Hey everyone! Gracias for those 2 who reviewed this
new version, I'm so excited about getting the later chapters
out; I've made about 3 brand new chapters that I'm thrilled
with and really make this fic more layered and interesting,
at least in my opinion. Stick with me if you're reading these
1st few chaps and thinking that they're not that interesting.
I barely altered them and they're about 2 years old now and
so I'm 2 years oldER, so you'll notice a change in style towards the
end. Well, enough of my babbling, on w/ the fic!
Yeah..um, I know that Truth or Dare is not exactly something
college students play all the time, but I had to do this
part in order to set up the next chapter. It's not that bad,
honest! :D
And, YEAH, alcohol's mentioned in here. If you didn't already
know, people do consume the occasional alcoholic beverage,
especially those in college. I only warn those who are either
in exile from the real world (and I don't mean that lame-ass
TV show) or have a problem with drinking that it's here--RUN FOR
YOUR SOBRIETY!
Like I said, not that big of deal, but I've had one too many
morality lectures to tide me over for a few years...or decades.
Disclaimer: I don't own sailor moon or its characters,
OR starbucks! ;D
a frapachino does sound good though.....yummmmmm..
Enjoy!
TO GO PLEASE
CHAPTER 3: "All's Fair in Truth or Dare"
RATING: PG
BY: ADRIAL
E-MAIL: adrial06yahoo.com
TO GO PLEASE
I had just been introduced to my latest, mortal
enemy. She was coy little thing, with beady red eyes that
could burn a hole in my forehead from just looking at it
and a sly grin plastered permanently on her milk white
face with no sign of dispersing.
The devilish thing had a knack for pulling innocents
into her trap with her pouty lips and angelic visage, but
I refused to be taken prisoner to her--not this time. I sighed,
exasperated, as beads of frustrated sweat trickled down my
forehead.
She'd already gotten them, spinning her web of
manipulation, and they'd fallen, willingly, into it.
Usagi, of course, had been first to succomb. I'd tried
to catch her, make her see the evil in the scarlet eyes,
but she'd merely gone anyway, squealing with giddiness.
Minako--my, did she put up a fight,but to no
avail. The creature's hypnotic spell was spun, her victims
taken.
Makoto and Rei had been hesistant to give in
as well. Rei had tried; she put her nose in the air and
shut her eyes in concentration. Usagi convinced her,
though, and Makoto was soon to follow.
My eyes were now shut against their laughing
faces, and the enemy's constant smirk. Something tickled
my lips, and I fell backward from the shock.
"Come on, Ami-chan! Just pet her!" Usagi
exclaimed, shoving the ball of fur into my face once more.
I put out my hands, bit down my lip and forced
myself to think about the myriad of dents now adorning
my mother's 800 dollar coffee table legs.
"NO! My mother is going to KILL me for what
she did to her table!" I yelled back, scooting farther
into the corner of my bed and put my hands over my eyes.
Minako frowned and picked up the rabbit.
"But she didn't really mean it, did you Mimi?" She
cooed at the adorable little nuisance.
She was rewarded with a wiggle of whiskers
and squealed in delight.
"I just love you so much, yes I do, yes I
do!" Minako masaged the powder white fur in between
the bunny's eyes and giggled.
"My turn!" Makoto announced, shoving past
the ogling blonde and retrieving the animal.
"You guys, just take it out in the hall or
something," I said in defeat, trying to figure out
where I was going to acquire the cash to pay for
the damaged table legs.
To add to my pain, someone began furiously
pounding on my front door. I leapt out of my bed,
hopping over their squeals and bent faces of joy,
and skidded to a halt in the foyer.
When I threw the door open there was no
one there, and I furrowed my brow in annoyance.
"Ami-san!" A defiant little voice yelled,
and I immediately looked down.
Two round amber eyes brimmed with tears
were staring back up at me.
"Malina! I was just about to come and get
you," I sighed out of relief. I had graciously
volunteered to rabbit-sit for the day while Malina
and her mother did their Christmas shopping.
"Where's Mimi? MIMI!" She yelled, scurrying
past my legs and into my apartment, "MIMI! I'M
BAACK!"
I smacked my forehead, not really to assuage
the brewing headache there, and slammed the door
shut.
"Aww, do we have to?" Usagi pouted,
looking as if at any given moment she might bolt
for the door with the rabbit and never come back.
I nodded vigorously. She stuck out her bottom
lip and begrudgingly handed the white mass in her arms
over to the squealing six year old.
Even Rei looked sorrowful, and folded her arms
across her stomach, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Mimi! I missed you soooo much!" Malina's
chubby little fingers lifted her pet into the air
and twirled her around in circles.
"Did you miss me, too? Didja, didja, didja?!"
She stuck her ear close to Mimi's wiggling mouth and
waited for answer.
Rei coughed, "Um, I don't think she can
talk, sweetie."
Mimi looked stricken, "Yes, she can! She
talks to me all the time!" Beads of moisture accumlated
in her eyes, and she glanced at me as if begging me
to beat my raven-haired friend into submission for ever
doubting her rabbit's ability to communicate verbally.
I laughed nervously, "Of course she can, Malina.
Well, I guess your mother will be waiting!" I gestured
towards my front door, ecstatic that the furry pest
would be making her exit soon.
She laughed again, tucked the fat rabbit under
her arm and tore out the door and into her apartment, two
doors down.
Minako sighed despondently, "That was the CUTEST
thing I've ever seen."
She fell back onto my couch with a sigh and
laughed, "Kinda sucks that she screwed up your mom's
table, though."
I raked my fingers through my hair and plopped
down into the leather armchair behind me, "No, Minako.
It really sucks."
Rei and Makoto took seats on either side of Minako.
"Mmmf! MmmmmmmmmmFFFOWWW!"
Either Usagi's bookbage was possesssed, or there
was an extremely pissed off biology book wrestling with
itself inside.
It jiggled and flopped across my carpet and we
collectively gasped. Usagi slapped her forehead and
tackled it.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, you guys!" She frantically
unzipped the bag and a disgruntled, black head popped out.
"It's about time! I was about to suffocate!" She
wriggled out and shook out her fur.
"YOU were going to suffocate? You nearly clawed
my eyeballs out ten times in there!" Artemis hopped out,
his white fur disheveled and his whiskers bent at odd
angles. Minako scooped him up and placed him in her lap
where he proceeded to clean his face with the back of
his paw.
Luna rolled her cinnamon eyes and hopped onto the
table.
"Hey, if you guys wouldn't have been looking
at Mimi with that I'm-a-hungry-cat-and-I'm-about-to-pounce
look, I wouldn't have had to stuff you in there!" Usagi
stated, easing onto a twin arm chair on the opposite
side of the table.
"I can't help it if it kept looking at me with
those beady little eyes," Artemis shivered.
Makoto nosily opened a bag of potato chips and
shoved a few in her mouth. Usagi held out her hands eagerly
and Makoto rummaged through the bag, producing a fragment
of a chip and placing it into her palm.
Usagi gasped, "Makoto! Don't hog them all!"
She popped the tiny bit in to her mouth and pounced
on Makoto, wrestling for the bag of greasy potato
shavings.
Artemis leapt out of her path and sat beside
Luna on the top of the glass table. Makoto laughed,
standing up to her full height of 5'11" and watched
Usagi try to gain 8 inches of height to reach it.
"When you have QUITE finished." Luna
said in her no-nonsense tone, and I was sure that
if she was human, she would have been tapping her
foot impatiently.
Makoto stopped her arm from pushing on Usagi's
head, and let the bag of chips drop lightly into her open
hands. Usagi squealed triumphantly and plopped onto the
floor, tearing through the bag ravenously.
Rei rolled her purple eyes towards the ceiling,
and Minako thought better of asking for a chip, lest she
loose a finger.
"Man, this migraine is killing me," Makoto
said, masaging her temples slowly. Minako rummaged
through her purse for something and offered her a
white bottle of Tylenol. Makoto accepted it and
popped 3 in her mouth, dry.
"Gee, I wonder why," Rei stated sarcastically,
and stole a few chips from Usagi's hand when she wasn't
looking.
Makoto smiled sweetly at her. Usagi and she
had spent the previous night and into the morning hours
"gettin' their freak on" (or something of that caliber)
at some random frat boy's party whom they'd met
briefly at the mall.
"You shoulda come, Rei, they had the ENTIRE
basketball team there!" Makoto laughed at Rei's envious
pout.
Parties weren't exactly my type of scene.
Ear-slitting bass, pools of week old beer, and sweaty
bodies grinding against each other in every inch of
available space did little to entice me.
I'd been to one before, after being deviously
tricked by Rei and Minako, who had coyly shrugged and said
"Oh, I didn't know this was where that mixer was...
I could have sworn it said 'Education Awareness Meeting'
on the flier. Oh well...why not?" when we pulled up in
front of the two story house currently decorated with
half-baked jocks dangling from the windows like
disoriented chimpanzees.
I winced from the memory of a stoned, 300
something pound football player stumbling past me,
knocking the breath out of me and then choosing the
patch of grass directly beside my feet to regurgitate
the keg of beer he'd just consumed through a funnel.
Minako had smiled brightly from behind her
half-empty, possibly alcoholic beverage (I was too
disgusted by frat-puke to bother to ask) at a guy I
recognized from my literature class, while Rei glared
daggers at any male within a fifty foot radius who
looked at her the wrong way.
