A/N: You know, this story's moving awfully slow. But never fear for I shall persevere for my readers and major thank you's to everyone who's been reviewing. After this one, I plan to speed things up a lot more. Expect an update sometime this upcoming week or the next. I'm in a writing mood nowadays. It helps that the holidays are here! YAY! I love the holidays. The weather, the food, the family, the drama. The joy! Hehe. Well, here's the new chapter and I hope you guys enjoy! Review!

Meus Amor et Mea Culpa: My Love and My Mistake

Confrontations

Gasp

"Oh my gosh…"

"No way!"

"Did I just enter some alternate reality?"

"What the hell…?"

"Is that really…?"

"Is she…?"

"Are they…?"

Ami glanced up from what she was writing at the sudden simultaneous chattering of her classmates. She glanced about, wondering what the fuss was about and her mouth dropped open when she saw. Serena was bravely assimilating the varied reactions of her classmates as she and Zachary strode in, arm-in-arm. 'Surprised' couldn't be a word to describe what she was feeling at that moment. And neither could 'amused'. No. A darker emotion had welded up from beneath her heart, bringing back unbidden memories she had thought she had locked away. Ami closed her eyes, shutting out the world and the poorly-concealed gossiping of her peers, slowly counting to ten to calm herself down.

It was in the past. There was no need for it to pop up again. So why the hell was she thinking about it now? Was it because they had walked in so carelessly…so naturally, like they were born to walk in step with each other? No! Why on earth would she care about them? Yes…why indeed?

"Ami?" Ami slowly opened her eyes to greet the lighter blue gaze of Serena's. She had a look of concern etched on her forehead as she looked at Ami. "Ami?" She repeated. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" 'Huh?' What kind of an answer is that?' She thought to herself.

"You look like you were sick." Serena was explaining. "Your eyes were closed and you looked like you didn't get enough sleep last night."

Ami gave a small half-smile. "I could say the same for you." When Serena looked confused, Ami sighed and motioned to the seat next to her, which Serena took. "Hon, your eyes are red and puffy and sunk into your forehead." She said bluntly. "I think the really question here is, are you okay?"

Serena flushed, instinctively bringing a hand to her face at the mention of her sullen eyes. "I-It's not biggie." She insisted, twirling one of the two pigtails swinging down from her scalp between her fingers. "I just got through some…unexpected events."

Ami raised an eyebrow. "Since yesterday afternoon?"

Serena was about to reply when Mrs. Ether walked in, hair in disarray, the slip of her skirt visible for all the world to see and an armload of books and wrinkled papers stuck between folders.

"Good morning class!"

Serena and Ami straightened to look at the front of the class and Serena glanced at Zachary as he shot a short look at the guy sitting behind Serena. The poor guy shot up from his seat and Zachary gratefully propped down, a satisfied smirk on his face and his smile widened at Serena's shake of her head at his influence over the students. His eyes flicked over to the blue-haired young woman on the blonde's side. Ami brought up a hand to her side temple, partially blocking Zach's view of her face. Why was he doing this??

Mrs. Ether glanced about and immediately noticed the dangerously-charming-looking young man right behind Artemis Cartier's niece.

"Ah, Mister Monroe." Zachary gave a Cheshire grin and nodded in reply. Mrs. Ether noticed how students used shakes and nods of the head rather than actual words nowadays. Whatever happened to communication skills? You know: words. Now it was just nods, handshakes, grunts, and one-syllable equivalents. She shook her head slightly before adjusting her horn-rimmed glasses. Her eyes touched lightly on Ami Mizuno in the first row and she frowned in concern. The girl looked paler than usual and looked very disturbed about something. Hmm…It wasn't normal for the girl to be so fidgety. Ami was traditionally calm, cool, and collected. Mrs. Ether shrugged. Teenagers.

The class went off without much of a hitch though Serena still felt the tension and heard the unasked questions lingering in the air like a knife dangling haphazardly from the ceiling. When the bell rang, Serena looked over her shoulder at the uncomfortable Ami and the seemingly relaxed Zachary. They were both supposed to come with her to their English class. The three hadn't gotten three steps away from their history class room when two guys popped up and nodded over at Zachary and began to talk to him. Serena linked an arm through Ami's and the two walked over to English. Serena had a feeling that Ami would probably prefer it that way since the blue-haired teen looked ready to hyperventilate or something like it.

Mina, Rei, and Lita were already in the classroom and the two sat down with their friends, carrying on friendly conversation. Serena noticed that Rei seemed in much of a better mood than the day before and brought it up. Rei's face lit up and she smiled.

