AN: Back to Ami/Zoi. This one personally amuses me. Day 9 Theme - Fail

A Matter of Perspective

Ami sat in their old booth at the Crown. She knew the girls were trying to cheer her up, but she could not quite bring herself to be cheered. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before, and she found herself questioning her very identity.

"Here, Ames. Have a chocolate milk-shake. That always makes me feel better!" Usagi pushed the shake that she had ordered for the genius of the group over to her.

Ami managed a small smile and took a sip of the shake so as not to disappoint Usagi. "Thank you."

"Ami, it's really not that bad. It's just one test." Makoto reached over to gently pat Ami's hand. She knew her friend, knew how important tests and grades were to her, and understood that the stakes were even higher for Ami now that she was in med school. However, even with all that, it was hard for Makoto to understand how anyone could get so worked up over one test.

Ami sighed and nodded. "I know."

Rei picked up the train of thought from Makoto. "And all your other test grades have been top of the class right?" At Ami's nod she smiled, "Then it really is just one test. You'll still be fine!"

"I know. It's just… I never did this poorly before. Ever!"

Minako tilted her head, "Um… were you not feeling well? I mean, one grade is really not that big a deal. Usagi failed all the time and she's going to be queen of the world! But… were you sick?"

"HEY!"

Rei smirked, "Well, it is true Odango."

"REI! Why are you being mean to me?!"

Ami chuckled despite herself and missed that Rei and Usagi exchanged winks.

"So what was the problem?'

Ami blushed and muttered something under her breath before putting her head down on the table, on her crossed arms.

"Um…" The girls exchanged confused looks, not really having caught what she said.

Before anyone could press her further, a bell was heard and Usagi grinned, waving the guys over to the table. No one heard Ami's whimper as shuffling was done around the corner table so that the couples could sit together.

"Hey, Genius Girl, what's wrong?"

Ami's only answer to Jade's question was a whimper. Ami felt a hand stroking her back, trying to provide comfort, and it was only when that hand started playing with her hair that she sat up, rigidly straight with a strangled cry.

"Ames?" Zoi pulled his hand back looking hurt.

Makoto's expression was sympathetic, "Ami did not do well on a test."

"Oh…" The guys were quiet for a moment before Jade broke the silence, "It's just a test, Ames! C'mon, you've proven yourself time and time again. So what if you failed a test?"

Mamoru grimaced, "That's not how med school works, Jade."

Ami ignored the rest of what was being said. She did not catch Neph asking if she was all right or Kunz's offer to spar to let her blow off steam or to lighten her training so she could focus on studying. She didn't hear Minako inform Kunz that Ami was a Senshi and so under her training schedule, but of course Ami could take more time to study.

Instead, Ami turned to glare at Zoi. Causing him to inch away from her, until he wound up almost in Kunz's lap.

"Hey! Only I get to sit there, Zoi… um…. Ames?"

"This is your fault!" Everyone blinked at the sudden outburst which was clearly aimed at Zoi.

"I'm sorry… I just… you needed to take a break."

"Not right before a test!"

"I didn't mean for the break to last all night."

Ami was so lost in anger that she did not notice the expressions on the faces of everyone else at the table, or the passing of money from Neph to Jade.

"But it did! And because of that I failed!"

"I'm sorry…"

Silence reigned for a moment, while everyone else wondered if Usagi or Minako was going to burst first.

"Ami! That's so great! It's about time the two of you…" Usagi gestured to communicate the rest of the sentence.

"You'll have to tell us all about it later, Ames!"

Ami blinked while Zoi blushed. "Why do you want to know, Minako? I think you'd find it boring."

Kunz gently pet Zoi on the back as the other guys looked at him sympathetically.

"We played Chess!"

"Oh…" There was a collective sigh of disappointment, though Neph grinned as Jade passed him his money back.

Mamoru, who was sitting on the other side of Ami, pulled the offending paper out of Ami's open briefcase.

"Ami… is this the test?"

Ami grimaced and nodded, "It's horrible."

Usagi looked at the paper Mamoru was holding and blinked, "It's a B+! That's not failing!"

"It is for me..."