A/N: PART TWO. I wasn't able to say this last time, but thanks soo much to everyone who reviewed. A very special thank you goes out to Moon Ange1. Thanks so much for your encouragement and I started reading your story a while ago and I'm enjoying it thoroughly. BTW, there's a lot of strong language in this chapter, especially at the last scene, so beware.

Meus Amor et Mea Culpa: My Love and My Mistake

Up in the Club (II)

Last time on Mea:

            "It really wouldn't matter if you wanted to." The siblings turned to Nick, who looked uneasy at breaking what was obviously a sentimental moment. He sighed, looking over at Jaden. "Sei ordered the bartenders here to never serve a guy named Jaden Aino anything."

            "What the…?" Jaden's eyebrows quirked into something resembling annoyance. "What if I gave you a false name?"

            "No dice." Nick grinned apologetically, shaking his head. "He already showed us a picture on the day we started."

            Now both eyebrows were raised and an amused expression flooded his face. "You know, if I didn't know him since we were kids, I'd assume that he hates me."

~*~

            The others laughed. After receiving a promise of soberness from Jaden, Mina and Serena went off to the dance floor, dragging a hesitant Ami behind them. At first, the three just danced with each other but it wasn't very long until a lot of the guys began to notice them. Soon, Serena and Mina were dancing with some guys that didn't even seem to speak English and Ami had resorted to trying to walk back to the bar to meet up with Lita. She stopped, though, when she saw just how entranced Lita was at the moment. Jaden had probably wandered off someplace else, seeing as how he was no longer within eyesight. Lita and Nick were leaning over the bar between them, engrossed in a conversation of some sort. For of a girl with incredible friends, Ami Mizuno suddenly felt very lonely.

~*~

            "Be a gentleman."

            "What?" Rei glanced at Zach briefly and then motioned over at Ami, who seemed to be wandering aimlessly among the rowdy teenagers. Zach's face hardened considerably and he shook his head decisively. Rei frowned.

            "Why not?" Zach chortled bitterly.

            "I thought you knew everything about us." Zach said. Rei shrugged.

            "I sort of do."

            "Then you should know why I'm not gonna go over there to her." He retorted

            "You're a coward?" The two automatically stopped dancing at the taunting in her voice. She pursed her lips, eyes glittering, challenging him. "Grow up and get over it, Zach." She spat

            "I don't think you should be saying that to me." Zach replied in a slightly confused voice. Rei rolled her eyes in exasperation and she brought her hands to either of his shoulders.

            "Look, you made a mistake." She paused thinking something over her head. "Okay, a big mistake." She muttered with a tiny laugh.

            "Gee, thank you for your wise words of encouragements." Zachary muttered.

            "…but you're a guy so I'm not surprised." Rei continued, ignoring his comment. She silenced the words that would've left his mouth in retort by suddenly spinning him around so that he was facing Ami's direction. "Now go fix your damn mistake before you screw up even further."

~*~

            Ami turned at Zach's sudden yelp. She turned and saw him rubbing his backside while shooting his previous dance partner an angry look. Rei merely smirked and then took off for someplace else. She still had an amused expression over her face when Zach turned around to look over at her. Her expression momentarily hardened as he made his way to her.

            "Hey." His voice was soft but she could still hear him. She peered up at him, absentmindedly noticing that he was very tall.

            "Hey." If his voice was soft, hers might as well be a whisper.

~*~

            Rei watched the scene with a strange emotion on her face. She watched as Zachary held out a hand to her petite friend. She saw how Ami hesitated and then shook her head with a small smile, turning away. Rei was about to scream some very rude words to her close friends from her position on the second floor balcony over looking the dance floor when Zach caught Ami by her arm. Ami turned around, obviously startled. Rei saw Zachary's earnest expression and suddenly realized…the idiot was actually being sincere. She saw him utter only one word, on that she could read on his lips.

            'Please.'

