He's Just Not Right For You

A/N: Well... After a somewhat sad review (not on this story I assure you), I'm going to try and do this chapter differently, so give me a break if it sucks :)

Disclaimer: Don't own it - kinda wish I did though. ANOTHER SEASON!!! Lol

Quick Random Thought: I hate people.

Chapter 9: Battle Positions

Azure eyes quavered back and forth, searching for some falter in the owner's best friend's words. In her porcelain face, there were a lot of different emotions. A lot of them morphed together, from things that the Japanese girl in front of her didn't know about - things that she indeed, should know about. It was a shame because she had taken so much obsessiveness in her friend helping her, that she actually did not know what was going on.

For the last few days, she managed to squabble about, focusing on finding a way out of her marriage with Cole as fast as possible. She didn't realize, even if Keiko, her best friend, hadn't met the big-headed teenager that day, if something was going on between them. She didn't understand that perhaps Keiko was upset too, because she had lost contact with Jack, in losing contact with Raimundo. Shaking her head about, she thought she must know the reason that she had rejected her friend so much.

In a small voice, her hand tracing the bathroom sink for a moment, never letting her eyes break away from emerald ones boring their gaze back into hers, she spoke, "You've no idea..."

That was all that it took for the raven haired girl who was about an inch taller than she, to relax. The muscles in her shoulders slumped, the tension leaving her face, and her eyes became soft. With an expression reading sorry, she walked over to her friend, hugging her.

"You have no idea how much I'm going to try to help you then..." Her voice sounded determined, and a pang of guilt hit Kimiko in the stomach; she didn't know if she wanted Keiko's help if things were going to turn like this.

"You've already been helping me. I can't even keep in contact with what's going on on a daily basis... I mean - who is that kid out there you walked in with? I don't even know - you could have known him for the past few days, and..." she shook her head trailing off, allowing her eyes to wonder to the tile floor.

It was a rather obnoxious bathroom. Sure it was large and spacious, but the tile was the same as in the dining area, and the music floated in from the other room. The stalls were clean, their material black and silver. The sinks had red bows tied around the bottoms of them, and on the counters were pictures of things from the sixties, the same on the walls, only in news paper article form. It made you feel like you were going to the bathroom in the very place you were about to eat.

"In all honesty, Kimi..." She said softly, knowing now that she overreacted before, "Nothing's been going on with me the past couple of days - and if they had been... Well then I surely would have made it known to you. Omi and I met today, and he helped out a little bit with this..." she pulled the page of the phone book out of her purse, and handed it to Kimiko.

On the page, were all the people with the first name Raimundo, a lot of them already crossed off with pen. Flipping it over, she saw more names, causing her to glance up with surprise at her friend. The girl could only grin sheepishly, "When I'm determined, I do something..."

"Oh Keiko..." She didn't even bother folding it back up before she flung her arms around the girl.

They didn't know exactly where they were going to be in the next couple of days, but they did know that it was going to be easier now. Keiko had no more doubt that Kimiko wanted to at least see what Raimundo was about. It may have been going fast - and it might even be something completely stupid to do... But for her not to even have the choice was motivation enough.

It turns out that Kimiko's text never sent, and that's how the trouble all started in the first place. But they would play it up as nothing had happened anyways, just to see where this lunch would go. And they prayed, as they pushed the door open, and stepped out into the dining area again, beginning to get sick of the rather obnoxious tile, things would work out alright. In other words, if they could find out just what type of game Lana was playing while being subtle, they could possibly get a last name from Raimundo, and have Cole and Kimiko fight - it would be the best thing they've accomplished for a long while. But of course, these questions would have to be sneaky - which meant they might not succeed in getting all the answers...

Sweeping the area again with her eyes, Kimiko noticed they all moved to a bigger booth. It was most likely one of the newcomer's ideas, since they seemed slightly like the type. She knew Cole would be irritated, but she didn't say anything, only glancing backwards just as Kieko popped a nickel into the machine. She clicked some random song, and turned around grinning as though she hadn't been mad.

She had a right to be mad, but Kimiko was really rather glad it wasn't going to turn into a big one. They always bantered, no matter on what occassion, for seemingly a few minutes, and were perfectly fine the next two. It was the way things always worked - and no matter how much they snarled at each other, or said potentially hurtful things (even though neither really ever took offense) they always had each other's back, and Keiko had mentioned this time was no different - for the both of them.

Walking over to white table, with her friend bounding behind her, she smiled sweetly, "Sorry... You know Keiko - well... Cole, you do anyways... And... Raimundo," she nodded, trying not to catch his gaze too obviously, "you've... Met her..."

He nodded, no words escaping his lips, as they slid into the booth. Keiko picked up a menu at the same time as Lana, and people noticed both girls were both acting much more hyper than they should. It was an awkward silence for a few moments, no one really understanding what to say with so many people.

"Oh!" Lana suddenly squealed, turning to Omi who sat next to Raimundo, who ultimately was seated by her, "I'm sorry!" She laughed a bubbly sort of chortle, causing Cole to raise a suspicious eyebrow, "I'm Lana!"

