Hey!

I was too lazy to do a language today. Eh. Oh well.

Man, this story is getting long! Tomorrow will be two weeks! Two weeks! I feel like it's a milestone rivaling a girl's two week anniversary with her boyfriend. Which…isn't much of a milestone in my opinion, although you may think different.

Going on…enjoy!

…

Oblivious

Nino skipped into the friendly building, happy that a new day at her new school had begun. Compared to Black Fang, Emblem HS was a paradise. She had so many friends already, a luxury she had never had at her old school. It was just her, Lloyd, Linus, Legault, and Ursula back there. And Jaffar, sometimes, although he never said much of anything.

She swung around the corner and ran down the hallway to her locker, a slightly worried frown appearing on her face. The only thing not perfect here, besides Legault's distant expressions and Ursula's absence, was Matthew. Every time she attempted to talk to him, he would merely look right through her, like she wasn't there. And while she knew that something was wrong, there was nothing Nino hated more than being ignored.

Today however, he was not there when Nino reached her locker, and she found herself slightly grateful. Call her horrible, but something about his presence was off-putting, like an itch that you really, really wanted to scratch, but your wrists were tied down so you couldn't get it no matter how much you twisted. Or maybe not. It had never actually happened to her, so she wasn't sure what it was like.

But she knew what was really bothering her wasn't Matthew, it was actually why Matthew had reacted so badly to Legault and Jaffar's names. Legault, when she'd asked him later that day, had just ruffled her hair and told her that Matthew probably hadn't gotten enough sleep the night before, which even she knew was a total lie. She'd been considering asking Jaffar, but he was intimidating, and she hadn't seen him since that day.

Knocking the cloudy thoughts from her head with a swift kick, she reminded herself that probably none of her business and she shouldn't worry about it. That argument would probably keep the questions at bay until the end of the school day, when she remembered that she was a generally nosy person.

She took out her books and headed to first period.

…

Second period was history with Mr. Desert. Nino loved history usually, but all the review and new facts crammed together were giving her a headache. Besides, it was a little far back in time for her to be all that interested anyway. Florina beside her however, was absolutely glowing with enthusiasm. She'd never noticed just how much her friend enjoyed history class. She even braved the large male teacher and answered a few questions.

"Wow, Florina, you're so good at this!" she exclaimed, as Florina got yet another question correct.

"I just take notes," Florina mumbled, blushing a bright red and gesturing to the pages of carefully neat words. Nino stared at them open mouthed for a moment, wondering how she had had the patience to write all of this.

"You're going to have to help me when it comes time for final exams," Nino told her flatly and Florina just smiled.

…

At lunch, she glanced around her table curiously.

"Where's Serra?" she asked Florina, already missing her chatty lunch partner. She was almost quick enough to keep up with her! However, every few days she would disappear, leaving Nino with people that had to ask her to repeat things.

"At the library, searching through old newspapers," Florina answered, taking a small bite of the cafeteria's whole grain spaghetti, before making a face and putting her fork back down.

"What is she searching for? An old news story? I think news stories from long ago are so fun to read! It's like 'I know what happens next!' Then you feel all prophetic until you realize that it's from twenty years ago!" Nino rambled, not giving Florina any time to answer her first question. Because, honestly, she had a pretty good idea from the first conversation Nino had heard Serra have. She was looking for an old news story about Matthew.

She'd been considering looking for it too, before she realized she wouldn't last ten minutes in any hardcore search efforts. Besides, it was none of her business, although that counterattack was wearing thin now. However, she'd still rather be doing something else. Like getting a head start on her math homework.

She leaned back and picked up her pencil to do just that.

…

After-school, she headed to the chorus room for their practice. She was surprised when Farina stuck close behind her and Ninian as they walked, ducking behind them whenever someone walked by. Ninian gave a long-suffering sigh.

"Farina, are you really that embarrassed to be in chorus?" Ninian asked softly. Farina jumped and put her head in between Nino's curious and Ninian's amused expression to whisper in their ears.

"No, but it Fiora sees me, she'll break down crying with pride, and that would be an awful scene to witness," she murmured, before returning to her alert monitoring. Nino giggled at her expression and earned an angry glare from the one whose antics were so funny.

They reached the auditorium soon afterwards and filed in, Farina finally relaxing a bit. However, she immediately tensed again as Mrs. Reglay swept over.

"There you are!" she cried, placing her hands on Farina's shoulders. "You're going to sing a song to commemorate you joining us. Come!"

"Wait!" Farina called, reaching one hand towards her companions in a desperate plea for help as she was dragged off by the energetic chorus teacher. Nino just waved encouragingly and Ninian grinned at her.

"What is she going to sing?" Nino inquired. Ninian placed a finger on her cheek as she thought, frowning and furrowing her brow.

"I don't know!" she announced, before heading to the stage where the other members were waiting. Nino bounced after her and sat on the side of her that Nils did not occupy. She gave him a wave before reclining on her elbows and kicking her feet.

