Hi guys! Thanks for the birthday wishes... I hapenned to had a wonderful b-day... a few days later I even hosted a BQ at my place which was a total hit. We ate, drunk (soda), ate some more burgers and dogs (hot ones), there were sundaes and we also danced a lot and even played wii (ddr, mario kart, sports) I totally ruled in ddr LOL
So thank you, I'll try to keep on delivering good chapters and hope to make this story some justice 'cause I love to write it, so I really hope you are all liking it (wouldn't know...I swear most of you are allergic to reviews)
Special thanks to my reviewers, you guys are awesome!!!! I love you!
And now...with you the chapter (it was originally called Amy's Friendship and then it changed to Annaleigh's true colors but it ended like this) I hope you all like it!!!
Chapter 11 Sad Sunday and Maniac Monday
'What a strange dream' Darien thought as he started to calm himself down. Suddenly just as he started to pull away from the couch he started to feel a horrible pain hover around his body. It was like the pain he felt after the accident. That excruciating pain was back again, in his arms, in his head, in his body, in his legs, in his heart, in his mind. The sudden feeling of not been able to move his legs hit him a second later so he felt to the floor. Darien started crying in pain, an inexplicably sense of pain that was consuming him to no end. It was worse than he remember it ever been.
"Please make it stop!" Darien cried as he put both his hands around his head. In that moment, the door of his apartment open revealing both his aunt and uncle. His aunt who was opening the door and trying to balance some groceries bags at the same time threw the keys and the bags and let them hit the floor making a mess in the welcome mat. Milk, eggs and yogurt were everywhere, but she didn't care. Silvia Shields flew to his nephew's side and tried to calm him down. She had almost forgotten all about this attacks; this awful pain attacks that Darien had every time he tried to remember his past.
"Sweetheart look at me" said Silvia putting her hands on top of Darien's "Open your eyes Darien" Dairen did as told. "That's right, I'm here for you honey, just take a deep breath and tell me where you are"
Darien took a deep breath but still convulsing in pain "I…don't…know"
"Yes you know Darien. How Am I?" asked Silvia
Darien looked into her eyes and knew this was his aunt, but couldn't find the words. The pain was clouding up his mind.
"Silvia maybe it would be best if we called an ambulance" said Darien's uncle who was worried as hell for his nephew.
"No, he will be fine" said Silvia never leaving Darien's sight. "Darien it doesn't hurt. You are safe here. You are in the house with me and you uncle. Nothing bad is going to happen to you." And it help a little, Darien started breathing more normally after he heard his aunt. The pain was vanishing as well; soon it felt as a normal headache. He sat up slowly now, he tried to pull away his hands from his head but realized that Silvia's didn't let him. "It's alright now" and she kissed his forehead and stood there for a minute or two. "How do you feel now?"
"Better…tiered…and I think I'm going to be sick" said Darien closing his eyes and trying to managed some control over his turned stomach.
"It's ok baby" said Silvia and she hugged him. "You are ok now. Go to the bathroom to wash your face, it always helps"
"Yeah thanks" said Darien who started to stood up from the floor been helped by both his aunt and uncle.
"Do you want anything? Dinner, maybe? Some aspiring? Or maybe waffles? They always make you feel better after"
But then Darien interrupted his uncle by saying: "No its ok. I just want to go to bed. See you guys in the morning. Sorry about the mess"
"Don't worry about that sweetie; just get better" said Silvia with a worried expression on her face.
Darien went to his room, opened the door and didn't even bother turning on the light. He simply stumbled on his bed, or what he was hoping his bed would be. He just wanted to forget everything about that weird dream. That was it, right? Just a weird dream? He really didn't know Serena. There was no way that that was her in the dream. I mean, maybe his mind was playing horrible tricks on him, right? We wanted to search for something and he started dreaming about some stupid camp in God-only-knows-where, where he apparently was friends with this girl. Blonde, petite, bit annoying, kind of a crybaby, with the most cute smile and the most soft lips we had ever felt before, and with the same mesmerizing blue eyes that another certain blonde girl had; another certain blonde girl that without his permission was singlehandedly making his life a living hell. She was destroying his reputation, she was destroying his relationship with his perfect girlfriend and she was, worst of all, making him want to extend the length of his nights so he could think of her even more. God! She looked so good yesterday in the ball. She was a complete vision in that ridiculous short pink dress. She looked ethereal, like a dream come true, like the little girl from his dreams had somehow grown up a couple of years and was waiting for him to take her back to that lake and kiss her for the rest of eternity. (Boy is he in trouble)
"Forever if I can" he said, the phrase leaving his lips without his permission. 'What could that phrase even mean?' That phrase always came to his mind ever since he had seen Serena. Even that day when he fell over her. 'Forever if I can' and he smiled. Weird huh?
