The dorm was completely empty when Mena woke up on Friday morning. She had been "sick" the previous two days and that was why Chelsea hadn't woken her at all.

Sick, that was what she told everybody but she didn't even feel a slight head ache. In fact the reason why she decided to remain on her room for two days was because she was afraid to find Kai in some corner. But that all went away that very morning around 4 am, when she had an epiphany, which she would tell about to Chelsea later. But now, after entering the canteen wearing a black multi-pocket dress that stopped at mid-thigh and knee-high black army boots and her eyes colored with deep black eyeshadow, eyeliner and some mascara she was talking to Chelsea about the postcard she had received from her parents.

'They're in Peru now.' – Chelsea informed.

'Really?' – asked Mena – 'And do they intend to stay there for long?'

'Well, I think so. They seem to like it a lot there.'

'Then Jennings will keep being your preceptor?'

'Absolutely. But she won't be yours?'

'Not anymore, thank God.'

'Bah… She wasn't that bad.'

'No, she was worst.'

'I kinda liked her.' – Chelsea said.

'Of course you did, she would do anything for you.' – answered Mena – 'On the other hand, she was a complete bitch to me.'

Chelsea shrugged.

'I see you're back to your old clothing style.' – she said, changing the subject.

Mena took a look at her own dress.

'Goth, you would say?' – she asked.

'Dunno. It's kinda short for a goth dress. Maybe punk.' – suggested Chelsea.

'Punk then.' – said Mena.

'Rocker-punk.' – Chelsea added.

'Okay…'

'I like your make up.' – said Chelsea.

'Thank you. Didn't wear make up for a long time and I felt like it.' – Mena said. – 'Anyway, better get goin.' – and she left for her German class.

Robert watched it all a bit impressed. Mena was somehow different, he thought.

At 9.00 sharp all classes began and Fraulein Stegner entered the room.

'Guten Morgen.' – she began.

'Guten Morgen.' – the students answered sitting down on their places.

Mena took out her mobile phone and began writing some SMSs.

'Fraulein von Thyssen,' – called Fraulein Stegner – 'geben sie mir dein Handy, bitte.'

'Why?' – asked Mena.

'Deutch, bitte.' – insisted the teacher.

'Fine. Warum?'

'Weile Handies muss seine ausgeschaltet während Unterrische.' – explained the teacher.

'Fine.' – and Mena handed her the mobile phone.

'Sorry about you're mobile.' – said Rei when she sat.

'Why? Were you the one who lost it?' – Mena asked – 'Then don't.'

'Okay…' – said Rei returning to his book.

Mena did nothing for the rest of the class, and that included not reading any of the texts nor answering to the questions under it.

When class was finally over Mena got out of the classroom in a hurry, not paying attention to Rei calling her. And that was just what Rei was telling Chelsea when he found her in the hallway.

'Mena's strange today.' – he said.

'D'you think?' – Chelsea asked.

'You bet. I think she's more aggressive.' – he continued.

'Maybe.' – said Chelsea although she knew perfectly that it was most probably true.

Suddenly they met Mena herself.

'Hey! Where have you been?' – she asked Chelsea.

'Around and for the last minutes here, talking to Rei.' – Chelsea answered.

'Oh, yeah. Hi Rei.' – Mena said.

'Hey Mena.' – he said.

'Anyway, always better than Casanova.' – commented Mena.

'Here we go again…' – whispered Rei

'What?' – said Mena.

'Girls fight.' – he said – 'No patience. See ya.' – and he went away.

'I'm getting sort of tired of you always with that anti-Enrique spirit. You don't even know the guy!' – complained Chelsea.

'I don't need. Believe me, I've seen it before. You all in love and when he leaves who collects the shatters, huh? That will be me, I guess.' – said Mena.

'You could at least give him a chance.'

'Fine. I'll give him all the chances you want. But just don't come to me when he hurts you, okay? I don't wanna be the one to say "I told you so".'

'Then just don't.'

'Fine.'

'Fine.'

'Lets talk about somethin' else, okay?' – asked Mena – 'This subject is startin to stink.'

'Okay.'

'We're havin Maths now, aren't we?'

'Yup. Did you do the homework?' – asked Chelsea.

'No.'

'No?'

