I think I will forever be a late updater. *sigh* But anyway, on with the chapter! Btw, it is my beautiful friend Amber's birthday in a couple days! Happy birthday, girl! Love ya lots! 3

The next day after the battle with Clo was Friday! I was so ready for the weekend. I woke up feeling more tired than I had been when I fell asleep and crazy sore from the battle. I could really use the weekend break. It took a very inspirational mental pep talk to convince myself to leave the comforts of my bed, let alone leave the house.

I did indeed make it to the bus stop (my dad was using the car today) and onto the bus. I slumped into a seat and leaned my head against the window. Amber, Nikki and Andi took the bus as well and soon we all arrived at school.

"You were awfully quiet on the bus today, Ally." Andi commented as the four of us trudged up the sidewalk to the school entrance.

I grunted in response. She continued: "You must be tired from your battle with Clo, eh?"

"Mhm," I grumbled, walking with a slight slouch, as my backpack hurt me like the devil. I loved battling, but being so sore after a good fight was always a mood killer.

She chatted on as we pushed through the front doors of the building: "Don't you think you push yourself too hard during these battles?"

"Of course not!" I exclaimed, suddenly more alert, glancing up at the startled Andi. "If I don't push myself during battles, how will I win?"

"I'm with Ally on that one." Amber chimed in. "Always commit completely in a battle."

"Hm. Maybe that's why I lost the last couple battles against Vi..." Andi said, touching her index finger to her chin in thought.

"Well, I'm heading to my locker, darlings." Nikki said, adjusting the strap of her huge black purse to a more comfortable position on her shoulder. "Don't want to be late!"

"'Kay."

"See ya, Nikki!"

"Have a good first class!"

We all said our farewells and she turned and headed down the hall, as the three of us walked upstairs to our own lockers.

Nikki met up with Clo halfway to her destination. Clo had a locker next to Nikki's.

"You look like crap." Nikki eyed her as Clo walked up beside her, feet dragging and eyes half open.

"Shut up."

Nikki laughed as they made their way to their lockers. "How many times has Ally beaten you now this month? Eight? Nine?"

"I said shut up." Clo grumbled as she fumbled to open her lock, having a rather hard time with it. Nikki rolled her eyes, reaching over and pulling it down sharply. It popped open.

"You left it open yesterday in your rush to battle Ally." Nikki told her, dropping her black bag at her feet and pulling open her own locker.

Clo scowled and yanked open the door, grabbing her binder, gym bag and drum sticks and shoving them into the backpack she had over one shoulder. As she made to close her locker, she looked up and noticed a boy standing across the hall beside the guitar room door, looking over at them. He was taller than both the girls, with spiky green hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, a ragged looking trench coat and bright blue eyes. Clo narrowed her eyes at him and leaned over to whisper to Nikki:

"Hey, isn't that one of the exchange students?"

"Hm?" Nikki straightened up, having leaned down to rummage in her purse. She didn't see the boy. "What did you say? I wasn't listening."

Clo threw her hands up in immediate exasperation. "You know what? Never mind!"

"What's your problem? Sorry I don't give you my undivided attention every second of every day." She gave her friend a look. Talk about short temper.

"Don't even start with me today." She grumbled, zipping her backpack closed with a bit more force than necessary. "See you in band class."

"Bitch." Nikki muttered as Clo stomped off, kicking the door that separated the two hallways hard, before walking through. She rolled her eyes at Clo's attitude and continued to sort out the artifacts she needed for the day ahead.

Finishing up, she pulled her bag up off the floor and hitched it onto her shoulder. She slammed her locker door shut and nearly screamed when a certain green-haired exchange student showed up from behind it. He was leaning casually against the locker next to Nikki's and grinned at her reaction to his sudden appearance.

"Yeesh, I'm just standing here." He said, his grin widening as she glared up at him.

"You scared the shit out of me."

