Second period had come and gone and third period was racing through like a blur. The teachers were finishing the last of their lectures and assigning homework, when the bell rang and students were allowed to file out of the classrooms and become lost in a jumbled mess in the hallways. Large mobs of people migrated through the school with one goal in mine -- to reach the cafeteria. BR

It was safe to say the food court was packed. If you didn't get there early or if you didn't have a class right next to it, chances are you'd have to wait for the majority of the limited lunch time standing in the unbearable lines. It was good to have friends who ate school lunch or were willing to wait with you so you had someone to talk to-- just as long as you didn't loose them in the fray. BR

Now Bloodberry just I had /I to choose the line in which everyone always cut in front of people to be with their friends and get lunch before anyone else. You could start out as the fifth person in line and end up the seventeenth just as easily. It was basically a routine and some didn't feel natural if they remained in the front for long. For some they would just bristle at the impoliteness of it all, but for the other non passive people it might send them into a blind rage. There's a funny story that goes along with that but maybe for another day. BR

Hey. Buddy. Bloodberry addressed the line's newest addition in a gruff voice, which just so happened to be in front of her. Back o' the line! she barked, jerking her finger towards the back wall. The kid looked to his friend for any sign of help but his friend was of no use and only answered with an apologetic look. He grumbled but obeyed. Don't look at me like that! she snapped at the boy's friend, who was currently glaring at her for mistreating his pal. BR

It was another wait but the line in front finally started to diminish. Bloodberry took no time scanning the options displayed in front of her, after all, she knew what it felt like to be waiting behind an indecisive person even outside of school. Grabbing her choice of food items, she held her digital card out to the lunch lady behind a large and very out of date computer. The woman stared straight ahead impassively as she scanned it and chucked it back to the red head. Obviously, today was not the lunch lady's day. Bloodberry punched in the code for food orders on the numeric key pad, and collected her bagel and sugary fruit drink made a few attempts to pass through the crowd until an opening revealed itself between a horizontally challenged blonde and a perky-and-pink-as-could-be brunette. The brunette nearly stabbed herself with her mascara as Bloodberry purposely bumped into her. BR

Hey! Watch where your going, you brat! the pink girl screeched, fruitlessly wiping her brow to remove the offending black, but only smearing it. BR

Bloodberry grumbled without looking back, brusquely walking towards the exit. BR

Hey, Bloodberry! called someone from her right. She swiveled to see none other then Otaru Mamiya, letterman jacket and followers with letterman jackets and all. BR

Hey, Otaru. she smiled warmly at him. Even if he was a jock, he was still the smartest and nicest of them all --well... Tiger would beg to differ. What's up? BR

Not much. he turned to the group of boys hovering behind him. I'll meet up with you guys later. They nodded and turned around in uncompleted, dumbfounded circles. Otaru sighed. Over there! he whispered and pointed over to the whore-clique leaning against the wall with their clothes riding up and revealing pieces of tantalizing flesh. The football players smirked and walked over in their direction. The brunette was there trying to look very seductive but couldn't even get an interested wink because of the poorly cover-up mask over her mascara scar.' BR

Losers. They need directions to find a fuck? Bloodberry asked a little disgusted, and rolled her eyes. BR

Otaru gave a nervous laugh. That's a vulgar way of putting it, but yeah. How have you been? How was your summer? BR

Ok, I guess. Didn't do anything mind blowing. BR

That's good. Mine was all right. I had to travel to Japan and help my grandfather out with his temple. BR

Well yours sounds worthwhile. I wanna go to Japan.... BR

Maybe you will someday! Next time I go, maybe you could come and bring your sisters! BR

That sounds great! But what are the chances of that happening? they both laughed lightly. BR

Bloodberry, Cherry, and Lime had met Otaru way back in day-care, before preschool or kindergarten. They instantly became great friends and Otaru never excluded any of them when they played. Their parents had been best friends back in college and supported their children's friendship while rekindling their own. Grandmother would always spout the oddest things when they were younger about Japoness' and The hero of Terra II.' BR

The three sisters had all had major crushes on him. Always fighting for his affection. They found it unnerving sometimes when he treated them all equally, but realized that was one of his great qualities. Over time, say around fifth or sixth grade, Bloodberry started to loose interest in him. This seriously complexed her because she had always felt deeply connected with him, not just some ordinary puppy love kinder-crush. But she was really bewildered when she started seeing his 16 year-old-cousin, Fan-Fan, other then a somewhat close friend. Every time Fan-Fan would see them and say hello' when heading out the door, Bloodberry just blushed while her sisters and Otaru just said good-bye' back and then continued to play house or whatever child game. BR

Seventh grade came and they were required by state to have a more in-depth health class than fifth grade's. It talked about boring things they already knew such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and body health. But then came the sexual course, where they learned about pregnancy -- more specifically teen pregnancy--, rape and how to deal with it, incest, but then the answer to Bloodberry's problems -- hetero and homosexuality. She wasn't exactly a homosexual, but she learned from a guest speaker who came in one day to talk about STDs and pregnancies, that she was what they called bisexual', but more lenient towards the female population. She was so relieved when her family didn't shun her. BR

Lime might have let it accidentally slip to Otaru one day on a sugar high, but Bloodberry didn't know for sure, so she kept special care not to mention things like it. BR

Oh, I'm sorry. I need to go talk to Mrs Raymond about something. I won't have time after school because of practice. Bloodberry was drawn out of memory lane as Otaru's words registered. BR

