I got precisely no sleep that night. My mind was constantly ticking over the different options of where I was gonna live since I had been kicked out the house. I knew I wasn't gonna get any help from my mum (and I use the term 'mum' loosely) so that left me with 3 options: a) find a hotel to stay in b) live on the streets or c) betray one of my best friends, and help Relena get with Heero. As you can see there isn't much of a choice. I refuse to do that to Heero so that one is out of the question; I wouldn't last 5 minutes living on the streets and I don't have that kind of money to stay more than a few night in a hotel. And that was another thing! There was the money issue because even though I had quite a bit of money saved up, it wasn't nearly enough to buy/rent an apartment, and though I may have enough if I carry on saving from my job, what am I gonna do in the meantime? Yeah, it just sucks being me. By the time I figured that staying up all night trying to work out what to do next wasn't beneficial to me, it was already 5am and there was no point in trying to get to sleep since I'd be up in about an hour or so.

I dragged my un-cooperating body out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. I took a shower and decided to wash my hair because that might've been the last time I'd be able to wash my hair for a long time. I got dressed in my favourite outfit: a tight red tank top and my black combats that were practically made out of silver zips and pockets. They hung low on my hips so a bit of my stomach could be seen. Combined with my long black leather coat and my black Doc Martins, I knew I looked good.

I pulled down my black duffle bag from on top of my wardrobe and put all my neatly-folded clothes in it. I only had 1 more pair of shoes so it all fit in nicely. I crammed my CD player in my bag and put my toiletries in the side-pockets. I stuffed my wallet with my cash-point card, ID and all the money I presently had on me, into one of the various pocket on my combats. I put my portable CD player in my school bag along with my books. I then slung my school bag over one shoulder, slung my duffel over the other took one last glance over my room with a mixture of relief, relief that I was finally leaving and despair over the fact that I had nowhere to go. I made my way into the kitchen. This was where I stuffed myself full of food: eggs, bacon and toast all washed down with a tall glass of orange juice. I then made myself a few sandwiches to pack in my bag and stole a few bags of crisps. I took 'some' money from the 'secret' stash 'hidden' in the kitchen. Ha! That's a joke. I think everyone and their dog know where the money is in the kitchen. I took most of it just to piss them off as my goodbye to them.

I decided to set off for school early, before Quatre arrived to take me to school. It gave me time to think over what I was gonna do next and this way I could tell everybody at the same time instead of having to repeat my story to all of my friends. Aww hell, who was I kidding? I did it to avoid my friends for as long as possible before having to tell them my pathetic story.

I grabbed my stuff and set out to the bus stop. I thought about leaving my key since that I wouldn't need it but if I had forgotten something then I would need the key because they probably wouldn't let me back into the house.

I suppose the one good thing that happened that morning was that the bus came as soon as I made it to the stop and it was pretty empty. The bus driver saw my duffle and probably thought 'runaway from home' because he didn't charge me. I arrived at my school in no time – no traffic – to find that the front gate was locked. But, no matter, that didn't stop me. I knew how to get in another way. I had to break into the school once because the teacher confiscated something off of me that I REALLY didn't want her to see, so I broke in along with Trowa and WuFei to take it from her drawer. So I know for a fact that the storage room door at the back of the school is never locked. The door was broken last year when a car hit it (I really didn't see that door!) and they never bothered to fix it since all they kept in there was chairs and the like and the door that leads into the school has a pin code so it will only open if you know the code. I happened to know the code from when I had to clean it out. So I entered the school that way.

I hid – ahem! – stayed in the library since nobody ever goes there except for when projects are due. I happened to know this because when I asked Meiran if she would meet me in the library for our history project she said 'Where?!'

I sat at the very back so on the off chance that someone did enter the place, they wouldn't see me. I sat on one of the chairs at the table, put my duffle under the chair between my legs and put my bag fully on my back. I laid my head on my arms on the table to worry about what was gonna happen to me. But no matter what I came up with, it always came back to the issue of money and my lack of it. I was watching my braid as I was thinking, hypnotic in the way it went backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards…

I must have fallen asleep 'cause when I woke up it was about 8:30 and I could hear the hustle and bustle of the student body as they moved about. I went to my homeroom for the start of school after putting my duffle in my locker. I sat at the very back so that my friends wouldn't notice that I was there. Yeah I was still avoiding them, so sue me.

They didn't see me until first period when Trowa and Meiran tried to get my attention to talk to me, but I steadfastly ignored them. Heero got so pissed and started to glare at me in English because I wouldn't talk to him. Why am I avoiding them, you may ask. Well the longer I don't have to speak to them, the longer I can hold out in telling them of my pitiful situation.

