Okay, so this is one long ass chapter, but i couldnt find anywhere else that was a good place to stop it! so forgive me if your butts go numb from sitting and reading too long. The next chapter will be shorter.. (i think) but yeah. Anyhow, sit back, relax (because you're gonna be here for a while) and enjoy. :)

Consider it disclaimed.

In the morning, Skylar woke to three puppies barking, Kaylie screaming, and Kyoko begging her to do her makeup.

Skylar groaned unhappily. "How dare you wake me at this ungodly hour?"

Kaylie sighed, reminding her that they needed to get ready for work. Skylar sighed and sat up, pulling a pair of glasses off of the floor and putting them on her face. Kyoko had to hold back a laugh. They were thick-framed and black, and also way too big for her face. The easiest way to explain them would be to call them nerd glasses.

Skylar smiled happily. "Like 'em? I got them this way on purpose. I figured, if I'm going to look dumb in glasses, I might as well look really nerdy too!"

Kyoko nodded, laughing.

Skylar sighed and got up, walking out of the room lazily. When she came back (ten minutes later) her teeth and hair was brushed, her contacts were in, and her makeup was done. Kyoko stared at her wide-eyed. "How did you get ready so fast?"

"Because I don't like waking up, so I learned a long time ago to get ready faster so I could sleep later."

Kaylie rolled her eyes. "The only reason Skylar ever does anything. Pure laziness."

Skylar snorted. "Not entirely true. I run track and cross country." She sighed and walked over to Kyoko, pulling her over to the mirror and beginning, instructing Kyoko how to do it so she wouldn't need her anymore. Finally the girls were ready, Skylar wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a pair of blue flip-flops, Kyoko in sandals, a flowy white skirt, and a pretty blue blouse, and Kaylie in converse, a black tank top and a pair of shorts. They managed to leave their puppies behind with the Taisho and his wife (who adored the animals) and went straight to work, walking this time, since Ren had to get to the agency early.

Upon entry to the agency, the girls were greeted by the ever-flamboyant president, wearing a kimono with a twenty-foot train and sandals. "Good morning girls," he greeted them.

"Good morning," they replied, bowing respectfully.

"I just wanted to inform Lake-san and Harper-san that since they are here to study, they will have Tuesdays and Thursdays to do just that; study."

Skylar nodded, understanding. "Cool, a study day. Does that mean we don't have to wear the uniform?"

The president frowned. "Why wouldn't you?"

Backpedaling immediately, Skylar assured him, "Just wondering sir."

Lory nodded. "I have assignments for both of you in your lockers that will help you study. Do not take any other assignments today."

The girls nodded and thanked him, before leaving to the locker room.

Skylar pulled a sketchbook, pencils, and an envelope out of her locker, smiling. She opened the envelope and read the letter aloud. "'Draw ten characters by the end of the day, based on people you observe.' Well, that sounds fun."

Kaylie pulled a camera and a tripod out of her locker, with an identical envelope. "Film whatever interests you. Feel free to use other Love Me girls to help."

Kyoko smiled at the girls, pulling on her uniform as usual, and wishing them good luck, before leaving.

The two girls followed suit, parting ways, Skylar going to the cafeteria, and Kaylie going outside, deciding she would film things on the street.

Skylar sat down at a table, opening her box of pencils and pulling one out, before flipping to the first blank page in her sketchbook. She looked around the room, when suddenly Yashiro and Ren arrived in front of her. "Hello Skylar-chan!" Yashiro greeted, happily.

Skylar smiled at them. "Hello Yashiro-san, Tsuruga-san. Here, have a seat," she told them, gesturing to the empty chairs. They did as asked, and Yashiro asked her what she was doing.

"Today is a study day for Kaylie and me. I have to draw ten characters based on people I see," she told them. She smiled and pressed the tip on the piece of paper, beginning with a Yashiro-character.

"Ah, so Mogami-san isn't around?" Yashiro asked, slightly unhappy. Ren eyed him suspiciously.

Skylar's voice echoed Yashiro's unhappiness as she said, "No, she has to actually work today."

"Ah."

Skylar looked at Ren. "However, I know if she were here, she would ask if you have eaten."

Ren shook his head.

