Disclaimer: i don't own any character in this story except for A.J. who is my own creation. DON'T STEAL HER! lol just ask permission to use her...and any song I use in this story will be by the Goo Goo Dolls(unless I note otherwise)-i don't own any of their songs! (BUT I LOVE THEM) and the poem, "Square One" is MINE! Once again, DON'T STEAL, just ask permission! anyway, have a good read!
Square One
by: japanimejo
Heero walked up to the stairs to his new home. He took a right after reacheaing the 2nd platform and headed down to the very end of the hallway. This dorm room was a joint suite; it meant that all together five people could stay in this dorm room.
Carrying only his laptop case, a backpack, and a suitcase, the perfect soilder took in a deep sigh as he turned the newly recieved key in the socket. CLICK. He pushed the door opened surprised to find Duo and Trowa in his room.
"SURPRISE!" Duo said with a widespread grin. "WE'RE ROOMIES!" he continued. "Yes, this should be fun," Trowa mused.
"Hmn..." Heero said as he set his stuff down on a bed and began to settle in. He took out his clothes and put at least two weeks worth of the same outfit into his closet.
"Well, fine! That was my bed but I guess it's the perfect soilder's now!" Duo said teasingly. Heero shot him the infamous Death Glare and Duo shut up quickly leaving on the note of, "You've got to quit doing that Yuy; you'll never get a girl that way!"
Heero then looked to Trowa for an answer. Trowa simply took out his flute and then said, "I joined the band! I'm first chair!..." An expression of sheer surprise came across Heero's face. "I know!!! I didn't think I was a band geek either!" Trowa said leaving to go to his newfound hobby's practice. "Help yourself to anything in the mini fridge although it's not much," Trowa called.
Heero shook his head still trying to understand the two of them. "Well, Duo has never made any sense, but Trowa, a band geek?" he thought. He turned and saw his laptop laying on the bed. He decided to hook it up and print out his schedule of classes.
As Heero printed his schedule, he noticed it still said, "major-undecided." "Hmn..." he mused. He had thought all the way down on the flight to Earth of what he wanted to do for a living.
He examined the schedule even more. Mondays he had English Comp 101, French III, and College Algebra. Tuesdays he had Lab Science. Wednesdays he could relax. Thursday he had American History and Humanitees and Fridays he had Modern Lit 101.
Heero looked at the clock on his computer. He had arrived at about 3:00 and now it was 4:00 p.m. He was getting hungry for a snack.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by Duo coming back in with Hilde. "Hey? You still here? You wanna come with us to get something to eat?" Duo screamed out. Hilde gave a slight smile and look that seemed to say, "Duo's such a loud idiot."
Heero glanced at his jacket, grabbed it, and followed after the two.
"It's been a long time Heero," said Hilde with a smile looking back over her shoulder at the boy in the bluejean jacket. Heero shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground. He noticed how Hilde was hanging on Duo's arm but he couldn't have anyone to hang on his.
"You'll love this restraunt man! It's the greatest-great food, great coffee, and live entertainment!" Duo said excitedly while waving one arm around in the air.
"Hmn..." Heero replied.
After their cold walk down the street about five blocks, they turned the corner and came upon a small coffee shop and restraunt. Duo opened the door for Hilde to go in and then waved Heero in too.
Inside was the smell of insense, special brewed coffee, and really good food. There was a small stage set up in the back corner lit in blue, purple, and black. Heero looked around as Hilde and Duo picked out a table. "So this is college life," he thought to himself noticing a sign with a girl's black and white photograph. It read, " her songs and poems are like nothing you've ever heard before-insightful, emotional, and honest this chick knows about everything, not just misery. A coffee house favorite, Autumn Jewl, (or A.J. as we call her) is an artist you don't want to miss."
Heero looked at the girl's picture. She was gorgeous. Her eyes were big and set in deep. Her nose was perfect and her mouth was just adorable. She was almost as pretty as Relena.
Heero's thoughts were interrupted by Duo saying, "c'mon and sit down already!" "Loudmouth baka," Heero thought to himself wishing he could duct tape the braided pilot's mouth shut. "We're not pilots anymore though," Heero thought for himself, "we're just normal human beings now..." His thoughts were once agian interrupted by the waitress and Duo pressing him to know what he wanted to eat. The waitress gathered their orders and was back off to the kitchen. Heero finally decided to say something else besides, "hmn..." He looked at Duo asked, "where's Quatre and Wufei?" "Well," Duo said streching an arm around Hilde, "Quatre said he might enroll late if he can be sure the company will do alright without him there- you know he's such a worrier and Justice Boy, *snicker snicker* you won't believe this one, but Justice Boy is still with Sally Po and they're even talkin' about marriage!"
"What about you Heero; how have you been and have you seen Relena lately?" asked Hilde. "Don't even talk to me about her," he replied coldly shooting a Death Glare at Hilde unconciously. Duo jumped ontop of Hilde's face screaming, "NO! DON'T LOOK! YOU'LL TURN TO STONE FROM HIS SNAKE HAIR!" Heero glanced up at his hair; it did look pretty rough from the space plane flight so he combed it with his fingers and tried to ignore Duo.
Duo then realized what Heero had just said. "Wait a min, what'd you say?" he said dazed and confused. "What happened with Relena?" he said as he continued to pry. "Nothing...nothing at all," Heero said picking up a fork and beginning to bang the bottom of it against the table. Duo opened his mouth again but before he could get anything out Heero shot him another Death Glare and said, "Maxwell quit prying before I snap and kill you." Duo's face changed from excitement to disappointment and then finally to confusion. Not having anything to say back to the perfect solider, he shut up.
Their food was put in front of them and the room darkend. A spotlight was put on the stage to a girl in black pants, black blouse, a black biker's cap, and black nails. Her eyes were lined darkly in black and her hair was a dark, dark black with red streaks all over. Her eyes were a weird color; they were two tone. The outer layer was dark brown slowly fading to a deep green in the middle. She spoke.
"Love - be it cruel or kind
is the root of all suffering
in my mind.
Watch- as what you've worked for
falls out of line,
or Feel the sting of rejection.
Try- so hard
to make it work
but forced relationships have no worth.
Tell- me now
what must I do
to return the person I was?
