Mariam combed her hands through her hair hanging down from her ponytail and glared a little at the stray strands that refused to stay in place. Not that they would for long anyway.

She was in the change room of the gymnasium, getting ready with Jemma. Ever since attending volleyball tryouts a few weeks ago with the black-haired girl they'd become pretty close.

"Will ya hurry up already?!" Jemma said with a chuckle as she bounced around on one leg, attempting to pull a knee pad up over the other. But Mariam was light years away in her own little world as she looked at herself in the mirror, continuing to pull and prod at her ocean-hued strands. Jemma smirked at it now looking at her from the corner of her eye. But her hair wasn't the main reason why Mariam wasn't paying any attention to Jemma.

The bluenette was singing lowly from her throat.

'Stop dragging around
I think that somebody knows
(turn it up, turn it up)
I think that somebody knows
(turn it up, turn it up)
So they can watch me explode
Another piece of me is gone again.

I don't want you to go
But I already know
(turn it up, turn it up)
Yeah, I already know
(turn it up, turn it up)
It's probably better to go
And you can leave if it's easier.

Lost and useless
No more bruises
I'll burn this place down
Don't make no sound

September won't you bring me some rain again?
This sun is melting my skin
And I would give you anything to feel something else

September falls away 'till I'm broken
I just hate the sound And I can feel the water changing me,
It's changing me for good.

I won't see you a while
But I guess it depends
(turn it up, turn it up)
Well I guess it depends
(turn it up, turn it up)
And maybe if I pretend that
If it's our of sight, it's out of mind

And nobody is wrong
And nobody is right
(turn it up, turn it up)
Nobody is right
(turn it up, turn it up)
Then how come tonight
Another piece of me is gone again?

Lost and useless
No more bruises
I'll burn this place down
Don't make no sound

September won't you bring me some rain again?
This sun is melting my skin
And I would give you anything to feel something else

September falls away 'till I'm broken
I just hate the sound
And I can feel the water changing me,
It's changing me for good

Bite down hard, bite down.

September won't you bring me some rain again?
This sun is melting my skin
And I would give you anything to feel something else

September falls away 'till I'm broken
I just hate the sound
And I can feel the water changing me,
It's changing me for good

September won't you bring me some rain again? I'm melting here alive
Cause I can feel the water changing me,
It's changing me for good
Bite down hard, bite down.'

Jemma was now standing straight again, her pretty face strewn into a look of surprise as she cocked an eyebrow at the sudden burst of feeling from her new friend. All the time she'd known Mariam, Jemma had concluded that they got along well because neither of them liked to talk much. Other people had told them they looked like twins since during school they were always were leaning backwards in their chairs faces tilted downwards, arms crossed and eyes closed. It seemed to Mariam that Jemma had a natural sad, beautiful look to her face while to Jemma, it seemed that Mariam was gifted with a natural sarcastic smirk and a glare.

But mainly, Mariam didn't talk much. So, since when did she sing? Jemma slowly shook her head.

"That was really good." Mariam nearly jumped at the comment seemingly that Jemma was invisible even though her reflection could be seen in the mirror which Mariam was looking into. The girl turned to her.

"Huh?"

"The singing Mariam, it was really good. You never told me you could sing."

"I didn't know I was supposed to." Mariam said, a small blush spreading over her cheeks. Jemma smiled warmly at it. She looked so cute when she blushed, mainly because it didn't happen often.

"But seriously Mariam, how long have you been singing?" Jemma asked slinging her backpack over her shoulder and readjusting her blue and black Xavier Patriots jersey.

"I dunno, a few years I suppose?" Mariam shrugged beginning to pile her gear into her volleyball bag as well.

"Well, have you ever thought about performing live? Or have you already?" Jemma asked.

"I'm not sure. I'd probably fall off the stage or something. Besides, I'm not that good." Mariam shrugged again.

Jemma huffed at it. "Not that good my ass." The girl said sarcastically. Mariam smiled weakly at it.

"I just don't think so. You're like, the only person who's even actually heard me. And if I wasn't off somewhere in my head I probably wouldn't of did it!" Mariam joked, her weak smile turning into a slightly more playful one. Jemma smiled too.

"But I heard it."

"I know. And what will you do about it? Max doesn't even know I sing. I think Ozuma knows, because he plays drums and I used to kinda sing along to whatever he was drumming to." The Saint Shield said.

"Really? Ozuma drums?" Jemma asked heading for the door to the gymnasium. Mariam nodded.

"Yup. Rei can play guitar pretty good too. And Kane, I think he plays bass." Jemma looked at Mariam a bemused expression on her face. Mariam shrugged for the third time that day.

"We do have a life outside of beyblading ya know." Jemma giggled and pushed open the door to head out. But before she could, Mariam tugged her back by the end of her jersey. Jemma looked at her.

"You now know my darkest secret." Mariam smirked. "How about giving me one of yours?"

Jemma looked up in thought, then back down with a sigh.

"I kinda...I kinda play for both teams." The raven-haired girl said .Mariam tilted her head to the side.

"But you hate all the other teams at this school-" Mariam was about to finish but Jemma cut her off.

"Not those kind of teams, Mariam..."

"…Oh..."

