A/N: Many thanks, people. Reviews recharge my batteries. Please do be sure to review this one, as I'll only update if I've got at least a few reviews. Just think of it as paying me for free. : )

"She's weird. And she's got serious emotional issues, if her songs are any indication. But underneath all that...oddness, is a nice-ish person. I'll vouch for it," Warren said solemnly. The Sidekick class, Will, and Warren and Vali were all at lunch. Warren and Valianta were the only two standing with their trays. The Sidekicks were (or rather, Maj was) wary about allowing Vali to sit at their table after the way she'd dissed Warren in gym. Warren's not-so-complimentary speech earned him a glare from Vali, who sniffed regally.

"I don't need charity, okay? And my emotional health is none of your business," she snapped at Warren.

"It's his business if you're throwing trash cans at him!" Maj snapped right back, even though it wasn't technically her argument.

"Who asked you, Purple?" Vali demanded sharply.

"It's Magenta. And magenta is more of a pinkish-purple than a purplish-pink," Maj replied defensively.

"I don't really give a --" Vali began, but Warren placed a finger on her lips.

"Ah ah ah, we promised," he reminded, ignoring Vali's flashing eyes as he removed his finger.

"What do you mean, you promised?" Will asked.

Maj's eyes glinted maliciously. "Yeah, tell us Valley Girl!"

Layla poked Maj with her spoon, setting aside her empty yogurt cup. "Ladies, be civilized," Layla said with a grin.

Zak looked at her, confused. "What about me? I'm not a girl!"

"No, you aren't," Layla said comfortingly. "You don't have to tell us, not if you don't want to," she added with a kind look at Vali. Warren sat down, and tugged Vali down beside him so that she sat directly across from Magenta; both girls groaned at the seating arrangement.

"Why should I have any qualms about revealing that to you?" Vali asked. "I vowed to be nicer to everyone, though I highly doubt Peace was thinking of Pur-Magenta when he secured my word." (Warren's protest of "My name is Warren!" went ignored as the entire table dug into their food.)

Maj seemed about to say something nasty, so Will said quickly, "Vali, when do you find time to record your music?"

Vali hesitated a moment, as though wondering how to phrase her response without sounding mean or rude. "Well," she finally answered carefully, "I mostly go into the studio on the weekends. My parents wanted me to stay in regular school, and if everything goes well, I'll be able to go on tour over the summer, so I won't miss anything." She looked away and began to polish off the sandwich on her tray.

"Did you meet any famous people when you were on tour last year?" Zak asked. Layla used her spoon to poke Zak now.

"She is famous, Zak."

"I am not!" Vali cried suddenly.

"Yeah, you are," Maj said suddenly. "Everyone loves you."

"No, they don't," she said angrily. "They love the pop crap that comes out of the radio, they love the hype. They don't even know me." She quieted just as quickly as she'd flared. "Bell's gonna ring in a sec," Vali mumbled, and rose with her tray. She trundled away, and just as she disappeared the bell rang.

"Is she psychic too?" Layla asked.

"No, she was wearing a watch," Will grinned.

A/N: I'm posting this short-ish chapter and then another right after it; I didn't want to confuse you by moving forward time-wise in one chapter.