Disclaimer – I don't own Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Another update, and it's longer than most! Woootz! It is time to party. Or read, that works too. Enjoy XD

Chapter 6
Education's Overrated

`Fantastic,' was all Madoka could think at that moment. Clothes soaked through and sticking to her skin let wet tissue paper, she stood in the threshold of the apartment complex and forlornly tried to wring some of the water out of her skirt.

Her best skirt.

A few droplets fell onto the linoleum covered floor, and twisting the fabric left the hem badly crinkled. Groaning, she didn't even want to know how water-logged she looked. She had made a point to wake up extra early, to have enough time to wash her hair in the shower.

Doing all that was pointless now.

Frustrated, she undid the ties holding her hair back and raked her fingers through the pink locks, trying to comb out the tangles – an inevitable occurrence thanks to the pouring rain outside. She toyed with the idea of retreating back home, but decided against it. If she backed out now she'd never work up the courage to come back. Even if her best outfit was trashed until the next laundry day and she needed another shower, she was still going to stick to her word and go see the transfer student.

Wiping the smears of the rain off her face, she took a breath and made her way for the stairs.

Floor three, room six.

*X*X*X*X*X*
Madoka was starting to wish she had turned back when the dark-haired girl answered the door. Purple eyes looked her down, then up, blatantly unamused and doing a wonderful job of making her feel insecure.

"…You walked through that rain, didn't you?"

She didn't answer the question – more fascinated by the new addition to Homura's face. "…You wear glasses?"

Her hand was grabbed and she was tugged indoors. Stumbling along, Madoka reached back to swing the door closed before ending up in the bathroom. A towel from the nearby rack was over her head before she could even comprehend what was going on. It took a minute to realize that the other girl drying her hair for her.

"I thought you'd stay home when you saw the state of the weather," was all that was muttered, ever a person of few words.

"I said I'd come, didn't I?" The towel, though absorbing the moisture, was not helping the tangles in the tresses. That much she could feel, the fluffy white cloth tousling her hair to new levels.

"Couldn't you have at least brought an umbrella?"

"I did!" She raised a finger to emphasis her point. The towel may have been hanging over her eyes, but she had no doubt that she was on the receiving end of a sceptical look. "…The wind just sort of…stole it." Her hand dropped dejectedly, still in mourning for her favorite umbrella being ripped into orbit and turning inside out in mid-air.

The sound that followed made her lift the towel from her face to make sure she was hearing correctly.

Homura's shoulders shook, and she tried to keep a straight face; but she eventually caved and snickered openly.

She gawped, not sure if she should be amazed or embarrassed. Her cheeks tinged red, and the latter emotion won. "Don't laugh at that, I liked that umbrella!" Her voice came out whiny, unable to do naught more than pout when the dark-haired girl only laughed harder. "You're so mean!"

"Only you could get mugged by the weather!" Homura tried to compose herself, covering her mouth with her hand, but still spluttered hopelessly.

Madoka couldn't help but smile at that playful remark. It was one of the rare times where the transfer student showed real feeling, and the first time that she had seen the girl laugh. It was cute, she decided. The way that the stoic front had fallen away to give way to a childish grin made the humour infectious, and she couldn't stifle a giggle.

When she sneezed, however, that managed to sober up the laughter.

"You're soaked," Homura frowned, mood erratically changing. "I'll get you a change of clothes. It might be a good idea to take a bath as well, to make sure you get warmed up."

"Thanks," she said, relieved. Now that she didn't have a distraction; the awareness of the cold cloth against her skin was getting worse. "You don't mind, do you? I mean I come over to hang out and just hijack your bathroom…"

"I'd rather wait a while for you to get cleaned up than have you freezing with a cold, Kaname-san." Her classmate stated passively, beckoning to the tub for her to start running the water.

Homura made a detour for her bedroom to get some dry clothes. Searching through the closet, she wished she hadn't been so disbelieving about the pink-haired girl saying she'd come over. When she got a text, she had replied with her address, as agreed on the day of the suspension; which had been two days ago.

One look at the weather when she woke up erased any weak hope of visitors she might have had. Therefore, she hadn't bothered getting properly dressed, sadly. In other words, contact lenses were replaced with her glasses, neat clothing substituted with slacks and a tee-shirt, and her hairband was abandoned for a scruffy pony-tail.

When she heard the knocking over the door; she had been studying – which was the initial plan to make up for the lost class time. Buried in social studies and literacy; the last person she expected to find at her door was the very one who wouldn't get out of her head.

The sound of water running was her cue to get back to the bathroom.

"Shower gel and conditioner's in the cupboard. Use whatever you like." She stared at the floor as she passed over the change of clothes, heart skipping a beat when a hand grazed over her own. Unable to help it, she looked up and flinched inwardly when she caught sight of a warm smile.

"Thanks, Homura-chan."

*X*X*X*X*X*
Comfy was the best word she could think of to fit the moment. Reclining back against the arm of a couch, she cradled a cup of tea in her hands and sipped at regular intervals. The transfer student mirrored her actions.