Silvia went to her nephew's room and realized that he wasn't asleep yet but was pretending to be so she wouldn't worry. Silly Darien, his aunt knew him better than he thought.
"Try to rest Darien. We would talk in the morning, ok?" said Silvia but Darien didn't answer; he just turned around in his bed from her. He felt so embarrassed, to have had yet another attack. He felt so weak, so helpless, such a pathetic excuse of a man. He hated feeling like that, like a little kid who needed help from his parents. He hated to feel like someone needed to take care of him. He really was grateful for his lovely aunt and his understanding uncle, but he was a man now and he didn't like to feel like a kid; he didn't want to feel the way he felt when he was younger: lost and in pain.
Darien really wanted to find out the truth about his past but he needed to be realistic, this situation with the blonde klutz was bringing him many unwanted problems. Maybe this Serena person used to be a big part of his life, but that was it, used to be being the key words.
He couldn't jeopardize anymore what he had with Annaleigh. To be perfectly fair with everyone; she had done so much for him so far… she was a very caring person, she had such a beautiful nature that simply draw people to her. She was lovely and a very good friend. She was everything he could hope for in a friend, or a girlfriend or even a life partner: a wife. Annaleigh had been for him since the beginning of his rehab therapy; she never gave up on him; she never lost hope that Darien could have a normal life without his memories. In fact he thought that it was because of her that he was such a talented student and had achieved so much so far. Also he had made a promise to her, one that he intended to keep.
His word meant everything to him; he didn't remember his past, so he couldn't possibly keep any promises he had made before the accident; even if they were to little Serena, even if he actually deep down in his heart wanted to be with this girl for the rest of his life, even if that dream was something more than a dream.
'It was just a dream after all' Darien thought.
So after several hours of heavy thinking over and over again he decided something very important: The past is the past and nothing good could come of bringing it to the present; he could never be the person he was before; he couldn't live with the burden of those expectations; so it was best to shove all to the back of his mind, to his subconscious where he couldn't bring them back anymore. Annaleigh was his present and possible future if she could forgive him. Annaleigh loved him and he loved her, right? I mean she had been his first kiss (not if you are counting the dream buddy), his first date, his first a lot of things. He loved her…right?
'That's it! No more what ifs' He thought as he finally fell asleep.
Silvia was leaning on the kitchen counter waiting for the water kettle to boil so she could prepare herself some tea. Then her husband appeared through the kitchen door with a worried look on his face. She sighed and tried to ignore him so she turned around from his sight.
"We need to get him to a hospital Silvia, we can't just go pretending this isn't something we need to take care of" said her husband as he approach her back and put a hand on her shoulder, which she tried to shake off.
"He is not insane John" said Silvia
"I'm not saying he is…but he needs help…which we can't provide for" Silvia then turned around to face him
"I am everything to that child; do you hear me? I will not take you saying otherwise; I gave your brother my word that Darien will be alright. I gave my word, and he is…it was just an episode…he used to have those all the time" she finished with watery eyes.
"He used to, you said it yourself. Which means that is not normal for him to start having these episodes again" said John trying to put some sense in his wife
"They would go away…they always do…plus how is the doctor going to help anyway? He couldn't five years ago, and probably he is not going to be able to help now"
"Silvia we can't keep lying to ourselves…Darien isn't ok…I think we should think about an MRI"
"You think it's a tumor" Silvia whispered
"I hope not" John said to his wife and caught her from falling to the floor when she started crying. She bent to his shoulder and cried…and prayed for her nephew's health.
"Serena, are you ok?" asked Amy opening the door of Serena's room. Amy had gone upstairs to check on her while the others had a quiet dinner. Before she came to the room she heard Serena's heavy panting and was worried for her. When she opened the door she saw Serena on her bed with her legs pulled so they were touching her chest and she was breathing heavily, trying to stay calm.
