BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"Serena! Get up already!" ordered Luna.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Click.
"Serena! Get up!" commanded Luna again as she shook Serena.
"What? What time is it?" mumbled Serena as she opened her eyes. She looked at the clock. It said 7:30. "Oh my god! I have to get going, or I'll never make it on time! It's my first day of school as well! I can't be late on the first day!" Serena jumped out of bed and started getting dressed.
"That's a first, but oh well," thought Luna as Serena rushed around the room.
***
Darien got out of his bedroom and saw Katherine cooking in the small kitchen.
"Morning Darien," said Katherine as she turned over some French toast. The coffee machine had already made a pot of coffee.
"Hi Katherine. I didn't know you could cook," said Darien as he scratched his head.
"Well, you do now. Mom taught me when I was little," explained Katherine. She took down a plate and put the French toast on a plate. "I've already eaten some for myself, so go ahead and eat as much as you want." Darien looked around and noticed a used plate sitting by the sink.
"I'll take care of the dishes. You have to get to school," said Darien.
"Okay, if you want," replied Katherine as she headed to her room. Darien continued eating his breakfast, and Katherine soon returned. She wore the normal school uniform and her favorite black shoes. She had a nice black messenger black hanging on her shoulder.
"Oh, there are some notebooks and pens if you want of there," said Darien as he pointed at the pile. Katherine walked over to the pile and picked them up.
"Thanks," said Katherine as she slid them into her bag. "Well, I should go. It should take me ten minutes to walk there. See you later!"
"Have a good time! I'll come pick you up at 3:30!" called Darien as Katherine left the apartment.
"Okay!" she replied as she closed the door.
***
Serena ran out of her house and into Lita, Ami and Mina.
"Hey guys! What's up?" asked Serena.
"Not much," said Lita as the four started walking.
"Serena, you'll actually be on time!" exclaimed Mina teasingly.
"So, you're usually late too," replied Serena.
"It doesn't matter. You should be on time to your first day of the year at least. Anyway, I hear that there's a new student in our class," commented Ami.
"I've heard about her too. She arrived yesterday from Kyoto. She's supposed to be really smart and talented," said Lita. As the four near the high school, they see Katherine walking alone. As she turned a corner, she seemed to have a magical aura about her.
"Who's that?" asked Serena.
"I don't know. Could she be the new student?" asked Mina.
"We'll find out this morning," answered Ami.
"Hey, if you think about it long enough, doesn't she seem like someone who could be Darien's sister?" pondered Lita aloud.
"What?" screamed Serena. "Darien does not have a sister or any family! He would have told me by now if he did!"
"Whoa, I didn't say it was for sure," replied Lita.
"Yeah, she just suggested it. They do look somewhat similar. The black hair and the blue eyes are the same," explained Mina.
"We'll just have to find out by asking her," said Ami calmly.
"Okay," moaned Serena as she hung her head.
***
Katherine walked into the main office quietly and stood next to the receptionist's desk. The receptionist looked up from her desk and smiled.
"Good morning," said the woman.
"Good morning," replied Katherine as she bowed politely. "I was told to come here as I am the new student."
"Oh right. I heard that you were coming," said the receptionist as she pulled out a folder. She took out a class schedule and examined it. She handed it to Katherine and winked. "Well, you're some of the top classes, Katherine. I know you will do well here. The principal will take you to your first class and introduce you to your new classmates."
"Thank you," said Katherine as she bowed once more. She sat down in the office waiting for the principal. A couple of minutes before class would begin the principal came out of her office.
"Katherine Meadows?" asked the principal as she looked at Katherine.
"Yes ma'am," replied Katherine nervously.
"It's so nice to meet you. I'm sure you will enjoy your classes here. Apparently, you are a very bright student, and I hope the classes here meet up to your abilities," explained the principal as she motioned Katherine to follow her. "Now, what do you have first?" Katherine looked at her schedule carefully.
"It says Calculus AP," said Katherine shyly.
"And you're only in the eleventh grade? There's only one other student from your class in Calculus. Her name is Ami. I'm sure you two will get along nicely," said the principal as she led Katherine to a classroom. The principal knocked on the door, and a teacher slowly slid the door open.
"Ma'am, is this the new student?" asked the teacher.
"Yes she is. This young woman is Katherine Meadows. I was hoping she could sit with Ami as they are the only students from their grade in this class," explained the principal.
"Oh, of course. Come on in Katherine," welcomed the teacher. Katherine followed the teacher into the classroom, and the room was filled with whispers and points at her. "Everyone, this is our new student, Katherine and is in the eleventh grade."
"Hi Katherine," called the class of students. Katherine smiled a little, and the teacher motioned for Katherine to sit next to Ami.
"Hi, I'm Ami. I guess we're the only ones in our class here. I'm sure we'll have a great time in this class together," greeted Ami.
"Hi," answered Katherine. "I hope it's as interesting as I've heard. My brother says Calculus is hard but worth it."
"You have a brother?" asked Ami.
"Yeah. He's in college now, but he stays in this neighborhood to take care of me. Our parents died a long time ago," explained Katherine.
"Okay everyone. Let's begin," announced the teacher.
