DISCLAIMER: I don't own GS or GSD

AN: Wow!!! This is my longest chapter yet. I hope you'll enjoy this one. It sure took me some time to think about this.

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Breaking the knot

After her fight with Athrun, Cagalli didn't felt like seeing anyone. Although Lenore personally asked her to join them for dinner so that she could properly introduce Cagalli to Meyrin, Cagalli politely refused. She simply said that she has a lot of schoolwork to do. She asked one of the maids to take her food to her room since she didn't want to risk having to answer questions about her peculiar behavior. No matter how much she tried to concentrate, she couldn't help but think about Meyrin and Athrun a lot. She gave up trying to study so she decided to head to the library instead to get something to read. She was scanning through the books when she heard whispers coming from the opposite side of the room. She got the book that she wanted and went to where the noise was coming from. She even thought of scolding the culprit who made the noise but all of that was set aside when what she saw made her motionless. There, on one corner of the room was Athrun and Meyrin hugging each other. Although it was a little bit dark, Cagalli could clearly see their faces for the moon illuminated them. Her heart suddenly beat faster that she accidentally dropped the book she was holding. Two heads turned to her direction and since hasn't come up of anything sensible to say, she ran away.

She lay in her bed and covered herself with the blanket. She was breathing heavily but it's not because of the running rather it's because of the fast beating of her heart that ceases to stop. She then heard footsteps coming near her than a hand began patting her head. She moved the blanket down to her chin to see who it was.

"Could we talk for a minute?" said Athrun, his eyes were focused on the floor since he doesn't have the guts to face her after what has happened. Cagalli sat up and urged Athrun to continue.

"Well…how do I say this…I would just like to clear some issues between Meyrin, and me" said Athrun.

Athrun was about to say more but Cagalli interrupted her. "You don't have to explain anything to me Athrun. I perfectly understand your feelings towards her that's why I'm going to make things easier for you," said Cagalli as she smiled sweetly at Athrun.

"What do you mean?" said Athrun.

"I want us to break up," said Cagalli.

"What? Why?"

"I told you, I just want to make things a whole lot easier for all of us. I know that you've liked Meyrin for a very long time and now that she's back the only thing that's keeping you from being with her is me. It's not a big deal really. I mean the relationship that we have didn't have a strong foundation like yours with Meyrin."

Athrun stared at Cagalli for quite a while before saying, "I don't want to,"

"What do you mean?" said Cagalli.

"I don't want to break up with you and that's final," said Athrun.

"But why?"

"Because we've been together for only two months and wouldn't it be a disgrace to both of us if we break up this quickly. Besides it would be on my conscience if your pride gets hurt in the process since I started all of this," said Athrun. But unknown to Cagalli there was something deeper, which was stopping Athrun from parting with her.

"You don't have to think about simple things like that. What's important now are your feelings for Meyrin,"

"I'm sorry Cagalli. I know that you're doing this for me but you really don't have to. It's getting late. I'm going to bed and you should do the same," said Athrun and then he left.

Cagalli threw a pillow at her door as she thought, "You idiot! Can't you see I'm making things easier not only for you but for me as well. This have to end soon or else pretending not to care for you would be really hard for me,"

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The next day, Cagalli, Athrun and Meyrin went to school together. Since Meyrin would also be studying at the same school, Lenore asked Athrun to take care of her. Cagalli felt guilty for the way she acted towards Meyrin the other day so she asked for her apology. As for Athrun, Cagalli made sure that he notices how pissed she was after their conversation last night. She was so good at annoying him that Athrun didn't remain quiet for long. Soon, he started to talk back at her whenever she makes comments from his back. In short, they're at war again.

The moment that Meyrin went out of the car, all eyes were on her. She was an instant hit just like a blockbuster movie. She instantly became a campus star. This is not impossible because Meyrin's already famous even before she left for abroad.

