A/n:
Thanks for all the reviews!
Chapter 9: Head Turner
Luna sat up on a sunny morning. She smiled childishly at the thought how she had a good night sleep. Suddenly, reality struck her.
"Oh no! What time is it already?" her mind panicked. "Cagalli! What time is it already?"
Cagalli groaned in reply and pulled the blanket up to her head.
"Cagalli!" she said as she took of the covers to let the sunlight peer through the blond sleepy-head's eyes.
Cagalli groaned again. "I'm still sleepy," she said fuzzily. All of a sudden, she jolted up and looked at Luna carefully.
"What are you doing here?"
Luna waved her hand in front of her friend's face. "Hello? Earth to Cagalli…you invited me for a sleepover here in your house.
Cagalli slapped her forehead. "Oh yeah, I remember. Still, you don't have to wake me up. I was in the middle of a great dream."
"Don't worry; you'll be able to dream again," Luna said, "Do you know what time is it already? We're probably late."
"Chill out, Luna. We're not late. It's only… What the!" Her eyes widened. It was already quarter to 8. "Luna, let's go!"
After taking a short shower, Cagalli burst opened her closet. The clothes tumbled down on the floor -- making her even more frustrated. She was about to dig through the pile of clothes until Luna stopped her.
"What now?" she asked in an angry voice.
"I thought you're going to turn over a new leaf?" Luna said sternly.
"Oh, c'mon Luna, don't speak to me in riddles!" Her voice was rising. Why is her best friend acting this way at this point of time?
She then, walked to her closet and opened it. "Cagalli," she said as she pointed at the beautiful clothes they bought the other day, "I bought these clothes for you to wear. C'mon, you look better when you wear them."
She crossed her arms across her chest and breathed out a heavy sigh. "Fine, but I don't know what I should choose."
Luna picked out some clothes and headed to the bathroom. "Simple. I'll help you dress up."
After several minutes…
The door opened. All heads turned except for Ms. Erica Simmons, their Science teacher.
"I was sure of expecting a late student, but…" Suddenly, she seemed stunned.
Who wouldn't be if you just saw your tomboy student wearing a skirt and high-heeled sandals with a matching pink flower clip on her hair?
Luna, who was breathing heavily, slowly stepped inside. She inhaled some air and looked at the teacher. "Pardon me, Ms. Simmons, if we are late. There were a lot of happenings at Cagalli's house and even along the road," she lied.
"Huh? Oh, it's alright, Ms. Hawke. But, this can only happen for today," Ms. Simmons said although her eyes were still locked on Cagalli. Murmurs were then, heard across the room.
"Ehem…you may now take your seats, Ms. Hawke and Ms. Attha," she said aloud.
When Cagalli and Luna took their seats, the murmurs around them grew even louder.
"Silence!" Ms. Simmons ordered.
Before Luna would even start her notes taking, she tore a piece of paper and wrote quickly. She then, passed it to Cagalli.
It wrote:
Hey, I think you're going to be one hot item. Our class is talking all about you!
Cagalli tore also a piece of paper and wrote:
I don't care.
Luna read the paper and looked at Cagalli. Unbelievably, she was taking notes.
The maroon-haired girl thought of writing something down on the little piece of paper, but thought otherwise.
"Let's see about that!" she thought.
At the school cafeteria…
Cagalli's stomach growled. "I'm hungry. I wonder what's on menu."
"Whatever it is, I hope it's good," Luna said.
The moment they stepped into the cafeteria, everyone stopped talking and eating. Cagalli felt an uneasy feeling because she knew that all of them were staring at her.
She gulped. She couldn't move her feet. She felt as if the whole world was watching at her. Luckily, Luna felt her discomfort.
"It's alright. They were just stunned on how different you look today. Try acting normal so people won't get suspicious," she whispered.
"I can't," she answered.
"Ok. I've got a plan. Follow me," Luna said.
She walked in front of her and grabbed a tray for her. "Here you go, Cagalli. You don't want to starve yourself to death, do you?"
Cagalli inhaled deeply and looked at Luna with a confident smile on her face. "Of course not!"
That did it. Luna flashed a smile to her friend for a job well done.
When they carried their trays to a clear table, Cagalli noticed that people were talking about her.
"Looks like her reign is over," one guy said.
"Yeah," a guy who is sitting next to him answered, "Man! I never thought Ms. Tough Queen could be so pretty."
She slightly blushed at that one. As they came even nearer, she heard a group of girls. And guess who it was? It was Mia Campbell along with Flay Allster and other brats.
"She's such a TH. How low!" one of them said. (A/n: TH Trying Hard)
"She doesn't even look pretty! I bet she only wants to attract guys especially those who already have girlfriends," Flay added.
