Disclaimer: Sailor Moon doesn't belong to me. I'm just borrowing the characters.
Author's Notes: I'm alive! Finally! After being buried under tons of schoolwork and after suffering from a great deal of writer's block, I have finally risen!
I'm sorry for my long absence. I'll try not to make it THAT long again. I just hope that my muse will not have a long vacation for the second time. ;)
Again, thank you for reading and reviewing. I'm glad somebody appreciates my work. Your reviews really inspire me to write more. Thanks!
Chapter Seven: Ami-chan has a what?!
Jadeite grinned widely at himself after a familiar figure standing at the gates of Juuban High caught his eyes. This is my lucky day, he said to himself. Swinging his bookbag onto his left shoulder, he walked gaily towards the school exit.
Grumbling moodily, Rei stood at the gates of Juuban High, extremely disappointed that her plans weren't put into actions. "Blast those stupid fans of his. They wouldn't even let me near that stupid message board!" she whispered exasperatedly.
The miko planned to have her revenge (through the message board, of course) but Jadeite's followers were guarding it like it was the most priceless treasure on earth! And on top of that, they looked like they were ready to tackle her any moment. She just decided to go outside and wait for her friends instead. Those girls really need a life, she mused to herself.
The world stopped moving, literally, when she stepped on the campus grounds a while ago. Members of the football club stopped practicing just to look at her, while the girls on the corridors stopped chatting just to stare and glare at her.
Rei raised her chin defiantly. Things like that would not move her easily anyway. After all, she is Sailor Mars. She could burn the whole building down, for all she care, if she wanted to. And... if the other senshis allowed her to do so, that is.
"Rei-chan," came in a sickeningly sweet voice.
Rei sighed inwardly. She knew that voice. She knew it very well. Of all the people you could bump into...
"What a fortunate day for us to be visited by her royal highness!" Jadeite said, grinning widely at her. "May I have the pleasure of kissing your hand?" He then bowed and extended his hand.
She scowled at him. "Leave me alone."
He chuckled, straightening up. "Ooh, the princess is not in a good disposition! May I ask why?"
Rei just ignored him and glanced at the building's entrance. "What's taking them so long? It's already past the time of dismissal." she whispered to herself. "If they didn't show up before this jerk decided to leave, I swear I'm gonna toast him alive until he wished he never been reborn at all."
"What was that?" Jadeite suddenly asked, staring inquisitively at her.
She gave him a puzzled look. "What?"
"I heard you said something. What was that again?"
The miko rolled her eyes and then smiled sarcastically at him. "I said you're so cute I almost find it... nauseating."
"Why, thank you."
"You're more than welcome."
A group of girls passed by and Jadeite, to the miko's repugnance, didn't waste any moment to display his manly charms and appeal. Rei flipped her hair and then crossed her arms on her chest. He reminded her of those guys at Moto Azabu, an all-boys school beside theirs, who probably think that they could get any girl they want just by looks alone. And damn those girls at her school. They are really living up to those boys' expectations. My, him and those conceited jerks.
"Say girls, wanna go to the arcade with me on Friday after class?" Jadeite said cheerfully as he approach them, leaving Rei momentarily. "My treat."
"That's so really nice of you, Jadeite-kun," said the leader, beaming brightly. "We'd love to."
"Ugh, those girls are no different from those at TA," Rei muttered to herself.
"That's great!" he replied. "It's Friday then."
A girl suddenly noticed Rei and immediately beckoned their leader to look at the miko's direction. Everybody in Juuban High knew of the blonde guy's intentions for her and it's a common knowledge that Hino Rei is one of Kino Makoto's, the strongest girl in this side of Juuban district, friends. And, friends of Kino Makoto shouldn't be trifled with for they will surely be going home with either a black eye or a broken bone, courtesy of the tall brunette of course.
Rei, on the other hand, pretended not to notice the covert glances being cast upon her and proceeded to study her perfectly manicured nails. After all, she's not even aware what are they staring for anyway.
"Umm, I'm sorry but I think we already have something to do this Friday," the girl said. She looked at her friends for approval and they reluctantly nodded.
Jadeite sported a hurt and pleading look. "But why? I thought... nevermind." He then smiled as if nothing happened. "Alright."