Athrun took the job that Lenore entrusted to him wholeheartedly. When Meyrin was introduced to the class, he made sure that everybody knows that messing with Meyrin also means messing with him. Some of the girls liked Meyrin at first but started to hate her when they found out how close she is to Athrun. Of course one of them is Meer. But Meer wasn't able to do anything nasty to Meyrin like what she always does because Athrun is always by her side. He's with her everywhere she went, literally. Dearka even made a comment that Athrun's starting to neglect Cagalli when she saw her separated from the cluster of students who were busy asking questions to Meyrin. Cagalli couldn't take seeing Athrun following Meyrin around like a pet dog. So she decided to go to the school garden.

Once again, for no apparent reason, she felt her heart being ripped apart. She hugged her knees and placed her head on it when she felt someone sitting beside her. She didn't bother talking to whoever it was, so the stranger decided to start the conversation himself.

"What are you doing here?"

Cagalli recognized this voice. When she looked up she saw Shinn smiling at her.

"What are you doing here?" repeated Shinn.

"Nothing. I just want to be alone," said Cagalli.

"Why? You couldn't take seeing Athrun with Meyrin,"

"It's not that. I just can't stand the noise they're making,"

"I told you before you're going to get hurt sooner or later,"

"Who said I was hurt," said Cagalli as she faced Shinn. Cagalli was about to argue some more but after noticing how Shinn looked softly at her, she was silenced. Shinn took this opportunity to hug Cagalli.

"Have you chosen me instead of Athrun then you wouldn't have been crying now," said Shinn to lighten up the mood.

"Who told you I was crying," said Cagalli as she punched Shinn's arm. She returned his embrace and thanked him for making her feel better.

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It was their History class when Athrun and Cagalli had the second round of their fight. They were discussing about the culture during the High Middle ages. Their discussion then led to a debate about which party often betrayed the other: is it the man or the woman. Apparently the class was divided between girls and boys. Everything was going smoothly until it was Athrun's turn to give his comment. He was able to explain how it's the woman who has betrayed the most after citing an example where the woman and her lover pretended to be friends to disguise their relationship. Cagalli has the feeling that she was the woman in Athrun's example because he was staring at her as he was saying this. And there's no way that Cagalli would lose in such a fight. Instead of discussing this topic in general it suddenly turned to focus on two people who are clearly having a lover's quarrel. This didn't went unnoticed by the teacher that's why before the class ended, Cagalli and Athrun was put in detention.

They were tasked to clean the old school library, which had not been used for two years. They should stack the old books and dust the whole place. They were working in complete silence until a loud crack echoed in the room. Athrun ignored it at first but then he heard Cagalli scream. When he looked in her direction he saw that one of the pillars of the room gave way causing three bookshelves to fall directly towards Cagalli. He was able to get to her just in time preventing further injury. It was hard to see or breath for about two minutes after the shelves collapsed but when Cagalli and Athrun regained their sight, their faces instantly turned crimson red.

Cagalli was sitting with her back on the wall while Athrun was kneeling in front of her with his hands flat on the floor as it supported his weight. Their faces were inches apart that Athrun suddenly moved his head away from Cagalli. But Cagalli stopped him when she pulled his face closer by placing his face in between her palms. Athrun's faced turned brighter red and seeing his reaction Cagalli decided to clear things up.

"We shouldn't move too much. One wrong move and were squashed," said Cagalli.

Athrun surveyed their surroundings with the least motion as possible. It was then when he noticed that they were completely surrounded by the bookshelves. A couple of books also obstructed their means of escape. He could also see that the ceiling was on the brink of falling since one of the pillars already gave way. It also seems that he couldn't rid himself from the position that they're in since the space left for them to move was enough for only one person and that's Cagalli. Standing up is also impossible.

"What should we do then?" said Athrun.

"We should stay still and wait for someone to come help us," said Cagalli.

"And when would that be?"

"Maybe up until classes are dismissed. This place is out of the way so there are very few people who pass here. Since we're also in detention it would also take time before they notice that we're actually missing,"

"Do you have your phone with you?"

"I don't. Why?"

"So that we could call somebody for help,"

They have been waiting for quite some time now and still no one came to help them. They spent the whole time in complete silence without even facing each other. They were contented with just stealing glances from each other. And it was Athrun who broke the silence first.

"I'm sorry if I took you into this trouble," said Athrun.

