Disclaimer-Gundam isn't mine

FYI-

1st Period-English IV-Heero, Duo, Wufei, and Nataku. Humanities-Relena and Quatre. Journalism I-Hilde. Theatre Arts III-Trowa, Middie, Dorothy.

2nd Period-Engineering and Design Technology IV-Heero. Principles of Law III-Relena, Wufei, and Nataku. Engineering and Design Technology III-Duo. Theater Arts I-Hilde. Orchestra IV-Trowa and Quatre. Visual and Communications Technology II-Middie. Theater Arts III-Dorothy.

3rd Period-German IV-Heero. French IV-Relena, Middie, and Dorothy. Spanish IV-Duo, Trowa, Wufei, and Nataku. German V-Hilde. French V-Quatre.

4th Period-Lunch-All

5th Period-Advanced Placement Computer Science II-Heero and Duo. Trigonometry II-Relena, Quatre, and Wufei. Principles of Computer Science II-Hilde. Geometry IV-Trowa and Nataku. Algebra IV-Middie. Topics in Modern Programming-Dorothy.

6th Period-Physical Education-Heero, Duo, Trowa, Wufei, Nataku, Middie, and Dorothy. Health Education-Relena. Professional Rescuing-Hilde.

7th Period-Principles of Technology III-Heero, Duo, and Dorothy. Chemistry-Relena, Hilde, and Middie. Advanced Placement Physics-Trowa. Advanced Placement Biology II-Quatre. Environmental Science II-Wufei and Nataku.

8th Period-World Affairs II-Heero and Trowa. Political and Legal Education-Relena and Wufei. 20th Century World History I-Duo. World Affairs I-Hilde. Community Action-Quatre and Nataku. Human Growth and Socialization II-Middie. Human Growth and Socialization I-Dorothy.

Band: Drum Majors-Heero and Relena. Tuba-Duo. Trumpet-Hilde. Flute-Trowa. Cheerleader -Dorothy (Cheerleading is part of the band front). Xylophone-Quatre. Saxophone-Middie. Drums-Wufei and Nataku.

Extra Curriculum: Basketball Team-Heero (Captain) and Duo (Co-Captain). Fencing Team-Heero (Captain) and Dorothy (Co-Captain). Travel Club-Relena (President), Heero, Duo, Hilde, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, Nataku, Middie, and Dorothy (Members). Community Service Club-Relena (President), Quatre (Vice President), Duo, Nataku (Top Members), Heero, Hilde, Trowa, and Wufei (Members). Chess Team-Wufei (Captain) and Trowa (Co-Captain). Gymnastics Team-Trowa (Captain). Symphonic Band-Trowa (Flute Player) and Quatre (Violin Player). Future Business Leaders Club-Quatre (President). Academic Team-Quatre (Captain). History Club-Dorothy (President), Nataku (Vice President), and Heero (Top Member). Theater Club-Middie (President), Dorothy (Vice President), and Trowa. School Spirit Committee-Dorothy (President)

Trials of the Heart

10: 54 AM—5th Period

Quatre stared at his Trigonometry II book. He was still stunned, still shocked at what Middie had told him.

~ ~ ~ ~ Flashback ~ ~ ~ ~

"So, what did you need me for, Middie?"

Middie put on a face and forced herself to blush, but Quatre didn't know that it was a farce. "I have something to tell you."

"A secret?"

"Yes, a secret. I want to be your girlfriend."

Quatre stared at her. "Wha…?"

"I always liked you, y'know."

"But I thought you liked Trowa?"

"Oh, Trowa." Middie sighed. "Well, I did like him for a long time, but I'm just not seeing anything going on between us, so I think I should move on."

"Middie, I don't want to be a rebound thing…"

"Quatre, you're not. I really do like you a lot, and I think we could be great together. Why don't you just think it over and tell me later?"

"O-okay."

"Thanks." Middie paused for a second, then reached out and hugged him quickly. Just as quickly, she retracted herself and ran down the hall.

Quatre thought he had never seen her so happy.

~ ~ ~ ~ End Flashback ~ ~ ~ ~

"Quatre?"

"Yes?"

"Are you paying attention?" His teacher was glaring at him.

"Um…not…really," he answered truthfully.

His teacher sighed. "We're answering the questions on page 74, Quatre."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, looking at the page and trying to force himself into paying attention.

Relena shot him a guarded glance. Something was weird with Quatre.

'It's probably whatever Middie told him,' she thought. 'I'll ask him next period.'

