Sorry about the long wait...thanx again to reviewers.

Kira sat in the bleachers as Colt and Rocky jogged around the basketball court. She had decided to watch the match, hoping it would take her mind off her problems. Now with Emily pouring gossip and her love for Rocky into one ear she was wishing she had stayed home. Kira glanced at her watch and bit back a groan, still 10 minutes till the game, which meant 10 more minutes of Emily's meaningless chatter. Just then, much to Kira's relief, Tum Tum came back armed with a large bag of candy and 3 cups of Coke. After distributing the drinks he started devouring the lollies, Kira watched him, amused when all of a sudden she noticed Colt and Rocky peel off from the rest of the team to greet a pretty Indian girl. She nudged Tum Tum, 'Who's the girl that Rocky and Colt are talking to?"

Tum Tum looked and choked on a skittle, "That's Jo! We met her a couple of summers ago, before we met you. She's a real Indian," he leant in and whispered confidentially, "she even has war paint!" Clutching his bag of lollies tightly, he ran around the court to join his brothers. Kira studied the girl with interest, 2 years ago Rocky had told her about their adventure with the Indians; she frowned for a second, Colt had liked Jo. 'I am not jealous,' she told herself firmly. 'Colt is great guy-friend and nothing more.'

An outraged splutter brought her back to reality, Emily was almost red with fury. She choked back a laugh, "They're only friends Emily," Emily gave a start, "Yea, I know. They better be." She added ominously. Kira allowed herself a small smile before studying the happy group. Rocky was leaning against the wall, a knowing smile on his face, interrupting Colt's animated monologue at intervals. Colt was talking animatedly to Jo, throwing his hands out now and then to emphasise what ever he was talking about. Jo was listening attentively, laughing occasionally at some ridiculous exaggeration. A glance showed that Emily was still fuming over the fact that Rocky showed so much interest in another girl. Kira stood up abruptly, her face twitching, "Excuse me Emily," she managed to make it to the happy group before exploding into a laugh that made Tum Tum drop his bag of lollies, scattering them across the polished timber floor. The four people stared at her in mild astonishment, when she was quite spent with laughter she straightened up. "Rocky, I think you'd better check up on Emily before she explodes." Rocky shot a worried look at Emily, who was glaring and grimaced, before excusing himself and hurrying to assure her of her importance.

An awkward silence descended as they watched Rocky skirt around the basketball court. Feeling eyes boring into the back of her head, she turned around and saw Jo staring at her with an indescribable expression on her face. Colt glanced uncomfortably between the only two girls who he had ever felt at ease with, shifting from one foot to the other, he prayed that one of them would say something. Kira chewed her lip, wondering what had made Jo look at her like that. Unable to stand the tension, she held out her hand, "Hi, I'm Kira. Nice to meet you, I've heard lots about you."

Jo gave an odd little smile and took the offered hand, "I'm Jo, likewise."

Colt heaved a sigh of relief, shrugging innocently when Kira looked at him in mock surprise. Jo opened her mouth to say something just as the referee blew his whistle, looking rather surprised she wished Colt good luck before heading for her seat, leaving Colt with Kira. "Well, good luck." She kicked his shoes gently and Colt felt his feet buzz and he looked up in surprise. Kira winked at him, "just in case," she said, before swiftly returning to her seat. As she sat down, she was rather disconcerted to see Jo sitting directly opposite her on the other side of the stadium, giving her a small wave she resigned herself to Emily's happy babbling about Rocky.

The next morning Kira tumbled out of bed and slid down the banister, the doorbell clanged incessantly, as she tried to stay awake long enough to answer the doorbell. She hadn't been able to get to bed till 2am, due to the 3 ninjas exuberant celebration over winning the grand final. Wrenching open the door, she gasped as a gust of cold air blew into the house. "Colt! What on earth are you doing here are this unearthly hour?!"

Colt stared at her, "Kira, school starts in fifteen minutes. I came to borrow your bike for Jo."

Now it was Kira's turn to gape, "Jo's in our class?"

Colt nodded happily, "Only for a couple of months, till her parents come back from their holiday."

Kira rearranged her face into what she hoped looked like a sincere smile, "Great!"

"Uh...so, can I borrow your bike?"

"And how do you suppose I'm to get to school on time without my bike?"

Colt looked abashed, "oh, sorry, forgot about you...I mean...that."

Kira bit her lip, and her eyes became stone cold. "Right, so nice of you. See you at school." Slamming the door in his face, she stormed upstairs to get ready for school.

At exactly one minute to the bell, Kira rushed into the classroom and took her usual seat next to Colt. Ignoring him completely, she took out her books and arranged them meticulously on her table. Just then, a very flustered teacher bustled into the classroom and began calling the roll, leaving Kira to fume in peace over Colt's abominable behaviour.

For once in her life, lunchtime came too soon for Kira. As soon as the bell rang, she swept out of the classroom without a second glance, feeling the class's eyes follow her. Dumping her books in her locker she headed to the cafeteria, hoping to find Rocky before Emily dragged him off for a private lunch. Unfortunately, Rocky was nowhere to be found. Just as she was resigning herself to a lonely lunchtime, she felt a tap on her shoulder, turning around hopefully; she scowled when she saw it was Colt, looking extremely apprehensive. Faltering under Kira's less than warm stare, Colt tried to mumble something, "sorryaboutthatsitwithus?" Kira raised an eyebrow as Colt cleared his throat. "Sorry about before, it's just that I haven't seen Jo for ages and we helped save her dad and everything." Getting no response from Kira, he plunged on, "I didn't really forget about you, I was just trying to be a good host for once." Kira felt her mouth twitch as she remembered Colt's abominable manners when it came to girls and diplomacy. "And...and...and I wanted her to get to school on time, and yeah." He finished lamely.

"And I suppose it didn't matter whether I got to school at all." She snapped, fingering the scar under her ear. Colt winced, he knew she had gotten that scar from trying to save him and his brother 2 years ago. Colt looked around hopelessly for inspiration, "Come on Kira, I am sorry, and you know I hate apologising. You can sit with us?" he coaxed.

Kira snorted, "And why on earth would you think I wanted your company?" Her eyes shifted from stone grey to a purple-grey.

Colt saw it and exhaled, "Because I could kick your butt any day," As the words rang out, both of them knew how ridiculous it sounded, they both knew full well that Kira was the better fighter. Kira gave a queer little half- smile, and in one neat movement, swept Colt off his feet and ran towards the cafeteria, "Last one there is a rotten egg!" she yelled as Colt came pelting after her.

Well?? Please review and tell me what you think. Repeat after me: Reviews equal updates? Get it? Got it? Good!