Eminem was "losing himself" rather rambunctiously
from inside, and while Missy Elliot worked it across the street
where a neighboring party was being held, I fled the
scene before Rei and Minako had the chance to drag
me back.
I returned home to the comfort and silence of my
immaculate apartment, only to be bombarded with the
'BOOM BOOM' of a car's bass as it roared past my complex.
I slammed the windows shut and dove under my pillows.
Never again. I'd vowed silently to myself
that night.
"Hey, was the new starter there? I hear he's
a new transfer...M-something," Minako asked eagerly,
obviously regretting the photo shoot she'd been
obligated to the night before.
Makoto shrugged, "I dunno. But that hot
sophmore showed up, the one in your lit. class, Rei."
Rei shrugged it off--obviously not interested.
"Alright, we are not turning this meeting
into a gossip-fest," Artemis stated grumpily. I guessed
he was slightly irked that Minako was so openly
blabbering about the opposite sex--and in front
of HIM! 'Her mentor of all people,' he'd said
one day when he thought I was out of ear-shot.
Makoto halted her next sentence about the
girl who was wearing close to nothing and table dancing
to the Bum Bum song like an idiot.
Rei, Minako, and Usagi sobered quickly and
folded their hands in their lap.
"Yes, Artemis, sir," They chorused.
Artemis looked taken aback. He threw back
his shoulders and nodded shortly, "Well, then, on
with the meeting."
"Has anyone noticed anything off center,
lately?" Luna asked.
We shook our heads, and Minako shrugged, "I
haven't even felt any negative energy around."
Rei seemed to milling on something and
sat up, "Well...I looked in the fire yesterday,
and I couldn't get a thing out of it. I'm almost
positive that it's hiding something from me, though."
Minako quirked her brow, "Almost?"
Rei shrugged, "Yeah. It's like it goes back
and forth--it starts to open, and then closes up like
it doesn't want me to see something."
She creased her brow, "It's never done this
to me before, and I guess it's kind of frustrating.
Her inability to contribute much seemed
to chipping away at her pride, and she let out a
dejected sigh.
"Sorry, minna."
Usagi patted her back, "That's OK, Pyro.
Everyone has their off days," She giggled at Rei's
look of annoyance, but Rei seemed to relax a bit
more afterwards.
"Anyone else?" Luna peered at each of
our faces, landing on mine last and hovering for
a moment. I shrugged my shoulders, "Nothing yet, Luna."
She sighed, "Well...alright then. Keep
your eyes open, girls. Things can't stay peaceful
forever."
"That'd put us out of the job," Makoto said,
leaning backwards onto the couch.
Luna and Artemis looked at each other for a
fleeting moment and nodded. They began their
way over to the window.
"We'll see you girls later. Artemis and I
are going to check out city for anything suspicious."
Usagi opened the window for them and they
hopped out. She closed it against the gust of frigid
wind that blew into her face and shivered.
"Geez, it's cold out there," She mumbled
under her breath.
I sighed and stretched out the tight muscles
in my arms and shoulders.
Rei suddenly gasped and laughed excitedly, "Hey,
you guys, I haven't told you yet have I?"
Usagi shoved a handful of chips into her mouth
and raised her eyebrows, "Tol' us whuft?"
Rei eyed her overfilled mouth disapprovingly,
but didn't hide the glow in her eyes, "That I made
it!"
"Could you be a little more vague, Rei?"
Usagi asked.
Rei glared at her for a second, "I told you guys
that Juuban U was selected for that music competition, right?"
We nodded, and she laughed again, "They held auditions
last month for three contestants to compete--REMEMBER?"
cricket
"I can't believe you guys forgot!" She folded
her arms over her chest, "Yeah, well, since it's obviously
SO unimportant, I won't tell you that I was chosen to
perform."
Usagi threw down her bag of chips and tackled
Rei in a huge hug, "OH MY GOSH, REI! THAT'S SO GREAT!!"
Rei tried to swallow her laughter but failed.
"Get off, Meatball Head!" She said, smiling widely.
Usagi pried her arms from around her neck and sat
back, "We're so proud of our little Pyro!" She exclaimed and
patted the top of Rei's head.
Rei growled underneath her breath and Usagi giggled
nervously. The rest of us congradualted her with fervor,
hoping she'd forgive our short-term memories.
"So, ANYWAY," Rei said after Minako finished
babbling excitedly, "It's in three weeks, and the winner
gets..." She paused for added drama and Usagi practically
hopped on her toes in anticipation, "10 THOUSAND dollars!"
Usagi squealed in delight, and Makoto began to
remind her of every time she'd lended her favorite senshi
five bucks.
Rei, who spent her weekends working part-time as a
cocktail waitress to make extra money, was in desperate
need for the cash. Her father had "graciously" offered her
any financial assistance she might need after she graduated
in a pitiful attempt to make up for eighteen missed birthdays
and countless holidays spent away from his only child (I
couldn't help but take part in her contempt for him).
Rei, however, politely refused his offer.
Her grandpa's face was priceless when her father
returned the following day, broken nose and all, to replace
the damaged door she'd slammed against his face.
Surviving mainly on academic and vocal scholarships,
along with a trust fund set up by her deceased mother,
Rei had gotten by fairly well. But the money from her
fund had run out and the scholarships weren't enough.
Her determination to be independent impressed me, and I,
along with the others, offered all the support we could
give to her.
Minako, however, was seldom found turning pants
pockets inside out in search of extra change. Her flawless
visage had graced the pages of magazines for a few years now,
and Usagi still kept the entire collection of her Sailor V
videos hostage in her bedroom if ever the need for blackmail
arose.
Minako was a natural, though. She took jobs as needed,
and her faithful agent made sure nothing indecent showed up
in places it, well...shouldn't. Usagi seemed most exuberant
at having a model for a best friend. Perhaps that was because
half of her wardrobe consisted of clothing Minako smuggled
from shoots across seas.
Once, on a rare shoot near home, she'd invited us all
to the set to watch. The set for Cosmopolitan's Spring Fever
issue reeked of sunless tanners and peroxide, but Minako looked
every bit as kind-hearted and Minako-like in the string bikini
with an array of baby-oiled men rubbing her down with sun
tan lotion as she did decked out in her favorite rubber
ducky pajamas.
When the director had tried to squeeze Usagi, Rei, Makoto,
and me into the shoot as well, we kindly refused, Usagi pouting
slightly as Rei glared her away from him and his way-too-friendly
glances.
Makoto, chef extraordinaire, was currently on a full
scholarship to Juuban U for culinary studies and fairing
extremely well. She'd entered about a thousand cooking
competitions over the last year or so, coming out victorious
9 out of ten times.
The money she won kept her in a comfortable financial
spot, but she continued to cook in downtown Tokyo's "CRUZ
DINER" where the over all populace consisted of hung over frat
boys and the occasional clusters of afternoon shoppers during
the day and rambunctious party-goers at night.
She loved it. In fact, so did Usagi who waited tables
there part-time while she slaved to maintain a B average at
Juuban University where Mamoru was in close proximity at
Tokyo University, an elite medical school and where I would
be heading once I completed pre-med classes at Juuban U.
Rei giggled in her excitement, beaming with pride as
Usagi and Minako began badgering her with ideas for what she
should wear and sing.
She sighed, "I guess it pays to be beautiful and
talented."
Since I was the closest in proximity to a pillow at the
moment, I took it upon myself to smack her upside the head
for that comment.
She laughed behind the mouthful of pillow, "Just
kidding, minna-chan."
Makoto jumped up and stretched her arms above her
head, "I wanna go somewhere--somewhere withOUT alcohol, that is."
Usagi vigorously nodded her head, and Minako leapt off
of the couch and bounded over to the foyer where she yanked
her white, knee length coat (AN: Think about that fabulous white
jacket J.Lo wore in Maid in Manahattan; I would KILL for that coat!)
over her baby blue sweater and pulled her gloves out of the
pockets, "Let's go, minna-chan."
She tapped her foot on the ground impatiently and
waited for us to put on our winter apparel.
An imaged of my unopened chemistry book filtered
into my mind, and I had to bite down on my lip in order
to keep myself from running into my bedroom and bringing
it along for the trip. There were at least two chapters
I hadn't read over yet.
I longingly glanced down the hallway, but Minako saw
and ushered me out the door without further discussion.
"I'm going, I'm going, Minako," I picked up my pace
as she nudged my back down the hallway and into the
elevator.
After about an hour of aimless wandering, we decided
to grab something to eat. This, of course, lead to heavy
debate between Rei and Usagi about where we would dine.
We ended up going to two separate places all
together--Minako and Rei stopping by a pizza stand, and
myself, Makoto, and Usagi tackling the mile long line at
"Tiki's Tofu."
Usagi slurped a mound of noodles happily off
of her chopsticks a half hour later, Minako and Rei
having already finished their meals. I handed her a
napkin absentmindedly when soy sauce splattered down
her chin, and listened with one ear as Rei took it
upon herself to bring it to everyone and their
mother's attention.
Each shop lining the busy streets of downtown
Tokyo was elaborately decorated in white and red
Christmas lights, and Usagi insisted on stopping
and talking to every bucket-weilding Santa we
encountered as we walked through the mass of
shoppers and people scurrying to get in
from the cold.
