Arieslily17: Oh my gosh! I'm finally updating. It's a real, brand new chapter! I've wanted to post this for ever. 20 page papers are a pain in the neck, literally. You know, I think maybe the Sailormoon franchise should pay me to be a spokesperson or something. I still can't believe I got people to buy Volume 11. I really think that's great. Anyway, I hope you like it!

Phoenix Lily Firestorm: (My effervescent alter-ego) They better.

Arieslily17: Nix, back off. Please, enjoy! This takes place in the week after chapter 2.

Thanks to DragonStar, thescientist, Firenze, Marsgoddess,  Ab, PF Urd, DTN, SVZ and anyone else who read the last couple of chapters. I really appreciate the reviews!

Casablanca

            Sigh.

            I did a stupid thing yesterday.

            A few stupid things actually…

            It all started yesterday morning. I was getting ready to leave for school, grabbing the last of my books and walking out into the sunshine. Adjusting my sunglasses, I found Trunks waiting for me. Smiling at me, he offered his arm, and I accepted. Stupid thing number one.

            It was too close, too much contact. Too much romance. After walking in amiable silence for awhile, we broke apart because I went to pick up a few cherry blossoms to take to school with me. That took care of stupid thing number one. Right? It only gets worse from here. Well, it would have been fine if I didn't make things worse later. But I'll get to that in a second. We managed to make it to T*A without any more of my slip-ups. That was all pleasant enough. I'm feeling increasingly more comfortable around him. Good or bad, who knows anymore? But I am.

            So I got to school on time, had a lovely decoration for my locker, and managed to make it through the day without any more stupidity. So I thought…hmmm, must have been a fluke. All better now.

            Boy was I wrong.

            Now, I realize that for me to truly judge if it was a fluke or not, I would have to have been in a similar situation. Kind of like a science experiment. However, going to an all-girls Catholic High School kind of halts that plan. No boys around which I could act brainless. So I based my conclusion- it was a fluke- on the fact that I did well in school, didn't get in trouble, held my temper, there were no youma attacks, and I had a good day in general.

            Now comes stupid thing number two. It's a big one. Huge.

            Breaking through the swarms of admirers from the Boy's school down the street using my friend Hikari as a decoy, I discovered Trunks waiting for me, a little surprised and scared. It was really kind of funny. The expression on his face was priceless. It was sort of a blank, questioning, astonished look. He's never seen what dismissal is like at my school. He finally realized I was approaching, shook away the look and smiled instead. It was my turn to have a questioning face.

            He told me he thought it might be nice to stop by after school for once. He wanted to walk me home.

            Trunks doesn't attend school. I highly doubt he skipped college; he's far too intelligent. He can discuss anything with the authoritative air of complete understanding. Besides, I've seen him carrying textbooks, great works of literature, and other things. I think that he graduated early, and may be taking a class or two at Tokyo University. Or perhaps Ms. Briefs is tutoring him privately. Anyway, he doesn't know what attending T*A is like, so he started walking with me to observe. I guess today he wanted to see a different aspect.

            He had a smirk on his face, quite like the one from the other day. It was irritating in an I-know-something-you-don't-know kind of way. He kept his hands from view as we walked away from the crowd. Once we were alone, he slowed down without my notice, until he caught my arm to stop me. He looked down into my eyes for a moment, the brought a flower into my field of vision. It wasn't just any flower either.

            It was a perfect Casablanca lily. I've never told anyone why I have a fondness for them, or for that matter that I adore them. Time stopped for just a second. All I could think was how? How could he know? Why would he give me this? Then he answered for me.

            "I…uh…I saw this, in a little shop on the way to pick you up. I know it's not cherry blossoms, or a rose, or anything special, but something told me to get it for you. I guess something about it just reminded me of you. I'm not sure what it's called, I think it's—"

            "It's a Casablanca. They're my favorite."

            "That's a beautiful name, I…Are you all right?"

            I could tell there was a vacant expression on my face, and as I stood there, shocked, the lily fell from my hands to the ground. When it hit, that shook me from my mind and I bent down to pick it up. As I inhaled its intoxicating scent, I kind ofsmiled…

            Now here's stupid thing number 2:

            "Thank you."

            Then I leaned up and, on instinct, kissed him on the cheek.

            And there was much blushing, stammering, and awkwardness…Yay. I think I had more problems with it that he did. My eternal internal struggle rose to a fevered pitch as we started toward the Temple.

            He grabbed my hand. And I didn't let go. I couldn't understand why my body was mutinying. It was like I had no control over it today. It just couldn't understand that I didn't want this, it was too much, too complicated, and would only cause more pain. Yet it could tuck the Casablanca behind my ear and smile all it wanted. Ugh.

            "I'm glad you like it."

            Then we continued on, chattering about anything and everything. Meanwhile, I could feel something changing inside me. I couldn't stop it, no matter how hard I tried. So I had to just let it go…

            Now approaching stupid thing number 3.

            As we started up the many temple steps, he sort of slowed, and started to bring up my birthday.

            "Do you have any plans?"

            "Well, I swear my friends are planning a surprise 'something' for the day after. And I have to go to dinner with my father that night…"

            "Oh. Okay."

            "But, my father never comes. He always sends his protégé,  and says I can bring people with me—"

            "--Really?"

            "Yes. Would you…I mean…that is to say…would you like to accompany me?"

            There was a moment of hesitation on both our parts. It lasted a millisecond but, as moments like this usually do, it felt like an eternity. Me, standing in disbelief over what my mouth had just to spit out, and he—Well, who knows what he was thinking?

            "I'd love to. Where are we going?"

            I proceeded fill him in on the details. I still can't believe I did that. What was more amazing to me was that, at the time I said it, I was completely calm about it with no reservations.

            He left, and once I was alone I started berating myself for my idiocy, then I took a moment to truly assess the situation as I put my lily in a vase. As I looked at it, I realized that I think I'm finally ready to move on and put the past behind me. Why should I be afraid of possibility? Yes, there will probably be some pain along the way, but maybe I'm keeping myself from some really great experiences too. I'm tired of being afraid and I'm tired of being alone. So even if it just lasts for a little while, I think I'll let myself experience this.

            It's time to break my promise. 

Arieslily17: Well? What did you all think?

Nix: Yeah, was it any good? 'Cause if not, I can get out the…

Arieslily17: Stop right there, please. I don't want you "helping" me. Thanks.  Keep sending reviews!!!!!! I love them! I may even be addicted. And enjoy the first few days of summer!