Chapter Four

To say that Aino Minako's stress levels were going through the roof then would have been an understatement, perhaps even one that could have been in the running for 'understatement of the millennium'. The opening night of the play was drawing closer and closer, which meant rehersals almost evrey night after school, which meant having to stick with Ten'oh Haruka. This wouldn't have bothered Minako at all at the beginning of the year, but now that she a) knew Haruka was female and b) was having severe doubts about both her sexuality and her sanity, Minako dreaded being around the tall, adrogynous blonde.

She was supposed to have gone to Michiru's that evening but she honestly just couldn't be bothered with it. She had called Michiru and found that the bluenette was busy anyway, which was actually somewhat of a relief for her. Minako had been in a torn mind about what to do then; in the end she had decided just to wander around for a while to wherever the wind took her; this turned out to be a cheap little café on almost the other side of town.

Minako was used to going into these places with a large group but she didn't find it at all daunting going in on her own either, just a little quiet. She sat herself down at an empty table and ordered a strawberry milkshake from the waiter before pulling her lines out and beginning to read them over an over again, hoping that the milkshake might somehow help her think. Pretty soon however Minako had given up on her lines and was just sitting there, staring into space, sighing and wondering about what the heck was going on with her life. Did she love Haruka or hate her? She was really, really confused about that by that time. She took another sip of milkshake and sighed again.

"You know you're sould will leave you completely if you sigh that much."

Minako nearly jumped out of her skin at that comment, then turned around and saw none other than Hino Rei standing next to her.

"What are you doing here?" Minako hissed, Rei's presence having caught her completely off-guard.

"I come here a lot on weekdays," Rei replied. "I've not seen you around here before though, any particular reason you're here?"

"That's none of your business," Minako snapped.

"I was only asking a question," Rei shrugged. "Look, now that I'm here can we please sort a few things out?" She didn't know why exactly she asked; she was sure Minako would just tell her to fuck off or something of the like.

"Fine," came the reply.

Rei blinked, "What?"

"I said fine" Minako replied coldy. "Sit down; I suppose we should sort some things out."

Rei sat down; she still somewhat surprised that Minako was actually willing to listen to what she had to say.

"You see, Minako, it was never you I was after, no matter what the rumours are saying," Rei sighed.

"Who was it then if it wasn't?" Minako was suspicious. "Who do you think is the 'most beautiful girl in the school'?"

"If you really want to know, it's Michiru."

"What?" Minako was shocked. "Michiru as in…"

"Kai'oh Michiru, yeah," Rei replied, a blush flooding into her cheeks.

"You're in love with her…" Minako whispered. "You were never after me… I'm sorry."

This time it was Rei's turn to be shocked; had Minako just apologised to her?

"I'm sorry," Minako continued, "for reacting the way I did. It just made me have severe doubts about… things, you know? I'm not
usually such a bitch. At least I hope I'm not…"

"I think I know what you mean," Rei shrugged. "Some people have a pretty hard time coming to terms with their sexuality. God knows I did, especially after my father kicked me out. But why am I telling you this?"

"I don't know," Minako shrugged. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I was wrong," Minako smiled slightly. "You're actually a pretty nice person, Rei."

With that she exited the café, leaving Rei sitting there stunned.

"She said what?" Haruka exclaimed, her eyes widening as the smile on her face grew. "I think we may have made some progress here, yes indeed!" She and Rei had met up soon after Rei and Minako had parted at the café and now the two were walking back to Haruka's, chatting as they did so.

"Yeah," Rei replied, "I can't believe it."

"Neither can I," Haruka smirked. "I mean if she really did say that then that might mean I'm in for a chance."

"Well we know you're her type."

"How so?" Haruka asked.

"Well considering she had a massive crush on you when she thought you were a guy."

"She did?" Haruka looked surprised.

"So did most of the female population of the school," Rei rolled her eyes, "Gods are you dense, blind or both?"

"Shut up," Haruka pouted and Rei rolled her eyes.

"How have you forgiven her already for what she said to you the other day?" Rei asked.

"Simple, she was stressed, and besides if she really did say that she was 'confused about some things' or whatever, it might mean
she's actually coming to terms with her sexuality, no?"

Rei shook her head in exasperation: "You really have a one-track mind; if you want someone you'll go after her no matter what!"

"Is that a bad thing?" Haruka asked.

"Well if you're already in a rela…"

Haruka cut her off, "Well I'm not now, am I? This isn't going to be a repeat of the thing with Michiru, I assure you. I'm not so stupid
as to do that now: at least I hope I'm not…"

Rei rolled her eyes then she saw something out of the corner of her eye.

