This one's way short, I know! Sorry if it sucks! And it's a late update, I know! Please don't kill me! Dx So much has happened, and I'm not gonna get into that. I've already started work on the next couple of chapters, please bear with me. I'll try to be timely with updates, but no promises. I'll be honest with ya, I still haven't made final decisions on pairings, but I'll ease into them. The ones I chose are pretty obvious, but just in case... :

Trowa + Mina

Wufei + Rei (typical, I know Dx)

Quatre + Makoto

And to those that reviewed, thanks! I'll reply on the next chapter, which will be out early! I'll aim to make that one a little longer (it's only at 3500 words right now) Really busy cuz I gotta run to the airport in a few minutes. =o


"Miss Tsukino!"

Usagi was just leaving the English classroom when her teacher had called her. Oh man!! He remembered! She started racing down the hallway.

"Oi! Tsukino! Get back here!"

Her teacher followed after her.

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! Fourth period!! was her excuse to get away from the English teacher. She turned around when she thought she lost him, and slowed her pace when she turned the corner of the hallway. She stepped quickly towards her next class, thinking she was safe. Just then, someone had grabbed and yanked on her shirt collar, momentarily choking her, making her drop all her books.

"Aiiieeee! What's this?!" she started to scream. She began a long trail of curses, which inspired a disciplinary cuff on the neck. Pain was shooting along her spine.

"Owww! St-stooooop it, please!"

"Miss Tsukino! Can you explain to me the meaning of this?!"

Her teacher showed her her test... She had received 0 marks for it!

"Your entire test was blank! Did you even try? Why don't you make an effort in my class? EEEEHHHH?!! There is a wet stain in the corner. Drool?! Why do you continue to sleep in my class?"

Usagi was about to start bawling. Her eyes grew wide, hardly able to contain all the salty tears much longer. Merciless, her teacher's tirade commenced.

"Did you even read the assigned book? Alice in Wonderland?! Tsukino! Look at me when I speak!"

It was often hard to comprehend the teacher's heavily European-accented Japanese for the students, but to Usagi, he spoke complete nonsense. Even his English was accented – how was one to learn good English?! She simply stared at her too-handsome teacher with wide eyes. Arisu in Wondelandu? (she pronounces it in Japanese accent) What is that???! And what kind of accent is it? French, German, Greek, Latin? Do people even speak Latin anymore...? He was still lecturing but already she couldn't focus.

"Tsukino!"

"Yes! Ohh, Zechs sensei, please please let me retake the test!" she pleaded in the most polite Japanese terms.

"In English!!"

"Oh, hai – uhh yes! Puh-lease, to allow me do test! S-second chance?" she asked hesitantly.

Her teacher sighed. His long platinum blond hair obscured the face of defeat as he lowered his head.

"O-okay. But you must read the assignment! You're already behind the class. One more bad score like this, and tutoring will be mandatory. Retake the test. You have one week. You are now dismissed!"

In that same flashy manner as always, English professor Zechs walked away, his long hair swaying as he strode in that sexy, confident manner. Several girls nearby sighed as he strode by. Rumors had it that Zechs was an ex-soldier...

EW I just thought of my English teacher as sexy! She hastily turned around, bumping into a student and dropping all her books.

Aww, again! Today's a bad day! Vision bleary, she wiped away a tear as she sunk to the ground and began collecting her things before anyone could notice. It's not my fault I can't understand the teacher. And he's just so boring! Zechs is the worst teacher ever!

"Stop making a scene and get up."

"H-Heero?"

She was looking up into the face of the dazzling youth who she'd helped purchase groceries just days before.. His serious eyes bore into hers. For some reason – Heero seemed so tense. He held her by the elbows as he helped her up and handed her her books.

"I didn't expect to see you here – so you're a student here?"

Usagi's attempt at conversation prompted little in return.

"Yes."

"So you're one of the new guys," she concluded.

She already forgot her problems, now trying to delve into whatever seemed to be bothering him – her compassionate nature was taking over.

"Is something wrong Heero?" Heero wouldn't look at her now. "Let's go outside, we can talk."

Heero was hesitant.. This girl from the market.. He hardly knew her. Why should she want to talk to him? She shouldn't get involved with him.

"No."

"Come on! You really need to let it out! Come with me!"

Usagi grabbed him by the arm and started dragging him through different hallways, making turns here and there, and took him outside.