"What are you talking about?" said Cagalli.

"Had I not been attacking you personally in the debate a while ago then we wouldn't have been in detention in the first place,"

"I should be the one saying sorry because I intentionally got on your nerves so that you'd start a fight with me,"

"Why are you doing that?"

"Because…I was mad at you when refused to break up with me,"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that you wanted to get rid of me that much,"

"Hey, I didn't mean it that way. I just don't want to look like an antagonist who stops you and Meyrin from being together," said Cagalli and then there was silence again. They were once again avoiding eye contact but Cagalli was forced to look at Athrun when he placed his hand on her face.

Athrun looked softly at Cagalli and said, "I just want to tell you that I only see Meyrin as a friend now and nothing more,"

"You don't have to be humble about it Athrun. I'm sure that you still like her. You even have her picture right beside your bed," said Cagalli as she remembered seeing Meyrin's picture on Athrun's bedside table on her first day at his house.

"Oh that! Actually, I was about to put another picture in the frame that's why I took it out the night before. The only problem is that I actually forgot to get the girl's picture," said Athrun.

"Then that means…you already like someone else. Who is it?" said Cagalli.

Athrun mentally slapped himself after giving away a vital clue so he said, "I was going to place my mom's picture there,"

"Whew! That was close!" thought Athrun.

Cagalli was about to push the topic further when Athrun suddenly fell on her. It seems that Athrun's arm could no longer support his weight. He had been in that position for nearly three hours and his arms couldn't hold on much longer. Athrun tried to regain his balance but it was no use. There's no way that his body would follow what he wants it to do in this situation.

Cagalli saw how Athrun struggled that's why she placed his head on her lap and said, "You should rest now. I think you've strained yourself too much. You can sleep while we wait for someone to get us out of here,"

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When he woke up, he saw Cagalli's angelic face as she was stroking his hair. He then noticed that the scenery has changed. They were no longer inside the old library. When dismissal came, Kira had an eerie felling that something was wrong when he didn't see Cagalli and Athrun around. He already had this same feeling before but he ignored it. He asked some of the students where they could possibly be and that's how they found them trapped in the room. It was an hour later when the rescuers were able to get them out.

Athrun sat up and before he could regain his balance, Meyrin plunged herself at him. "I'm so worried about you Athrun," she said. Then one by one, their friends gathered around them as they asked how everything happened. While Athrun was busy telling the whole story, Meyrin asked Cagalli if they could talk a bit. They went to one of the empty rooms. Meyrin locked the door so that no one would interrupt them.

"I heard from the students that you're Athrun's girlfriend. Is that true?" said Meyrin, her back facing Cagalli.

Cagalli thought about the days that she spent with Athrun before answering: "I guess,"

"I noticed…Athrun has changed a lot. Don't you think so?" continued Meyrin.

"I don't really know," said Cagalli. "I've just known him recently so how would I know," she thought.

"I mean…he's not the shy and quiet guy that I know. Now, he's very outgoing and he's mingling with other students. He even has a lot of friends now," said Meyrin. She was waiting for Cagalli to answer but since none came, she decided to come to the point.

"But of all the changes that happened to him, there's one thing that I just don't like. And that's him being close to you. In the past, he used to give all his attention to me. He's always there whenever I need him but now I have to share him with you. I actually overheard your conversation last night. I was really shocked to find out that you two are not like normal couples. While I was abroad I've already heard that Athrun was seeing someone. I was sad at first but after hearing the truth about you two, I was relieved. Don't worry about anything Cagalli, I promise that I would do everything to make things easier for the three of us. I just hope that you could be a little more patient because I'm certain that in a week or in a month everything between Athrun and me would be just like what it was before. I could expect for your full support right?" said Meyrin.

Cagalli was shocked to hear Meyrin's confessions. She doesn't know how to answer her at first but after thinking things through she said, "Of course. Just ask me for any help that you'll need."

Meyrin clasped Cagalli's hand and said, "Thanks Cagalli. I have to go now and check on Athrun.

Cagalli was left there standing as she thought, "Why did you said yes Cagalli? You've just made things harder for yourself,"

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