Author Note: Please review!

~CWA

Chapter 5:

Third Person:

When Friday rolled around, Rosayla decided to drag Miki into a girls' shopping spree. It was going to be more for comfort than anything else. Rosayla could tell that Miki was clearly uncomfortable and awkward around Lysander and Kentin. Miki did her best to act like everything was going fine, though Rosayla could see right through that act. Being a year older than Miki (seventeen), Rosayla knew exactly what the signs were of crushing and she could tell that Miki was defiantly crushing on Kentin and perhaps Lysander as well. If she wasn't, Rosayla knew for a fact that the two boys liked Miki- which was why she was going to give them a beating for making Miki uncomfortable.

Beside her, Miki fidgeted in the car. She wore comfortable, but fashionable clothing- Rosayla would have killed her for not wearing something fashionable. Though still, Rosayla should have given her a morning that she was going to 'kidnap' her- instead of taking her to school, Rosayla started to drive somewhere else.

"Uhhh R-Rosa, w-where are we doing," Miki asked curiously as she looked out the window.

"To the next city over," Rosayla said without missing a beat, "I told your aunt, she said she's fine with it! Believe it or not, she was thrilled that you were going to skip school to do something with me! And I have a surprise for you!"

"I-I'm almost scared to ask," Miki commented as she eyed Rosa.

Though she was still surprised that her Auntie agreed to something so extreme- though it sounded like something Auntie would do. Most likely, Miki reasoned, Auntie agreed because Miki never went out and did anything.

"Don't be so cautious, I swear it's nothing bad... I got us appointments for a spa treatment! Isn't that wonderful? We can get massages and seaweed wraps! The cute little cucumbers to go over the eyes! Now don't be mistake because this will cost you money, I can't pay for everything myself after all, but thankfully my parents give me a rather good sized allowance- they're used to me going over budget. Anyway, we go to the spa after we're done shopping! Mostly because after all the shopping our feet are bound to be tired. And don't expect to get home before eleven, you know that?"

Miki nodded slowly, taking all of it in and there was a lot to take in. She didn't expect to be gone for that long and she didn't expect to be going to another city either. It did make her a bit uncomfortable and the only reason it was bearable to take in was because it was Rosayla. Rosayla was like a crutch to Miki- without her, she doubted that she would go anywhere outside her room. Rosayla was someone who protected Miki and she trusted Rosayla. Time and time again Rosayla proved just how much she protected Miki- ranging from standing up for her to making sure she was comfortable. She was so comfortable with Rosayla that she hardly even stuttered anymore. For those reasons and so much more, Miki realized that Rosayla really was her best friend.

Miki smiled.

"Sounds like fun."

Miki laughed as she and Rosayla walked through the mall. Each of them had at least ten shopping bags with dozens of items ranging from lingerie to shirts to just malicious items like a slinky (Miki was fascinated by the child's toy). Rosayla even bought a nice ring for Leigh and insisted that Miki get something for a guy she likes.

"N-No, thanks," Miki shook her head, "I d-don't really like relationships so what's the point of trying to impress a guy? Besides, I t-think if he likes me, he should like me for me. Yeah giving him a gift would be a nice thought, but only if we were already dating…."

Miki spoke the truth. She wasn't that interested in relationships, which was why Kentin's and Lysander's advances made her uncomfortable. She thought of them only as friends for the moment and while it could develop into something more, currently, it was just that- friendship. For her personally, she had to get to know someone deeply before forming that connection with them. Her connections and bond with Kentin and Lysander could have easily grown into something more should they have not made her so uncomfortable so quickly. Besides, it would have taken a bit longer for that connection and bond to deepen with one of them before she would consider having a relationship with one of them.

Now, she has had relationships- only two of them, in fact, before her anxiety really caused too many problems. None of the relationships ended that well. Her first boyfriend just wanted one thing from her that she wasn't willing to give- she only dated him for a month so of course she wasn't going to give her body for his pleasure. Her last relationship lasted six months and had been the cause of her anxiety getting worse. He was a bit emotionally abusive- a comment here and there, a few suggestions… It caused her anxiety to sky-rocket and while her anxiety was always there, he made it so much worse. Though after that relationship, she discovered more about herself- she found what she was even if she didn't know who she was yet.

