the stairs. Heero nodded to her mother and followed her up. Her room was spacious, but it suddenly felt too small with Heero now in her room.

"I can't believe she had the guts to do that. Who does she think she is?"

"Dorothy Catalonia, the richest girl in school."

"Did you say Catalonia?" Relena sat up, racking her brain for why that name sounded familiar.

"Yeah, surely she told you that much. She can't help herself when it comes to introductions. She dated Quatre for a month and he had met her entire political family by the time he ended it. I'm sure she only wants to be friends with you because you're a Darlian."

"Political? That's it! Her grandfather works with my father. I knew I've heard the name Catalonia before. I guess I didn't put two and two together at the party."

He nodded, walking around her room in a bored fashion.

"And here I thought you and Dorothy dated," she laughed nervously, still wondering if they had.

"No, I wouldn't date her."

For some reason, she felt her shoulders relax slightly. She didn't want to get in the middle of their love quarrel. "Anyway, what topic would you like to write about?"

Her bedroom door burst open suddenly; Dorothy's long hair swinging behind her as if she had ran up the steps, "As your only real friend in this school, I know you need someone to be here for you so Heero doesn't try to take advantage of you. Who knows what he thinks is right and wrong!"

"Excuse me?" Relena asked, straightening her spine at the intrusion.

"Heero Yuy has a bit of a reputation, Relena. I tried to spare you the hard truth, but you just won't listen." Relena scowled, not wanting to hear a word of it. "He's a rapist. He raped one of my friends last year. He wasn't in a loony bin, but in juvenile jail for it. He had a lot of nerve coming back to this school."

"Lie!" Heero yelled, pushing himself off of her desk and strode closer to her.

"I know the truth, Yuy. She told me what happened. She told me how you climbed on top of her and held her down."

"Get out!" Relena yelled, pointing a stern finger at her door. "Dorothy, I want you out. I have only known you for a couple days and you have already caused more trouble than I can bear."

She upturned her nose, glaring at Heero one last time.

Relena waited until she heard the front door close before questioning Heero. Something in her told her to get answers from Heero. Dorothy had already told the whole school about her and Heero studying together. Dorothy was the last person she wanted to trust now.

"Is it true?"

"No."

"What happened then?" She sat on her bed, crossing her arms.

"She tried to rape me. She had bruises on her arms from where I was holding her off of me. I didn't want to do it with her because it would ruin a friendship. I need friends more than I need sex, Relena."


Sorry about the delay! I finally had the time and inspiration to write it.