Author's Note: really big thanks to all who read and reviewed :) here's chapter six of Lyrical Academy! Fate starts to question herself.

Lyrical Academy

Chapter Six
~Perhaps, Probably, Possibly~

Precia Testarossa sipped her coffee. "Stop fiddling with your phone while at the dining table."

Fate had been busying with her cell phone that she had barely poked her fork into her breakfast. Judging by the tone of her voice and the slight creasing of her brows, it was best to be obedient and listen to mummy. She immediately placed the device aside and popped a piece of sausage between her lips as her mother returned to her newspaper reading. A buzz indicated the arrival of a new text message. Papers were once again brought down to shoulder level of an irritated taupe haired woman. The blonde met her gaze and gave an apologetic look.

"Pohese osuse muee."

"Chew and swallow before you speak, Fate," she reprimanded.

Just like any well behaved child would do - unless they desired the wrath of an angry parent – she did as she was told, even making sure to chew it twenty times before swallowing. She tried again. "Please excuse me."

The blonde flipped her cell phone and sighed when she saw that the sender was Chrono, again, for the seventh time since the moment her eyes opened. It read:

It sucks right? I knew it. Anyway, since today's Sunday, would you like to meet up and study a bit before midterms? Please say yes! (xD)

Fate bit her lip. Should she accept the offer or decline it? If she did, the chain of messages would definitely come to an end as it seemed that meeting up was the reason why he started the relentless mailing in the first place. Though peace and quiet was a tempting choice, she couldn't shrug off the feeling that there was more to it than just a simple study meet.

Ever since her little disagreement with Nanoha, she had been doing some self-reflection and thinking about the relationship between Chrono and herself. She was sure that the feelings she had for the boy were only that of friendship. But what if the brunette was right? That he was hoping for something other than their current affiliation, although in a more childish way.

'I just don't like the way he gets so close to you and looks at you with those freakish eyes of his when you're together', was what she had said.

There was a squeeze in her chest when she thought about Nanoha. She felt hurt when the girl kept the love letters incident from her. But more importantly, she had also felt an unknown sense of dread over the news. Overwhelmed by the strange emotion, she underwent a period of ignoring her friend. And when she had come to a resolution of making up with her, she just had to overhear Yuuno Scrya's passionate confession for the brunette, setting her heart into turmoil once again.

The blonde swore that she had been experiencing plenty of odd emotions since her friendship with Nanoha began. She even had an urge to shake the girl by the shoulders and tell her "Don't! He's not suitable for you!" back then, when they were alone at the classroom corridors.

She sighed again.

Precia raised an eyebrow. "You've been doing that a lot lately."

"Doing what?" yet another sigh escaped her lips.

"Sighing," her mother replied and took a sip of coffee. "The flowers will wilt if you keep doing that."

Fate glanced at the vase of roses sitting in the middle of the dining table.

"It's a joke," Precia said.

"I-I know that," retorted a red faced blonde. "It's just human reaction."

The older woman folded the papers and set it aside. "Has something been bothering you these days?" when nothing came, she continued, "Is it school?" there was no reply. "Relationships?"

"W-what?"

Bull's eye!

"So, who is it?" she asked, very curious. "Is it the boy who caused the misunderstanding between you and your friend? What's his name…" she pondered, "was it Lionel or Juno?"

"His name is Chrono."

"Oh. Right," said Precia. "So, what about him?"

"Nothing," her daughter replied. "We are just friends."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely?"

"Cross my heart."

"Must be Nanoha-chan then."

"Uh-huh," she said and cupped her mouth, horrified.

Precia smirked. "I see. You like your girl friend."

"Mother!" the blonde exclaimed. There was surely and positively no truth in that.

Or is there?

She shook her head. She couldn't believe she had just doubted herself. Sure, there were times that she felt especially self conscious around the brunette. And the way her heart would skip a beat at her smiles. Also, the nervousness she felt when their bodies were so close during the three legged race. Or how she felt the world stopping when she heard that the girl would consider a relationship with Yuuno Scrya…

Her face paled.

"Feeling the rush of reality a little too much to handle?" Precia teased.

Fate cleared her throat. "We wouldn't be friends if I don't, at the least, like her." Even when she's saying that, she was actually screaming inside. That can't be true. She had not fallen in love with her best friend, who happens to be a girl and a rather cute one.