"What about class?" he tried to ask. She didn't hear him.

"Now sit down!" she commanded, pointing at a picnic table.

Like the last time Heero was with her – he wasn't himself. He always seemed to act different around this girl, always self-conscious and feeling awkward. Unlike his usual self, he allowed someone else (other than his boss) to give him orders, and obeyed them. He sat down, submissive. Usagi took a seat beside him, and turned around to face him.

"Now", she began, adorably attentive. Heero couldn't stop staring. He looked at his shoes.

"Heero, share!!" she cried childishly. "I wanna know what's on your mind, what's bothering you. I know I hardly know you, and I feel kinda dumb right here, right now but I just want to help."

An idea popped in his head.

"Oh it's just.. I'm trying to get used to this school, that's all."

"Oh right, you just moved and everything."

She trusted him, right away. That immediate trust, her regarding him without any morsel of suspicion... it was so unlike how anyone had treated him before. And totally opposite of how he'd treat anyone else.

"Yeah."

"You must miss your friends and everyone you knew."

"I know myself. I don't need anyone else."

What could she say to that? Both Heero and Usagi looked down at their shoes and off to the side, glancing around – anywhere but at each other. To break the silence –

"What was that with the English teacher earlier? He was yelling at you."

"Oh.. You heard that?" She blushed. "Just I suck at English I guess haha."

The tension was gone.

"Oh English? I grew up in the colonies and moved a lot – I'm pretty good at English and a couple of other languages.. I could help you." Shocked at himself but unable to stop, he continued, "I-if you want that is."

It was his turn to turn red. Usagi's eyes grew wide and she looked at him eyes brimming over with tears again – happy ones. Heero was still looking at his shoes.

"Really Heero? Oh that'd be wonderful!"

Without warning she grabbed his hand, and Heero looked up at her, finally. Lovely eyes, glittering with sunlight reflecting off of them. Breath-taken, he whispered.

"Y-yeah."

Her face was so close to his. Overwhelmed by the aroma she exuded, he leaned in close. Heero could feel the warmth she emanated. By now he was losing control of himself. Her hand on his, her pretty eyes shutting, the sound of her surprise as she gasped, the feeling of her breath gently on his cheeks as she came closer as well – it was so intoxicating, a pleasurable poison permeating his whole being.

"Hey Heero!" came a voice from afar.

Flushed and embarrassed, Heero and Usagi pulled away from each other. Usagi's hands fiddled with her skirt as she stared intensely at a suddenly captivating square on the skirt's plaid pattern. Heero looked for the other voice. It was Ami.

"Hi," Heero replied, monotonously. The change in his tone was very different from when he spoke to Usagi – then he at least expressed some emotion. Now he was like a robot. Usagi noticed. Ami didn't.

"Heero, you left your – " Ami was walking towards them. "Oh." She saw a blonde beside Heero. The blonde, recognizing the voice, looked up.

"Ami?" Usagi needlessly enquired.

Ami was trying to register the scene – Heero... and Usagi? They knew each other?

"O-oh Usagi! H-hi!" Ami was thinking... weren't they just holding hands and about to – ? She blushed.

Heero forgotten, Usagi threw her arms around Ami. "How have you been my dear? Not studying too hard, right?"

"No, I never study too much," came Ami's quiet answer.

It was as if Heero didn't exist now. But Heero didn't mind. He watched closely. Ami was the girl that saw him with a gun. She also was the only one who managed to fight off the monster that other day. Are these two just friends or is there something more? From the way they interact, it's as if – as if they share a secret.

"Oh well I don't know about that," Usagi joked. "I see you've got a book in your hand. Not about to study some more, are you?" Usagi asked as if studying were an alarming activity.

Ami giggled in her usual timid way. "We're at school, of course we have to study. Anyways, you and Heero know each other?" Well, she thought, it looked as if they knew each other very well. Something in her stung. Her heart felt.. not quite right. Am I having heart palpitations? Maybe I better check my mother's medical textbook later.

"Me and Heero?" she glanced at Heero, who'd been quiet the entire time. "Hardly!" And at that Usagi suddenly realized what she almost did with a boy she only met twice... this occasion being the second. Well, third if the time he gave her a ride home was counted separately from their first connaissance at the market. But her face didn't show it. "You know Heero too?"

