Chapter 15: The new me!

KAINAN AUDITORIUM

Almost everyone in the auditorium gaped at the girl who just walked in. Jin who was busy helping in the decorations dropped the box of decorations he was holding as he saw the girl. Misa the President of the Music Club stopped rehearsing her part the minute she saw her. Ria eyes widened at the the girl who just passed by. Kiyota eyed the girl undoubtly smitten by it's beauty.

This girl has this shoulder-length shiny light-red hair that is simply clipped with blue barrettes, she has this clear jet-black eyes. She was dressed in a blue halter top and blue hipster jeans. On her feet she wore a pair of stringed sandals.

"Who is that girl?" a guy asked Jin. Jin shook his head and said, "Dunno... but she looks gorgeous!" Kiyota exclaimed, "Gorgeous? She looks like an angel!" then Veniz entered the auditorium saying, "There you are Arika!" the mysterious girl turned her head and spoke, "Veniz-san!"

"ARIKA?" everyone exclaimed in the auditorium. Veniz giggled and exclaimed, "That's right, this girl in front of you is Fujisawa Arika. Like her new look?" with that she winked at everyone. Misa went down the stage and exclaimed, "Wow Fujisawa-san! You looked beautiful! Is this all for the festival presentation?"

Arika nod her head saying, "You can say that Wakashi-san" Jin approached her and exclaimed, "I didn't recognize you Arika, wow! You dyed your hair and you're not wearing any glasses. I hope your vision is good" Arika laughed and exclaimed, "I'm wearing contacts Jin-san"

Jin blushed and said, "Oh yeah, that's right" then one by one the people approached Arika to check her out. Veniz peeked at Kiyota. Kiyota looked dumbfounded and shock at the same time. "That's Arika?" he wondered. He slapped himself and thought, "Whoah... such change..."

Meanwhile Ria was red in rage. "That dirt bag! How come she's so god dammed beautiful now? And what's with the cheerful attitude? Darn!" she exclaimed to herself. Veniz laughed to herself thinking, "My plan is working out very well!"

Misa gave the mike to Arika and said, "I suppose it's your turn to rehearse Fujisawa-san" Arika shook her head and exclaimed, "No, rehearse first Wakashi-san, I have some things to attend first with the Science Club" Jin shook his head saying, "Whoah wait Arika... let me do that"

"No Jin-san, you're helping out with the decorations, I'll handle this. Don't worry" Arika smiled smiling sweetly with that she bowed before them and left. Jin approached Kiyota who looked stunned and exclaimed, "Did you see that Kiyota? That was Arika!"

Kiyota gulped and said, "I know..." Jin shook his head and said, "Boy, she did sure change a lot... from the physical and the attitude, haven't you noticed? She's so dammed cheerful and sweet!" Kiyota then noticed Veniz looking at them. He approached her and asked, "What did you do?"

"Oh nothing Kiyota, I just gave her a makeover for her presentation. A singing sensation like her should look like a star you know" Veniz pointed out smiling slyly. "Don't play with me Veniz. I know that's not the only purpose. You're helping her to get back at me!" Kiyota snapped.

Veniz smiled innocently and said, "Common now Kiyota, why would I do that? Arika is not out to get you, she just want to prove something. Like... she can beautiful not only inside but also outside, the hell, people here are so blind anyway and looks only count and besides... people here only looks at the facade of things not knowing the real truth. So why not she play along?"

"Veniz..." Kiyota replied through gritted teeth. Veniz gave him a look and said, "What's wrong Kiyota? Are you regretting now? Common now don't, you're just a victim here just like her... a blind victim that is!" with that she walked away.

Ria exclaimed, "Ignore her Kiyota-kun. She's just trying to get to you!" Kiyota then glared at her and exclaimed, "Shut-up Ria, I didn't asked for your help!" with that he walked out. Ria went red and replied, "What? You...." Jin snickered and said, "Nice going Ria you just really pissed him"

"I did not pissed him. It was Sakuragi Veniz and that dirt bag Fujisawa Arika!" Ria snapped. Jin eyed her and said, "You really got the nerve to say that Ria. I mean... you did blinded Kiyota" Ria went white and said, "What do you mean?"