Must I really start all over?
All for love? I stand alone.
I stand at Square One."
"She speaks with so much conviction. She speaks like she knows me. I've never met anyone who has struck a cord with me so indirectly," Heero thinks to himself feeling a knot in his stomach.. "Why do I feel this way," he quietly wonders. Yet again, Duo interrupts Heero's thoughts. The auideince claps widly for her and she steps off the stage with a short bow.
"Yuy, are you gawking at that girl up there?" Duo said with a mischievous grin. "No," Heero replied cooly. "Well, I was going to say if you were, I know her and I could introduce you to her," Duo says waving at the girl. She gacefully walks over to where Duo is sitting.
"Ah, my biggest fan," she says showing a smile. Duo gets up and runs across the table to give her a hug. She embraces him back and smiles even more. "Hello, Hilde," says says very gently. "Good evening to you too A.J.," replies Hilde. "Hmn?" Heero says now intrigued as he looks at the poster and then at the girl. It's the same girl. He didn't notice it. She looks so different with make-up on.
Duo offers her the seat next to Heero saying, " c'mon and eat with us before you and your band plays...oh and this is my friend Heero Yuy by the way..." He points to Heero.
"Yuy?" says the girl looking at Heero with a raised eyebrow. "Yea..." Duo says looking confused for about the milliionth time tonight. "Yiuy...Heero Yuy...that isn't your real name is it?" she says in a very matter of fact way. "Yea, that's really his name," Duo says looking baffled.
A.J. grabs a fry off of Heero's plate and stuffs it in her mouth. Duo and Hilde's mouths drop. Heero throws her a Death Glare and A.J. looks at him. "What's his problem anyway?" she says non chalantly pointing to him while stealing yet another fry from his plate. Duo can tell that Heero is really beginning to get mad at her but he's enjoying watching A.J. stand up to Heero way too much. "I can't believe she isn't afraid of him," Duo thinks to himself. "This is priceless," he whispers to Hilde as they watch A.J. poke fun at Heero.
"Ok, fine if that's how it's gonna be then I'll stare you down for your fries...first one to flinch, laugh, or blink loses and doesn't get any fries," she says scrambling to get on Heero's eye level. Her nose is about three inches away from Heero's and she's staring him right down with that infamous Death Glare of his staring right back at her.
Suddenly, Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre bust in through the door. Duo jumps up in huge excitement. He goes and gives Quatre a big hug and then Quatre walks over to say hi to Hilde.
He then sees the two staring each other down. "GASP, She's staring Heero right in the eye with that Death Glare of his going...brave girl..." he mumbles. "Hi Quat! Go set up and I'll be there as soon as this sucker hands over his fries!" says A.J. not losing her glare on Heero.
Duo grabs a hold of Trowa's shirt sleeve and starts jumping up and down. "This is so awesome! I've never seen anyone so unafraid of Yuy..." he says shaking Trowa's arm in every different direction. Trowa just looks at him and then back at A.J. and Heero and laughs. "You're right; this is deffinately worth missing an extra sectional..." says Trowa.
"Band Geek much?" says Duo with a smile. Quatre comes back with his violin. "Ummm..A.J.?" he says quietly. "Not now; everyone can wait! I WON"T LOSE!" she says staring even harder at the perfect soilder. Heero hasn't moved the entire time. Finally, he speaks to A.J. "I'd like to hear you sing sometime tonight," he says very dryly. A.J. blinks in surprise. Heero leans back and says in a very monotone voice, "you lose."
A.J. tries her best to throw a death glare back at Heero. "I eat your fries anyway," she says taking the plate with her. Heero just watches as she asks Duo once again, "what's his problem?" Duo replies, "he's just a guy who does without showing a lot of emotion." A.J. sticks another fry in her mouth. She then turns around and sets the plate of food back in front of Heero. She puts both hands on the table, leans in and says, "you suck then." Heero is surprised by this comment. A.J. then does a catwalk back up to the stage and makes the announcement to the audience that the band is about to start it's set for the night.
Heero keeps watching and thinking on A.J. "I think you'll like this song, Mr. Yuy...so this one's for you, cuz emotions seem useless when you feel the way you do..." she says elequoently deadicating the song to Heero.
Duo by now is on the edge of his seat just staring A.J. down. "I can't believe this girl; she's my new hero!" he says to Hilde as Quatre snickers and begins to play along with the band.
Quatre is in a pair of black slacks with a gray sweater. He looks like he's getting all into playing the violin.
"He really loves his music," thinks Heero as he watches the Sandrock's pilot's skilled fingers move to make the melancholy notes.
A.J. has an acoustic guitar and behind her is a drum set and a guy on electric bass. Sitting next to her is a lead electric guitar. She opens her mouth and beautiful notes flood from it.
"It's a beautiful day,
I heard everybody say.
The sun shines down for all of us...
Just the same,
You know I like the rain...
That ain't so obvious...
It's a beautiful sight,
I guess everybody's right...
This day belongs to all of us...
Even still,
I like mine with a chill...
That ain't so obvious...
Heero watches as A.J. gracefully strums her guitar and gets all into singing her song. Her body and head is swaying to the music as is Quatre's and everyone else's in the bands.
Duo grins and peers over at Heero over Hilde who is sitting in between the two. "I think she hit you straight on, bro..." he says with his smile widening. "Shut up Maxwell so I can enjoy the music," Heero replies grumpily. Duo then whispers something to Hilde and she nods her head yes.
"So what'd ya' think about her, Yuy?" he says with yet another micheivous grin. "Why?" Heero asks. "Becuase..." Duo says with his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand. "Maxwell, I'm not saying this again-shut up so I can listen to the song," Heero says getting irratated.
Quatre lets into a big run of notes on the violin and A.J.'s voice gets louder, stronger, and prettier than before.
" We are the normal-
we live and we die
with no reason why...
We are the normal-
we live and we die
with no reason why..."
"Duo's right..." Heero thinks to himself beginning to feel really uneasy for some odd reason. "This song does sound a little like me..." he mumbles where no one can hear him and listens even more intenly.
A.J. sets down the acoustic guitar quickly and picks up the electric one. The song gets heavier now, the lyrics get stronger, and begin to peirce through Heero's heart. A.J. eyes Heero as she picks the chords on the electric guitar.