"Being better" Serena said trying to give her friend a smile.
Amy came to sit in her bed and sighed "Maybe I can call Mina; I think she is better suited for this"
"What are you talking about?" asked Serena
"I'm not good at this sort of things" said Amy looking at her hands with a sad expression in her face
"Amy…"
"It's ok… I've always being better in logic, math, physics, difficult calculations, strategy…but this…I don't know what to say to you…but still I want to help…please know that I value your friendship. You always light up the mood and even though you are always late and over eat and never get a good grade as Rei said, you are the most wonderful, warmhearted, care loving person that I know. I know that it most feel horrible been in your situation; but at least you have a big family behind you that love you and care for you and friends that will do anything to see you smile"
"Good thing you don't know what to say" Serena said whipping a tear and laughing a little at it. "Amy, you always know what to say. And I treasure your friendship…I was just afraid that maybe you wouldn't want to talk to me after that…"
"Why? Serena I don't know why you think it's your fault" said Amy quietly
"Trust me, it is" whispered Serena
"I know it's not" said Amy reassuringly
"Why? Why do you think it's not…if people knew the true story…they would hate me"
"Because it's you Serena. You are a good person; you deserve good things in your life. It's about time that you see that for yourself. I know that life not always has in store for us what we expect. I know that because I would have had rather for my parents to stay together instead of having a divorce. Now I don't see my father…he just sends gifts and paintings from places he is visiting. I've wished for them to get back together even, so I can have a normal family again, but he is not coming back. I wished for a normal family… and life gave me a family…life gave me you girls: best family in the world"
"Amy…" and the two girls hugged for a while crying a bit. It was true, life not always gives us what we want (if it did God would have sent me a life version of Darien a couple of weeks ago for my birthday) but life definitely gives us what we need, and what we need to learn.
So…if Amy was right Serena was losing her chances at happiness for God-forbid being totally and crazily and utterly in love with Darien, still (good…first step is to admit it).
'I should give Dominic a chance' Serena thought
Monday morning was a bit hectic; the girls had to wake up earlier so that everybody had their chance in the shower. After getting ready they went down stairs where they were received by an exquisite aroma coming from the kitchen. Ikuko made sure to prepare a big feast for everyone. It was a bit of an exotic cuisine demonstration; Ikuko had been going to a Latin American Cuisine workshop where she learned all types of cooking skills and new recipes and she didn't want to waste the opportunity to show them. She prepared "Huevos a la Ranchera"(sunny side up eggs with a spicy tomato sauce on top); some Spanish Chorizo with potatoes and maple glazed syrup; and some freshly baked "Media Lunas" (croissants) with "Dulce de Leche". (Good now I'm hungry)
Teeth and hair brushed, 'Secret Crush' splashed and glossed lips, the girls were on their way to school making a record time for Serena to arrive at school; but she couldn't really complain she was not only arriving early but she had also had a great breakfast.
"Are you sure you are going to be alright?" asked Lita
"Yes, I'm better now" said Serena
"See you at home Meatball Head" yelled Sammy who ran passed the girls from his bike.
"Good… he is mad at me…" said Serena sighing
"How can you tell?" asked Rei
"Whenever he calls me Meatball Head he is mad at me. It's the only time that I let him call me that. Otherwise he knows that I would call him by Elena's pet name for him" said Serena with a smug smile
"Which is?" asked Mina wanting to know if it was something corny like 'sweetie' or 'pumpkin'
"Sorry guys…I am not a vindictive person" she said laughing "Well not always anyway" she said laughing again. The girls laughed with her and smiled, they were also wondering what could have had happened to Serena to make her change so suddenly, Amy smile to herself at the possibility that maybe it was something she said.
They arrived at school and said their goodbyes until they reunite for lunch. Monday morning's were their free study period. There they could meet with different tutors to help them with their homework and help to evacuate questions about different subjects. The girls had other plans for the free period, at least Mina, Lita and Rei had. They were going to the theater to "help" with the costumes and the scenery. In reality Mina just wanted an excuse to go and talk to Scott and Rei, well… she is Rei. Amy had to tutor the advance calculus class and Serena… well…, had to be tutored. Serena was supposed to meet in the library with his new algebra tutor; new as in the last one had given up with her.