11:38 AM—6th Period

Nataku finished stretching and shot a smirk at Wufei, her would-be boyfriend. His parents and her grandfather desperately wanted them together—something about tradition and being the heirs of the Long and Chang clans. What did that matter anymore? They had left China years ago. They had no need to carry on this arranged-marriage tradition.

Wufei and Nataku split every period except 5th and 8th and they were next to each other in Band—probably due to her grandfather's string-pulling—and all this time together had only made them complete rivals.

"Betcha I can beat you around the track," Nataku said. "Two times around. No obstacles or foul play. Just full-out running."

Wufei gave her smirk for smirk. "What's at stake?"

"If you win…"

"I don't want anything if I win. The satisfaction of beating you is enough."

Nataku bristled. This was why she hated him. He was so smug and superior. "Well, if I win," she yelled without thinking, "you have to take me out tomorrow, your treat!"

She cut herself off and mentally cursed herself. 'Idiot! Idiot! Why did you do that?!'

"Ooh," someone said in the background.

"Shut up, Britney," Nataku shot at the girl. Britney was the girl everyone gets once in a while, the girl who wasn't mature enough to mind her own business.

"Are you serious?" Wufei asked.

She had already dropped herself into the hole; she might as well save her pride. "Yeah. If I win, you have to take me out tomorrow. All afternoon. Deal?" She stuck out her hand.

Wufei stared at her. Then he smirked and took the offered hand. "Deal."

Trowa had offered to start them off.

"Ready."

"You have no chance of winning."

"Shut up, Wufei."

"Set."

"I'll make you eat that smirk when you're treating me to lunch tomorrow."

"I'd love to see that happen."

"Go!"

Nataku pushed herself off the ground and ran, her legs pumping, arms swinging back and forth.

"You're a snail, Meilan!"

"My name is Nataku!" She abhorred being called by her real name. It was too froofy. It made her sound like the helpless, clingy, doe-eyed Southern belles she had read about it Gone With The Wind, the dumbest book ever created. She increased her pace.

"Look at her go!" Duo yelled from the sidelines. "Go, Nataku!"

""E tu, Brutes"?" Wufei yelled.

Duo smirked. This was fun, watching Wufei get a run for his money.

"I'm placing my bets on Nataku," Trowa said. "How about you, Heero?"

Heero smirked. "My money's on the girl."

"Time!"

Nataku and Wufei stopped in their tracks as Trowa announced the end of their race.

"And it looks like the winner is…" Trowa got down on the track. Both Wufei and Nataku were toeing the line. But one foot was just a little bit further over it....

Trowa gave an uncharacteristically pleased laugh. "Nataku."

"WHAT?!"

Duo was on the ground, laughing hysterically.

"Oh-hoh!" Nataku jeered. "In your face, Wufei!" She pointed her finger against his chest. "Meet me at Jimmy's at 3 tomorrow." She turned and began to walk off. "Oh, and Wufei?" she stopped suddenly and turned her head to look at him. "Don't think that Relena and the girls won't hear of this."

She walked off towards Middie, who was looking wistfully at Trowa.

Wufei glared at the back of her head, then turned around and smacked Duo upside the head. "Shut up."

"'Bout time she finally put you in your place," Duo said, wiping tears from his eyes. "Just wait 'till Mr. Khushrenada hears about this."

(A/N: Devious little me made Treize the band director. Aren't I evil?)

"If you dare tell him, I will…"

And Trowa just stood there, laughing.

12: 28 PM—7th Period

"Middie?" Relena said.

Middie looked up from the contents of the vile she was carefully trying to pour into another. "Yeah?"

"Are you seriously interested in Quatre?"

Middie nearly dropped the vile in shock. When had Quatre told Relena about what she'd said? She ran over their schedules in her mind, and remembered that Relena and Quatre split two classes before this.

Keeping her cool with expert ease, she answered. "I think he's a sweetheart."

"Seriously?" Relena gave her a searching look.

"Yes, seriously." Middie gave her an equal look, hoping that Relena would fall for it.

Relena looked at her hard, then smiled. "Good. I think you two fit each other perfectly."

Middie nearly dropped the vile again. "What?"

"I mean, Quatre's never had a girlfriend, and what better time to get one than in senior year? And you've suffered over Trowa not loving you. Quatre's the perfect guy to help you move on. Good choice, Middie."

"Th-thanks." Middie gave Relena a weird look.

"I just wanted to make sure that you really had something for Quatre. He's so sweet, I don't want him to get hurt."

"Relena, I need an extra pair of hands here!" Hilde, Relena's lab partner, yelled.

"Coming! See ya, Middie." Relena went back to her lab table. Middie said, and went back to pouring chemicals.