"Actually, I'm feeling a thousand times better than I was yesterday." The raven-haired beauty admitted, grinning nonstop. "When I got home," she was saying. "It just so happens that Kaidou was there…"

Mina made a face and asked, "Kaidou?

Rei returned the blond with one of her own looks. "Yeah. Anyways," she continued. "It just so happens that he's also going to that party I was telling you about earlier? You know the one I'm being forced into going? Yeah. Well, he offered to be my escort for the night."

Lita smiled brightly. "Oh wow. That's great Rei!"

"Thanks." Rei said. Turning to Serena, she said, "Kaidou works with my dad." She gave a roll of her eyes and said, "Politics." with enormous distaste. "But he's a great guy. He's barely twenty now."

Serena laughed and raised an eyebrow. "I take it you like him."

A rose-flush crept up on Rei's face and she nodded, smiling nonstop. The others snickered teasingly though Serena noticed how Minako's seemed strained. Her uncle walked into the room and students went over to their seats. They were discussing a book that hey had been required to read over the summer, Wuthering Heights. Artemis was truly fascinating when he taught. Serena's uncle had a somewhat dangerously charismatic air to him and he described the doomed love of Heathcliff for Catherine and the class eventually got into a discussion over how Catherine's strive for social prestige was apparently stronger than her love for Heathcliff. Artemis could've been a politician, Serena mused. He would've made the Cartier line proud with his skills. Serena wondered if her uncle ever thought how his life would and could be if he had stayed in France instead of marrying Luna.

He'd be richer, that's for sure. She thought bitterly. But I doubt he'd be anywhere near as cruel as-

"Miss Sinclair!" Serena and several others gave a small startled jump in their seats and people turned to the back of the room to see Beryl blushing crazily and Artemis looking pissed. In silence that you could've heard a feather drop, Artemis' heels clicked as he walked down the column, an unusually loud and constant clicking in the silent room on the white tiles. He reached Beryl's seat and held out a hand at the girl sitting next to Beryl, Gina. He didn't even have to ask or demand anything as Gina relinquished a folded piece of paper to his open palm. Artemis gave both of the girls a sharp look.

"Would you girls care to explain to me the destructive results of the unchanging love between Heathcliff and Catherine?"

Both girls shook their heads though Beryl did so with a defiant pout on her lips and Gina just looked ashamed. Artemis nodded thoughtfully.

"I figured you wouldn't since that's what I've been going over while you're busy exchanging the headline gossip of the day." It didn't sound as if he was angry or he was even reprimanding them. "Which is why both of you will write me a five paragraph essay on that topic of destruction by love due next class."

Beryl's jaw dropped open and she was about to say something but Artemis spoke first while a soft, clear, and subtly dangerous tone.

"Something you'd like, Beryl?" The redhead promptly shut her trap. Artemis smiled lightly with satisfaction and went on with his lecture of the importance of the social classes in the time period of the seventeen hundreds to the eighteen hundreds. He had a habit of doing that, everyone knew. If you weren't paying attention or doing something else while he was talking, you were pretty much screwed over 'cause he saw everything that went on in his classroom. When the bell rang, Ami said that she couldn't make it to lunch with them that day.

"They're holding a meeting for everyone who wants to join up for the swim team." She explained.

"That's wonderful Ames." Mina said happily. "So you've decided to join, eh?"

Ami smiled and nodded her head. "They've got try-outs tomorrow so I'm going to see what else I need to take care of."

They waved their good-byes to Ami and the four headed over to their regular spot for lunch. Lita glanced around.

"Hey," She started. "Where's Zachary?"

"Oh," Serena started. "He said he was going over to the swim meeting this morning."

Rei and the others exchanged a look but the subject was dropped.

"Hey," Rei piped up a few minutes later. "Listen guys. Sei asked earlier if we wanted to go out on Friday night over at his club."

Mina's eyes lit up and Lita smiled widely. "That's great!" "Awesome."

Rei turned to Serena. "What about you, Serena?"

Serena gave a sheepish smile. "Are you sure we'd be allowed to?"

"Well, you're at least sixteen right?"

"I'm seventeen…"

"Then it's not big deal." Rei assured her. "I know the bouncers plus, Sei did invite us so what do you say?"

Serena laughed and nodded. "Of course. I'd love to."

"Great." Rei said with an air of finality. "Ami already said she'd talk it over with her mom."

A small smile had begun to spread on Mina's face. "Hey, what do you guys think about inviting Zach to the club, too?"

Rei was obviously surprised at the idea and thought about it over quickly. A wicked smile began to spread on her face as well until it mirrored Mina's. "You know," She began slyly. "That isn't a bad idea. Not at all."

Lita raised an eyebrow and asked. "You sure about this guys?"