"Omi..." He nodded, shaking hands with her. Everyone else introduced themselves as well, and the conversation began to flow from there.

"What brings you two here today?" Omi asked, Keiko only smiling politely as she glanced at Cole.

"My sister wanted me to have lunch with her and... Her friend..." He eyed the girl suspiciously again, glaring slightly, as to know she was up to something, but she could only smile and look away, the innocent aura she gave off, the waves of it rolling off of her enough to make him sick.

"Fascinating..." Keiko nodded, looking to Kimiko, trying to play it up, "And you agreed to come with him?"

"I had no choice..." She shrugged innocently as well, making all the guys at the table raise their eyebrows. They weren't sure what was going on, but it seemed as though that conversation in the bathroom had horrendously changed the mood. She looked to Cole, who seemingly now glared at her, all the while trying still to throw invisible daggers with his eyes at his sister. "What?"

"Nothing..." He mumbled looking down angrily. They surely got to him... Which was really kind of a good thing - considering that's what they had been trying to do for a while.

"Omi, how did you meet Keiko?" Raimundo asked, smirking at the glare he got for seeming in a better mood than Cole himself. That glare intensified when Omi and him immediately clicked.

"We actually just met today at a café... I was helping her with some things..." He grinned at the girl, who shot a look at Kimiko, who could only stare at Raimundo.

It was like a ping pong ball bouncing off of everyone - it didn't know just where it would go next, or even if it would be hit, but they were trying... It was all just to get some answers out of each other that would have to come slowly... That could be potentially the longest lunch anyone had ever sat through...

"What about you, Raimundo?" He questioned, knowing all too well what they were trying to do, "How did you meet Kimiko?"

A light laugh erupted from almost everyone around the table. It was a pleasant conversation with a hidden meaning - a hidden meaning everyone understood, but no one dare break out in screams. Not in the innocent restaurant anyways.

"I saw her play the piano..." He smirked, looking her way, allowing a light blush onto her normally pale cheeks. "She was beautiful - absolutely dazzling..."

"Why is she marrying him then?" Omi asked, tilting his head to the side. He just loved playing dumb, and it seemed to be working, as he could almost see a vein about ready to burst from Cole's head.

"The usual..." Lana offered, about to show Cole her intentions of meeting him weren't actually all that great, "He couldn't get his own girlfriend, so he set up to marry the daughter of a business owner in need of money."

"Lana, can I speak with you?" He asked, standing up from the side of the booth.

"Sure, Cole!" She exclaimed gleefully, bounding after him outside. After she was gone though, they all leaned together.

"So what's really going on here?" Omi asked, confusion sweeping over his face as he blinked his dark eyes with curiosity. He reminded them of a puppy wanting a bone, but didn't know if he should ask or not.

"It's everything I explained to you today, Omi..." Keiko nodded, "Although I'm a bit confused about Lana. Who is she Raimundo?" She questioned quickly, glancing backwards to see if the two outside would come in anytime soon.

They were using their hands, twisting them in motion as they fought, their faces glaring at each other, hair flipping, and eyes burning like they were really duking it out. In the background, people walked around them, staring at them and turning their heads as they hurried along, hastily trying to leave the area. It looked as though there were in invisible wall people couldn't walk through, forming a bubble around the two. It was a radius no one was about to cross. In any other circumstance, it would have been comical to see. That is - if they hadn't known the people fighting, and just what they were fighting about.

"Lana is Cole's sister."

"We've gathered that much, smart one..." Keiko playfully snarled, rolling her eyes, "Why is she helping you?"

"She hates Cole... Now I don't know why and stuff, so don't even bother trying to ask," he added when Kimiko opened her mouth. He squeezed her hand to show no hard feelings over the table, "But she wants to help me out. If it's going to ruin his chances then it'll help her. In the end she has a favor she'd like me to do." He glanced at the Japanese girl sitting next to him, "And if it gets me closer to her -" He gestured, tossing his head to the side signaling towards just the girl, "I'll do it."

"What's your last name, Raimundo?" Omi asked, bringing up the forgotten, but most important question of the whole thing. The two girls sighed in relief, knowing that that question was going to be out of the way.

Quickly, Keiko handily took a piece of paper out of her purse, and a pink pen, throwing yet another glance over her shoulder. The fight was now even more animated than before, Cole looking as though he were about to strange the brunette in front of him. Fortunately, she couldn't see Lana's face, and just how ugly it could get when expression her hate for Cole to his face.

On the piece of paper, Raimundo wrote down his first and last name, cell phone number and home number, his band manager's name and number, Jack's name and number, on the off chance that they couldn't get ahold of Raimundo in any other way, and the address of his house and his practice place.

"I'm sorry that's all I could give you..." He shrugged, although he didn't look too sorry - there was a lot of information right there.

"It's fine... But let's wait quietly until they get back in... Kimiko, if Lana is getting Cole temporarily off your back, then you should really take the time to be with Ramiundo trying to sort things out, and finding a way for your dad to like him," Keiko instructed as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. The others had to hand it to her though, she surely knew what to do and keep a level head in those types of situations.