***
At lunchtime, Ami was invaded by Serena, Molly, Lita and Mina who were bursting with tons of questions about Katherine.
"So, what's her name?"
"What grade is she in?"
"Is she really smart like you?"
"Is she Darien's sister?"
"Hold it you guys!" announced Ami. "One question at a time. First, her name is Katherine Meadows, and she's in the eleventh grade like us. She's very smart. She's in English Seminar, which has had a history of only having seniors."
"Wow, she is really smart," said Lita.
"So, is she Darien's sister?" asked Serena impatiently.
"I don't know. I never got to ask her. She did say that her parents are dead and that her brother takes care of her. She said her brother is in college, but she never gave his name. I'm not sure if she's his brother because their last names are different," explained Ami.
"Hmm," wondered Mina aloud. She looked around and saw Katherine talking with some boys. "Ami, why don't you invite her to eat with us?" Mina helped Ami up and started to push Ami over towards Katherine's direction.
"You guys," said Ami.
"Hey, she doesn't know anyone here yet, so why not?" asked Molly.
"Yeah, I'm sure she wouldn't mind talking with girls over being invaded by guys," chirped Serena. Ami walked over towards the group of guys who were talking with Katherine.
"Excuse me," called Ami.
"Hey Ami," said one boy. "Did you want to talk with Katherine?"
"Yes please," said Ami to the boy.
"I'll get you in there. Everyone's been asking her questions all the time when they have a chance." The boy made a path for Ami to find Katherine.
"Ami," said Katherine as she saw Ami get through the crowd. "See you all later! Ami, let's go." Katherine dragged Ami out of the crowd, and once they made it out, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, my friends and I were wondering if you'd like to eat with us," suggested Ami.
"That would be really nice," answered Katherine as she smiled. Ami led Katherine over to Serena, Molly, Lita and Mina.
"Hey guys! This is Katherine. Katherine, these girls are Serena, Molly, Lita and Mina," introduced Ami.
"You can sit next to me, Katherine. There's plenty of space," said Serena as she patted an empty spot next to her.
"Thanks," said Katherine as she sat down.
"So, were all those guys asking you out and stuff?" asked Molly trying to be polite.
"Sort of," answered Katherine quietly as she pulled out a bento box filled with rice and teriyaki chicken and a pair of chopsticks. "I hate it when guys do that."
"Why? If that ever happened, I would be totally flattered," said Lita. "Guys never ask me out."
"It's not that exciting. There are better things in life," replied Katherine.
"So, do you have a boyfriend?" inquired Serena. She then admired Katherine's food and asked, "Could I try some, Katherine?"
"Serena! She doesn't even know you yet," said Ami.
"It's okay Ami," said Katherine smiling as she handed Serena a piece of chicken. "I used to a long time ago. We haven't officially broken up, but we haven't seen each other for a while. He moved away and hasn't written in a while."
"That's such a bummer. I'd just assume he's dumped you, especially since all the guys are noticing you," said Mina as she looked at the group of guys staring at Katherine.
"I couldn't do that to him. When he does write, he says that he still loves me," replied Katherine.
"Katherine, this is so good!" exclaimed Serena. "You are my newest best friend. Did you make it?" Katherine nodded positively. "Could you make some for me sometime?"
"Sure. It's not hard to make," said Katherine. "Here you can have a little more if you want."
"Let me try," said Lita. Katherine handed her a piece, and Lita popped it in her mouth. "Wow, it is really good. I guess I've found someone else fond of cooking, eh?"
"I guess," shrugged Katherine. She continued munching her meal softly and checked her watch briefly. "Oh goodness, class starts in ten minutes!" She finished up a little more to eat and started to get up.
"You have ten minutes," said Mina hoping to stop her.
"So, you saw how long it took me to get out here when class got out," answered Katherine. She grabbed her stuff and left.
"Oh, we forgot to ask her if she's related to Darien!" exclaimed Serena as Katherine left.
"It's okay. We have tomorrow, Serena," said Molly trying to comfort her friend.
"True, but I want to know," Serena replied as she finished off her lunch.
"Be patient. We've only just met her," said Ami as she put away her lunch bag. "Maybe we'll find out later." The five girls got up and headed off to class.
***
"BRRRRRING!" rang the school bell, and the students began to rush out of the building carrying their bags. Serena, Ami, Lita and Mina walked out of the main building together chatting about their classes and teachers. Ami looked and noticed a car.
"Hey, is that Darien's car?" asked Ami as she pointed at the little red sports car.
"Yeah. Why is he here?" wondered Serena aloud. She rushed towards the car looking for any sign of Darien, but she found him to no avail.
"I wonder why he isn't with his car," said Lita.
"Yeah, it does seem a bit odd. He doesn't normally pick Serena up," commented Mina. She scratched her head confusedly.
"Hey Serena!" called a familiar voice. "What's up?" Serena turned around and saw Darien and Katherine standing together. Katherine smiled at Serena as Darien adjusted Katherine's bag on his shoulder.
"It's that girl. He couldn't have," thought Serena as she looked at the two standing together. Serena's stare grew into an angry glare, and Darien smiled at Serena.
"Serena, you okay?" he asked.
"What's going on?" demanded Serena.
©2001 Hotarubi Yasuragi