" It's a beautiful life,
That I've got in my sights-
And that ain't for all of us...
It's a beautiful sound,
when my life comes crashing down-
that ain't so obvious...
It's a beautiful sin,
And I'm doing it again-
And that ain't for all of us...
It's a beautiful life,
That I've got in my sights-
Ain't that so obvious?"
The song that once started out calming and soft is now loud and almost dark sounding. Heero watches as A.J. begins to sing from her heart even more than before. "I wish she'd quit looking at me; it's almost like she's written and singing this song just for me..." Heero thinks as he sets his head hands rubbing his temples. "I did have a good life set out for me...but it's gone...and it was beautiful...trying to figure out what I believed in...and then fighting for that...but what now...who needs soilders in times of peace?" Heero thinks getting more upset as A.J. continues to sing.
Quatre puts out another run and leads A.J. back into the chorus. Heero picks up his head and watches as for once, A.J. shuts her eyes and strums the guitar heavier than ever.
" We are the normal-
we live and we die,
with no reason why...
We are the normal-
we live and we die,
with no reason why..."
Suddenly the song gets quiet and Quatre steals the spotlight with a fabulous violin solo. A.J. sets down her electric guitar and approaches Heero. She smiles and asks, " do you waltz?" She stretches out a hand and Duo jumps over Hilde to push Heero into her arms. Heero tries to throw a Death Glare a Duo but it's too late. A.J. has already pulled him to his feet and is waltzing with him.
Everything around the room is spinning to Heero. A.J. has a smile on her face and asks, "are you enjoying my band?" Heero doesn't reply. He had tried to come up with a reply but he coulndn't. A.J. had just struck such a feeling with him. He couldn't describe it. It was almost as if Heero was nervous. All Heero managed to speak was, "hmn." A.J. simply shakes her head. "I've seen people like you before; that's what this song is about...if you don't ever show any emotion...if you keep it all bottled up inside...your life won't make any sense..." she says spinning out away from Heero and shoving him back in his seat.
A.J. quickly picks her guitar back up. She gives a thumbs up to Quatre and they start playing the chorus again.
"We are the normal,
we live and we die-
with no reason why...
there's no reason why...
We are the normal,
we live and we die-
with no reason why..."
A.J. gives one last good strum on the guitar, Quatre gives one last note on the violin, and the drummer lets out one last cymbal crash signifying that the song is over.
The auidience gets wild with happiness; they give the alternative band a standing ovation. Even Heero gets up and claps. After everyone sits back down, Heero grabs his jacket and looks at Duo and Hilde. "I'm gong back to the dorm; there's some things I need to do still," he says quietly. "But you'll miss the rest of A.J.'s show!" Duo pouts. Heero ignores this as he walks out into the cold night air.
Quatre looks over at A.J. and grins. "I can't believe he let you dance with him," he says with that cute grin of his. "Who, Yuy?" A.J. asks curiously. "What do you mean by that?" she says as she tries to play dumb. "Heero doesn't say too much...he's one of those guys that 'actions speak louder than words' applies to...the fact that-he even though he was pushed-danced with you...well it means he likes you to some extent..." Quatre continues to talk about Heero but A.J. blocks him out. "I geuss I made him feel really bad then..." she says grabbing a jacket and running out into the cold night air.
She looks around and tries to peer through her breath that is creating the fog in front of her face. She sees a shadow in the corner street light. A.J. quickly runs down there before she notices he's standing at a bus stop.
Heero notices that she's coming and props himself up against the street light. "Look, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry-I was harsh...I shouldn't judge people that are quiet as being emotionless...You have Quat to thank for that..." A.J. says looking at her feet. Heero observes A.J.'s small frame shivering. He takes off his jacket and puts it around A.J. as he begins to walk off. A.J. looks up confused and shouts to him, "you'll freeze too!" "Thanks," Heero simply says. A.J. doesn't understand him at all but just watches as he disappears around the corner.
A.J., still a little dazed, from Heero's actions goes back to the coffee house. She walks back in and looks around at everyone in the club. Duo jumps up from the table shouting, "Hey- that's Yuy's jacket! I KNEW HE LIKED YOU!" he says while doing his "I'm right" dance. Trowa and Quatre walk over to inspect the jacket. "Yup, that's Yuy's dirty same old plain blue jean jacket," Trowa says with a grin. "He'll hear about it later on tonight," Trowa says snickering to himself. Quatre then perks up and says, "hey! I'm rooming with you guys! One of my sisters volunteered to keep me updated on the company and I just will make public appearances in politics when needed...so I'm moving in tonight!"
About that time, Catherine walks up, interrupts, and tells Trowa she'll be in her dorm room and that she's going home for the night.
Duo looks away from Hilde (whom he has been glued to all night) and says, "well, sorry but I won't be there tonight...I'm going home to see my baby girl, Solo!" He hugs Hilde even tighter. Hilde smiles and says, "You guys are welcome to come see her for a little while if you wish." Trowa and Quatre look at each other with big smiles on their faces. "Let's hope she didn't get her father's looks," Trowa says cracking up at his own joke. Duo lets out a huge "HEEY," followed by Quatre saying, "you're getting better at being funny Trowa..."
Duo then makes a motion behind Hilde to the guys not to come. Hilde turns around and looks at Duo with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe not tonight, huh baby?" he says pleadingly. "Another night, please guys?" he asks Trowa and Quatre. "I have some really, really, important things to do..." "Like what, Duo Maxwell..." Hilde says with a hand on a hip. "Uhhh..." Duo says sweating. "You guys can come-I'm going to go to the bathroom and when I get back we'll all go see her," she says very sternly. Hilde walks off and Duo starts ranting. "You can't come tonight guys, any night, but not tonight..." he says waving his arms around madly. "Why? You gonna try to get a Duo jr.?" Trowa begins to cackle at his joke. "EWWWW..bad mental pictures," Quatre says making a face. "Trowa, haven't you learned that jokes like that aren't funny?" "No, nothing like that...I'm gonna give her a very special present tonight...you know a circle..." Duo says elbowing the guys from inbetween them. "Oh," Quatre says with his eyes lighting up. Trowa is still too busy laughing at his bad joke to care. Hilde comes back and curiously looks at Trowa.
