DS: Hey hey hey! Hrm.this story is getting unpopular. : ( O well. It wasn't meant 2 last I guess. But hey...I'll give you guys a deal. We're near the end here. But I'll give you a chance. If I get five more reviews of this story, I'll post a sequel, ok? That's it! five! That's all! So, hey, if I get 5 reviews, again, I'll make a sequel. And for those of you who are worrying, DON'T! We still have a little more to go after this chappy. But, as fair warnin we're reaching the home stretch. Okay, enough talk! Onto the chappy!

Decisions, Decisions

"Okay," Danny said to the awe-struck girl who he sat in front of. "Did you get all that?"

"Well," the green-haired singer said to him doubtfully. "Are you sure?"

Danny thought for a minute. Was he sure? Just a few seconds, he was doubting the girl's ability himself.

No, no, no, he thought. She wasn't the most talented performer he'd worked with, by far, but there was something there....something he couldn't put his finger on. When developed, who knew what that something could turn into? She had a chance, and it wasn't like he had any other choice anyway.

"Yes," he said, more to reassure himself than her. "Yes, I'm sure."

- - -

Areina must have been dreaming.

This man was exactly what she'd been waiting for her entire life! A music agent was in front of her, ready to make her the next big thing! He was fully willing to be her manager! Her dream was standing in front of her face! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity chance!

"Um," she said, again unsure and a bit shy. What if this wasn't the right agent for her? What if...?

What was she thinking? He was perfect in every way! Young, liberal, well- organized...he even looked professional with his briefcase and well- tailored suit!

"Okay," she said.

"Good," the man said cheerfully and abruptly. "Oh, I never even told you my name!" he said in shock. "I'm Danny, Ms..."

"Areina," she said happily. It was time for a new life.

"All right, Areina," he said quickly. "We'll leave Friday morning."

"Friday?" Areina said in surprise. Friday left hardly any time for her to pack, let alone to say goodbye to all of her friends. She suddenly realized that this new career meant losing her friends. Was it worth it?

- - -

"What's taking her so long?" Duo said to the others as they all waited outside for Areina. "We've got to get back home, it's already three AM!"

"Maybe she met a nice guy," Relena suggested.

They all looked at her sarcastically.

"Please," said Duo simply.

At last, Areina could be seen behind the door of the club. But...for some reason she wasn't coming out. She just stared at the group with sad green eyes. Something was wrong.

- - -

"What is it?" Quatre asked Areina for the fifth time since they'd been home. She remained silent.

"What's wrong, Areina?" Heero said curiously. He'd never seen her like this. She showed absolutely no emotion; not sadness, not joy, not even anger.

"I," she began, but trailed off. She seemed like she wanted to tell the group something, but couldn't get it out.

"I'm leaving," she said swiftly. "Friday morning."

- - -

"You're what?" Wufei erupted, surprisingly the first to say something. "How can you leave?"

Wufei stared at Areina with shock, as everyone else in the apartment, including Areina, stared at him with equal shock.

"Why do you want to leave?" Wufei said, half angry that he hadn't had much time to get to know the girl. After all, he was pretty much the only one in the apartment who didn't understand Areina.

"I don't want to discuss it," Areina said quietly.

What? How could she do this to them? How could she leave the people she had loved, had hated, for over two months now? Sure, two months was very little, but somehow they had become so connected with Areina in that little time period.

Why did they like her so much? Out of all of them, why did Wufei like her so much? She'd done nothing, absolutely NOTHING for him. At least the others she had helped out, given some advice to them. Why did Wufei feel like he was losing his best friend?

Why should he care?

- - -

The rest of that Wednesday night was quite awkward. Areina couldn't sleep for the life of her. She kept thinking about what Wufei had said - well, not what he had said, really. She was pretty sure that someone would have eventually said what he did anyway.

What she was wondering about was the fact that it came out of Wufei's mouth. Out of everyone, Wufei was the only one in the apartment that she had stayed fairly distant from. Yet, in the end, he was the one who questioned her.

She decided to get up. Nothing would be accomplished by simply lying there, waiting to fall asleep. She walked into the kitchen.

- - -

Wufei sat in the kitchen, alone. He always got up at this time - about 5:30 - to meditate. He was on the cold kitchen floor, pondering on many things, namely Areina.

Just as he got up to leave, Areina herself entered the kitchen. Realizing she was interrupting something, she quickly apologized and turned to leave.

"Wait," Wufei said quietly. "I'd like to speak with you."

- - -

Areina turned back around, staring Wufei in the eyes. "What is it?"

She cursed under he breath. What a stupid question! 'What is it?!' It was obvious! Wufei probably wanted to know why Areina was leaving, and she supposed that there was no hiding it from him.

"Okay," she whispered before he could get out his question. "I'm leaving because I was offered a recording contract earlier tonight."

- - -

Wufei, for once in his life, was completely floored. Suddenly, for some strange reason, a thousand more questions flooded his mind as quickly as the others had disappeared; "From who?" was his first.

"From a guy named Danny," she replied. "I don't know who he is, but he says he's helped many artists off of their feet, and he seems professional enough."

"Areina," Wufei said, frustrated. "How do you know this guy is okay to go with? He could be some sort of con-artist, or a thief, or a rapist, or even...or even a murderer!"

Areina's eyes flared. "Wufei, I can take care of myself."

He looked at her apologetically. "I know, I just," he began softly. "I just worry about you."

