Here it is the new, and improved, second chapter!

As you will notice the POV changed to Catlin, since the story will mainly be centred on Catlin's POV. But because I think it's also cute to have other POVs, they'll probably keep changing.

I would love to get your review and since I think it's only fair I would for sure return the favour, that doesn't mean that it has to be a 'your-so-good'- kind-of-review, just tell me what you think about it!

Thanks

Nes

--» OoH and I would like to thank to dreamsafantasy, who was (AGAIN!) my first reviewer! Where would I be without you?

I woke up as soon as the sun, shining on my face, was no longer bearable. Mayu was still lying right next to me, with her eyes closed, she almost seemed asleep.

I fought with myself over staying or not in bed for another ten minutes at least, but the smell of Gina's lovely pancakes was the most effective wake up call.

Quickly getting out of my pyjamas, I looked around my wardrobe for my favourite black skirt and a long sleeved pink shirt. After dressed I combed my hair, did all the additional things and was in a matter of minutes running down the stairs and right into the kitchen.

Gina was still facing the oven, making more pancakes I'm sure, when I got there.

"Good Morning Gina!"

As Gina spun around to face me the strangest thought stroke me. Even if only the maid I saw much more of her than from both of my parents, she was so different from my mother that even if some things matched they almost seemed like they didn't.

They had the same blondish hair, but Gina's was whiter and seemed softer, her eyes were blue and what was most striking about them was the total lack of tiredness that I was so used to see in my mother's eyes.

Even their posture was different. My mother was very high and was becoming tinier every time I saw her, while Gina had a friendly air about her, with the larger frame and the big smile that she was always carrying.

"Good morning honey, you look tired did you got enough sleep?" I smiled, she knew me so well. Cause with all the excitement about what was to happen I hadn't sleep much.

"Well maybe, you know, I have something to tell you!"

"Really? Does it have something to do with the doll in your hands?" She was smiling too, but her eyes showed a mixture of question and curiosity. And before I could answer she added.

"Aren't you a little older to play with doll, anyway? I never thought that sixteen year old girls still played with them."

"This isn't a doll Gina! It's an Angel!" I smiled and continued before she could ask me anymore questions. "Haven't you heard about Angelic Layer? They look like dolls but they're so much more!"

"Oh that's right, my granddaughter, Mary, do you remember her? Well anyway, she asked for one of those for her birthday."

I placed Mayu next to me in the table while I sat and started to eat the pancakes that Gina had given me.

"Yeah, I remember her, she is what, seven?"

"She will be eight this Sunday. That's why I told you I couldn't be here tomorrow. You can come if you want. You know that the kids love you!"

"That's right you aren't here tomorrow… I would love to go but I think I may have plans, I have to start and train with Mayu!"

Gina just looked at me questioningly, when I remember that I had forgot to do the necessary introductions.

"Gina, this is" I said pointing to a very naked and seated Mayu. "Mayu, and Mayu," I said this time pointing to Gina "this is Gina. She's the one we're going to convince to do your clothes!"

Gina just smiled before I continued. "You're going to help, right Gina? I have a sketch and the appropriate fabrics too! Do you think you could help?"

"Of course honey, and Mayu, it's a pleasure to meet you!" I just laughed and got up.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to finish your pancakes, I swear kids nowadays are eating less and less!"

"No Gina, I'm just going to fetch the fabrics and the sketch so that, while I eat, you can start Mayu's clothes. Okay?"

I didn't let her answer since I was already halfway trough the stairs when I finished saying this. Running into my room I collected everything I needed and was halfway down the stairs a minute later.

Breathing deeply when I got to the kitchen I gave Gina the sketch I had done the night before and smiling attacked, once again, my pancakes.

"It's a great outfit Catlin, did you do it yourself?"

"Yes, do you think it's possible to do it?"

"Yes, I'm sure I can make something quite like it, are this," She said pointing to the little pink bag from Piffle Princess's shop filled with accessorizes and the fabrics. "the fabrics?"

"They're there somewhere, the shoes and some other things are there also."

"Okay then, eat your breakfast and don't worry that I'll have this finished today."

"I have to go and phone Ann, she will love to know about Mayu." Gina smiled.

"Not before you finish your breakfast." It was my turn to smile.

"Of course not, do you think I would leave these amazing pancakes all by themselves here?"

Not much time later I was in the hall, right next to the phone, where I was going to phone Ann and him. After a moment Gina appeared by my side.

"Are you going to stare to the phone much longer? Don't you want to talk to Ann about Mayu?"

"Well, yeah, I will, it's just that after that I have to phone somebody else…"

"Your parents? You know that they don't work this much because they want to, you have to try and talk to them every time you can."

"No Gina, I wasn't going to phone them, I just really have to phone Thomas and I don't talk to him in ages…"

"Thomas? I don't think I know him? As he ever come here?"