Amy was supposed to be helping in a separate classroom since there were many kids who signed up for her tutoring class. Amy saw Serena heading to the library and wanted to catch up with her.
"Serena!" Amy shouted from her spot, Serena noticed her rushing through the hall to catch up with her.
"Hey what's up?" asked Serena
"Sure you are ok?" asked Amy
"Yeah, great actually! I have a great family behind me" said Serena with a sweet smile.
"So tell me, who is your new tutor?" asked Amy to Serena who in exchange looked in her Hello Kitty agenda for the name of the new tutor.
"It's Greg actually!" said Serena
"You are lucky, he is very smart, he will be a great tutor, I couldn't do it better myself" said Amy
"That's humble of you to say Amy" said Annaleigh as she approached the girls
"Thanks…You are too kind" said Amy blushing a bit
"Oh come on, a little vanity never hurt anyone" Annaleigh said elbowing her arm "So, Serena are you feeling any better?"
"Great until now actually" said Serena who was trying to ignore her
"Sorry to hear that, hope that seeing your old friends will cheer you up" said Annaleigh and Serena scolded
"Don't push it Leigh" Serena said through her teeth.
"Oh now don't worry…they'll be busy with clingy fans and won't have time for you anyway. So, Amy good luck with the International Academic Decathlon, today are the announcements. Do you think you'll get in?"
"Oh that's right Amy, they are today! How come you are not nervous at all?" asked Serena
"Oh come on, it's the most prestigious academic competition in the world. I don't think I'll be selected amongst all the candidates for Team America" said Amy
"Well don't lose your faith just yet, the announcements will be later this afternoon, but I was in the Headmaster's office earlier and I think I saw an envelope…so…lets cross our fingers ok?" said Annaleigh as she left the girls all cheery and happy and throwing smiles and rainbows to the world.
"God! I swear she is like Two Face sometimes. Maybe she has a bipolar disorder" said Serena speculating about Annaleigh's mental health
"Well…good luck with Greg, Serena. See you at lunch. Bye" said Amy as she waved her hand leaving Serena in the hall that directed her to the library's side door.
Amy was heading to her classroom when she saw Greg in his locker grabbing some books . She then decided to go and tell him the news about who he was going to be tutoring.
She picked out her cell phone and text him.
ALGEBRA?
When Greg heard his message ring tone rang he looked at the text. He smiled and search for a familiar face in the crowed hall until he saw Amy from the distance. He put away his cell and signaled her to come to talk to him. Amy giggled and started heading for him but then she notice something else. About 20 lockers down from Greg's, was Annaleigh's and she was looking at herself in her locker's door mirror. She was fixing her hair and applying some gloss. Darien approached her, he put his hand over her shoulder but her expression didn't change. Luckily for Amy, Annaleigh's locker was very near to an arched open exit to the school's gardens. She decided to hid herself behind a column that supported the arch, this arch was just behind Annaleigh's locker so Amy could hear everything that was said in the other side of the column.
"You came early" Darien pointed
"Had a lot to do in the Headmaster's office" said Annaleigh coldly
"Listen, I think we need to talk" said Darien
"About what exactly? I think we left very little to discuss yesterday. We are done" said Annaleigh. Amy gasped. They were done? As in done for good? Done with their relationship?
"I don't think we are" said Darien.
'Oh shoot! Darien doesn't want to break up! This is horrible for Serena! Wait! Why would Annaleigh would have wanted to break up in the first place' Amy thought
"Oh, you don't? That's funny, I could have sworn you were dying for freedom" said Annaleigh in a sarcastic tone
"Leigh, truth is that I love you. And I don't know…Serena. I don't want to lose you" said Darien
"How romantic the story about Prince Charming and his second choice Princess. I'm so flattered but I think I'll pass" Amy then heard something been pushed to the locker, and then there was a soft moan…
'Oh my God, they are totally making out' thought a very shocked and blushed Amy.
"You have never been my second choice. I love you" said Darien
"You really mean it?" said Annaleigh a bit without breath
"Tell you what; your parents are out of town this week, don't they? Then why don't I come to your house, we could put on Ratatouille for Abby and then we can go upstairs to your room…to talk…and…I don't know…take it from there" said Darien making Amy fan herself with her calculus book drawing herself some attention from some kids that were passing by her.