She blinked rapidly. She did not just mention that Nanoha's cute. Burgundy eyes flicked to the forgotten cell phone. The study meet with Chrono doesn't seem to be such a bad idea now. It could take her mind off the thoughts.

There was a buzz. A new text message had made it into her Inbox.

To: Fate T.
From: Nanoha
--------------------

Fate-chan! (^o^) Are you free today? I'm dying from facing the books alone (-_-|||) Can I come over to your house and do a little studying together? (^____^)

--------------------
End of message.

Fate almost sobbed when she found herself replying the message with a 'Sure! I'm free! Let's study!'.

"So the crush is coming over," Precia said as she peeped from behind.

"Mother!" the usually calm and collected blonde was now edgy and flustered.

"If only your sister's home right now," the woman chuckled, her hand over her lips. "She would definitely tease you to no end!"

-o-o-o-o-o-

"Good afternoon," Nanoha greeted with a bow when Precia answered the door. "My name is Takamachi Nanoha and I'm here to study with Fate-chan for the coming midterms."

"Good afternoon to you too," the woman stepped aside to allow the brunette to enter. "Please, come in."

"Sorry to intrude," the girl said as she took off her shoes and slipped on the soft cotton slippers that Precia had presented her with.

"Have a seat while I tell Fate about your arrival," the woman gestured to the couches in the center of the room. Nanoha sat and sank into the soft, fluffy couch laden with matching feathery pillows. She flinched when Precia's voice echoed throughout the room. "Fate! Nanoha-chan is here!"

A thud, followed by a yelp and sound of quick footsteps were heard from the floor above before Fate padded down the stairs, red faced. "You don't have to shout, Mother," she said, rubbing her sore foot ruefully. The blonde was surprised by her mother's yell and in her hurry; had bumped into the low table that she had placed for revision purposes.

"I was afraid you won't be able to hear with your door closed," Precia said, amused.

"Fate-chan," Nanoha stood and greeted with a smile.

"Na-Nanoha," the girl regarded her friend. The summer season had arrived and the brunette was dressed in a modest white sundress that reached just below her knees. Her smooth brown tresses were worn down instead of its usual side-ponytail and a blue headband adorned her head. Fate, on the other hand, was casually dressed in a black button up shirt and a pair of khaki coloured slacks with her hair tied up in a high ponytail. She felt a little underdressed. "Erm, let's go to my room now, shall we?"

"I'll bring some drinks later," Precia said as the girls went up the stairs.

"It's so cool that your entire house is air conditioned," Nanoha mused.

"Only during summer," the blonde said as she led the brunette along the corridor. "Welcome to my room," she said, opening the door to her bedroom.

"Wow. It's so… mature looking," the brunette commented when she stepped into the room. The walls were painted white and graced with shelves of books and a huge wardrobe. A black laptop was placed neatly on the surface of a dark coloured table by the windows, together with a grey coloured office chair. A bed with dark blue sheets was positioned on the side and a 40-inch plasma TV decorated the wall across of it.

"I think 'simple' is more appropriate," Fate chuckled and sat on a cushion by the low table in the center of the room. Nanoha followed suit, taking the adjacent spot and began to place the materials for her revision on the table. The blonde asked, "What subject are you covering today? I'll do the same."

"History," the brunette replied as she took out the painfully thick book from her shoulder bag. "I fell asleep a couple of times when I started."

"I know what you mean," Fate said.

"Maybe we'll end up sleeping together, nyahaha," Nanoha joked as the blonde turned crimson at the unintended yet suggestive sentence. The conversation she had with her mother in the morning flashed through her mind. To distract herself, Fate got up and went to one of the shelves and grabbed her textbook, using the moment to clear her mind before returning to her place by the table.

"So… did you ask Hayate whether she would join us?" the blonde asked, in need of a diversion.

The brunette nodded. "Yup, but she said she'd rather stay home and study with her cousins than die from the heat by coming here."

There was a knock and the door opened as Precia entered the room with a tray of drinks. "I've brought you girls iced tea."

"Thank you, Testarossa-san," Nanoha said politely.

"Please, call me Precia," the woman smiled and left the jug and glasses of drink on the table.

"Let's start then," Fate said as she flipped through her book.

It was silent, save for the rustling of paper and clicking of pens as the girls began their revision. They were only into a minute or two when the blonde started to lose focus.

"Is there something you need, Mother?" she asked Precia who was still standing there.

"Not at all! Please don't mind me and carry on," she replied with a hint of hilarity.