She hated lying to her friends, but over the years she had learned that secrecy and deception helped keep you safe. Those lies and deceptions had kept her family fed. It had failed with Trowa, but that was because she had gotten caught.

She would not be caught this time. Her plan would not fail.

"What'cha get?" Hilde asked. She wasn't busy or in need of help at all.

"It seems like she really has a thing for Quatre. But I think she still wants Trowa," Relena answered.

"Middie, that's a little too much…" Middie's partner Alexandra said. Middie wasn't paying attention…

BOOM

1: 27 PM—8th Period

Hilde wrapped her arms around her and rubbed them. It was absolutely freezing, but then, it was late November. She sent Middie a glare, who looked embarrassed and looked away.

Hey, nobody likes it when they accidentally blow up Chem lab.

To her credit, there wasn't much damage, no one was hurt, and everyone got out of 8th period while the City Health Department searched the room for any traces of dangerous chemicals.

"We might as well just start band practice now," Relena muttered. "All our stuff is in the shed." She gestured to the old ex-bomb shelter that contained the entire band's instruments and the band front's props.

"I think Duo's doing just that," Hilde said, smiling weakly as she watched her boyfriend pry open the rusty shed's door.

"It's open!" he called, yanking the door back and going inside for his Tuba.

The band show this year featured music from the movie Endless Waltz and its series, Gundam Wing. The band was doing Rhythm Emotion, White Reflection, Just Communication, and Just Love.

"I watched the movie again last night," Relena said, as she and Hilde went towards the shed. "Every time I watch it, I get more and more impressed with Lisa. She's such a cool character."

"Most people hate her, you know," Hilde said.

"I don't know why. She's really the glue that holds the show together. Mark would have gone insane and killed himself if Lisa wasn't there to straighten him out."

(A/N: I'm using their voice actors' names as the characters in their world's Endless Waltz. Here's the run-down: Mark Hildreth-Heero Yuy. Scott McNeil-Duo Maxwell. Kirby Morrow-Trowa Barton. Brad Swaile-Quatre Winner. Ted Cole-Wufei Chang. David Kaye-Treize Khushrenada. Enuka Okuma-Lady Une. Brian Drummond-Zechs Marquise. Saffron Henderson-Lucrezia Noin. Lisa Beley-Relena Darlian. Monica Stori-Sally Po. Cathy Weseluck-Dorothy Catalonia/Cathy Bloom. Marcy Goldberg-Hilde Shubeiker. Thank you, guys, for making such a wonderful dub! BTW, what Relena said about Lisa is how I feel about Relena. The show wouldn't have been half as interesting without Relena. And Heero would be dead without her. If you hate Relena, that's okay. But don't expect any Heero/Duo's out of me. EVER)

Hilde fished around for her trumpet, talking to Relena. "Well, I know how much you love Mark, but give me Scott any day." She found the case with her name on it and dragged it out. She took out her trumpet and starting preparing it. "He reminded me so much of Duo it was scary."

Relena dragged out the stand that she and Hero, as Drum Majors, stood on. "Yeah, but the best resemblence was between Wufei and Ted."

"Yeah, that was just SCARY. Nataku said he reminded her so much of Wufei she wondered why her grandfather didn't just marry her off to Ted."

They both snickered at that; then Relena went to help Heero drag out the stand that they, as Drum Majors, conducted from.

Heero went first, so he climbed the step stool to face the band, which had assembled in their opening set positions.

"Band, horns up!" he shouted, and the entire band, who was at At-the-ready, straightened up and prepared their instruments to play."

"1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4!"

The band was moving and playing Rhythm Emotion the same time, carefully avoid the Flag Squad's flags as they moved among them. The danceline stayed up front, however. It was easy for them to get lost amid the twirling flags and playing instruments.

Before they knew it, the intercom came on.

"Attention, students. The school has been pronounced safe by the City Health Department. All after-school clubs are still scheduled. Bus 74 is now Bus 23. Have a nice day." The bell rang.

"Well, I'm taking off," Duo said, as he packed up his Tuba.

"Don't you have a Community Service meeting?" Dorothy asked, putting away her pompoms.

"Relena'll fill me in. Father needs help putting together his sermon, and then I gotta get to work."

"Duo…" Hilde started.

"I'll see you tonight, babe," Duo said quickly.

Hilde sensed that he didn't want to talk about it. "All right, Duo. See you tonight."

They shared a long kiss, making everyone around them slightly uncomfortable. Then Duo grinned at them all. "See ya. Love ya, Hil."

"Love you, too, Duo!" Hilde called as he jogged away.