The group hastily bid him farewell and proceeded to leave. But, before that, they didn't even forget to cast their death glares at the miko's direction. Rei just shrugged her shoulders and just smiled mockingly at them. Why'd she do that? She doesn't even know. The look of defeat and insecurity on those girls' faces was so funny she can't help but laugh.
Jadeite turned at her, raising his brow at the smirk plastered on her face. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," she replied and faked a sweet smile for him. "Congratulations by the way, for being dumped by-"
Jadeite clucked his tongue and shook his head. "You really hate me that much, don't you?" he said with a tinge of seriousness in his voice.
"Well you started it," she retorted. "And what's with that stupid message of yours in the message board, huh? Are you mocking me?"
The blonde guy's lips curled into a smile with Rei's sudden reference of the topic. "So, you've read it."
"Of course, I had. Who hasn't?" Rei bit out. "I'll be damned before that ever happen!"
"Listen here, oh great one," Jadeite said, staring directly at her amethyst eyes. "Technically, you're the one who really started it, writing some moronic statement on that board about me pissing on my pyjamas. You even had the audacity to sign your name."
She rolled her eyes again. "If you hadn't annoyed me the day before, I wouldn't have to write it in the first place."
He raised a brow. "Are you telling me that you would be more cordial if..."
"Hah, you wished!" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I thought so," he replied, sighing. Then, to Rei's confusion, he suddenly flashed one of his killer smiles. "But to tell you frankly Rei-chan, I'm really serious 'bout that 'girlfriend thing.'"
"Well, good luck to you," she said mockingly, stopping the urge to hit and strangle him.
Jadeite grinned. "I'm going to make you like me, this I swear."
"Like, that would ever happen."
"Oh, I bet it will."
"I bet it won't."
"Let's just wait and see."
And then Jadeite winked at her... to the raven-haired miko's annoyance.
"The problem with you, Ami-chan, is that you're taking this whole 'competition thing' waaaaay too seriously," Makoto said, slamming the shoe locker door with much force than intended.
Ami winced at the sound and frowned. "Who says I'm taking this seriously?"
"We do!" Usagi blurted out, raising her hand in emphasis.
The blue-haired girl furrowed her brows and stared inquisitively at the two.
"Minako-chan, in one of her sugar-high moments, told us that you were asking what Zoi-kun's scores in our pop quizzes were," the brunette replied with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Comparing scores, Ami-chan? Vanity can kill, you know."
Ami rolled her eyes and then massaged her temples. "I'm not comparing," she replied. "And that was not vanity. I was merely curious."
"But why the curiosity?" the odango blonde asked as she fit her left shoe on her right foot. And then she snapped her fingers, unmindful of the wrong shoe. "Oh, I get it. You like him, don't you?"
"What?!" she exclaimed and swung her head abruptly it hurt her neck. "Owww," she whimpered and carefully rubbed her fingers on it.
Usagi snickered. "Haha, Ami-chan got a broken neck and only Zoisite's love can heal it."
Ami just ignored the blonde's teasing and just shook her head. "Why do everytime I show mere curiosity with someone, all of you ended up concluding that I like him?"
"Because..." Makoto grinned and folded her arms across her chest. "...you do not have the time to be 'interested' in something other than your books."
"Uh-huh," Usagi seconded.
"Yeah right," she replied with a mild sarcasm, making a face.
The brunette chuckled. "And we're really, really happy for you 'coz you're finally having a life!"
Ami placed her hands on her hips and glared jokingly at the brunette. "Are you saying that I don't have a life?"
"Not really," she replied, smiling sheepishly.
"Hey guys, Rei-chan's at the gate," Usagi suddenly said. "We'll be toasted if we keep her waiting."
"Yeah," Makoto agreed. "Let's go."
"Just a minute," Ami said and hastily opened her shoe locker. "I forgot I have to change my--" She suddenly froze and her eyes widened in surprise.
The two stared at each other, wondering at their friend's peculiar reaction. Usagi tapped her at the shoulder.
"What's the matter, Ami-chan," the blonde said. "Found a snake in there?"
"There's a flower in my locker," Ami said as if she's in a trance.
"What?" the two asked in unison.
"There's a flower in my locker," she repeated.
"Hey, Ami-chan made a nursery rhyme!" Usagi said stupidly. "There's a flower in my locker!"