"Hey Haruka."

"Yeah."

"Look over there," she pointed.

"Look at what?"

"There. Look," Rei showed her again.

"Well, well, well, what have we here but out dear friend Tsukino Usagi," Haruka muttered: that girl was in for a hell of a time when she was through with her. Rei grabbed her arm before she could do anything though.

"Just watch," Rei said. "It may come in useful."

"Anyways Mamoru is being a pain in the butt right now," Usagi rolled her eyes. "He accused me of going off with Seiya when everyone knows it was Demando because Seiya is so not my type, you know?"

"Uh-uh," Kino Makoto nodded, leaning back on the wall behind her, her hands behind her head.

"Are you even listening to me?" Usagi asked.

"Yes: Mamoru accused you of getting off with Seiya when everyone whose anyone in the school knows you fucked Demando, I know," Makoto repeated, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "You do realise Mamoru is going to get rid of you if you continue being such a slut?"

"I am not a slut!" Usagi practically yelled.

Makoto mentally groaned; why couldn't Usagi go back to being the nice, charming, sweet girl she'd been in elementary and most of junior high? She'd never been superficial or cheating like this then: Makoto, quite honestly, was getting rather sick of her friend's attitude.

"… if you want a slut then you should just go to Aino Minako," Usagi whined as Makoto tuned back in to what the blonde was saying.

"Aino Minako?" Makoto raised an eyebrow. She knew Usagi didn't like Minako but still… "You didn't tell everyone she's a lesbian, did you?"

"No, of course not," Usagi said sarcastically, "When it's so plain she is."

Makoto blinked; Usagi a few years ago probably wouldn't even have known what sarcasm was, let alone used it – why couldn't she be nice again? Still all the same…

"Why do you say Minako is a lesbian?" Makoto asked.

"Well you remember at one of Tomoe Hotaru's parties a few years back?"

"Yeah…"

"Well you know when we were stuck in that closet together?"

"Yeah…"

"Well she stuck her tongue down my throat. It was so gross."

"Usagi, that was years ago," Makoto rolled her eyes. "We were in eigth grade. Besides, she's had more boyfriends than you have…"

Usagi's eyes flashed dangerously, "Yeah but if she'd do that then she's gotta be a lesbian. And the whole school knows that Hino
Rei is."

"I like Hino Rei," Makoto shrugged.

"You're nuts."

"And you're turning into a complete bitch, but who cares," Makoto muttered under her breath but Usagi didn't hear her.

"Anyways, Makoto-chan, I have to go know: I have a date," Usagi winked.

"Who with?"

"Motoki, but don't tell Mamoru; he thinks I'm studying with Ami." She left and Makoto slumped back against the fence, nursing a chronic gossip-induced headache.

"Hey, Mako, what the hell is going on?" a voice asked. Makoto turned around and saw…

"That bitch," Haruka growled at Usagi's retreating back. "That little…"

"We get the picture," Rei replied. "I think we'd better go and ask Makoto what's going on; she seems to know about it now."

"Yeah well Makoto's friends with everyone, even the plastics," Haruka shrugged. "Hey, Mako, what the hell is going on?" she called as she and Rei walked over to Makoto, who had turned around, startled.

"Hey guys," Makoto smiled and they nodded in reply.

"So, Mako, what do you know about the bitch's scheme?" Haruka asked, frowning as she did so.

"She's being a complete bitch," Makoto muttered, "as usual now. Well she knows you're a lesbian, Rei-chan."

"She must have overheard me telling you I was in love with Michiru…" Rei said to Haruka, who nodded.

"Michiru?" Makoto frowned. "How could she get Minako and Michiru confused?"

"Well Rei said she loved 'the most beautiful girl in the school', hence the fact Tsukino assumed that she meant Minako."

"Ah, that explains a lot" Makoto mused. "Usagi and Minako always did say they were the most beautiful girls in the school. They were friends in junior high, right up until that stupid game of truth or dare."

"Is that why they hate each other?" Rei asked.

"Yeah, that and the fact that Minako won spring fling queen or whatever it was and Usagi didn't," Makoto rolled her eyes. "Load of bullshit if you ask me."

"So she's making Minako's – and Rei's lives a misery because a stupid old grudge?" Haruka was aghast. "That… argh! She's not gonna know what hit her when we're through with her."

"Or when Minako's through with her," Rei replied. "I think we should let her have her revenge for this."

"That," Haruka smirked, "is the best idea I've heard all week: and that, my dear Rei, is saying something."