Chapter 9


Rei tried to hold back a sigh but failed. She hadn't been prepared for what awaited her in Mina's living room. Poster board and markers were to be expected. But she had no idea where Mina found a black board or the information that filled the three manila folders on the coffee table.

"I'm getting one of the computer techies to make up a graph based on preliminary polls. It'll show us which groups are a total loss, who we already have, and most importantly who we'll have to woo. And I'm thinking that since this is you we're talking about, a lot of sucking up will have to be done.

Rei sat numbly on the couch. Mina took no notice and continued on blithely. She picked the three folders off the table and handed them over. Upon opening the first, Rei found head shots and rap sheets on the other nominees.

"I want you to take that home and memorize. Your enemies' weaknesses will become your strengths. You will excel at what they fail. If-"

"Um, Mina?"

Mina broke off mid-rant and focused on Rei. "Yes?"

"You do realize that this is a high school competition and not a war, right?"

Mina smiled at Rei's naiveté. "Oh, it's definitely a war."

"Actually it isn't."

"Only it is."

"In the sense that it's not."

"Oh, isn't it?"

Rei threw her hands up in defeat. "You win! My head hurts."

"Right, so moving on."

Rei tuned out most of Mina's speech and focused on the folder in front of her. "Vanessa Water's chews with her mouth open. Eww! Mina, there's a such thing as too much information."

Mina grinned. "What can I say. I'm thorough."

"So why aren't you giving me a run for my money?"

"Underclassman can only be nominated once before their senior year. I was nominated last year."

"You were nominated last year?

Mina stared blankly at Rei for a moment. "I wasn't just nominated, Rei. I won. I was the only sophomore girl to ever win the homecoming crown."

Rei had the grace to blush. "I guess I didn't really pay much attention to that type of thing before."

Mina raised one eyebrow. "I've noticed." She said dryly. "Which is why I'm in charge. Now, moving on to posters. We'll need some recent photos of you. All the other girls will go for professionally done glamour shots. So we'll use snapshots of you. It'll make you seem more down to earth and separate you from the competition."

"Problem. I've pretty much shunned cameras for the past two years."

Mina rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like I really needed pictures of you in oversized clothes, flicking off the camera. That'd really up your chances."

Rei demonstrated said camera pose in response to Mina's sarcasm. Mina picked up a camera and fanned it in front of Rei's face. "That's why we'll be taking some shots today."

Rei shot up off the couch. "You've got to be kidding Mina. I won't be your Barbie doll for the afternoon!"

Mina ignored her and gestured to the guestroom upstairs. "I've got a few outfits laid out for you upstairs. Pick one and meet me in the back yard."

Enough was enough. Mina was obviously insane and Rei wasn't going to encourage her delusions any longer. She crossed her arms and very firmly told Mina the truth. "No. I won't do it."



Jed wasn't surprised to see Rei's car parked outside of his house. However, he was surprised to find his living room empty. Just as he was about to call out for his sister he heard voices coming from the back yard.

"Dammit, Rei! I told you to smile, not grimace!"

Rei spoke through clenched teeth. "How do you know that this isn't my smile." She was dressed in a light blue skirt, and dark blue tank top. The outfit could conservatively be called skimpy.

Jed made his was towards them, focused completely on Rei. So focused that he didn't notice the potted plant in front of him. He tripped and ended up sprawled face down in the grass.

Rei had been watching him since his arrival outside and for a moment forgot the camera and the clothes and burst out laughing.

"I told you that wasn't a smile." Mina murmured to herself over the automatic clicking of the camera. When it stopped, she examined the shots through the screen on the digital camera. Nodding in satisfaction she stepped over her brother's prone body and into the house. She'd download the pictures onto her computer and convince Rei to change into another outfit.

Jed stood, brushed himself off and walked over to Rei. "What the hell is going on here?"

Rei tugged uselessly at the hem of the skirt. "Mina's playing fashion show."

"And you actually agreed to it?"

"Depends on your definition of agreed." Rei muttered darkly.

Jed pat her head reassuringly. "Our little model. And I can say I knew you when."

"When what? When I broke your hand for petting my head like a puppy's?"

He jerked his hand back reflexively and she grinned. "I wouldn't be so smug, Jed. You're probably next."

He reached out to brush a stray eyelash from her cheek. Shrugging, he blew it from his fingertip. "Not really. I don't have to put up posters or anything. I just have to keep winning football games and being nice to people."

She pouted. "I didn't realize I'd be doing all the work for both of us."

He couldn't resist bending and quickly kissing her frowning mouth. "Yep. And you'd better do a good job."

He was almost inside when Mina intercepted him. "You've pissed her off. Now I'll never get her to smile again."

"So take pictures of her angry. It looks good on her."

Mina sighed. There was no hope for it. Rei was pissed and her brother was smitten.