"He used to spend his life here, now he doesn't. You didn't work here then, that's why you don't remember him."

"Well, I'm sure he will love to hear from you. Old friends always do. I just came to tell you that Mayu's outfit is almost ready and I would like to make you a surprise, so please don't enter the kitchen before I tell you too, ok?"

I just nodded and grabbed the phone, I would call Ann first and I would worry about Thomas later

The phone ringed once, twice and a third time, as always, since Ann would only answer the phone on the third ring, she used to say that 'If the person really wants to speak to me she'll wait, this way I know that I'll spend my time with a worthy person.', a few seconds later her voice took me away from my thoughts.

"Hello? Catlin it's that you? Are you day-dreaming on the phone again?"

"No, I'm not sorry. I was, uh-, doing something else."

"Ok, ok, day-dreaming it is. Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Yeah, there is, it's more something to show you, but I want you to come here. It will be great to see your reaction."

"Something to, show me? Don't tell me you did a piercing after I left you alone next to the grocerie shop! I knew you were planning something! I can't believe you did it without me! Where is it? Please tell me that it's on the nose, you would look fabulous with one there."

"No, you just wanted me to do one there because you have one on the nose too. But I'm sorry to tell you that I didn't told you to leave me alone to do a piercing, it's something else, just come here and I'll show you!"

"Maybe you did a tattoo? I would swear you were against those things. Please just tell me, you know that if you leave me guessing I will kill myself over curiosity."

"No, you know that I'm almost as stubborn as you are curious, just move that pretty auburn head here and you'll find out."

"Do I really have to?"

"Yes, now, when can you be here?"

"I still have some things to do, my mom is in her monthly cleaning mood and I have to help. Maybe I can be there around two?"

"Okay it's a deal. Talk to you later."

"Bye."

I hung up after hearing a 'click' that meant she had already hung up and as I calmly stared at the phone again I weighted my options.

I didn't want to call him because it was strange to talk to him after so much time without seeing each other, there were other reasons too, but those were best left untouched. I looked at the little paper on my hand, where Thomas's cell phone number was. Maybe no one would answer, the number was old anyway, he could have changed number a long time ago, and the number had what? Four years? But I had to call him, I needed help from somebody and Thomas was one of the best, at least he used to be. Who knew what he had been doing? Maybe he didn't play anymore. I hadn't heard anything from him in a long time.

It was worth I decided while I dialled the number. The phone rang once, twice and a male voice was heard.

"Hello?"

"Thomas?" My voice even trembled, what was wrong with me? I had to get it done!

"Yes, may I know who is calling?"

"It's Catlin Melbourne, I was wondering if I could ask you a favour?"

"Catlin? It has been years! How are you doing? We didn't talk in ages. A favour you said, of course, I would do anything for you." I smiled, he sounded just like I remembered him.

"Yeah, it has been ages, hasn't it? I'm kind of sorry that the first phone call, in years, is for ask you a favour but we can catch on in the meantime."

"Don't worry. It's always great to hear from you no matter what your reasons are! But what can I do for you?"

"Well-" In the next fifteen minutes, between catching on and explaining what I needed from him, I got to know thousands of new things about Thomas. He hadn't stopped to play Angelic Layer, he just didn't play in important tournaments anymore. He had started to work for his father company, where he would stay for a year while he decided which course he wanted to choose.

He got to know a lot about me too and I was just starting to tell him about the martial arts and ballet lessons I had been watching when Gina called me into the kitchen.

"I have to go, so it's a deal?"

"What? Oh, right, tomorrow at four o'clock next to the Piffle Princess shop."

"That's it and thanks again."

"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow then, bye!"

"Bye."

Gina calling me could only meant that Mayu's outfit was ready, she had said that there was also a surprise, what could she have done? There was only one way to find out so I started to walk towards the kitchen.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the kitchen was Gina's sewing box, placed on top of the table, the next was this little doll, on top of the sewing box, with a cute black outfit. Since I was still replaying my conversation with Thomas it took me a few seconds to understand that the little doll was actually Mayu with her outfit.

"Gina she's amazing! Oh, and what's that?" And then I understood what Gina meant by saying that she had changed a few things. It was more like adding a few things, since the outfit sketched by me was there, made in perfection but now, the baggy sleeve had one big yellow flower too and it fitted the dress perfectly.

"Do you like it?"

"Oh, yes Gina, thank you! It's amazing, really! She's very cute, isn't she? The big yellow eyes and the black hair were a great match for the colour of the fabrics, don't you think?"

"Yes, I thought so too! I'm happy you liked it."

I thanked her again and after a while set of to my room with Mayu in my hands, now I had to find something to do before Ann arrived. She would love to know about Mayu I was sure.