None of my friends were in my third period class so I was safe. But as I was putting my books in my locker before lunchtime – I was planning on skipping – they cornered me.

"Duo, why were you ignoring me in English? Did I do something to offend you?" Heero looked adorably confused. Just as I opened my mouth to answer, Trowa cut in.

"Really, because Meiran and I thought we were the only ones. He wouldn't even look at us in Trig first period." They all sounded so upset. Well, I thought to myself, it's now or never.

"Look, it isn't that you did something wrong, it's just I didn't feel like talking to you guys this morning."

"Why wouldn't you want to talk to your friends?"

"I'm not trying to make you feel like I'm angry or upset with you at the moment or that I don't wanna be friends anymore it's just – look can we please go someplace private to talk? I really don't want the whole school and their uncle to know my business." They all nodded but they all looked worried and apprehensive.

"How about the cafeteria, you can talk to us while we eat." I shook my head

"Nuh-uh, I need a place a lot more private than the cafeteria. Come on, let's go to the library."

"Duo, you keep on mentioning this supposed library but where the hell is it?!" Despite feeling totally and utterly depressed I cracked a smile at Meiran and closed my locker before setting off for the library.

I led them through the towering bookshelves to the tables at the back, the exact place I was sitting 5 hours ago. Everyone sat down and made themselves comfortable.

"Okay Duo, we're secluded and we have the privacy you desire now could you please tell us what the fuck is going on?!" Well when they put it that way…I took a deep breath and licked my suddenly dry lips.

"Well, when I got from Heero's last night Richard called me into his study. I figured that the school had called him and told him about my 'attack' on Relena and my skipping of lessons. So we got into a MASSIVE argument about how I shouldn't be hitting a girl even she said degrading things about my dead father. Anyway, it somehow got onto the subject of Relena loving you, Heero and how I 'conned the boy that she loves into saying that he doesn't like her' and how I've 'been filling this boy's head with all sorts of lies'. Oh and get this he said, 'just because you are jealous of their love for one another, there is no need to try and prevent them from getting together.' That was when he made me the most ridiculous offer ever – well it wasn't really much of an offer, more like an ultimatum. He said that I should help Heero and Relena get together –"

"WHAT!!!!!!"

"Masaka…"

"…The hell?"

"Are you serious?"

"You must be kidding me!" They all said this at the same time and Heero looked positively sick.

"That's exactly what I thought so I asked him why I would do something like that, and he said that I had no choice. Either I helped them get together or he would kick me out of the house." There was a collective gasp when I said that and Heero looked murderous.

"So what did you do, Duo?"

"I – I told him that I wouldn't do it." My voice got gradually quieter to the end of that sentence. There, it was finally out in the open.

"No Duo, go and tell him that you will do it. I won't let you lose your home on the account of me." Heero's usually quiet voice seemed to fill the uncomfortable silence.

"I can't Heero, I would – no could never do that to you. And besides, I've always wanted to move out of that wretched house. It's just happening just a little bit faster than I would like to."

"So what are you gonna do, Duo?"

"There's nothing I can do. I have enough money to stay in a hotel but it won't last me long even with my job. I don't have enough money for an apartment so essentially, right now I'm out on the streets. I guess Relena was right, I am street trash – at least now."

"Oh stop being ridiculous, Duo you are NOT going to live on the streets!"

"Yeah? And where exactly am I gonna stay? Certainly not at your house Meiran, your mum is already struggling to look after you and your baby bro. She can't afford to look after another person."

"I wasn't suggesting me! What about Quatre, huh? His house is big enough to house the whole street!"

"I think you overlooked one tiny little fact. HIS FATHER HATES MY GUTS!!!"

"Calm down, both of you! You're not helping the situation any. I'm so sorry Duo, but there is no room in my house for anyone to stay in. and now that my sister's sick…"

"It's okay Tro, but thank you for your help and support anyway."

"He can stay with us."

"Of course! You house is ginormous and only the two of you live there!"

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"Are you two absolutely sure that I can live with you? 'Cause I'd hate to impose and I can be pretty annoying. Especially in the mornings when I –"

"Duo. Stop. You're babbling. We wouldn't have offered if we didn't want you staying with us and besides, you're one of our best-friends and we'd gladly help you out." I launched myself at him; I think that there were tears in my eyes when I hugged Heero. I felt him stiffen in surprise but then he relaxed and brought his arms around me.

"Thank you so much! I don't know how I'm gonna repay you!" I extricated myself from the hug to then tackled WuFei to the ground.

"Hah! You didn't think I'd forget about you, did you? God, you don't know how much this means to me."

