Notes: Yes, yes, yes; it's finally here. But in truth, it's been finished for about a week...I just kept forgetting to ask Star about a title, and the 'ok' to go ahead and post. It's a rule- you don't post something without your co-writer giving the final word. Anyway, the title wasn't what was holding us up, it was pure laziness. Honestly, we don't put *that* much thought into titles...

Dedication: To Regret for lasting through at least one crazy conversation of Vic'n'Star on MSN, it's quite a feat. *claps* Yay you. Now write the next chapter of firefly, we've given you this! That goes for you too, Sy.

Chapter Five: Subjective Sunshine


By Star and Victory Thru Tears (and by Star I mean she wrote the first two paragraphs. I wrote the first two paragraphs of chapter six...and then we switched because we were stuck. Yeah.)

Damien's POV

I'm trying to work out exactly what the relationship is in this particular group. Well, aside from the obvious, the cute brunette and the Irish lunatic are lesbians, and Adam and Charlie are/were dating.

It's the other relationships I'm trying to puzzle out. Like why Charlie and Taz speak in Irish, or why Maya seems annoyed with Adam when he talks to her, but doubly annoyed if he leaves her alone. And Connie, what's her deal? Why do the girls eyeball each other every time she speaks? Why does Charlie keep giving her suspicious looks? And how come Adam acts as if he's cheerfully oblivious?

Actually, now might be a good time to ask her, the lesbians have ditched us and Adam and Charlie have wandered off into a sports shop, arguing loudly, bless them, they're trying to act normal after the stunt the girls pulled earlier.

I give Connie a nervous smile, as if I'm trying to think of something interesting to say. People don't like awkward silences, I don't mind them. You need to actually care what people think of you to be nervous around them. However, I'm doing a simply marvelous job of seeming a little lost and giving everyone shy smiles.

"Is… uh…" Nice one, using 'uh' or 'um' is always a sign of nerves. I clear my throat and attempt it again, not forgetting to give another shy smile. "Is every shopping trip this eventful?"

"I wouldn't know." She replies, then quickly adds, "Um, I guess so."

She wouldn't know? Why? Is she new to the group? No, she mentioned playing in the pee-wees with them. It can only mean one thing, argument. Jackpot. I pretend to have missed the bitterness in her initial reply, and decide to continue on this tangent.

"So have you all known each other for a long time?" I ask somewhat quietly. A lot of a person's character can be told from the tone of their voice, and I'm going for the 'shy, quiet, and slightly drab' kind of guy.

She shrugs. "Yeah, I guess. I've known Charlie since we were tiny, and I met Adam when we were eight or something like that. I haven't known Taz and Maya that long, only since high school."

I nod. So, she's known the boys for ages, but not the girls. Maybe she's jealous of the obvious strong role of the girls in their lives? Or maybe she's interested in one of the boys, possibly Adam. But she was also trying to get him and Charlie talking again, so that seems out of the question. Hmmm.

Before I can press her any further, she steers the conversation to another topic.

"So, when did you move here?"

Oh come on, I'm not interested in talking about myself. But I swallow my annoyance and paste on a bashful smile.

"Well, I just got here from Buffalo yesterday morning. My mom met Mrs. Banks this morning, and Adam offered to show me around Minneapolis a little bit." I say, keeping my shy tone a little unsteady, so I appear unsure.

Connie nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

"It must be hard to leave your friends." She continues our conversation.

Well, it might be, if I thought that friends were worthwhile, which I obviously don't. I believe that a person is much better off on their own, without the complications of a fickle group of little teenagers. It's nice if you can occasionally find a person you can get along with, but I'm not out searching for that person or anything.

But to answer Connie, I nod sadly. "Yeah, but I guess I'll have to make some new ones…after all, that's life."

Whoops, that came out sounding a bit more cynical than intended. Connie doesn't seem to notice, however, and continues talking with an interested look on her face.

"Do you know where you're going to school?"

"Yeah, I think it's somewhere called Blake?" I say, wracking my brain for the name of the private school I will be attending when the semester started again in September.

"Oooh." Connie gets a strange grin on her face. "Blake, they're our rivals!"

