I own Mara, and her family. No one else, as of yet.

A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, and I know I haven't written in a long time. *begs forgiveness* I'm out on summer break, and in a few days I'm going to California, and on the plane, I need something to do. And so, I decided to update something, and this is it. I know I said this chapter would be by Double-D, but I figured I'd have a quick chapter from Mara in between the two Double-D's, so some of her actions in the next chapter are explained. This also casts away some of the illusions that Double-D and the others have about her for the readers. One special note to one of the reviewers, who I also have a particular question for.

NOTE TO: ZephyrSamba:

Thank you for your review, it has helped me lots in writing this chapter, so I know what to do per person. Yes, you were right, I wanted Mara to seem like that, to give off an illusion of perfectness. However, Double-D, who is head over heels for Mara (who you find out later is also herself madly in love with someone), is also fooled by the face she wants the world to see: a perfect girl, when really, she could be no more perfect than Ed. It was something that the first chapter was to give off, and I'm glad you said something about it. =) I also have a question for you: if you don't mind, would you like to be my beta-reader for this story, and tell me what I should change so it seems more in character and check my spelling (which is only bad on comps, I type too fast)? Thanks, and I'm looking forward to your reply!

CHAPTER 2: MARA

5/SEPTEMBER

I'm finding less and less time to write... so much is happening, it leaves me jetlagged. Volleyball practice was cut short, so I decided to come home and rest before meeting Double-D. I find myself laying on the couch, panting from my sprint home, and wondering why I keep trying to hide what will be discovered sooner or later. Why fight it? It's something I myself don't know.



Cleo has Pandora over, and they are blasting the speakers upstairs in her room, and I can hear the couch moving on the wood floor from the vibrations. The chandalere is even shaking.

I really can't stand her, and can't wait until she goes on her next tour in Japan for two months and leaves me alone. I know I sound like a horrible spoiled child, but Cleo is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Sure, mom and dad give me everything I could ever want material wise, but to be honest, I don't want any of it. All I want is some respect as a person, and some attention, now and then. But ever since Cleo has shown any talent, I might as well be dead. If I died now, they wouldn't notice, until maybe a week later (because of the stench). However, if I went outside and died where they couldn't smell it, well, they probably never would notice. They try so hard to ignore my existance, it's always Cleo this, Cleo that, never "Hello, Mara-chan, how was your day?". I highly doubt they ever say more than one word a month to me, and those few words they do mutter to me are about her.

And whenever I say something about it, they try to shut me up by buying me off, which is the whole reason I'm on the volleyball team, and not to mention the captain. Father paid for my spot, slipping the athletic a couple extra hundreds to put me on as captain, so I would be "happy". I don't even like volleyball! I only play to stay away from home for as long as possible. Maybe now that we've moved, I can get some friends who don't just like me for my sister. To be completely honest, I don't think I've ever had a friend that liked me for me, until yesterday, when I met Edd (a.k.a. Double-D). I have to admit, it's a great feeling that finally, I have someone to share my thoughts and concerns.

Sorry, Pandora just came down here to hunt through the fridge and stopped to chat. She isn't bad, for my sister's best friend. She at least thinks I'm human, after she saw me randomly running around the house in a towel screaming that one time (what else could have I had done, there was a mouse in my room). Pandora's pretty cool, when you get past her blue hair and freaky cat-eyes (it took me a year to figure out those were contacts). As a person, she's incredibly smart for a dropout. And I'm not talking normal 17-year-old wisdom, either. We're talking the female version of Einstein here. Why she ever dropped out is beyond me. Whenever anyone asks, she gets this wierd look and claims she doesn't want to talk about, and becomes temporarily deaf until the subject is changed.

Damn, now the mail just came, and if I don't get it, no one else will. And besides, I'm waiting for the newest DVD I ordered... but no, all that came is those few fanletters that managed to filter through our security system. Where people get our address, I don't know. I mean come on, Father pays over a million every year to make sure our address is no where, and yet, people still get through. Someone needs to teach the screening people how to do something besides eat doughnuts. Or at least some work ethic.

But those few that do get through, Cleo makes sure to answer each and every one of them. There's one good thing I can say about her, she's dedicated. She has never turned down anyone for anything, be it money for charities, autographs, or even to stay late to visit her fans or have a press conference. But that's the only good thing I can say about her.

It's times like these that get me thinking... why didn't I listen to Naomi's crazy idea, and got the whole thing over with, instead of being miserable and still here. But I also remember what it's like to be in love, and I remember why I didn't do it. I have to admit, I did cry when I attended her funeral, but I couldn't help thinking that it could have been me, had I agreed. Then I also remember how it felt when Domovoi betrayed me, and it makes me depressed. But I guess that's why I take anti-depressents... I'd hate to think what would happen if I forgot them, and I don't want to know.

Well, it's time for my afternoon snack of rice balls before I go to meet Double-D... I hope I have finally found somewhere I can manage to be happy. If not, then well, maybe Naomi was right...

A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!! Next chappie is from Edd's POV.