The weekend went by surprisingly fast for the girls. Ronny allowed them to sleep in on Saturday. Novalee spent most of the evening reading in her room and Haylirain did something in her room suspiciously quiet for the majority of the day.

On Sunday by the time Novalee woke up and made her way to the kitchen she noticed a delicious smell. She discovered Hayli, hair in a messy bun and flour covered apron, busy making cupcakes. "What are these for?" Nova asked, looking at the couple dozen covering the counter tops.

"Just trying out some new recipes. Wanna help?" She asked, mixing some ingredients together in a large bowl.

"You know I'm horrible in a kitchen. But Ill gladly be your taste tester." She reached over and grabbed a pink cupcake and was suprised by the sweet lemonade taste. "You are way too good at this."

At that moment one of the house workers walked in, carrying the phone. "Miss Novalee, there is a phone call for you." She informed her.

Novalee looked over to Hayli, as if her sister knew who was calling for her. Even though she was still grounded she took the phone anyway. "Hello?"

"Hi Nova-chan. It's Tohru." Said a happy voice from the phone.

"Hey Tohru-chan. What's up?" She said, glad to hear from her friend.

"A group of us are having a picnic today and we were wondering if you and your sister would like to join us?"

Nova's heart fell. She really wanted to go out and see her friends, but she knew that Uncle Ronny would never allow it. "Who all is going?" She asked. This way she could at least imagine freedom.

"Uo, Hana, Kyo, Yuki, Haru, Momiji and a few others."

It sounded fun, making Nova want to go even more. "I'm sorry Tohru, but I'm Hayli and I are still grounded." She regretted every word coming out of her mouth.

"Oh." There was a sadness to Tohru's voice. "When you aren't grounded anymore would you like to go on a picnic?" Her voice now hopeful.

"Yes. That would be amazing." Nova said, appreciating her new friends.

"Good. We will have one to celebrate your new freedom." Nova could hear the smile in Tohru's voice.

Ronny walked through the kitchen door, causing Novalee to panic. "You're really awesome Tohru. I have to go. See you tomorrow." She rushed and hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Ronny asked, grabbing one of the many cupcakes.

"Just some friends inviting me and Hayli to a picnic."

Hayli looked up, surprised. "Did you tell them you couldn't go because you broke the law." Ronny asked.

"Not in those words." Nova replied, unamused. She turned and looked at her sister "Do you mind if I take a few of these tomorrow?"

"Not at all. I have plenty."


It wasn't until after lunch on Monday that the excited Novalee was able to give her friends their delicious presents. She pulled a tupperware container out of her sticker covered bag, smiling. "What do you have Nova-chan?" Tohru asked.

"It's a present. I wanted to say thank you for inviting me to your picnic, even though I couldn't go." She opened the lid and the sweet smell of cupcakes wafted out, making her mouth water. She handed the container to Tohru to pass around.

"That's very kind of you." Hana commented, picking up a black licorice cupcake.

Kyo grabbed an orange flavored one and bit into it. "These are awesome. You should make them for the next picnic." He said, finishing it off and reaching for another.

Nova giggled. "I didn't make them. Hayli did. I can't bake to save my life."

"Your sister made these?" Uo-chan asked surprised, trying to imagine the goth skipping around the kitchen baking colorful cupcakes.

"Yep. She loves baking." Nova said proudly.

"Please make sure to thank her for us." Tohru, said happily.

Nova nodded and looked over to see Yuki walk in and head over to their little group. "Hi Yuki. My sister made yummy cupcakes. Would you like one?" She asked.

"My, they do look delicious." He said, eyeing them.

"They are." Kyo commented, through a mouth full of third cupcake.

"Do you have any manners at all. We are in the presence of ladies." Yuki lectured.

"They were made to be enjoyed and that's what I'm doing." Kyo retorted, reaching for another cupcake.

Yuki rolled his large purple eyes and turned back to Nova. "Which kind is your favorite?" He asked.

Nova blushed, taken off guard by his question. "Umm, I love the chocolate strawberry." She admitted, pointing it out.

"Then I'll have one of those." He said, gently picking one up and taking a bite. Nova watched to see if he liked it. "It's very good." he said smiling at her. "It's sweet, like you."

At the end of the day Nova and Haylirain met up at their usual spot to walk home together. Hayli was anxious about what Uncle Ronny had mentioned before they had left for school. "I really don't know what I'm going to do." She stressed, as they prepared to leave school grounds.

"What you're going to do about what?" Kyo asked, as he was passing by them.

"As part of my punishment for being fun I have to join a school club by the end of today. I don't know enough people to want to join their club and I don't like dealing with strangers." Hayli explained.

"What do you like?" He asked.

"Weapons." Hayli said.

"Fighting." Nova answered for her sister.

Kyo stared at Hayli for a long moment and then he smirked. "I may know just the thing."


Hayli could barely contain her excitement until dinner when Uncle Ronny asked which club she had joined. "I went to talk to the Kendo teacher. He wants me to come in on Wednesday to see if I make the cut."

"That's wonderful. I know you will make it. Kendo club huh? I wish I had thought of that."

"It was actually Kyo's idea."

"Kyo? As in Nova's tutor Kyo? He isn't going to become a part of this family anytime soon is he?" He said, giving the girls a stern look.

"No! That's gross!" Nova exclaimed.

"No way, besides I have Tenkai." Hayli commented, still beaming with pride at the thought of getting to beat people up at school. She couldn't wait to tell Tenkai about her new extracurricular.