Chapter Two

By: Sokai

Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. -- I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM said series, as well as the original character, Sitara/Amandella.

Note: I should have mentioned from the start that this W.I.T.C.H. Story is more of a "human-focused" story, vs. the whole magical aspect of the series. So, sure I'll be doing the whole eventual magical scenes, etc, but I might spend some more time focusing on developing the human aspect of it all. So . . . yep. LoL

Anyway, I'm glad, although more so surprised, to see that some of you like my story so far. Go, me! LoL But, I STILL want to know WHY my W.I.T.C.H. X'over story, "Harry Potter and the Collided Worlds" isn't as successful, review-wise. What, is it cuz I incorporated Sailormoon? Can't be, because Guardiangirl1 did a W.I.T.C.H./Sailormoon X'over, too, and she's got 2 more reviews than I do. MY guess mine isn't as "popular," is because I don't just write dialogue and keep everything simple, with no sort of descriptive passages or whatever (and NO, that's NOT a shot at every other author on here or whatever, so relax). Sorry, but I can't write that way any longer, as I did back when I was eight or so. Writing's one of my passions, and being very verbal, as it were, is what I crave. So . . . yeah. Sorry if THAT'S why no one seems to care enough for that story to read it (although, you're reading this one just fine, and it's written the same way as the other).

If anyone knows of any other fan fiction sites, let me know so I can move that story there and hopefully get better feedback. And sorry if I seem annoyed, but I am, because I can't honestly tell what my audience is thinking about that story or where to improve/not to, if all they do is hit/read it, but don't leave a REVIEW/FEEDBACK. Anyway, enjoy chapter two.

"It's ironic that I can never catch the bus from home to school, some place I have to go, but always can from school to home-- some place I don't want to go to," mumbled Cornelia to herself after school that mid afternoon, walking away from the bus stop and towards the direction of her apartment building.

Her entire being was wracked with exhaustion, after having to endure yet another day full of rude, careless teachers and resentful students alike, with virtually no place on campus to find solace.

Just because I was a freaking "Infielder" and went to Sheffield Institute while these rejects didn't, they've decided to forever shun me for life from this place! No skin off my back, though, because as soon as I'm eighteen, I'm out of here, she thought bitterly for a moment as she rounded the corner and made it closer to her home, reflecting upon her former "glory days" of astounding popularity.

Suddenly her formerly increasing rage instantly dissipated when she'd realized what she had thought:

No skin off my back . . .

The blonde smiled sadly as she recalled when the inscrutable young woman, Amandella Ember, had said those very same words to her earlier that morning. Once again she felt guilty for her perpetual lamenting over her life, when it truly seemed as though the girl's own had gone through a series of difficult hardship.

Of course, this assumption was foolishly based solely upon Amandella's outward appearance and attitude, something that Cornelia usually tried to avoid enacting,as she understood of how stereotypical and wrong of her it was to do as such.

However, the fifteen minute drive to the high school had earned the former figure skater enough insight to suspect that perhaps there could possibly be more to Amandella than meets the eye, just as there traditionally was with everyone else (and her experiences as a Guardian of the Veil had frequently proved that notion).

She didn't say much about herself orsay much, period, during the entire ride, so I can't honestly tell what her true nature is, but actions speak louder than words, they say . . . I just . . . I don't know why, but I felt so drawn to her, like I had to know more than just her name . . . I still feel that way, admittedly, Cornelia curiously thought in recollection of the awkward drive inside of the raven haired woman's truck.

She really couldn't understand what it was about that girl that had managed to captivate Cornelia's intrigue so much, but she also supposed it didn't rightly matter.

"It isn't like I'll see her again, anyway, so why should I even continue to think about this? I have to concentrate on saving up enough money to break out of this hell hole, which means I better hurry and get ready for work before I lose my pitiful burger flipping job," she said to herself as she approached the tall, dark brown apartment building that was her home.

The sight before her immediately stopped her in her tracks, however, and caused the breath within her chest to leave her.

There, reclined onto the cobblestone stairs that led up to the building's entrance, with arms lazily behind her black colored head and yet another cigarette perched within her mouth, was Amandella.

Because her dark honey tinted eyes were sealed off from the world, she did not see Cornelia approaching; however, whether or not she was a psychic, the blonde was unsure of, for Amandella, at that moment, had been able to correctly guess of her presence as well as her current emotions.

