A/N: Realized I didn't even mentioned Gino or Kallen in the last chapter even though they were there. Oh well they're not all that important here. A note about the Japanese summer vacation for schools, they start a lot later then ours because they don't transition to the next grade after summer vacation.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass

Chapter 7:

School the Monday following turned out quite tiring. Word that Schneizel Lamperouge had returned somehow leaked to the student body. Though he graduated two years ago, Schneizel still seemed to be quite well known at Ashford. He even visited the school as alumni who didn't particularly bothered Lelouch since Schneizel was kept distracted by the principal trying to make connections with Schneizel so he might donate to the school when he's made it in the world, or he's surrounded by a hoard a hormone driven fan girls. What Lelouch found worse was that Schneizel was staying with them.

Yesterday…

Lelouch walked downstairs to grab some breakfast but stopped when he saw a familiar face sitting at the table, a familiar but unwelcoming face.

"What are you doing?" Lelouch asked, not so politely.

"Well I am visiting father and need a place to stay so might as well stay here," Schneizel said over his coffee.

"Wait, how long are you staying? Don't you have school?" Lelouch asked.

"Its summer vacation for schools in the states right now," Schneizel said. "Euphie said she wants to see Cornelia again so want to go and visit along with Euphie once your summer starts in a few weeks?"

Lelouch was sitting in his class, during break since he had nothing else better to do. Milly had came in a few moments ago and dragged C.C. off somewhere for something that Lelouch did not particularly care about and Suzaku went to Euphie's classroom. He was just about take a little nap before class starts but he was interrupted by Rivalz.

"Yo Lelouch, so your brother came back," he said sliding into C.C.'s seat.

"And the worst part, he won't leave until term ends." Lelouch sighed.

"Just a few weeks," Rivalz said. "By the way, what are you planning to do this summer?"

"I don't know," Lelouch replied. "Schneizel invited me and my sister to go visit the states because Euphie wanted to see Cornelia. Nunnally is excited to go but I'm not sure if I want to."

"Lucky you, you're rich enough to go on these far away vacations whenever you like." Rivalz said.

"If you want, you can take my place. So long as you keep your hands off my sister," Lelouch offered sarcastically.

"I'm hurt you see me like that, Lelouch." Rivalz said feinting, before perking back up. "I heard about Saturday night. So what's up between you two huh?"

"Absolutely nothing," Lelouch replied.

Suddenly the bell signaling that class started sounded around the school. Rivalz left Lelouch's side to return to his own seat just as Suzaku and C.C. came back into the room. C.C. sat down next to Lelouch and took out her books for the next class as the teacher; Ougi-sensei walked into the room at the front and started writing things on the board. About half way through class though, the door opened again and their homeroom teacher, Villetta-sensei came in. Though her Villetta is her first name, most students elected to call her Villetta-sensei rather then Nu-sensei and she never corrected them. She handed something to Ougi and was about to walk out when Ougi grabbed her by the arm and whispered something in her ear. Villetta jumped back in surprise but everyone can see a blush forming on her cheeks. Several students wolf whistled while random crys of "You the man, Ougi –sensei" or ""Go, Ougi-sensei filled the room". Everyone knew there was something between those two though they never openly admitted it but most of the teasing was directed at Ougi since he wasn't as strict.

"Now's not the best time Ougi!" they could her mutter.

"I just thought I'd ask before I forget," Ougi chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.

Villetta turned Ougi around so they had their back to the class and whispered something his ear and Ougi nodded before she turned to leave. The rest of the lesson seemed a lot more cheerful after that and Ougi didn't even give them any homework.

When lunch came, everyone gathered at their usual place. C.C. bought pizza again and everyone just wondered how she can eat pizza every single day while still keeping that figure. Lelouch teased her about her pizza addition and she retaliated with more teasing by trying to seductively feed Lelouch the piece she was eating. A certain orange haired girl was watching all of this. Shirley did not think much of C.C. when they first met; just that she was a nice person to hang around with. But as the weeks progressed, she's been noticing that C.C.'s been getting closer to Lelouch, too close to be anything innocent.

"Hey, C.C.-san I heard you went to that charity event Saturday." Shirley asked, wanting to confirm what she's been hearing.

"Hm?" C.C. stopped leaning up at Lelouch and face Shirley. "Yeah, why?"

"So did you…go with anybody…in particular?" Shirley asked, her smile twitching.

"My cousin and her family," C.C. replied.

"Really…I heard something…different," Shirley said. She had heard about Lelouch and C.C. that night, about how well they danced. Shirley had tried asking Lelouch to dance in similar events but he always refused saying he doesn't dance. Why did he dance with C.C. then? She had heard this from her parents who were talking about it. They didn't know it was C.C. but Shirley knew once they mentioned long neon green hair. They even praised C.C. saying she's a good match for a young man such as Lelouch Lamperouge.

"Shirley, why weren't you there anyways?" Milly asked suddenly.

"Ah…I wasn't feeling well that night," Shirley said, surprised at Milly's question.

"Ah, you missed two great shows." Milly said. "Both starring our own Lelouch Lamperouge!"

"Ahaha…really?" Shirley asked, playing dumb.

"Never knew you could dance so well Lelouch," Milly said. "All those times I invited you to dance, you said you were bad at dancing."

"Well you wouldn't accept my 'I don't dance,' answer," Lelouch said.

"I've known Lelouch since we were kids," Suzaku explained, "He has never been much of a public person."

"But he still danced with C.C. that's unfair!" Shirley blurted out.