"My oh my…Mr. Shields, what are you suggesting exactly?" asked Annaleigh in a sexy voice
"Anything that you want" said Darien, Amy couldn't believe her ears. Annaleigh giggled and wondered.
"As much tempting as that proposition sound, I'll have to decline it" said Annaleigh
"Why?" asked Darien
"We have rehearsal today"
"Until 5"
"I'm meeting someone after that"
"You are making that up"
"No I'm not… It's important"
"Who is it? Your agent?"
"No, but has to do with some unfinished business" Darien sighed
"How about tomorrow then?"
"You have detention hall, remember?"
"Uhhh damn it!"
"You have gone, right? Or have you left the hall unattended?"
"Yeah…sure…once… Yes I've gone! Jesus! Have a little faith in me alright!"
"Fine!" said Annaleigh frustrated
"How about …?"
"I'm really busy this week…with things and I have to go and greet the new students…"
"Let me help, I feel like an awful class president as well as a useless boyfriend"
"Oh… don't say that you are not an awful class president…more like tacit I would say"
"Funny" said Darien rolling his eyes
"Ok, help me. Ahh…tell you what, I need some help in the library. A tutor call in sick and I need help"
"Ok, great. Which class?"
"Algebra" said Annaleigh making Amy completely shocked: eye-widen and opened mouth
"Ok, I'll be going then. See you at lunch?"
"You know where to find me" said Annaleigh, Amy was with her open mouth trying to put this weird puzzle together
"You can come now Amy…You wanted to talk to me?" asked Annaleigh. Amy's heart raced, Annaleigh had seen her…what could she say? What could she ask? Amy came slowly from her hiding place and looked at Annaleigh who was still fixing her hair.
"Boyfriends…huh? Always messing with the hair…Don't worry you'll find that out soon enough. Oh by the way, I really don't appreciate people listening to my private conversations. Is that clear?"
"Greg is the tutor of Algebra today… I was wondering if perhaps there's had been a misunderstanding…because I tend to believe the best in people….and maybe I thought that…since Greg is here today" said Amy with all the bravery she could master
"Which reminds me…" said Annaleigh turning away from Amy closing her locker and making her way to 20 lockers down from her, where Greg was…making time so he could talk to Amy. Amy realized quickly where Annaleigh was heading and started running to Greg's locker but her way was inexplicably interrupted by the thicker fluent amount of people who were heading to their classes as the bell rang.
"Greg, hi!" said Annaleigh from a short distance announcing her presence
"Oh hi, Annaleigh! I'm heading now to algebra. Do you need anything?"
"Oh come on, you can call me Leigh and yes…actually I came to tell you that the group was cancelled. It was only a girl and she decided that she didn't need the class"
"Oh, ok then…Thanks for letting me know" said Greg with a smile "Guess I won't have to go to the library, then"
"You are not mad at me, are you?" asked Annaleigh playing with her hair moving her hips a little (only thing missing is the piece of gum and the cheerleader outfit)
"Of course not…you are like the nicest person I know"
"Oh come one, I know you think the nicest person you know is Amy Mizuno…you two make such a cute couple" said Annaleigh giving him a flirty smile which made Greg blush.
"Greg!" said Amy
"Hi Amy! We were just talking about you" said Annaleigh happily
"Leigh come on… stop it. It's nothing Amy" said Greg. Amy was appalled this…her almost boyfriend calling this…this…this…girl by her nickname…and not an ordinary girl…but HER! Oh she will not have her way so easily…not if it was up to her
"Greg is all a lie! Serena is waiting for you in the algebra room" said Amy
Greg looked at Annaleigh a bit confused. 'What's the catch?' he thought
"You caught me there Amy" said Annaleigh biting her lips "I wanted it to be a surprise"
"Mr. Greg Lee, please present yourself in the Headmaster's office right now" sounded a voice from above, which belonged to the Headmaster's assistant
"Leigh?" asked Greg
"The announcements for the Decathlon" said Annaleigh with a smile "I wanted it to be a surprise… but I guess that's not going to possible anymore" said Annaleigh looking quickly at Amy who was having a heart attack
'WHAT?????????????' Amy thought (not heart attack, more like a strock)
"No way!!!!" said Greg as he hugged Annaleigh who just giggled like a four year old "Amy did you heard that?"
