PART 2

Wufei was confused.

That didn't happen to him often, and he didn't like it.

He couldn't figure Heero Yuy out. The guy had the most popular girl in school hanging off his arm, yet he didn't seem to want her there.

And even though he didn't want her there, he didn't shove her away.

Beyond strange...

Of course, all of these guys were turning out strange. Zechs was easily the most popular senior here, yet he spent most of his time with juniors. Wufei understood why he spent time with Duo, since they were dating, but he would have expected Zechs to drag Duo off to sit with his own friends, not to be perfectly satisfied chatting to Quatre and Trowa.

Quatre kept freaking him out by looking at him and then asking a question or making a statement that matched how he was feeling perfectly. Wufei had always been rather proud of hiding most of his feelings - beyond anger and stubbornness - and he didn't like the little blond being able to read him so easily.

Especially since he couldn't figure out how he was doing it!

Trowa was - well, silent. Yet he had no problem communicating - all he had to do was look at someone, and somehow they knew what he was thinking about them. This didn't freak Wufei out quite as much as Quatre's talent did.

Probably because he'd been accused of acting the same way.

Duo... well, Wufei didn't even try to understand Duo. The braided boy was an absolute lunatic. He was constantly hyper, always eating, never shut up, and his braid had a life of its own.

Wufei liked him.

But not the way he liked Heero - he snuck another peek at his new crush.

They were all sitting on the bleachers again. Only this time, they were eating their lunch there, a habit that Wufei very much liked. He'd always hated cafeterias; so far, in the whole week he'd been at this school, he'd been able to eat outside with the group that had instantly absorbed him and declared him their own.

He didn't mind that - he'd been rather pleased, in fact, when he found he got none of the usual teasing and bullying that new kids got. It didn't take him long to figure out it was because of his new - acquaintances. He wouldn't call them friends yet, it had only been a week since he'd met them.

He was still waiting for them to decide he wasn't their type or something, and throw him to the wolves.

But, as each day went by, and they treated him like he'd always been there... he was starting to relax.

A little.

*

"I think he's gettin' used to us," Duo grinned, watching as Wufei walked off toward the entrance, knowing the other boy was heading for the Library. They'd follow him in a few minutes - they all had a free period - but Duo wanted a quick chat with the others.

"I think you're right. He's not nearly as nervous as he was at first," Quatre agreed.

"This is good," Trowa added.

"Hn," Heero gave his usual monosyllabic reply, but his friends could easily tell that was a happy 'hn' - they'd learned the difference over the years.

"I think it's time we stepped up our campaign," Duo said sweetly.

"What campaign?" Heero was instantly suspicious. Whenever Duo used that tone, it meant trouble for someone!

"Why, the campaign to find out if Wufei likes you, of course," Quatre chimed in. His big blue eyes were utterly innocent.

Heero groaned.

Trowa was trying hard not to laugh.

"Heero!" A voice more annoying than a balloon with a slow leak squealed. "Are you all right?! Why are you groaning?! Are you sick?!"

"Relena - he's fine," Duo said, moving to block her when she tried to attach herself to Heero's arm. Her clinging had gone on long enough - Wufei was going to get the wrong impression, if he didn't already have it. "Don't you have math class this period?"

"Yes, but my darling Heero is more important!" she cried, trying to push past him.

"I'm not your darling Heero," the boy grumbled, moving further away as she reached for him. "And I don't need you. Go to class."

"Oh, Heero... don't try to be so strong by yourself! I love you, I want to help you! Why do you block me out? When will you..."

"Shut up."

Relena whirled around at the new voice. "Zechs!?"

"Koi!" Duo shouted, diving at him.

Zechs put an arm around his younger lover and glared at his cousin. "Leave Heero alone, Relena. He doesn't like you."

"Yes, he does! You love me, don't you, Heero?"

"No."

"You're just saying that because..."

"He's just saying it because it's true. Don't make me tell your parents you're stalking a guy again, 'Lena. They said they'd send you to reform school the next time."

Quatre, Trowa, and Heero stared at Zechs while Duo dissolved in laughter.

"Reform school! Pretty pink princess in reform school!"

"Zechs! How dare you say that?! You know they were teasing!"