Quatre says, "don't mind him...he's uhhh...uhh...sick...he's having the heat flu from being at band rehearseal waay too long...he needs sleep...i need to get him home...uhhh...so we're leaving...sorry...another night...we'll come see Solo..." and with that Quatre grabs Trowa and runs out the door.
"GAAA...Quatre can not lie..." Duo thinks to himself. "Duo?..." Hilde asks. "Why did Quatre have that goofy smile on his face?" "No reason babe, now c'mon and let's go home," Duo says putting his arm around his girl.
Heero puts in his key and opens the door to his dorm. He immeadiately walks over to his laptop and opens a couple of programs. He runs his usual search on one girl but he has also decided to add another.
He goes to the bathroom and washes his face. When he comes back, a profile and picutre of Relena Peacecraft is on the screen. "Relena," he mumbles as he sits in the chair and takes in a deep breath. He then leans back and closes his eyes as the program continues to run.
*"I want us to be able to be together in public, Heero..." she says. "I do too, more than anything," Heero says showing much more emotion than Relena is used to seeing. "You don't understand, do you?" she says with that determined tone of voice she has. She throws some paper back at him. "Until you can forget Gundam...until you can stop being a soilder...an emotionless machine of war and be a human being we can't possibly be together..." Heero picks up the paper and stares at her as she tears up. "Is that all I am, Relena?" he says coming close to her. They stand no more than an inch apart. "Is that all you see me as? A machine of war?" Heero says finding his throat dry and wavering for the first time ever. "Heero, you're still drawing plans for Gundam-we're past that...it's a time of peace-peace that I have worked really hard to acheive and I'm NOT going to let you ruin it!" Relena yells in a defiant voice. "Peace! PEACE THAT GUNDAM HELPED YOU TO ACHEIVE!" Heero says getting angry and yelling back at her in his face just as she had. Relena started crying and Heero just left. His heart was aching. She didn't know it but he heard her quietly whisper after he had left, "but you always wipe my tears away, Heero...what does this mean?"*
*Heero knew she was walking towards him but he had only expected her to say something else to him about being emotionless. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't judge people that are quiet as being emotionless..." *
Heero sees Relena in his mind's eye. All he can see is her eyes. "An emotionless machine of war..." echoes in his head. Suddenly, A.J. comes to mind. Her eyes don't seem as cold as Relena's. "I shouldn't judge people that are quiet as being emotionless..."
His stream of thoughts are stopped by his laptop beeping. There was the live streaming satellite video of Relena Peacecraft having dinner with all the politcal powers that be. They were speaking of what to do to prevent more wars.
Another video popped up a couple of seconds after that. It was A.J. and her band still performing at the coffee shop. "She still has on my jacket..." Heero whispered feeling a insignificant amount of joy come over him. "Relena would have said it would've made her look too young for her office..." Heero mused.
*CLICK*
Trowa and Quatre came in. Heero shut his laptop quickly. "What'cha got there Yuy?" Trowa said with a devious grin. "Hey, how came you gave A.J. your jacket?" Quatre asked curiously with a smile. "She was unable to sustain a body tempature that would protect her from getting a cold," Heero replied quickly hoping his word choice would get the two to quit prying. "Oh," said Trowa, "so you didn't want her to get sick-so you were concerned about her!" Trowa begins laughing. Quatre rolls his eyes, sighs, and says, " I can't believe we have to put up with his lame jokes...seriously though, why'd you give her your jacket?"
He sits on the bed across from Heero's desk. "I told you once; you don't get to hear an explanation twice," Heero said coldly. Quatre let out another big sigh. "Well, I was wondering becuase that's a big thing in olden days...when a guy gave a girl his jacket it meant he really cherished her...I just thought that would've been someone else..." Quatre said getting up off of the couch. "It was..." Heero thought to himself.
"Hey Quat," Heero called. "Yea?" he asked. "How'd you meet A.J.?" Quatre grins. He turns around and looks at Heero. "She wanted a date with the cute flute player I knew," he says grinning even more. "Trowa," Heero says raising his voice and eyebrow at the same time. "Yup..." Quatre says nodding his head. "A.J. Marches next to me some of the time and the rest of the show I march next to Trowa..." "Oh," Heero says, "so you're in marching band too?" "Yup," Quatre says enthusiastically. "What do you play?" Heero asks. "B flat clarinet and A.J. plays it too but she also plays saxophone and for this show they needed her to play sax... " Quatre says explaining how talented to Heero that A.J. is. "And even Duo is in the band! He plays bass drum...you should consider joining...you would like it I think..." Quatre says with a slight smile unmaking his bed. Heero looks at him with skepticisim. Trowa enters the room and says, "you really would Heero; you even get a really cool band jacket!" Trowa cracks up at his own joke and Quatre lets out a groan. Heero rolls his eyes and Trowa says he's turning in for the night. Quatre flips over and tells Heero, "just leave the bathroom light on and I'll see ya' in the morning."
Heero opens his laptop back up. Relena is by herself and she's sleeping in her room. She seems to sleep peacefully even though Heero knows she's hurt. "I don't care though; I wash my hands of it..." he mumbles through a balled up hand over his mouth. He clicks on the other screen. There is A.J., still rocking the night away with her awesome 90's styled alternative music. "That's a rare type of music and her lyrics are very original...she's different..." Heero thinks to himself.
He shuts the program off and climbs into his bed. He folds his arms under his head and wonders if he'll be able to sleep well tonight. A.J.'s song is still running in his head. "Why can't I keep myself from thinking about her?" Heero wonders. He finally just thinks himself to sleep.
What's up with Heero? Which "her" is he thinking about? What's wrong with Relena? Is Duo gonna propose and where will that leave Heero? Why is Trowa a band geek? Just who exactly is A.J.? All these answers and more next time on Square One! Same bat-time, same bat-channel oh wait wrong story! lol JUST STAY TUNED! R&R PLEAZE! :)
a/n: Hope ya'll like. Umm...please do not flame if you love Relena; I just wanted to maybe find a girl that could mesh better with Heero. This story may also turn out to have a political/war plot too. I dunno...whatever floats my boat. Let me know what you think about A.J. and Heero joining the marching band! lol What instrument(any kind; i.e. original band instruments or even like a bass in the pit) should Heero play? R&R to let me know! And next chapter-we'll be hearing the story from Heero's p.o.v.! YAY!