The brunette frowned at the blonde and furrowed her brows. "Let me see that."
Makoto peered behind Ami's shoulder and then grinned teasingly at what she saw. "Oh wow, I didn't know that Ami-chan has a secret admirer." Then, she turned at her friend. "Any idea who's it from?"
Ami shook her head and then pulled the flower, a blue tulip, out. "I have no idea," she said. "I'm just glad it's not a love letter or else I'll be having some rashes."
"So, what are you planning to do with that?" Usagi asked rather mischievously.
She brought the tulip on her nose and inhaled its scent. "I guess I'll just keep this," she replied. "Whoever this person is, he sure knows my favorite color."
"How original," the brunette commented with mock sarcasm. Her friends stared inquisitively at her. She chuckled. "The flower in the locker stuff, I mean. It's like the ones I saw in teen movies.
"What's up guys?" a cheerful male voice suddenly said behind them and Ami almost dropped the flower because of shock.
"Hey, Zoi-kun!" Usagi exclaimed. "Going home?"
"Yup," he replied with a nod. He then inclined his head and saw the blue tulip in Ami's hand. "Hey, nice flower. Who is it from?"
"We actually don't know," Makoto replied.
"It's from Ami-chan's secret lover," the odango blonde said in a hushed voice.
"Really?" he said and then stared at Ami with a smile. "It suits you."
Ami smiled timidly. Then, for a moment, a thought suddenly crossed her mind but abruptly dismissed it. Why would he ask who's it from if he's the one who gave it to her? She mentally berated herself for even thinking of that possibility. He wouldn't even waste his time on her. Wishful thinking, Mizuno.
And, to think that she actually hoped that it was from him was very unlikely of her at all. I must be getting nuts!
With a fair amount of annoyance written on her face, she changed her shoes and carefully placed the flower inside her bag.
"Uhm, I just remembered that I have to er... attend the meeting of the Cooking Club," Makoto blurted out all of a sudden. Usagi gave her a dubious look.
"But I thought-- heey!"
The blonde's words were cut off when the tall brunette suddenly jerked her arm and pulled her outside.
"Come, Usagi-chan," Mako said as she dragged the unwilling odango blonde away. "I'll teach you how to bake a cake."
"But..."
"We'll going to have lots of fun," she said, giving Usagi a conspiring wink. "Trust me."
Usagi stared innocently at her and the tall brunette wiggled her brows at Ami and Zoisite's direction. A big, big smile slowly formed at the odango blonde's lips when realization finally dawned upon her. Makoto sighed audibly with relief, disregarding the idea to tie and drag Usagi away from the unknowing couple.
"Well, see you at the gates, Ami-chan," Usagi said with a wide grin, looking definitely obvious. "Bye, Zoisite-kun. Take care of our friend."
Makoto bit her lip and hit her forehead. "Usagi-chan..." she muttered under her breath. "Can we go now?"
"Oh, yeah of course." The odango blonde beamed brightly before hauling her tall friend away.
Unbeknownst to the two, Ami was making a mental note to herself to scold them for leaving her on purpose. Why does it always seem that they are literally throwing him at her feet? Don't they even care about how she feels?
Ami abruptly frowned at the thought. Lately, her friends are getting desperate to hook her with a guy to the point that even their former enemy is considered. And, it seems that her friends, on the other hand, were unmindful of the idea of them falling for the guys who tried to destroy the world and kill them.
Minako blatantly admits that she likes Kunzite-san and nothing on earth could stop her from having a crush on him. Rei, who shows a good amount of dislike over the shitennou, pretends that she's not listening (even though she doesn't want to admit it) whenever the word senpai is mentioned during study dates. Makoto, well, she at least shows some interests whenever their former enemies are being discussed especially the brown-haired general.
And, that leaves her with Zoisite.
Is it possible that it was merely coincidence that each senshi is paired off with a former shitennou?
She guessed not. Being the rational and logical person that she is, Ami was pretty sure that something big is behind all of these. And she's determined to find what prompted this thing to do something so... ghastly like this.
Because, as Setsuna puts it, nothing happens merely by coincidence. Everything happens for a reason.
Everything.