            A sense of satisfaction welled up in Rei as Ami's icy demeanor was suddenly melted into nothingness and she accepted Ami's outstretched hand. A giddy smile was spreading over her features like the sun's rays.

            "Hey honey. How you doin'?"

            'Knew it was too good to last.' Rei thought, spinning around to meet a rather greasy guy standing way to close to her with a smile she found particularly revolting.

~*~

            Jaden glanced around the packed club. Sei and the others had done a great job, he thought admiringly. He glanced around, trying to catch a glimpse of his target. Her hair made things a thousand times easier. Finally, he found her, on the second floor, talking to a tall man with dark brown hair. He was surprised to see the two of them so close to each other and even more so when the guy leaned in and the two kissed.

            "Woo-hoo!" He whooped, breaking the two apart. He laughed at their guilty faces. "Aw, c'mon. No need to stop on my account."

            The man frowned. "Didn't we tell the bartenders to never serve you anything?"

            Jaden's smirk dropped at thought of the drinks never to be drunk and his lips twisted in slight annoyance. "Yeah, thanks for that Tai."

            Taiki Kou, one of the owners of Club Twilight, laughed and stretched out a hand to his friend. "About time you came around." He grunted. "What? Europe's better than your old buddies from high school?"

            Jaden shook his head. "Never, Tai. The clubs aren't as good either." He commented, gesturing to the whole club before and below them. He turned to the young lady that Tai currently had around his arm. "You chose a good guy this time around, babe."

            "Aww…" Michelle giggled and reached over to hug Jaden. "Don't worry, Jaden. You'll always have a place in my heart."

            "Not unless tall, dark, and quiet over here decides to beat me to a bloody pulp." Jaden piped up, nodding at Taiki.

            "As if." Michelle admonished quickly. She brought a hand around her boyfriend's neck and tiptoed to place a kiss on his cheek. "My Taiki is anything but violent…"

            "It's always the quiet ones." Jaden muttered, earning him a glare from Taiki and a quick punch from Michelle.

            "…He's kind, courteous, and a complete gentleman." She finished with pride.

            Jaden smirked. "No wonder we broke up. Your expectations were too high."

            The three all shared a laugh at that and chatted for a while.

            "By the way," Jaden asked. "Have either of you seen Sei or Ruka?"

            Jaden found himself surprisingly not surprised when the couple suddenly became subdued and exchanged meaningful glances. Jaden sighed, shaking his head at their silence.

            "Look, if you see either of them, say that I need to talk to them." He said, his tone slightly bitter at his old friends keeping things from him. "Can you at least do that?"

            The two winced uneasily under the words and the hurt in them.

            "Hey, Jade…" But Jaden shook his head to stop any explanation and smiled at them with a wide grin.

            "Naw, it's okay." He said. Michelle came up to him and took up his hands.

            "Jaden, please understand that there are some things that we just can't really talk about." Jaden was looking at her hands, taking in the short nails with hints of paint underneath them. He remembered a time that he had held this very hand and wished to never let go. Did he regret doing it? He looked up and met Michelle's gaze. He patted her hand understandingly.

            "It's cool, guys." He said. "If Ruka wants to talk then she'll talk. The same goes for Sei." He gave a lopsided grin. "I just happened to be caught in the middle."

            He said good-bye to the two, letting go of Michelle's slender hand. He suddenly felt slightly empty without it. Did he regret it? He turned around, suddenly realizing that Michelle and Taiki were at a rather discreet location of the club, one that would hide their presence from certain best friends. He gave a sad smile. No. He did feel for Michelle a lot, he'd never denied that. But it just wasn't going to work out…

            Yet, only if it could've…

            Out of the corner of his eye, Jaden noticed a familiar flicker of dark, raven hair. He turned and saw Rei up head on the second floor. She was looking pissed. Well, even more so than when she was around him. He noticed who she was with and his frowned deepened.