Square One
by: japanimejo
Heero walked up to the stairs to his new home. He took a right after reacheaing the 2nd platform and headed down to the very end of the hallway. This dorm room was a joint suite; it meant that all together five people could stay in this dorm room.
Carrying only his laptop case, a backpack, and a suitcase, the perfect soilder took in a deep sigh as he turned the newly recieved key in the socket. CLICK. He pushed the door opened surprised to find Duo and Trowa in his room.
"SURPRISE!" Duo said with a widespread grin. "WE'RE ROOMIES!" he continued. "Yes, this should be fun," Trowa mused.
"Hmn..." Heero said as he set his stuff down on a bed and began to settle in. He took out his clothes and put at least two weeks worth of the same outfit into his closet.
"Well, fine! That was my bed but I guess it's the perfect soilder's now!" Duo said teasingly. Heero shot him the infamous Death Glare and Duo shut up quickly leaving on the note of, "You've got to quit doing that Yuy; you'll never get a girl that way!"
Heero then looked to Trowa for an answer. Trowa simply took out his flute and then said, "I joined the band! I'm first chair!..." An expression of sheer surprise came across Heero's face. "I know!!! I didn't think I was a band geek either!" Trowa said leaving to go to his newfound hobby's practice. "Help yourself to anything in the mini fridge although it's not much," Trowa called.
Heero shook his head still trying to understand the two of them. "Well, Duo has never made any sense, but Trowa, a band geek?" he thought. He turned and saw his laptop laying on the bed. He decided to hook it up and print out his schedule of classes.
As Heero printed his schedule, he noticed it still said, "major-undecided." "Hmn..." he mused. He had thought all the way down on the flight to Earth of what he wanted to do for a living.
He examined the schedule even more. Mondays he had English Comp 101, French III, and College Algebra. Tuesdays he had Lab Science. Wednesdays he could relax. Thursday he had American History and Humanitees and Fridays he had Modern Lit 101.
Heero looked at the clock on his computer. He had arrived at about 3:00 and now it was 4:00 p.m. He was getting hungry for a snack.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by Duo coming back in with Hilde. "Hey? You still here? You wanna come with us to get something to eat?" Duo screamed out. Hilde gave a slight smile and look that seemed to say, "Duo's such a loud idiot."
Heero glanced at his jacket, grabbed it, and followed after the two.
"It's been a long time Heero," said Hilde with a smile looking back over her shoulder at the boy in the bluejean jacket. Heero shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground. He noticed how Hilde was hanging on Duo's arm but he couldn't have anyone to hang on his.
"You'll love this restraunt man! It's the greatest-great food, great coffee, and live entertainment!" Duo said excitedly while waving one arm around in the air.
"Hmn..." Heero replied.
After their cold walk down the street about five blocks, they turned the corner and came upon a small coffee shop and restraunt. Duo opened the door for Hilde to go in and then waved Heero in too.
Inside was the smell of insense, special brewed coffee, and really good food. There was a small stage set up in the back corner lit in blue, purple, and black. Heero looked around as Hilde and Duo picked out a table. "So this is college life," he thought to himself noticing a sign with a girl's black and white photograph. It read, " her songs and poems are like nothing you've ever heard before-insightful, emotional, and honest this chick knows about everything, not just misery. A coffee house favorite, Autumn Jewl, (or A.J. as we call her) is an artist you don't want to miss."
Heero looked at the girl's picture. She was gorgeous. Her eyes were big and set in deep. Her nose was perfect and her mouth was just adorable. She was almost as pretty as Relena.
Heero's thoughts were interrupted by Duo saying, "c'mon and sit down already!" "Loudmouth baka," Heero thought to himself wishing he could duct tape the braided pilot's mouth shut. "We're not pilots anymore though," Heero thought for himself, "we're just normal human beings now..." His thoughts were once agian interrupted by the waitress and Duo pressing him to know what he wanted to eat. The waitress gathered their orders and was back off to the kitchen. Heero finally decided to say something else besides, "hmn..." He looked at Duo asked, "where's Quatre and Wufei?" "Well," Duo said streching an arm around Hilde, "Quatre said he might enroll late if he can be sure the company will do alright without him there- you know he's such a worrier and Justice Boy, *snicker snicker* you won't believe this one, but Justice Boy is still with Sally Po and they're even talkin' about marriage!"
"What about you Heero; how have you been and have you seen Relena lately?" asked Hilde. "Don't even talk to me about her," he replied coldly shooting a Death Glare at Hilde unconciously. Duo jumped ontop of Hilde's face screaming, "NO! DON'T LOOK! YOU'LL TURN TO STONE FROM HIS SNAKE HAIR!" Heero glanced up at his hair; it did look pretty rough from the space plane flight so he combed it with his fingers and tried to ignore Duo.
Duo then realized what Heero had just said. "Wait a min, what'd you say?" he said dazed and confused. "What happened with Relena?" he said as he continued to pry. "Nothing...nothing at all," Heero said picking up a fork and beginning to bang the bottom of it against the table. Duo opened his mouth again but before he could get anything out Heero shot him another Death Glare and said, "Maxwell quit prying before I snap and kill you." Duo's face changed from excitement to disappointment and then finally to confusion. Not having anything to say back to the perfect solider, he shut up.
Their food was put in front of them and the room darkend. A spotlight was put on the stage to a girl in black pants, black blouse, a black biker's cap, and black nails. Her eyes were lined darkly in black and her hair was a dark, dark black with red streaks all over. Her eyes were a weird color; they were two tone. The outer layer was dark brown slowly fading to a deep green in the middle. She spoke.
"Love - be it cruel or kind
is the root of all suffering
in my mind.
Watch- as what you've worked for
falls out of line,
or Feel the sting of rejection.
Try- so hard
to make it work
but forced relationships have no worth.
Tell- me now
what must I do
to return the person I was?
Must I really start all over?
All for love? I stand alone.
I stand at Square One."
