Greetings, dear readers, and welcome back to Bayley's Universe. Many many many many MANY apologies for my freakish lateness with this update (*insert one of my apologies for my chapter lateness post*). So, at the end of the last chapter, we see Sasha in the library on the search for the next volume of the Sailor Moon manga but having no luck (oh well, maybe next time after it's been returned) when she finds herself joined by someone. Who could it be? Read on to find out, lovelies, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter (after the unintended hiatus). =)

(Just a heads-up here...There's a bit of strong language in this chapter.)

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the new kid Sasha Ambrose," a familiar voice could be heard saying to Sasha's left.

Turning around, the magenta-haired teen found herself face to face with one of her upperclassmen. "Shayna. Wasn't expecting to see you in the library."

"What can I say? Guess I wanted to come take a look at the books in here," the brunette said with a shrug.

"Well, look no further, I guess," Sasha said before returning her attention to the bookshelf she was in front of.

Looking at the shelf she and Sasha were currently standing in front of, Shayna couldn't help the scoff of a laugh that escaped her from what she was looking at. "Really? You're seriously checking out these weird comic books?"

Shushing could be heard coming from some of the others in the library, followed by a warning from Mrs. Guerrero.

"Yes, I am. I happen to like these books quite a bit," the magenta-haired teen responded, her gaze still on the shelf in front of her as she kept her voice low.

"Figures. After all, it'd take a real dork to be into stuff like this," the older brunette said with another scoff.

While she was still a bit in the dark when it came to some words humans used, there was something in the way Shayna said 'dork' that didn't quite sit well with her. Her gaze leaving the volume she was looking at and going to the brunette, Sasha, making sure to keep her voice low and level, said "I'd like it if you didn't insult something that other people may like. It's not nice at all."

"Oh no. I'm talking mean about the new kid and the dorky books she likes. Oh no," Shayna said, a look of mock fear on her face and a similar edge coloring her voice.

Doing her best to keep her cool and making sure to remind herself not to hurt this human, Sasha decided to go against her stronger impulse and simply said "I have somewhere else to be. I'll see you around" before turning on her heel and walking out of the library.

"Now, now, Sasha, don't be in a hurry to leave. We both have Free Period right now. How's about we spend some of the time together?" Shayna said as she walked to keep up with the younger teen.

"No thanks. Like I said, I have somewhere else to be," Sasha said, not stopping.

"Well, why don't I join you? I'm free right now. We could go find somewhere and have a nice long chat, maybe talk about how school's been going for you."

"It's been going well, thanks for asking," Sasha responded, giving a wave to Mrs. Guerrero before she and Shayna made their way out of the library and into the hallway.

"Good, good," the brunette nodded. "Been making any friends?"

"Yes I have, thank you," Sasha said, finally deciding to stop and chat with her-'Hopefully, it won't be for too much longer. I'm supposed to be meeting Mia soon for my Korean lesson,' she thought.

"Good. You know? I actually know one of your new buddies myself."

"Really? And just who would that be? My cousin Bayley never told me about you. Amd I haven't heard any of my other friends say much about you."

"Mia, of course. But, then again, I was one of the first friends she made when she moved here," Shayna said, a slightly proud smirk on her face.

Remembering the first time she had seen Mia with Shayna caused a sudden snort to escape her. "Friend, yeah. Riiiiight."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" the brunette asked, not quite liking how she was being talked to.

"I've happened to see how you are with her. And, from what I've seen, none of it seems entirely friendly," Sasha said, starting to feel defensive of one of her friends.

A scoff escaping her, Shayna said "Well, I can't begin to imagine what you've seen. I've been nothing but nice to Mimi."

This was starting to get a bit irritating to her. Sasha could tell that Shayna was lying, but she didn't quite know how to call her out on that. So, deciding to go with her stronger impulse, the magenta-haired teen took a breath before saying "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to question you and Mia's friendship."

"Smart girl. Now, why don't you run along? I'd hate to have to hurt you," Shayna said, the last part coming out lowly.

That again. That same threat. She should've ignored that. She should've just turned and walked off to find Mia. …But, no. Not this time.

"You know, Shayna. I seem to remember you saying something like that before. But, to me, that just sounds like big and empty talk coming from you."

Blinking around her surprise, Shayna couldn't believe it. No student ever talked to her like that before. So the fact that Sasha, this new kid was talking to her like this …this was not going to stand. Without even thinking, she felt a hand curl into a fist before she struck out at Sasha.

Seeing the approaching strike, Sasha couldn't help but smirk and let out a scoff of a laugh as she caught the other teen's fist. Seeing the look of surprise on her "upperclassman's" face was too good for her as the magenta-haired teen leaned in and said "Honestly, Shayna. I wouldn't do that again to me if I were you. I may not look like it, but I can defend myself should I be in a situation where I'd have to do so" as she gave the brunette's fist a light squeeze-'Not too hard. I might accidentally break her bones, and that wouldn't be good,' the Gem mentally repeated.