"And I also know that she would give you a dirty look until you agreed to eat."

Ren sighed and stood, going over to buy food, wishing Kyoko herself was there to force him to eat, rather than her trouble-making friend.

Skylar focused on her sketch, drawing each line carefully so it would match Yashiro at least slightly. She knew it wouldn't be exact; her drawing style was very different from the way he looked, but she wanted to make sure it would at least do him justice. And Ren, when she got around to his character.

Suddenly a throat coughed above her, attempting to get her attention. "Hey, you, Love Me girl."

Skylar's head snapped up, looking at the girl who had addressed her. She vaguely remembered her as the girl on the poster from yesterday.

"Go get me a soda; I'm parched."

Skylar stared at her for a moment, disbelieving the rude way the girl had talked to her, however, she forced a smile onto her face. "I'm sorry, but I'm actually not allowed to take any sort of assignment today. I can call Kanae, Chiori, or Kyoko and ask them to do it, though."

If looks could kill. "I don't want to hear back talk. Just do it."

Skylar laughed, still in disbelief. "What was your name again?"

"Ruriko." The name brought the memory back to center stage of Skylar's mind.

"Well, Ruriko, I said I can't. Today is my study day, and as ordered by the president of LME, I am not allowed to take assignments, but if you'd like, I can call a different Love Me girl."

"Do you have any idea who I am? I am a top actress of Japan, and I expect to be treated that way!"

A dark aura settled around Skylar as her glare fixed into place. "Well, Ruriko, do you have any idea who I am? I am an intern at Disney, and I was sent here so I can work on my art, so someday I will be one of the best damn character designers in the Walt Disney Company, a worldwide corporation. Now, Miss Ruriko, top actress of Japan, tell me, who are you again? Oh, that's right, you're nobody." It was impossible to miss the ice in Skylar's voice as she said this. She turned back to her drawing, allowing Ruriko to stare daggers into her back as she walked away.

Yashiro stared at Skylar, who eventually realized what she did. "Oh my God, Yashiro-san, I'm sorry—"

Suddenly she was interrupted by Ren, who neither had realized was standing there. "That was a good argument."

Skylar jumped. "Oh my God, Tsuruga-san! I'm so sorry! That was very unprofessional! I'll go back and apologize to her—"

"No, she deserved it," Ren told her, sitting down and handing her and Yashiro a tray of food.

Skylar, however, ignored her food and resumed drawing, secretly thankful that she didn't have to apologize. Finally the drawing of Yashiro's character was done, and she moved on to Ren.

"Is that me?" Yashiro asked, looking at her sketches.

"Yes."

"You're a very good artist," Ren told her.

"Thank you." Suddenly Skylar looked up, and happily waved someone over.

Both of the men turned around, only to be stunned by Kyoko, who looked gorgeous, her hair having been pinned back again and her makeup all done up.

Skylar leaned forward, and whispered smugly, "Just remember to control yourself, Tsuruga-san."

Meanwhile Kaylie was out on the street, filming anything that she saw that she thought was intriguing. Kids playing in the park, birds bouncing along the street, people chatting animatedly. She saw a tree in the park, and thought it might be an okay idea to sit in it and watch, for sort of an aerial shot.

She crossed the street and reached for the lowest branch, hopping slightly when she couldn't touch it. When she missed, she put the camera in one of her pockets and began jumping furiously, upset that she couldn't reach even the lowest branch. Finally she got sick of it, and kicked the trunk of the tree, crying out in pain when her toes slammed into it a bit too hard. She leaned down, holding her aching foot, and angrily spat, "Screw this! Screw being short! Screw too tall trees! Screw everything! I fucking hate being short!" She fell down on her butt, finally tired of hopping around on one foot. She looked into the branches of the tree, still slightly upset. "Stop gloating," she muttered darkly.

Suddenly a pair of feet appeared next to her, before a body was slowly lowered to the ground to sit next to her. She looked over to see a cute boy who was only maybe a year or two older than her. "Are you okay?" He asked, concerned.

Kaylie sighed. "I'm fine, just a little upset."

"About what?"

"Being short."

The boy smiled. "I know what you mean."

Kaylie looked at him and smiled, reaching out her hand. "I'm Kaylie. Kaylie Harper."

