A/N: Hola! Told you I was gonna update soon. Granted, I was somewhat disappointed with the amount of reviews I got last time but I thank everyone that did so. BTW, I changed the conversation between Rei, Mina, and Serena in the third chapter and I'm just going to stick with 'Lita' now instead of Mako/Makoto. I'm going to be making a lot editing changes to beware the updates. Alright folks, here's the next one coming right at you. We're gonna try to move a little faster now cause I'm sort of tired of writing this story and the first week of school isn't even over yet in the story. So I'm gonna pick up the pace and, if you haven't noticed, I changed the summary for the story cause I think I wanna focus on everyone's stories but it'll have a strong centered theme on Serena, promise. Now, I'm going to try it from everyone else's POV.
Meus Amor et Mea Culpa: My Love and My Mistake
Prequel to the Twilight
Ami was already up by the time her alarm clock went off. She gave a small start at the sharp ringing but reached over and shut the damn thing off before it could do her ears anymore damage. Her bed was already made and she even had time to reorganize her messy desk so that you could actually see the white surface of the table that was usually concealed by layers of papers and notebooks. It was a habit of hers; to clean up and tidy around when she was nervous. And boy, was she nervous at that moment. Today was the day of the swimming try-outs and her arms suddenly ached at the thought of her laps yesterday. (A/N: I don't know crap about swimming or sports or try-outs so just nod your head and go along with it.) A figure crept up at her doorway without her noticing until she spoke up.
"Hey Mili?" The woman at the door gave a smile of amusement at seeing the younger girl nearly jump out of her skin. She chuckled. "Sorry for startling you."
Ami gave a weak smile at the old nickname, short for Amilia, and shook her head, giving a sheepish smile. "Haha. No big, Michi. You just caught me off guard."
Michelle Mizuno (a.k.a. the great artist and musician Michiru Kaioh, her stage name), her older sister, gave her a small smile and brushed aside a stray marine tuff away from her hair. Her bright blue eyes were almost identical to Ami's, a trait they shared from their mother. She was tall, with a slender figure that was toned and developed thanks to her hours spent swimming. "Nervous?"
She laughed when her little sister gave a helpless smile and nodded dismayingly. She walked over to the girl, her waves bouncing until she was right in front of her, squatting to her level. "Don't be." She said reassuringly. "You're awesome out there and Johansen would be an idiot to not let you on the team."
Mrs. Johansen was the dedicated swim coach and Michelle was under her care back when she was a student at New Moon years ago. Ami took in the huge white, button-down shirt and short hot pants Michelle was wearing. She reached out for Michelle's wrist and turned it over to see a blend of violet and green and yellow patched on her skin. Ami gave her sister an exasperated look and Michelle laughed, a tiny sweatdrop on her forehead.
"My muse likes to pop in at odd hours." Ami rolled her eyes at the artist. Michelle had a habit of springing up at random hours just to either compose her music or draw up a sketch of her next masterpiece.
"I'm sure." Michelle giggled and pulled her sister to her feet.
"Come on. I've got breakfast on the table." Ami followed her throughout Michelle's penthouse suite. Ami had spent considerable time at Michelle's, since their mother was constantly at work and the fridge there wasn't very reliable. Their parents had divorced when Ami was barely five and their father had gone up north to Montana or some state like it. He called every so often and the only thing reliable about him was the paintings he sent his daughters on their birthdays. While both girls resented their father for not being there for them, Michelle didn't complain about her gift of the arts at all. After graduating from college, she pursued her artistic dreams with incredible success. Galleries displayed her work by the dozens and her concerts were always sold out.
"Um, Michi?" Michelle nodded distractedly, watching the food on the stove. "I'm going to a club tomorrow night." Ami said. Michelle raised an eyebrow at this and Ami pouted. "What? You don't think I can go out and have fun like a regular teenager?"
Michelle laughed and shook her head. "It's not that Mili." She paused and then shrugged. "Well, it is—but not like that." She hurriedly said when Ami began to look annoyed. "It's just...a change. But a good one, mind you. You need to get out every now and then. Get a tan or something." She smirked, glancing at Ami's pale, ivory skin. She grasped the pitcher and began to pour into one of the tall glasses.
