Disclaimer: I hold no rights to any of the ParaKiss characters, no matter how much I beg. /sweatdrop

Isabella sat down with a heavy sigh. Her head was starting to ache terribly at the commotion Carrie was making behind them. Sometimes it was just too much to see the way she would yell at George, but it was her way. The dress for the Fashion Show was almost done, and Isabella knew that she couldn't waste any time in finishing it, but she really wanted to go to the show with Miki.

Finally Carrie left in a huff and George just stared at the door after she had slammed it, a sigh escaping his usually passive lips. Isabella raised her eyebrows at him and he just winked at her.

"I think I'm gonna go head home. It's getting late," George said about half an hour later, breaking the silence. He stood up, the chair scraping across the floor loudly. As he left, Isabella set down her work, flexing her fingers. She looked up at the clock. If she left now she might be able to stop by and see Miki to let her know her answer about the show.

Isabella quietly stood up, and made her way out, her head no better than it was earlier. She walked out into the night air before Miwako could ask her any questions. She walked down the familiar street,the wind whipping her curls around her face. It was refreshing and it cleared her head. Even if the dress wasn't done yet, there was no reason why she couldn't go out and have a little fun. They had enough time to finish it up.

She rounded the familiar corner and saw the lights on at Banana Split. It was very close to closing time and Isabella knew she was cutting it close. She opened the door and slipped inside. No one was inside the store except Miki who was doing paper work behind the counter. Isabella watched with a bemused smile on her face as Miki took off her glasses and wiped her eyes in frustration.

Miki finally looked up and saw Isabella in front of her, and it startled her. She dropped her glasses and sat down, holding her hand over her chest. "My god you startled me," Miki laughed.

"Sorry, I didn't want to disturb you"

"Oh it's fine. I'm just trying to figure out what these people did with my numbers. I just can't make any sense of it." Miki closed the book and dropped it on the floor. "I'll deal with it tomorrow. So, have you been thinking about my invitation?"

"Yeah, and I think I would love to go," Isabella said, with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Oh that would be so wonderful! It'll be nice to have someone to go with. I usually go to these things alone, but it gets kind of boring. It is a charity show where all the pieces are one of a kind and the money from them goes directly to ...let's see...what charity is this one for...? I don't remember...I think to a Cancer Foundation."

"Do you have anything in it?"

"Yeah, just one piece. They came to me at the last minute and I only had time for one."

"Must be nice."

"It would be better if I didn't have to do other things and could just focus on what I wanted. But that will have to wait."

"How long until your brother graduates college?"

"3 years...3 ... more ... years."

All Isabella could do was watch...Carrie was moving out from George's house. It was a shock for everyone, and Isabella cound tell that George wasn't exactly unhappy about it...but he wasn't happy either. As he followed Carrie outside Isabella watched a series of emotions play across his face. And George never showed his emotion that way.

Isabella sighed. She really had lost him, no matter what he said.

They all waited patiently for George to come back in. When he did Isabella stood up. "George-"

"I'm fine," he said with a carefree smile.

For some reason, it hurt Isabella to know he wouldn't talk to he like he used to. But funnily enough, it didn't hurt as much as it should have. After George blew her off, Isabella decided to go on and leave to get ready for the Show. Mumbling something about a headache, Isabella left. No one even tried to stop her.

Isabella sighed. Hopefully this evening's event would cheer her up. And she did let out a small smile as she thought about Miki.

Isabella took in her surroundings. Although Miki was rich, she lived in a normal apartment. Although it did have a great view. Her house was a cluttered mess in one area, and perfectly spotless in another. The cluttered area was her desk and the cabinets around it. They were covered in drawings and pens and pencils and markers. Some was stuck on the cabinets with magnets, others were balled up and on the floor around the trash can. Isabella smile to herself. This was a perfect little corner to be creative.

"Ok, let's get you ready," Miki said, walking out of her room after a few minutes, the dress in one arm and a pair of shoes dyed to match in the other.

Isabella just stared at Miki. She was absloutely stunning. She was wearing the suit that Isabella had helped her on. It was a powder pink fabric that hugged Miki's every curve. The antique lace she used was very wide and went down to almost cover her fingers. Miki also wore her hair up in a bun with chopsticks that had beads hanging from them.

"What do you think?" she asked, spinning for Isabella to see it all.

"It most definitely needed the lace," Isabella said with a smile.

Miki laughed. "Yes it did, and I owe it all to you."

Miki laid down the dress on the back of the couch and walked over to Isabella. She reached up and took off her hat, causing the curls that hadn't already come out to fall down her back.

"I love your hair," Miki said as she pushed it out of Isabella's face.