"She speaks with so much conviction. She speaks like she knows me. I've never met anyone who has struck a cord with me so indirectly," Heero thinks to himself feeling a knot in his stomach.. "Why do I feel this way," he quietly wonders. Yet again, Duo interrupts Heero's thoughts. The auideince claps widly for her and she steps off the stage with a short bow.
"Yuy, are you gawking at that girl up there?" Duo said with a mischievous grin. "No," Heero replied cooly. "Well, I was going to say if you were, I know her and I could introduce you to her," Duo says waving at the girl. She gacefully walks over to where Duo is sitting.
"Ah, my biggest fan," she says showing a smile. Duo gets up and runs across the table to give her a hug. She embraces him back and smiles even more. "Hello, Hilde," says says very gently. "Good evening to you too A.J.," replies Hilde. "Hmn?" Heero says now intrigued as he looks at the poster and then at the girl. It's the same girl. He didn't notice it. She looks so different with make-up on.
Duo offers her the seat next to Heero saying, " c'mon and eat with us before you and your band plays...oh and this is my friend Heero Yuy by the way..." He points to Heero.
"Yuy?" says the girl looking at Heero with a raised eyebrow. "Yea..." Duo says looking confused for about the milliionth time tonight. "Yiuy...Heero Yuy...that isn't your real name is it?" she says in a very matter of fact way. "Yea, that's really his name," Duo says looking baffled.
A.J. grabs a fry off of Heero's plate and stuffs it in her mouth. Duo and Hilde's mouths drop. Heero throws her a Death Glare and A.J. looks at him. "What's his problem anyway?" she says non chalantly pointing to him while stealing yet another fry from his plate. Duo can tell that Heero is really beginning to get mad at her but he's enjoying watching A.J. stand up to Heero way too much. "I can't believe she isn't afraid of him," Duo thinks to himself. "This is priceless," he whispers to Hilde as they watch A.J. poke fun at Heero.
"Ok, fine if that's how it's gonna be then I'll stare you down for your fries...first one to flinch, laugh, or blink loses and doesn't get any fries," she says scrambling to get on Heero's eye level. Her nose is about three inches away from Heero's and she's staring him right down with that infamous Death Glare of his staring right back at her.
Suddenly, Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre bust in through the door. Duo jumps up in huge excitement. He goes and gives Quatre a big hug and then Quatre walks over to say hi to Hilde.
He then sees the two staring each other down. "GASP, She's staring Heero right in the eye with that Death Glare of his going...brave girl..." he mumbles. "Hi Quat! Go set up and I'll be there as soon as this sucker hands over his fries!" says A.J. not losing her glare on Heero.
Duo grabs a hold of Trowa's shirt sleeve and starts jumping up and down. "This is so awesome! I've never seen anyone so unafraid of Yuy..." he says shaking Trowa's arm in every different direction. Trowa just looks at him and then back at A.J. and Heero and laughs. "You're right; this is deffinately worth missing an extra sectional..." says Trowa.
"Band Geek much?" says Duo with a smile. Quatre comes back with his violin. "Ummm..A.J.?" he says quietly. "Not now; everyone can wait! I WON"T LOSE!" she says staring even harder at the perfect soilder. Heero hasn't moved the entire time. Finally, he speaks to A.J. "I'd like to hear you sing sometime tonight," he says very dryly. A.J. blinks in surprise. Heero leans back and says in a very monotone voice, "you lose."
A.J. tries her best to throw a death glare back at Heero. "I eat your fries anyway," she says taking the plate with her. Heero just watches as she asks Duo once again, "what's his problem?" Duo replies, "he's just a guy who does without showing a lot of emotion." A.J. sticks another fry in her mouth. She then turns around and sets the plate of food back in front of Heero. She puts both hands on the table, leans in and says, "you suck then." Heero is surprised by this comment. A.J. then does a catwalk back up to the stage and makes the announcement to the audience that the band is about to start it's set for the night.
Heero keeps watching and thinking on A.J. "I think you'll like this song, Mr. Yuy...so this one's for you, cuz emotions seem useless when you feel the way you do..." she says elequoently deadicating the song to Heero.
Duo by now is on the edge of his seat just staring A.J. down. "I can't believe this girl; she's my new hero!" he says to Hilde as Quatre snickers and begins to play along with the band.
Quatre is in a pair of black slacks with a gray sweater. He looks like he's getting all into playing the violin.
"He really loves his music," thinks Heero as he watches the Sandrock's pilot's skilled fingers move to make the melancholy notes.
A.J. has an acoustic guitar and behind her is a drum set and a guy on electric bass. Sitting next to her is a lead electric guitar. She opens her mouth and beautiful notes flood from it.
"It's a beautiful day,
I heard everybody say.
The sun shines down for all of us...
Just the same,
You know I like the rain...
That ain't so obvious...
It's a beautiful sight,
I guess everybody's right...
This day belongs to all of us...
Even still,
I like mine with a chill...
That ain't so obvious...
Heero watches as A.J. gracefully strums her guitar and gets all into singing her song. Her body and head is swaying to the music as is Quatre's and everyone else's in the bands.
Duo grins and peers over at Heero over Hilde who is sitting in between the two. "I think she hit you straight on, bro..." he says with his smile widening. "Shut up Maxwell so I can enjoy the music," Heero replies grumpily. Duo then whispers something to Hilde and she nods her head yes.
"So what'd ya' think about her, Yuy?" he says with yet another micheivous grin. "Why?" Heero asks. "Becuase..." Duo says with his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand. "Maxwell, I'm not saying this again-shut up so I can listen to the song," Heero says getting irratated.
Quatre lets into a big run of notes on the violin and A.J.'s voice gets louder, stronger, and prettier than before.
" We are the normal-
we live and we die
with no reason why...
We are the normal-
we live and we die
with no reason why..."
"Duo's right..." Heero thinks to himself beginning to feel really uneasy for some odd reason. "This song does sound a little like me..." he mumbles where no one can hear him and listens even more intenly.
A.J. sets down the acoustic guitar quickly and picks up the electric one. The song gets heavier now, the lyrics get stronger, and begin to peirce through Heero's heart. A.J. eyes Heero as she picks the chords on the electric guitar.
" It's a beautiful life,
That I've got in my sights-
And that ain't for all of us...
It's a beautiful sound,
when my life comes crashing down-
that ain't so obvious...
