FLH CH4

Kim's POV:

Pucca was practically floating all morning the next day. She inhaled three bowls of Chi-Chang Breakfast Noodles and was skipping off to meet the bus before I even finished brushing my hair: today's color—purple.

When I finally caught up to her, she was avidly chatting with Ching and Abyo, while clinging to Garu's arm. He seemed mildly annoyed but didn't ask her to stop. Was it a Garusian-Illusion? I didn't know. Finally, Da-Da pulled up with the shuttle and everyone filed in. I noted that Xavier—aka Sir-Hotter-Than-A-Saharan-Desert-In-The-Middle-Of-Summer—was not onboard. I vaguely thought of voicing my speculation to Pucca, but she was over-the-moon, sitting next to Garu.

I decided to tell her later; let her have a happy morning…

Normal POV:

Pucca got off the bus to find Xavier waiting for her. He looked tense and a little angry. She tentatively touched his shoulder. He started, so unlike the old Xavier she knew.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "You seem tense."

He furrowed his brow and then his expression darkened. "I have to tell you- my brother-"

"Oh, Xavier! Is my dear Pucca here?" an annoying voice sounded.

Instantly, Pucca recoiled. She hated that voice. And she rarely outright hated anything. "Riven…"

As if by speaking his name, she gave the two-bit teen actor form, he appeared on the steps of the school. He tossed his collarbone length dark brown hair back with a toss of his head and smiled slyly at her. Pucca visibly shivered.

"Pucca, sweetheart… I missed you." Riven smiled.

"I didn't miss you…" she bit back. She clenched her fist, ready to stuff it deep into his gut.

He smiled at her as if she were just a frightened child and not the same girl who had, about a decade ago, given him the biggest injuries that man could bestow in rage without killing. "I see you're still in denial. But don't worry, once the director gets here-"

"What director?" she demanded. She turned weary eyes to Xavier, who was paler than usual.

"Last night, when mom told him you were living in Sooga, he called some Hollywood director who loved your show that night and promised him a meeting with you. I swear, I didn't know until this morning after the bus left. He messed with my alarm clock so I'd be late." Xavier exclaimed.

Pucca understood that. Riven never did have respect for Xavier's life beyond catering to his own selfish desires. A total tool, he was.

"It would have stunted my beauty sleep." Riven huffed as a way to explain. "Besides, what's more important; your own selfish need to have a meaningless life or your precious only brother's career?"

Pucca launched a strain of curses at him in Mandarin (a language she'd learned years ago while shooting a movie in China) and glared him down. "I'm not doing it. So keep your stupid deal to yourself, or I'll break every bone in your body till it looks like a jigsaw puzzle gone wrong."

With that, she stalked off with Xavier on her tail.

Garu watched as Xavier Hue consoled Pucca. About what, he didn't know. All he knew was that she was really angry. Suddenly a whooping sound exploded through the air at the same time an amplified voice filled the air. "Pucca Tsu, the Honorable Director Quang has arrived!" the voice boomed.

Pucca didn't just scream, she shattered the windows with a screech that broke the sound barrier. She was livid with anger as she glared at the helicopter.

"Pucca Tsu, please report to the field for a meeting," the overhead com stated.

Cheeks red with rage, Pucca stomped out with Xavier and Kim on her tail.

"P!" Xavier called.

"Pucca!" Kim cried out.

Kim's POV:

I caught up with Pucca halfway to the football field. She was so angry she was shaking. "Pucca, talk to me." I demanded.

"P, I'll strangle my brother for this, I promise." Xavier swore.

Pucca was shaking with rage. "I left it all behind for a reason… I don't want it all coming back again… I can't-"

She broke into hysterical tears. Xavier hugged her close to his chest. He rubbed her back in a comforting circular motion resembling a brother-sister bond forged in titanium.

I was drawing blanks though. "What happened, Pucca?" I softened my voice. "What's so painful that you can't bear to face Hollywood again?"

Pucca took a shuddering breath and calmed herself somewhat. "I was six… and Xavier was seven… yesterday had been his birthday and I had finished shooting a commercial with his brother, Riven, for Do-Done Cookies. I still remember it so vividly…"

Flashback:

A six year old Pucca was doing arts and crafts in her primary class. Content to just be normal for the day and not worry about the commercial's airing for a month or so, she was gluing perfect hearts onto her drawn picture of her and Xavier holding hands. Would he like the picture, she wondered.

She wanted to make him something to remember her by when he left to follow his annoying brother to Canada.

She merrily went on enhancing the picture, spreading glitter and bubble stickers onto the 8'x 11' red construction paper on which she'd glued the picture. She frowned when a shadow fell over the image. Looking up, she saw it was a baby blue haired girl who had transferred in two weeks ago, and declared Pucca was her "rival". Pucca didn't know what the word meant, but by the blue haired tormentor's actions, she knew that it wasn't synonymous to friendship.

"Hey, Poo-caaa."

"Hi, Rim-Rim." Pucca beamed.

The blue-haired girl's face turned red. "It's Ring-Ring, bun head!" She glared at Pucca's carts and craft masterpiece. "Aw, isn't that precious… For your boyfriend?"

Xavier was her friend and her mom said he was a boy so he couldn't bathe with her, or stay in the same room as her when she changed her clothes… "Yep!" she happily replied.

Ring-Ring frowned. "Well it's ugly. He'll dump you in a heartbeat, if he sees that ugly mess." With that she trotted off to go "flirt" with the other boy kids, whatever that meant. To be honest, it looked like she needed to go potty with her rocking back and forth like that.

The school day came and went, and it was pick up time for all. Clutching her masterpiece, she waited for her mother to arrive. Reporters stood on the outskirts of the school, waiting like her pet iguana—Destiny—for her meal. Finally her mother did show. "Pucca, dear! Over here."

She skipped over, happily, until something yanked her back the moment she reached the center of the reporters.

"Pucca-"

"Hey, Pucca-"

"Pucca- Princess-"

"Pucca, over here-"

"Give us an exclusive, darling-"

"Sunshine, tell us your secret!"

Pucca was scared stiff. Close to tears she dropped to her knees on the concrete. And began to cry. Right there, in front of a dozen cameras and a few video recorders, she cried her heart out.

End Flashback

Garu's POV:

I watched as Pucca clung to Xavier like he was her life line. And in some ways, I guess he was.

I reluctantly reflected on all the times I had ignored Pucca when we were kids. From hiding in a den of lions and ducking out at the slightest mention of her name, to flat out running from her. Understandable, that I could have told her I didn't like her that way, but I had taken a vow of silence when I was seven after being pantsed by my cousin, Rin-Shin.

And even when she'd done all she could for me; defeating my enemies when they tried to kick me when I was down, giving me coupons to her uncles' noodle restaurant for free, getting me flowers that ate me and my friends- okay the last one was not so good.

But she'd saved us afterwards. And gotten rid of the flower. And all without complaint or whining. She was awesome that way. If I lost her to a guy who could pamper her then I deserved it.

I mentally pummeled myself. What was I thinking? This wasn't the way a ninja thought—the way I, Garu Hong, conducted myself. If I wanted to show Pucca I liked and appreciated her, I couldn't me a whiny little Tobey; I had to be a don't-take-no-for-an-answer Abyo.

I pumped my fist high. Time to step up my game. Competition was fierce, and he needed to step up his game to make Pucca notice he loved her.

AnimeKitty: It's a little corny, but next chapter is going to shock a lot of people. And what will Pucca do about the movie deal? I need 5 reviews on this chapter for a sequel. Peace!