"And Mina. I know you were taking pictures of that exchange."

She lowered her eyes almost bashfully.

"I'd like a copy of the pictures." He turned back and called out to Rei. "And darling? Don't forget that I have a game today. You might wear that outfit. It'll surely inspire me to win." He walked off whistling, not even flinching when Rei's shoe hit the door frame two inches from his head.





"Since when are you the hardest person on the planet to get in touch with?"

Rei laughed somewhat sheepishly. She'd missed the past two Saturday phone conversations with Lita. Both times because she'd been with Jed. "I know, I know. It's sad how little time I've had to myself since nominations were announced."

"So, what's new?"

"I wouldn't know. Jed and Mina have made sure that my life is now focused on the race for Homecoming Queen. Voting is next Friday so I imagine that Jed's trying to get though at this very minute with some pressing engagement." She paused as Lita laughed. "Thank God I don't have call waiting."

"From what you've told me about him, I'm sure he'll find a way around something as trivial as a busy phone line. Smoke signals, perhaps?"

Rei flopped back onto her bed. "Yeah. And with his luck, he'd catch himself on fire."

"So how goes it on the Darien front?"

Rei couldn't help but wince. "Actually I haven't really talked to him."

"You're kidding, right? You've actually gone an entire two weeks without talking to Darien? Your best friend who lives right next door!"

Rei sighed in frustration. "I know. But I just can't face him. It's not like I'm embarrassed or anything like- it's just. I haven't been lovesick for him. I mean, I miss him, his company and all that. But I've been okay. And what if I see him and revert." She tried to gather her thoughts into a more coherent explanation but failed. "It's just strange. You know?"

"Not really, no."

Knowing she wouldn't be able to make better sense, Rei changed the topic. "Right. I'll quit babbling randomly about myself and you can tell me what's going on with you."

"Not much really. It looks like I'll be taking our cross country team to state." Lita sighed. "Maybe not just because of me. We've got this new guy who's just incredible out there. He hasn't even placed below first yet. It's really pushed the team. But he was too damned full of himself. So I helped him get over himself."

Rei groaned. "Lita, you didn't. They told you if you started one more fight, they wouldn't let you participate in school activities!"

"Now, now. I'll remind you that I never started any of those fights. I merely finished them. And no, I didn't hit him. I just told him that while he may contribute to the team, he doesn't make the team."

"What'd he do?"

"Not much. Just told me to check my jealously then ran off before I could respond. He might have called me an amazon as he did." Lita snorted. "And get this. He's dating Skylar."

"Is she the one who always parks in the handicapped spot at school and insists that it's her personal space?"

Lita chortled. "Yep. But for all I know she may actually deserve a handicapped spot. She did seem pretty certain that Holland is right beside Alaska."

Rei laughed.

"No, I'm serious. She sat behind me in Geography. It took half an hour of pointing out Holland on a map before Skylar accepted that it was nowhere near Alaska!"

"The worst of it is that's you'll probably still sit in front of idiots in college, possibly your entire life."

"Are saying that I'm some sort of idiot magnet?" Lita sounded a tad defensive.

"Not at all." Rei broke off as the doorbell began to ring furiously. "Umm, I think I have to go."

Lita's voice became sympathetic. "Jed pounding at the door?"

Rei sighed as the doorbell began to chime to the tune of 'Every Rose Has A Thorn'.

"Was there any doubt? I'll call you later." Rei hung up the phone and stomped downstairs.

She jerked open the door and without hesitating blasted the person standing on her threshold. "I could have been out."

Jed shrugged and slide past her into the house. "I called a million times before I came over. The phone line was always busy."

Rei bristled at the accusatory tone in his voice. "Let's get one thing straight here, Jed. I am not at your beck and call," She poked a finger at his chest to emphasize her point. "Let's not forget that I'm doing you a favor here. Completely out of the goodness of my heart."

"Wherever it may be." He muttered as she turned away from him.

She spun. "What was that?"

He smiled widely. "Nothing."

Rather than go into her living room, she crossed her arms and leaned against the hallway wall. "Why are you here?"

"I heard your Mom was out. Wanna go upstairs and make time?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

She slid down the wall laughing hysterically.

He frowned down at her. "Not quite the response I was looking for."

"Make time?" Rei gasped. "You've been watching AMC, haven't you?" She accused from her position on the floor.

"I'll have you know it's quality tv!"

She rolled her eyes at him, then held out a hand. He grabbed it and tried to tug her up off the floor. Either by accident or devious calculation, he overestimated and tugged too hard. She slammed into him and sent both toppling to the ground.

After a pause, Rei propped herself up on her elbows so she could chastise him properly.

Violet eyes met blue, and all words slid from her brain. As in the Rendez-Vous, Rei felt herself leaning in to a kiss. Only this time it wasn't Jed instigating. It was her.

