So sorry for the waiting. But I had some family problems that were my priorities! Anyway I'll do my best to update more often.

A big thanks to Housenka for her interest in this story.

Chapter 9

Athrun suddenly woke up hearing Cagalli screaming. His head was painful but he tried to forget it and focused his attention to the girl next to him.

"What's happening?"

Cagalli had a disoriented look on her face and she was trying to cover her body from his view. Athrun realised that she was naked and then looked at himself. Then he remembered what they had done the night before.

"Oh shit!" was all he was able to say.

He grabbed his shirt, the only clothes that he could actually grabbed without showing too much of his body and give it to Cagalli. She took it willingly and quickly covered herself. Athrun then grabbed the rest of their clothes and they dressed still not speaking any word.

Athrun couldn't take this silence anymore and he decided to speak first. They couldn't stay like that; they needed to talk it through.

"Cagalli, I-" he bagan but was cut off by Cagalli's shaking voice.

"Can't we talk about it later? I am not feeling very well right now."

Athrun considered her for a moment. Indeed, she didn't look so well. She had gotten herself drunk, had her first sexual experience, and had slept naked in the sand, all in one night. The least he could do was to let her a little rest. They could have this conversation later, it wouldn't change anything anyway.

"Ok" he murmured.

They walked back to Cagalli's house. Before they entered it, Caglli stopped Athrun.

"Wait."

Athrun turned around and looked at her. She was staring at everything except at him since he had awoke and now it was the turn of her feet to be stare at. He waited for her to speak.

"Please, don't… don't tell anyone…especially Kira."

"Don't worry, I don't want to die yet." He said very seriously.

They entered the house silently, not wanting to wake up anyone especially not Kira. Cagalli went to her room in a hurry and was glad when she saw that Lacus wasn't here. She collapsed on her bed and starred at the ceiling.

"What have I done?"

Her head was painful as well as her legs (but she didn't to think about this part of her body.) Exhausted physically and emotionally she finally fell asleep to wake up a few hours later. Still no sign of Lacus. Se got up and took a long shower. She scrubbed her body as if she could erase what happened last night like.

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Shiho awoke this morning with a smile on her lips. For the first time since months she had had a good night. No bad dreams. She thought about her moment with Yzak on the hill, from the moment he kissed her until they reached her house when he told her that they should keep their relation a secret as he didn't want to have his parents and worse of it Flay on his back. Shiho was ok with that as she was not ready to be in the middle of a fight involving her room mate.

She went downstairs to have her breakfast. Dearka and Miriallia were having an argument about their evening and Yzak was eating his corn flakes. When he saw Shiho arrived, he slightly smiled (not enough for Dearka to notice anything strange) and she answered the same way.

"Hey guys, what are you doing this morning."

"I am going to teach how to swim to Milly." Dearka announced proudly.

Miriallia made a face but didn't protest. Shiho looked at her surprised. So did Yzak.

"Yes, I don't know how to swim! No big deal."

Shiho didn't insist as Miriallia looked embarrassed enough.

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Lacus and Kira entered the house and found Athrun watching TV while drinking orange juice.

"Where do you guys have you been?"he asked them

"We slept in the open." Replied Kira smiling.

Athrun winced wondering what Kira would do if he knew that he had done the same with his sister.

"What about you ? How was the party?"

Athrun instantly froze.

"Yeah, good."

Athrun quicly left the room, to escape Kira's questioned. He had to talk to Cagalli but now was not the time. Cagalli looked very upset when he left her. He would have preferred to see her angry, hitting him. He shouldn't have accepted this drinking contest. But now was to late for regrets.

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Cagalli discretely left her house paying extra care not to cross Athrun. She went to the back door and cross her back side garden to arrive at Shiho's house. She was about to knock on the door when it opened. Miriallia was with Dearka and judging by the towel they had on their shoulder they were heading to the beach. Cagalli tried to be herself as she said;

"He guys, what are you up to?"

"We're going to swim."

"Ok, are we meeting for lunch?"

"Yeah, Shiho said that we're going to visit some natural reserve this afternoon."

"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot."

Cagalli had consciously planned their holidays but right now she didn't remember anything she had written on her list of things to do.

"So see you later."

"See you."

She entered the house hoping that Shiho would be alone. Unfortunately, Yzak was here. They were chatting in a unusual civilized way, but Cagalli was too preoccupied to notice.

"Wow, Cagalli, you look like someone who drank too much last night."

"Yeah, maybe a little."

Cagalli looked at her feet and Shiho noticed the lack of enthusiasm in Cagalli's behaviour. She instantly understood that something was wrong.

"The skirt is upstairs, but you should try it, I'm not sure it'll fit you."

Cagalli seemed to be lost for a second but quickly nod.

"Ah, ok."

"Let's go." Shiho took her by the arm and they left Yzak alone.

Once in Shiho's room, Cagalli sighed and sat on the bed.

"Spill it out."

Cagalli considered her friend for a second. It was impossible for her to hide something to her friend. So, she directly told her what happened.

"Yesterday I got drunk and this morning I woke up naked on the beach with Athrun." She said the last part very quickly but Shiho hadn't missed one piece.

"You mean… you and Athrun… You…"

"Yeah."

"Wow" was all Shiho was able to say.

She sat on her bed next to Cagalli and put a comforting arm around Cagalli's shoulder. They stayed silent for a moment before Cagalli spoke again.

"Shiho, could you ask your sister for some day after pill?"

Shiho's sister was working in the general hospital as well as studying to become a nurse. Shiho looked at Cagalli as if she had turned blue.

"Are you crazy? She'll think it's for me!"