"So who's going with you?"
"Well, it'll be me, Mina, Rei, Lita, and that new girl I was telling you about, Serena." Michelle nodded at her approval of the names that Ami ticked off with her mind. Her face twisted into one of discomfort as she said, "And Rei also invited this one guy-"
Michelle's face snapped towards her sister, an evilly sly smile on her face at the tone of Ami's voice. "Who?"
The smile only widened at the growing shifting discomfort of the younger girl. She waved the topic aside but they both knew that the subject would be brought up later on. Ami switched the subject to her.
"What about you? What are you doing tomorrow night?" Michelle turned to the stove and brought out the food before answering.
"Well, Haruka's back in town for once," She said, enormous exasperation in the last two words. Haruka was her best friend and all but she really ought o at least call or write every so often.
Ami giggled. "I heard." She said, recalling what Rei had mentioned when she had gone with Mina and Serena to the Aino household. "How long has she been away again?" She wondered aloud.
"Too long." Michelle laughed. "About a little over a year, I think?"
Surprise lit up Ami's face. "Really? Hmm. I could've sworn that she was in town just a few months ago."
Michelle suddenly gave a nervous laugh and shook her head. "Nope. She's been gone for quite a while and she and I are going out tomorrow night. We're going downtown and either shopping or catching a movie… What?"
Michelle had turned to Ami and was surprised at the confused glance on her face.
"Didn't she tell you?" Michelle frowned.
"Who?"
"Haruka." Ami said bluntly. "Didn't she tell you about tomorrow night…?"
"No…" Michelle began cautiously, watching Ami with calculating blue eyes. "What about tomorrow?"
Ami eyed her sister curiously. Was she joking? The seriousness in the older woman's eyes was her answer. She licked her lips and said, "Haruka's giving us a ride tomorrow night. To the club."
Michelle's bright eyes turned dim and she froze where she was, stunned. Her brows were frozen in confusion and something resembling anger. No, it wasn't anger. Apprehension? Fear? Wait, why could Michelle be scared of something? Michelle suddenly shook herself out of her own gaze and shakily took up the glass nearest to her and poured it down her throat. Ami watched her sister's sudden change of emotions and watched as she poured another glass.
"What club are you going to?" Michelle's voice was shaky and sounded almost threatening. Ami was almost afraid to answer for fear of what Michelle might do.
Almost. "Club Twilight."
Michelle spilled the orange juice she was pouring and she quickly muttered a curse underneath her breath. She turned to face her sister and Ami was startled with the rare emotion in her face.
"M-Michi?" Her sister looked absolutely livid, an emotion that she thought the calm and serene Michelle could never be. "What's wrong?"
Michelle stared at Ami for a second with an unreadable on her features before she shook her head, dispelling thoughts from her head and coming back to reality. "N-Nothing." She muttered hastily. "Nothing." The toaster rang and Michelle practically sprinted to it, escaping the discussion. "Here you go, Mili.' She said, brandishing out the toast and avoiding her sister's eyes.
"Michi…" Michelle gave her sister a small smile at her concerned tone but shook her head.
"Don't worry about it, Mili." She said reassuring. "Just eat up and make sure to kick everyone else out of that pool."
And the subject was dropped. Throughout the day, Ami was noticeably distracted. The fact that she had Zachary in every class didn't even seem to bother her in the least. Before she knew it, the final bell had rung and students were flooding out of the school. After carefully avoiding any physical confrontations with Beryl and her bimbo brigade during the school day, Serena met up with everyone else at the school pool. Ami was already in the pool and Serena walked over with the others in the bleachers. Ami tilted her head into the water, relishing the cool comfort as it seeped though her hair. She loved the feel of it. Other students were coming in, Zachary among them. A certain group of girls were already screaming their support for him, Beryl not among them. The feisty redhead believed that she spent enough time at school and anymore more time in there would be too much. Ami spotted her friends and waved back as they cheered. And the try-outs began.