I reveled in the feeling of the feathery
snow as it rolled along my cheeks and stuck to my
wool coat and scarf. Minako kept close tabs on
any guys passing that were worth a second glance
and pouted when a man of choice had a girl
attatched to his arm.
Makoto shared in her disapproval after
she'd made a flirtatious pass at one blonde only
to be embarrassed as he lifted up a shiny ringed finger
and shrugged apologetically.
"Oooo...REjected!" Rei laughed, and Makoto
shoved her arm.
"Hey, at least I'm trying. When was the last
time you had a date, Miss Talented and Beautiful?"
Rei's mouth flapped open and closed and she
rolled back her shoulders with a huff.
Makoto smiled at her victory and continued
searching through the grounds for potential prey.
Usagi broke the silence. "Is it me, or are anyone
else's hands about to fall off?" She shivered to make her
point more clear and we nodded in agreement.
Minako cocked an eyebrow at Rei and Usagi grinned.
Rei's mouth parted as if to speak, but Usagi quickly
interupted her next words.
"PLEAASE, Rei-chan? I'm...s-so cold," Usagi threw her
hands to Rei's exposed neck and Rei flinched as the frozen
flesh came in contact with her own, "And your temple is so
very big and WARM."
"No way, Usagi. If I do recall correctly, you
spilled an avalanche of steaming MOCHA on my head and
floor the last time you were there, remember?" She crossed
her arms.
"Oh, come on, Rei. It'll be fun. Where's your holiday
spirit?" Makoto urged.
"I don't know. I might have misplaced it when a herd
of middle-aged soccer moms trampled me over last week to get
to the latest shipment of Play Station 2 games!" She exlaimed.
"Come on, Pryo," Usagi bent near her ear,
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle allll..."
Rei lunged for her arm, but Usagi bounded
away giggling madly.
"THE WAY!!!" She screeched from a few yards away.
Makoto, Minako, and I watched them as they jogged
all along the sidewalks, weaving in and out of people's
paths.
"Damn kids!" An elderly man shook his fist
angrily after Usagi knocked his cane out from under his
hand.
With a sheepish grin, she replaced his battered
cane, and patted his arm, "You have a merry Christmas now,
sir!"
He continued to wiggle his fist in the air after
she'd bounded off again, Rei hot on her heels.
Minako giggled, "How old are they again?"
Never too old, obviously.
Makoto shook her head and began ogling over a
set of kitchen knives on display in a window, "Do you
realize what those babies could do a 4 lb. steak?"
She continued to foam at the mouth while Minako
laughed beside her. I made a mental note about those
knives.
Red-faced and panting, Usagi and Rei returned having
given up on chasing each other due to the freezing temperature.
They still nudged one another with their elbows every once
in a while as we ventured down Tokyo's windy sidewalks.
Rei finally caved in and said we could stay at the temple
for the night, as long as Usagi didn't touch anything
liquid or hot.
Usagi pouted as we passed by Starbucks and sniffed.
Rei stuck her nose up and shook her head 'NO.'
Minako, however, did not send a cascade of mocha
flying the week before and steered into the cafe, dragging
me along for the ride.
"Minako--Um, do you really need to bring me alo-OUCH!"
I yelped as she twisted my arm in an awkward position.
Makoto and Rei followed, Usagi pouting behind
them. She despondently watched as we approached the counter.
I felt sorry for her, and vowed to wait until Rei wasn't
watching and slip her a hot chocolate.
"Ah...warmth," Makoto sighed and sauntered up to the
counter.
I could hear Usagi whispering harshly to me from
behind and assumed she was begging for me to do what I
already had planned so I merely waved and winked at her.
Dead wrong.
My frozen face instantly melted as a wave of heated
crimson washed over it. It was HIM. Standing in front of ME.
Waiting for my ORDER.
Makoto had finished rattling off her own order,
making sure that he put extra whipped cream in her eggnog latte
and a little cinnamon. She was always paranoid when others
prepared food or drinks for her. She kept a watchful eye
on the waiter who prepared her bevarage, pretending to
be reading an advertisement for Buy Four, Get One Free
cappuccinos on the wall.
I sighed in relief when Minako stepped in front of me
to place her order. I had a few moments to gather myself.
Trying to tame my blush, I turned around to look at Usagi.
She was smiling widely and winking. Rei eyed her critically,
but she also seemed delighted at the situation at hand. I could
see her eyes looking him over, and she seemed to recognize him.
Lifting her hand, she gave me a thumbs up and smiled.
I turned around again to avoid their gestures and he was
staring back at me with an unreadable expression plastered across
his flawless face.
MAY-DAY!! MAY-DAY! INTRUDER ALERT!! INTRUDER ALERT!!
A million warning signs blared throughout my head,
bouncing off of my eardrums and back again repeatedly. I resisted
the urge to clap my hands over my ears and hum out loud.
Collecting myself enough to speak, I brought my eyes to
the menu as a distraction from their previous travels.
Minako nudged me and I looked at her. "Weren't you going
to order?" She whispered. I glared at her and opened my mouth.
"Um...two tall hot chocolates...please." I had one hell
of a time trying to keep my unruly eyes from bulging from
their sockets in order to get a closer look at him.
Minako handed him our combined wad of cash.
Now, all I have to do is make it out the door without
dropping the tray and--
"Haven't I seen you in here before? With that girl
over there, right?" I was startled by his voice and jumped,
dropping the set of keys I had been nervously fiddling with.
They clinked to the floor and I felt the heat rise to my
cheeks, settling onto the pink tint that had already risen
there.
Bending over, I gathered myself and my keys,
replying as I rose again.
"Um...yea, we were in here a few days ago--the girl
was our friend, Usagi." He nodded and I grasped the
cups he handed me.
As our hands brushed, he spoke again and I was sure
he could hear the pounding of my heart.
"And do you have a name?" His tone was too confident
for my liking and I felt intimidated by his self-assurance.
"Yeah, it's...I mean, um..."
I felt a sharp jab in my ribs.
"Ami, my name is Ami." Thank you, Minako.
Minako smiled genially, "And I'm Minako. Please
excuse her, she's been studying way too hard lately."
"Minako!" I harshly whispered and pinched her arm.
"Ow! What did I do?" Her whisper's agitated tone
rivaled my own.
I ignored her question and tried to redeem myself.
"What's your name?" Thank God that came out smoothly.
"Zach." He looked amused at our antics and I blushed.
"That sounds American...are you from there?" I asked.
That's right, Merc, just let him do most of the talking
and try not to make yourself look completely moronic.
"Yeah, but I've lived here for 7 years."
Minako smiled wide enough to reach her ears,
her baby blues sparkling with whatever Minako-like
schemes were brewing in her mind.
I wasn't quite sure if my ears registered what he was
saying--he could have been speaking in a foreign language
for all I cared, as long as I could sit and watch.
"...so I'm studying at Juuban U now." He concluded
with a smile that melted the whipped cream right off of the
cups of hot chocolate he had handed me.
I dumbly nodded, busying myself with getting a few
napkins from the dispenser and trying to look like speaking
with incredibly attractive co-eds was a regular thing for me.
Minako rubbed her arm and looked at me, "That's cool,
isn't it, Ami? We both go there, actually," She grabbed
her change, "Well, sorry to run, but our friends will be
waiting. Say bye, Ames!"
Once I snapped out of my trance I fought the
urge to dump the contents of my cup on her head and
managed a simple 'Bye' before calmly walking away
with her.
"Maybe I'll see you around campus, Ami?" I turned my
head as I walked and smiled gently, "Maybe."
"HEY, BUDDY! I TOLD YOU A PINCH OF NUTMEG! LOOK
AT THAT!" Makoto furiously tried to leap over the counter
to get at the exasperated waiter preparing her eggnog latte.
"Miss, please--NO CUSTOMERS ALLOWED OVER THE COUNTER!!"
The man backed up against the counter behind him, trying
desperately to shy away from Makoto's swinging hands.
"MAKOTO!" Rei intervened, pushing the red-faced Makoto
away from the counter and taking her place.
"Listen, um--Kai is it?" She looked at his name-tag,
"Well, could you maybe make another eggnog latte, with a pinch
of nutmeg for my poor, mental friend here?" She smiled charmingly,
twirling a strand of raven hair between her fingers.
Kai's smile was goofy and wavering as he dumbly nodded.
Rei giggled in a way that was peculiarly Minako-like, "That's
SO nice of you."
A disgruntled Makoto glared at the waiter once more
as he shakily handed her her beverage.
I inwardly cringed. So far, Zach thought I was old
and that I highered mental patients from the local asylum
to pose as my friends.
I stole another glance at him only to find his
intoxicating green eyes were filled with amusement as
he laughed openly at the scene Makoto had caused.
"What are you looking at?" Makoto eyed every customer
in the place with an evil glare as they stared at her, and they
immediately shoved their noses back in their books or behind
their cups of coffee.
I was thoroughly embarrassed.
"Makoto, let's GO," I grabbed her arm and tugged her
out of the cafe before any lawsuits could be filed.
The wind whipped around us as we exited, carrying
flurries of snow along with it in trails of frozen white.
The last rays of the sun kissed the horizon goodnight,
and the moon yawned from its sleep, nestling into its position
amongst a thick blanket of stars.
My heart fluttered. FLUTTERED--like there were
butterflies having a field day inside my stomach. When had
that last happened? I shook my head, bewildered at the
man behind the counter, and smiled to myself.