'No, I didn't. Sorry if I'm not such a fan of homework. As I see it there are lots of way more interesting things to do.' – said Mena.

'Well… yeah…'

'Then… How was the football practice yesterday? Did you hear somethin about it? I sent coach Stedman the game's strategy for Saturday morning.'

'No, I'm sorry. I was quite busy with my own practices.'

'Fine.'

Suddenly Johnny showed up.

'I've gotta thank you girl!' – he said all that cheerful to Mena.

'And for what?' – she asked back.

'For thanks to you I haven't have detention in the past days.' – he said.

'Really?' – Mena continued, an obvious few interess look on her face. But Johnny didn't seem to notice. On the other hand Chelsea couldn't avoid it.

'Yes. Thanks girl.' – and he kissed her front before going away.

Mena frowned and blinked.

'He flipped.' – she commented to Chelsea.

'Oh, don't overreact. The boy is just happy.' – Chelsea answered.

'Whatever.'

The girls changed their books and headed to Maths class. Miss Knightley entered a few minutes later.

'Good to have you back, Miss Thyssen.' – she said.

'I'm afraid I can't say the same.' – Mena answered.

Miss Knightley frowned but said nothing. She wrote some new formulas on the board and then some exercises. Everybody began working.

'Mena,' – called Michael after a while – 'my rubber is next to your chair.' – he said pointing to a white rubber accidentally thrown of the desk.

'Good for it.' – Mena answered continuing her work.

'I would like to have it back…' – he insisted.

'Then get your butt off your chair and go catch it.' – she said, never taking her eyes of the exercise but kicking the rubber to the other side of the room.

'Thanks a lot.' – Michael complained.

'You're welcome.' – she said. – 'Or d'you think I would give you a free chance of sneaking under my skirts, you moron.'

Michael caught the rubber and went back to his place.

'Is it just impression of mine or that girl's different?' – he asked his mates Tala and Enrique.

'No, it's no impression of yours, she's even more annoying than usual.' – answered Enrique.

'Yeah, she's even more unmerciful.' – agreed Tala.

'Good…' – said Michael.

Tala and Enrique glared at him.

'Traitor.' – whispered Enrique.

'I like feisty girls.' – said Michael, smiling to himself. – 'And besides she's highly hot with her eyes painted with that dark eyeshadow.' – Had Mena known that and she would never had put on the eyeshadow. Pleasing Michael was just something she wasn't interested in.

The guys went back to their very late exercises but soon the bell rang, all people leaving the class room.

'Here we go again.' – whispered Mena – 'Detention afternoon.'

'Pretty tuff, huh?' – asked Chelsea.

'You bet. I totally preferred to go shopping for tomorrow's party, but no, gotta be on detention.' – Mena kept complaining.

'Don't think about it. You'll only get more pissed.' – advised Chelsea.

'Fine.' – and they both went to lunch.

The girls barely had time to seat at the table when an enthusiastic rumour began running across all 10th grade's table.

'Have you heard about it?' – asked Mariah to Mena and Chelsea.

'I guess it depends on the subject.' – answered Mena.

'Anyway, seems we don't have detention anymore.' – informed Mariah.

'Really?' – asked Mena. – 'What awfully boring thing do we have instead? I seriously doubt they would spare us from detention unless they could give us some very painful alternative.'

'Yeah… Good point… And if we think that the lovely alternative they have to give us is a School Assembly I guess you're right.' – said Mariah.

Mena put an "I told you so" look on her face and began eating. Unbelievably she barely noticed Kai was standing next to her all the time. But all due to her "epiphany", as in fact she was telling Chelsea.

'An epiphany?' – repeated Chelsea.

'A revelation, if you want.' – said Mena.

'And…' – insisted Chelsea, wanting to know what was that "epipahny" about.

'Well, I realized I should act according to my personality no matter what. I shouldn't appear to be someone I'm not and that's exactly what I intend to do.' – Mena explained.

'I think that's fabulous.' – said Robert, who was listening to the conversation.

'I'm glad you like it.' – Mena answered.

'Oh, yeah… I'm sure his gonna love it…' – whispered Chelsea sarcastically.

