AN: Sorry for the wait guys! Blockage happened.. and schools starting to get hectic.. so if I take a while updating don't fret! I have two research essays due with in three weeks so…. Yah.. lol This chappy goes out to… hmm… Galux Kitty… just cause! LOL anyway, Bryan's nick name is pronounced "Ran-ny" =)
"RILEY!" The blue haired girl squealed, running over and throwing her arms around the newly arrived girl.
Enrique stood back and watched the scene unfold. Riley Wakeman, the better half of the Wakeman twins, had, like most of them, lived in Bakuten all of her life. She was a tall girl, with long very pale hair, that was almost silver, worn up in a ponytail, and stunning blue eyes.
Riley did not start hanging out in their group until the first year of middle school, when her (she would say evil) twin started 'stalking' Liika; it was through him that they met. And though Riley didn't really blade –her brother sucked all the fun out of it for her- she was good with stats and management, which always kept her in the loop. Enrique finished his assessment, running his eyes down her one final time –noting how good she looked in the green skirt and purple sweater of the winter uniform, and tilted his head a bit. She had changed somehow, a tan maybe? He racked his brain trying to remember where she had been…. But came up blank.
Liika finally let go of the taller girl, stepping back and grinning. Riley grinned back and then both girls started laughing. Enrique shook his head: girls.
"Soo…. How was Mexico?!" Liika asked, pronouncing Mexico in Spanish.
Mexico! That was it! Enrique thought, mentally slapping himself. No wonder she looked tanned! He wondered briefly why Bryan looked as pale as ever.
"Wah! It was mucho bueno!" Riley replied with a giggle. "But Ryanny hated it. Complained it was too hot!"
Liika giggled along with her friend. She could imagine how hot it would be for someone of his size! "Well I can't say I don't disagree with him. Three months in Mexico in the dead heat of summer? No thanks!"
Riley stuck out her tongue at Liika. "Are you kidding? It was wonderful! I almost begged my parents to let me go to school down there. Of course Ryanny pointed out how poor –he used the word shitty, their education system is and pretty much killed that dream." She laughed at the memory.
"Bleh. Too hot for me!" Liika replied smiling.
"But then," Enrique cut in deciding that he had enough of being ignored, "Icki always did like the cold! Her ideal vacation would be Siberia in the middle of winter!" This caused the two girls to laugh and Liika to hold her hands up guiltily. "Guilty as charged!"
"Well take my brother with you, he loves the cold and he loves you. It'd be killing two birds with one stone for him!" Riley winked at Liika, who scrunched up her nose. Then blushing a bit she greeted Enrique finally with a tentative smile. "Hello, Enrique."
Enrique grinned and stepped between the two girls, placing his hand on the small of each of their backs. "Heya Riley! 'Bout time you said hi! Anyway, how bout I escort you two lovely ladies to class? The bell's about to go soon." He said, sending each of them a charming grin.
Riley blushed and giggled a "thank you" while Liika rolled her eyes, opening her mouth to retort when she was cut off by another voice.
"I'm afraid I must relieve you of one of your lovely ladies Sattiia." A male voice said.
The three turned to see Robert smiling, his uniform fresh and pressed, and not a hair on his head out of place; the complete opposite to Enrique's slovenly appearance.
"Robert!" Liika exclaimed beaming up at the tall young man and stepping toward him, away from Enrique.
Robert's eyes sofented at the sight of the short girl and he reached over and grasped her hand. Dropping a kiss on the top of it he said gallantly, "Will you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to class my lady?"
Liika giggled, feeling giddy with pleasure as a bright blush spread across her cheeks. "Of course my lord." She replied, grinning and threading her fingers through his.
"Then shall we go?" He asked starting to lead her away.
Enrique started making gagging motions, and Riley tossed him a surprised look, laughing slightly. "What's up with them?" She whispered.
Enrique rolled his eyes. "They've been like that for a week –ever since he asked her out. It's disgusting!" He said.
Riley's grin grew as she glanced to the couple who were whispering to each other in hushed tones. "He finally asked her out eh? He's liked her for like ever!" She exclaimed excitedly.
"Don't you mean she's liked him forever?" Enrique asked, clearly confused.
She shook her head. "Nah, though now that I think about it…. Anyway, didn't you ever notice that last year Robert started to get twice as polite and twice as chivalrous around Ika? For Robert that's a sure sign that he likes someone." She explained, nodding. "I watched it happen with Melody Thompson back in eigth grade. Though their relationship didn't last long, he still liked her for a bit. You have to remember Eny, I lived across the street from Lee, and they used to hang out a lot. Specially in sixth grade, they were always on his front lawn, and since my brother ditched me lots, I joined them sometimes."
Enrique "ahed" and sighed. "Well either way, how they act is mildly disgusting and a lot disturbing. I mean if they all of a sudden start spouting 'I love yous" in flowery lanuage I'm really going to be sick!"
Riley glanced at him, raising a pale eyebrow. "What's the matter? Jealous?" She questioned, smirking.
"Wh-whaat??" He sputtered back. "Jealous?? No way! I could never date Icki! She's my other half and I love her dearly, but… ewww… that be like dating my twin sister!"
The face he made was both utterly hilarious and utterly adorable. The way he scrunched up his nose and eyebrows made Riley want to hug him. She blushed at the thought.
They reached their homeroom class then, just behind Liika and Robert, and slipped past the couple giving them some privacy.