"Oh? I thought that Blake was the closest school in the area." I very nearly tilt my head at her, but quickly refrain. My archenemy back at my old school was constantly tilting his head. It made him look like an idiot, and I'm not going for that impression.

"Well, it is, but Eden Hall isn't too far away either. That's where we all go…our entire hockey team got scholarships to go there." I note the odd look on her face when she mentions this hockey team. And Eden Hall. Hmmm…that's something to keep in mind.

"You all play hockey? Even the little Irish one?" I ask, not able to hide my incredulity.

She lets out a loud laugh, with a tinge of something that sounds almost like fear. "Yeah right. Giving Taz a hockey stick would be like letting a big purple T-Rex loose in a china shop."

Amazingly, I had that same analogy in my head. I give Connie a smile that is the closest to sincere I've been all day.

"Hey guys." We turn to see Adam and Charlie walking out of the sports shop, both looking a little cagey. Hmm. I wonder what happened.

"We should probably get going." Adam tells me, his hands in his pockets. I nod, putting my shy face back on.

"Where are the girls?" Charlie asks, looking around. "Taz told my mom that she would give me a ride home."

Connie shrugs, now retreating into a shell of sorts. Adam looks uncomfortable. Probably because the girls aren't around, Taz seems like the type of person that can never let conversation dwindle.

Right then, the lesbians appear at the entrance of a lingerie shop, both giggling like mad. Adam rolls his eyes, Charlie laughs, and Connie looks horrified. They stop laughing once they reach us, both eyeing Connie.

"Erm, I think Damien and I are going to have to be leaving." Adam says, trying to break the awkward silence that has built up.

I nod, and after a few goodbyes we move away from the group, heading for the bus stop.

"Don't forget! The pond at six!" Taz calls after us, and Adam turns a faint shade of red. I successfully hide my grin. He's easily embarrassed, which makes him easy to manipulate.

Once we're on the bus, I wait for the chance to ask him a few questions about this little group. The opportunity presents itself when he decides to apologize for 'Taz being…well, Taz'.

"The girls are lesbians, then?" I ask, keeping a hushed voice.

He nods, a fond smile playing at his lips. "They're insane, both of them."

"And…are you gay?"

The smile disappears from Adam's face. He recoils slightly, his complexion paling rapidly. He looks scared to death, as if he's expecting me to lean forward and commit a hate crime or something.

"I'm bisexual." I confide in him, using the same low tone as before.

The terrified look vanishes, and a grin replaces it.

"Oh. Ok. Good." He still speaks a bit haltingly, but is obviously relieved. "I thought… well, I don't know what I thought."

Ooh, but I do. You thought I would take you to the back of the bus and beat the life out of you. Not a good move, Adam Banks, to let out your fears the first time you meet someone. It makes you appear weak, and lets the person know how to hurt you.

I keep these thoughts safe inside of my head and give him a warm smile. We reach our street again, and walk down to our houses in silence.

I stop in front of my gate and wait expectantly for Adam to say something. I know he will, he's too polite to just go into his house.

"So…we should hang out again sometime. You wouldn't be busy later this week, would you?" He asks.

"Well, not with anything besides unpacking." I answer, a tinge of irritation showing. Of course I'm not doing anything, I just arrived last night.

"Oh, cool. Maybe I could help you." He shrugs.

I raise an eyebrow. This guy's really friendly. I wonder what his deal is.

"Well, that might be nice." I slap a grin onto my face. He returns it, and heads for his own house.

"I'll see ya." He calls, before disappearing through the front door.

I enter my own house, and search around for my mother. I find her in the living room, unpacking a box of pictures. The twins, Emma and Eric, are helping her. Why is it that parents always name twins by the same letter? It's a common practice, and downright annoying if you ask me. But I digress…

"Mom." I say, grinning at her. "Ever heard of Eden Hall Academy?"


- + - + -

Sing it with me, guys...*chants* I love Vic'n'Star...I love Vic'n'Star...Ok, so maybe you don't love us too much after this. But you met Damien, didn't you? Anyway, feedback is a good friend to writers who are convinced they have writers block....

~Victory Thru Tears~