Heya people! I think I'm getting things going again! I actually want to type out this stuff now, and I'm thinking up plot details and twists again! Actually, a few nights ago I dreamt a whole scene that I'd been obsessing over. It was so cool! But then Batman came and wrecked it… but up until then, it was cool. Kinda freaky, but whatever!

Anyway, just to clear up some stuff: I went back and re-read my last couple chapters, and I realize now that all my tenses were mixed up. It'd switch from past to present tense… I remember I was debating which one to choose. And now I can't remember which one I picked… but in any case, it's supposed to be in past tense now, and I'm sorry about all the errors in the last chapter! I'll fix them someday, maybe… eheh.

Also, I know some people were confused about that little Legault/Guy moment there… NO, I'm not pairing them up. They belong to Heath and Matthew respectively X3 I just wanted to make it very clear that Guy is gay from the start, he doesn't magically turn gay when he gets to know Matthew. Make sense?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

To Pyro: Uwah! I didn't send this to you 'cause I couldn't wait to post it and I've got no idea how your life's been recently. For future reference, are you still up to beta? If not, I understand and love you anyway and wish you luck. If so, then… well, duh, yay!

Alright… now the chapter!

Ch3: My Own Personal Whirlwind

"Matthew, the others have already left with the other new people. Pricilla, Raven, and Rebecca," the red-eyed girl drawled, eyes now drooping in boredom. Was she bipolar or something? She was so scary and awake just seconds ago…

"Everyone else? I thought no one wanted to go anywhere with you… who else came?" Matthew drawled back. Her eyes narrowed further, though she still looked bored.

"Idiot. Pent, for one. And Miss Ninian and Leila." She counted the names on her fingers pointedly.

For whatever reason, I suddenly realized that Matthew's arm was still slung around my neck. "Get off!" I yelped, jerking away. He pouted.

"Aw, come now…"

"Ahem," coughed the blonde politely. I looked at her. "So how about some introductions? I'm Louise."

"I'm Matthew," smirked Matthew. I glared at him.

"I'm Legault," the long haired man supplied.

"And I'm Neid," droned the girl. She just got less and less animated…

"…er, I'm Guy…"

"We know," chimed Neid and Legault, rolling their eyes. Matthew's ears flared red. Whaa…?

The silence was incredible.

"So, er… where am I going?"

All of them exchanged looks. Why was I getting a feeling of impending doom?

--

It ended up that I was not to know where I was going, but I was supposed to trust in Matthew and the rest of them and just go. In the end, it was my all-consuming hatred for the orphanage that drove me out to go with them.

Naturally, as soon as we stepped outside the gates I made a run for it. Unfortunately, Matthew and Neid caught up with me within milliseconds and I promptly fainted. Starving myself was not such a good thing for building stamina. When I woke up, I was in a horse-drawn carriage along with Neid, Legault, and Matthew.

I blinked, trying to get my bearings again. My head was spinning in a very distracting way… groaning, I reached to clutch at my head, hoping to steady it. When my vision cleared enough for me to notice, I realized that there was some dried meat and sugary candied pineapple and mango hanging under my nose- my favorite. I grabbed it without thinking, shoveling first the fruit then the meat into my mouth. I didn't care how I looked; I had foooood…

A snort snapped my mind back to the present. My head shot up, a piece of meat still hanging out of my mouth. It was Matthew, of course.

I glared, completely forgetting about the meat. "Whrrrft?" I growled, before blushing and chewing the rest of the food and swallowing. Legault and Neid were looking incredulously back and forth, from Matthew to me.

Legault was muttering something. "-ou like that little thing?" Neid was just gazing at me strangely.

"Shut up, Legault," snarled Matthew lowly. I looked at Legault, interested. I had a feeling that anything that could make the blonde uncomfortable would be beneficial for me in the long run.

"What?" I asked again, making sure my mouth was meat-free first.

"Mattie-boy likes-" Legault started, arching a brow meaningfully before being interrupted by Matthew.

"NOTHING," he interjected forcibly, elbowing Legault sharply. Legault let out a puff of air at the impact and promptly started to chuckle. I noticed Matthew's ears were bright red once again.

"But honestly, dear, why more than me? Or Leila for that matter? Or Legault, even?" inquired Neid cryptically. I blinked at her.

"Hey, I do not deserve that even."

"Shut up," Matthew hissed, glaring at them both. They grinned and shut up. I really, really wanted to know what that was about… maybe I'd ask one of those two later…

I conveniently forgot that I was scared of both of them.

"So Guy," Matthew started, "you are a guy, right?" Neid choked.

What?

"I-I-I… o-of course! W-why?" I stammered indignantly. Matthew looked at me wide-eyed- a sad attempt at looking innocent, I assumed.

"Well, your hair's so long, and your voice isn't the most manly thing, not to mention you wear a really tight shirt and you're certainly skinny enough," he started matter-of-factly. Neid was sniggering uncontrollably. I felt my face heat up.

"I h-hate you! You have to know I'm m-male!" I was on the verge of yelling as I fumbled around for a hair tie- the lack of it had obviously started this conversation.

I was still fumbling and muttering things about Matthew when he dangled my hair tie right in front of my face. I blinked at it.

"Y-you… stole my hair tie!?!" I was actually yelling now. Legault winced and rubbed his ear. Fuming, I snatched at it. Matthew just pulled it out of the way. "Give it ba-ack!" My voice cracked on the last syllable, embarrassingly enough. But honestly, he set me up! It was his fault I was in this stupid situation!

I hate being mistaken for a girl.

Matthew stopped moving as soon as I stopped speaking. Not caring why, I yanked my hair tie away from him and secured my hair in a ponytail-it'd have to do for now. When I looked back at Matthew, he looked paler somehow, though he had moved back into his seat and away from me. Upon closer inspection, the hair on his arms was raised.

Did I scare him?

Hah. Served him right. I shifted deep into my seat in contentment, settling my head against the window. Suddenly, I felt very, very tired. Yawning, I drifted into sleep. Neid's words followed me:

"We've got some kinda lighting on our hands, wouldn't you agree?"
And there you have it. Again, I apologize for any typos and weird switches between tenses. If you noticed anything in particular, wouldja tell me?

Also, I'd like to say THANKS SO MUCH to Rhia. I don't really care that you've never reviewed before, but it's so, so awesome that you did so now. Honestly, that review kinda sparked my drive again, just 'cause it's cool to hear from a reader for the first time… so :glomp:

Anyway, please, please review. I'm a very shallow person, and reviews are like fuel for me… it's pathetic, but whatever. I've got very iffy motivation.