The walk to the temple was mostly consistent of
Minako and Usagi's animated conversation of movies to
watch as we stopped at each of our houses to pick up
the essential items we would need. I left a hurried note
for my mother and prayed that she wouldn't try to cook.
I hadn't replaced our fire extinguisher yet.
Once en route to Rei's, I inhaled a deep gulp of the
frigid night air and exhaled slowly. The face that had
lingered behind my eyes for the past week finally had
a name to go along with it.
By the time we'd arrived, dancing green eyes were
swirling around in my head, leaving me dizzy in the process.
Thankfully, the night's events distracted me from my
thoughts. Unfortunately, I wouldn't call them good
distractions.
Really, what is a "night with the girls" without a
nice healthy game of Truth or Dare?
Exactly the kind of night I wish I'd had.
Laughing hysterically after our brief
pop-corn war, we all settled down and changed
into our pajamas. Rei 'quacked' under her breath
when Minako emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas.
She swatted at Rei's head with a pillow and
affectionately pet one of the grinning yellow
duckies over her stomach.
We spread out extra futon mattresses on the floor,
while Rei sat like the Martian princess she was upon her
own bed.
"Alright, ladies, you know what time it is."
Makoto eyed us menacingly.
"Snack time?"
"USAGI!"
Usagi doged a launched pillow and smirked.
"I know what time it is," Minako smiled, "TRUTH OR DARE!"
"Aren't we a little old for truth or dare,
minna-chan?" Rei voiced. Makoto looked stricken and
gripped the material of her sweat shirt over her heart.
"Rei...how could you? Too OLD? NEVER," She
dramatically fanned her face.
"Got any better ideas, flame-breath? Maybe we
could go and see if Yuuchirou wants to join our little par--"
"No!" Rei exclaimed, launching herself up to cover
Usagi's mouth, "And keep it down! I don't want him waking up."
We giggled, Makoto recovering from her shock and
kneeling beside me.
"Heh heh heh...who will it be?" She gave each of
us a cool stare and finally snapped her head in Rei's
direction.
"Miss Hino, since you were so enthusiastic about
this," A devilish grin spread over her face, "choose your
poison. Truth or Dare?"
"Go ahead, Sparky, dare me," Rei straightened proudly.
Makoto growled at her much-despised nick name.
"I wouldn't have said that, I wouldn't have
said that..." Minako sang, bringing her knees up to her
chest in anticipation of Makoto's dare.
Rei gulped, realizing her mistake.
Makoto hid her glare and smiled sweetly.
"Well...I've always been kinda curious as to
whether Yuuchiro preferred boxers or briefs..."
"NO! Makoto!" Rei's eyes widened considerably and
Usagi stuffed her face in a pillow to smother her laughs.
"I'm not done yet," Makoto sang, "I want you to
go into his room, steal a pair of his underwear...PUT
THEM ON and come back. You HAVE to put them on in
his room, though. We'll be waiting right here."
"That is SO unfair, Spar-Makoto!" Rei pouted.
"Hey, a dare's a dare, and you HAVE to go through
with it," Makoto said.
Rei rose and grunted under her breath,
"I'm gonna fry you alive for this, Makoto."
Although Makoto said we'd wait for her, we
couldn't just SIT there while she was performing
possibly the most reputation-largely-at-risk dare
ever. Quietly, we tip-toed outside to his window
and peeked over the ledge. The biting chill was well
worth it, I thought.
Usagi pouted, hopping up and down in order to
see over Minako and Makoto's much taller frames.
They parted silently, and let her through. There was
just enough moonlight to make out Rei's form.
Rei hesitantly reached for his dresser
drawer and jumped when Yuuchiro let out a loud snort.
When he rolled over (facing us) and hugged his pillow
closer she sighed and opened the drawer cautiously.
"Oh, Rei, I love it when you hit me like that."
Yuuchiro sighed happily in his sleep, and we had quite
a rough time suppressing our giggles as Rei looked
appalled at his statement.
Triumphantly, she produced a pair of boxers and
didn't bother to take the time to look at them closely
as she frantically slipped them over her own pajama pants.
We scurried back into the room before she could
catch us and made it just in time.
She strutted in wearing a smug smile and donning a
pair of adorable red boxers complete with tiny pictures of
a laughing Big Bird spread all over them.
Our lungs practically burst as we laughed
uncontrollably at the sight. Out of no where, a camera
flashed and Rei stood dumbfounded for a moment before
pouncing on Usagi.
"USAGI! IF YOU DON'T HAND THAT OVER I'M GOING TO
BURN YOU TO A CRISP!"
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE, PYRO!" Usagi tossed the camera
to Minako who safely stashed it in her subspace pocket.
"MINAKO! YOU TRAITOR!"
"And THAT is for video taping me drunken singing
"Respect" at Melanie's graduation party on her COFFEE TABLE!"
Minako declared.
Rei sighed, defeated, and sent Usagi another
death glare.
"Alright, now it's MY turn."
We held our breaths, sure that it would be Makoto.
"I should pick Makoto for pulling that little stunt,"
She paused to give Makoto a healthy dosage of her infamous
Rei-glare, "but recent events must be taken into account...
ODANGO? Truth or Dare?"
Usagi's eyes widened and she bit her lip,
"U-um...truth!"
"Wimp..." Rei muttered beneath her breath.
"Hey, I am NOT a wimp! Fine, dare me!"
"Heh heh heh...gotcha! I knew your ego would
get the better of you."
"Hey! No fair! You tricked me!" Usagi exclaimed.
"All's fair in Truth or Dare," We chorused.
Usagi grunted and crossed her arms on her chest.
"Alright...let's have it, pyro."
Rei stood up and retrieved the telephone.
"I want you to call Mamoru and tell him..."
Rei reached over and whispered the rest in her ear and
we watched as Usagi's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"REI! I can't do that! He'll FREAK!"
"You have to, Odango. Here ya go," She handed her
the phone.
"Fine."
Her fingers punched the numbers hurriedly as if
she was afraid to go any slower for fear of not being
able to finish, and she held the receiver to her ear.
Rei punched the speaker key and Usagi glared at her.
"Hello?" Mamoru's muffled voice answered.
"Hey, Mamo-chan, did I wake you?"
"Usako?" We giggled quietly at her blush.
"Uh...yeah...um, Mamo-chan, I need to tell you s-something."
"What is it? Is anything wrong?"
Usagi sent Rei a pleading look and she shook her
head as a command to go through with it.
"Well, the thing is, Mamo-chan...I'm...I'm...
I'm pregnant!" She squinted her eyes tightly.
"ahem C-Come again?" Mamoru's voice had raised
about ten decibels in pitch.
"I said that I'm pregnant...Mamo-chan."
I could practically hear crickets chirping
outside the window during the dead silence the filled the air.
We all subconsciously held our breaths waiting for the inevitible.
"USAGI, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! WHO THE HELL IS THE FATHER?!"
We collapsed into insane laughter at his rage
and Usagi looked about ready to kill Rei who was clutching
her stomach.
After some calming words from Usagi, he settled down
enough to listen. Rei's dare wasn't over yet.
"And, Mamo-chan...the father is...M-Motoki."
pause
"WHAAAAAAAAATTTT?!"
Usagi fell back at the sudden outburst.
"You..a-and MOTOKI?! HE AND RIKA JUST GOT MARRIED!"
He screeched.
I could see the steam rising from the speaker as he
raged on, trying to convince himself (aloud) that what his
love had just told him could not be true.
Usagi managed to squeeze in a few words between his
frantic rambling, informing him of the evil Rei's dare.
"Mamo-chan, I'm sorry! It was all Pyro's idea!"
"Rei...it was Rei..." He repeated slowly,
"No...baby...I don't have to murder Motoki?"
I covered my mouth to stop the mad stream of giggles.
Usagi finally found the humor behind the joke
and laughed, "No, Mamo-chan. There is NO baby."
I could hear him suck in an enormous gulp of air and
exhale heavily.
"No baby...no baby." He said a few times.
"Hey, Rei," He said louder.
Rei let a few more giggles escape before answering,
"Yeah, Mamoru?"
"The next time you decide it would be funny to
give poor, over-stressed, med students a heart attack,"
He paused, "DON'T."
We collapsed into fits of laughter, and Usagi yelled
her goodbyes to Mamoru, clicking the 'End' button and
returning to her place on her mattress.
"I should kill you for that," She said to Rei.
"Try me," Rei countered.
Before they could start fighting, Makoto reminded
Usagi that it was her turn.
"Alright...Ami-chan, I believe I saw you holding
a tape recorder during that conversation." I cowered
backward and laughed nervously. The plastic corner of
Rei's tape recorder snuck out from beneath my blanket.
"Truth or Dare?"
"U-um...tr-"
"Nuh uh, Merc, you always pick that! You leave
me no choice but to enforce the 'Excessive Truth Law' on you."
"But there is no such th-"
I stopped as they all glared in my direction.
"Fine. DARE me already."
I watched in fearful apprehension as the corners
of her mouth etched into a sly grin.
"This is gonna be good." Minako eagerly rubbed
her hands together in anticipation of Usagi's dare.
"OK, Ami-chan, all you have to do is..."
sigh yes, I made a sorry attempt at a cliff hanger
just for YOU! :D
now go and review or e-mail me!
