Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters don't belong to me. Any other characters you might not recognize is probably mine.

Author's notes: Sorry for the long delay, my schedule has just been impossible. Special thanks to cyrstal-gundam for letting me know that I've neglected my story for so long. I've never left a story unfinished and I hope I don't start with this one. Anyway, I'll try to update as much as I can, clear up some of my schedule to make room for writing and maybe get back on my regular updates, hopefully in a couple of months. Thanks for all those who's still sticking with this fanfic. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Trip down memory lane

(7 years ago)

Impassive blue eyes swept the crowded room with a blank stare. Heero really did not want to be here. He was not the party type of guy, but Relena had invited him for her graduation party. Not sure why, but the brunette always found it hard to say no to the blonde girl. He also did not understand why she persisted in befriending him when their entire high school body knew him as a loner.

In a way, Heero was a bit pleased with that knowledge. Try as he might to deny it, he was somewhat drawn to the girl. She was not the prettiest girl in their school, but there was just something about her that attracted him to Relena.

Catching a glimpse of long blonde hair, Heero shifted until he had a clear view of the party's hostess. He watched Relena's profile discreetly as she talked to a group of her friends. One of them being her best friend Rebecca, which also happened to be her brother's girlfriend. Heero could not understand how Relena can be friends with a someone like Rebecca. The other girl was manipulative and a snob.

Watching the two pair speculatively, Heero frowned when his eyes met Rebecca's stare. Her lips were curled in a mischievous smirk and that alone should have warned him off. He coldly stared back for a few seconds before nonchalantly walking away.

Not sure where to go, the brunette stepped into a deserted balcony for some fresh air. Every second he was here only made him more aware how just how much he regretted coming to the party tonight.

"Any particular reason why you're hiding out here?"

Heero turned to the owner of the voice and saw Rebecca smiling at him by the doorway. He turned away before giving his curt reply.

"No reason."

He heard the soft sound of footsteps as the girl walked further out into the balcony. Heero tensed as he felt fingers lightly trail down his forearm.

"And here I thought you were giving me a silent invitation to follow you." Rebecca said seductively as she move in closer.

Heero scowled at the girl as he shifted his body, effectively shrugging off her hand. "I did no such thing."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you staring at me?" she asked playfully, slowly inching closer again.

"I wasn't staring at you," Heero answered, his voice tinged with irritation.

"Was it Relena perhaps?" Rebecca gave him a mischievous smile as she slid her hands up his chest.

Heero tensed at both the action and the words. But before he can deny anything. The girl before him gave a small laugh.

"Don't bother denying it. I've seen the way you look at her at school when you think no one was looking." She wrapped her hands behind his neck, effectively sealing off the space between their bodies. "You know you can never have her. Me on the other hand, am perfectly willing."

Heero glared at Rebecca with contempt. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I suggest you stop." He grabbed her arms, wanting nothing else but to push her away.

"Or you'll what?" she asked, her eyes gleaming. And at the same instant, pulled his head down for a kiss.

xoxoxox

Relena took the drinks from one of the servers with a smile and headed towards the balcony. Rebecca had suggested that they get some air. The other girl said she would go ahead and make sure that the veranda was not occupied while the blonde got them some drinks.

Relena glanced around the room as she made her way outside. She knew that Heero had taken up her invitation for tonight's party and was hoping that she can spend some time with the boy. No one knew of her crush on him except Rebecca. If Milliardo ever found out, then there no telling how her brother would react. Not only would he say that Heero was below their class, but that the boy had a personality of a brick wall.

When she could not find Heero anywhere, Relena sighed and hoped that he had not left already. Stepping out into the balcony, the blonde girl called out to her friend.

"Rebecca, I have –"

Relena stopped short when she saw her best friend kissing another guy other than her brother. A gasp soon fell from her lips when the two parted suddenly.

Heero had pushed Rebecca away from him. He was just about to yell at her too, but was stunned into silence when he received a sharp slap on the face. His face registered anger and confusion as Rebecca ran over to the shocked blonde.

"Oh, Relena," the other girl said, appearing upset. "Thank goodness you came. He was forcing himself on me. I told him I wasn't interested and that I had a boyfriend already, but he wouldn't listen."

Heero was fuming. "I was what! Why you lying little –"

"Heero, please." Relena's soft plea made him stop. His anger was forgotten when he saw the sadness and hurt in her eyes.

"I'd rather we not make a scene right now," she told him.

"Listen, Relena, it's not what you think."

"Relena," Rebecca said. "Who are you gonna believe? Me or him?"

The blonde girl did not know what to say. She looked at Heero and felt pain squeeze at her heart.

TBC

Preview from Ch. 4

"So, we finally have someone in for questioning, huh? Where's our guy?" Officer Daine asked. He looked at the woman standing next to the detective and did a double take. "Whoa, aren't you one of those Peacecrafts? What are you doing here?"

"She's 'our guy'," Heero said, motioning for the other two to proceed inside the room.

Relena calmly sat down in one of the chairs and looked at the two men. Daine gave the girl a nervous glance before whispering his thoughts to Heero.

"You sure, you wanna involve her?" he asked. "Imagine the crap we're gonna get if Milliardo finds out that you've dragged his family into this."

Heero kept his eyes on Relena. "But she is involved. It was her books we found at the crime scenes."