"Ishibashi Hikaru."

"That's quite the mouthful, Ishibashi-san."

Hikaru smiled. "I'm sorry, Harper-san."

"Don't apologize for your name," she told him, giggling. They both looked back into the limbs of the tree, before Kaylie sighed. "Oh well. Might as well get back, I guess."

Hikaru nodded, but asked her to wait one second. Without another word he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up to sit on the branch, as if she weighed two pounds, rather than one hundred and eight.

She smiled happily as he pulled himself up next to her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After a long conversation, Kaylie bit Hikaru farewell and ran back into LME, running to the cafeteria to find everybody else smiling happily, already ready to eat lunch, just waiting for her.

"Sky! Kaylie called excitedly, pulling her friend up from the table and dancing around her.

"Whoa, who did you meet?"

"Just the cutest, most wonderful guy ever," Kaylie took a moment to sigh, before grabbing onto Skylar's hands and dancing around.

"Oh really? Oh, well, what about the break you were going to take?"

Kaylie came to a screeching halt. "Oh shit! But he's so, and I'm just, and Sky, what do I doo?"

Suddenly Chiori spoke up. "What break?"

Skylar looked away from her friend, who was now on the ground with her arms wrapped around Skylar's ankles. "After her last boyfriend she said she was going to take a break from men for a while. I guess it didn't work out so well, did it Kay?"

There was no response other than a dramatic sob.

"Who is he?" Kyoko inquired, absentmindedly stealing one of Ren's fries.

Suddenly Kaylie jumped back up, acting much like a cartoon character. "His name's Ishibashi Hikaru! And he's so wonderful!" Kaylie clasped her hands together and rocked back and forth on her heels.

"Swoon much?" Skylar muttered, but everybody ignored her.

"I know him!" Kyoko said happily. "He's in Bridge Rock."

"What's that?" Kaylie asked.

"It's a band."

"HE'S IN A BAND?" Kaylie screeched excitedly, jumping up and down. Skylar reached out and shoved down on her shoulder, forcing her to stop, however the moment she let go, Kaylie resumed bouncing.

"And he's a host of a Television show, Kimagure Rock."

Kaylie fell into a heap, screaming happily.

"Stop telling her likeable qualities about this guy! She might go into cardiac arrest," Skylar told her, picking Kaylie up off the ground and slamming her into a seat, before falling into the one next to her.

Suddenly a newspaper was slammed into the center of the table in front of them. "Front page," They heard the president say. They all glanced at the paper, and had a sharp intake of breath.

It was a picture of all of them in the mall. From left to right, stood Kyoko, Ren, Kaylie, Skylar, Chiori, Kanae, and Yashiro. Kyoko's hand was on Ren's chest and his arm was around his waist. Kaylie, Skylar, and Chiori were all laughing, and Skylar's pant legs were soaking and her boots were in her hand. Kanae was leaning against Yashiro, who looked blissfully happy.

They all remembered it well. The second the paparazzi had shown up, Skylar dragged them all over, and said, 'lets give them what they want!' they then stood in a group, and laughed after she told a joke to get them to giggle. 'Yo mama is so fat…' It would've been a good picture, had the headline not read, Tsuruga Ren Running with the Wrong Crowd?

Skylar narrowed her eyes. "Just what do they mean 'wrong crowd?' Insinuating that we're lesser?"

The president ignored her. "I'll get you all copies, since I'm sure you'll want to remember it." They all smiled up at him, and he walked away. The second he was out of sight, they began bickering about how bogus the headline was.

"It's in the past!" They heard the president call at them, and they stopped.

Skylar laughed a little at the picture. "Interest position there, Kyoko."

Kyoko glanced at it and blushed, attempting to stutter out an explaination.

Skylar held up her hand. "No need, comrade. We can just keep it a secret about you feeling up your hot senpai."

Kyoko instantly tried to deny this, while apologizing, before Kaylie interrupted, "Kyoko, calm down. It's just a joke." Kaylie giggled. "But no, that was mean Sky."

"No, what's mean is that she and Kanae were paired off, and Chiori danced with the hot guy from the pretzel stand, but where were our hot guys! We should at least get one, as a souvenir."

"I already have one," Kaylie protested.