"It looks like she even wants to copy your style, Mia," another one said.
"Chill out, girls!" Mia spoke, "She looks foolish with those clothes. And besides, who would want to date a girl who has been a tomboy for years?"
"Yeah!" the girls agreed.
Cagalli couldn't take this anymore! She wanted to punch all of them! However, Luna advised her before not to do any violent things again. Then, an idea popped in her mind.
She placed her tray on their table. "Hi girls! Mind if I join you?"
"Sorry, Cagalli. There isn't any available seat anymore," Mia answered.
"Oh, I guess that means I should find another table. See you later then!" she said happily.
As she picked up her tray, she "accidentally" spilled her juice on Mia's new Esprit blouse.
"Ah! You, stupid girl! Look what you did to my new blouse!" Mia screamed.
"Oh, I'm very sorry. I guess the karma's on you," Cagalli said sarcastically.
Mia stood up and glared at her. She was really mad. She then, stormed out of the cafeteria along with her followers.
People stared at Cagalli again. It was unbelievable that some one can do that to the most popular girl in school.
On the other hand, Cagalli had already reached the table where Luna is seated. Luna gave her a wink, while Cagalli replied her with a giggle.
Outside the cafeteria…
"Guys! Did you hear?" Nicol said.
"Hear whach?" Dearka asked with his mouth full.
"I guess he means "hear what?" Yzak explained.
"Some one just made Mia really mad!" Nicol replied.
Athrun smirked. It's a good thing some one taught Mia a lesson. What she did to him one day was unforgivable. "Who was it?"
"You guys really don't know how to pay attention to your surroundings, do you?" Nicol sighed. He had to admit it – his friends are so slow when it comes to latest issues around the school even though they are officers. "I heard her name was Cagalli."
Athrun stopped eating. "Cagalli," he thought, "I know I heard that name before."
"You mean – Ms. Tough Queen?" Dearka asked.
"Yes, but she isn't the tomboy who we see around in school anymore. She's already wearing a skirt!" Nicol said excitedly.
Dearka's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean – goodbye, Ms. Tough Queen, hello Ms. Hot Stuff?"
Yzak punched him in the head. "There goes your green brain again, Dearka."
In the meantime, Athrun was just staring blankly at his food. "Cagalli," he thought, "Her name just sounds so familiar." Then, he felt his heart beating wildly. "And, how come my heart beats like it will soon come out of my chest?"
In the hallway…
"Hmm…" Cagalli told herself, "It seems I already forgot about Ms. Simmons classroom." Ms. Talia Gladys, her English teacher, asked her to bring a pile of important papers to Mr. Arthur Trine's classroom. However, it seems she's already lost at the vast, empty corridors of the school.
Cagalli shut her eyes and tried to recall where it was, until…
A shoulder bumped her and sent all the papers scattered on the floor.
"Dammit!" she hissed. Picking up all these papers will take 10 years.
"Oh, I'm sorry," a distinguished voice said, "Let me help you."
Hearing that familiar voice, made heart skip a beat. "His voice sounds so recognizable," Cagalli thought.
She looked up and saw two, handsome, emerald eyes. When those eyes focused on her, they widened as well as hers.
"You!" they said in unison.
"You are the one who bumped me near the Comfort Room one time!" she pointed out.
"You are the girl whose name is Cagalli!" he said.
Cagalli raised a brow. "Wait a minute, how did you know my name?"
"Simple. I heard your friend calling your name," he answered.
"Hey! That's not fair," she said.
"Fine, your name is Cagalli, right? Mine is Athrun," he said.
Cagalli was put to a halt. "You're Athrun? Athrun Zala?"
"I can't believe that one person here in school doesn't know who I am," he uttered.
"So, you're saying you're famous? How boastful of you!"
"People say I'm famous, ok? So, don't call me boastful."
Finally, only one sheet of paper is left. At the same time, they both reached out their hands and slightly touched each other's skin. Both of them blushed.
"Umm…you pick it up," Cagalli said. And, Athrun followed.
"Here," he said as he handed the paper to her, "I apologize if I bumped into you earlier."
"No. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I wasn't careful," she said in a low voice.
"I guess I need to get going," he said as he scratched his head, "I'll see you some time then."
"Yeah, me too. Thanks for helping anyway," she spoke.
They slowly turned around and walked away.
"Athrun, wait!" Cagalli shouted.
He turned around and looked at her. "What is it?"
"Do you, uh, know where Ms. Simmon's classroom is?" She smiled.
"You can find it at the end of this hallway. It's Room 105," he stated.
"Ok. Thanks again." She bowed slightly.
But before they both turned around and leave, they gazed at each other's eyes like they could never be parted.
A/n:
This is my longest chapter so far. I hope you appreciated it!