It's a beautiful sin,
And I'm doing it again-
And that ain't for all of us...
It's a beautiful life,
That I've got in my sights-
Ain't that so obvious?"
The song that once started out calming and soft is now loud and almost dark sounding. Heero watches as A.J. begins to sing from her heart even more than before. "I wish she'd quit looking at me; it's almost like she's written and singing this song just for me..." Heero thinks as he sets his head hands rubbing his temples. "I did have a good life set out for me...but it's gone...and it was beautiful...trying to figure out what I believed in...and then fighting for that...but what now...who needs soilders in times of peace?" Heero thinks getting more upset as A.J. continues to sing.
Quatre puts out another run and leads A.J. back into the chorus. Heero picks up his head and watches as for once, A.J. shuts her eyes and strums the guitar heavier than ever.
" We are the normal-
we live and we die,
with no reason why...
We are the normal-
we live and we die,
with no reason why..."
Suddenly the song gets quiet and Quatre steals the spotlight with a fabulous violin solo. A.J. sets down her electric guitar and approaches Heero. She smiles and asks, " do you waltz?" She stretches out a hand and Duo jumps over Hilde to push Heero into her arms. Heero tries to throw a Death Glare a Duo but it's too late. A.J. has already pulled him to his feet and is waltzing with him.
Everything around the room is spinning to Heero. A.J. has a smile on her face and asks, "are you enjoying my band?" Heero doesn't reply. He had tried to come up with a reply but he coulndn't. A.J. had just struck such a feeling with him. He couldn't describe it. It was almost as if Heero was nervous. All Heero managed to speak was, "hmn." A.J. simply shakes her head. "I've seen people like you before; that's what this song is about...if you don't ever show any emotion...if you keep it all bottled up inside...your life won't make any sense..." she says spinning out away from Heero and shoving him back in his seat.
A.J. quickly picks her guitar back up. She gives a thumbs up to Quatre and they start playing the chorus again.
"We are the normal,
we live and we die-
with no reason why...
there's no reason why...
We are the normal,
we live and we die-
with no reason why..."
A.J. gives one last good strum on the guitar, Quatre gives one last note on the violin, and the drummer lets out one last cymbal crash signifying that the song is over.
The auidience gets wild with happiness; they give the alternative band a standing ovation. Even Heero gets up and claps. After everyone sits back down, Heero grabs his jacket and looks at Duo and Hilde. "I'm gong back to the dorm; there's some things I need to do still," he says quietly. "But you'll miss the rest of A.J.'s show!" Duo pouts. Heero ignores this as he walks out into the cold night air.
Quatre looks over at A.J. and grins. "I can't believe he let you dance with him," he says with that cute grin of his. "Who, Yuy?" A.J. asks curiously. "What do you mean by that?" she says as she tries to play dumb. "Heero doesn't say too much...he's one of those guys that 'actions speak louder than words' applies to...the fact that-he even though he was pushed-danced with you...well it means he likes you to some extent..." Quatre continues to talk about Heero but A.J. blocks him out. "I geuss I made him feel really bad then..." she says grabbing a jacket and running out into the cold night air.
She looks around and tries to peer through her breath that is creating the fog in front of her face. She sees a shadow in the corner street light. A.J. quickly runs down there before she notices he's standing at a bus stop.
Heero notices that she's coming and props himself up against the street light. "Look, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry-I was harsh...I shouldn't judge people that are quiet as being emotionless...You have Quat to thank for that..." A.J. says looking at her feet. Heero observes A.J.'s small frame shivering. He takes off his jacket and puts it around A.J. as he begins to walk off. A.J. looks up confused and shouts to him, "you'll freeze too!" "Thanks," Heero simply says. A.J. doesn't understand him at all but just watches as he disappears around the corner.
A.J., still a little dazed, from Heero's actions goes back to the coffee house. She walks back in and looks around at everyone in the club. Duo jumps up from the table shouting, "Hey- that's Yuy's jacket! I KNEW HE LIKED YOU!" he says while doing his "I'm right" dance. Trowa and Quatre walk over to inspect the jacket. "Yup, that's Yuy's dirty same old plain blue jean jacket," Trowa says with a grin. "He'll hear about it later on tonight," Trowa says snickering to himself. Quatre then perks up and says, "hey! I'm rooming with you guys! One of my sisters volunteered to keep me updated on the company and I just will make public appearances in politics when needed...so I'm moving in tonight!"
About that time, Catherine walks up, interrupts, and tells Trowa she'll be in her dorm room and that she's going home for the night.
Duo looks away from Hilde (whom he has been glued to all night) and says, "well, sorry but I won't be there tonight...I'm going home to see my baby girl, Solo!" He hugs Hilde even tighter. Hilde smiles and says, "You guys are welcome to come see her for a little while if you wish." Trowa and Quatre look at each other with big smiles on their faces. "Let's hope she didn't get her father's looks," Trowa says cracking up at his own joke. Duo lets out a huge "HEEY," followed by Quatre saying, "you're getting better at being funny Trowa..."
Duo then makes a motion behind Hilde to the guys not to come. Hilde turns around and looks at Duo with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe not tonight, huh baby?" he says pleadingly. "Another night, please guys?" he asks Trowa and Quatre. "I have some really, really, important things to do..." "Like what, Duo Maxwell..." Hilde says with a hand on a hip. "Uhhh..." Duo says sweating. "You guys can come-I'm going to go to the bathroom and when I get back we'll all go see her," she says very sternly. Hilde walks off and Duo starts ranting. "You can't come tonight guys, any night, but not tonight..." he says waving his arms around madly. "Why? You gonna try to get a Duo jr.?" Trowa begins to cackle at his joke. "EWWWW..bad mental pictures," Quatre says making a face. "Trowa, haven't you learned that jokes like that aren't funny?" "No, nothing like that...I'm gonna give her a very special present tonight...you know a circle..." Duo says elbowing the guys from inbetween them. "Oh," Quatre says with his eyes lighting up. Trowa is still too busy laughing at his bad joke to care. Hilde comes back and curiously looks at Trowa.