Speaking of Setsuna-san, maybe I should pay her a visit, Ami thought. Or... maybe her friends knew something that she's not aware of and the older senshi was the one who told them about it. Whatever it is, the thought of being left behind is enough to fuel her determination. Plus, her unmistakably growing "curiosity" (because the term 'affection' or 'admiration' is too much for her) towards the blond guy adds up to it.
Ami turned and made a grab at the locker door to close it but she didn't notice that Zoisite was already beside her. Her hand flew towards the books that the boy was holding, causing them to fall on the floor.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she hastily said, bending over to pick the books up.
"It's okay," Zoisite replied. He also bent over, in time with Ami; and in doing so, their heads smacked with each other.
"Ouch," she moaned in pain as she carefully ran her fingers on her reddened forehead.
"Ow," Zoisite muttered, overlapping Ami's cry of pain. He immediately held her hand and helped her up. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you're going to pick it up, too," he said, still holding on his throbbing temple.
Ami shook her head. "No, it's my fault. I made you drop your books." She them glanced at her hand which was still enveloped by Zoisite's bigger one. She suddenly felt warmth spreading on her cheeks.
Noticing where the petite girl was staring at, he hastily let go and smiled apologetically. "Does it still hurt?" he asked instead.
She nodded absentmindedly, trying hard to conceal her burning cheeks. "A little."
"May I see it?"
But before she could say something coherent, Zoisite was already tilting her chin and examining the lump on her forehead. His face was so close that Ami could almost feel his breathing and his simple touch was sending shivers down her spine. Relax. Breathe, inhale... exhale.
He gingerly touched the affected area and Ami gasped at the contact. Though, she doesn't quite know whether it's from the pain or from something else...
"I think we should go to the clinic," he said. He then carefully let go of her chin and stepped back. "Maybe they have something to relieve the pain or..." Noticing the blush on her cheeks, Zoisite tilted his head and eyed her curiously. "Are you alright? Your face is so red. Does it hurt that much?"
"I'm fine," she replied, giving him a reassuring smile. "How about you? You got hit, too, don't you?"
Zoisite chuckled. "Don't worry 'bout me. My head is as thick as a brick," he said, tapping his head.
"No wonder my forehead hurts." Ami giggled silently and then glanced at him.
He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and then stared at her wordlessly. This time, with a look of worry on his face.
"Come, I'll take you there," he suddenly said, grabbing her hand.
Ami furrowed her brows. "Take me where?" she asked as the blond guy practically dragged her.
"To the nurse's clinic, of course."
"But I think it's already closed. I've heard the school nurse went home early because of some sort of emergency."
Zoisite halted. The blue-haired girl stopped immediately to prevent herself from bumping into his back.
"Uhm Zoisite-kun... can you let go of my hand now?" she said almost breathlessly.
Zoisite didn't respond nor released her hand. Instead, he dragged her towards the campus grounds... to where half of the athletic clubs are having their practice.
Gods, if his admirers see me, with him, holding his hand... I'll be dead meat! she thought frantically.
"We have to stop the reddening of your head," he said. "If Mako-chan sees it, she'll beat me into pulps."
"That's not necessary," she said with haste. "I'll tell her it's not your fault... well, actually, it was not really your fault since it was an accident and accidents happen without anyone's fault..." Ami groaned inwardly. She was blabbering. And, how many times did she mention the word 'fault' anyway?
"Zoisite-kun, I do appreciate your concern," she continued when he didn't respond. "But I'm fine now. Really."
They continued to walk, with Ami still persuading him to stop, until they reached the drinking fountains. Zoisite freed her hand from his grasp and reached for his white handkerchief on his right pocket. He turned the faucet on and let the water ran in it. Squeezing the excess liquid out, he then turned the faucet off.
"Here," he said, handing the wet cloth to her. "Put this in your head and the pain will gradually go away."
Ami reluctantly took the hanky and placed it in her forehead. It helped alleviate the sting somehow, making her a bit comfortable. "Thanks," she whispered gratefully.
"No prob," he replied, chuckling.
Noticing that he was laughing silently, she turned her head and stared at him. "May I ask what's so funny?"
Zoisite shook his head. "Nothing," he answered, grinning at her. "It's just that... I didn't know that you could talk faster than Minako-chan."