"Well, we've got a few classes together." More than a few actually.

"Oh. Ami, what's that you got there?"

"Oh, right, it's the reason why I came! Heero's flashdrive. He left it in Computer Science the other day after he was um, napping." Ami held it out. "Here, I better get going."

Heero wordlessly took it from Ami's hand. Ami immediately pivoted on her heel and walked away without saying anything else. Heero stared at the flash drive in his hand. Usagi noticed this awkward interaction between the two. She wasn't a total idiot like Rei always called her.

xXx

Ami didn't know what to think. Heero... and Usagi. Were they going out? But Usagi said she hardly knew him. Do they like each other? They almost kissed and I kind of spoiled that. She was – she was jealous! And deep down, a bit angry too. Oh God, what now? He might be dangerous! He had a gun. Usagi shouldn't be with him. But am I just thinking that because I like him too?

Ami was pacing in the hallway now. She stopped.

Do I like Heero? Should I warn Usagi or am I just jealous?

For once, Ami didn't have it all figured out. Anyways, she had her Global Histories class to get to next.

xXx

Ami's got a secret, definitely. But is Usagi in on it, I wonder? They must be close... but they both hadn't told each other about me. That would make sense though. I really did just meet Usagi. He felt the heat rise in his cheeks. And Ami's really just a classmate.

The history teacher was lecturing. As if Heero paid attention. As if he ever paid attention to any teacher, for that matter. Heero turned to his left and glanced at, surprise, surprise, Ami. She had nice blue hair. And nice blue eyes. Hers sparkled with cleverness. Usagi's were... different. They were engaging, they were so animated, literally the windows to her soul. If she would not reveal anything by mouth, he had only to look in her eyes to find the answer. Though easy to read, there was definitely something more, something enigmatic.

Maybe that's what makes her so attractive. He double-blinked. He just admitted to himself that Usagi is a pretty girl. Maybe it was that mystery that intrigued him. He wanted to learn more about her, but now he was being unprofessional. It was no use observing a subject irrelevant to the mission. How can I focus like this? He leaned back and yawned, and stretched out his arms; also accidentally nudging Ami with a hand.

"'scuse me," he murmured.

Ami blushed and looked down.

Right, I've gotta concentrate on this girl here. Hmmm.

Heero pretended to drop a pencil. It rolled to Ami's side. As he predicted, she leaned over to pick it up. Perfectly timed and executed, Heero reached for the pencil at the same time. His hand landed on hers. A mini-gasp came from Ami, and she tried to pull her hand away. Heero's larger hand held hers firmly; he brushed her fingers with his thumb, then took the pencil and straightened in his seat. Ami was silent but the change in her demeanor was noticeable enough. No one else around them paid any attention.

Maybe I can ask her a few questions later.

Like a computer, Heero calculated.

xXx

"Hello?" the Chinese boy answered his phone, in an unprovoked severe tone.

"I've got a lead. Investigating."

Dial tone. Wufei sighed. Though Wufei was no chivalrous knight, he felt Heero could've been a tad more informative and polite. It was always a murmur and a 'hnn' from him – no better than caveman-speak. Wufei would be different. He picked up his phone and dialed Trowa's mobile.

"H'lo?"

"Trowa, it's me."

"Hey."

"Heero's out to play Nancy Drew."

"And?"

"You know how the guy is, never says much. I assume there'll be a meeting later."

"Thanks for the heads up. Where're you at now?"

"On my way back to the apartment. I haven't found anything yet. Oh hang on just a sec, getting a call on the other line."

Wufei switched over without glancing at the phone's screen.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Check out those energy hotspots."

Dial tone again. Wufei switched back to Trowa.

"Hey Trowa. It was Heero," he groaned.

"Wait did you just argh?"

"That's beside the point. Nancy Drew just gave me a task to do."

"You rhymed!" laughed Trowa.

Growling, Wufei went on, "Dinner better be ready when I'm back!"

He hung up.

xXx

Pressing the end call button, Trowa chuckled.

"You better not say 'Lucy I'm home!' when you've returned."