~*~

            "Rei!" Rei and the guy she had labeled as 'the Jerk' turned at the sound of the voice. Jaden was approaching them though his eyes were only focused on Rei. "Hey baby." He said huskily. Rei caught on to his game but still cursed the sudden, inexplicable rapid beating of her heart. Jaden reached over to trace her jaw line and. unbidden to either of them, a trace of electricity short through from the brief contact. Rei felt his arm snake around her waist, where it surprisingly rested comfortably on her hip. Jaden eyed the Jerk with a threatening smile. "Who's your friend, baby?"

            The Jerk gave his own challenging smirk. "Funny, she didn't tell me she was seeing anyone."

            "Are you kidding me?" 'Looks like Mina isn't the only actress in the family.' Rei thought watching Jaden play out the couple charade. "How many idiots are in this town that wouldn't jump at the chance of being with this woman?"

            Rei felt her cheeks redden at the praise and mentally kicked herself. It wasn't like he meant a word of it. But still…

            The Jerk was obviously looking pissed and dissed. He had sized up Jaden and decided that he'd be digging his own grave if he tried to push his luck. With a sneer, the greasy snake slinked off with an incoherent mutter about his friends and drinks. Rei watched him leave with satisfaction.

            "You know," She said. "I never thought I'd say this, but thanks."

            Jaden grinned. "All in a day's work, missy."

            An awkward moment passed over them as they watched over the crowd on the dance floor before them. Rei felt a tug at her waist and turned, surprised to realize that Jaden still had his grip on her hip. He smirked.

            "C'mon."

            "What?" Was Rei's slightly dazed reply.

            "You owe me a reward." He explained simply. "I want a dance."

            Wordlessly, Jaden guided her down the stairs to the dance floor. He pushed aside some people and the two made their way to the center of the crowd. Rei tentatively placed her arms around his neck and his hands found their way to her hips. It was amazing at how smoothly and synchronized the motions were; like it was the most natural thing to do. For the next few minutes, the two moved together as one, every bodily movement mimicked by the other. Some time they were dancing, Rei had turned around so that he was standing right behind her, his arms still encircling her waist. Rei had crept up a hand to his neck from in front of him. Her hand lightly touched his chin, guiding it to below. Rei's brain was screaming for her to stop. Had she truly forgotten who this idiot was? The things this jerk had done?

            As Rei's hand led his face closer to hers, Rei answered herself with a decisive 'Yes'.

            But just as the two were close enough, Rei noticed something in her peripheral vision…

~*~

            "I'm sorry."

            Ami looked up from her dreamy thoughts and met Zach's somber green eyes, startled at the sudden question. She frowned.

            "For what?"

            "Everything." Ami didn't say anything, just slowly moving side to side with Zachary, her arms strangely comfortable around his neck. It didn't really matter what she said or didn't say, Zachary was going on. "Lying to you… Mocking you… Hurting you… Trying to…"

            Here, Zachary's voice faltered and Ami stopped their flowing movement of dance and placed a tender finger on his lips.

            "Zach," She cooed. "You don't have to…"

            "No please." Desperation tinged his voice as one of his hands trailed to her hand around his neck. He took it in his hands, staring at the nimble fingers and soft palm as if in fascination. "Let me do this…" He had looked up to meet her gaze when his facial expression twisted in confusion. "Is that Lita?"

            Surprised and confused at the sudden change of conversation, Ami glanced about. Yes. It was Lita. But why on earth was she walking so fast?      "What the…?"

            "Yeah. It is her." Zachary confirmed for both of them. He noticed one of Lita's hand reaching up to her face and rubbing furiously. "Is she…?"

            Ami strained to get a good look over the still-dancing crowd around them. It was only then that she noticed that they were the only ones who had stopped dancing. "I think so."

            "Go to her."

            Surprise alighted her ivory complexion as she turned back at the command. "What? But what about you…?"

            "Later." He gave a whimsical smile and shrugged. Zach brought her frail hand to his lips. "You're friend needs you."

            Perhaps if Ami could actually have registered what had just happened, she wouldn't have been so stunned to comply. But she did anyway, leaving a certain blonde-haired man in her midst, still feeling the softness of his lips on her hand.