They sighed, and watch as the fight began to move, blocking everyone from one side of the building to the next, unless they wanted to test their luck and dash behind or in front of the pair, depending on where they were. It must have been very loud and very bad if people, even business workers, were snapping of their phone to avoid the noise. And yet inside the restaurant, where no noise could be heard, the song Keiko played came on, a soft tune of an Elvis Presley song going.

"Could I take your order?" A waitress came over, her blonde bangs pinned out of her face, and her hair in a high pony tail, tied with a red ribbon. She was wearing a red poodle skirt, with a matching scarf, and roller skates.

"Can I get an iced tea, please?" Kimiko asked, paying more attention to the two outside than the girl, despite the fact she seemed to be taking an interest in the boys.

"Make that two..." Keiko added, glaring at her as she eyed up both Raimundo and Omi like eye candy.

What a whore... She works in a diner for God's sake... She thought, her mind laughing, her mouth and throat working not to make it out loud. She thought it was kind of funny, the way her lipstick was gobbed on. In a way, the raven haired young adult supposed, she looked slightly pretty, but the fact she was trying to be sexy and in a poodle skirt all at the same time must have really been a turn off.

"Ah... Cherry Coke... Please..." He leaned away from her, himself being the closest person to the end after they all shifted positions.

"Make that two..." Omi repeated again, just wanting her to leave. He didn't enjoy being interrupted in the middle of it all. The girl smacked her gum and flipped her wrist, the pencil staying gripped in her manicured hands.

"Kay..." She skated away, and ducked under the small square of counter without wooden cupboards under it, placing the order of the ring, and yelling it out, turning back around to stare at the group, girls and guys both.

"Next time, we should pick a different place to eat..." Omi mumbled, turning around quickly, trying to pull his hat further down on his head.

"I agree... She's a scary kind of person..." Keiko glanced back, to see that she was still staring at them. "In fact, after we get our drinks we should relocate.

"I'll be happy to pay! Just so long as we can leave..." Kimiko mumbled, pulling out a ten dollar bill and a few dollars, and leaving them on the table, out of sight for now.

The drinks came only a little later, the cherry suspiciously floating close to the top. Both of the guys looked at each other, certain they didn't want to drink it. The girls also saw the lemon looked the same type of suspicious. That waitress had taken a lot of interest in them.

With one last look down at her drink and the lipstick smudge on the side of the glass, Keiko pushed it away, "I think she was bisexual."

"She was coming onto you?" Raimundo asked with a snort, "Did you see the way she leaned over me. I could feel her fake boobs pressing the air over my hair down on my head."

The others laughed and got up, Kimiko sliding the money into view. With a slightly snotty wave, they left the café, the waitress slightly insulted. Standing outside, they watched the two fight for a moment longer.

"Hey!" Kimiko suddenly yelled, making everyone jump from the noise. "We're going somewhere else! The drinks looked testy. So... When you're done fighting - we've crossed the street..."

Lana nodded before Cole could protest, and she turned around to yell at him again. Cole, being completely unready, stumbled backwards shocked, and their fight moved down the street just a little, so that some of the scared walkers that didn't have anywhere to be, could finally pass. Running in front of cars, they entered a new building. It had a western theme, and everyone thought the people would at least be better than the freaky chick across the street. For some reason, Omi swore he could still feel her stare.

"This place is more buys... More witnesses..." He joked, just in case they were to come across someone fishy again.

"Hey..." A muscular, tall blonde tipped his ten gallon hat, his sky blue eyes glimmering even in the dim light, "Booth or table - smoking or nonsmoking?"

"Nonsmoking and a booth please... We have two more that might join us soon."

"Alright..." He nodded grabbing a few menus and walking around the corner, "Follow me."

"He's kinda cute..." Keiko murmured, laughing at the stare they all gave her.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so long of a lunch, because when they sat down they were far enough away that the two steaming peole outside would have to look for them. They all felt slightly guilty, leaving Lana like that, but she wouldn't take very much offense to it, according to Raimundo.

"My name's Clay, and I'll be your server today... Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Dr. Pepper..." Raimundo said with a nod, as he didn't feel much like experiencing the same ominous cherry in his drink.

"Sierra mist -" the two girls spoke at once, making the waiter chuckle slightly.

"Water..." Omi wanted to play it safe, but he glanced at the guy and gave him a quick smirk before he walked away.

There were noises of dishes clanking together, and friendly chatter wafting through the air. Not to mention the smell of all American food rolling about, the grease lingering, making their mouth's water. They didn't realize just how hungry they had gotten. Everything seemed to be wooden, or brown, the a T.V. on in the bar, the bright light shining through the archway, and the dim lighting contrasting with everything, giving it a low and private place to talk.

"So... I think the thing I'm really wondering," Omi started, making sure he got the glance of everyone around, "Is that how are we going to make it so this business doesn't collapse, but Cole doesn't marry Kimiko?"

It was the question everyone wanted the answer to.

??

A/N: I think I got lazy towards the end there, but that doesn't really bother me too much :D I hope it was a good chapter. Please review, and let me know what you think!! Woot and it was over 3,000 words - just to make up for all the stupid short ones lately :D

Also let me know if there are any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas about the future, past or present lol!

-zesty-