WARNING: So this is probably going to be the last chapter. Unless I get some feedback on it. I don't want to write a story that nobody is reading! OK, so I know it's been slow. And I know that the chapters have just been episodes in a girl's life, all of them taking place years apart from each other. But that's all going to stop for now! The story is finally really going to get started! Right now! (But all that other stuff was really important for character development and all, you'll see why soon.) -Fanna

BASH

The night was unusually cool for summer. A breeze blew, and Minerva shivered, probably due to the fact that her arms, shoulders, chest, and most of her back were completely bare. At least her hair was down, which provided some protection. Minerva wondered what was worse: freezing her ass off on this balcony, or stepping back inside the party tower and enduring that miserable bash.

Min jumped when she noticed the hovercam behind her. It had followed her out, noticing that she was gone. The shots of her leaning on the railing, cold and alone, were probably being broadcasted on every frivolous gossip feed in the city. Min took a deep breath and tried, for the millionth time, to ignore it all.

She had been pretty for a few years now, and still hadn't quite gotten used to the lifestyle. She had no patience for small-talk, was too uptight to dance, and hated the constricting ball gowns. And alcohol made her feel terribly sick. Besides, as an athlete-in-training, Min couldn't afford spending a day with a hangover. Consequently, bashes were pure torture. She had quickly been voted into a clique, the Jocks (naturally), but she still felt like an outsider. The only time she was truly happy was on the soccer field.

After that first world championship win, Minerva had been voted team captain and had since led the Olympians to three more consecutive victories. This winter, they would be looking for a fifth. No team had ever won five world championships in a row, not in this city, not in the world. Of course, they had already broken a record for the Olympians, but nothing was good enough for Min.

As a result of this wild success, Minerva was now quite famous. Littlies and uglies displayed pictures of her on their wallscreens, hoping one day to be a soccer champion, too. (Of course, that wish was futile. Nobody could play quite like Minerva.) She was interviewed constantly for middle-pretty talk shows. Best of all, due to her exclusive status, Min had secured a room in Valentino Mansion. Old things still gave her comfort, just like the Rusty Ruins had when she was ugly. Min didn't mind that the walls were stone and dumb. She didn't do much talking to people, anyway. Except for with Max. Min turned around and looked inside. Max, a fellow member of the Jocks, was dancing with some boy, downing another glass of champagne, their bodies moving closer together with every beat of the music. That was another thing that Min wasn't interested in. She was nineteen years old, and the only person she knew of that was still a virgin, which was a considerable feat, living in New Pretty Town. She had never even been kissed. Not that she minded. A relationship would only distract her from her duties to the team.

Suddenly, as if he had read her thoughts and materialized out of thin air, a boy had appeared next to Min. That was a first. Guys were never interested in her, perhaps somehow sensing that she wasn't interested in them. Min followed his gaze out to the fireworks display.

"That bash getting a little dull to you, too?" he asked.

"Uh-huh," Min moaned unhappily, while deciding that she would keep an eye on this one. She had never heard another new pretty complain about a bash before.

Just then, the fireworks began their grand finale, lighting up the sky brilliantly. "Oh!" said the boy with a start. "Your hair is such an interesting color. I thought it was just black before the fireworks lit everything up." Then he quickly looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry..." he mumbled. "I didn't mean...it's just that...well...I always wanted to be a cosmetic surgeon, so I notice things like that. Sorry," he apologized again. His speech seemed strange to her, and Min realized with a sudden flash that it sounded familiar. Minerva never used pretty-talk because it was the most asinine thing she had ever heard. Her teammates were used to her serious and formal tone, but Minerva had never met anyone else who shared it. Until now.

"Really?" Min turned to face him, eyes wide, mouth open, her perfect lips almost a smile for once. "I've always thought the same thing, ever since I was a littlie!"

Recognition suddenly filled the boy's face. "Oh! I know who you are..." he said, and Min turned away again. Of course he would recognize her famous face. Now that he knew she was only that stupid soccer star, and not the sexy, mysterious loner he most likely thought she was, he would leave her, and Min realized that she didn't want that...

"You're shivering! You must be freezing in that," he said, and took off his suit jacket to drape it over her shoulders. His hands didn't leave when he did so.

Min leaned into him, feeling his warmth. When he didn't protest, she let almost her whole body weight fall into his arms.

He took her face in both his hands and turned it toward him. He looked a bit unique for a new pretty. There was something in his firm jaw and chin that made him seem more masculine than the rest, somehow. And with his warm brown hair, eyes, and skin tone, he reminded her of Max, who possessed Min's favorite face in the whole wide world...

He leaned down, and when Min realized what he was about to do, she felt faint. His lips were warm in the chill night air, and he shoved his hand underneath the jacket and let his fingers trail lightly down her bare back.

Min had instantly liked him, she really had. And yet, there was something missing from the kiss. It wasn't as great as everyone made it seem. He released her, taking a deep breath, then leaned in close again, his mouth open. Min knew that she was supposed to do the same, and instinctively obliged him, but this was even worse. It felt like he was assaulting her with his tongue, and the aggression frightened Min. She hadn't meant for it to go this far...

She forcefully pulled away. "I'm sorry!" he apologized instantly again. "I didn't mean to take things too quickly." Min couldn't stand him blaming himself like this. Despite her mixed feelings about the kiss, it was nice to feel wanted, to have somebody attracted to her. She would be a fool to let this one go. "No, no, it's not you, it's me," she said. "I'm just a little...new to this. And it's getting late, so I was just about to go home a few minutes ago anyway. I can't stay up all night when I have practice the next day."

"That's quite alright, Minerva, I understand!" he said, taking her in his arms again. (Min was only vaguely aware of the fact that he knew her name. Of course he did.) "I'll walk you home. Where do you live?"

"Valentino," she answered quickly. "But...I don't think I ever got your name..." she said in barely a whisper.

"It's Az," he breathed into her hair.

Yes, it is Az! As in David's father. His parents were hiding something big from him...Stay tuned!