AdRiAL
adrial06yahoo.com
new version, I'm so excited about getting the later chapters
out; I've made about 3 brand new chapters that I'm thrilled
with and really make this fic more layered and interesting,
at least in my opinion. Stick with me if you're reading these
1st few chaps and thinking that they're not that interesting.
I barely altered them and they're about 2 years old now and
so I'm 2 years oldER, so you'll notice a change in style towards the
end. Well, enough of my babbling, on w/ the fic!
Yeah..um, I know that Truth or Dare is not exactly something
college students play all the time, but I had to do this
part in order to set up the next chapter. It's not that bad,
honest! :D
And, YEAH, alcohol's mentioned in here. If you didn't already
know, people do consume the occasional alcoholic beverage,
especially those in college. I only warn those who are either
in exile from the real world (and I don't mean that lame-ass
TV show) or have a problem with drinking that it's here--RUN FOR
YOUR SOBRIETY!
Like I said, not that big of deal, but I've had one too many
morality lectures to tide me over for a few years...or decades.
Disclaimer: I don't own sailor moon or its characters,
OR starbucks! ;D
a frapachino does sound good though.....yummmmmm..
Enjoy!
TO GO PLEASE
CHAPTER 3: "All's Fair in Truth or Dare"
RATING: PG
BY: ADRIAL
E-MAIL: adrial06yahoo.com
TO GO PLEASE
I had just been introduced to my latest, mortal
enemy. She was coy little thing, with beady red eyes that
could burn a hole in my forehead from just looking at it
and a sly grin plastered permanently on her milk white
face with no sign of dispersing.
The devilish thing had a knack for pulling innocents
into her trap with her pouty lips and angelic visage, but
I refused to be taken prisoner to her--not this time. I sighed,
exasperated, as beads of frustrated sweat trickled down my
forehead.
She'd already gotten them, spinning her web of
manipulation, and they'd fallen, willingly, into it.
Usagi, of course, had been first to succomb. I'd tried
to catch her, make her see the evil in the scarlet eyes,
but she'd merely gone anyway, squealing with giddiness.
Minako--my, did she put up a fight,but to no
avail. The creature's hypnotic spell was spun, her victims
taken.
Makoto and Rei had been hesistant to give in
as well. Rei had tried; she put her nose in the air and
shut her eyes in concentration. Usagi convinced her,
though, and Makoto was soon to follow.
My eyes were now shut against their laughing
faces, and the enemy's constant smirk. Something tickled
my lips, and I fell backward from the shock.
"Come on, Ami-chan! Just pet her!" Usagi
exclaimed, shoving the ball of fur into my face once more.
I put out my hands, bit down my lip and forced
myself to think about the myriad of dents now adorning
my mother's 800 dollar coffee table legs.
"NO! My mother is going to KILL me for what
she did to her table!" I yelled back, scooting farther
into the corner of my bed and put my hands over my eyes.
Minako frowned and picked up the rabbit.
"But she didn't really mean it, did you Mimi?" She
cooed at the adorable little nuisance.
She was rewarded with a wiggle of whiskers
and squealed in delight.
"I just love you so much, yes I do, yes I
do!" Minako masaged the powder white fur in between
the bunny's eyes and giggled.
"My turn!" Makoto announced, shoving past
the ogling blonde and retrieving the animal.
"You guys, just take it out in the hall or
something," I said in defeat, trying to figure out
where I was going to acquire the cash to pay for
the damaged table legs.
To add to my pain, someone began furiously
pounding on my front door. I leapt out of my bed,
hopping over their squeals and bent faces of joy,
and skidded to a halt in the foyer.
When I threw the door open there was no
one there, and I furrowed my brow in annoyance.
"Ami-san!" A defiant little voice yelled,
and I immediately looked down.
Two round amber eyes brimmed with tears
were staring back up at me.
"Malina! I was just about to come and get
you," I sighed out of relief. I had graciously
volunteered to rabbit-sit for the day while Malina
and her mother did their Christmas shopping.
"Where's Mimi? MIMI!" She yelled, scurrying
past my legs and into my apartment, "MIMI! I'M
BAACK!"
I smacked my forehead, not really to assuage
the brewing headache there, and slammed the door
shut.
"Aww, do we have to?" Usagi pouted,
looking as if at any given moment she might bolt
for the door with the rabbit and never come back.
I nodded vigorously. She stuck out her bottom
lip and begrudgingly handed the white mass in her arms
over to the squealing six year old.
Even Rei looked sorrowful, and folded her arms
across her stomach, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Mimi! I missed you soooo much!" Malina's
chubby little fingers lifted her pet into the air
and twirled her around in circles.
"Did you miss me, too? Didja, didja, didja?!"
She stuck her ear close to Mimi's wiggling mouth and
waited for answer.
Rei coughed, "Um, I don't think she can
talk, sweetie."
Mimi looked stricken, "Yes, she can! She
talks to me all the time!" Beads of moisture accumlated
in her eyes, and she glanced at me as if begging me
to beat my raven-haired friend into submission for ever
doubting her rabbit's ability to communicate verbally.
I laughed nervously, "Of course she can, Malina.
Well, I guess your mother will be waiting!" I gestured
towards my front door, ecstatic that the furry pest
would be making her exit soon.
She laughed again, tucked the fat rabbit under
her arm and tore out the door and into her apartment, two
doors down.
Minako sighed despondently, "That was the CUTEST
thing I've ever seen."
She fell back onto my couch with a sigh and
laughed, "Kinda sucks that she screwed up your mom's
table, though."
I raked my fingers through my hair and plopped
down into the leather armchair behind me, "No, Minako.
It really sucks."
Rei and Makoto took seats on either side of Minako.
"Mmmf! MmmmmmmmmmFFFOWWW!"
Either Usagi's bookbage was possesssed, or there
was an extremely pissed off biology book wrestling with
itself inside.
It jiggled and flopped across my carpet and we
collectively gasped. Usagi slapped her forehead and
tackled it.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, you guys!" She frantically
unzipped the bag and a disgruntled, black head popped out.
"It's about time! I was about to suffocate!" She
wriggled out and shook out her fur.
"YOU were going to suffocate? You nearly clawed
my eyeballs out ten times in there!" Artemis hopped out,
his white fur disheveled and his whiskers bent at odd
angles. Minako scooped him up and placed him in her lap
where he proceeded to clean his face with the back of
his paw.
Luna rolled her cinnamon eyes and hopped onto the
table.
"Hey, if you guys wouldn't have been looking
at Mimi with that I'm-a-hungry-cat-and-I'm-about-to-pounce
look, I wouldn't have had to stuff you in there!" Usagi
stated, easing onto a twin arm chair on the opposite
side of the table.
"I can't help it if it kept looking at me with
those beady little eyes," Artemis shivered.
Makoto nosily opened a bag of potato chips and
shoved a few in her mouth. Usagi held out her hands eagerly
and Makoto rummaged through the bag, producing a fragment
of a chip and placing it into her palm.
Usagi gasped, "Makoto! Don't hog them all!"
She popped the tiny bit in to her mouth and pounced
on Makoto, wrestling for the bag of greasy potato
shavings.
Artemis leapt out of her path and sat beside
Luna on the top of the glass table. Makoto laughed,
standing up to her full height of 5'11" and watched
Usagi try to gain 8 inches of height to reach it.
"When you have QUITE finished." Luna
said in her no-nonsense tone, and I was sure that
if she was human, she would have been tapping her
foot impatiently.
Makoto stopped her arm from pushing on Usagi's
head, and let the bag of chips drop lightly into her open
hands. Usagi squealed triumphantly and plopped onto the
floor, tearing through the bag ravenously.
Rei rolled her purple eyes towards the ceiling,
and Minako thought better of asking for a chip, lest she
loose a finger.
"Man, this migraine is killing me," Makoto
said, masaging her temples slowly. Minako rummaged
through her purse for something and offered her a
white bottle of Tylenol. Makoto accepted it and
popped 3 in her mouth, dry.
"Gee, I wonder why," Rei stated sarcastically,
and stole a few chips from Usagi's hand when she wasn't
looking.
Makoto smiled sweetly at her. Usagi and she
had spent the previous night and into the morning hours
"gettin' their freak on" (or something of that caliber)
at some random frat boy's party whom they'd met
briefly at the mall.
"You shoulda come, Rei, they had the ENTIRE
basketball team there!" Makoto laughed at Rei's envious
pout.
Parties weren't exactly my type of scene.
Ear-slitting bass, pools of week old beer, and sweaty
bodies grinding against each other in every inch of
available space did little to entice me.
I'd been to one before, after being deviously
tricked by Rei and Minako, who had coyly shrugged and said
"Oh, I didn't know this was where that mixer was...
I could have sworn it said 'Education Awareness Meeting'
on the flier. Oh well...why not?" when we pulled up in
front of the two story house currently decorated with
half-baked jocks dangling from the windows like
disoriented chimpanzees.
I winced from the memory of a stoned, 300
something pound football player stumbling past me,
knocking the breath out of me and then choosing the
patch of grass directly beside my feet to regurgitate
the keg of beer he'd just consumed through a funnel.
Minako had smiled brightly from behind her
half-empty, possibly alcoholic beverage (I was too
disgusted by frat-puke to bother to ask) at a guy I
recognized from my literature class, while Rei glared
daggers at any male within a fifty foot radius who
looked at her the wrong way.