"Oh my…" Minako smiled proudly at Serena's gasp, her eyes watching the swift, smooth splashing that was cutting through the pool's water at the speed of a shark.
"She's great isn't she?" Lita mused. More than half of the racers were still try to get to the other side while Ami was halfway back to the starting position.
"She's amazing." Rei said, watching her friend racing to and fro. Another set of constant splashing caught the brunette's attention and she began to notice a new racer who was gradually gaining speed on their blue-haired friend.
"Whoa." Mina breathed. "Zach's good."
"He's inhuman, that's what he is." Lita retorted with awe as Zachary struck through the water like a knife cutting through hot butter. Ami herself was surprised at the blonde torpedo that was slowly gaining speed with every stroke and kick. She frowned and sped up, arms rushing forward, legs kicking furiously. Zachary noticed this, too and sped up. The girls sitting at the bleachers all had sweatdrops forming on their foreheads, watching the two jetting the length of the pool back and forth, all their other exhausted opponents forgotten.
It was only each other; the two entwined in a fierce competition for territory and prowess that only they possessed. So it was no surprise that both of the two got on the team. Mrs. Johansen beamed at Ami and smacked her back roughly that she should've to the petite girl. "Keep it up, Mizuno." She winked. "With your skills, you might soon beat your sister's record."
Ami blushed furiously at the high praise while others congratulated her on her win.
"Let's head over to the Arcade to celebrate!" Mina suggested as the girls, plus Zachary were walking out of the school.
"And how does your brokeness plan to pay for it all?" Mina waved a hand dismissively, grinning maniacally.
"Details. Details." She said carelessly. She looped one arm through a sweatdropping Ami and a laughing Zachary. It was strange for Zachary. He had been close with Jaden, Mina's brother several years ago, but he wasn't very close with the girl. He hadn't even cast the group a second glance up till now. And yet, he felt incredibly amazed at this incredible friendship that he had managed to stumble into. As they were heading out of the school, Zach felt a light buzzing in his pocket. He excused himself from a conversation he was having with Lita and answered it.
"Hello?" Zachary's face smile slowly dissipated only to be replaced by a hard scowl. He turned so that his voice was lower but Ami still heard. "…What? …Again? ...But…" He suddenly gave an exasperated sigh. "Okay. I'll be there in a few."
He shut his phone with an audible click and the girls all turned to him inquiringly. He gave a small, innocent shrug but his tensed body language revealed more than what he was letting on. "Sorry ladies." He apologized. "But I have to run."
"Oh, c'mon Zach!" Serena said. "It'll be fun. Plus, it's on us."
"Yeah!" Mina, Rei, and Lita chorused. Zachary laughed but shook his head.
"Sorry girls. It's an emergency." He waved to them and was gone.
"Hmmm…" Rei mused. "I wonder what that was about."
"You heard him." Lita said flippantly. "It was an emergency." She turned to the others. "Now what about that celebration you were talking about?"
They laughed and everyone started to walk over to the Arcade. Sadly, Lizzie was nowhere in sight; she had some classes that day but the girls all had fun pigging out anyways. As they were sharing gossip and stories, a silver BMW rolled up in front of the Arcade. A familiar shade of marine hair bobbed through the sliding doors and singled out a certain, dark-head genius from the group. Ami suddenly felt two soft hands creep up from behind her and clasp over her eyes. She gave a small gasp of surprise and, in doing so, inhaled a certain familiar scent. The hands around her eyes were somewhat wrinkled but soft like blankets. They gave off a dreamy smell of chlorine and clay and tempera paints.
She giggled. "Hey Michi."
Michelle laughed, throwing her arms around her younger sibling. She smiled widely. "I take it you got in?"
Ami laughed with her, nodding her head enthusiastically. Michelle gave a small squeal and hugged her sister tightly. Ami hugged her back from her position in front of Michelle and turned to Serena. "Serena, this is my sister, Michelle. Michi, this is Serena."
