Chapter 3, I trip when I walk next to you

Mercifully the rest of the time at the arcade went by without incident for Makoto. This was mostly in part to the fact that Makoto had refrained from speaking for the vast majority of the time. After about an hour everyone said goodbye and went their separate ways home. Makoto sighed in relief, the nice lonely walk home would do a lot to clear her mind she was sure.

"What am I getting into?" Makoto wondered, "Minako is killing me, I should have let her know right off that I didn't want to help her with this lie."

Makoto grinned to herself, "Then again, she wouldn't have taken no for an answer."

Then the gears in Makoto's head started to turn, WHY wouldn't she take no for an answer? And what did she mean when she said "This is so much fun." At the drink station? Was she teasing her intentionally? What the hell was going on? Makoto dropped her head and groaned, nearly walking into a light pole as she did so, she was oblivious to the world when she began to think about Minako.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Makoto made it home to her apartment. By the time she made it up the steps to her door she was both physically and emotionally exhausted. She fumbled with her key at the door and finally managed to open it. She sighed as the wonderful scent of a freshly Febreezed apartment caught her nostrils. There was no feeling quite as nice a coming home after a long and draining day.

Kicking off her shoes Makoto walked to her couch and collapsed face first into her pillows. She laid there for a moment before she heard it.

"beep beep beep"

Makoto groaned, the answering machine was beeping, and she didn't feel like getting up to see who the hell called. But the beeps kept beeping and Makoto couldn't stand it anymore. Dragging herself off the couch she walked over to the offensive machine and pressed play.

"Hi Mako-Chan," said an overly happy voice on the machine, "This is Usagi, and I was supposed to ask you if you were coming with us tonight, Minako wants to go to a Karaoke club, and seeing that its Friday we figured we could be out late no problem so…if you want to go," Usagi went on, Makoto couldn't help but think that she really needed to just shush, "we would love to have you so just call back whenever ok? Byyyeee!"

Makoto groaned, there was another message, "Hi Makoto, this is Rei, are you coming with us tonight? Call Usagi and let her know ok. Later." At least Rei was quick and to the point.

Makoto sighed and picked up the phone. She proceeded to dial Usagi's number,.

"Hi hi Mako-chan!" Said Usagi cheerily.

"Yo…umm, what's this whole karaoke thing now?" asked a sluggish Makoto.

"Yeah! What took you so long to call back?" asked Usagi, disregarding Makoto's question.

"Gee I don't know the two mile walk could have something to do with it." Makoto inwardly cursed at herself for being so grumpy, but Usagi simply giggled.

"Geez, someone is grumpy, see, that's why you need to come with us tonight."

Makoto sighed, "What time?"

"About an hour from now, sevenish." Said Usagi, still chipper as ever.

"Oh okay, I don't have anything else going on." Said Makoto. "Except sleep." She thought.

"YAY!" Cheered Usagi, the loud yell made Makoto wince in pain.

"Ok, talk to you then." Said Makoto.

"T T Y L" was the hyper blondes reply.

Makoto hung up the phone and growled. Truth be told, she hated going out sometimes. It was always a big to do, getting the right clothes, walking or waiting for the bus and what not. Makoto trudged over to her dressed to find clothes, she desperately need a new wardrobe. White t-shirts as far as the eye could see, jeans, sweaters, sweatshirts, all dull and uninteresting. Minako chastised her about this all the time, she also harassed her about how her underwear drawer was equally as boring, but Makoto often wondered why Minako cared about that. But that was who Makoto was, a plain ol' tough girl. She tried flashy and feminine back in junior high, but it was too expensive and not her. Ever since Galaxia, she had decided to just be herself and enjoy it. God knows she might not have too much longer to do so, it seemed death was becoming commonplace for her. Screw pleasing everyone else, when you could kick it at any moment, your personal happiness supercedes self-image.

But at times like this, Makoto wished she cared about her self-image just a BIT more.

After about twenty minutes of rummaging through her dresser, Makoto settled on a white baby T and blue ripped up jeans. Sure they were boyish, but they were a bit on the tight side so it all evened out between boyish and feminine, well, to her at least. Makoto groaned, why did she care. Then it hit her, after a couple minutes of thought, she wanted to show off a bit for Minako. Ok sure, maybe jeans and a t-shirt aren't "showing off" but they hugged her rather tightly, and she knew it showed her off in a subtle way. Maybe she would catch Minako checking her out, maybe that would be all the clarification she would need. Makoto giggled at herself.

"Why not walk into the club naked you nitwit, jesus give it up already." Her inner, defeatist self said.

But whatever, this was what she was going to wear, conscious be damned. Makoto redid her ponytail and slipped on her tennis shoes. She had fifteen minutes to get to Usagi's, she was sure she could make it in time.

10101010

At Usagi's, the rest of the girls were waiting patiently for their fifth member to arrive. The four sat on the second story balcony chatting amongst themselves. Usagi was bopping in and out, trying to make herself look as good as possible without being flirty, at least, so she said. Rei didn't so much care what she looked like, a pair of baggy jeans and a red sweater sufficed for her. Ami wore a long skirt and a white dress shirt, Minako taunted her saying she looked like a librarian. And then there was Minako herself, clad in a black cropped button up sleeveless shirt, a short jean jacket and a pair of black stretch pants with a silver chain belt. Rei sighed and shook her head, she knew what the blonde was planning.