Eminem was "losing himself" rather rambunctiously
from inside, and while Missy Elliot worked it across the street
where a neighboring party was being held, I fled the
scene before Rei and Minako had the chance to drag
me back.
I returned home to the comfort and silence of my
immaculate apartment, only to be bombarded with the
'BOOM BOOM' of a car's bass as it roared past my complex.
I slammed the windows shut and dove under my pillows.
Never again. I'd vowed silently to myself
that night.
"Hey, was the new starter there? I hear he's
a new transfer...M-something," Minako asked eagerly,
obviously regretting the photo shoot she'd been
obligated to the night before.
Makoto shrugged, "I dunno. But that hot
sophmore showed up, the one in your lit. class, Rei."
Rei shrugged it off--obviously not interested.
"Alright, we are not turning this meeting
into a gossip-fest," Artemis stated grumpily. I guessed
he was slightly irked that Minako was so openly
blabbering about the opposite sex--and in front
of HIM! 'Her mentor of all people,' he'd said
one day when he thought I was out of ear-shot.
Makoto halted her next sentence about the
girl who was wearing close to nothing and table dancing
to the Bum Bum song like an idiot.
Rei, Minako, and Usagi sobered quickly and
folded their hands in their lap.
"Yes, Artemis, sir," They chorused.
Artemis looked taken aback. He threw back
his shoulders and nodded shortly, "Well, then, on
with the meeting."
"Has anyone noticed anything off center,
lately?" Luna asked.
We shook our heads, and Minako shrugged, "I
haven't even felt any negative energy around."
Rei seemed to milling on something and
sat up, "Well...I looked in the fire yesterday,
and I couldn't get a thing out of it. I'm almost
positive that it's hiding something from me, though."
Minako quirked her brow, "Almost?"
Rei shrugged, "Yeah. It's like it goes back
and forth--it starts to open, and then closes up like
it doesn't want me to see something."
She creased her brow, "It's never done this
to me before, and I guess it's kind of frustrating.
Her inability to contribute much seemed
to chipping away at her pride, and she let out a
dejected sigh.
"Sorry, minna."
Usagi patted her back, "That's OK, Pyro.
Everyone has their off days," She giggled at Rei's
look of annoyance, but Rei seemed to relax a bit
more afterwards.
"Anyone else?" Luna peered at each of
our faces, landing on mine last and hovering for
a moment. I shrugged my shoulders, "Nothing yet, Luna."
She sighed, "Well...alright then. Keep
your eyes open, girls. Things can't stay peaceful
forever."
"That'd put us out of the job," Makoto said,
leaning backwards onto the couch.
Luna and Artemis looked at each other for a
fleeting moment and nodded. They began their
way over to the window.
"We'll see you girls later. Artemis and I
are going to check out city for anything suspicious."
Usagi opened the window for them and they
hopped out. She closed it against the gust of frigid
wind that blew into her face and shivered.
"Geez, it's cold out there," She mumbled
under her breath.
I sighed and stretched out the tight muscles
in my arms and shoulders.
Rei suddenly gasped and laughed excitedly, "Hey,
you guys, I haven't told you yet have I?"
Usagi shoved a handful of chips into her mouth
and raised her eyebrows, "Tol' us whuft?"
Rei eyed her overfilled mouth disapprovingly,
but didn't hide the glow in her eyes, "That I made
it!"
"Could you be a little more vague, Rei?"
Usagi asked.
Rei glared at her for a second, "I told you guys
that Juuban U was selected for that music competition, right?"
We nodded, and she laughed again, "They held auditions
last month for three contestants to compete--REMEMBER?"
cricket
"I can't believe you guys forgot!" She folded
her arms over her chest, "Yeah, well, since it's obviously
SO unimportant, I won't tell you that I was chosen to
perform."
Usagi threw down her bag of chips and tackled
Rei in a huge hug, "OH MY GOSH, REI! THAT'S SO GREAT!!"
Rei tried to swallow her laughter but failed.
"Get off, Meatball Head!" She said, smiling widely.
Usagi pried her arms from around her neck and sat
back, "We're so proud of our little Pyro!" She exclaimed and
patted the top of Rei's head.
Rei growled underneath her breath and Usagi giggled
nervously. The rest of us congradualted her with fervor,
hoping she'd forgive our short-term memories.
"So, ANYWAY," Rei said after Minako finished
babbling excitedly, "It's in three weeks, and the winner
gets..." She paused for added drama and Usagi practically
hopped on her toes in anticipation, "10 THOUSAND dollars!"
Usagi squealed in delight, and Makoto began to
remind her of every time she'd lended her favorite senshi
five bucks.
Rei, who spent her weekends working part-time as a
cocktail waitress to make extra money, was in desperate
need for the cash. Her father had "graciously" offered her
any financial assistance she might need after she graduated
in a pitiful attempt to make up for eighteen missed birthdays
and countless holidays spent away from his only child (I
couldn't help but take part in her contempt for him).
Rei, however, politely refused his offer.
Her grandpa's face was priceless when her father
returned the following day, broken nose and all, to replace
the damaged door she'd slammed against his face.
Surviving mainly on academic and vocal scholarships,
along with a trust fund set up by her deceased mother,
Rei had gotten by fairly well. But the money from her
fund had run out and the scholarships weren't enough.
Her determination to be independent impressed me, and I,
along with the others, offered all the support we could
give to her.
Minako, however, was seldom found turning pants
pockets inside out in search of extra change. Her flawless
visage had graced the pages of magazines for a few years now,
and Usagi still kept the entire collection of her Sailor V
videos hostage in her bedroom if ever the need for blackmail
arose.
Minako was a natural, though. She took jobs as needed,
and her faithful agent made sure nothing indecent showed up
in places it, well...shouldn't. Usagi seemed most exuberant
at having a model for a best friend. Perhaps that was because
half of her wardrobe consisted of clothing Minako smuggled
from shoots across seas.
Once, on a rare shoot near home, she'd invited us all
to the set to watch. The set for Cosmopolitan's Spring Fever
issue reeked of sunless tanners and peroxide, but Minako looked
every bit as kind-hearted and Minako-like in the string bikini
with an array of baby-oiled men rubbing her down with sun
tan lotion as she did decked out in her favorite rubber
ducky pajamas.
When the director had tried to squeeze Usagi, Rei, Makoto,
and me into the shoot as well, we kindly refused, Usagi pouting
slightly as Rei glared her away from him and his way-too-friendly
glances.
Makoto, chef extraordinaire, was currently on a full
scholarship to Juuban U for culinary studies and fairing
extremely well. She'd entered about a thousand cooking
competitions over the last year or so, coming out victorious
9 out of ten times.
The money she won kept her in a comfortable financial
spot, but she continued to cook in downtown Tokyo's "CRUZ
DINER" where the over all populace consisted of hung over frat
boys and the occasional clusters of afternoon shoppers during
the day and rambunctious party-goers at night.
She loved it. In fact, so did Usagi who waited tables
there part-time while she slaved to maintain a B average at
Juuban University where Mamoru was in close proximity at
Tokyo University, an elite medical school and where I would
be heading once I completed pre-med classes at Juuban U.
Rei giggled in her excitement, beaming with pride as
Usagi and Minako began badgering her with ideas for what she
should wear and sing.
She sighed, "I guess it pays to be beautiful and
talented."
Since I was the closest in proximity to a pillow at the
moment, I took it upon myself to smack her upside the head
for that comment.
She laughed behind the mouthful of pillow, "Just
kidding, minna-chan."
Makoto jumped up and stretched her arms above her
head, "I wanna go somewhere--somewhere withOUT alcohol, that is."
Usagi vigorously nodded her head, and Minako leapt off
of the couch and bounded over to the foyer where she yanked
her white, knee length coat (AN: Think about that fabulous white
jacket J.Lo wore in Maid in Manahattan; I would KILL for that coat!)
over her baby blue sweater and pulled her gloves out of the
pockets, "Let's go, minna-chan."
She tapped her foot on the ground impatiently and
waited for us to put on our winter apparel.
An imaged of my unopened chemistry book filtered
into my mind, and I had to bite down on my lip in order
to keep myself from running into my bedroom and bringing
it along for the trip. There were at least two chapters
I hadn't read over yet.
I longingly glanced down the hallway, but Minako saw
and ushered me out the door without further discussion.
"I'm going, I'm going, Minako," I picked up my pace
as she nudged my back down the hallway and into the
elevator.
After about an hour of aimless wandering, we decided
to grab something to eat. This, of course, lead to heavy
debate between Rei and Usagi about where we would dine.
We ended up going to two separate places all
together--Minako and Rei stopping by a pizza stand, and
myself, Makoto, and Usagi tackling the mile long line at
"Tiki's Tofu."
Usagi slurped a mound of noodles happily off
of her chopsticks a half hour later, Minako and Rei
having already finished their meals. I handed her a
napkin absentmindedly when soy sauce splattered down
her chin, and listened with one ear as Rei took it
upon herself to bring it to everyone and their
mother's attention.
Each shop lining the busy streets of downtown
Tokyo was elaborately decorated in white and red
Christmas lights, and Usagi insisted on stopping
and talking to every bucket-weilding Santa we
encountered as we walked through the mass of
shoppers and people scurrying to get in
from the cold.