"Relena - go away. I mean it. Leave Heero alone."

She stared into his eyes for a long moment, then wavered and looked at Heero.

He glared back.

She bit her lip, her eyes going large and sorrowful, and whined, "Heeeerrrrooooo..." one last time.

Heero growled at her and took another step backwards.

She wilted.

And left.

Duo immediately started a joyful celebration, doing a quick dance with his laughing lover. Quatre and Trowa both smiled at his antics.

Even Heero's lips quirked.

It was one of the best moments of his life...

Now he just needed to go find Wufei, and make it even better.

*

All right - what were they up to now?

Wufei's eyes narrowed suspiciously, watching his friends.

The Library had been practically deserted when he'd arrived; he'd immediately claimed the best table and started working on his English essay. About two minutes after he started scribbling notes, someone had taken the seat beside of him. He'd looked up, smile ready, expecting one of his friends.

Instead, he found himself eye-to-eye with a total stranger.

A tall stranger with light brown hair tumbling attractively over his forehead, soft brown eyes smiling at him eagerly. He'd introduced himself as Allen. Wufei would have felt rude not to introduce himself in return; he'd given his name and briskly shaken hands when Allen held his out.

He had just realized that he vaguely remembered seeing Allen in his Chemistry class when his friends finally arrived.

They hadn't missed a beat when they saw Allen; Duo called out a greeting, his usual rambunctious tone modified in accordance with the Library rules. Wufei had turned back to his essay, determined to finish it this period so he wouldn't have to worry about it over the weekend.

He tried hard to ignore the leap his heart gave when Heero took the empty seat on his left. The other boy was so close he was sure he could feel the heat radiating off his skin.

'Straight, straight, straight...' he had chanted mentally, in a doomed attempt to keep his hormones in check.

Hmm, that was odd. Heero and Allen must not get along - not if the way they were glaring at each other was anything to go by.

Ah, well. None of his business.

He started scribbling on his essay again.

After a few minutes, he glanced up to find the novel he was doing the essay about, and blinked. Heero was still glaring daggers at Allen, and Trowa had joined him. Quatre was blinking solemnly at the boy, his usual cheerfulness gone, and Duo had exchanged his happy-go-lucky grin for one of maniacal mayhem.

This was when Wufei got suspicious.

He raised an ebony eyebrow at Quatre, puzzlement strong in his onyx eyes. The blond immediately recovered his happy little smile.

Yes, very suspicious...

Allen had a defiant look on his face; he turned away from the others and gave Wufei a gorgeous smile.

Wufei stared.

Heero's glare magnified itself; Wufei felt almost scorched by it, and it wasn't even aimed at him. Trowa and Quatre's expressions intensified as well, and Duo's grin took on a deadly edge.

Wufei began to wonder if there was something wrong with Allen...

*

The free period was almost over.

Four boys stood by the Library door, waiting for Wufei.

Allen had caught the Chinese boy's arm when he had started to follow them from the room. Now he was speaking to Wufei in low tones that they couldn't overhear. Wufei looked mildly surprised, but nothing more.

Heero was very nearly growling.

Quatre put a gentle hand on his arm. "Don't worry, Heero. Wufei's not the type to just go off with someone he just met."

"Yeah, Hee-chan, calm down! Even if he does go off - we can always grab him and drag him back."

Heero rolled his eyes.

There was no need to chase Wufei down - he walked away from Allen and joined them.

Duo, Trowa, and Heero, by unspoken agreement, moved ahead. They started joking and teasing - or as much as Trowa and Heero ever joked and teased - but kept their hearing attuned to the conversation behind them.

They trusted Quatre to get the full facts of that conversation with Allen out of Wufei.

To their surprise, Wufei started things off. "Quatre - is that guy all right?"

"Allen? Well, I guess so. I've never heard anything bad about him." Quatre's voice was reluctantly honest. He wasn't going to lie to Wufei. "Why do you ask?"

"He asked me to the movies tomorrow night."

Heero nearly fell flat on his face.

"Are you going to go?"

"I don't know."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I'd let him know later."

"So... you like guys? I thought... maybe you liked girls."

Wufei shrugged. "Either is okay with me."

Heero did trip, this time. Luckily, Trowa caught him.