"You can say it's for one of your friend."

Shiho saw the look in Cagalli's eyes. How could she refuse something so important to the one who hadn't turned her back to her when she was in trouble.

"Ok, I'll phone her."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

She took the phone and dialled her sister number.

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Miriallia was staring at the sea sceptically. She had water only to her ankles but was already uneasy. Dearka wanted to teach her how o swim but now she wasn't so sure about it. Was Dearka a realiable teacher? She turned around to see where he was. She wasn't surprised to find him chatting with two blond girls in very short bikinis. She pondered. Why was she so attracted by this guy who only took interest in slutty girls?

Miriallia saw one the girls put her hand on Dearka's arm.

"Say, why don't you come to have a drink with us?"

Dearka looked tempted, but he answered without any hesitation.

"Sorry girls, but I promised this little girl over there to teach her how to swim."

Little girl. Now Miriallia was fuming. Suddenly she noticed the water had come to her thigh. Watching Dearka, she hadn't noticed that she had gone this far from the sea side. She looked up and silently pried for Dearka to come. He seemed to notice her discomfort and resumed his talk with the two gilrs to join her.

"Let's begin before you drawn yourself."

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At twelve, Miriallia knew how to float on her back without drawning, Dearka was wondering how long it would take to have her swimming alone, Kira and Lacus knew each other tonsils a lot better, Athrun had a headache because of too much thinking, Shiho and Cagalli had gone to the hospital to see Shiho's sister pretending one of their friend was in big trouble (a lie that Shiho's sister seemed to trust), and Yzak was bored to death as every one left without thinking he would be alone.

They met up at Shiho's place each one of them lost in their thoughts. Yzak was discreetly watching Shiho who seemed trouble. Was she regretting what had happened last night? No, she hadn't seemed upset in the morning. Then he looked at Cagalli, who seemed even more upset. Athrun's mood didn't seem much better. Miriallia looked angry but considering that she had spent all morning with Dearka it was normal. Dearka was grinning as always and Lacus and Kira were starring at each other clearly wanting to explore each other mouth once again.

"What's wrong with you guys? Is someone dead?" he couldn't take this silence anymore.

"Now that you say it, it sure is quiet. Cagalli are you ok?" Kira asked as he realised that he hadn't heard his sister cursing.

"Yeah, I just have a headache."

"So," Shiho went to help her friend, "are you ready to go to the reserve?"

"Yeah, let's go." Cagalli answered with an enthusiasm she wasn't feeling.

During all the afternoon, Shiho had tried to comfort her friend and at some point Cagalli relaxed and went back to her old self. Miriallia was taking many photos, founding every animal so cute. Even Yzak had found great interest in their visit, especially when he saw the Hyenas so aggressive. Athrun didn't try to talk to Cagalli has she had expected. In a way, it was upseting her. It was like he didn't care about her but then she thought that there was nothing to say and that nothing could be said to change what had happened. However she realised she was wrong as Athrun went to talk to her as she was cleaning the dishes. They looked at each other, not knowing what to say. It was quite unusual for Cagalli to be at a lack of word. But she did not had to think at what to say for long as Athrun talked first.

"Cagalli, I'm really sorry for what happened."

"You're not the only one at fault." Yes, it was her fault as much as his and blaming him would be unfair.

"Listen, I don't want this to destroy our friendship. I really enjoy spending time with you and I don't want this to spoil everything."

She looked at him. He didn't want to loose her friendship. Somewhat it reassured Cagalli to know that Athrun wasn't the type of guy to sleep with a girl and do as nothing had happened.

"I don't want it either."

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As days went by everything went back to normal. Athrun and Cagalli and locked the fact that they had sex in the back of their mind and decided to enjoy their time altogether. Soon enough the last day of their holidays on Orb arrived and they decided to spent their last evening at the summer town festival. The girls had decided to wear yukatas.

"Thank you, Shiho, for lending me a yukata." Said Miriallia.

"You're welcome. Green is a colour which really suits you."

"I think I am not going to be able to breath in mine." Complained Lacus.

"Hey it's not my fault if your breast is so big." Cagalli defended herself.

"I'm sure Kira is not complaining about that." Miriallia added.

The girls laughed as they headed downstairs.

"It's about time." Yzak welcomed them.

Interiorly, he had to admit that what he was seeing was worse waiting. The girls were beautiful.

At the festival, they played game, ate, tried to catch a fish and around 10 looked for a good spot to watch the firework. They sat in the grass as they waited for it to begin.

Lacus and Kira were in each other arms, dreading the moment they would have to separate in the morning for a month. Athrun and Cagalli were chatting as nothing had happened between them during these 2 weeks, Miriallia (who was now swimming like Laure Manaudou) was explaining to Dearka what she had in mind for her project in September. Although Dearka wasn't interested in Miriallia the way she would like, they had developed a close relationship.

Yzak and Shiho had managed to see each other while the others were sleeping over the week. Shiho wanted to say to their friends that they were going out together but Yzak protested saying that if Dearka knew the whole school would know as soon as they go in September. When the firework started and everyone left their head, Yzak took Shiho's hand in his. They all savoured their last evening together each one of them thinking that these 2 weeks had been the best holidays they had.

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Laure Manaudou is the French Champion in swimming competition. She also is World Champion I some categories.

And last point. Last week a French singer (and a good one) died from cystic fibrosis (if you don't know what it is, please have a look in a dictionary) at the age of 23. Too young to die don't you think? Transplantation could have saved him and could save many others. So please ask for an organs donation card (or whatever it is called in English). It won't serve you to anything once your dead (in a long time I hope) and it could save lives. I know it's not very joyful but it is important.