I reveled in the feeling of the feathery
snow as it rolled along my cheeks and stuck to my
wool coat and scarf. Minako kept close tabs on
any guys passing that were worth a second glance
and pouted when a man of choice had a girl
attatched to his arm.
Makoto shared in her disapproval after
she'd made a flirtatious pass at one blonde only
to be embarrassed as he lifted up a shiny ringed finger
and shrugged apologetically.
"Oooo...REjected!" Rei laughed, and Makoto
shoved her arm.
"Hey, at least I'm trying. When was the last
time you had a date, Miss Talented and Beautiful?"
Rei's mouth flapped open and closed and she
rolled back her shoulders with a huff.
Makoto smiled at her victory and continued
searching through the grounds for potential prey.
Usagi broke the silence. "Is it me, or are anyone
else's hands about to fall off?" She shivered to make her
point more clear and we nodded in agreement.
Minako cocked an eyebrow at Rei and Usagi grinned.
Rei's mouth parted as if to speak, but Usagi quickly
interupted her next words.
"PLEAASE, Rei-chan? I'm...s-so cold," Usagi threw her
hands to Rei's exposed neck and Rei flinched as the frozen
flesh came in contact with her own, "And your temple is so
very big and WARM."
"No way, Usagi. If I do recall correctly, you
spilled an avalanche of steaming MOCHA on my head and
floor the last time you were there, remember?" She crossed
her arms.
"Oh, come on, Rei. It'll be fun. Where's your holiday
spirit?" Makoto urged.
"I don't know. I might have misplaced it when a herd
of middle-aged soccer moms trampled me over last week to get
to the latest shipment of Play Station 2 games!" She exlaimed.
"Come on, Pryo," Usagi bent near her ear,
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle allll..."
Rei lunged for her arm, but Usagi bounded
away giggling madly.
"THE WAY!!!" She screeched from a few yards away.
Makoto, Minako, and I watched them as they jogged
all along the sidewalks, weaving in and out of people's
paths.
"Damn kids!" An elderly man shook his fist
angrily after Usagi knocked his cane out from under his
hand.
With a sheepish grin, she replaced his battered
cane, and patted his arm, "You have a merry Christmas now,
sir!"
He continued to wiggle his fist in the air after
she'd bounded off again, Rei hot on her heels.
Minako giggled, "How old are they again?"
Never too old, obviously.
Makoto shook her head and began ogling over a
set of kitchen knives on display in a window, "Do you
realize what those babies could do a 4 lb. steak?"
She continued to foam at the mouth while Minako
laughed beside her. I made a mental note about those
knives.
Red-faced and panting, Usagi and Rei returned having
given up on chasing each other due to the freezing temperature.
They still nudged one another with their elbows every once
in a while as we ventured down Tokyo's windy sidewalks.
Rei finally caved in and said we could stay at the temple
for the night, as long as Usagi didn't touch anything
liquid or hot.
Usagi pouted as we passed by Starbucks and sniffed.
Rei stuck her nose up and shook her head 'NO.'
Minako, however, did not send a cascade of mocha
flying the week before and steered into the cafe, dragging
me along for the ride.
"Minako--Um, do you really need to bring me alo-OUCH!"
I yelped as she twisted my arm in an awkward position.
Makoto and Rei followed, Usagi pouting behind
them. She despondently watched as we approached the counter.
I felt sorry for her, and vowed to wait until Rei wasn't
watching and slip her a hot chocolate.
"Ah...warmth," Makoto sighed and sauntered up to the
counter.
I could hear Usagi whispering harshly to me from
behind and assumed she was begging for me to do what I
already had planned so I merely waved and winked at her.
Dead wrong.
My frozen face instantly melted as a wave of heated
crimson washed over it. It was HIM. Standing in front of ME.
Waiting for my ORDER.
Makoto had finished rattling off her own order,
making sure that he put extra whipped cream in her eggnog latte
and a little cinnamon. She was always paranoid when others
prepared food or drinks for her. She kept a watchful eye
on the waiter who prepared her bevarage, pretending to
be reading an advertisement for Buy Four, Get One Free
cappuccinos on the wall.
I sighed in relief when Minako stepped in front of me
to place her order. I had a few moments to gather myself.
Trying to tame my blush, I turned around to look at Usagi.
She was smiling widely and winking. Rei eyed her critically,
but she also seemed delighted at the situation at hand. I could
see her eyes looking him over, and she seemed to recognize him.
Lifting her hand, she gave me a thumbs up and smiled.
I turned around again to avoid their gestures and he was
staring back at me with an unreadable expression plastered across
his flawless face.
MAY-DAY!! MAY-DAY! INTRUDER ALERT!! INTRUDER ALERT!!
A million warning signs blared throughout my head,
bouncing off of my eardrums and back again repeatedly. I resisted
the urge to clap my hands over my ears and hum out loud.
Collecting myself enough to speak, I brought my eyes to
the menu as a distraction from their previous travels.
Minako nudged me and I looked at her. "Weren't you going
to order?" She whispered. I glared at her and opened my mouth.
"Um...two tall hot chocolates...please." I had one hell
of a time trying to keep my unruly eyes from bulging from
their sockets in order to get a closer look at him.
Minako handed him our combined wad of cash.
Now, all I have to do is make it out the door without
dropping the tray and--
"Haven't I seen you in here before? With that girl
over there, right?" I was startled by his voice and jumped,
dropping the set of keys I had been nervously fiddling with.
They clinked to the floor and I felt the heat rise to my
cheeks, settling onto the pink tint that had already risen
there.
Bending over, I gathered myself and my keys,
replying as I rose again.
"Um...yea, we were in here a few days ago--the girl
was our friend, Usagi." He nodded and I grasped the
cups he handed me.
As our hands brushed, he spoke again and I was sure
he could hear the pounding of my heart.
"And do you have a name?" His tone was too confident
for my liking and I felt intimidated by his self-assurance.
"Yeah, it's...I mean, um..."
I felt a sharp jab in my ribs.
"Ami, my name is Ami." Thank you, Minako.
Minako smiled genially, "And I'm Minako. Please
excuse her, she's been studying way too hard lately."
"Minako!" I harshly whispered and pinched her arm.
"Ow! What did I do?" Her whisper's agitated tone
rivaled my own.
I ignored her question and tried to redeem myself.
"What's your name?" Thank God that came out smoothly.
"Zach." He looked amused at our antics and I blushed.
"That sounds American...are you from there?" I asked.
That's right, Merc, just let him do most of the talking
and try not to make yourself look completely moronic.
"Yeah, but I've lived here for 7 years."
Minako smiled wide enough to reach her ears,
her baby blues sparkling with whatever Minako-like
schemes were brewing in her mind.
I wasn't quite sure if my ears registered what he was
saying--he could have been speaking in a foreign language
for all I cared, as long as I could sit and watch.
"...so I'm studying at Juuban U now." He concluded
with a smile that melted the whipped cream right off of the
cups of hot chocolate he had handed me.
I dumbly nodded, busying myself with getting a few
napkins from the dispenser and trying to look like speaking
with incredibly attractive co-eds was a regular thing for me.
Minako rubbed her arm and looked at me, "That's cool,
isn't it, Ami? We both go there, actually," She grabbed
her change, "Well, sorry to run, but our friends will be
waiting. Say bye, Ames!"
Once I snapped out of my trance I fought the
urge to dump the contents of my cup on her head and
managed a simple 'Bye' before calmly walking away
with her.
"Maybe I'll see you around campus, Ami?" I turned my
head as I walked and smiled gently, "Maybe."
"HEY, BUDDY! I TOLD YOU A PINCH OF NUTMEG! LOOK
AT THAT!" Makoto furiously tried to leap over the counter
to get at the exasperated waiter preparing her eggnog latte.
"Miss, please--NO CUSTOMERS ALLOWED OVER THE COUNTER!!"
The man backed up against the counter behind him, trying
desperately to shy away from Makoto's swinging hands.
"MAKOTO!" Rei intervened, pushing the red-faced Makoto
away from the counter and taking her place.
"Listen, um--Kai is it?" She looked at his name-tag,
"Well, could you maybe make another eggnog latte, with a pinch
of nutmeg for my poor, mental friend here?" She smiled charmingly,
twirling a strand of raven hair between her fingers.
Kai's smile was goofy and wavering as he dumbly nodded.
Rei giggled in a way that was peculiarly Minako-like, "That's
SO nice of you."
A disgruntled Makoto glared at the waiter once more
as he shakily handed her her beverage.
I inwardly cringed. So far, Zach thought I was old
and that I highered mental patients from the local asylum
to pose as my friends.
I stole another glance at him only to find his
intoxicating green eyes were filled with amusement as
he laughed openly at the scene Makoto had caused.
"What are you looking at?" Makoto eyed every customer
in the place with an evil glare as they stared at her, and they
immediately shoved their noses back in their books or behind
their cups of coffee.
I was thoroughly embarrassed.
"Makoto, let's GO," I grabbed her arm and tugged her
out of the cafe before any lawsuits could be filed.
The wind whipped around us as we exited, carrying
flurries of snow along with it in trails of frozen white.
The last rays of the sun kissed the horizon goodnight,
and the moon yawned from its sleep, nestling into its position
amongst a thick blanket of stars.
My heart fluttered. FLUTTERED--like there were
butterflies having a field day inside my stomach. When had
that last happened? I shook my head, bewildered at the
man behind the counter, and smiled to myself.
