The Mediator

Chapter Two

Amelia Notes: I had seventy-three visitors to chapter one and only two reviews. So be nice and review this one, hey? My birthday is on the 7th, so consider your review my birthday present!

I woke up the next morning hearing bird song. I'm not even kidding. There were birds singing outside of my window in the huge oak tree. The only birds I ever heard in New York were pigeons, and they aren't nearly as pretty as the two little birds in the tree. Mom must have snuck in and opened up my window earlier this morning. I make a mental note to thank her for being so sweet.

I'd been warned last night that I would have to amuse myself today. Everyone else had previous engagements and couldn't spend time with me. They all had jobs or hobbies. I wasn't particularly concerned with my step-family's absence, but it would have been nice to chat with Mom. No problem, at sixteen I think I can find some way to amuse myself.

A breeze made my curtains ruffle and brought the smell of earth into my room. I've pretty much never smelled anything quite like it. Oh sure, the city had Central Park and all, but that was still city; still metal and glass and fumes from cars. This was entirely different from a city park. That's when it really hit me.

I live in the middle of nowhere.

With that cheerful thought, I decided I might as well get up and unpack. I decided to shower and braid my hair before attacking the boxes. My shower was a little cramped, but the presence of the awesome tub only a few feet away made up for any shortcomings. I was out fairly quickly-I could laze around after I unpacked. I wrapped a fluffy purple-blue towel around my waist and started searching the boxes for clothes. It took me awhile, but I found the boxes that held everything I needed.

The rest of my day was spent productively unpacking. Just before dinner, I finished and stepped back to survey my handiwork. Clothes in the dresser and closet neatly folded and hung. Books were shelved and my computer set up for use. Various posters of bands adorned the walls. The place finally looked like a room I would actually live in, instead of the guest room it had resembled before.

I skipped down the stairs just as Howard started calling for everyone to come to the dining room. Have I mentioned that my stepfather is an awesome cook? Practically gourmet. Tonight we were having Hawaiian shish-kabobs and rice with this great pineapple sauce. All of the girls were at the table with Mom and Howard by the time I reached my seat. Lucy Fur and De'Mon were right at my heels, hoping I'd drop them morsels.

Howard and Mom had decided awhile ago that we should have family dinners without fail. The only excuse for missing family dinner was illness, death, work or school projects. Not that I'm likely to miss Howard's food.

"Duo? Sweetheart? Did you hear Hilde or Lucrazia?"

"Huh?" I blinked at Mom.

"They said they were going roller skating after dinner. Why don't you go with them? You'll get to meet some boys your age. We don't expect you to spend the whole summer in seclusion."

"Skating?" I stared across the table at my stepsisters. "Are you people serious?" They both just nodded at me. "Well, sure, if that's what the kids do around here." I smiled at them, figuring the roller rink was an excuse to go to an unsupervised party.

Boy, was I wrong.

Apparently, everyone under the age of eighteen hangs out at the skating rink. The place looks like a warehouse on the outside, except for the parking lot packed with cars. Inside was dimly lit with an array of colored bulbs and string lights. There were little mushroom like seats in groups lining three sides of the rink. The fourth side held an honest-to-God soda fountain and diner area. The waitresses were on skates. It really looked like it was straight out of the fifties.

Lucrazia, Hilde and I rented skates-skates, not roller blades-for three dollars a pair. The girls put their own on quick and were gone in a flash, skating away. Apparently, that was as far as they were willing to help me. They left me staring at the ugly brown skates on my feet and wondering whether I was brave enough to actually try this.

At least I had worn my Gucci jeans and Godsmack t-shirt. I would look amazingly fashionable as I fell flat on my ass.

"Aren't you going to skate?"

I looked up into the eyes of an angel.

Okay, not really, but pretty close. He had soft-looking golden-blonde hair that framed a most cherubic face. Those eyes of his were blue-grey-green and big. He looked like the type of person you ran to for hugs. The kind that rescues kittens and puppies.

"Umm, I don't know how," I told the guy.

He laughed, a very sweet laugh, and offered me his hand. "I'm Quatre Raberba-Winner, this is Trowa Barton. He's the best skater in the county, if he can't teach you, you're hopeless."

For the first time I noticed the guy standing behind Quatre. He was fairly tall and looked very comfortable in his skates, not even bothering to steady himself on the chairs like Quatre was doing. His brown hair fell messily into his eyes, obscuring the color of said orbs. He practically oozed silence.

I grinned at them both and shook Quatre's hand. "I'm Duo Maxwell. Umm, Hilde and Lucrazia's stepbrother." I offered my hand to Trowa as well. He took my hand and hauled me to my feet. I nearly fell forward, but Quatre steadied me.

"We know who you are," Quatre told me cheerfully. "Lucrazia-though everyone calls her Noin-is Trowa's sister's best friend. They're both on all the sports teams. Noin told Cathy about you and Cathy-that's Trowa's sister-told Trowa."

I blinked at him. "You talk faster than me, and I'm from New York."

That made both of them laugh, which made me laugh too. I guess that sort of sealed our friendship. About fifteen minutes later I could skate between the two of them with little to no mishaps. I could even stop without plowing into the floor. We decided to rest and get something to drink after I complained about my ankles hurting. It wasn't just my ankles either, my legs were tired. I knew I'd be sore in the morning.

Trowa carried my drink as he led us to a booth. I was quite grateful for the Mountain Dew, skating took a great deal of energy. I was also grateful Trowa offered to carry it, since I would most likely spill it. Though I was able to slide gracefully into the booth.

We spent the rest of the night chatting and skating. When I finally got back to the house it was close to midnight and beginning to rain. I crawled into bed and was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.