For the past hour or so after since Madoka had finished up in the bathroom; the time had been passed by uninterrupted conversation. She was loving every minute of it, and didn't even care that her plans to look her best when she came over had been completely snuffed anymore. Decked out in shorts and an over-sized shirt, she was definitely not the picture of perfection. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

To her surprise, despite the contrast in their personalities, she and Homura actually had a lot in common; from taste in music and movies to thoughts and opinions over more topical matters.

It wasn't until she looked over to the window and saw how dark it was outside that the tranquillity was shattered. "It's late!" Apparently that `hour' was a lot more than just one. "I'm gonna have to run home, everyone's probably wonder where I am."

Homura nodded understandably, setting her cup aside and walking to the window – where she blinked and raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I hope you know how to swim."

"Eh?" By her side in a second, Madoka soon saw what she meant. The storm outside hadn't let up, if anything it had gotten worse. The rain was even heavier, and through the artificial light coming from the lamp-posts, it was easy to see that the streets and roads were badly flooded. A sudden flash of lightning made her jump.

"There's no way you're going out in that." It was a statement, not even a request or a question. "If you can't get a ride home then stay the night, you'll catch pneumonia out there."

Stay the night?

That didn't sound at all bad to Madoka. She wasn't exactly keen on walking through torrential rain, much less so when it was getting worse. Her mother wouldn't be home from work for hours, and until then she had the only car. Besides from that, she had a hunch that the roads would be closed anyway. "Are you sure? I mean, sleeping over."

"If you can't get a decent way home and your parents are okay with it, then yes. I think one drenching a day is enough."

The last part of that sentence were spoken light heartedly, and again she felt herself smiling. "I'll call and let them know."

*X*X*X*X*X*

Homura tried to squirm further away, but found herself to already be on the edge of the bed. In all honesty, things couldn't get much worse.

"Nheh…" The one next to her suddenly rolled over and closed the short distance between them, sleepily throwing an arm around her waist.

Her eye twitched. Heart beating fast as it was and not calming down, she apparently wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight. Sharing a bed with another person may have been a new experience, but it didn't seem like a bad idea at the time. But she hadn't counted on the initial experience to make her feel ridiculously nervous.

Madoka completely disregarding the size of the double bed wasn't helping either. The girl, though out for the count, was intensely determined to stay huddled up close to her - despite there being plenty of room and there being no reason to touch.

She didn't hate it per say; it just felt…well, weird. It was still nice in its own bizarre way though. The bed didn't feel quite so cold with someone else beside her for company, and it didn't feel as lonely. She liked having the other girl with her, she couldn't explain why; but it just felt comforting.

"Homura-chan…"

A sleep clogged murmur put her thoughts on hold. She listened, contemplating replying, before deducing that the one next to her was still unconscious. The pink-haired girl moved in closer, pushing her body snugly against hers. The dead-weight over her waist shifted, and a warm hand slid under her tee-shirt.

What the-?!

Body going ridged, she wasn't exactly sure what to do with herself. Contrary to any dirty thoughts that were starting to take root in her mind; that seemed to be about the limit for the time being. None the less, having fingers stroking across and then below her naval was beginning to fray her nerves. In more ways than one. Her fists clenched when she felt a rare but familiar tingle in her pants. She had never felt more freaked out or aroused, and her answer to this was Madoka nuzzling her face in between her shoulder blades.

Okay, I'm sleeping on the couch. This is crazy.

Homura lifted the girl's arm off her, and then peeled the blankets back. Sitting up and dropping her legs over the edge of the bed, she went to stand. Just as she was getting up; something snagged at her pants and anchored her from rising more than a few inches from the bed.

Madoka really was persistent.

She tried half-heartedly to pry the fingers off the waistband of her pants, but gave up after no progress was made. Clambering back into bed, she was automatically greeted by a groan and a head slamming down onto her chest.

She deadpanned. I give up.

*X*X*X*X*X*
Madoka stirred, nuzzling into her pillow. Her legs were curled up to her chest, and she stretched lazily in an attempt to wake up faster. Becoming more conscious, she could feel fingers running through her hair, ruffling the already messy pink-tresses. Opening her eyes, she found that she wasn't lying on a pillow – but someone's lap. Turning a bit and looking up, she saw that it was the dark-haired girl, whose face mostly obscured by the book she was holding up and reading.

"Morning," she murmured contently, smiling at the sight.

"Oh, you're awake." Homura quickly withdrew her hand, not looking up from her book. If anything, she seemed to hide behind it even more.

Already missing the contact, she took this as her cue to sit up, which she did with great reluctance. When a strain of silence passed, she moved to sit side by side with the other girl. "You read a lot."

"I like it. Besides, I didn't have much choice. I've been awake for the past hour; you just wouldn't get off me."

"What do you mean?" Frowning, she was starting to wonder why the girl wouldn't look at her.

"You're very…clingy in your sleep. You wouldn't let go off me."

"I was cold; I guess I couldn't help it." Madoka leaned back, curiously trying to read a bit of the book.