The walk to the temple was mostly consistent of
Minako and Usagi's animated conversation of movies to
watch as we stopped at each of our houses to pick up
the essential items we would need. I left a hurried note
for my mother and prayed that she wouldn't try to cook.
I hadn't replaced our fire extinguisher yet.
Once en route to Rei's, I inhaled a deep gulp of the
frigid night air and exhaled slowly. The face that had
lingered behind my eyes for the past week finally had
a name to go along with it.
By the time we'd arrived, dancing green eyes were
swirling around in my head, leaving me dizzy in the process.
Thankfully, the night's events distracted me from my
thoughts. Unfortunately, I wouldn't call them good
distractions.
Really, what is a "night with the girls" without a
nice healthy game of Truth or Dare?
Exactly the kind of night I wish I'd had.
Laughing hysterically after our brief
pop-corn war, we all settled down and changed
into our pajamas. Rei 'quacked' under her breath
when Minako emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas.
She swatted at Rei's head with a pillow and
affectionately pet one of the grinning yellow
duckies over her stomach.
We spread out extra futon mattresses on the floor,
while Rei sat like the Martian princess she was upon her
own bed.
"Alright, ladies, you know what time it is."
Makoto eyed us menacingly.
"Snack time?"
"USAGI!"
Usagi doged a launched pillow and smirked.
"I know what time it is," Minako smiled, "TRUTH OR DARE!"
"Aren't we a little old for truth or dare,
minna-chan?" Rei voiced. Makoto looked stricken and
gripped the material of her sweat shirt over her heart.
"Rei...how could you? Too OLD? NEVER," She
dramatically fanned her face.
"Got any better ideas, flame-breath? Maybe we
could go and see if Yuuchirou wants to join our little par--"
"No!" Rei exclaimed, launching herself up to cover
Usagi's mouth, "And keep it down! I don't want him waking up."
We giggled, Makoto recovering from her shock and
kneeling beside me.
"Heh heh heh...who will it be?" She gave each of
us a cool stare and finally snapped her head in Rei's
direction.
"Miss Hino, since you were so enthusiastic about
this," A devilish grin spread over her face, "choose your
poison. Truth or Dare?"
"Go ahead, Sparky, dare me," Rei straightened proudly.
Makoto growled at her much-despised nick name.
"I wouldn't have said that, I wouldn't have
said that..." Minako sang, bringing her knees up to her
chest in anticipation of Makoto's dare.
Rei gulped, realizing her mistake.
Makoto hid her glare and smiled sweetly.
"Well...I've always been kinda curious as to
whether Yuuchiro preferred boxers or briefs..."
"NO! Makoto!" Rei's eyes widened considerably and
Usagi stuffed her face in a pillow to smother her laughs.
"I'm not done yet," Makoto sang, "I want you to
go into his room, steal a pair of his underwear...PUT
THEM ON and come back. You HAVE to put them on in
his room, though. We'll be waiting right here."
"That is SO unfair, Spar-Makoto!" Rei pouted.
"Hey, a dare's a dare, and you HAVE to go through
with it," Makoto said.
Rei rose and grunted under her breath,
"I'm gonna fry you alive for this, Makoto."
Although Makoto said we'd wait for her, we
couldn't just SIT there while she was performing
possibly the most reputation-largely-at-risk dare
ever. Quietly, we tip-toed outside to his window
and peeked over the ledge. The biting chill was well
worth it, I thought.
Usagi pouted, hopping up and down in order to
see over Minako and Makoto's much taller frames.
They parted silently, and let her through. There was
just enough moonlight to make out Rei's form.
Rei hesitantly reached for his dresser
drawer and jumped when Yuuchiro let out a loud snort.
When he rolled over (facing us) and hugged his pillow
closer she sighed and opened the drawer cautiously.
"Oh, Rei, I love it when you hit me like that."
Yuuchiro sighed happily in his sleep, and we had quite
a rough time suppressing our giggles as Rei looked
appalled at his statement.
Triumphantly, she produced a pair of boxers and
didn't bother to take the time to look at them closely
as she frantically slipped them over her own pajama pants.
We scurried back into the room before she could
catch us and made it just in time.
She strutted in wearing a smug smile and donning a
pair of adorable red boxers complete with tiny pictures of
a laughing Big Bird spread all over them.
Our lungs practically burst as we laughed
uncontrollably at the sight. Out of no where, a camera
flashed and Rei stood dumbfounded for a moment before
pouncing on Usagi.
"USAGI! IF YOU DON'T HAND THAT OVER I'M GOING TO
BURN YOU TO A CRISP!"
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE, PYRO!" Usagi tossed the camera
to Minako who safely stashed it in her subspace pocket.
"MINAKO! YOU TRAITOR!"
"And THAT is for video taping me drunken singing
"Respect" at Melanie's graduation party on her COFFEE TABLE!"
Minako declared.
Rei sighed, defeated, and sent Usagi another
death glare.
"Alright, now it's MY turn."
We held our breaths, sure that it would be Makoto.
"I should pick Makoto for pulling that little stunt,"
She paused to give Makoto a healthy dosage of her infamous
Rei-glare, "but recent events must be taken into account...
ODANGO? Truth or Dare?"
Usagi's eyes widened and she bit her lip,
"U-um...truth!"
"Wimp..." Rei muttered beneath her breath.
"Hey, I am NOT a wimp! Fine, dare me!"
"Heh heh heh...gotcha! I knew your ego would
get the better of you."
"Hey! No fair! You tricked me!" Usagi exclaimed.
"All's fair in Truth or Dare," We chorused.
Usagi grunted and crossed her arms on her chest.
"Alright...let's have it, pyro."
Rei stood up and retrieved the telephone.
"I want you to call Mamoru and tell him..."
Rei reached over and whispered the rest in her ear and
we watched as Usagi's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"REI! I can't do that! He'll FREAK!"
"You have to, Odango. Here ya go," She handed her
the phone.
"Fine."
Her fingers punched the numbers hurriedly as if
she was afraid to go any slower for fear of not being
able to finish, and she held the receiver to her ear.
Rei punched the speaker key and Usagi glared at her.
"Hello?" Mamoru's muffled voice answered.
"Hey, Mamo-chan, did I wake you?"
"Usako?" We giggled quietly at her blush.
"Uh...yeah...um, Mamo-chan, I need to tell you s-something."
"What is it? Is anything wrong?"
Usagi sent Rei a pleading look and she shook her
head as a command to go through with it.
"Well, the thing is, Mamo-chan...I'm...I'm...
I'm pregnant!" She squinted her eyes tightly.
"ahem C-Come again?" Mamoru's voice had raised
about ten decibels in pitch.
"I said that I'm pregnant...Mamo-chan."
I could practically hear crickets chirping
outside the window during the dead silence the filled the air.
We all subconsciously held our breaths waiting for the inevitible.
"USAGI, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! WHO THE HELL IS THE FATHER?!"
We collapsed into insane laughter at his rage
and Usagi looked about ready to kill Rei who was clutching
her stomach.
After some calming words from Usagi, he settled down
enough to listen. Rei's dare wasn't over yet.
"And, Mamo-chan...the father is...M-Motoki."
pause
"WHAAAAAAAAATTTT?!"
Usagi fell back at the sudden outburst.
"You..a-and MOTOKI?! HE AND RIKA JUST GOT MARRIED!"
He screeched.
I could see the steam rising from the speaker as he
raged on, trying to convince himself (aloud) that what his
love had just told him could not be true.
Usagi managed to squeeze in a few words between his
frantic rambling, informing him of the evil Rei's dare.
"Mamo-chan, I'm sorry! It was all Pyro's idea!"
"Rei...it was Rei..." He repeated slowly,
"No...baby...I don't have to murder Motoki?"
I covered my mouth to stop the mad stream of giggles.
Usagi finally found the humor behind the joke
and laughed, "No, Mamo-chan. There is NO baby."
I could hear him suck in an enormous gulp of air and
exhale heavily.
"No baby...no baby." He said a few times.
"Hey, Rei," He said louder.
Rei let a few more giggles escape before answering,
"Yeah, Mamoru?"
"The next time you decide it would be funny to
give poor, over-stressed, med students a heart attack,"
He paused, "DON'T."
We collapsed into fits of laughter, and Usagi yelled
her goodbyes to Mamoru, clicking the 'End' button and
returning to her place on her mattress.
"I should kill you for that," She said to Rei.
"Try me," Rei countered.
Before they could start fighting, Makoto reminded
Usagi that it was her turn.
"Alright...Ami-chan, I believe I saw you holding
a tape recorder during that conversation." I cowered
backward and laughed nervously. The plastic corner of
Rei's tape recorder snuck out from beneath my blanket.
"Truth or Dare?"
"U-um...tr-"
"Nuh uh, Merc, you always pick that! You leave
me no choice but to enforce the 'Excessive Truth Law' on you."
"But there is no such th-"
I stopped as they all glared in my direction.
"Fine. DARE me already."
I watched in fearful apprehension as the corners
of her mouth etched into a sly grin.
"This is gonna be good." Minako eagerly rubbed
her hands together in anticipation of Usagi's dare.
"OK, Ami-chan, all you have to do is..."
sigh yes, I made a sorry attempt at a cliff hanger
just for YOU! :D
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