Most would wine and complain about the work that had to be done at the athletic center; the constant rotation from area to area, the colorful palate of people that came in on a daily bases, screaming kids, and the sweaty laundry. This job was not for the faint of heart but maybe that was why Mulan loved it so much.

To her it made sense to work at the place she regularly competed in, it was after all one of the many morals her father had bestowed on her. She didn't have to work, she was a highly ranked t'ai chi performer, but to her it took more than just practice to make a great performance but taking care of the place you hold your performance was key as well. It was similar to a dojo's master and student's would take pride in the way their temple of the arts would looks, for it showed a reflection of their skills as a martial artist.

Along with her need to look after the place she regularly competes in, the need to be doing something, to be moving, was strong. It wasn't that she couldn't stop and give herself a break, it was just that she couldn't do it for a long period of time, she would get restless and edgy, two things she didn't like. Working at the center offered a solution to the problem for most of her work was done over major breaks, mainly winter and summer.

Her work started bright and early Monday morning, she would walk usually but since Mary Margaret was already up she drove her there, dropping her off in front of the double doors. Picking up where she last left off last time, cleaning, setting up, and supervising whatever was going on in the gymnasium. Mostly her job did revolve around the winter and summer programs the center offered with one day "off" which was a fancy way in saying a different part of the center. She would start off by sweeping the floors before one of the main supervisors came in and set up the bleachers. She would then take out some of the equipment that might be used, mainly the basketball racks, jump ropes, and some badminton equipment where they would set up a small net.

By ten most of the supervisors would be there and the almost never ending flow of kids will begin. Mulan was just putting the finishing touches on the badminton net when her eye caught something that did something strangely pleasant inside her chest. A girl with pale skin and strawberry blonde hair that hung in loose curls, dressed identical to her, red yoga pants and white t-shirt, re inflating one of the basketballs with a soft smile. She knew who she was the moment she saw her, and she found it strange, she truly thought she never see either one of them again. Her grip on the netting was so tight that it finally snapped back, burning her palms as it did so. The burn seemed to snap out of whatever fell over her and she rested the netting before leaving to place some lotion on her irritated skin.

"Are you okay?" standing in the door way was her, Aurora, a soft smile was on her face.

"I'm fine thank you, nothing that a little lotion cannot handle."

"So long as you're okay," with one last smile she left, playing with her pony tail as she did. With the awkward moment done Mulan wiped off the excess lotion on her hands before returning to her duties for that day. Rather she was lucky or unlucky, she hadn't decided yet, she did not have any more interaction with the strawberry blonde for the rest of the day.

Tuesday once again brought another set of task in another area, this time she was in the indoor pool. Again her job was simple, play life guard, mostly walking the parameter and sitting at her assigned post. Around every hour or so she was switched out to prevent over heating, as the room was the hottest in the whole building next to the saunas, and to take in a breath that wasn't filled with chlorine or heavy with heat. Mulan entered the break room, resting her bare back against the cool white tiles. She closed her eyes to push back the slight headache that was pulsing behind her temple. Her eyes snapped open when something cold and slightly wet was pressed against her forehead, her hand automatically springing into action to grab whatever was in front of her face.

"Hey it's okay its just me," the slim wrist that was in her grasp was connected to a slightly well defined muscular arm, the arm's owner had shaggy brown hair and a boyish face. He smiled at her, despite her scowl, and took the free spot next to her. "Water? I don't think that anyone would want you to get dehydrated," Mulan rolled her eyes but took the offered bottle from the male.

"Thanks Phillip," she unscrewed the cap and took a hardy sip before recapping the bottle. "May I ask what brings you here?"

"The same as you I figured," like with Aurora yesterday the two teens were dressed similar, but Mulan did not wear a white muscle shirt that said lifeguard with a small red cross on it, just the red shorts and her red one piece bathing suit.

"Where's Aurora?" he genuinely looked surprised, his boyish grin fell ever so, and scratched one side of his neck.

"Uh with the younger kids, the older and younger ones alternate pool and gymnastic time so there's time to prepare the necessary safe guards for the younger ones."

"Makes sense," there was more equipment involved when it came to the smaller kids, a majority of them safe guards, because it was easier to set up the pool than the gym the younger kids would go to the pool Monday and Friday while the older ones went Tuesday and Thursday. The older kids had gymnastics Wednesday, leaving enough time to reset the gym for Tuesday. She knew this already, after all she has been doing this job for a little over a year, but she was afraid of bruising his male ego if she told him off. "Are you up?"