"Yes…" managed Amy trying not to show her eyebrow ticking
"Oh, look at that, she can't say anything… She is so happy for you Greg!!" (Oh that manipulative bitch…)
"You deserve it" said Amy
"Oh that's right… it's almost impossible to pick more than one student per school… you were hoping for it, right Amy?" said Annaleigh in a pretend worried face expression
"They picked the right person… I couldn't be happier for you Greg. I told you…when it comes down to you and me it will always be you… You really deserve it" said Amy with watery eyes
"Awwww…you guys are so sweet…I'm so jealous" said Annaleigh making Greg red as a tomato
"Listen, I just didn't want you to feel like you were leaving Serena behind from her lesson… so I arranged for a new tutor for her…I'm sorry" said Annaleigh
"Don't… you are amazing…thank you" said Greg
"Well don't leave the Headmaster waiting…go…get congratulated" Annaleigh gave Greg another hug and he left running to the Headmaster's office.
"You are unbelievable" said Amy
Annaleigh turned to see her, she had water in her eyes "I know…now if you excuse I have some pop stars to go greet…our class president it's a little bit busy right now" Annaleigh left but instead of going to the school's foyer she went to the bathroom. She stared in the mirror and looked disgusted with herself. She opened the faucet and started crying. Amy burst into the bathroom in that minute and made Annaleigh jump. There wasn't anyone else there, classes had already started.
"You think you can hurt her? By driving Darien near her? She is stronger than you think!" said Amy
Annaleigh splashed her face with water to hide her tears. She sighed and started laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Amy confused
"Amy, Amy, Amy… Sweetie, please be smart and don't underestimate me. Why do you think that I let you know all of this? So you could warn Serena… I'm done playing nice…"
"I don't get it…what could Serena have possible done to deserve this?"
"It's because she hasn't done anything that I'm doing all of this. Your little friend it's blind! And until she decides to use both her heart and eyes again I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing"
"Why?" asked Amy
"So that everything could go back to the way it used to be"
"You are doing this for Darien?"
"That's how much I care for him"
"Your plan can backfire you know? They can fall in love in those lessons! Or I could just show them this" Amy showed Annaleigh a pen. Annaleigh recognized the pen. It was a souvenir that Mr. Tsukino had given the members of the School's Paper for their participation on a trip. It was a really cool pen; with just a simple click the pen started recording sound and it was transformed into a file that could be downloaded into any pc or mac. (Really cool, huh?)
"A pen? Now I'm scared" said Annaleigh sarcastically "Let me tell you something… I'm playing chess here… and you keep playing checkers. There is no way you can out-maneuver me"
"Really that confident? You are not class president anymore!"
"Not since I realized that the true power comes from above…being the Headmaster's student assistant can be very helpful at times… mostly when you control the class president. I have all the power I could wish for here…and Serena…well she better prepare herself for what's coming…'cause I'm done making it easier for her"
'Click' "Thanks that's all I needed to hear…love to know what the rest of the school thinks when they hear it" said Amy leaving the bathroom and heading to the school's radio station near the School's Paper Office. The pen had an USB port so Amy could easily download the tape and make everyone in school know the real Annaleigh Roberts. She knocked in the radio's station window and a fifth year black haired boy answered.
"Hey Amy!" greeted the boy who was wearing very big glasses which hid most of his face.
