Ali: I am SO sorry this is so late. I've been swamped with homework and all sorts of other stuff. I'm actually sitting next to Viv at the moment. She's at my house for the night. Greet the people, Viv!

Viv: … uhhhh….. HERRO!

*Ali's POV*
Getting any information out of Ciel Phantomhive seemed impossible. I tried for half an hour, making little remarks and asking broad questions. All I got in return were a few grunts and nods of the head. Needless to say, it was looking hopeless. Finally though, I received the informational response I had been aiming for.
"So, have you gotten to know Lauren Peters yet?" I asked. After all this time, I still have no clue why I asked that. Either way, I got the response I needed. Ciel's eyes widened and I swear it looked like I had told him he had won the lottery.
"No, not yet. Why, are you two close?" Finally, I had gotten him to open up! True, it was about my only enemy, but still! I shook my head. May as well keep my answers truthful.
"No, she kind of hates me. But we were kind of close a few years back.

-o.O.o.O.o-

Let me explain. No, I wasn't going to spill this entire back story to Ciel, and it wasn't even that important. At least, I don't think it is. In the sixth grade, Lauren was like my best friend. We sort of got along due to our grades and our good nature. The teachers called us the dream team. We sat together, did all of our work together and
always talked. But soon, trouble brewed. The week of our sixth grade lock-in, Lauren told everyone who I had a crush on, ruining my spotless reputation. She avoided me that whole week, and on the night of the lock-in, she got me alone in the theater. I asked her where she got off spreading all those lies, and she just laughed. She said her new friends had told her it was the right thing to do. She then called me, "a selfish brat," pounced on me, and started to cut my right arm with a huge ass knife I questioned later how I failed to see that thing, but it wasn't important now.
Before any major damage was caused, Viv and Ariel walked in. Lauren ran, and I lay on the ground, completely helpless. Ariel noticed me first, surrounded by a quickly growing pool of my own blood. She and Viv managed to carry me to the nurse's office. Seeing as it was well past midnight, the nurse was obviously not there. The two patched me up and calmed me down. They coaxed me out of my shell enough to get a name. I remember weakly muttering, "Lauren Peters," and Viv's extremely pissed off expression.
From that day on, the Dream Team split up, and Ariel and Viv became my friends. Since then, Ariel had sort of driven herself away, always in a funk about either Dane or Travis, her two love interests. Viv, however, stayed close to me. Something about our conflicting personalities had brought us closer together.

-o.O.o.O.o-

Ciel looked at me, and obviously wanted to know more. I gave him an "I'll-tell-you-later" look, and tried to keep my act up. I was this close to breaking the bluenette. Over the next twenty minutes, I reached a big, whopping nothing. I did, however, gain Ciel's attention.
"So, if you're not doing anything tomorrow," I said, looking down. I can't believe I'm flirting with him, I thought. "You wanna come over to my place and study for the History test?" I gave him a forced hopeful grin, and I felt an unintentional blush heat my cheeks. After an odd moment of silence, Ciel nodded.
"Sure," he said, his expression still unreadable. My heart leapt unexpectedly. Don't think that way, I thought, mentally scolding myself. I would not open my heart up, leaving it helpless and vulnerable, available for the world's ridicule.
I sighed and looked out the window. My life wasn't a piece of cake. Sure, I didn't have Viv's life, my family not all that separated. But even though we all spent quality time together, we didn't have the strongest bonds. It was like a curtain, a thin sheet, separated each of us.
Before I knew it, the bell for lunch rang. I scrambled to pick up all my belongings, still looking at Ciel. He gave me one more sideways glance before exiting the room. I shook my head and left for the patio.

*Viv's POV*
I heard the bell ring, so I darted out of the library to meet up with Ali. I had hidden myself pretty well in a tight corner. But as I passed by the History room, I felt the strange urge to burst in and confront Mr. Michaelis. I knew it was foolish, but I would have done
anything for answers. As I walked down the stairs towards the patio, I tried to piece things together.

Ali said she heard Ciel discussing Lauren Peters with Mr. Michaelis. The said substitute had been given a recommendation by Lauren. But what does that mean, I thought. I was so closed in by my mind I didn't realize the new object of my affection was walking straight at me. We collided.

I blushed fiercely, as I got up, dusting off my skirt and apologizing profusely.

"Ah, do not apologize," Mr. Michaelis said with a warm smile, "After all- you had the right of way." I blushed again, and bent over to pick up my fallen possessions.

"Here, allow me to help," sad the sub. When all my things had been collected, I thanked him, and slipped out onto the patio. Near the door, Ali stood with a smirk plastered on her face.

"Very smooth, Viv," she said, and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"So, anything interesting happen in English?" I asked, sitting down on a worn picnic bench.

"Ciel's coming over to study tomorrow night," she said, unwrapping her cupcake lunch. (Ali sort of lived off junk- she was still under a hundred pounds, though.) I choked on my granola bar, and Ali quickly handed me her water bottle.

"Wow, so sudden?" I asked teasingly, "Shouldn't two people wait more then a day before they go on a date?"

"Oh, shut up. I was going for information, remember?" Ali said, taking a bite of her cupcake.

"I kind of found something out in the library," I said, looking away. I knew Ali was giving me her "disappointed face." She was only five days older, but somehow always took the responsibility of being my older sister, which meant getting upset when I skipped dumb Algebra. My information, however, got her off my case.

"A recommendation?" Who recommends a teacher?" she asked.

"Well, sometimes, if a trustworthy student knows a substitute, the school can hire them. Maybe Lauren knows Mr. Michaelis," I said with a shrug, though the thought made me shudder.

"God- now we really need answers," Ali said, "Okay, this may be a risky move, but you need to get closer to Mr. Michaelis. You flunked the last History test, right?" I frowned but nodded.

"Okay, so, ask for tutoring. Get close to him. Gain his trust. I know you already caught his attention," said Ali, adding a grin. I ignored it, my mid going a million miles an hour. Get closer to Mr. Michaelis? I couldn't think much longer, as the bell for fourth period rang out. Ali and I scampered to theater, and I felt my mind float away as we slipped into our seats.

*Ali's POV*

Theater was my life. I wasn't much of a dancer, and art wasn't my thing. Now, I loved the stage. We were working on our spring show, and I was stage manager. Not only did I act, but I did tech, too. As we got up to rehearse, I noticed Viv slipping into deeper thought. Probably about History, I thought with a smirk. I had a lot of time on my hands that period, since out drama teacher was running a few scenes. Sliding into the prop closet, I sat down to sort hats and shoes. As I began the tedious task, I let my mind wander, thinking of tomorrow.

I don't know what happened, but the sound of the door closing woke me up. Damnit, I thought, standing, how the hell did I fall asleep? I then remembered my dream. I blushed.I had somehow dreamt of Ciel. Not that kind of dream, but he had been in my dream all the same. I dragged my mind back to reality. Turning the knob, my heart stopped. It was locked. Damnit, I thought again. The prop closet was so padded with clothes, it was sound proof. Sighing, I looked down. There, on the ground, was a small note. I bent over and picked it up. Unfolding the yellowed paper, my heart stopped again.

You really shouldn't get too close to Ciel or Mr. Michaelis.

It's business you shouldn't meddle in. You've been warned.

-The Society

Ali: I'm evil. To myself.

Viv: I sound like an idiot!

Ali: Don't worry- you wise up. Sometimes.

Viv: *sigh* Please read and review.