Now Areina had questions. "Why?"

"Because," Wufei started as he swam through his thoughts for a reason. Why did he worry about her?

"I guess because you're the only one in this apartment with hope left in their life."

- - -

Areina peered into Wufei's eyes curiously.

"What do you mean?" she said slowly. "I'm just as screwed up from the war as you guys!"

"Yeah," Wufei said shyly. "But you're the only one who still gives a damn about making something out of their life. You're the most ambitious out of us all, and I guess that's why we don't want you to go. You're kind of like a role model for us, despite what any of us might think."

Areina looked to the floor. "I don't get it, I thought you'd be happy for me that I got a recording contract, but instead you're sad."

"Is it so wrong that I care about you?"

Areina shrugged. It was all so crazy...so pointless...

"I'm going to start packing," she said as she stood to leave.

- - -

Relena looked over to Areina, stuffing as much as she could into her tiny bags. She has no hope of packing everything, Relena thought with a smirk.

"I wish you would stay a little longer," Relena said quietly.

"This is just something I've got to do," Areina replied shortly.

"Why do you need to do it?" Relena said calmly. "No one, not even you, wants to."

"Relena," Areina responded smoothly. "Remember back when you had to rule the Sanct Kingdom? You didn't want to, but you had to. It's the same way with me. I don't want to leave you guys, by any means, but I've got to. You see?"

Areina stood up, obviously frustrated with her small bags. She walked out of the room, and Relena simply sat alone.

"How did she know all that? How did she know I HAD to rule the Sanct Kingdom?" Relena said in shock.

- - -

Hilde was in the living room alone, seeming to be pondering something.

"Are you sure you want to go?" Hilde whispered, almost silently. "We don't want you to leave."

Areina had had enough. "Why do you all care so much?" she yelled in aggravation. "I'm just like a...a pet to you guys! I stay here for a while, but then when I go, you may cry, you may moan, but eventually you stop caring. Because you never really gave a damn to begin with!"

Areina stomped into the kitchen, not bothering to look at Hilde again.

- - -

Quatre was in the kitchen. "Oh God," Areina said angrily at the sight of Quatre.

"I heard all that you said in there, Areina," Quatre said quietly.

Areina glared icily at Quatre. "What do you care?"

Quatre peered up at Areina. "How can you think all that crap that you said in there? We all love you, Areina, and we don't want to see you go like this. You're not even giving us a reason!"

Areina rolled her eyes. Why did EVERYONE need a reason here? She walked back into the living room.

- - -

Hilde sat alone, now weeping bitterly. Why did Areina think all that? How, after all this time, could she not know how much they all loved her?

She looked up at Areina, who had reentered, and now looked shocked and apologetic.

"We love you," Hilde mouthed pitifully. She hated it when she cried. Why did she do it? It was such a selfish thing to do, to sit there and try making everyone feel sorry for you.

Areina sat down next to Hilde, with tears in her eyes, as well. "I know," she said simply.

She embraced Hilde, and Hilde hugged back, not knowing what else to do.

- - -

Quatre walked into the room, glad that Areina had finally realized it.

- - -

Trowa and Duo walked out of their rooms, staring at Areina and Hilde. Duo walked to the two, and hugged them both; the two women that he'd love to have, but only one complying with his wishes. He cried.

- - -

Trowa and Quatre walked to the threesome, embracing all of them and managing to hold each others' hands', knowing that if their love could survive Areina, it could survive anything.

Trowa smirked.

- - -

Wufei walked into the apartment, through with the grocery shopping. He stared at the group.

Dropping his grocery bags with a loud clump, he slowly walked to them all, and hugged as much as he could. Sure, it was sappy, but he couldn't help it.

He was touched.

- - -

Relena looked at them all from the crack in her door. It was amazing, the journey that Areina had lead them all through.

Before Areina had come, Relena was all alone in this group. She had no one to turn to, because no one knew her. But Areina had rejuvenated her. She'd shown Relena what it meant to live, and how much life is really worth. It was so precious, and Relena fell into the fog of love created by the group.

She, too, submitted, and embraced the group.

- - -

Heero stared at the group, a smile spread across his face. For once in his life, he was actually smiling.

He felt some sort of warmth, a tingling in his heart. Was this what love felt like?

He gazed at the whole group, finally breaking down into a cry. He was just as shocked as he knew some of the others would later be when they realized that he actually wept.

Areina had actually broken through his seal. He'd been bottling up all of his feelings, but unwillingly, through her emotions, Areina had actually brought out his.

Heero grunted out of frustration at the tempting group of friends. At last, he surrendered to them all, and joined with an embrace, trying to touch them all.

- - -

It was at last time. Areina's last performance was about to come. She only hoped she could give the crowd what they yearned for one final time.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the bar owner said to the club. "We at the Midnight Horizon would like to give Ms. Areina a good farewell. This will, sadly enough, be her last performance here. We would all like to thank her for giving us so many great nights of singing, and we know that she'll go far."

"Aw," Areina whispered from backstage.

The curtain lifted, and Areina realized that it would be the last time that it would lift here for her.

DS: Wow, I CAN'T BELIEVE I just wrote all of that!

Okay, here's how the next chappy's gonna work; It's gonna be all performance. So, I'll need some suggestions from you guys as to what songs I should use, because right now, I'm BAFFLED! Lol Okay, hope you like it. And don't worry, it's not the last chappy. We're getting close, but NOT QUITE YET! Yay!