Ami suddenly blushed to the roots of her hair at his response. She then looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact. "I didn't know that, too."
She just heard him laugh.
"Come on, Mizuno-san," he then said with a smile. "It's getting late."
Ami nodded and smiled at him. They then walked towards the school gates.
Makoto rolled her eyes and shook her head hopelessly at the bickering couple beside her. They've been doing that since she and Usagi got there and she didn't know for how long the two were together.
"Will you lower it down a tad?" the brunette said. "I'm afraid I'm going to be deaf because of both of you."
"Why don't you tell your beloved senpai to shut up?" Rei snapped. "He's the one who started it."
"Did not," Jadeite countered with a chuckle. "I just came to her to say hello and then she started harassing me."
"Harassing you?! My foot! What an arrogant jerk you are!"
Usagi giggled none to softly. "Why don't you marry each other? You sure fight like a married couple."
Rei scowled at the odango blonde. "Why don't you marry him yourself?"
"I can't," she replied, giving the dark haired miko a sly smile. "I already have my Mamo-chan. Besides, you look good together."
"See Rei-chan? I told you it's not a bad idea," the blond guy agreed, grinning widely. "We'll make a striking couple."
"In your dreams."
Makoto sweat-dropped and shook her head. "Where's Minako-chan?" she asked instead. "Practice is over and still I haven't seen her."
Usagi folded her arms across her chest. "She's not going home with us today," she said. "She told me during class that a guy called her last night and asked her on a date after school."
The brunette raised a brow.
"I didn't know that Minako-chan has a boyfriend," Rei said, voicing out Makoto's thoughts. "How come she didn't mention anything to us?"
The odango blonde just shrugged her shoulders.
"Any idea who could this guy might be?" Makoto asked.
"I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine."
The tall brunette scoffed. "What is this? Some sort of a trend? Ami has a secret admirer and then Minako-chan is dating a guy secretly."
"Ami-chan has a what?" Rei suddenly asked with disbelief.
"A secret admirer," Usagi provided. "We just discovered a while ago. She found a blue tulip in her shoe locker. Isn't that nice?"
Rei smiled thoughtfully, feeling happy for her shy friend. "Not quite an original idea, though," she then commented. "Where is she?"
"Oh we just left her with Zoisite," the blonde replied nonchalantly.
"It seems that all of your friends are having quite a blessing with the matters of the heart, Mako-chan," Jadeite said lightly. Rei shot him a menacing look and he just pretended to ignore the raven-haired girl. "How about you? Do you have some things to share?"
Makoto snorted. "I'm very much available but extremely not interested with men..."
"Not interested?"
She grinned. "As of the moment," she added hastily. "I have lots of things on my mind lately. For now, I'll just wait for the right guy. As the saying goes, love comes to those who wait. If he's the right one for me, he'll find me."
Jadeite chuckled softly. "You're reading too much paperback novels, aren't you?" He shook his head. "Waiting for the right person is not enough. You should look for him too. That's love... much like one of Newton's Laws of Motion: There's a reaction in every action."
Rei snorted. "Don't preach as if you knew everything about love," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "What do you know about it anyway?"
He turned to her. "Why don't you try me and see for yourself, hmm?"
He just received a scowl in return.
"Scared?" Jadeite said in a mocking tone.
Rei glared at him. "Of what? A jerk like you? No way!"
For the second time that afternoon, Makoto sweatdropped, shaking his head hopelessly; while Usagi, on the other hand, seems to enjoy the "interaction" between her friend and her senpai. Then, a mischievous grin spread across the odango blonde's face.
"Ne Mako-chan," she said in a hushed tone, elbowing the brunette beside her. "Do you think Jadeite-senpai would succeed in his... uhm, plan?"
Makoto raised a brow at her. "What, making Rei-chan his girlfriend? I don't think so," she replied almost in a whisper. "Our friend here loathes the very idea of it."
"I have this feeling that somehow, Senpai will be able to convince her."
"What makes you think so?"
Usagi shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe, it's my princess instincts."
The tall brunette snorted. "Princess instincts," she repeated with a chuckle. She then stared at her with a sly smile. "What are you getting at, Usagi-chan?"
"Let's make a bet. Whoever wins gets a big chocolate parfait at Crown.... no, make that two chocolate parfaits." She closed her eyes, imagining that the sweet concoction was right before her. "Hmmm, chocolate..."