~*~

            "Lita!"

            "Wait up!" Rei and Ami looked at each other, somewhat surprised at each others' appearances. However, they continued to try to chase Lita until she was walking out of the club. She wasn't listening to them. From behind them, they heard the rapid clicking of heels and turned around as they were walking to see Serena and Mina following from behind. They had probably spotted Lita's disheveled state as well. Rei turned around again, catching Ami just as she called out louder,

            "LITA!" At the call, the Amazon stopped dead in her tracks, her head tilted to the heavens in defeat. It wasn't until they all caught up with her that they realized her head was facing the skies to keep as many tears in her eyesas possible.

            "Lita, what's wrong?" Ami asked softly

            Serena gasped. "Oh my God, Lita."

            "Girl, what the hell happened to you?" Mina demanded, taking in her friend's distressing state.

            Lita gripped her head at the abrupt bombardment of questions. "Back off already!" Even Lita was startled by the vehemence in her voice. She had never spoken to her friends in such a manner. Rei's eyes lit up with anger and hurt.

            "No need to be so bitchy, Lita." The dark-haired teenager huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "For God's sakes, we're just concerned. Forgive us if worrying about our friend is a crime."

            Lita's face softened apologetically as guilt surged through her, pushing away the pain that had just taken place in her. "I'm sorry, guys." She said, barely above a whisper. The previous anger and irritation of her friends were dissipated at the emotional cracking in her voice. Mina stepped out, clasping a hand on her friend's shoulder.

            "Lita, what's wrong?" An angry fire suddenly sparked inside her eyes. "Did some guy do something to you?"

            "If so, please inform us." Rei said with bite in her voice. "I'll be more than happy to oblige in some ass-kicking tonight." She said, recalling the Jerk.

            Ami frowned in confusion. "But I thought you were with Nick all night."

            Lita let out a strangled cry at the Nick and glared at Ami. "Don't ever say that man's name to me ever again."

            Mina stepped in front of Lita's glare to Ami. "Okay, for one thing," She began angrily. "Ames did shit to you so stop spazzing on her. Two, start explaining what's going on."

            Lita shook her head sadly and suddenly backed intoone of the outside walls of the club. She could feel the booming music from outside.

            "I thought he was a great guy." She said pitifully. Her friends stood by, still slightly confused at the situation. "I was really enjoying myself being with him. God! I'm such an idiot!" She cried, furiously wiping away the tears staining her face. "I can't believe I'm getting so worked up over a stranger over one night."

            "Lita, you're not an idiot." Serena insisted. "But what happened. When we left, you and he seemed to be getting along just fine."

            "And I saw you two later on." Ami added, recalling the happy scene between the two. "What happened?"

            There was silence until Lita practically spat out one word,

            "Bethany."

Flashback:

            Lita and Nick were enjoying a conversation with each other. It had taken her a while, but Lita managed to loosen Nick's restrictive behavior. At first, it was like he was trying hard not to put any effort into socializing with her but, in a few minutes, he was talking nonstop.

            "Hey Nick." A strange new woman had suddenly moved into the scene. She had dark, sultry eyes that rivaled the night and black hair that was highlighted with streaks of blue. She was wearing a lacy tank top and a tight, leather miniskirt. She leaned over and planted a soft kiss on Nick's inviting and smiling lips that were murmuring a greeting before they were completely covered. Lita shifted uncomfortably at the show of affection. The woman broke away from the kiss and then eyed Lita with a curious gaze.

            "Who's your friend, Nicky?" Nick grinned and turned to Lita.

            "Beth, this is Lita." Nick smiled; a smile that had only a moment ago had melted Lita's reserve to a stumbling, jabbering lovesick teen. Only now, that quirk of his mouth opened to say words that Lita hadn't expected (or didn't want to expect) to hear. "Lita this is Bethany." He looked at the woman by his side adoringly. "My fiancé."