Skylar chucked a French fry at her. "Oh shut up."

Kaylie stuck her tongue out, but inquired as to how the drawings were coming.

"Oh!" Skylar exclaimed, pulling out her sketchpad. There was one character per page, each obviously based on every person at the table. "There are only seven right now, but I thought I might do the president, and maybe his assistant, and one random person."

Kaylie nodded, thinking that this sounded like a good idea. "These are spectacular Sky. They look exactly like the person would look…"

"If they were an animated character?"

"Exactly."

They both smiled and the notebook was respectively passed around. Everyone complimented her, making Skylar feel good about herself. She glanced around the table and commented, "Don't you people have jobs? You've been hanging out with me for the past two hours; you'd think that you'd have some sort of filming to do."

There was small mumbling of minor agreement, before Kyoko turned to Ren. "Tsuruga-san, don't you have any films?"

"Not currently. I'm in between projects."

Yashiro rolled his eyes, and mouthed to the rest of them, "He has several job offers, he'd just rather be with Kyoko."

Ren and Kyoko however seemed to miss it. Skylar started giggling helplessly, her head falling down on the table with a 'thunk' and her shoulders shaking helplessly.

"What's wrong Skylar-chan?" Kyoko asked, her hand fluttering over Skylar's shoulder.

"Nothing," Skylar said breathlessly. "I'm just really starting to understand the basis of Yashiro's frustration." She continued to laugh, stealing a napkin off of Kyoko's tray and dabbing her eyes, which were becoming watery.

Kyoko looked increasingly confused, and Ren glowered, but the rest of them were giggling. Skylar stood, taking her food in her hands and preparing to carry it over to the trash. "I admire your patience, Yashiro." She bowed slightly, before walking off with her trash, still laughing.

Kyoko turned to the rest of them. "What is going on?"

Kaylie giggled lightly, and told her, "We'll tell you when you're older."

"But you're younger than me!"

"And I'm also American. We have the Playboy channel. Do you know what the Playboy channel is?" Kyoko shook her head. "It's a bunch of bimboes running around naked for a guy that's older than dirt!"

Kyoko's eyes widened. "Perhaps I should wait until I'm older…"

"Yes Kyoko," Skylar said sarcastically as she sat back down. "Protect your purity."

"Are you mocking me?" Kyoko seethed.

"We're American. We mock everything. You'll get used to it after a while," Skylar told her, waving her hand dismissively.

"Oh." Kyoko nodded, but still was a tiny bit offended.

"Don't worry Kyoko. Skylar didn't have her first kiss until she was fifteen, when usually, in America at least, a first kiss happens in kindergarten."

Kyoko looked at Skylar, who was glaring at Kaylie. "That's okay Skylar. My first kiss was when I didn't want it, with someone I hated."

Skylar looked at Kyoko, who was smiling warmly at her. "Thanks Kyoko. It's nice to not have somebody teasing you twenty four seven." Skylar glared accusingly at Kaylie, who ignored it.

Kaylie fingered the paper, which was still in the center of the table. "You know, I've never been on the front page of a paper before."

There was a mumbling of agreement from everybody except Ren.

Skylar glanced up at Ren. "Oh, Mr. Silent, I suppose you have, a million times over? Well Mr. Hollywo—wait, we're in Tokyo. Shit."

"Besides, you can't use that name. Hollywood already has it."

"Oh yeah. She'd be irritated if I used it on somebody else right?" Skylar glanced at the others, who were confused. "It's our friend Alex. She's trying to make it as an actress, plus she's rich, and she lives in L.A., so we call her Hollywood."

They all nodded silently.

Skylar abruptly turned her attention to Kyoko. "So, Kyoko, I'm awful surprised that somebody as pretty and successful as you doesn't have a boyfriend."

Every single persons gaze yanked over to Skylar, staring at her in disbelief, although Ren's gaze was becoming a glare.

Kyoko blushed and stuttered, "I'm not that successful…"

"That wasn't the question Kyoko."

"But you didn't ask a question…"

"The question was implied."

"I don't really…I'm not really that pretty…"

"Blasphemy! You're gorgeous. But continue."