Makoto laughed inwardly at the idea of them betting on their friend's lovelife. It is ridiculous but funny nonetheless. "Alright," she replied, smiling.
Usagi beamed brightly. "Hino Rei is going to be Senpai's girlfriend."
"She's not," Makoto said. "Or I'll lose."
"Whoever wins will get two chocolate parfait." The blonde extended her right hand. "Deal?"
Makoto took and shook it. "Deal."
At the corner of her eyes, Rei noticed her friends snickering while shaking their hands like it's the only thing that they could do and that they were really happy about it. "Hey, what's funny?" she asked suspiciously, her arms folded across her chest. "And what's with the handshaking thing?"
Usagi smothered a laugh and abruptly dropped Makoto's hand. "Nothing." Rei shot her an "I'm-not-buying-that" look to which she replied with a very sweet smile. She then saw a very baffled Ami with Zoisite on her side, probably wondering why the "club meeting" ended too soon; and her sweet smile, if anything, turned into a sheepish grin.
.
..
...
Ami sighed in frustration and let her head fall into the study table. No matter how hard she tries, she still can't concentrate on her homework. This is really getting to her. Normally, she finds pleasure and enjoyment in solving mathematical problems at home or writing a 15-page science report but in the past few days, her mind had simply, well, developed a "mind of its own."
"Hey brain, why don't you function properly like you always do?" she said aloud. "Come on, that's your job!"
Groaning, she rested her head on top of her books and closed her eyes. I guess Usagi-chan doesn't mind when she experience something like this, she thought, laughing silently. Well, she must admit, she envied her friend sometimes. She has this child-like innocence that didn't change over the years. She then opened her eyes and straightened up, focusing once more on the mathematical equation before her.
It's not that she can't solve them. It's just can't find the will to start solving them. Her fingers were lifeless and she can't even lift her pen for goodness' sake! It is as if a youma sucked all her energy up including her precious brain cells.
"I know," she said to herself. "I'll just study for next week's exam."
Just as she was about to reach for her book, the phone rang on her desk with a reverberating wail. Sighing inwardly, she didn't even know whether to feel relieved or annoyed. Picking the handset up, she said, "Moshi-moshi?"
"Hey Ami-chan," the voice on the other end of the line said. "It's me, the goddess of love."
Ami chuckled. "And what does the goddess of love need from a lowly human being, such as I?"
Minako laughed her trademark laugh. "Nothing. Just want to ask if I could borrow the book that Mako-chan was talking about the other day."
"What book?" she asked, furrowing her brows slightly.
"You know, the one that you got from your secret admirer."
"Oh, that book."
Minako giggled. "Yeah, that one."
Ami smiled. "Of course. I'm glad to know you have taken a break from your mangas and decided to read a book instead."
"Mako-chan swore that it is good and worth reading and I have to prove to Rei-chan and Usagi-chan that I can finish reading a novel if I wanted to."
"Alright, I'll just bring it tomorrow."
"Okay, thanks a lot," the blonde said with a squeal. "Ami-chan..."
"Yeah?"
"Do you still have no idea who this guy is?"
"I'm afraid I don't," she replied. "I try not to let it bother me though."
"Just hope that he won't give you a love letter next time or else..."
"I might get some rashes all over my body."
And then they both shared a laugh.
"Well, see you tomorrow, friend," Minako said. "Don't forget the book."
She giggled silently. "Don't worry, I won't. Bye!"
The blonde then bid her good night and hung up.
Ami slowly got up and went towards her huge book cabinet that rivaled a shelf in a bookstore. Standing in a small ladder, she carefully took the book from the top shelf and then walked back to her desk.
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, she read quietly as she sat down. When she first saw it sitting on top of her table at school that morning, she thought somebody had just left it there. But classes had finally ended for the day and still, nobody claimed to be its owner.
During lunchbreak, Makoto reprimanded her for not eating and she couldn't help it. The book was really good and she couldn't quite believe that this certain admirer of hers appreciates something like that. He must be one heck of a guy.
From then on, she received several notes written with lines from poems and some flowers, too. But she didn't receive anything that reveals something about this mysterious guy. There were no signatures, no marks. He didn't even put Ami's name on them. He would just place them where she could see them. And most of the time, they were on her shoe locker.