Jin gave out a laugh and said, "I'm not like what Veniz said, I know what's the real catch. I know you faked your fall and blamed it all in Arika and you sweet talk in Kiyota and convinced him that Arika turned into a real bitch and out to get you!"

Ria raised her hand about to slap Jin but Jin stopped her hand in time before it landed on his face. "You jerk!" Ria cursed jerking her hand away from Jin. Jin gave her a knowing-look and said, "Call me whatever you like oh by the way, be careful because no matter how you hide it, the truth will surely come out... in due time"

SCIENCE CLUB ROOM

"Geez it's sure empty" Arika said as she found the Science Club room empty. She then spotted the papers she has to fix and said, "These papers are not done yet." she sat down and started looking at the papers. She then heard the room door opened she exclaimed, "Oh sorry but President Jin is out ---"

Her voice trailed off as she saw who entered the room, it was Kiyota. "K-Kiyota..." she whispered, she then smiled and said, "Hey, what can I do for you?" Kiyota approached her and exclaimed, "Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Oh you mean this? If I don't do this, these papers won't be finished and Jin-san would be in hot water with the Junta-sensei! You know how he is an adviser" Arika replied looking at the papers. Kiyota grabbed Arika's arm and demanded, "That's not it Arika! THIS! This change... why?"

Arika jerked away and exclaimed, "Why? Why don't you ask yourself that? I'm so sick and tired of people trampling me down Kiyota! Ever since elementary I am always bullied and pushed over, that stops now. This change will prove that I am not the same Fujisawa Arika, I will fight back! And besides... maybe through this, blind people like you would see the truth!"

"I trusted you Kiyota... I thought you were different but now you were just like the rest of them. You were so SUCKED UP with this MY ANGEL thing that you covered your eyes to what's really going on! Well hello Kiyota Nobunaga time to wake up!" Arika continued walking past Kiyota.

She then stopped and said, "Oh by the way..." she then approached Kiyota and placed something on his hands. "I don't need to wear glasses anymore. Thanks for buying them" with that she walked off. Kiyota looked at the glasses in his hands and thought, "Arika..."

Not a single tear fell from Arika's hand. She's tougher. Something like that won't break her heart. She then saw Ria waiting for her across the corridor. "I don't know what you're up to but I'm warning you Kiyota is now mine" Ria exclaimed.

"Then he's yours. I'm not stealing him, never did I and besides he's the one who confessed first not me" Arika replied eyeing Ria. "Then why the make-over?" Ria demanded. Arika smiled sweetly at her and said, "For the festival what else?"

Ria raised and eyebrow and said, "You know that not the main reason dirt bag" Arika glared at Ria and said, "You know it then why ask?" Ria exclaimed, "You dirt bag! Haven't you learn any lesson to that little act I did?" Arika smirked and said, "What little act you say?"

"That act when I said you pushed me!" Ria snapped angrily. "Oh that? Sorry I could barely remember that act, you've been acting so many times to make people believe you that I'm having a hard time determining which act it is" Arika pointed out sarcastically.

Ria tried to slap her but Arika exclaimed, "Oh go ahead and slap me Ria Masahara, show your true colors to everyone here" Ria put her arm down and hissed, "You will regret this!" Arika smiled and said, "I won't Ria, you'll be the one who'll regret all of this" with that she walked off leaving Ria fuming.

Not very far, Veniz was smiling to herself. She exclaimed at Jin, "Got that all?" Jin smiled as he closed the video cam and said, "All of it" Veniz looked at Niki and said, "By tomorrow, Kiyota's eyes would be open to the truth!" as Arika passed by them, Niki gave her a thumb up sign.

Arika smiled and said to herself, "You'll regret pushing Fujisawa Arika to the edge... you'll see."

TO BE CONTINUED

AU: Ooohhh caught on video! ^_~