It was now 14.15 in the afternoon and they were supposed to be in the school's auditorium by 15.00, but everybody knew that at 15.00 they should be already sat and quiet waiting for the principal. Otherwise a nice week of detention waited them. For this was the way things worked at EASI.

They all headed to the school's auditorium. The door was already open and Mena and Chelsea entered.

They were going to the first ranks when Mariah called them:

'Hey! We stay up here in the rear rank.' – she informed them.

'Whatever.' – answered Mena, going up again.

They all sat at the bottom of the auditorium. Most people were talking but Mena was absolutely silent. On her right side Chelsea and Enrique were kissing leaving Mena a bit of disgust. On a regular situation she would tell them to get a room but fearing to be encouraging them Mena said nothing.

'Tyson, change places with me.' – she said to the indigo haired boy.

'No way, I don't wanna be sat to the kissy-kissy couple.' – he replied.

'I was not asking, I was demanding.' – Mena said, forcing the boy.

Tyson got up and changed places with Mena.

('Excuse me! Move on of my way! Out please!')

Mena sat and slipped on her chair, all bored.

'Feel like talking?' – asked her Robert, who was sat behind her.

'No.' – she answered.

'Shame…' – said Robert.

'What are we doin here anyway?' – Mena asked.

'So you do feel like talking.' – said Robert.

'Fine.' – she said rolling her eyes. – 'What's the propose of us being here today?'

'I don't know but it definitely feels nice not having detention.' – said Robert.

Mena nodded.

At 15.00 sharp the teachers began entering. The auditorium was already filled with students.

On the head of the teachers line a tall brown haired man who Mena had never seen before talked to Principal Johnson.

'That's Principal Vincents.' – Robert informed Mena; he guessed she would probably want to know who the man was.

'Principal Vincents, you say?' – replied Mena.

'Yes. He's the real principal, remember. I told you about him the other day.' – said Robert.

'Indeed.'- Mena answered. – 'But I thought you've said he would only be back for 2nd or 3rd term, I don't quite remember.'

'Because that was what was foreseen.' – Robert said in his own defence.

'Okay.' – Mena ended.

The new headmaster and all the teachers had now got to the stage.

'Silence please.' – asked the now former Principal Johnson.

The students quieted down.

'Today we're all here gathered to receive Principal Vincents.' – said Johnson. – 'That's right, Principal Vincents is finally back. So, this means I'll drop my current position and I'll get back to my old job, teaching English to 10th graders.'

Some unwritten rules of EASI forced students to clap hands.

Johnson thanked them all and then continued:

'But with these happy news comes also a sad one: Mr. Jekyll's early retirement.'

'And there was much rejoicing.' – whispered Mena.

Mr. Jekyll was Chelsea and Mena's nerd Literature teacher. So for them it wasn't definitely a sad new.

Another loud applause (but of happiness) was directed to the probably most hated teacher of them all (although rumour has it there was a highly boring and singlestring Geography teacher on the 7th, 8th and 9th grade – one of those agriculture maniacs).

Finally Mr. Vincents took the word:

'Well, now that we've said goodbye to our dear beloved teacher…'

'I don't think many people share from that perspective.' – whispered Mena.

'… I would like to wish you all a very good year. I'm sorry that I couldn't be here to wish it in last September. Anyway, I'm here now and just in time to watch tomorrow morning's games against Collége de Genève. I wouldn't miss it in a million years. Also a good news for our young infractors: all detentions are suspended to revaluation. Only severe "crimes" will maintain the punishment.' – Mr. Vincents announced.

Cheers were heard all over the room.

'Quiet now.' – asked the Principal – 'Something else you need to know: there will be a reattribution of the dorms to each student. A measure taken to erase some faults. The new dorm numbers will be published downstairs in the entry. It is all, you're dismissed.'

Everybody got up on their feet when Miss Johnson called:

'Michael Parker, remain a little longer, please.' – she said.

Michael, all pissed off, sat back on his chair.

Out side Mena was talking to Chelsea, who had, momentainiously, let go of Enrique.

'I seriously hope I won't change dorm.' – Mena said – 'I've got all my stuff in there and besides I've got the same locker number as the dorm's one and I like matching things.'

'Very good argument, Mena. Very good.' – said Oliver, who was passing by – 'If everybody thought the same way it would be one difficult thing to accommodate the whole range of students.'