Just a day, just an ordinary day

Nino sat up abruptly as a beautiful voice broke through the hubbub. A soft piano part played behind it as Farina began to sing, fidgeting slightly under all of their stares.
Just trying to get by.
Just a boy, just an ordinary boy.
But he was looking to the sky.
And as he asked if I would come along
I started to realize
That every day he finds, just what he's looking for,
Like a shooting star he shines.

He said take my hand,
Live while you can
Don't you see your dreams lie right in the palm of your hand

And as he spoke, he spoke ordinary words
Although they did not feel
For I felt what I had not felt before
And you'd swear those words could heal.
And as I looked up into those eyes
His vision borrows mine.
And I know he's no stranger,
For I feel I've held him for all of time.

Nino was absolutely spellbound. All thoughts of Matthew, Legault, Jaffar, and Serra were driven right out of her head. She hadn't thought that Farina, loud and blunt Farina, was capable of making such a sweet singing voice.

And he said take my hand,
Live while you can
Don't you see your dreams lie right in the palm of your hand
In the palm of your hand.

Please come with me,
See what I see.
Touch the stars for time will not flee.
Time will not flee.
Can you see?

Just a dream, just an ordinary dream.
As I wake in bed
And the boy, that ordinary boy
Or was it all in my head?
Did he asked if I would come along
It all seemed so real.
But as I looked to the door,
I saw that boy standing there with a deal.

Farina seemed to have finally gotten used to the attention now, because she was smiling and swaying. Nino rested her chin on her hands. She couldn't wait to tell Legault about this! He'd be so surprised. Although…she wasn't actually sure if he knew who Farina was…

And he said take my hand,
Live while you can,
Don't you see all your dreams lie right in the palm of your hand
In the palm of your hand,
In the palm of your hand.

Just a day, just an ordinary day
Just trying to get by.
Just a boy,
Just an ordinary boy.
But he was looking to the sky.

Farina ended perfectly, eyes closed and silence descended on the huge room. They were all afraid to clap; worried that it would break the magical atmosphere the song had created. However, their fears were put aside when Farina's eyes flew open and her hand clapped over her mouth.

"Jesus, that was nerve-racking," she giggled, shaking a little bit like she just realized what she'd done. The rest of the girls laughed and clapped, whispering excitedly to each other and the song lingered among them.

…

When she got home, Legault was reclined on the chair, sleeping, his cell phone and a folder on the table beside him as usual. She reached over and shook his shoulder to wake him up. He started upright, almost knocking her over as he leapt to his feet.

"I won't!" he cried triumphantly, raising a fist in the air, before noticing Nino giving him a funny look. He took in his position, coughed, and straightened, putting out a hand to ruffle her hair. "Hey, Nino."

"What were you dreaming about?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. He just shook his head and smiled mysteriously.

"How was your day?" he countered her question with one of his own, and Nino's eyes lit up, previous curiosity forgotten.

For the next hour, she told him all about this day, how Matthew was absent and how she was worried, how amazing Florina was at history, the way Serra was searching for an article on Matthew in old newspapers, and Farina's angelic voice. Just as she'd thought, he seemed to have no idea who Farina was, but she didn't let it bother her. She just loved talking; nobody had to understand what she was saying. Jaffar came in halfway through and picked up the folder on the table. He sat back in another chair and started to write. She grinned at him, but he didn't seem to see.

"Sounds like a good day overall," Legault summed up for her, and she nodded eagerly. "Now go get a snack, you must be hungry."

"Yeah," she admitted sheepishly as her stomach growled. "See you later, Legault, Jaffar."

And with that, she flew out of the room. Legault glanced to Jaffar, who was still writing.

"Did you get all the important stuff?" Legault asked, and Jaffar merely nodded, closing up the folder and tossing it to him. He expertly caught it, putting it back down on the table sighing. "I don't like doing this, but it's better for her to be oblivious. She wouldn't be happy if she knew what we're using this for."

He didn't get a response.

"Hey," Legault, turned to him. "Do you happen to know anything about why Ursula couldn't agree to this mission?"

"Sonia asked her not to," Jaffar answered, glancing to the clock before looking back at Legault. "She wanted Nino to do it."

Legault blinked. He'd just been expecting the usual blank stare. Might as well press on while Jaffar was in a talkative mood. "Do you happen to know why?"

"Yes," was the response, before Jaffar got up, glancing at the clock once more and leaving. Legault gaped after him, spluttering in annoyance.

"You don't just say 'Yes' and leave it at that," he hissed, collapsing in his chair. "In this matter, it seems I am just as oblivious as Nino."

…

You want to know what Jaffar's hiding? Too bad. He won't even tell me, the evasive jerk. And what was with all that glancing at the clock stuff? WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS!!!!!

I wish I could tell you. Well, not really. Then you wouldn't read this, and that would be awful and terrible and lonely.

A lot of this chapter was a song. How creative of me, huh? I do not own it, by the way. The song.

Review!

See ya!