"You are evil as hell Minako, I know I have told you this already." Whispered Rei, Ami had went inside to help Usagi get ready, leaving the two free to talk about Minako's sinister plan.

"Oh I know," said Minako with a wink, "But give me some credit, I could have worn less."

Rei rolled her eyes, "And looked like a tramp…regardless you know you're going to give her a heart attack."

Minako giggled, "Well, that's the plan."

Rei chuckled, "What, to kill Makoto?"

Minako smiled, "NO! Just to make her hot and bothered that's all."

The two turned their attention to the sidewalk, Makoto was walking up to Usagi's front door.

Rei looked Makoto over from the balcony, "Well, its good to see I'm not the only one who didn't dress up." She looked at Minako, waiting for her to crack some sort of remark on Makoto's choice of wardrobe. Minako, however, was oddly silent.

Minako was too busy looking Makoto over, sure her choice of clothing was uninteresting, but it managed to raise Minako's pulse a bit. Minako could have sworn she subconsciously liked her lips. But, how could she help herself? Makoto had unintentionally and subtly teased the blonde. Sure she was covered, but she was covered tightly, Minako leaned forward a bit and Rei shot her a worried glance.

Minako sighed, "Wow what a body."

Rei's eyebrows raised, "Whoa whoa whoa, time to derail the hormone express there Ms. Conductor."

Minako looked up at Rei, blushing slightly, "Oh c'mon, look at her, she's showing off all her best assets."

Rei laughed, "Looks like she's fully covered to me."

"Yeah, but it's just like a wrapper on candy Rei." Said Minako as she leaned back into her chair. She leaned her head back to look up at the sky and clear her mind of dirt thoughts, but instead of looking up at stars she looked up and saw a very terrified set of blue eyes.

"AMI-CHAN!?" Cried the startled blonde, Rei snapped around too at Minako's cry.

Ami looked traumatized for a moment, as would any person who just heard their friend refer to another friend as a piece of candy. But the blue haired girl quickly snapped out of her shock.

"Minako, I…well I sort of guessed but…wow." Said the startled genius.

Rei grinned, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Since the hormone train derailed." Replied Ami. Rei simply broke into laughter as Minako turned red.

Ami sat down next to Rei and looked critically at Minako, "A piece of candy? Don't you find that comparison a bit degrading?"

Minako sighed, "Maybe a little but…oh man, you have no idea how badly I want to just…"

Rei cut her off, as Ami nearly turned purple, "We get the point ok!"

Suddenly the girls heard Usagi and Makoto talking as they approached the balcony themselves.

"Okay, quiet now." Said Rei, Ami and Minako quickly nodded and quickly acted casual.

1010101010

Makoto waited for what seemed like an hour at the front door, which wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't so chilly. Makoto cursed herself for forgetting her jacket. She could hear Minako and Rei chatting to one another, every once and a while a giggle would intermingle. Makoto smiled, she loved how Minako's giggles sounded. Quickly the brunette mentally slapped herself for being so sappy.

"Get over her, get over her." She repeated over and over in her head.

Mercifully the door finally flung open, a grinning Usagi on the other side.

"MAKO-CHAN!" cried the girl as she flung herself onto her tall friend, pulling her into a violent hug.

"Hey, why are you so excited?" Asked Makoto drolly.

"Cause I didn't think you were going to show up." Said the sunny blonde.

Makoto smiled at her, she was dressed in a pink sweater and blue knee length pleated skirt, she was epitome of giggly innocence.

"Everyone is upstairs, c'mon." said Usagi, leading her tired friend upstairs.

Usagi started going on and on about how fun tonight was going to be, and Makoto simply returned agreements, when Usagi was excited it was best to just nod and smile. The two made their way out onto the balcony where everyone was standing, ready to go. Makoto's eyes went straight to Minako. Makoto gulped, Minako was drop dead sexy, and she knew it. Her shirt showed off her flat stomach, and her blue-jeweled belly button ring complimented the scenery nicely. And her pants hung to her long legs in a way that made Makoto turn to jelly.

"If I survive this night I'm gonna need a cold shower again." Thought the distressed girl.

She looked back at Minako, who was obviously aware of Makoto's wandering eyes. Makoto could have sworn she saw Minako wink slyly at her. Makoto gulped, she was on the verge of going comatose when a slap to the back of the head snapped her from her hormone induced trance. She turned to see Rei staring at her, a playful smirk on her face.

"C'mon, we're leaving." Said the raven haired girl, grinning.

Makoto simply nodded and looked to Minako, she held the door to the living room for her friend, "Ladies first." She said.

Minako nodded, "Why thank you, how polite." She said with mock surprise.

Minako giggled and walked inside, Makoto in tow like a lost puppy.

Rei walked over to Makoto as she walked into the room.

"Views better from back there anyways right?" She whispered into Makoto's ear.

Makoto simply coughed a little, "I have no idea what you're talking about." She said, trying to keep her composure. Rei simply chuckled, this was going to be a long night for poor Makoto. She knew what Minako had planned for the hapless brunette, and it was going to be good.