Isabella blushed and moved to hide her face.

"How long have you been growing it?"

"Since I was in the third grade."

"Beautiful...I wish my hair would hold a curl. As it is, I can make a wave stay in for about 20 minutes," Miki said with a laugh. "Ok, first off, let's do your hair and makeup. Then we can pull the dress up over your feet. Come on," Miki said dragging Isabella into her bathroom.

Miki pulled Isabella's hair up and pinned it into a pile of curls on top of her head, a few curls falling out to accent her face. Miki then pulled out a pair of chopsticks that matched hers and stuck them in the middle to hold everything together. Then Miki pulled out a rag and washed off all the make up that Isabella had on, including her flower around her eye. After her face was clean, Miki just stared at her, smiling. Isabella felt herself blush.

"What?"

"You are so beautiful without make-up," Miki said, finally moving away from her. This made Isabella blush even more.

Miki did put different make-up on Isabella, but she used natural tones that brought out what was already there. It was completely different than anything Isabella had done, but she liked it.

After they finished, Miki drug Isabella back into the living room where she helped put on the gown. As Miki buttoned up the back, the familiar tingles went up and down Isabella's spine and made her feel slightly light headed.

"Ok, turn around."

Isabella turned around and looked at Miki, who was grinning ear to ear. "You look perfect! If I'm not careful they might try to auction you off for charity," she said with a laugh.

Well, I think our limo should be here by now," Miki said as she looked at her clock on the wall. "Shall we?"

Isabella had never seen so many cameras and lights in one place. It was completely overwhelming and she felt like she was going to get washed away in all the commotion. And that was before her and Miki stepped out.

But the minute they did, the cameras immediately started snapping pictures of the pair as they walked down the red carpet into the building. Isabella felt like she was going to get jostled away from Miki as the reporters started shoving people around to talk to her. Suddenly Isabella felt Miki grab her hand and entwine her fingers with hers. The tingles went down her spine again and butterflies started dancing around her stomach. Miki looked back and gave her a reassuring smile and a small wink before turning back and talking to a reporter that had just broken through the last two.

After what seemed an eternity, Miki and Isabella finally made it inside.

"Whew, I thought we would never make it out of there alive."

Isabella just laughed as she caught her breath. A disappointed feeling crept into her stomach as she expected Miki to let go of her hand now that they were out of the crowd. But Miki didn't. She kept holding onto Isabella's hand as they went in to the room where the show was going to be held.

Surprisingly, Miki got a seat up front for both of them, and they sat down, waiting for the show to start. Isabella just looked around quietly as people came up to Miki and greeted her like they were old friends. She saw their eyes dart over to her and she felt uncomfortable. But every time someone asked about her, Miki introduced her as Isabella, a dear friend. Then they would warm up to her.

After about 20 minutes of this, the lights started dimming and someone with a microphone started talking.

"WELCOME TO THE ANNUAL FASHION FOR CANCER DRIVE!" The audience clapped. "LET'S START OFF OUR EVENING WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE DESIGNERS THAT DONATED OUTFITS FOR THIS EVENT!" The audience clapped even louder.

Then the show began. A different model with a different outfit came out one after the other, announced by the host explaining who made it and what company they were from. There were dozens of beautiful outfits that Isabella adored. Including a few men's outfits that Isabella was startled to admit to herself that she would love to wear. Then she heard the announcer call out the Banana Split name and the designer Miki Kaoru.

It was a top and skirt set that was made of the deepest teal in satin. The top looked like a corset, with hooks that held it together in the front and small flowers in gold thread sewn in. The skirt flared out and came down to the model's ankles. It had the same golden flowers sewed into it, but the top layer was a filmy cloth that was just a slightly lighter shade of teal. Isabella loved it.

Miki leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I have another one at home in lavender." Isabella looked at Miki and saw the twinkle in her eye. It made her smile.

Miki had tried her best to get out of going to the after party, but no one would let her. So she just grabbed Isabella's hand again and allowed herself to be drug from circle to circle. It was the same every time. Being introduced to the group, then she would introduce Isabella. Then they would compliment her work, sometimes ask for custom pieces, then she would get drug to the next circle. The entire time, she never let go of Isabella's hand.

"Finally!" Miki said as they made their way out to the limo. "I thought we'd never get away from that!"

Isabella sat down in the limo and for the first time realized how tired she really was. She looked over at Miki and saw how beautiful she really looked.

"I never wondered before, but why do you have blond hair? It looks too natural, so it can't be dyed."

Miki laughed. "My dad was Japanese, my mom was Swedish. She was here for college when they met."

