The hallway was littered with students. Rei wouldn't say it was exactly packed, since there weren't enough students left in the area to jam up a hall that much, but it was fairly populated. An afternoon assembly had been announced to review safety procedures in case of an Angel attack. There hadn't been such an attack in several weeks, so the faculty thought it necessary to refresh the students of what to do when the next invader came. Everyone who still attended the school filed toward the gymnasium, hoping to get a good seat.

Class A-2 walked together. Toji and Kensuke were talking about Misato, surprisingly; Hikari and Asuka huddled together, pointing at passing boys whom they thought were cute. Shinji walked alone, the same as Rei. She flanked him, not close enough for it to be said they walked together, but not far enough that he would be lost in the crowd. He looked bored, Rei thought. It looked like he was thinking of somewhere else in some other time, some other world. His eyebrows were furrowed though, like this other place was just as taxing as this reality. Rei found herself wondering what was happening in that other world; she wondered why Shinji was so concerned about it.

Shinji really was thinking of another world. He wasn't a pilot there, and NERV never existed. Second Impact never happened, Angels didn't exist, and Asuka didn't hate him. All impossibilities, he knew, but that's what imagination is for.

In this other world, he and Asuka were actually an item. She had come to Japan with her mother, Kyoko, to live with their father. He was transferred to Honshu after joining a team of scientists researching meta-biology; his family joined him there shortly after. Asuka and Shinji had met at their school. They were in the same class, and they were instantly friends. Over a few months, both the children grew quite smitten with each other, and finally, Shinji had asked Asuka to go out with him.

Shinji was trying to figure out how Asuka would act if she were nice, and that's the reason he looked so concerned. He just could not picture the fiery German being kind to anyone, especially him. What confused him even more was the night she had gotten drunk, earlier in the week. She had no reason to tell Shinji anything personal, but she had told him her innermost secrets. Then she wanted them to have…she wanted Shinji to…it didn't make sense! A heavy sigh escaped Shinji. It was pointless thinking about it, since there was obviously no rational explanation for Asuka's behavior.

The fiery German stepped in line with Shinji, planting hands on hips as she walked with him. "What are you so glum about? We're missing class for something we pilots don't need to know about! You should be happy, idiot."

Shinji reddened, but not from being ridiculed. He hadn't talked with Asuka much since that confusing night, and he felt awkward around her. "Sorry…"

Rei watched this event unfold from Shinji's flank. She knew what was coming; there were a scant few reasons Asuka would begin talking with Shinji at this time.

"Hmph!" Asuka harrumphed. "Well you know, Shinji, I'm happy enough for both of us! Why don't you sit…"

"Ikari!" Rei interjected.

Shinji turned his head to face Rei. "Is something wrong, Ayanami?"

She took a step closer to him. "Would you like to sit next to me at the assembly?"

Asuka gasped and glared vehemently at her. "Now wait just a minute, I…"

"That'd be great, Ayanami."

Asuka grew silent. She looked hurt. "Why would anyone want to sit next to this wimp anyway? You're weird, Wondergirl." She stalked off with Hikari ahead of the class, speeding into the crowd of students.

Inwardly, Rei smiled.

"Huh, I wonder what's wrong with Asuka," Shinji asked, completely oblivious to the battle that just took place.

The class arrived at the gymnasium shortly before the assembly began. The only seats left were fold-out chairs in the back rows. Shinji and Rei picked two seats on the aisle, Rei being on the outside. Asuka forced a few underclassmen to give up their seats toward the middle for her and Hikari. The speaker stood on a platform in the front of the gym, but had no mic; the slow drone of his voice lost its power by the time it reached where they sat.

From what Shinji caught, the speaker was going over protocol concerning an Angel attack if one were to happen during lunchtime. He didn't listen, knowing that if there indeed was an attack, he would be fighting, not seeking shelter. Rei looked at her feet, not showing any signs of boredom or ennui. She wasn't showing anything, really.