"Remember the last time you tried to read over my shoulder?" Homura asked flatly, closing the book and setting it aside on the chest of drawers by the bed.

"Okay, good point. And I probably should have warned you that I like to hug something when I sleep…" Right now things felt as awkward as the first time they talked. Every time that Homura seemed to be opening up and getting closer to her, she went cold again – icing over like the Alps. It was always one step forward, two steps back. And she was beginning to feel like banging her head against the nearest wall. Sighing, she decided to be blunt. "I'm not annoying you, am I?"

"Hmm?" The one in question turned and glanced at her blankly.

"You're okay around me one minute, and then you're all distant. Am I just bugging you?"

The dark-haired girl shrugged uncomfortably, the informal action out of place on her.

"That's not an answer, now be honest!" Knowing that she was starting to make progress, Madoka planted her hands on the transfer student's thighs and moved round to be face to face.

"You don't annoy me, you just…" Homura trailed off, avoiding eye contact for the umpteenth time.

"Just…?" She prodded.

"Nothing."

There was no way she was buying that, the other girl's voice was too clipped, and she was clearly on edge. Shuffling in closer, she tilted her head and tried to get a better look at the transfer student's face – hoping it would benefit with a more sincere and truthful answer.

It didn't work. Well, at least now she was closer to Homura. Just more physically and less emotionally than she would have liked. Even after all the conversing last night, it was like it didn't even mean anything, she was back to square one.

"You're a bit close," the girl pointed out unnecessarily with a heavy swallow.

"This is interrogation. I have to be close," was all Madoka could joke weakly in return. Her pulse was faster than she would have liked, and she now knew that her crush was rapidly turning into solid attraction. It took all of her efforts not to like her gaze wander to her classmate's lips, but she couldn't resist. She couldn't quite remember what she was supposed to be asking in the first place. Mindlessly, she began to lean in.

"Kaname-san, I-I don't think that this…" Homura tried to move back, but her back connected firmly with the headboard of the bed. "…Is a good idea." But even as she said it, her eyes started to flicker closed.

And then her cell phone went off.

Anything that may have been about to happen died along with the moment. Madoka sprung back, hurriedly saying that she was going to get changed. Within a few seconds, she had grabbed her clothes and made a run for the bathroom – leaving Homura to wonder what on earth was about to happen.

Not much to consider, she knew full well what she had silently been agreeing to. Shaking her head fiercely, she grabbed her phone from beside her book to shut off the insistent buzzing about the wood of the cabinet.

Checking the caller ID, she figured that the school had managed to make contact with her mother. Knowing that hanging up would be a death wish; she answered it and could already hear an angry rebuking starting before she even got the phone against her ear.

*X*X*X*X*X*

"I'll call you later. Thanks for having me." Madoka didn't meet her stare, and instead fiddled with a bang of her hair which she hadn't tied up in her rush to leave.

"See you," she smiled thinly in reply, tapping her fingers where they rested atop the door handle.

"Bye, Homura-chan." Without another word, the pink-haired girl was walking away down the hall.

Homura threw the door closed with a loud exhale. What was she supposed to do now? The previous night had been wrong enough, but in the bedroom, things were off the charts. She always thought herself a rational person, but now that she found another girl to be getting such physical reactions out of her, the dark-haired girl found herself doubting that rationality. But it wasn't even just that, around her she just felt, well, happy.

A knock at the door broke off her train of thought. Puzzled, she opened it, and revealed a serious looking Madoka.

She didn't even get a chance to question the sudden re-visit before she was grabbed by the front of her tee-shirt and jerked forward. Her eyes shot wide when warm lips pushed softly against her own. Being released a second later, the culprit was fleeing down the hall before anything could be said.

Not that Homura could have said anything anyway. Expression resembling that of a deer caught in the headlights and her face a violent shade of burgundy; she closed the door.

SOMETHING HAPPENED. OHMIGOD SO SEXY :D *Drools and faceplants keyboard because my brain is mush* Flawless tactics, am I right? `Wanna sue me for sexual harassment? Well you can't, because YOU'RE TOO SLOW! 8D *Belts away*' Either way - it is finished, at last! *cries tears of joy* Well, this chapter, anyway. This took forever to write…Totally not because of procrastination, or anything...I haven't slept since Saturday night, and it's 8am on Tuesday . Simpsons and Supernatural marathon…Yeah, that was pretty consequential.

*Headdesk* Time for sleep, then coffee. I'm going to be eating dinner for breakfast tonight by the time I get my 8 hours…*ahem* 12 hours… Nobody does sleeping-in like Obsidian :B Oh, and the next update will either be shorter or take a little longer… I know it probably got a bit confusing, but I hope it wasn't too weird. I won't lie – I did write this backwards. Don't ask, because even I don't understand why. Rambling is fun *has bricks thrown at her ;_;* Reviews are like caffeine, but better~ Hint hint *winks obviously* And thanks for all the on-going support, I love your comments, and a lot of them make me giggle :3
-Obsidian
X3