'She's doing it on purpose,' the blonde thought. She had to come up with something to make her mother leave. "Aren't there unfinished chores to do, Mother? You've left them halfway done when Nanoha arrived."

"You're right," the woman said, feigning surprise. "I'll take my leave now. Study hard, girls."

Nanoha let out the breath she had been holding once she left. "Does your mother stare at every guest your house gets? I can almost feel her gaze boring through my back."

Fate laughed it off and they resumed their revision. Hours passed without much notice, until the brunette let out a groan. The blonde diverted her attention to her friend. "Something wrong?"

"I can't get this section into my brain," she sighed.

"Let me see," Fate said and Nanoha pushed the book towards her. "Oh. There's an easier way to remember this."

The blonde took a pen and paper and started scribbling. "All you have to do is to draw a timeline to help youself remember." Her body tensed when the brunette leaned near her, their arms brushing against each other. She could smell her lavender hair conditioner at the close proximity. The girl stole a glance at the brunette's face and blushed. She looked adorable when she's serious.

Her heart raced.

"I brought some snacks," Precia announced as the door swung open. "My, my. Did something happen?" she asked when the blonde jumped a few inches away from the brunette.

"Nothing happened," Fate replied after she had composed herself. She turned to Nanoha, "Why don't we have a break?"

"That's a great idea," her mother clapped and sat on her bed, ignoring the glare her daughter directed at her. She grabbed the remote from the bedside table and switched the TV on. A romance flick was currently showing on the screen.

"How touching," Precia said when the commercials were on. "They are just so in love with each other."

"It's kind of sappy though," Fate commented and took a bite of cracker.

"Do you have someone you like, Nanoha-chan?"

Fate almost choked at the question her mother had directed at the brunette.

"Well… not really," Nanoha scratched her cheek sheepishly.

"'Not really' means there's a possibility that you do have someone in mind, doesn't it?" the woman grinned. "Who's the lucky boy?" she took a quick glance at Fate and continued, "Or lucky girl?"

"Mother!" the blonde exclaimed, red in the face.

"What? Does it really have to be a boy and not a girl? I'll have you know that I'm actually pretty open-minded about these things," Precia said.

"Really, Precia-san? Don't you think it's strange for… well… two people of the same sex to be together?" Nanoha asked.

"There is no boundary when it comes to love," the older woman said. "What about you? Can you accept it?"

Fate appeared to be a little uptight as she waited for the brunette's reply.

"I… don't really know," Nanoha hesitated. "I just find it too weird. And my parents would throw a fit if I ever sway that way, nyahaha."

-o-o-o-o-o-

After giving her paper a final check, Fate packed her writing materials and grabbed her bag. She walked to the front of the classroom and handed the paper to Lindy before leaving through the door. With a sigh, she slide it closed. She almost screamed when Hayate suddenly appeared beside her.

"Where are we going?" she asked when the chocolate haired girl pulled her by the wrist.

"Just follow me," the girl replied.

They stopped at the top of a stairwell behind the school building. "And we are here for?" the blonde inquired while her friend checked her wristwatch.

"She should be done with her paper by now," Hayate said and immediately crouched on the ground, pulling Fate down with her as they hid behind a parapet when she spotted someone arriving at the empty lot below. Both girls peeked over the low parapet cautiously.

The blonde quirked an eyebrow, "Yuuno Scrya? What is he doing here?"

"Have you forgotten? Nanoha-chan is supposed to give her reply today," Hayate reminded.

"Oh."

"Nanoha-chan's here!" the chocolate haired girl whispered as said girl made her way towards the bespectacled boy.

The girls craned their necks, attempting to eavesdrop on their conversation. "Ergh! Just look at him!" Hayate hissed as Yuuno took Nanoha's hands into his and stared intensely at her. "He's obviously trying to pressure her into dating him."

"And it looks like it worked," Fate said, unable to hide the discontentment in her voice when the girl gave a nod and the boy cheering at her response.

Fate and Hayate came out of their hiding spot when Nanoha and Yuuno left the area. "They won't last long," the chocolate haired girl said.

"How would you know?"

"They aren't even the least compatible," Hayate replied. "Trust me," she said when Fate gave her a skeptical look. "Just wait and see."

The blonde just hummed in reply.

"And when they do break up, which will definitely happen soon, you are going to do something about it right?"

Fate stared at her. 'How did she…'

As if she read her thoughts, Hayate winked, "It's a secret."