'I don't remember to have asked you anything.' – said Mena.

'But yet I'm right.'

Mena knew it but she would get the last word.

'Seriously, I don't care if you're right or not – which, by the way, you're not – but I really don't remember to have called on your opinion.' – Mena said.

Oliver smiled. And Mena went away with Chelsea.

'So,' – Chelsea began – 'as it seems you don't have detention anymore what about going shopping?'

'Okay.' – said Mena – 'Let me just change my dress for a pair of pants. This way we can go on my motorcycle.'

'Yeah, but what about the bags, huh?' – asked Chelsea – 'I don't know about you but I intend to buy loads of stuff.'

'Fine. D'we call up a cab?'

'No, Johnny will take us.' – said Chelsea.

'Johnny?' – Mena frowned.

'Yeah. He heard I wanned to go shopping and he said he would take me no problem, for he too wanned to go to town.'

'Oh…' – said Mena, she had figured it all out – 'Okay then. You go get our coats, mine's over my bed, and we'll meet here at the entrance, okay?'

'Sure.' – said Chelsea – 'What about your card?'

'I have it with me.' – said Mena.

'Okay.' – and Chelsea left with a smile.

Mena noticed Johnny just a bit ahead of where they had been standing and placed herself behind him.

'So, d'you wanna go to town.' – whispered Mena.

'Yes I do.' – answered Johnny, not turning his face to her.

'I bet you heard all our talk.' – Mena continued.

'No, I didn't.'

'Then how come you know exactly what I'm talking about?'

'Well…'

'I wasn't born yesterday, Johnny, and I'm definitely not naïve. So why don't you just admit you like her?'

'I… I…'

'You've asked me about her thousands of times during detention afternoons and d'you think I would never figure it out?'

'Well… I hoped…'

'In vain. As I told you before I'm not…'

'Naïve, I know. But please don't tell her or anyone else.'

'Deal.'

'Thanks. I definitely would hate her to know, as she's dating Enrique and all that…'

'Oh yeah, Casanova. Well, don't worry about it. By the way, I'm not very fond of Enrique, so if you need some kind of help, just name it.'

'Thanks.'

'You're welcome. Now, go get your car that Chelsea should be here in no time.'

'Oh, yeah, right…' – and Johnny went to get his car.

As Johnny moved away Mena noticed Kai had been staring at the whole conversation. A soft rage look crossed his eyes. There was only one name for that: jealous.

If it had happen on one of the previous days it would have shaken Mena's heart, but not anymore.

Then Chelsea arrived.

'Uh… Still got to talk to Johnny. Tell him that we wanna go now and…' – she began.

'I've already talked to him.' – Mena said.

'Oh… fine. Then, here's your coat.' – and Chelsea handed Mena the coat.

'Thanks. Lets go.' – and they left.

Outside Johnny awaited them on his Mitsubishi Strakar.

'Get in girls.' – he said.

The girls entered the car and Mena made sure Chelsea sat next to Johnny on the front seat.

He drove them to Zurich and left them just in front of a Les Copains store. The girls entered the store and Johnny drove off to a records store.

Inside Chelsea picked a shiny organza lilac top and very dark tight jeans to try and Mena got a short dark green musseline with pink, pale yellow and black liberty flowers printed dress, a very short black one with square low-neck and crossed straps in the back and high-hill black platform sandals.

Both girls came out of the dressing rooms very pleased with their trends and hurried themselves to pay them. Mena ended up buying a dark green version of her black dress and a matching pair of the same sandals.

Then they moved to Versace. There Mena bought a black strapless and backless dress which was only kept in place by two strips that tied in a bow at her breasts level; and Chelsea bought a bright green strapless dress.

They ended their fashion stores tour in Dior.

Mena, who was a petite robe noir addict, bought another black dress. This time a very very short one, strapless and very flared with a sort of satin strip all around her chest that held up the dress. To this buy she added a new pair of 4,5 inches height black polish stilletos.

On the other hand, Chelsea bought a short backless golden musseline dress all stitched with golden sequins and a golden matching purse.

The two girls came out of the store very happy. And they entered next on a make up store.