"AWWW!" Relena, Nataku, and Middie chorused at once. Dorothy stuck her finger in her mouth and pretended to throw up.

"He is SO gonna pop the question on bent knee, Hilde," Relena said.

"You think so?"

"It's so obvious!"

"I'm outta here," Wufei said, turning to leave.

"Oh, no you're not!" Nataku reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Wufei's jacket, pulling him around so he faced the entire group. "Girls, our own Wufei has asked me to spend the day with him tomorrow."

"I didn't ask, you forced me to!" he hissed

"Asked, forced, same difference!" Nataku said airily.

"That's cool," Relena said. "We'll meet up with you."

""We"?"

"Did you finally ask Heero out?" Dorothy gasped.

"Yep!" She blushed.

"I need to get out of here," Wufei muttered. He sprinted off before anyone could catch him.

"I'm heading off, too," Heero said.

"Oh, Heero, wait!" Dorothy called. "Aren't you gonna kiss Relena good-bye?"

"Dorothy!" Relena yelped. "You don't have to, Heero," she said reassuringly.

Heero looked ready to kiss her feet in gratitude as he walked off, Quatre and Trowa following.

"Will you and Quatre be with us?" Nataku asked, turning to Middie.

"Um…" Middie looked nervous all of a sudden. "I don't know…"

"Ask him tonight," Dorothy said. "He'll say yes."

"Sure thing," Middie said, a bit too enthusiastically. The girls ever-so-discreetly raised their eyebrows at each other.

"Well, they're waiting for us," Relena said. "Nataku, Hilde, let's go."

"Community Service?" Dorothy asked.

"Yep."

"We've got Theater Club," Middie said. "Trowa, you'll be there as soon as CS ends, right?"

Trowa nodded

"Then I've got an emergency School Spirit meeting," Dorothy said. "We're discussing how to deface Oz's field."

"Dorothy," Relena scolded.

"See you later," Dorothy said quickly, walking away with Middie in tow.

"Don't think you're fooling me, Middie Une," Dorothy said quietly when they were out of earshot.

"What?" Middie whirled around to face Dorothy.

"I watch soaps, remember? I know the signs. You're using Quatre to get to Trowa. Hoping to make Trowa jealous, are we?"

"You're way off, Doro-"

"It won't work, Middie," Dorothy interrupted. "You're forgetting that Quatre's an Empath. And Trowa NEVER gets jealous. It's physically impossible for him to even get mad. He'll just think that you've finally gotten over him."

"I'm NOT using Quatre," Middie said acidly.

"Say what you want. You'll be found out," Dorothy said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Dorothy, we are late for our meeting," Middie said icily.

"Okay." Dorothy shrugged, and followed the stomping Middie into the school.

2: 00 PM—Community Service Club

"Relena, I'm so worried about Duo," Hilde said, as other members of the club were entering the cafeteria.

"How so?"

"He's always showing up to school with bruises. He smells like a back alley. He's cutting class. And he won't tell me what he's doing!"

"Do you think he's, well…in a drug gang?" Nataku asked.

"No, Duo wouldn't do that. I knew from the moment I met him that he would never resort to selling drugs for cash."

"I don't know what to tell you, Hilde," Relena said sadly.

"I don't think he's doing anything illegal, but when he won't tell me what it is, I get so scared that he's doing something that could get himself…killed." She looked ready to cry. "He's the first guy I've loved ever since Trant, and I don't want to lose him." Her hands twisted her jeans into knots.

(A/N: There was this whole thing in the manga where Trant—the crazy Oz guy who attacked Duo in Wing Zero—and Hilde used to be an item)

"Hey, hey, don't get upset." Relena swooped down and hugged her. "Listen, tonight I'll ask Heero to talk to him. They're best friends, remember? Maybe Heero can get something out of him."

"Thanks, Relena." Hilde took a swipe at her eyes to prevent any future tears.

"Now, fix yourself up. The boys are coming in."

"Of course, they take the roundabout route," Nataku muttered. "Probably went in through B-wing and got through A and D-wing. It's almost like Wufei's trying to avoid me!"

The three girls burst into giggles, and Heero, Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei all looked at each other, wondering just what they were thinking when they joined this club with the girls.

I'm going to end here. The band show will be next chapter. But at least you got to find out what Middie was planning earlier than expected!

BTW, don't expect this Quatre/Middie/Trowa triangle to end smoothly, especially when I throw someone else in! Also, there will be lots of problems facing Heero and Relena. Duo's secrets will end with a bang, and maybe there'll be some Wufei/Nataku angsty romance? Maybe…

PS Look for Treize, Noin, Zechs, and Une appearances next chapter!