"Thank you Robert!" Liika chirped smiling up at him.
"It was my pleasure." He repled bending down and pressing a small kiss to her forehead.
The bell had gone on their journey down the hallway to he was in a hurry. "See you at break. Oh and do apologize to Riley for my lack of greeting, I was preoccupied and it was rude of me." He said waving.
"I'm sure she understood, bye!" Liika called watching him walk away.
Neither one noticed the hot, pale lavender glare directed at them, or rather at Robert in particular.
Kai stalked, not walked but latterly, stalked, into family management. He was tired, and he was angry, but most of all he didn't want to deal with the blue haired witch at that moment. Of course he had no choice in the matter, for as soon as he walked in the classroom door he was married to her. Yanking out the chair beside her, he flopped down in it and dropped his books on the table. She completely ignored him, instead choosing to talk to a girl he had never seen before that sat across from them, next to a boy he had never seen. The two new kids –assuming they were new, looked a lot a like, from pale hair to round facial structure, however, there were significant, noticeable differences.
"Hello witch." He muttered, propping his head on his hand.
"Shove it Hiwatari." She shot back, sending him a glare.
"Tsk Tsk, is that anyway to treat your husband, Mrs. Hiwatari?"
The rest of the table groaned, having a serious case of deja vu. Didn't they hear this same conversation before? Oh that's right, every class they heard it.
"Kai! Liika! If I have to warn you about bickering again this week I will fail you both and you can take your chances with next year's project!" Miss G scolded, walking by.
Liika and Kai threw each other menacing glares but stayed silent. Mariah sighed, smiling weakly at Riley. "Don't mind them, they're always like that. I'm sure Liika will fill you in later." She explained.
Liika dropped her head with a bang onto the tabletop, much to the amusement of Tala who smirked. Bryan raised an eyebrow but said nothing, glancing over at the single fathers' table with malice.
"Anyway, Hiwatari, this is Bryan Wakeman, he hangs with us. Bryan, Kai Hiwatari, the one I was telling you about." Tala introduced the two.
They nodded a greeting, "Who's that?" Kai asked motioning at Riley who was now in a deep conversation with Enrique.
"My twin." Bryan replied. "Riley."
Kai nodded again, and leaned back in his chair, resting his arm along the back of Liika's. She said nothing, much preferring to keep her A in F.M.
Miss G stepped to the fron of the class and began the day's lesson. "Welcome, especially to Riley and Bryan who just go back from sunny Mexico! Now as your friends have probably informed you, we have started the main project, and seeing how you are juniors you are required to do it as well. I, of course, have worked this problem out. Riley, you may choose one of the single father's to marry and then Bryan will adopt that baby, becoming a single father himself. Am I clear?"
The class nodded, and Riley glanced at the other table, already knowing who she was going to pick. "Riley, have you chosen?"
Riley nodded. "Yup. I'd like Lee please." She replied, glancing at Lee, who looked relieved. Riley sighed, it sounded like she was ordering fast food.
"Lee, do you agree?"
Lee smiled at Riley and nodded, that baby was soo much work! He pitied Bryan silently. "Yes."
Miss G smiled as well and clapped her hands together. "Excellent! Now Lee, give your baby along with instruction to Bryan at the end of class. In the mean time, Bryan go sit at the single fathers table and Lee come sit beside your new wife. We'll have your ceremony in a few moments. Now the rest of you-"
The rest of her instructions were cut off by a knock at the door. Sighing the teacher made her way over, conversed for a moment, then came back in, a white slip of paper in her hand.
"Mrs. Hiwatari, It's for you." She said handing the sheet to Liika.
Liika thanked the teacher and opened the paper. Miss G began her lesson again, starting to explain what the exercise of the day was.
Suddenly a loud gasp interrupted the class once more, and it was followed by a horrified, "Oh my God."
Liika's chair screeched along the linoleum floor and clattered to the ground as she jerked to her feet, eyes wide and hand over her mouth as she stared down at the small piece of paper.
"Liika dear… what's wrong?" Miss G asked frowning.
Liika didn't answer, but continued to stare at the paper, her eyes filling with tears and her hands starting to shake. "Oh my God!" She exclaimed again finally, flinign the paper onto her table then rushing out of the room.
The class stared at the door in shock, what was that about? Kai raised an eyebrow and picked up the paper that had landed in front of him, scanning it.
To: Liika Tomoda
From: Judy Tate
Message: Maxy and his father in serious accident. Won't be able to make it to practice, nor will she.
Kai's eyes widened in surprise. It was serious. He hoped the blond and his father were alright.
Miss G stepped over and snatched the paper from to see why her student rushed out of the room in tears. Not seeing Robert's hand raised, who was glancing at the door in worry.
She read the note and she too gasped, muttering, "Oh my…" Taking a deep breath, she faced the class. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears that our Max has been in a serious accident. I'm afraid that's all the paper says."
Immediately a wave of gasps and murmurs broke out, followed by a quiet wail from Emily, who immediately started crying, clutching to Jade who looked dazed.
"Miss G, may I go check on Liika?" Robert asked, distressed.
"Yes, go ahead. Take her things as well, I doubt she'll be back to class." The teacher replied.
Robert thanked Miss G quickly, grabbed Liika's stuff, and his own and hurried out the door, eager to catch his distraught girlfriend. She obviously wasn't taking the news of her friend very well.