"Hi Todd! Is Melvin around?" asked Amy
"No… I think he is in a meeting with the rest of the staff, I'm felling in for him right now" said Todd
"Oh well… can you check this file for me…"said Amy handing him the pen
"What is it?" asked Todd connecting the flash drive to his computer and waiting for the computer to recognized the hard drive
"Hot news!" said Amy and she waited for Todd to search for the file
"Sorry there's nothing there Amy" said Todd
"WHAT!!!!???????" said Amy. 'How could that be?????' she thought
"See…" and Todd showed him his computer screen which let Amy know that there wasn't a file in the flash drive
"Does your pen work?" asked Amy 'Maybe the pen was just a prop, it really didn't do anything but what a normal pen was supposed to do'
"Yes! I don't know…maybe you didn't turned it on?" wondered Todd
"But I did!" said Amy, then out of nowhere Amy felt the presence of someone in her back. It was Annaleigh, she was leaning over the radio station's wall looking at nothing in particular
"You know… Serena's father Kenji saw me once with a pen like that… He said that it was a reporter's dream…a way to get the scoop. They are actually some prototypes that they use sometimes in the studio my father works for sci-fi T.V. shows. Mr. Tsukino told me about the School's Paper going on a trip to The 10th City Journal. He asked me if I could get this for you all as a present for your little trip. I also took them to be engraved…you know give them something extra, and to not confuse them later… I even put in yours Planet Mercury's symbol, 'cause Serena always tells me about your fascination with the planet. They most have had forgotten to put in the battery… I'm so terribly sorry Amy… But don't worry, they use the same kind of battery for watches, so you can used it in no time, but I'm afraid that the report you wanted to post would not have been saved. What is that good the news you were going to post?" asked Annaleigh
"They were unbelievable" said Amy with a smile. Annaleigh approached Amy's ear and whispered "You checkers and me chess" she moved away from her
"Better luck next time" said Annaleigh with a smile as she started leaving, when she felt someone grabbing her arm.
"You are not going to hurt her" said Amy boldly.
"Then beg that Darien doesn't hurt me"
"That's it? Darien stays with you and you don't hurt Serena?"
"I never said that. He just needs to break the promise that he made to me and I'm done"
"What promise?"
"Come on Amy? You can figure this out…or should have I not believed Serena that you had mad skills in logic?"
"Let me guess Darien promised to marry you and live happily ever after? How original!"
"Nice kitty, you are taking your gloves off as well… I love when that happens. And yes… is that original…very PG, you know, for the whole family"
"You are not gonna get away with this. I will never let you hurt Serena"
Annaleigh closed her eyes and sighed.
"Well… I will love to see you try" said Annaleigh as she turned around from Amy "'Cause it will sure as hell make my life easier" Annaleigh took a huge breath and turned to see Amy again
"Here, take it… it's yours" said Annaleigh pulling from her pocket an envelope. Amy couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the gold ink in the parchment, the seal with the burgundy letters adorning the letter; could she have possibly? No she couldn't have gotten in… Greg had… or maybe… maybe
"What is it?" asked Amy
"International Academic Decathlon Announcement. You got in, told you…have a little faith"
"Why did you took it?" asked Amy grabbing her envelope
"To make things work" said Annaleigh "I'm sorry about everything… I could tell you what the Headmaster is telling Greg right now. You will be excused from school from now on until the competition finishes. The school faculty will be always available to your questions… All traveling expenses…the school will be handling all of that" Annaleigh started crying "Mr. Waters and Mrs. Bellini will be accompanying you two…Good luck" Annaleigh whipped her tears, Amy kept looking at her completely confused she didn't get Annaleigh at all, maybe Serena was right, bipolar disorder. "I have to tell you, the last time Team America selected two students from the same school it was Darien and me, but know I have no doubt that they have selected the best students ever. I'm very proud of you. Good luck!" and Annaleigh took a couple of steps away from Amy, but still facing her." I won't report your tardy to Darien, so you won't have detention…this time. By the way… I took the liberty of having deliver to your place the books I used to prepared for the decathlon, I hope they are still of good use"
Annaleigh left Amy alone in the Media Hall and picked her cell phone from her pocket. She hit redial. She started crying…again as she continued walking
"What is it? Where are you?" asked the same man from yesterday
"I'm coming…listen…I need you and your brother to come to my house tonight… we need to talk"
"Are you crying?"
"Just listen to me! There's being a change of plans" she finished and closed her phone. Now she was standing right in front of the school's foyer's door. She took out her pocket mirror and tried to fix her face, applied a last layer of gloss and pulled a hair that was out of order. She took a bid breath and let it out. She opened the door, and she put on her best smile and hailed the new students.
"Welcome to 10th City Academy. I hope you three have the time of your lives here" said Annaleigh greeting the newcomers.
Well? Did you liked it? Oh...please don't hate me... (not yet)
Promise that next chapter will have a lot of comedy since it will have a lot of Serena and Darien action...he is the new tutor after all. Will they kill themselves or will the sparks fly instantly? Well, if you want to find out please review!!!!just a suggestion...like always.... ^^!!!!