Inside Mena went straight to Dior's corner, picking a silver bracelet that contained two glosses inside (Dior Gourmette). But that wasn't all, she also bought the technicolor trio Lumières magiques by Chanel, liquid black eyeliner and Cover up stick by Stila, for no one's perfect.

About Chelsea, she bought a Guerlain Kiss lipstick and a Kit French Manicure also by Guerlain. Lancôme's Juicy Tubes and Universal Glamour mascara by Lancaster were also part of her shopping list.

It was 18.50 when they ended their shopping afternoon and found Johnny sat on a café.

As soon as he saw them, absolutely loaded of all kind of bags, he ran to help them and put all the bags next to Mena's seat, for a pick-up hasn't got any trunk.

I ten minutes they were ready and Johnny drove back to school. It was night already for they were entering November.

When they finally got to school it was dinner time and the girls dropped their bags on the dorm after thanking Johnny. Then they went to dinner.

'Haven't seen you after the assembly.' – commented Robert to Mena.

'That's cuz I haven't been here.' – said Mena.

'Oh… Where have you been, then?'

'In Zurich, shopping.'

'Really?'

'Yeah, for tomorrow's party.'

'Oh… Did you have fun?'

'Yes. Unbelievably I like to go shopping.'

'Okay.' – and Robert began eating his soup.

Mena was also eating hers when she felt a pair of eyes upon her. And it wasn't Kai's, as she thought it would be, it was Michael's.

Mena looked up and followed Michael's eyes. Her rage when she understood Michael's eyes were set upon her chest was indescribable.

'Where d'you think you're looking at?' – she flared up.

'Me?' – asked Michael, as calmly as ever.

'Yeah, you. Wasn't enough that you've tried to sneak under my dress during Maths' class you still have to be looking straight at my breasts?'

'Yeah?'

'Wrong answer.' – and Mena got up and emptied her glass of water over Michael. – 'Don't you dare to do that again, cuz next time I'll actually punch you.'

'I would like to see that…' – challenged Michael.

'Oh, yeah? Then come outside.' – said Mena. Michael got up and followed her to the lobby. All the members of The Gang staring at them.

Out side Mena looked straight at Michael.

'After this don't tell me I haven't warn you.' – and she punched Michael in the face.

'Geez!' – said Michael holding to his jawbone – 'You're a girl! I didn't think you would have so much strength!'

Then Mena punched him again.

'This is for you to learn that girls aren't weaker than boys.' – she said walking back to the table. – 'By the way,' – she said on the way – 'I don't usually punch my players before a game, but you were asking for it.' – and she went back to her place.

Michael returned a few minutes later, his jawbone slightly purple.

'What was that man?' – asked Tala.

'Nothing, I fell and my face hit on the cup locker.' – Michael said.

'Why don't you tell them the truth?' – asked Mena.

'The truth?' – repeated Tala.

'Yeah, or you don't wanna tell your buddies you were hit by a girl?' – said Mena – 'Is that the problem, huh? Well, I think you have learned the hard way that girls are as strong as boys. And the same applies to you.' – she said to Tala.

'Really? Did really von Thyssen do you that? It seems she wasn't joking after all.' – said Tala.

'Thanks, Tala. That's exactly what a guy needs to hear.' – said Michael to Tala – 'It wasn't already enough that she had shattered my ego you still had to sink it a little more.'

Mena smirked.

'Sorry pal.' – apologized Tala.

'I told you she was dangerous.' – said Enrique.

'Shut up, Casanova.' – said Mena, who was listening to the conversation.

'Don't call me Casanova.' – protested Enrique.

'Very well, Don Juan, then.' – said Mena.

On a common situation Chelsea would have asked Mena to stop but she thought it was quiet fair once Enrique agreed that girls were weaker and he had also insinuated that her best friend was dangerous, which placed her where? The best friend of a dangerous psycho? That wasn't much of a compliment to her either.

Most other people had stopped paying attention to Mena and Michael's fights, occasionally aided by Enrique and/or Tala. Most but not all, Kai's eyes were perfectly focused on Mena's movements.