Rei briefly wondered what the hell she was doing, but then her lips met his and all thoughts ceased.

The phone rang loudly in the kitchen and both froze. Sometime during the kiss his arms had locked around her waist, pinning her to him. And her hands had betrayed her by winding through his hair.

She pushed herself off him, breaking his hold and stood staring at him, hand pressed to her mouth. The phone rang shrilly and she shook herself to attention, muttering a half hearted, 'Klutz' at him on her way out the door.

Jed allowed himself a moment more to just lay on her floor and grin.

He was standing up and studying the family pictures her mother kept on display when she came back. "Who was it?"

Her glare was fierce and her tone ominous. "Telemarketer."

Jed winced in sympathy for the telemarketer. "Come on. Let's go."

She frowned at his outstretched hand, not quite ready to trust it. "Where?"

"My house and then I imagine to the mall. Mina said something about a dress for the dance." Rei paled and Jed smiled sympathetically at her. "And possibly something about a new outfit for every day leading up to it."

Rei shut her eyes in denial. "And the day was looking so good."

Jed grabbed her hand and led her to the jeep. "I tried to warn you about making her your campaign manager."

She climbed in. "You did no such thing."

"Did too. If I recall correctly my words were along the lines of, 'You'll rue the day you put Mina in charge.' And then you made fun of me for half an hour because I used the word rue."

She smiled. "Why so I did." Then snickered. "Rue."





Rei was exhausted by the time she got back home. As if being dragged from store to store wasn't bad enough, she'd had to sit through half an hour of Mina flirting with some random guy. It didn't help that said guy was as talkative as Mina. For the first time since kindergarten, Rei felt like she needed a nap.

Jed leaned over and kissed her cheek, using the opportunity to warn her. "You've got company."

Rei looked over and saw Darien perched on her front steps. "Fun," she muttered, as she exited the jeep. Mina handed her the dress and waved good-bye.

"I thought you'd be out with Serena." She said as she approached.

He shrugged. "It seems that you were out with Jed again." There was an almost bitter tone in his voice.

She rolled her eyes as she sat down beside him on the steps. "Well he is my boyfriend," she reminded him.

"I don't trust him."

She stared at him incredulously. "I thought you two got along!"

"Sure, before you started spending every waking moment with him. You spent the last two weekends at his house, Rei! And don't try to deny that."

"Yes I have. His sister Mina also lives there. And I've spent the night in her room every time." She silently omitted the first night. Like Darien needed to know about that.

Darien didn't reply just stared silently ahead.

"What did you expect Darien? Did you think I'd sit at home waiting for you to get out of practice, to finish a date with Serena, or whatever the hell else you fill your time with? Did you think I'd just hang out waiting for any scrap of attention or time you could spare?"

"No! I didn't expect that. And I sure as hell didn't expect my best friend to start avoiding me, either." Darien burst out.

"I'm not avoiding you." She said quietly. "I've just been busy."

"That's bull. You duck into the nearest girls rest room when you see me coming. You ignore me in P.E. You're never home when I am. I know avoidance when I see it!" He stopped and looked down at his hands. "Are you mad at me? What'd I do?" He asked softly.

Rei's heart gave a little. She never wanted to make him miserable. She just couldn't face him."I'm not mad at you Dare. It's just really hard for me to be with you now."

"Why?"

She took a deep breath and told him the closest truth she could. "You've changed."

He looked at her sharply. "No I haven't. I'm the same guy who's lived next door to you for practically forever. I'm the one who held your hand on your first day of school and the one who taught you how to throw a punch. I'm the shoulder you cried on when your dad left. I'm still the Darien who ripped the head off your doll five seconds after meeting you."

"You are. You're the same. But different." She sighed in frustration. "I don't know how to explain it. You're growing up on me. And I don't know how to deal with it."

"Where does that leave us? Are you just going to ignore me for the rest of our lives?"

"No! We're still friends, Darien. We'll always be friends. But we've spent almost every waking hour together for the past eleven years. Aren't you even the slightest bit sick of me?" She nudged him playfully.

He smiled as he studied her. "You're more lighthearted than you used to be. I guess you've changed too."

"I guess I have." She replied. She rest her head his shoulder and they watched the sun set in comfortable silence.








A.N.

:::Says brief prayer of thanks to server gods:::

Right so. I put this chapter up on Saturday morning. Then FF.net went insane. And chapter nine never showed up. So here it is. Maybe this time it'll stay up.

I lied in the last ANs. I said there were only two chapters left. I was wrong, there were three then, now there are two.

Mucho gracias to everyone who reviewed. It's helped me try to keep some semblance of a writing schedule. Left on my own, I can put a story away and not work at it for weeks, even years on end. Because I'm lazy.

But not so much with this story.