"T-thank you, but I… I am unable to love… or be loved in return…"

Everybody jumped when a loud 'thwack' echoed across the table. They all turned to look at Skylar, whose head had soundly fallen on the table. "Gentlemen, I think you definitely have somewhere else to be, correct?"

"Um, no, not really—" Yashiro began.

"She's trying to imply that you should leave in order for a girl talk to begin," Kanae informed him gently.

"Oh." Without another word he and Ren stood, said their polite goodbyes, and promptly left. Skylar's head slowly raised, and she smiled slightly, and asked Kyoko, "Would you like to play a game?"

Kyoko (since she could tell that Skylar was distressed and even somewhat angry) nervously replied, "Okay?"

"Alright. All you have to do is answer correctly. Answer correctly and nothing will happen. Alright. Ready?"

"Yes?"

"Are you able to stop yourself from falling in love?"

"Yes."

Whack! Skylar's hand smacked the back of Kyoko's head, not hard, but the intention was there. "Wrong answer."

"What was that for?"

"Learn something from this. Next question. Is love completely, entirely, one hundred percent evil?"

"Yes."

Whack! "The answer is no. Next question. Are you happy with being alone?"

There was silence. Kyoko stared at Skylar, completely surprised. Skylar's gaze became softer, but her hand was still slightly raised, waiting. Kyoko thought about this question hard. Was she happy? Was she happy at all? Content with being alone? She didn't think so. "No," she replied softly. Nothing touched her head.

"Are you content with being alone for the rest of your life?"

These questions seemed a little harsh to Kyoko, but she understood the purpose. They had to be harsh, in order for the lesson Skylar was trying to teach her to drive home. "No."

Skylar set her hand down. "Then why do you keep saying that you're unable to love? Do you want to drive everybody away?"

"No, of course not. But who would I drive away? Nobody feels anything toward plain old me."
All the other girls at the table gave a collective snort. "Kyoko, I'm sure that somebody feels somebody for you," Kaylie told her.

"Who?"

"We are not under obligation to tell you," Skylar said, "But think hard enough and I'm sure you'll figure it out. Anyhow, I should get Ren and Yashiro back over here."

"How are you going to do that?" Chiori asked. "They're probably already back at their homes or something."

"Ridiculous. They never left." Skylar stood up and motioned for the two men to come back. Within moments they were back, sitting down as if nothing had happened. "What was that about?" Ren asked.

"We were quizzing Kyoko on love." Ren smiled his gentlemanly smile, and Kyoko flinched. Picking up on this, Skylar told him, "Oh just wipe that look off your face. You look as plastic as a Barbie Doll."

Surprise entered Ren's eyes for a moment, but he quickly controlled it. "What?"

"That! God, what, has being a professional actor turned you into a professional liar too? Why can't you just make the expression that's supposed to be there, instead of looking so fake?"

Kyoko's eyes darted in between the two, now having a glaring match. She tried to say something, but choked it back down.

"Actually, you know, Skylar and I were thinking about hitting the town today," Kaylie interrupted loudly, pulling them out of their silent war, "but Kyoko said she didn't want to come."

"I did?" Kaylie's half-crazed look silenced Kyoko immediately.

"Anyway, we were thinking that whilst we were out, somebody might keep Kyoko company, since the Taisho and his wife were also planning on going on a date."

"Oh, why don't Kanae and I come—"

"No, Chiori, we can't! Um, we have… something else… to do," Kanae explained quickly, glaring at Chiori as if to silently communicate something to her. Chiori's eyes widened, and she mouthed, 'Oh!'

"Ren, why don't you keep Kyoko-chan company?" Yashiro suggested, smiling.

Ren was quick on the uptake. "Okay Yashiro-san, but why don't you go and protect Kotanami-san and Amamiya-san?"

Yashiro glared silently, before Kanae chirped, "Yes, Yashiro-san, we'd love you to come!"

And soon enough, after a round of glares were exchanged, everything was settled.

Did you enjoy it? Well, since you've read this much, review?

Next chapter there will be some long awaited progress, i promise you. this is kinda hard for me though; usually in stories i just make them kiss and get it over with, and in this story i have to exercise more control.

frustrating, i know.

Well, i dearly hope you review, so i'll know what you'd like to , see in this story, what you'd like to see me fix... yadayadayada.

~Lexi