Its ok. I understand. Good catchin' up, Otaru-kun. BR

It was great talkin' to you. Bye! he yelled over his shoulder as her ran with precision through the crowds and headed to the third floor. BR

Smiling, the red head pushed the doors open and stepped into the sunny day.
HR BR

Not paying much attention to her surroundings, her legs collided with a firm barricade and almost banged the top her knees and somersaulting over it. Hey! What are ya doing sitting in the middle of a traf--! she began to yell absentmindedly. As she collected herself, she clamped her mouth shut when she caught the identity of the road blocker.' She merely blushed and began to spout off random apologies. BR

Oh. I'm sorry. Here, um... lemme just move somewhere out of the way. Luchs tried to subtly grab her head where Bloodberry had knocked it and was quick to gather her belongings and move, rather clumsily due to the bulk of objects and the fact they were slipping out of her one arm grip, over to the shade under the tree where her cousin sat in half-shade, half- sunlight. The shadows gave her sort of a mysterious beauty. BR

Dammit.' BR

Cherry and Panther viewed the spectacle with different levels of perception. Cherry a little excited. Panther just smirking her traditional facial expression, but deciding to let it go because she was focusing on something more important, believe it or not. – BR

Gimme some of your cookie, Bloodberry? she demanded reaching super-deformed arms out with futile attempts at the cookie seemingly five feet above her head. Bloodberry playfully glared at her but then plopped down in the place where Luchs had previously been. BR

Damn, damn, damn...' she thought as she broke off a piece of her M&M's cookie and tossed it over. Panther lunged for it greedily, even if it was only about the size of her thumbnail. BR

yum yum yum. nibbled on the crumb of a cookie she was so graciously offered. Have you guys seen Tiger around? What do you think of her new fashion statement? nibble. Its only to impress I Faust-sama! /I she clasped her hands together with sarcastic hearts in her eyes, very unaware of a menacing shadow with slit red eyes stealthily looming over her. I mean, I like the clothes, though. They're cool. she paused to snicker a little and then nibble some more at her cookie. She sure had a major change over the summer, though, huh? And only mooning of she clasped her hands together and placed the over-dramatic hearts in her eyes. The group sweat dropped, for they knew of the looming shadow. Bloodberry had an amused feeling this Faust-sama', hearts in eyes exaggeration thing was going to become a ritual. BR

Baka! There's nothing wrong with my clothes! Everybody I've seen today says they like them. A flash of square white swooped down from the shadow and slammed into the blonde's head, then thumped onto the ground revealing it as Tiger's math binder. BR

What the hell?! Panther exclaimed while trying to figure out why the hell is was raining binders. Gawd, Tiger. Are you PMSing or something? she grumbled while rubbing the huge lump rising on the top of her head. BR

Tiger hmph'ed and sat down to the blonde's right. Shut up, you insensitive bitch. Just to prove how sensitive she could become during this time of the month, she snatched the rest of the biscuit Panther was so dearly clinging to and shoving it in her mouth. BR

Hey! Gimme back my cookie! Panther cried in disbelief and tried to pry her cousin's mouth open, but failed. BR

Tiger suddenly unzipped her lips and closed them swiftly.
Panther yelped in surprise, barely reeling her hand out in time before her fingers could become part of Tiger's lunch. BR

You two. Cherry chuckled lightly. The aforementioned two now sat side-by-side with their legs and arms crossed and glaring at each other through their peripheral vision. Cherry smiled but let her attention slip to her sister. So, Bloodberry. How has your day been so far? BR

Alright I guess. she shrugged and crammed a torn piece of the cookie in her mouth. Gym is easier this year. she was gazing absent- mindedly at the blue haired one opposite her, but not really focusing. Have this thing in English. Oh! I ran into Otaru. He's been in Japan all summer with his grandfather. That's why he hadn't called. How has your day been? she craned her head and shielded her eyes from the sun towards her eldest sibling sitting on the most raised section of the earth. BR

she posed, but with meaning, the way Panther imitated Tiger, with a dreamy sigh. Before she could slip off into fantasy mode, Bloodberry reeled her back in to the land of the living. BR

How was your day? she repeated. BR

Huh? Oh! Great! I love my Home Ec. class. Its so fun and I already seem to be besting everyone in there. she grinned triumphantly. How are you liking it here, Luchs? she turned her head in the direction of where Bloodberry's fixation had just been. BR

Bloodberry returned her gaze, but paid rapt attention this time. For some reason she just found the girl doing nothing more interesting than the about-to-happen fight that was ready to break out between Panta and Tigeru (but were still always incredibly funny to watch). Luchs opened her mouth to answer, but was too late. BR

chirped a voice from behind her. Everyone stopped and looked up at Lime, and new unfamiliar face. This is my new friend, guys! Here name is Marine. new face, now known as Marine, was slumped a little fro shyness but waved a little timidly. I met her when she was trying to steal my pencil. Lime's smile seemed to falter for a minute. But she was going to give it back. There it was again, and more radiant than before. BR

I see you've taken the first day of school good, Lime. Cherry said as she waved to the aqua haired girl behind her. BR

I sure have! she giggled. She took Marine's hand and led her to sit right next to her eldest sister. BR

That's good. Bloodberry said absentmindedly. Lunch is gonna be over soon. I should probably be going to my next class. Clear across the school. See ya guys after school! she gathered her belongings and left her friends to either go on with their lunch or leave to. BR