Quatre says, "don't mind him...he's uhhh...uhh...sick...he's having the heat flu from being at band rehearseal waay too long...he needs sleep...i need to get him home...uhhh...so we're leaving...sorry...another night...we'll come see Solo..." and with that Quatre grabs Trowa and runs out the door.
"GAAA...Quatre can not lie..." Duo thinks to himself. "Duo?..." Hilde asks. "Why did Quatre have that goofy smile on his face?" "No reason babe, now c'mon and let's go home," Duo says putting his arm around his girl.
Heero puts in his key and opens the door to his dorm. He immeadiately walks over to his laptop and opens a couple of programs. He runs his usual search on one girl but he has also decided to add another.
He goes to the bathroom and washes his face. When he comes back, a profile and picutre of Relena Peacecraft is on the screen. "Relena," he mumbles as he sits in the chair and takes in a deep breath. He then leans back and closes his eyes as the program continues to run.
*"I want us to be able to be together in public, Heero..." she says. "I do too, more than anything," Heero says showing much more emotion than Relena is used to seeing. "You don't understand, do you?" she says with that determined tone of voice she has. She throws some paper back at him. "Until you can forget Gundam...until you can stop being a soilder...an emotionless machine of war and be a human being we can't possibly be together..." Heero picks up the paper and stares at her as she tears up. "Is that all I am, Relena?" he says coming close to her. They stand no more than an inch apart. "Is that all you see me as? A machine of war?" Heero says finding his throat dry and wavering for the first time ever. "Heero, you're still drawing plans for Gundam-we're past that...it's a time of peace-peace that I have worked really hard to acheive and I'm NOT going to let you ruin it!" Relena yells in a defiant voice. "Peace! PEACE THAT GUNDAM HELPED YOU TO ACHEIVE!" Heero says getting angry and yelling back at her in his face just as she had. Relena started crying and Heero just left. His heart was aching. She didn't know it but he heard her quietly whisper after he had left, "but you always wipe my tears away, Heero...what does this mean?"*
*Heero knew she was walking towards him but he had only expected her to say something else to him about being emotionless. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't judge people that are quiet as being emotionless..." *
Heero sees Relena in his mind's eye. All he can see is her eyes. "An emotionless machine of war..." echoes in his head. Suddenly, A.J. comes to mind. Her eyes don't seem as cold as Relena's. "I shouldn't judge people that are quiet as being emotionless..."
His stream of thoughts are stopped by his laptop beeping. There was the live streaming satellite video of Relena Peacecraft having dinner with all the politcal powers that be. They were speaking of what to do to prevent more wars.
Another video popped up a couple of seconds after that. It was A.J. and her band still performing at the coffee shop. "She still has on my jacket..." Heero whispered feeling a insignificant amount of joy come over him. "Relena would have said it would've made her look too young for her office..." Heero mused.
*CLICK*
Trowa and Quatre came in. Heero shut his laptop quickly. "What'cha got there Yuy?" Trowa said with a devious grin. "Hey, how came you gave A.J. your jacket?" Quatre asked curiously with a smile. "She was unable to sustain a body tempature that would protect her from getting a cold," Heero replied quickly hoping his word choice would get the two to quit prying. "Oh," said Trowa, "so you didn't want her to get sick-so you were concerned about her!" Trowa begins laughing. Quatre rolls his eyes, sighs, and says, " I can't believe we have to put up with his lame jokes...seriously though, why'd you give her your jacket?"
He sits on the bed across from Heero's desk. "I told you once; you don't get to hear an explanation twice," Heero said coldly. Quatre let out another big sigh. "Well, I was wondering becuase that's a big thing in olden days...when a guy gave a girl his jacket it meant he really cherished her...I just thought that would've been someone else..." Quatre said getting up off of the couch. "It was..." Heero thought to himself.
"Hey Quat," Heero called. "Yea?" he asked. "How'd you meet A.J.?" Quatre grins. He turns around and looks at Heero. "She wanted a date with the cute flute player I knew," he says grinning even more. "Trowa," Heero says raising his voice and eyebrow at the same time. "Yup..." Quatre says nodding his head. "A.J. Marches next to me some of the time and the rest of the show I march next to Trowa..." "Oh," Heero says, "so you're in marching band too?" "Yup," Quatre says enthusiastically. "What do you play?" Heero asks. "B flat clarinet and A.J. plays it too but she also plays saxophone and for this show they needed her to play sax... " Quatre says explaining how talented to Heero that A.J. is. "And even Duo is in the band! He plays bass drum...you should consider joining...you would like it I think..." Quatre says with a slight smile unmaking his bed. Heero looks at him with skepticisim. Trowa enters the room and says, "you really would Heero; you even get a really cool band jacket!" Trowa cracks up at his own joke and Quatre lets out a groan. Heero rolls his eyes and Trowa says he's turning in for the night. Quatre flips over and tells Heero, "just leave the bathroom light on and I'll see ya' in the morning."
Heero opens his laptop back up. Relena is by herself and she's sleeping in her room. She seems to sleep peacefully even though Heero knows she's hurt. "I don't care though; I wash my hands of it..." he mumbles through a balled up hand over his mouth. He clicks on the other screen. There is A.J., still rocking the night away with her awesome 90's styled alternative music. "That's a rare type of music and her lyrics are very original...she's different..." Heero thinks to himself.
He shuts the program off and climbs into his bed. He folds his arms under his head and wonders if he'll be able to sleep well tonight. A.J.'s song is still running in his head. "Why can't I keep myself from thinking about her?" Heero wonders. He finally just thinks himself to sleep.
What's up with Heero? Which "her" is he thinking about? What's wrong with Relena? Is Duo gonna propose and where will that leave Heero? Why is Trowa a band geek? Just who exactly is A.J.? All these answers and more next time on Square One! Same bat-time, same bat-channel oh wait wrong story! lol JUST STAY TUNED! R&R PLEAZE! :)
a/n: Hope ya'll like. Umm...please do not flame if you love Relena; I just wanted to maybe find a girl that could mesh better with Heero. This story may also turn out to have a political/war plot too. I dunno...whatever floats my boat. Let me know what you think about A.J. and Heero joining the marching band! lol What instrument(any kind; i.e. original band instruments or even like a bass in the pit) should Heero play? R&R to let me know! And next chapter-we'll be hearing the story from Heero's p.o.v.! YAY!