Crash and Burn

Part 2

Author: Nyneve (call me Nyn-chan if you long for death)

Okay, here's part two. Since this is more of a serious story, I will be taking a *serious* frame of mind for my intros. However, if you all truly miss my witty beginnings, please just let me know and I shall resume. Don't own any of this stuff. Uh, yeah. Okay, just read.

-Nyneve

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I awoke that morning to the smell of pancakes. Yawning, I stretched and got out of bed.

Lita was already in the kitchen making breakfast. It amazed me that she knew how to cook so well. She told me once that she was the "mother" of her gang. She did all of the cooking, cleaning, and kept her eyes on the younger kids.

I guess the "gang" was just a bunch of homeless orphans, ranging from ages five to nineteen. They got money by stealing, delivering drugs, and blackmail. Lita never told me where they lived, because she didn't want any of them to get caught. I sometimes hear her calling out names at night. She must really miss them all. They were her only family.

I, on the other hand, couldn't care less if I never saw my family again. Which is probably how it will end up. Last I heard my father was working for the government, and my mother is a big business tycoon. She has so much money; she doesn't need a daughter.

"Morning Mina. How many do you want?" Lita asked, piling the pancakes onto a plate.

I sighed. "How am I supposed to maintain my girlish figure with you stuffing me full of food?"

She laughed. "Hey, you're the only one who'll eat my cooking. Everyone is convinced it's poison."

After breakfast, I showered and dressed in my school uniform. Skirt, blouse, shiny black shoes, the works. To finish it off, I added the trademark red bow.

When Lita and I first me she called me the "Queen of the Girly-Girls". Ha. Then I introduced her to Miss Relena. Compared to her, I look like the ultimate tomboy.

I'm not sure whether Relena owns the school, or her family, or what, but I do know she's the most important figure here. I can get along pretty well with her. Mostly, I just let her patronize me, then when she gets bored or decides to chase after her so-called boyfriend, I walk away very quickly.

I won't go into detail about the rest of my day. Basically, it was Math, English, Gym, Home Ec, Biology, Lunch, Latin, Study Hall, and History. Actually, history was pretty cool. We learned about the Legend of the Moon Princess. Basically, it was just about the cutest love story next to Romeo and Juliet.

Then there was gymnastics practice, and volleyball practice. Pretty uneventful.

That evening, I sat in my dorm doing my Latin homework and waiting for Lita. She had gotten in trouble for fighting again, and got late detention. However, it usually gets out around 6:30.

Sure enough, Lita walked through the door ten minutes later, just as I had finished my homework.

"Hey. How was detention?" I asked, putting my stuff away. Lita grinned and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Great. I got us two invites to a little party Morgan and Sarah are throwing down in the basement at midnight. You coming?" she asked.

"Come on Kino. You know how I feel about breaking curfew," I said. She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, same way you feel about breaking every rule. Look, you can't have everything. You can't be popular AND a teacher's pet. At some point you gotta prioritize!" she cried.

I bit my lip. Could I risk my rep?

Deep inside of me a little voice told me to go ahead with it.

"Come on, it's okay to break the rules once in a while. You can't be a Relena clone forever, can you?" it teased.

"Oh God no," I muttered. Lita shot me a look.

"Aino, you're talking to yourself again," she said.

"Sorry. Oh, what the hell? Count me in," I grinned. "But what will I wear?"

Lita looked me over for a minute before deciding. "Hair up, tight pants, and any top that shows skin."

"Gotcha. Navy or orange?"

"Hm. Navy. You always wear orange."

"Okay, but only if you wear that cool purple thing."

"Deal."

We stared at each other for a moment, then burst into giggles. I just couldn't get how people could be so afraid of my roommate, best friend, and soul sister.

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"Hey, Kino. Great to see you. Oh! Mina!" Morgan said, then looked at Lita as if to say, "What's Miss Perfect doing here?"

"Chill. She's cool. Right Aino?" Lita asked. I nodded, then unzipped my trenchcoat to reveal a sparkly navy halter, tight, low jeans, and black lacy sandals. Lita had ordered that I make a big deal out of my outfit. Meanwhile, she had worn a short, clingy purple dress and knee high black boots.

"Yeah. D'ya got anything to eat?" I asked, looking around. There were so many people crowded into the basement, you couldn't even see the speakers that the music was blaring out of.

"Right over there. Oh, and don't touch the salsa if you aren't within two feet of a cold drink," Sarah grinned. I had to smile back. For one small moment, I had it all. I could be smart, athletic, and popular all at the same time.

On the way over to the snack table, I bumped into someone. It was a boy a little taller than me, with a long braid and violet eyes.

"Oh my God," I cried, realizing it was one of them. One of those five boys. The one I was always hiding from.

However, he barely recognized me.

"Oh sorry. Hey, aren't you that gymnastics champ?" he asked, smiling at me suddenly and looking me up and down. I blushed.

"Uh, yeah. Excuse me," I said, then maneuvered away from him. That was close. Way too close.

Well, the party was a blast. However, it got late quick. Pretty soon it was 3:00 AM, and I had a test in the morning. Even though the party was still raging, I said thanks to Morgan and Sarah, then told Lita I'd meet her back at the room.

I slipped out the door and began to walk up the stairs to my floor. However, I heard footsteps down the third floor hallway. Okay, so I am intensely curious. Sue me. I quietly tiptoed down just in time to see the same braided boy go into one of the rooms. But he didn't close the door all the way behind him.

Carefully, I stood outside and listened. There were four male voices, one definitely the one of the boy I had met.

"Duo, where were you?"

"Down at the party. You guys should've been there."

"Yes. And maybe we should spend all of our time dreaming about weakling women and watching demented cartoons as well."

"Aw, come on Wu-man…"

"Will you focus for a minute? We have a new mission."

"From the Professor? Man, she creeps me out."

"Does she want us to kill someone?"

"Uh-huh. It's another assassination."

I took a deep breath. It was happening again. I had to stop them.

"No!" I cried, stepping into the room. Little did I know it was at that moment that I destroyed my own walls, and removed my own mask.

*******************************************************************************************Well, all for now! R+R everyone!