Chapter Four: Is Xellos a Traffic Hazard?

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me, except myself and Lynn! Well, I guess Lynn belongs to herself, technically...

Thanks to the reviewers! ^_^; I'm really sorry for the delay, but I was in Japan for a while... And Arcanum, thanks for "spawning" this idea! Write soon, ne?

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I was a bit early for poetry class that day, which surprised me, all things considered. As I sat down and began to pull my Poetry book out of my bag, the only other girl in class walked in.

"Hey!" She said in a friendly manner, sitting down a few seats away from me.

"Yo." I waved shortly. "The guys are late." I observed, noticing how the other seven students (all male) were not here yet.

"No big deal." She shrugged. "If they flunk, it's their fault."

We sat in silence for a long moment as I opened my notebook for note-taking. She glanced over my shoulder as I flipped past a few little doodles that I had drawn.

"OH MY GOSH!" She suddenly shrieked. I looked over at her, to see what had horrified her so badly. She was looking at my notebook, which had stopped at a page where I had doodled Lina Inverse.

"Don't look at my doodles!" I cried defensively, covering the notebook by leaning on it.

"I didn't know you were a Slayers fan!" She (whom I shall now name "Lindsay") exclaimed, to my surprise.

` "YOU're a Slayers fan?!" I exclaimed back. "I didn't know that!"

We sat for a long moment.

"So, who's your favorite character?" Lindsay asked, breaking the silence.

"I would normally say Zelgadiss..." I mumbled to myself, thumping my head against the table, thinking of the poor chimera who I had left at home.

"What?" She asked.

"Zel! Zelgadiss Graywords!" I said, jerking my head up. As I said that, the door opened.

"What?" He asked, walking in to the classroom. Lindsay and I turned to see him, as hidden as his "normal" clothing would hide him.

"I thought I told you to stay home!" I cried in despair. Lindsay just stared for a moment, before grabbing my neck and shaking me violently.

"You have Zelgadiss?" She asked, continuing to shake me viciously.

"Need... Air..." I gasped. Zel came over and put his hand on Lindsay's shoulder.

"Lina, please. There's no need to hurt Amelia." He said gently. She let go of me, and grabbed Zel's ears.

"Ow!" He exclaimed, startled. He hadn't thought she would do something like that.

"You are real!" She whooped, followed by "What did you mean by calling me Lina?"

"That..." He stammered, trying to free his ears from her grip.

"That is a secret!" Xellos appeared merrily beside me, who was just regaining my breath.

"Xellos!!" She cried, releasing Zel and grabbing Xellos. "Wow!" With that, she fainted on to him.

"Was that too much for her?" Xellos asked.

"Get out of my classroom, ya freaks!" I burst out. "It was bad enough for HER to faint, but if the teacher sees you, I'll get in trouble!"

"Why did she faint, Xellos? Lina is made out of sterner stuff than that." Zel asked as Xellos put Lindsay on a nearby chair.

"Now that..." He paused dramatically. "Is a secret!"

With that, he disappeared, leaving me very angry.

"I guess it was just the shock. For a Slayers fan, it's very strenuous to meet the characters." I explained, trying to calm myself down. "After all, it was for me too." I mumbled.

I looked Zel squarely in the eyes. "Now, get out of the classroom. Now. Now!" I repeated. But even as I spoke this, he had pulled up a seat beside mine.

"Amelia—no, Arafel, it's far too dangerous for you to be wandering about on your own." He reasoned calmly.

"But I did before!" I objected in a plaintive voice, like one a child might use.

"Xellos wasn't here before." Zel pointed out.

"Oh." I sat for a moment, unsure quite what to do. A moment later, one of the guys from class poked his head in.

"Did you girls hear? Mr. Mahaffey canceled class today." He said, then was gone.

"Poetry is canceled?" I quickly scribbled out a note that said Poetry was canceled. Have a nice day and set in on Lindsay's stuff. "I'm leaving now." With that, I left the classroom.

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As I flee from Zel... Whatever could happen next? CORNEILIUS VALENTINE! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!