Rei nodded with an air of definiteness. "Yes. If something's up with them then they need to get it together or at least talk."

"And the way they're dogging each other or avoiding certain conflicts," Mina was saying calculatingly. "They're not going to be talking to each other in meaningful conversation in a long time."

Rei turned to Serena. "Do you think you could invite him?"

Serena nodded, smiling widely. "Sure thing. I'm sure he'll be happy to go."

As they sat there, talking happily amongst each other, Serena realized that she was really beginning to like these girls. Three days of school and already she was being readily accepted by many other people at school. People received her as very being very friendly and sweet. The only hitch in her mood was Beryl. The girl was positively glaring daggers through Serena's skull during English, like it was Serena's fault Beryl got in trouble. As if.

Serena glanced at her watch much later on and found that it was almost time for classes to start. She excused herself, saying she needed to get out something from her locker and she was gone. As she walked around the scarce, hollowed halls of New Moon, Serena looked up ahead and saw Beryl standing the middle of the hallway with a couple of her groupies. Serena sighed, preparing herself for whatever would come. Beryl saw her coming and glared as she came, positioning herself right in front of Serena's way. The blond gave an exasperated sigh and slowed to a stop.

"What do you want Beryl?" She asked tiredly. Beryl's scowl deepened and Serena was suddenly thinking about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the vampires when they go into their vamp mode. She was smart enough to know not to say it aloud.

"I want you," Beryl pointed a finger at Serena. "To leave Zachary the hell alone."

Serena raised an eyebrow, amused. "Funny, 'cause he waits for me in the mornings and talks to me constantly that I honestly thought we were friends!" Sarcasm laced her every word and only added to the fury slowly churning in Beryl. Her hand shifted to look like she wanted to straggle the blond but then she noticed the bruise that Serena had caused and thought better of it. "Stay away from him." She hissed dangerously. "He's mine."

"Funny." Serena said. "I was under the impression that a person doesn't belong to anyone else." She smiled cheerily as she prodded on. "But then again, that was just my understanding of the United States Constitution; you know the one about a person's liberties and rights to freedom and all that fun stuff."

Serena wanted to laugh. Beryl's enraged face with a vein dangerously throbbing on her forehead would've made a baby cry out but Serena just wanted to laugh. Before Beryl could say anything, however, a tall young man stepped into the situation.

"Beryl," He cooed. "You really ought to keep that temper of yours in check."

If it was anyone else other than Dion, Beryl would've probably lashed out. But she only flushed in humiliation as Dion flashed a smile hat had been known to charm 90% of the female population in New Moon Academy. Sadly for him, however, Serena was among that residual 10%. She met his gaze head on and he was almost startled by her cautious look and realized he had probably already heard of him. Then again, with his reputation, who hadn't? He kept up his smile and made a way through Beryl's blocking buddies in the hallway for Serena.

"Hey. I'm Dion." Serena nodded, not moving.

"Serena Cartier." She said. "And yes, I'm Artemis Cartier's niece. Thank you." She said quickly before he could try to get into a conversation with him. Swiftly, she power walked through the walkway he had made for her without looking back. Dion was actually speechless. He, like any guy with an ego the size of Texas, was obviously at a loss for words since he still did not understand why he could not get any girl when it had worked so many times before.

"Told you." Beryl derided as she glared at the small, pigtailed back.

"Shut up Beryl." He growled.

Serena didn't glance back at them at any point. She knew what they were probably talking about. She knew Dion's type. She knew how they operated. Her knuckles tightened on her satchel. And she'd be damned if she fell for it again. Serena figured Zachary was sort of the type: The heartbreaking ones wanting something more. But the girl had a feeling that there was much more to her new male companion than what met the eye.

Speaking of Zachary, Serena could hear his voice in the hallway and jogged up a little. She was about to call out but Ami's voice stopped her dead in her tracks before she could say anything.

"-Zachary, leave me alone." Ami was begging. Serena glanced around the corner, guilt slowly accumulating at the pits of her stomach. She didn't like to eavesdrop but she somehow knew that she shouldn't try to interrupt. Ami was speaking to Zachary and she was looking exhausted over something. Zachary had a look of determination on her frowning face as he looked at Ami.

"Please." The desperation in her voice, especially the last word, Serena saw, struck at his core and she saw his face flinch with hurt for a moment before it went back to being stoic as ever.

"No." He said it so plainly, like a stubborn child refusing to share, with an air of finality that told Ami nothing she could say would change his mind. His persistence flared up Ami's exasperation.

"And why the hell not?" She demanded with a temper that was rarely shown. Serena was surprised at the outburst and Zachary took a menacing step towards her and she took a step back only to align her back with the wall. He towered over her by a good few inches but she continued to glare at him with insubordinate eyes of a cornered soldier refusing to admit defeat.