"That sounds romantic," Isabella said with a smile.

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?"

The limo driver dropped Miki and Isabella off back at the apartment. They took the elevator up and walked down the hallway to Miki's apartment. As soon as she opened the door, Miki took her shoes off.

"Oh my God, that feels better. If I could get away with it, I would go barefoot all the time."

Isabella laughed as she slid her shoes off as well and set them by the door next to Miki's.

"Come on, let's go get changed. I know that dress has to feel heavy by now."

Isabella had to agree there and followed Miki to her room, a light blush filtering into her cheeks. Miki helped Isabella take off her dress and went into the bathroom as Isabella put her kimono style dress back on. A few minutes later Miki came out of the bathroom wearing a white tank top and a pair of peach cloth shorts that molded to her skin. Isabella's breath hitched in her throat. Miki was a vision, especially with her hair flowing down her back.

"Want something to drink? Eat? I know I'm starved."

"Sure." Isabella followed Miki out into the living room. Miki went into the kitchen to grab something while Isabella sat in the chair facing the couch. Miki walked back in and handed Isabella a glass of wine.

"Thank you," she murmered.

Miki just smile at her before going to sit on the couch with her own glass, and the bottle under one arm, which she set on the coffee table. Miki sat indian style on the couch and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Isabella just watched her, the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach gnawing away at her. She finally downed all the wine in her glass and set it on the table.

"Sorry," Miki said a few seconds later. "Just needed a moment of peace and quiet. I don't seem to get much of it."

"Yeah, sometimes it can get too quiet though," Isabella said with a frown in her brow as she looked away and out the window.

Miki just smiled slightly before drinking her own wine. "Want some more?"

"Sure." Miki refilled both their glasses.

"This is nice," Miki said. "I don't have many friends, just people who pretend to like me because of my position and my father."

"You can definitely consider me a friend," Isabella said warmly, the second glass of wine starting to warm up her.

"I'm glad I met someone like you."

Isabella just laughed.

An hour later had both of them tipsy and the bottle of wine almost empty. Isabella was now standing by the window staring outside while Miki was laying on the back of the couch, staring at the ceiling, her hair fanning down the back of the couch.

"I love this view," Isabella said for the tenth time.

Miki laughed. "That's why I got this place. It has an amazing view when the sun comes up. So many colors of purple and pink and orange fill the sky and flood right into this room. I'm sometimes still up when the sun rises and it restores my energy." Miki laughed again. "Now I sound like an old lady."

Isabella walked over to her. "You're not an old lady. You're just perfect."

"Thank you, but I'm not all that great. I really think my business is going well because of my family connections."

"There is nothing wrong with that. I know someone who does the same thing."

"It makes me feel like I can't do anything on my own. I'll always have my name following me. People will always see my father floating above me and they do whatever I say. I hate it!"

Isabella looked down to see the tears flooding Miki's eyes. But she never blinked, she never let them spill. Isabella reached down and caught one with her finger that finally spilled over. Miki just looked up at her and smiled.

Then Isabella's reflexes kicked in. Without realizing what she was doing, she found her lips pressed against Miki's. She started to pull back when Miki kissed her back. It was the most exhilirating feeling Isabella had ever felt. The tingles that had teased her spine passed through her entire body at the same time her body warmed up.

Isabella was unsure of what was going on, except that she liked it...a LOT. Before she could regain her senses, she decided to push a bit further. She opened her mouth slightly and was releived to feel Miki doing the same. The kiss became intense, powerful, and made Isabella hungry. Hungry for something she had never wanted before--a woman. Isabella's hand went around the back of Miki's neck and pulled her head up. Miki allowed herself to be pulled into a standing position, where Isabella felt her arms wrap around her neck. Isabella kept the one hand around Miki's neck while her other hand caressed her hip.

Isabella could feel her body begging for more, needing more than just this kiss. She wanted all of Miki. As she realized this, her hand had slid underneath Miki's shirt and was caressing the soft skin of her stomach. The grip Miki had on Isabella tightened. Isabella took this as a cue to move on and her hand went up and felt the bottom of Miki's breast. Isabella hadn't paid attention before, but Miki wasn't wearing a bra. As Isabella's hand moved up, a low soft moan escaped Miki's throat.

This noise seemed to snap something in Isabella. Half of her wanted to take Miki right here, right now, while the other half tried to remind her who SHE was. This turmoil in her head caused her to push away from Miki. She saw Miki looking at her, her face flushed.

"I'm sorry," Isabella said quickly. She turned and put on her shoes and ran out of the apartment, hearing Miki calling for her as she ran.

Tune in next week for more...