"Will you need to get your stuff after school?" WuFei asked after getting up and dusting himself off. He was trying to scowl at me but the huge smile he had on his face ruined it. I grinned back at him.

"Nah, I brought all my stuff to school this morning 'cause Richard said that I had to be gone by the time he woke up this morning. All my stuff is in my locker in my black duffle – I don't have a lot of things. I can go straight to your house after school.

Hey Heero how did you and WuFei get to school this morning because if you took you motorbikes then I don't think that it will all fit."

"Don't worry; I took the car this morning. Heero came on his bike for some unknown reason. He said it was something to do with being able to get away from school quickly." WuFei looked bemused.

"Baka, think about it. If I'm on my bike then I can't be followed home by, say, a girl who's obsessed with me." WuFei's face paled at the prospect of having Relena visit their home.

"Mmm, smart move Heero." Trowa smiled. Just then there was this odd sort of growling sound. I suddenly realised that it was my stomach. I smiled sheepishly.

"Now that's over and sorted, let's have some lunch!" They all just laughed as we left the library.

I so glad that day was over when the final bell went. It turned out that Richard had told Relena that I had left home, so all day she was making derisive comments about me now being 'street trash' and a 'street rat', and I just wasn't in the mood to deal with her. I just couldn't be bothered to retort when she said something to me. Of course when Heero snubbed her later that day she nearly blew a blood vessel – that was pretty funny. I was laughing my ass off. I guess she got a little pissed at that but then again, who cares?

I got my duffle from my locker and lugged it all the way the student parking lot. They were all waiting by WuFei's car. I swung my duffle onto the back seat. I gave Quatre, Trowa and Meiran a hug, telling them I'd see them tomorrow. Sheesh! The way they were acting you'd have thought I was going off to war! I told Heero I'd see him at the house and he took off on that gorgeous motorcycle that I am going to have one day. WuFei wouldn't let me drive so I slid into the passenger seat next to him. I sat there and pouted at him hoping it would change his mind but he just laughed as he pulled out of the parking lot. I turned the radio on and LinkinParkfloated out of the speakers. As I was listening to the lyrics of the chorus I kinda figured that they applied to me in a way.

I wanna run away

And never say goodbye

I wanna know the truth

Instead of wondering why

I wanna know the answers

No more lies

I wanna shut the doors

And open up my mind

A thought suddenly crossed my mind and I turned to WuFei. I think he must have seen my evil smile from the corner of his eye because he looked positively terrified.

"So…WuFei, my good friend. I was just wondering, how far have you got with Meiran, hmm?" WuFei choked on his own saliva "You two sounded awfully busy when Heero called you on Saturday. And you were positively angry that he interrupted your date. So what exactly were you doing with Meiran? Something interesting, I believe." WuFei had a cute little blush staining his cheeks.

"Ahem…we're here Duo. Time to get out." Then he yanked the keys out of the ignition, flung the door open, jumped out of the car, slammed the door shut and ran to the front door like the devil was after him, which in fact, I was. I got out of the car at a more sedated pace, took my thing from the back seat. I locked and shut both doors then made my way to the front door; only to find that he'd shut the door on me! I rang the doorbell and waited a few seconds before Heero opened the door and let me in.

"Duo, what the hell did you do to my brother?" Heero looked like he was struggling not to burst out laughing.

"Oh don't worry, I didn't do anything mentally or physically scarring. He'll be fine after a few minutes of calming down." I grinned at him. Heero shook his head then he turned around and went up the stairs.

"Follow me." I put the duffle strap over my shoulder and followed him upstairs.

"Right here is your room. Clean bed sheets are at the top of your wardrobe and all the towels are in the bathroom." Funnily enough it was the same room I stayed in when I first stayed at their house. I turned around and wrapped my arms around Heero in a hug. He didn't freeze up that time and returned the hug almost immediately. I guess he was getting used to having hugs. I loved being able to hug Heero, it was my way of being close to him without him knowing about my feelings for him. Pathetic I know, but I'd take what I could get.

"Thanks again, Heero" I whispered against his neck, then pulled away wondering if I had hugged him for too long for it to be a mere hug from a friend.

"No problem Duo. I'm glad I am able to help." He left my new room after that and shut the door behind him leaving me feeling a whole lot more alone in that large room.

There. I am so sorry for the HUGE amount of time it took me to update. But my new computer didn't have Microsoft Word on it so I had to wait for my mum to get the CD so I could install it.

I won't do individual review responses this time because I am so tired, but I'd like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to review my story. Each of those reviews brought a smile to my face.

I'll try and update as soon as possible but I haven't even written the next chapter yet. I've been making it up as I go along!