"Then as compensation, Lelouch will be forced to dance with you next time." Rivalz said. "And we'll enforce it."

"What next time?" Lelouch asked.

"The after party for the end of the semester festival," Rivalz said. "It may not be as fancy but it's still a dance."

"Wait, that's coming up?" Lelouch said.

"Villetta-sensei told us about it during homeroom," Rivalz said.

"She did?" Lelouch asked.

"You never pay attention do you?" Rivalz sighed.

"No, I feel that sometimes it's too trivial." Lelouch said.

"What's the theme this year?" Suzaku asked, taking a bite from the sandwich Euphie was holding up.

Milly laughed mischievously, looking towards Lelouch. "Masked superheroes!"

"Another difficult theme," Kallen muttered.

"I already have everything planned out," Milly said ignoring Kallen's remark. "Lelouch here will be the main superhero!"

"Wait, what? Why?" Lelouch asked shocked.

"You have a very…uh…charismatic voice," Milly said scrunching up in concentration.

"You just want to put me in a costume didn't you?" Lelouch asked suspiciously.

"Anyways!" Milly said ignoring Lelouch. "C.C. you know what to do right?"

"Yeah," C.C. replied eating the last of her pizza. "I'll get the materials tonight."

"What?" Lelouch asked. There seems to be a lot of surprises today.

"She asked me to specially design your costume," C.C. said.

Lelouch didn't know what to say. He doesn't know if C.C.'s taste is as "exciting" as Milly's so he doesn't know what to expect with that costume. All he can do is pray. Milly proceeded to tell them the plan for the rest of the festival. Apparently she already ordered the uniforms all student council members would be wearing since they were to act as patrols and event organizers; she thought they needed more "authoritative" garments. And Lelouch in his costume will be their "leader" who's yet to have a name. Lelouch had asked why she isn't going to be the "leader" since she's the president but she only said that Lelouch was a better choice without giving another reason.

Lelouch was only able to find out one thing about his costume, which is the same as all the other costumes. It will be black. She's expecting them to wear black in the middle of July? She assured them it would be comfortable in the heat. So it was decided for their theme, Lelouch is their vigilante hero and they would his followers. Well it wasn't their oddest theme ever; they did a cat theme before.

That day after school, Milly demanded all of them to go to the student council room, no exceptions. If Lelouch tries to ditch, Milly would send Kallen after him. And so Lelouch, along with the other student council members in his class went straight to the room after school was over. The different clubs had turned in their finance forms for the festival and Milly wanted them done as soon as possible, meaning today. While Milly herself did the minimal amount of work. They had been given a quota and they're only allowed to leave when they finished that quota. C.C. was the first to finish and left saying she has to get the materials for Lelouch's costume. Lelouch still dreading a bit of what she would make, thinking it be pizza related. Kallen finished next and just left after saying good bye to everyone. Suzaku and Rivalz finished up their quota at about the same time. Rivalz had to go to his part time job and Suzaku offered to wait for Lelouch but Lelouch told him its fine. Nina had slipped out unnoticed by the others, except Milly. Milly left before finishing her quota saying she has to check up on their costumes.

Lelouch could've finished faster but he was just feeling lazy. He thought Shirley would finish way before him but he noticed that she's working at a slower pace then usual. "Don't you usually work faster?" Lelouch asked.

"Ah, I guess I just felt like going at a steadier pace today." Shirley said nervously.

Lelouch just ignored that.

"Lelouch…" Shirley said cautiously.

"Hm?" Lelouch muttered.

"You and C.C. have been getting awfully close lately…" Shirley continued.

"Really? Hasn't noticed," Lelouch replied.

"Is there something…between…you two?" she asked.

"Rivalz asked the same thing earlier," Lelouch said. "If it's about Saturday night, I merely met her there by coincidence."

"So it wasn't a date?" Shirley asked, remembering her disappointment when she heard that.

"No, it was something we told my brother to show him up." Lelouch said.

"So it was pretend?" Shirley asked her voice full of hope.

"I guess you can say that," Lelouch said.

"Ah, that's good." Shirley said under her breath.

"Huh?" Lelouch asked, not catching it.

"Nothing!" Shirley said waving her hands in front of her as a sign to forget it.

Shirley finished soon but she didn't leave. Instead she helped Lelouch finish his quota. When they were done, they packed up their bags to get ready to leave. The sun was already beginning to set.

"Ah Lelouch," Shirley said, getting nervous again. "Can you…escort…me home?"

"Hm why?" Lelouch asked, we live in different parts of town.

"Well you wouldn't leave a girl to go home alone in the dark would you?" Shirley said her face turning into a pout.

Lelouch sighed, "Alright."

They left the building to find that all of the students were gone by now. A few teachers were still here but that was it. Lelouch didn't understand Shirley's sudden change in personality but it's just taking her home so he didn't mind. It just means he won't have to see his father and brother much that night.

"Lelouch, want to come over for dinner?" Shirley suddenly asked at the train station.

"I can't…" Lelouch said politely.

"Its fine, you want to get away from your brother right?" Shirley said cheerfully.

Lelouch thought about it, and she was right. "Alright, I'll be imposing you tonight then." He took out his phone to send Nunnally a message telling her to tell their parents he won't be home for dinner.

A/N: I won't go into any detail about Villetta and Ougi; just wanted a little OugiXVilletta moment. I use a lot of dialogue…I can't help it. And Shirley begins making her move! To tell you the truth, I had completely forgotten about Shirley until "Kuro no Arcana" mentioned it. Shall I introduce a love rival for Lelouch soon as well? Hmm…