"Sorry, babe." He said, leaning forward a bit. Nikki's frown deepened and she leaned away from his small advance. "You were just so dazzling I had to come over and say a quick hello."

She just stared at him with a look of pure annoyance. "Are you serious."

"Not as serious as we'll be, baby."

Nikki cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't even know you."

"Not yet."

"Who are you."

"Allow me to introduce myself." He said, extending his hand to Nikki. "I'm Kyoya Tetagami."

"And I don't care." She replied coolly, staring at his hand, but not taking it. "Excuse me, but I have to get to class."

"Hey! Wait just a second." Kyoya said quickly, grabbing her arm as she turned to walk away.

She jerked her arm out of his grasp but didn't continue walking away. "What."

"C'mon, at least give me a chance!" He said to her, stepping closer again. "Let me buy you lunch."

"No." Nikki said flatly. She gave him a once over with only her eyes and wrinkled her nose in disgust at his messy hair and tattered clothing. "Sorry, but I have very high expectations Kyoya, and unfortunately for you, you don't fit any of them. I can't stand boys like you who think they can pick up any girl with a couple smooth words and a bit of 'swagger'. Why don't you go fuck yourself and never talk to me again, okay? Goodbye."

With that, she turned on her heel and stalked off down the hall to her first class. As she rounded the corner, Kyoya ran a hand through his green hair and sighed.

"Did you hear all of that, Ryuga?"

The white and red-haired blader emerged from the doorway that led to the guitar room with an acoustic guitar strapped across his back.

"Of course I did." He replied, his usual creepy wide grin plastered on his face. "I would hate to miss you getting shot down by a pretty girl again."

Kyoya snorted. "I didn't get shot down. She's just playin' hard to get."

"Oh of course." he said, chuckling. He walked up beside Kyoya and pulled his guitar around to his front. He began aligning his fingers to the strings. "Ever think that she's actually not interested?"

"Nope." Kyoya said, grinning down the hall Nikki had vanished along. "No girl can resist my charming personality and stunning good looks."

"You're too cocky for your own good." Ryuga smirked and strummed a few chords on his guitar. "You know, you should learn the guitar; I heard that chicks here dig guys who can play instruments. It could help you pick 'em up faster."

"No way!" Kyoya scoffed, shaking his head. "I'll get to her my own way."

"It's obvious she already hates you. There's no way she'd give you a try."

Kyoya raised an eyebrow to suggest he was to take his words as a challenge, but Ryuga just shook his head. "She's a good girl, Kyoya, and she'll never let you date her. Give it up."

"How can I?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest absentmindedly and pausing for a moment. For some odd reason, Kyoya felt like he didn't want to let this one slip away from him. He could feel that she was different from the other girls. After a few seconds he turned to his friend and grinned. "I think it's love at first sight!"

"You are actually ridiculous." Ryuga barked a short laugh, shaking his head. He was thinking about other things. "You know what?"

"What?"

"That other girl, the friend of the girl you were talking to. The blonde one. Now she was cute!"

Kyoya nudged his white-haired friend and grinned widely. "Then go get 'em, tiger."

"I'm not sure she likes the 'players', if you know what I mean." Ryuga felt his reputation wasn't as clean as some girls might want it to be.

"So? When has what a girl wanted stopped you from picking her up?"

"Well aren't you thoughtful."

"The best of the best."

Ryuga rolled his eyes and pulled his guitar over his head with the intent of returning it to the guitar room. "Alright fine. I'll go see if I can work my magic."

Kyoya clapped him heartily on the shoulder. "That's the spirit!"

Having replaced the guitar where he had found it, Ryuga said a quick goodbye to Kyoya and began to hunt for the girl with the long blonde hair and stunning blue eyes.

Those eyes; wow! He had been blown away by those blue eyes. They were so kind and full of life and determination; Ryuga was sure he needed to have that kind of positivity in his life.

Hopefully he could catch her before class. Then both he and Kyoya could meet at lunch with their new girls!