"Because," His silky voice sent shivers down Ami's spine and she drew in a shaky breath as his face came closer to hers and she turned her face away from his. However, this movement only served to expose her swanlike neck and he moved in, his breath tickling the sensitive skin of her neck and ear. "We both know that something happened between us this summer—"

"Wrong!" She hissed, keeping her voice down and glancing about for any stray students and Serena quickly ducked behind the wall. To Ami, the hallway was completely empty. She turned her head to face him dead-on, sapphire blue clashing with emerald green. "Nothing happened between us." Her voice suddenly became threatening and her eyes glinted dangerously. "And if you tell everyone otherwise, I will—"

"'Otherwise'?" Zachary's face twisted into disgust and he stepped back from Ami as if she slapped him. "What the hell do you mean by 'otherwise'?" He demanded. "You think I'm going to spread around crap to ruin your reputation just because you're trying to ignore me?"

"Gee," Ami said sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let me think…Hell yeah!"

"Then you know shit about me!" Zachary all but shouted angrily.

They stood where they were for a while, faces flushed, hearts racing, anger and bitterness etched on their usually beautiful features. Serena could feel the electricity sparking in the air with the emotions that were going haywire. Despite the fact that this was only the third day of school, she was beginning to feel as if she had known these people her whole life but these were sides to sweet people she never thought she'd see. Ami brought a shaky hand to her forehead, trying to tug at the headache she was getting and Zachary paced about in front of her, pushing back his golden locks in frustration.

"Why do you keep trying to bring it all back?" She pleaded softly, defeated. Ami was tired of it, fighting with him and she said so. "I'm sick of having to deal with your dramatics all this time. It's bad enough I have you for like very single class but when you try to keep bringing back this summer…?"

"Why are you trying to forget it?" Zachary retorted.

"Because there's nothing to remember." Ami said firmly. "We were there together by complete coincidence and nothing more." She continued defiantly. "Quite frankly, you and I were the only ones under twenty and over thirteen. And it wasn't like there was anything else we could do so why don't we just…" She made a helpless motion with her hands. "Drop it.

Ami sighed tiredly while Zachary scrutinized her where she stood.

"Why haven't you told your friends?" Ami glanced at him, surprise slowly filling her features. It was such a simple question yet she knew the answer was complicated, at least in her case. She shook her head slowly, eyes on the ground.

"They wouldn't understand." She said softly.

"How do you know that?" Ami glanced at him and then tilted her head against the wall so that she was staring at the ceiling.

"I grew up with them." She said shortly, smiling in remembrance of her companions. They were the greatest friends a girl could have. "Everyone's always dealing with one crisis or other." She continued and shrugged. "Why should I bother them with my problems?"

"Because they're your friends." Ami snapped over at his simple, rationalized answer. And worse, she realized, it was true. Zachary shrugged at her look. "I was under the impression that friends are those that look out for you, listen to your pointless rants and encourage you to do and be who and whatever you want." He gave a whimsical smile. "Then again, what would I know? I'm surrounded by fawning bimbos that only want to increase their social status and hated by much of the male population at school although about ninety percent of them don't want to cause any trouble with me 'cause they're scared."

Ami couldn't hide the smile or the laugher that followed it. Ami opened her laughing eyes to see Zachary studying her. "What?"

He shook his head. "I just got a sense of dejavu." He replied, a faraway look on his face. "We've done this before."

Ami nodded, a trace of a wistful smile still on her face. "This summer."

Serena toyed with one of her pigtails. Secrets seemed to be a big thing at this school.

Then again, she snorted softly so no one could hear, who was she to criticize others of hiding? The loud bell rung to signify it was time to go to their sixth periods of the day and the blaring suppressed Serena's startled gasp and broke the comfortable silence between the odd couple she was just listening in on. She turned the corner casually, as if she had just entered the scene. Almost immediately, both of their attitudes changed. Ami's reminiscing face was suddenly swallowed by a huge smile. Zachary plastered the carefree grin that Serena had grown to notice that he did when he was obscuring something.

"Hey guys!" She called out cheerfully. The two called out their own greetings and Serena linked an arm through Ami's and chatted happily, alternating between the two.

Not a breath was spoken of the confrontations that had just occurred. It occurred to Serena that, perhaps, it was much better that way.

chickay

Yay! I'm done. And it's 5:30 in the morning. Saturday! Ok, so now review and encourage me to get off my slacking booty! I notice that some of my characters are a lot different but oh well. And don't worry NephlitexLita Fans! He'll turn up real soon.