Kai had had a huge attack of jealous, mixed with a growing feeling of rage and anger. He was breading slowly and he wouldn't say a thing for the most likely was that he would flare at the first who led his word to him (not that he talked much anyway, but…). Part, if not all, of the rage he was feeling was directed against himself, for having lost her. How stupid he was! What had he done, or not done, that deserved her despise? What he didn't know was that she didn't despise him at all, at least not for now. Had he known that and he would have saved many sleepless nights. But to the present moment he hadn't yet understood why she wasn't able to feel the same way towards him that he felt about her. All kind of ideas crossed his mind: maybe she was in love with someone else; maybe he wasn't her kind of guy; maybe he was just a useless guy, unable to do anything right; maybe… The only think he didn't think about was that perhaps she didn't know him at all…

After dinner Mena left the canteen and went to the dorm to get a book to read. She didn't count on seeing any of them until the next day so she advised her football (soccer) team to go to sleep early and rest a lot. On the next morning they should all have a banana, a piece of bread and a cappuccino for breakfast. Then she encouraged Zeo:

'Good luck for tomorrow.' – she said – 'I'm counting on you, okay? Rest a lot.' – and Mena smiled.

When she finished her "mom" job she left.

Mena was currently reading a Jose Saramago's book and she was enjoying it quite much. She sat on her usual chair and began reading.

Usually reading helped her to cool off her spirit but this day it seemed useless. At first she thought she was so agitated due to the up coming game and then because she had drunk loads of ice tea after lunch, but no, it wasn't it. She kept reading until it was 22.00. She had advised her players to sleep early and she should set the example.

When she got to the room she found Madison, Kenzie and Delancee ready to go to bed.

'D'you know where's Chelsea?' – Mena asked.

'Yeah.' – said Madison – 'She went to the movies with Enrique. She asked us to tell you in case you had forgotten, which seems quite the case.'

'Yeah, yeah. Thanks.' – answered Mena. And she entered the bathroom to get herself ready to sleep.

Thirty minutes later she came out. The lights were off and she lay down. She fell asleep.

She wasn't quite sure of how much time she slept until she woke up, around 00.00. She looked to Chelsea's bed, still empty.

Mena turned and turned in her bed but it seemed useless, she wasn't able to fall asleep. Five minutes, tem minutes, fifteen… Then the sound of a piano came to her mind. It was it, that was what she needed to calm her down: she needed to play the piano.

Mena tried to remember if there was any piano there at school. She finally remembered to had heard something about a Music Class for Junior high school students. It was somewhere on the ground floor.

Mena got up and put a black nightgown over her light-blue pajamas, an army label pending on her neck. She walked downstairs barefoot.

When she reached the ground floor she remembered that Kevin and Joseph had been caught sneaking around there just a couple of weeks before. Yet that didn't stop her and she continued to look for the Music Room.

After turning some corners she finally found it. There it was. Then she finally thought about the possibility of the door being locked. Why haven't she thought about it? She tried to open the door but it was closed. She thought about it for a second and then she remembered a clever trick she had learned back in New York city. She took out her army label and passed it in the key locker. A click was heard. Mena smiled. She was in.

Mena entered the Music room and lit the lights. At the bottom of the room a shiny black piano awaited her. Mena sat down at the piano. She stretched her fingers and began playing furiously. Rachmaninov, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven… She played them all.

She was in the middle of Minute Waltz when she felt she was being watched but looking back she found no one. She kept playing. When she reached the end of Prelude in C sharp minor she thought it was enough.

She closed the piano, turned off the lights and closed the door. She went back to the dorm. She could have seen what time it was but she didn't, she didn't care, she didn't want to know. All that matter was that she had released her soul. She was fine now, she didn't owe a thing to anyone. She was cool.

Mena lay down on her bed. Chelsea was already there. Mena smiled. She was feeling well, so well… Like she didn't feel for a long time. The game could be in the next minute that she would play it as well as if she had slept all night, maybe even better.

She kept thinking about her life for a little more then she surrendered herself to sleep. A fair sleep.

A/N: R&R please! What you liked, what you didn't, suggestions… What should happen? What kind of OCs fit better on the story? Just review please, even if it is to say that you didn't like. Reproval is always better than apathy : )

A/N2: just to tell that the end of the OCs contest will be delay to 25th April, this new date it's better to us. By the way, thanks to everybody who sent their OC already if you wish you can send us another. If you haven't sent us your OC yet, what are you waiting for? More OCs, better to the fic. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the story or sent any message.