a/n: hey everyone i've had this uploaded for the last two days but didn't have time! First day of Spring Break! Chapter five is done too! But no time, going out for breakfast! Maybe later!

Chapter 4

The Mirror

"Joey! Time for school!" Tea said on the phone, "We've been waiting forever for you." Joey apologized and ran for his life down to his awaiting friends. Then they proceeded to walk to school.

"Hey, Joey!" Tristan called, "Man, you're outta whack! Did you sleep at all?"

Joey shook his head, "Not much."

"Well, at least you have Takenuchi first she'll let you sleep." Tea said thoughtfully.

Joey nodded, "Yeah." They arrived at school and Joey stepped into Miss Takenuchi's first period History class. He sat and stared at her hoping sleep would quickly take over but he saw in Miss Takenuchi's bright blue eyes Mai's blue contacted eyes staring back then they slowly melted to purple eyes. Joey wasn't sleeping and it was beginning to annoy him. He had his angel on his mind.

"Hey, man, what was with you just now?" Tristan asked as the bell rang, "You have a crush on Takenuchi and forgot to tell us?"

"Nah, not her."

Then a voice said, "No, he's got his eye on a fair blonde angel." Joey turned to see Laura Myers.

"Yeah, and what makes you say that Laura?" Joey asked confident she had no idea Mai was on his mind.

Laura said, "My cousin, Jess saw you after the show last night talking to your star crossed lover from her balcony above. So what is there between you and Mai?"

"Nothin so just bug off Laura." Joey snapped. As she walked away Tristan began to snicker.

"Yeah, nothing man. Totally." He smirked as he too walked away. Joey's day progressed ever so slowly. Thoughts of Mai did not help. At the end of the day a special announcement struck Joey.

"Sign ups for Thursday's college visit to Kyoto University are closed tomorrow second period. Have a good evening everyone." Joey practically sprinted to the guidance office. He saw Mrs. Oberlin copying stuff.

"Hello, Joseph. What can I do for you?" She said abandoning her copier.

Joey caught his breath, "Are there still spots open for the Kyoto University trip?"

"Yes, but Joey I thought you didn't want to go there." Mrs. Oberlin said as she picked up her list.

Joey quickly answered, "Well, that's what I thought, but I looked around and realized it's a good school and I might be able to get in."

"Might, Joseph, I don't want to discourage you but it is very competitive to get into Kyoto. Not to mention very costly if you do make it." Mrs. Oberlin said looking at him as if she was analyzing every part of Joey.

"What's the SAT score to get in?" Joey asked hoping it was somewhere around 1100, he could bring his 1045 up to an 1100 pretty easily.

"Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1425." Mrs. Oberlin said.

"Fourteen -twenty five!" Joey croaked.

Mrs. Oberlin smiled, "I told you it was competitive, but if you want to go on Thursday there's still 5 spots left."

"Okay, I'll work real hard." Joey promised even though he had no intention of going there he just wanted a chance to see what Mai's college life was like. He ran home and began to do some of his homework. Then that night he sat at his open window staring into the night sky.

Across town a mirror image was reflected in Mai Valentine sitting at her open balcony window wondering if somewhere Joey was looking at the same bright stars.

"Mai, it's getting late." Arideen said as she stood in the archway.

"Ari, do you think it's possible that Joey could be doing this exact same thing at this exact same time?" Mai asked as she took a deep breath.

"It's very possible, Mai, specially if you're feeling a connection over the distance." Arideen said.

"Alright, one more minute." Mai pleaded. Ari began to walk away when Mai heard a voice call to her:

"Insolent boy, this flame of passion, basking in your glory. Ignorant fool this radiant suitor, sharing in my trial."

Mai looked down and saw Hiroki singing up to her, "Mai, see why in shadow I hide, look at your face, Joey shouldn't be there."

"Hiroki, I am allowed to love whom ever I want." Mai argued.

"Oh, so you do love him. I knew, but has he always been there for you?" Hiroki challenged.

Mai bickered, "You haven't either! Goodnight!" She got up and slammed the balcony door shut.

"Mai, dear what's wrong?" Autumn asked as she turned around on her bed.

"Hiroki's being a jerk, a jealous phantom." Mai sarcastically said.

Arideen said, "Telling you to not see Joey on Friday?"

"Something like that!" Mai said as she sat in front of her vanity. She looked in the mirror and saw her face reflecting back then it appeared to be a spirit of Hiroki looking back at her. Mai jumped away from her mirror. She ran to grab Autumn's softball bat.

"MAI! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!" Arideen screamed snapping Mai back to reality. Mai stared at the mirror and saw herself and Arideen next to her.

"God, it's sleep deprivation I swear!" Mai sighed as she snuggled into bed.

Joey across the town looked in his own mirror and saw himself on Friday having a fabulous time with Mai. Then he too fell asleep dreaming again of Mai. Mai only dreamt her dreamless sleep, her dreams stopped at eight when she was all alone.