He unlocked the apartment door and stepped in, ready for his afternoon shower and nap. Having set his school things down in his room, Trowa stepped into the shower and turned the faucet to blast hot water. Mina came into his thoughts again; he touched his lips. She tasted like strawberry. He licked his lips but the only flavor he could get was tap water and the remnants of his cherry Chapstick. Trowa finished and stepped out, hearing Duo at his video games a few rooms away. Trowa dressed in his room and lay in bed, staring up at Quatre's bunk above him. Trying to find something to do, he toyed with his knives as he polished them, mind blank. His cell phone rang. He answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey um, besides the pasta from last night, what else have we got to eat?"

There was a slight echo in the other speaker's voice. Because he was only two rooms away. Trowa heard the real Duo from the living room, and phone Duo.

"Why don't you get your lazy ass off the couch and go see for yourself! I'm not room service, Duo!"

Trowa hung up angrily and went back to his thoughts on Mina. What a pretty girl she was.

xXx

Ami shut her locker after tucking her books into her bookbag.

"Still at school?"

Ami dropped her bookbag. Turning around she saw it was only a familiar person.

"Oh Heero you scared me!"

"Why are you still here?" he asked.

"I was just studying in the library some – "

"Going home?" he interrupted.

"Yeah. What about – "

"I'll walk you."

Heero picked up her bag and as she reached for it, he slung it over his shoulder.

"I got it."

"What about your books?"

"Don't need 'em. Let's go."

"Okay."

They walked together in silence, Ami ahead a little, leading the way.

"I don't live that far from the Academy. It's just a bit further."

Heero didn't say anything. She was confused now. What about Usagi...? But there was also that moment in class when he dropped his pencil. Now Heero was walking her home – he didn't ask for permission, just sort of forced himself on her. Not that it mattered; though he was quiet and restrained she didn't mind the company. In a way, he was just like her – she didn't say much herself, he was calm, and clearly intellectual. But this quiet tranquility put her ill at ease. Ami had to say something.

"So Heero, what do you think of the Academy so far?"

"It's alright."

"What was your last school like?"

"I was homeschooled."

"Oh so you're not used to being around so many people."

His answers had been coming automatically, like an actor delivering his lines too soon. But now, he paused.

"Well... I am. But not in an environment where everyone sits down together... quietly."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I met new people all the time, but no one ever got the chance to know each other." What am I doing? he thought. I'm supped to be interrogating her!

"Ami I haven't asked you anything about yourself yet – sorry," he added in, awkwardly.

"It's alright. It's nice – hearing you talk. What do you want to know?"

What next? Heero thought. Maybe I should've had Duo do this – he's the sociable one.

"So you and Usagi know each other."

"Yeah."

Maybe that was the wrong thing to say? Ami's walking sped up a little. He easily caught up.

"Are you two really close?"

"Mmhmm. We haven't known each other long - Fate kind of threw us in together. It's funny how we met. Usagi and I and the other girls have something special. Usagi's the glue that bonds us all together. We're all so different from one another. Without her, I'm not sure we'd all be friends."

"'We'?"

"Yeah – there are five of us in all in our group. There's me, Usagi, Rei, Makoto, and Mina."

Rei... Makoto... Heero could've sworn he heard those names from Wufei the day before. Other names Wufei mentioned were less than pleasant. Things like b****-... Could Ami's friends be the same girls? It was confusing but Heero could swear that there was a link between them. And now he wondered if Wufei were Nancy Drew'ing like he was supposed to.

"I see."

"Heero?"

"Hmm?"

"Um, where are you going?"

Ami was standing in front of a five-story apartment building. Heero had walked on two yards ahead of her without noticing.

"Oh."

"Well, here's my apartment. I'll talk to you later then, I guess."

"Ami wait."

Heero closed the distance between them, and then some.

"What is it?"

"You wanna uhh..."

Damn, what's that phrase that people always use? Heero began to panic. What am I doing? How can it be, that I've lost all confidence?

"Heero? Please be quick, I need to get changed and meet up with the girls in a bit."

Meet up with...? He could spy on her. He would certainly learn more from her then. Of course, he called it 'studying' and 'observing', not 'stalking'.

"Will you go out with me?" Heero blurted.


Muahahahahaha, now you see why I decided to end this one a little short. =P Oh and here's a taste of randomosity.

BONUS MINI

Trowa is slicing up a pear as Duo looks through the fridge. Wufei is seated at the table with Trowa, munching on a pear.

Trowa: Still hungry?

Duo reacts immediately.

Duo: Of course!

Trowa: Do you want some pear?

Duo: No.

Trowa: That's why you're ugly.