This never happened before. No one had ever managed to stop a punch of hers. Starting to feel a bit angry at this challenge, Shayna lashed out again with another punch and a scream, only this time there was a bit more power behind this one. And said power was coming from somewhere she never thought she'd have to tap into to deal with one of her fellow students.

Seeing the brunette lash out again would've caused another laugh to escape her had Sasha not noticed the slight glimmer that came from the brunette's incoming blow. Quickly releasing the fist she held, Sasha just as quickly caught Shayna's approaching fist and then shoved the brunette away. What she was seeing now almost completely took her breath away.

"Wh-What…. Who are you? Really?" Sasha asked in surprise as she looked at Shayna's fist in its current state.

A scowl on her face, Shayna covered her still glowing fist before turning away from the magenta-haired teen. "I'm Shayna Baszler. What's it to ya?"

"Your hand…. I-I saw a glow," Sasha said, still trying to process what it was that she saw.

"It was nothing! You didn't see anything," the brunette said, her voice first rising before falling a bit.

"Shayna." That was all Sasha could bring herself to say before she saw the brunette rise to her feet and run off in the direction they just came from.

"Sasha? There you are! I was wondering where you were. I thought you might've left school early today when you didn't show," a voice could be heard coming from behind the magenta-haired teen.

Turning around to see who it was, Sasha said "Yeah, sorry about that. I got a bit distracted looking for a manga in the library. Guess it took me longer than I thought."

"No worries. I was a bit tied up with seeing Mr. Copeland myself. Just wanted to make sure my choice for my book report would be okay. Luckily, he said yes," Mia said. "So. Since we still have a bit of time until the end of the day, you want to try to squeeze in a quick lesson?"

"Sure," Sasha smiled. As she walked along with her blue-haired friend, she couldn't help but think back to her prior encounter with Shayna. 'Something definitely seemed off there. That glow. The power behind her punch. It all seemed so …so familiar. But, why? She's just some human after all.'

Breathing deeply as she tried to calm herself down and shake away what just happened between her and the new kid, that girl, that Sasha Ambrose, Shayna looked down at her hand to see that it had returned to normal.

"Well, I think this is a first. Normally, you're indoors prowling the halls until we can all take off together," an amused voice could be heard coming from the brunette's left.

"Yeah, well, I just wanted to step outside, Lana. Y'know, enjoy this nice weather," the brunette lied.

"You're lying," a second more blunt voice could be heard from Shayna's left.

A scoff of a laugh escaping her, Shayna said "Damn it. Knew I couldn't get anything by you, Nia. What gave me away?"

"Nothing really. Except the fact that you seem like you lost a fight," Nia said, an almost joking tone to her voice.

Trying to hold back her sudden urge to punch the wall behind her, Shayna took a few breaths before saying "No, Nia. If you must know, I didn't 'lose a fight'. I just did the smart thing and walked away from one."

"Really? Wow, that's a first," Lana said. "Well, I think it's great that you've finally managed to put your violent side behind you. It was getting a bit worrisome having to deal with finding ways to get you out of trouble. I don't think Tamina would like it if she had to come to the school again because of your temper issues."

"Well excuuuuuse me for not being afraid to stand up for myself! That brat had it coming this time though. Trying to question the friendships I have. The nerve of that twerp," Shayna said, a similar feeling starting to rise within her as she could begin to feel her right fist start to shake.

Taking notice of what was happening, Nia calmly said "Shayna. Calm. DOWN. You know what happens when you get angry."

Nia was saying stuff, but Shayna didn't seem to hear any of it. She just couldn't seem to get her encounter with Sasha off her mind. But, it wasn't because of the things she said. No, it was because of what happened during their fight. 'She caught my punches. There's no way she should've been able to do that! Just …What the hell is she?' Not even the breeze that she could feel coming from Lana's fan seemed to do anything to help calm her down.

Sharing a look, the other two teens didn't know what to do. They had never seen Shayna get so mad before. All they could do in that moment was do their best to try to calm their friend down as they thought of a plan to find the root cause of the brunette's flaring temper.

*looks around before finding what I need* *holds up a Stop sign* OK, WHOA! Things got pretty crazy here. Who knew that something like a simple talk after leaving the library (good idea there...wouldn't want Mrs. Guerrero's delightfully bansheelike (to me, at least) screeching to hurt everyone's ears) could've led to a fight almost breaking out (*insert Knuckles "Oh no!" here*)? And that's not even the worst thing about it. Just what the heck was going on with Shayna? Is there something wrong with her? And will her friends be able to do something about her temper before things get out of hand? Well, it's looking like the answers to those questions will be answered...next time. Until then, don't forget to RR please. =)

(Quick shout-out to xXLadyRachelXx. Thanks so much for your help with this chapter, dear.)

(Stay safe, healthy, and cool out there, lovelies. *sends love and positive vibes out to you all*)