Michelle gave a friendly smile in greeting to the blonde and went around the table greeting her sister's friends. From outside the Arcade, a motorcycle whirled into place with Haruka perched on top. Michelle muttered something underneath her breath and turned back to Ami.
"Want a lift to the apartment?" Ami nodded and Michelle gave something that looked like a strained smile. "Great. I just need to talk over something with Haruka so just take up your stuff and we'll be on our way."
Michelle was already gone out of the Arcade before Ami could nod her consent. Lita made a face.
"I wonder what that was about." Mina gave a shrug, watching Michelle and Haruka start talking outside.
"I have no idea." She sighed. "Haruka's been acting very strange lately."
"Do you think we'll be acting weird like that when we get to college?" Rei mused aloud. "Sei's been going whacko for some reason the other night."
Ami raised an eyebrow of concern. "You, too? Michelle seemed so upset this morning for no reason." She shrugged, swirling the tips of her short-cut hair. "Have you guys noticed that our older siblings have been a little…off?"
Rei smirked. "Maybe it's a college thing."
Serena glanced about and shrugged. "My brother's normal." She offered.
The others smiled and giggled at the abrupt comment.
"Well," Ami sighed, picking up her bag. "I have to get home. Thanks for the food you guys and I'll see you tomorrow!"
The others waved their good-byes and Ami stepped out to the front of the Arcade. Michelle and Haruka were engaged in a conversation and neither looked very chirpy.
"…Haruka, you're making a mistake." Michelle was saying hastily.
"I've made more before." The blonde said carelessly. "What difference does now make?"
"It makes a difference now because you said that you were over this. You said it was done with."
"And it is." Haruka said reassuringly. "So what's the big deal?"
Michelle gave an exasperated sigh. "Ruka, you and I both know that you coming back-"
"Hey Ami." Haruka suddenly spoke up, grinning widely at the blushing, unintentionally eavesdropping teenager. Haruka then turned to Michelle. "Great. Glad we talked over this." She then made her way past the Mizuno siblings and headed to the Arcade. "I'm here to pick up Mina. I'll see you both tomorrow night!"
Michelle had opened her mouth to say something but shut it when Haruka simply walked on through, the sliding doors closing behind her back, providing as a translucent barrier between the friends. Michelle gave a semi-frustrated sigh and shook her head. She opened up the car and Ami followed her lead.
"I won't go if you'd rather I not." Michelle glanced at Ami for a second before refocusing on the road ahead of her.
"What?"
"I won't go to the club tomorrow if you don't want me to." Ami repeated. Michelle gave her an incredulous look.
"Now why on earth do you say that?"
"Weren't you just arguing with Haruka about tomorrow night?" Ami asked, confused. Michelle shook her head, giving a tired sigh.
"Ami…" She paused, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "It has nothing to do with you, Mili." She said reassuringly. "It's just that we were…discussing some important details. Nothing to worry about."
The subject was dropped.
The next night, Ami found herself in front of her mirror, looking over at her outfit critically. She had chosen a pale blue off-the-shoulder sleeves that went three quarters along the lengths of her arms. She had decided to wear a white skort that came mid-thigh and baby blue heels adorned her feet that laced up with ribbons around her calves. She put on two, luminescent shell, hair clips, pinning her hair away from her face. She was just putting on her earrings when Michelle came over to tell her that Haruka had arrived. Michelle was wearing a spaghetti-strapped tank of several hues of blue and green, her ocean of wavy hair piled high on her head, decorated with glitter. She wore white capris that showed off her sandals and she clutched her purse in one hand. She smiled at her sister.
"Ready?" Ami shrugged somewhat helplessly.
"As I'll ever be." Michelle giggled and looped her arm through Ami's, leading her out of the house and down the elevator to the front of the building, where a familiar sports car awaited them. Ami inhaled the sweet smell of the night, bracing herself. She had a funny feeling, as she scooted into the car, that this would be a very interesting night.
~*chickay*~
Yeah…this chapter was somewhat pointless but at least I got that out of the way. I put in some foreboding up in here too if some of you can interpret it. In any case, Chapter 9 is coming out soon since I've already started it. Happy Turkey Day to everyone!