            Bethany reached out to greet Lita and the teenager caught the lights that were reflected off her left hand. Lita felt as if her heart had been slammed to the ground, shattering to a million, broken shards.

End Flashback.

            Lita refused to meet her friends' faces, knowing the expressions that would be on them. She snorted.

            "Of course he'd have a girlfriend." She said bitterly. "What idiot would ever dump someone like her for something like me?"

            "Don't you dare say that!" Serena commanded. "Lita you are gorgeous and if you say otherwise I will…"

            A sharp slamming of a door somewhere startled all of the girls out of their conversation. They heard a shouting of voices nearby and realized that it was coming out of one of the other exits of the club. They might've left, not really caring to eavesdrop, but the voices were strikingly familiar.

~*~

            "Go to hell!"

            "Seiya?" Rei muttered wonderingly.

            "It's probably better than having to deal with your bullshit!"

            "Haruka?" Mina piped up softly. Rei and she looked at each other, stunned. They had never heard their siblings speak with such anger and language. Another voice was saying something; it was softer and apparently calmer than either of the two other voices. Haruka's voice suddenly boomed.

            "I don't care, Michelle!" She shouted. Ami seemed slightly shocked at the mention of her sister's name. "It's about time it all came out. I'm fucking tired of keeping it all in. And if that bastard can't handle it then that's his fault!"

            The voices were close…very close. They realized that it was down the alley to their left and none of them could really move from their spots, their bodies unwilling to move as their brains were still trying to process the situation.

            Another soft voice came up, different from Michelle.

            "Good God, Jade! Whose side are you on? Your twin or this bastard?"

            Another pause of someone talking softer than Seiya and Haruka.

            "'Uncalled for?' You want something else uncalled for? Here it is: Fuck you Seiya!" Haruka called out. There was a clicking of heels. Haruka was coming their way. None of them dared to move.

            "Naw, bitch!" Seiya all but screamed. "Fuck you!"

            "You already did bit-"

            She had spotted them and a surprised and guilty look embedded on her expressions. The others noted the dark purple mark on her neck as she stared over at Mina. The younger daughter was looking at her sister with a horrified expression, one that seemed to look past Haruka, like she didn't even recognize her. Mina then seemed to snap herself back to reality, walking down towards her sister with a cold expression on her face.

            "Mina-"

            "Don't." Mina stopped her sister's advancements with one word and a motion of her palm. She turned the alley and heard some gasps from those down there. She saw Seiya, looking like he was just held back by Taiki. He was sporting an amusing black eye and a split lip. Jaden was right by him, a red mark on his cheek and a rip in his sleeve. Michelle stood close by, looking tired and overcome with the situation but otherwise unharmed, though Mina's appearance did startled her. Mina walked straight up to her brother, her shoes making the only sound echoing off the alley walls.

            "Jaden," She said quietly. "Can I go home with you?"

            Haruka looked crushed and Seiya soon mimicked her expression as Rei followed from behind and asked for a ride from Jaden as well, completely ignoring any and all exclamations from her brother. Serena, Ami, and Lita drove in silence with Haruka and Michelle. As they left, Serena glanced outside the car window. The music inside the club was still pumping. She could imagine the people inside still dancing, her old partner, Ignacio or something equally vague dancing with another girl. Nick was probably serving a drink to his fiancé and her thoughts wandered over to how Zachary was planning to get home. Nothing had changed in the outside. Serena wondered how things would be at that moment had Lita not run outside and they hadn't followed. They say ignorance is bliss. In this case, had they not witnessed the verbal battle, perhaps the silence in the car would not be as deafening.

            Serena caught the sight of a falling star as they left the parking lot. Even though she already knew that it was a small, solid body that had entered the Earth's atmosphere as it traveled through space, she couldn't push the childish urge and her eyes closed As she opened her eyes, a soft wish was sent up to the heavens. It was only a matter of whether or not it would be answered.

~*chickay*~

::Sighs:: And we are done! At least for this one. Keep on reviewing and encourage me!