VJ: Sorry I've been gone so long. I've had a lot of problems lately and couldn't write. You all probably thought I was dead! Well here's this chapter it's dedicated to Ookami Kage. Thanks for reading.

Veronica sat in the back seat with Trowa as they headed toward 15th street. She kept pulling at her clothes and fiddling with her hands. She couldn't stay still. What if Mike had gotten into some kind of trouble? Or kidnapped? Or something even worse?

"Your worried about him, aren't you?" asked Trowa.

Veronica looked up at Trowa. "Yes."

"Has he ever done this before?" asked Relena.

"Yeah, a couple other times. I hope we find him."

"I'm sure we will," said Relena.

They turned a corner and there in the parking lot of a run down deserted building two boys were fighting and two were standing by watching.

"That's him!" cried Veronica. "Pull over! Pull over!"

So Heero pulled the van over and Veronica jumped out of the van. She headed to where the boys were fighting. Just then Mike punched the other boy in the jaw. The two other boys caught their friend. They looked very pissed. Veronica then identified the boy that got hit as Jared, the jerk of the school.

"You're gonna pay for that!" yelled Jared. He launched himself at Mike.

Veronica saw that and tackled Jared. They landed hard on the pavement, she landed on her already scrapped up side. She squeezed her eyes shut against the pain.

"Get off of me you stupid slut!" cried Jared. He pushed her off of himself. Then suddenly someone jerked him to his feet.

Veronica looked up. Heero had Jared by the collar. He was holding him about six inches off the ground. And Jared was in shock.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!" yelled Jared as he struggled in Heero's grip.

"L-look we weren't looking for any trouble, honest," said one of the other boys. "J-just let him go and w-we won't get in your way any more."

Veronica walked over to him. "And you won't pick a fight with Mike anymore either."

"Yeah sure, just let me go," said Jared.

Veronica nodded and Heero dropped him. The three boys ran as fast as they could. She walked over to Mike. He wiped the blood off his mouth then turned to Veronica.

"Mike! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she cried.

"Look it wasn't my fault," said Mike slurring. "That jerk just attacked me for no reason!"

"No there had to be a reason," said Veronica getting in his face.

"He hates my guts! Isn't that reason enough?"

Trowa, Heero, and Relena just looked on as Veronica and Mike argued.

Suddenly Veronica sniffed the air around Mike. Her eyes grew wide as she realized just what the smell was. "Oh my God, Mike were you…" she took a step back and looked into his eyes. "You were…you did … You're high?!"

"Maybe…" said Mike as he looked away guiltily.

"What were you smoking?"

"It was just marijuana," said Mike testily. "And I didn't give it to anyone else."

"Oh my God. You're out here getting in fights and smoking weed?!" said Veronica in disbelief. "You're parents are worried sick about you!"

"Yeah right," said Mike dejectedly. "They don't care about me. I cost too much money."

Veronica snapped. Mike had pulled some stupid stunts before, but this was ridiculous. He had just gotten back from the hospital and he was already going into a pity trip. She couldn't take it. Suddenly she slapped him. Mike's head snapped to the side. He brought his head up and looked at her. Anger flashed through his eyes.

"Go ahead," said Veronica. "Hit me." she put her hands on her hips and looked at him smugly. She knew he would never hit her. No matter how high or drunk he got he had sworn he'd never abuse anyone.

Mike's head lowered in submission. "I'm sorry."

"Don't you think you're being a little hard on him?" asked Relena.

Veronica looked over her shoulder. Heero, Trowa, and Relena had come up to them. She turned back to Mike, her face softened. "I just don't want you going into a pity trip right after you got out. It's kind of a waste, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

She wasn't sure she should believe him, but she gave him a chance. "Come on. Lets get you home."

So they all piled into the van and took Mike home.

After getting Mike home and straightening everything out, Veronica and Trowa were at her house sitting on the porch. Veronica sighed and rubbed her face with her hands. It had been what? 2 days since Mike got out? And already he was getting into trouble. This was going to be a very long year.

"Does he pull stunts like this often?" asked Trowa.

She looked over at Trowa. "Yes. But usually nothing this bad." She thought for a moment. "Usually just little things. You know pranks and stuff."

"Perhaps he's feeling insecure."

Veronica's eyebrow went up. "What are you a shrink?"

Trowa shrugged.

"Maybe he's feeling threatened," said Veronica thoughtfully.

This time it was Trowa's turn to look confused. "You mean with me?"

"Yeah, cause you're another guy, I guess. I mean I didn't think he liked me that way. I thought we were just friends." She shrugged. "Maybe he thinks I'll spend more time with you than him."

"So do you like me?" asked Trowa calmly, though there was a hint of a blush on his cheeks.

"Yeah of course I do."

"More than just a friend," Trowa ventured. He figured there was nothing to lose.

Veronica looked shocked, then she blushed bright red. "I uh…I didn't…."

"That's okay if you don't," said Trowa, he sounded disappointed.

"No! I mean, I didn't…"

"No that's okay." Trowa looked away then started to get up to leave.

Suddenly Veronica grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. Her touch sent shivers up his spine. For a second he forgot what he was doing. She looked up at him.

"Trowa, I guess I do like you. But it's only been like 3 or 4 days and I wasn't sure if it was love or just lust. You know what I mean? I'm just so unsure, I didn't want--"

Suddenly Trowa leaned over and cut her off with a kiss. At first she was too shocked to do anything then she closed her eyes and relaxed. His lips pressed against hers, it felt so good. And they way he smelled! She hadn't noticed how good he smelled until now! It was amazing. She swore she could see fireworks and here romantic music playing softly. Like in an old movie.

Then Trowa pulled away and watched her. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at him. He was smiling softly and his eyes were the purest green she had ever seen.

"I…I…wow," she said softly. "That was amazing."

"Yeah," said Trowa. Though it sounded like he had breathed it.

"You look good when you smile."

Trowa blushed slightly. "You think so?"

"Definitely."

She gently ran her fingers through his bangs. His hair was so soft. She then looked deeply into his eyes. She felt herself get swept away. Like she was drowning in pools of green, but it felt good. She never wanted to leave the safety of those green pools, but she knew she had to. She looked away, breaking the spell. She let out a sigh.

"You should smile more," she said.

Trowa cocked his head slightly. "I guess I never had any reason to smile…. until now."

She blushed and smiled shyly up at him. Trowa then lightly ran his fingers through her short spiky hair. There was no spiking gel in it today so it was soft and fluffy. His touch made her shiver. He pulled his hand back.

Suddenly he stood up. "I better get back, the others will wonder where I am."

"Uh, right. I'll um… see you later," said Veronica standing up.

Trowa walked down the stairs and headed down the driveway.

"Wait!" called Veronica after him. He stopped and turned around. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

Trowa paused. "I'll call you."

"Okay." Veronica grinned.

Trowa didn't smile back, but she could see the smile in his eyes wanting to get out. He then turned and walked down the street.

VJ: Wow! That was long! I just wrote half of it right now on the spur of the moment. I hope I can get more out. I have an idea for the next chapter. Hopefully I'll get it written in the next week or 2. Please review, it's the only thing keeping me going right now.