Mariah sulked and walked down the hallways of Xavier High. Her mind had been everywhere the last week, contemplating on how she could be so stupid. But also thinking about how Ashley, a dear friend for nearly ever, could be so cruel as to set her up like that.

She guessed people change. They change a lot.

But mostly from this experience, Mariah planned to come out a changed person; a better friend and if Rei would have it, a better girlfriend. The pinkette stopped as she stood across from Rei's dorm room. From inside, she could hear the soft melody of Rei plucking his guitar. Mariah smiled to herself at it. Rei had always been so talented...especially when it came to his electric and acoustic guitars. He wasn't a bass player, just a regular guitar player. Secretly Mariah thought that if Rei ever met the right people, he'd become a rock star. But none of that would happen if she never told him how she felt. The girl gave a small sigh. Working up the courage to chat with Rei, her extended her arm and knocked on the door. The guitar playing immediately came to a stop only to be replaced by the sound of footsteps. The door opened and she looked up into the golden eyes of her ex.

"Rei.... Can we talk, please?" The neko-jin sighed.

"About what, Mariah?" Rei started, hazel eyes blazing furiously. "What can you say that you haven't said already?" Those words, for some reason, struck an angry cord in Mariah's heart.

"I have a lot to say actually!" Mariah spat. " It's all fine and good for you to be so rotten to me for me 'betraying' you guys but you also act like I don't have the right to be friggen' mad for you sticking your tongue down Queen's throat!" Rei stepped back at that and his jaw dropped a little. He'd almost completely forgotten that incident. And now he didn't know what to say.

"...I... SHE KISSED ME!" Rei bellowed. Mariah stepped back that time, shocked at the volume in Rei's normally calm voice. A door opened down the hall and a few shouts were heard, telling the two to 'kindly' shut up and take their noise elsewhere. Rei sighed at it, grabbed Mariah's wrist and pulled her inside without a word. "Like I said...she kissed me."

Mariah scoffed at it and pulled her wrist out of his grip, then crossed her arms.

"You kissed back."

"She meant NOTHING Mariah, nothing!" Rei tried to emphasize. Mariah stared up into his goldenrod eyes and the deep feeling of sincerity they seemed to portray.

But what should she do? Forgive him?...

Or go on hating that she loved him?

Mariah wanted to forgive him so badly. She knew that. But would he, everyone else be as forgiving back to her as well? It was clear to her that she'd made a mistake. They just needed to admit that they did too. So...she might as well take a chance.

"...Okay." Rei tilted his head to the side, a deep hopeful feeling surrounding his heart. He loved her...he really did. He was so angry...at her for what she did and at himself for what he did.

"...What do you mean,'okay'?" He asked.

"I forgive you." Mariah said. She watched as fireworks seemed to shoot off in Rei's eyes

"Thank you!" He exclaimed and before Mariah knew it, her feet were off the ground slightly and he had her wrapped in a tight hug against his chest. Mariah smiled.

"...And I still Love you."

Rei didn't say anything.

Just drew a tighter grip around her.

Kenny gave a lazy sigh and pushed his glasses back into their usual place before replacing his head on his arms on Emily's hospital bed. The poor girl was still unconscious. It had been four days...

He extended a hand and clasped Emily's in his own. Her skin was warm but not nearly as warm as it used to be. Her skin was very pale and Kenny could see the many scratch marks from where she had been digging at herself all the way up her nimble arm. Her beautiful face was tilted to the right and her glasses were on the bedside table. How he wished she would just wake up...wake up so Kenny could see those beautiful blue eyes. But the doctor said it could be a while. A very long time.

He sighed and raised his other hand wiping his eye from underneath his own glasses. Kenny hadn't slept at all nor had he attended his classes. Emily seemed so much more important to him than any of that. And he couldn't believe he was thinking it. Kenny had always found that his brain was the most valuable and important asset someone could have in their life. But now, staring at Emily's still form....

Was it really?

Meanwhile, it was a fairly beautiful day outside and many were trying to keep their minds off of Emily and her situation.

Bryan, Lee, Eddy, Joseph and Hilary were out on the courts, tossing around a basketball. Hilary might've been the only girl there but to be honest, she was really kicking ass. It was she and Eddy against the other three, and together, they made a very formidable pair. They were playing a simple game of 'HORSE', and Bryan, Lee and Joseph had already racked up the 'H-O-R'.

Hilary gave a whoop of joy as once again a jump shot sunk into the net. Eddy smiled and have the girl a high-five, happy to say his mind was off Emily and the incident that happened with his car. Joseph cursed as he lost the ball mid-dribble towards the net and gained his team the 'S'. Bryan just shook his head at his teammates. For some reason, he wasn't paying that much attention to the game. Bryan had to agree that for a girl, Hilary had some good skills. Eddy was plain amazing with his long legs and strong arms, Lee was quite a sight too, matted in sweat and running and diving around the court. Bryan forced himself to stop thinking.

Eddy's long legs and strong arms...? Bryan thought. Lee...Looking hot and sweaty?! What's wrong with me?!' He mentally screamed at himself.

Just why did Bryan picture Eddy's long arms around him?

And Lee's sweat-soaked chest against his?

.... Why did Hilary, in only a tank top and short-shorts with sweat running down her cleavage have no effect on him?...

Bryan sighed and swung a towel over his shoulder.

He didn't think he wanted to know.