For the second time, she thought that maybe it was him. It would take someone like Zoisite to appreciate these things but as she had discovered and surmised, he arrives thirty minutes after she does at school everyday and he wouldn't be interested in a girl like her. Even though they have some things in common, there are still worlds apart.
For her, she's the type of girl you wouldn't even dare a second glance.
Ami rolled her eyes. Why would I have this sort of admirer if I don't deserve a second glance? a part of her asked.
If her friends were just with her, she could almost hear them say: "It's because he sees something special in you that other ordinary people do not."
Her friends, you really got to love them.
A sudden knock on the door startled her and she saw her mother peered from it.
"Ami-chan?" Dr. Mizuno called out.
"Yes mom?"
The doctor entered her room and held out a white handkerchief to her. "Does this belong to you? I just found it at the living room."
"Oh," she said softly as she took it from her mother's hand. "Thanks."
Dr. Mizuno smiled and patted her head. "I didn't know you like white hankies. I always thought you preferred the blue ones."
Ami smiled meekly and blushed. "Actually it's not mine. My schoolmate and I bumped our heads and he let me borrow this. I told him it's not really necessary but he insisted."
Her mother's smile widened and gave her a teasing look. "Oh my, you're blushing! You like this guy, don't you?"
"Mom!" she exclaimed, her face reddening. "Of course not. He's just a... friend."
"Don't give me that crap, honey," Dr. Mizuno said with a chuckle. "You do know that you can't lie to your mother, don't you?"
Ami rolled her eyes and made a face. "He's just a friend, mom. And he already has someone he likes." She didn't really know whether it's true or not but nevermind that, she just had to say it for her mother to stop teasing her.
"That's very disappointing," she said with a frown. "Anyway, just promise me you'll tell me when you already have this special someone of yours." And then she winked at her.
She shook her head hopelessly. "Alright, I promise," she said with resignation.
"Well, good night my little princess," Dr. Mizuno said as she gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Don't stay up too late."
She smiled and nodded. Her mother left and slowly closed the door behind her.
Ami eased her back on her chair and stared at the piece of cloth on her hand. She's been wanting to return it to Zoisite but she can't seem to find the courage to do so. And besides, she rarely saw him at school because he's always busy with other things.
Why does a simple task such as this proves to be very difficult?
"I'm the one who's making it difficult." she said to herself.
She stood up and started to fix her things and clear her desk. Suddenly, she remembered that when she shook hands with him, she saw her self - her princess self - speaking before a huge crowd. And he was there. Not to kill her or anything, but he was there just to watch her. And why was he looking at her like that, anyway? There was something in his eyes that she couldn't quite explain.
She didn't tell any of her friends about that and she had forgotten about it until now. Now that she think about it, she really have to see Setsuna or the cats and ask them what is that all about. And certainly, she wasn't the one who experienced that thing. Maybe her friends saw them too and they were just as confused and puzzled as she was.
Well, her mind really had wandered off far from her homework. Ami let out a sigh and decided that she'll just finish them at school tomorrow before the class starts. She wouldn't be able to do them tonight, anyway.
Makoto stifled a yawn as she tried to rub the sleep off her eyes. She woke up really early that morning and decided to leave to see how her plants at the school garden are doing. She was really excited to see how much they have grown especially the strawberries that she had planted two weeks ago.
Stepping inside the building, she headed to the shoe lockers to change her shoes when something or rather, someone caught her eye. She hid behind a column and watched as the guy put something inside her friend's locker. He wasn't exactly the type that they had expected but Ami would be thrilled to know who this mysterious guy is. Not to mention her other friends, too.
She waited patiently for the guy to be finished and she held her breath as she saw him closed the locker and walked towards her direction. When he passed her by unnoticed, Makoto, in one fluid motion, grabbed him at the back and turned him around. Fear was obviously written in the guy's eyes when he met with her green ones.
The tall brunette smiled menacingly. "So you're the one who's been putting things at Ami-chan's locker," she whispered dangerously as she clutched him by the collar.
(A/N Extras: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks was really good. It almost made me cry (shucks!). Anyway, please review! Thanks! Till next time. Ja ne!)