A/N-I don't use Battle School Slang when it is just between Alex and her close friends ("eh" and "neh" will be used, but not the ghetto-like way of talking. It's too hard for me to do ^^;;) Sorry!

                "Black, green, black, right?"

                "Uh-huh. Hey, when's lunch?"

                Is that all boys think about?!? Alex wondered.

                "How would I know?" she replied.

                "Feh. Guess we'll just have to follow the others, neh?"

                "Eh."

                "So, you ever find out who your rival is?" Aaron inquired teasingly.

                "Yea, um…some kid. Forgot his name." She murmured. Aaron turned to stare at her in amazement, as though to say "Oh yea Alex, which really narrows it down…to 200." Alex rolled her eyes.

                "Look, I've got better things to do than try to find some loser-kid who just happened to hit the books harder than I did!" she said, annoyed. Her friend continued to look at her, as though hoping she would give in and tell.

                "You ever gonna stop staring?!" she asked, unable to keep the irritation out of her voice. Aaron grinned.

                "Pretty touchy about it, aren't ya?" he asked, not bothering to let her answer. "You know, I'm not stupid. You're scared."

                "Kuso!"

                "C'mon Alex, I can read you like a book. You don't want to admit your scores tied with the Wiggin kid, because then people would start noticing you and paying attention to the little genius-girl. And don't give me that crap about us all being geniuses."

                "Screw you! That's bull," Alex retorted angrily.

                "Whatever. Just admit it. Admit you're scared. Tell me what is so secret about you that don't want people to see in you, for fear of them hurting you, figuring you out."

                "Shut up!" she cried, half-turning to slam Aaron into the wall, her small hands pressed against his chest.

                "Did it ever occur to you," she whispered, her voice dripping with venom, "That I might just like my privacy?"

                In a flash, Aaron had grabbed her arm, twisting it painfully behind her back. He swiveled and slammed her hard against the where she had pushed him; Alex gasped at the cold steel on her back, the iciness penetrating her thin suit. She groaned in pain as her friend slid her up so that her throat was level with the top of his head, his hands gripping and bruising her shoulders.

                "Never," he said acidly, "Ever touch me like that again. I swear I'll make you regret it, Alex." His freezing blue eyes were fierce and burning with ire, and Alex waited for the blackness that was surely coming. Instead, she felt Aaron let go of her, and she slumped to the floor, her whole body aching fiercely, her arm throbbing where he had twisted it.

                "Aaron," she whispered, without looking up. "I'm sorry."

                She heard the rustling of his suit as he kneeled; his hands wrapped gently around her wrists and pulled her to her feet. She had never felt so pathetic or stupid; of course Aaron could hurt her if she provoked him like that! He was bigger, stronger, not to mention she was just a little girl. A kono. She felt arms go around her; her friend hugged her gently for a moment, burying his face in her hair.

                "Sorry, Kono. I guess training got the better of me. I'm sorry," he whispered again, and then let her go.

                "It's ok…" she murmured.