But she was anxiously wondering if she should talk to Shinji. If she did, what would she say? She could talk about the Eva's…no, he hates piloting. She could talk about recent developments in NERV…no, he wouldn't be interested in that. She could talk about Command…no. So she sat in silence, wanting to speak, but with nothing to say.

Shinji leaned over to whisper with Rei. "How did you do on the physics test this morning?" he asked.

"I passed with sufficient marks with your help, Ikari. And how did you perform?"

"Ah, well there were a few tough questions that I couldn't get. I hope they don't drop my grade very much."

"I am confident that you did superbly on the test. You are quite eruditic when it comes to physics."

Shinji blushed. "Heh, thanks Rei. You had a quiz on Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter too, didn't you? How was that?"

She looked him in the eye. "We do not speak of Hawthorne," she said in a flat tone, warning him to tread no further on that path.

"Oh, s-sorry…"

Shinji sat back in his chair, looking somewhat frightened. Rei hadn't meant to be so harsh with him; it's just that she had failed that quiz so horribly, it still gave her chills. She hadn't bothered finishing The Scarlet Letter, so she had no idea what had actually happened to the characters. Quite frankly, however, she didn't give a damn.

"Ikari…" Rei leaned toward Shinji. She rested her head against his shoulder. "I apologize. I do not enjoy that author in the least. I failed the quiz today, and am a little upset about it. I didn't mean to snap at you."

With Rei on his shoulder, Shinji stiffened. This was the closest the two had ever been; it seemed strange to him. He could smell Rei's hair; lavender and roses filled his nose. "It's alright, Rei. Don't worry about it."

The speaker raised his arms, signaling the children to go back to class. Asuka stood with Hikari and began to leave. As she turned to go, she saw Shinji with Rei leaning against him. A scowl most dark enveloped her face as she stalked toward the two.

"And what the hell is this, Shinji?"

"Asuka!" He straightened in his chair. Rei felt heavier on his shoulder of a sudden. He felt ashamed with her there, for some reason. It felt like he had broken an unwritten law, and now vengeful justice was here to punish him.

Rei was unfazed. She kept her position.

Asuka glared at her. "What are you waiting for? Get off of my Shinji!"

Shinji grew wide-eyed at this. Her Shinji? Since when did Asuka think he was hers? He could see pure hate beaming from Asuka's eyes.

Rei slowly got up, serene as a winter lake. She stepped up to Asuka so that they were face to face. Then she fired.

"Shinji does not belong to you, Asuka. He is not bound to you in any way. I will do as I please."

"Well if he isn't bound to me, then he sure as hell has no attachment to you, Wondergirl."

The Class Rep didn't want to see fighting within the ranks. "Stop this, you two! You aren't children, you know!"

They ignored her.

Rei furrowed her brows. "I'm closer to him than you are. Shinji doesn't want to be with you anyway."

Shinji, however, had no idea where that information had come from. He was shocked to see these two girls fighting over him, and stood there like a statue.

Asuka reached back her arm, and brought her hand into full contact with Rei's cheek. A resounding smack echoed in the nearly-empty gymnasium. A teacher, who had been observing the event, waiting for things to either work their way out or get out of hand, strode toward the group. He quickly got in between the fighting girls, trying to separate Rei's death-grip on Asuka's hair while simultaneously trying to stop Asuka from kicking Rei in the shin.

"What on earth are you two doing?!" he shouted. "Stop this immediately!"

Rei let go of Asuka and backed away.

Asuka kept after it. "She started it, that little bitch!"

Hikari and Shinji both gasped at the language Asuka had used.

"And I'm ending it, Asuka! Now stop this!" the teacher yelled. Once Asuka had backed down, he took her and Rei by the arms. "We're going to see the principal now. This is just ridiculous…"

He and the girls left for the principals office, while Shinji and Hikari stood, equally bewildered and in the dark of what just happened.

A/N: Ya, I dissed Hawthorne through Rei. Deal with it. :3