Thanks for all the reviews so far.

Disclaimer: I do not own winx club however, the OCs Aqua, Seren, and Cal are all mine.

~aquariawinx~

Chapter: 4

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Stella quickly applied a thin layer of lip gloss before studying herself in the mirror once more. She sighed to herself. This was as good as she was going to get. She shouldn't have allowed herself to drink so much last night. She was definitely paying for it now. She could use a little more sleep. Her eyes lacked their normal lively luster.

Looking over at the clock she saw that she was late. "Crap!" She said before snatching up her purse and rushing out of the dorm room. All the other girls had gone to breakfast already. They were meeting up with the transfer student they met at the party, Aqua. She picked up her pace from a brisk walk to a full on run. Perhaps today wasn't a good day to where heels. Stella thought to herself. She just had to get to class before Griselda saw that she was late. Pulling her schedule out from her purse she saw that she had spells and incantations with Professor Palladium.

Look down at her cell phone she saw that she had less than a minute before class would start. Just as she was about to round the corner the bell signaling the start of class sounded.

"Damn it!" Stella swore aloud to herself.

"The use of profane language in the halls is not only unlady like behavior, but also strictly against Alfea's code of conduct." Stella looked up to see Seren. Today she wore a gray pinstriped suit. "I'm afraid I am going to have to issue you a detention, not only for your use of profane language but also for your tardiness to class." Seren said handing her a pink slip.

Huffing to herself she took the pink slip and continued down the hall. She murmured a quick apology to Palladium as she entered the classroom and then plopped down in the seat next to Bloom.

"Thanks for waking me." She said shooting the red head a dark glare.

"We tried," Bloom whispered back. She was trying her best to pay attention to Palladium's lecture.

"Seren gave me detention." She slapped the pink slip down on the desk.

Bloom raised her brow at the statement. "Seren?"

"She's like the new Griselda."

"Shhh," Tecna who sat diagonally from them practically hissed at them. She was fiercely scribbling notes in her notebook. "Pay attention. My notes are off limits this year." She snapped.

Ignoring Tecna's comment Stella and Bloom returned to their previous conversation. "Brandon called this morning. He said he'll be here later on today. He wants to talk to you."

"Can we reschedule?" Stella said clutching her head in her hands. She still wasn't ready to talk about things.

"Stella we're all worried about you especially Brandon." Bloom looked the sun fairy in her golden yellow eyes. "At least do it for him."

Sighing to herself Stella murmured an agreement.

That afternoon, once the girls were finished with classes for the day they met in their usual spot for a late lunch, on a picnic blanket underneath the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, all except for Stella who was with Brandon.

"I hope everything with Stella and Brandon goes well." Flora said taking a bite of her sandwich.

"I'm sure it will. Stella knows we're only doing this because we care," said Bloom.

"I thought Aqua was meeting us for lunch?" Musa said asking about the water fairy they met the day before at the party.

"Sorry I'm late," Aqua walked in right on cue. She had her long sea green hair twisted into a long braid trailing down the length of her back. "I got a call from Kyle." She sat cross legged along with the rest of them on the picnic blanket. "Some guy named Cal was asking him about Tecna." She turned to look at the fuchsia haired fairy.

"Me?" Tecna blushed.

"Kyle knows Cal?" Asked Musa.

"Cal's been on Kyle's team ever since their sophomore year. Kyle called me saying that Cal had been asking him about Tecna."

"He does realize she has a boyfriend right?" Layla asked raising her brow. She wasn't sure she liked this Cal person. It was something about him that she just didn't like.

"I told Kyle to tell him that." Aqua said in response. "But he says he isn't interested in her that way and he just wants to be friends."

"Riven and the other guys don't really like him," said Musa. She was on Layla's side. She didn't really trust Cal either. It was something about him that unsettled her. "He wouldn't tell me why when I asked.

"So it's just Riven being weird and cryptic like usual." Tecna said in Cal's defense. "You know how the guys can be at times. I'm sure Cal is a good guy, we just need to give him a chance."

"I don't know Tec?" Bloom said sounding unsure, "Maybe you should be careful around him. Riven could be right."

"Have you heard from Timmy?" Flora asked changing the subject of conversation.

"He sent me a text telling me this computer technology class that he's in." Tecna stirred her cup of yogurt. "It's always about technology or computers with him. He never talks about anything else." Tecna said releasing her frustrations.

"You tell us that all the time, but have you told him that?" Bloom asked.

"The two of you need to get together and talk about this. Clearly it's weighing heavily on your heart." Flora added."

Sighing to herself she nodded her head. They were right. "Okay I'll go over their tomorrow after classes."

Hearing the knock on the door, Stella went to go answer it. "Hi Brandon," she said to the brown haired specialists that stood in the doorway. She stood back inviting him into the apartment.

"How was your first day of classes?" Brandon asked while making his way over to the couch that sat in the middle of their living room.

"The same old same old," she said with the wave of her hand, sitting down on the couch next to him.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, Stella shifting uncomfortably in her seat and Brandon trying to find the words to say.

"Stella honey," Brandon turned and looked into her golden colored eyes. "I'm worried about you." He finally said. "What happened when you were at your mom's?"

She sat for a moment debating whether or not she should tell him what happened. But then she remembered that Brandon would always come to her and tell her what was bothering him, so why couldn't she do the same?

"She's getting remarried." She said finally as her eyes began to water.

Brandon knew that she always hoped that someday her parents would put their differences aside and marry again. "It's okay," he pulled her into an embrace allowing her to cry into his chest.

"It's not… fair," She said between sobs.

"Have you told her how you feel?"

Stella only nodded her head. She had told her multiple times. Her mother's only response was that she'd hoped Stella would be happy for her. "The wedding's next month. It's happening whether I want it to happen or not." Stella whimpered.

"It'll be okay," Brandon said holding her even tighter and kissing her on the forehead.

"Will you stay here with me tonight?" Stella sat up looking Brandon in his eyes.

Pushing the stray hairs from her head he nodded his head, "Of course."

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and remember reviews are always welcome!

~aquariawinx~