"Tsk," Rosayla frowned, "There's gotta be someone who has your eye! All of the guys are so hot! I don't think you could look me in the eyes and tell me that you haven't had a single fantasy of just one of them! Or even two if that's what you're into…"

Miki's face and neck started to burn as her eyes widened. Rosayla truly spoke her mind and Lord help whomever has to hear her thoughts. For a brief moment, she wondered if Leigh had to deal with Rosayla telling him all about her fantasies. She blushed even harder as she shivered in slight disgust. She gulped and looked around, thankful that no one was listening in to the conversation. She boldly looked into Rosayla's eyes,

"I do not have any fantasies of any s-sort of anyone."

Just with her luck, it was that line that a few passersby's heard. They turned to her as they passed with confusion, disgust, and interest. She yelped and attempted to hide herself with her hands. Her hands could feel the heat radiating off her face.

Rosayla giggled slightly, but for the most part she was surprised. She would have thought that Miki might have liked someone by now even if it was a girl at least it would be something. It seemed as if Miki just kept surprising her.

Miki almost groaned as she laid on the massage table. Her stomach and chest pressed against the table, her hands under her head like a pillow. The trained professional leaned over Miki's bare back, kneading expert fingers and knuckles into it. It felt so nice, she realized, to have all the stress just practically melt away. Beside her, Rosayla was feeling the same ultimate bliss.

"Good Lord," Rosayla groaned, "They are amazing."

Originally, they were going to be getting massages done by a couple of (admittedly hot and muscular) guys. However it made Miki so uncomfortable. It was a difficult decision for Rosayla to make since she was really looking forward to getting massaged by a hot dude- she may not be able to order, but she can defiantly look at the menu. However, her best friend came first and for that, she regrettably sighed and got the guys switched to a couple of girls, who were sure to work just as well on the tension between her shoulder blades.

"Yeah," Miki agreed, "I-I n-never thought I'd get s-something like this done. N-not my style."

"And just what ever is your style," Rosayla giggled, "Don't get me wrong, but I still find it hard to believe you don't have a single crush! I mean, you know how hot the guys are!"

"R-Rosa," Miki mumbled, "I-I d-don't really like anyone in that s-sense."

She could feel the heat on her face and neck. It spread down her chest and she wondered if it went to her back too because she was blushing so madly. She didn't want to have the conversation with people around. Noticing discomfort, Rosayla tsk'ed,

"We'll talk about it later- but you are not getting out of this conversation."

Though Miki managed to get out of it. Rosayla forgot about it and they went through their spa day. It was a nice way to relax after all that shopping. They got mud baths, seaweed wraps, total relaxation… Until it was over and they were back to being stuffed inside Rosayla's car with a lot of shopping bags. Miki fidgeted in the car, looking out the window, praying that now that they were alone that Rosayla wouldn't converse about guys. She didn't- at least, she didn't until they were back at Sweet Amoris and right outside Miki's new house at precisely eleven at night.

"Now," Rosayla said as she parked the car, "About guys…"

"Rosayla," Miki whispered, "I-I r-really d-don't l-like a-anyone- I told you s-so- many times…"

"You don't even think any of them is hot," Rosayla pushed.

"N-no," Miki shook her head, "I'm a-asexual. I can a-admit they're good-looking, sure, b-but that d-doesn't mean I am h-hot and bothered for any of them."

At her choice of words, Miki flushed. Rosayla tsk'ed,

"Well, that's boring- getting hot and bothered about guys is all the fun in a relationship. Honestly, I don't see how you can have a relationship without anything psychical. It doesn't work."

Rosayla stopped when she realized the impact of her words on Miki- the shy, timid, fragile Miki, who had just confined in her only to have it thrown back in her face. Her eyes widened and she cursed silently as Miki felt like a sword gone through her. It was like the world stopped and her heart stopped with it. She never really told people about her sexuality because it never came up- you don't have to tell someone you're heterosexual, so why tell them you're something different? What made heterosexual the default? Though she never expected someone she trusted to just… diss on her like that.

She quickly grabbed her bags and ran for the house, tears threatening to fall. Her breathing labored. She didn't hear Rosayla's cries after her.

Just like that, Miki realized, her friendship with Rosayla seemed to break.