"Surprised to see me again, eh, princess? Probably think I'm stalking you too, right?" she murmured a bit sleepily, apparently having fallen unconscious at some point for however long she'd been lying upon those stairs.

Hesitant for a moment, Cornelia moved forward until she was directly hovering over the other girl's lounging body, whose eyes remained shut.

". . . As a matter of fact, I am, actually. I didn't think I'd see you again after your ride this morning, so seeing you here -- and where I live, no less -- is a bit disconcerting," she replied, lightly tapping her foot upon the pavement, an old habit she would perform whenever growing impatient for an expectant explanation.

"Oh, so you live here too, then? Fancy those odds. Guess this means you and I are fated to be best pals, huh? But, don't expect me to do any of that 'girlie-girlie' stuff like shopping sprees or facials that you're obviously accustomed to . . .

Well, unlessyou're buyin', 'cause I'm kind of strapped for cash at the moment-- you know, some of us have to work for a living, unlike the rest of you 'royals,'" joked Amandella, eyes fluttering open as she slowly sat up.

Scoffing, Cornelia frowned heavily down at her.

"Would you stop calling me, 'princess?' I told you what my name was, A-man-della! See? I can remember your name, so return the same courtesy. Oh, and for your information, I actually have to get ready for work right now, ironically, so yeah -- I do work just like everyone else. Maybe if you didn't blow all of your cash on those cancer-sticks all the time, you'd have some sort of nest egg stashed away," she hashed out, her temper returning.

Amandella merely shrugged before stretching, shifting her cigarette from one side of her mouth to the other with her tongue.

"Better me than you, right? So don't cry for me, princess, 'cause I'm already dead . . . And anyway, what's makes you think that I don't have a stash somewhere? I don't honestly plan on rotting away in this wonderful town for very long, even though I just got here-- got things to see, people to do, and all that jazz," she countered nonchalantly at the thrown back girl before her, whose anger once again vanished the moment Amandella's obtuse eyes bore into her vibrant blue jems.

Compelled to automatically apologize once more, Cornelia immediately recalled what had been previously said and temporarily flew over her head.

". . . Wait, what? You live here, too? As in, the same building as me? You're joking, right?" asked Cornelia in disbelief, looking from Amandella's smirking face to the building standing tall behind her.

One minute she had been feeling confident that she would never see the less than social girl ever again (despite the curious entrancement she slightly felt towards her), and now she was faced with the undisputed truth that the two of them were now resident neighbors.

Clearly more than amused at the situation, Amandella suddenly jumped to her feet and slung an arm around Cornelia's shoulder and grinned, while forcing her to walk up the stairs with her and tossing her cigarette aside.

"Isn't this great? Now, you can try to bum rides off of me every chance you get! Now, let's head inside and get ready for work, shall we?" she said with false peppiness, the only one seeming to enjoy the new predicament.

"What a day I'm having," Cornelia muttered in defeat, allowing the other girl to lead her inside of the building.

-- End of Chapter Two

(A.N. Holy SPIT! This would HAVE to be the SHORTEST chapter I have EVER produced. I feel sick . . . LoL But, honestly, what I had in mind for the next scene wouldn't fit/flow with how THIS one ended, so I had to cut it off right there. BUT, on the bright side? Now you didn't have to wait so long, as my regular readers usually do to find out what happens next. LoL

But, yeah, isn't that fun? Now Cornelia gets to deal with Amandella 24/7, and Amandella gets to BUG her 24/7. LoL Oh, and before you leave a review, telling me I wrote the phrase, "things to do, people to see" wrong, no I didn't. I purposely had her make it into a lewd comment. So . . . yeah. LoL Anyway, expect chapter three to be far more entertaining, longer, and out pretty soon. Oh, right. And someone – I won't give the name, out of respect– sent me a private message about this story, and asked if it's a femme-slash story with Cornelia interested in Amandella and vice versa. I'm gonna tell ALL of you what I told her, in case anyone else bothers to ask me that too: No. Nope. Nada. LoL Nothing against those kinds of stories, but the way I made Amandella – her character/being – she WOULD rag on someone like Cornelia that way, with extreme sarcasm, etc. So, yeah. Sorry if it comes off as some weird/backwards cat-n-mouse flirtation. Nope. LoL If you do a spin-off of this story in the future, be my guest to make it as such, but I'm not doing it. LoL)