Well here is Chapter 2! I am sooo sorry I haven't been able to write any more; there are a few excuses but I take all of the blame, I just have a habit of forgetting about these things! I looked at some other stories and decided that this length was about right, I don't think I am going to make them any shorter, it really annoys me with short chapters sometimes!

I was really happy with the amount of people who reviewed, I am glad the first chapter was a success (in my eyes!), thank you to you all!

Disclaimer: I do not own Mamotte! Lollipop or any of the characters.

My alarm clock rang, shaking me up from my dreams. 5:30. I trudged over to my wardrobe, and pulled out my running gear. Slamming the front door to my house, checking it was locked, I started off jogging down the road. This is how I start my day continuously. Being healthy goes with the perfect image, I had concluded this many months ago.

Soon, I was awake, my feet no longer feeling like lead, my eyes wide and my senses responsive. Now more aware of my surroundings, I took in what would have been the sweet smell of newly-mown grass and the blue, bright sky which welcomed me with open arms – had it been last year, of coarse. This is one of the times in my life where I can be myself, where I don't have to perform to my peers, who eagerly await my every move. I don't even have any real friends any more, I am so fake. It's a time where I can just relax and let the whole mask go. My pace is stronger, more springier than when I started off, I close my eyes, and open them again, rarely missing the lamp-post to my left.

'Eeek! I hope no body saw that! How embarrassing...' I glance around me, fortunately no one did. After resuming my run, I notice a red car.

'Weird...it looks familiar' Maybe it's because my head it filled up with other things at the moment but I can't seem to put my finger on it.

After standing for a few moments puzzling over where I could have seen it before, I shrug my shoulders and carry on with my run. Glancing at my watch, I realize that it's time to head back or home. I pick up the pace, and take one last look at the car. I frown, I have seen it somewhere before!

-FLASHBACK-

I stood at the door of my house, thank goodness my parents were out! I try not to cry, but before I know it, the tears are running down my face. I have said goodbye to Ichi, but Zero...he looks so distant, how am I going to live a whole year without him? It's impossible! Why does he have to leave now, after we had finally confessed our feelings for each other? I knew he had to leave one day, but it had never dawned on me how close that time was.

He strides over, his fixed on me, I can't look away. He embraces me, and holds me tight, I never want to let go...never. I sob into his jacket, he whispers in my ear.

'Nina, I'll come back, I promise, this day, next year. I'll never forget you and I hope that I shall not to come back and find you with another man. If this happens, my heart would be broken, and never to be mended again by anyone but you.'

I gasp.

So he really does feel about me this way? Gee, I should stop crying and pull myself together!

I look up into his unusually desolate blue eyes. Ruffling his hair and laughing I say; 'Don't worry about me old boy! It's me that should be worrying about you! Look after him Ichi won't you?'

He forces a grim smile, returns a shallow nod and walks off to wait in the car, my farewells to him hadn't been nearly so hard as this. I know he was only going for a year, but I had soon grew accustomed to seeing him everyday, I thought nothing of it.

I carry on jokingly, 'And how you think I would ever dream of going off with another man-' My voice cracks, and I start sobbing all over again. 'I was so naive! I was so wrapped up in my emotional hurricane I didn't even think about how you felt! I am so sorry. I know this trip means so much to you. I shouldn't be so attached to you and I promise I won't in the future.'

'Nina...' Zero starts to bend down to kiss me but I nudge him in the chest.

Why did I do that?

He withdraws, I see a flicker of hurt in his eyes before he covers it up with a false grin. 'See you next year – idiot!' He runs down the gravel drive the stones crunching underneath his shoes – that's how I feel now.

Crunch.

I laugh and reply,

'Same goes for you – jerk!'

Perhaps we were both trying to cover up our emotions by referring to each other by our old nicknames, but I can assure you now, it certainly wasn't working for me.

One final wave, and they were whisked away into the summer skies, soon all that was left of them was a red dot amongst the feathery clouds.

-END FLASHBACK-

That's it!

A red dot. A red car. Ichi's red car.

Oh. My. Pineapple.

No way. No flipping way. Just fucking NO.

They can't be back.

They can't!

They can.

No...they can't.

I mean, how many red cars are there in Japan? Lots. Hundreds! Thousands! Millions maybe! Of coarse they couldn't be back. It was probably just some old duffer's car who decided they wanted something flashy.

But how many red sports cars are there in this area?

...

Loads! I have been so busy with studying and sports lately that I haven't noticed how many people have been moving in and out of the area! Yes, that's it, I have been to busy to notice!

How can you be so sure? Hasn't it been nearly a year since they left?

Sure enough, it was. I checked my calender everyday, counting them down, one by one. So now why did I feel a lurch in my stomach, and I felt as though spiders were invading my guts? This battle inside my head woke up my thoughts once again.

Since, the day when Zero and Ichi left everything went down hill. My world went from a rainbow sweetshop to a black and white tunnel of depression. My candy cane trees became wilting shadows mourning and dying everyday. My choirs of flowers singing with happiness turned into paper ornaments, their strength disappeared like a bullet in a chaotic war zone. My candy floss clouds into lingering smog. The joyful children playing on the streets into lifeless and animated characters. My azure lake of a sky into a motionless mirror; reflecting the melancholy back into my life – there was no escape. Wherever I walked the life out of everything drained out with me. That's the way it seemed.

Before I knew it, I was at the door of my home. I glance at my wristwatch. I better hurry up.

Racing upstairs, I begin my usual routine; shower, get dressed, brush my teeth, have breakfast. When I decided that I had to be perfect I knew it wouldn't come easy so in the mornings I follow a strict regime to keep me in order.

After grabbing my bags and stuffing a handful of cornflakes in my mouth (I have to say that breakfast is not my favourite meal of the day!) I race out the door, and lock it.

I grab my bike and pedal furiously down the road and make my way to the gym. Soon I am changed and ready on time with some time to warm up before I start my practice. I love rhythmic gymnastics, it really makes me feel as though I can just let everything go – all the anger and frustration that I keep locked inside of me, I can just let go!

Pressing 'play' on the CD Player, I lets the rhythm of the piano whisk me away as I snatch up my ribbon and perform a few simple exercises before I move onto some of the trickier moves. All I can hear is the thudding of my feet as I land from my splits leaps and and cossack jumps. I love it when I am alone like this in the gym. This morning I get the luxury of having it all to myself, without the moans and whines of the juniors, no moody coach barking down my ear that I better pull my finger out if I expected to qualify for the internationals.

Yet something feels different about today...I feel as though I am being watched. I glance around quickly but I don't see anyone there. Tossing my ribbon to the side I pick up the pair of clubs, perform some mills, then throw them up in the air. Before I attempt to catch them I perform some leaps and a backwards walkover and halfway in doing this I notice a tall, slender figure leaning against the door frame to the reception room.

Blue hair.

Blue eyes.

Zero.

Tee hee! :) If you want to know what rhythmic gymnastics is type it into YouTube and click on the first video. I totally love it myself, I could go on about it forever! That's why she kind of does it...sorry if I ruined the character. :S

Hmm...some parts were really cheesy weren't they? Ah well! And about the whole Oh My Pineapple it's a habit of mine, thought I might include it!I have half of chapter three written up now, it deends whether I can be bothered...

Laters!