"Yeah... uh... shoot I have to go you know... catastrophe might strike and.."

"Where would we be without a dashing prince to save the day?" Phillip chuckled nervously and ruffles his own hair as he backed away from her.

"Yeah that... so I have to... go," with one last smile he rounded the corner that led back into the pool. Shaking her head she went over to where the open lockers were, stopping at hers to pull out one of the snacks that she knew that Mary Margaret packed along with her lunch. Pulling out the banana she peeled off the yellow skin and tossed it in the nearest trash can. First Aurora now Phillip, she was already confused by the former, and now with the male's presence it got more complicated. And until she got real answers she would have to be cautious, not to save herself but others as well.

Wednesday was her "day off" which she spent in the weight section of the building. It was perfect for it was not just a weekday but winter as well, the area doesn't get used much, providing her with some much needed alone time. She still had work to do, making sure the weights were put back in their proper place, dirty towels were in the large cloth bin, and that the machines were rested for the next person. Not many people came, only two, she knew for whenever someone enters the room she had to watch them for numerous reasons. They left without noticing her, most do until they need her help, and she once again carried out her job of maintaining some form of organization. Around noon there was a soft knock on the door frame, Aurora with her strawberry blonde hair in a high ponytail and a soft smile that reached her eyes stood there with one hand behind her back.

"Aurora."

"I'm on break and I heard from some of the others that they usually go here on their day off and it was just my luck that you were here," she laughed nervously and looked away from the other girl, biting the corner of her bottom lip.

"Yes lucky you. Is there something I can help you with?"

"No not really I just... Phillip is still working and I was the only one who was on break and I didn't want to be on my own... You know what its dumb I'm dumb and I'll just go," she turned to leave but with a stealth like quickness Mulan made a grab for the strawberry blonde's wrist. She was off by a few millimeters which caused her hand to graze the other girls palm. A small tingling sensation filled her hand, if it was from friction or something else she couldn't tell you but it did what she wanted, to make Aurora turn around and look at her, light blue eyes meeting dark brown.

"Not wanting to be alone is not dumb and neither are you," clear blue eyes widen and a soft blush formed on her pale cheeks. "If you want to stay I won't stop you nor will I judge you for leaving."

"Thank you," it was soft and Aurora walked over to the wall that was covered in mirrors, it was a mystery to Mulan as to why gym's had those. With one last sad smile, the strawberry blonde's expression went back to its normal happy one. "Would you be interested in playing a game?"

"Depends on the game," Mulan walked over to where the other girl stood.

"It's not that hard just 20 questions."

"Why?"

"Because I realize that we have met about two times and know nothing about each other I mean what's your last name?"

"Fa, do I ask the next question or do you continue until you run out of questions?"

"I guess I will keep going, don't worry I won't count that last question against you. Where are you from?"

"Yining City, it's a city inside the reign of Xinjiang in China."

"Why go to school here?"

"It was my father's wish," the answer was quick, almost snapped, and the Chinese girl's posture went ridged. Aurora nodded slightly to herself and looked away, racking her brain for new questions. When she did her eyes met a bruised and bleeding face of another girl with dirty blonde hair. She was sucked in by the half sad and half empty look in brown, almost black, eyes but when some blood trickled down over one eye she jumped, her back hitting the stand behind her. Mulan reached out to help the girl, which was when she saw it, her friends battered face.

"What happened to you?" Mulan took her roommates chin between her thumb and pointer.

"I ran into the door," her tone was low, almost a whisper, and flat.

"Aurora could you please get me the first aid kit?" the strawberry blonde nodded and went over to where a fire extinguisher rested on one of the walls, along with the first aid kit.

"Here," Mulan took the kit from the girl where she, along with the early silent blonde, sat at one of the bench presses. "I will give you two some privacy," Mulan gave her something that was the closes thing to a smile that Tink has ever seen come from her Chinese roommate. It wasn't like Mulan never laughed or smiled, it was just that she rarely did it in front of strangers, it was part of her reserved nature.

"Tilt your head," Mulan gently guided the dirty blonde's head to the angle that she wanted. "Brace yourself, this will sting," she opened one of the packs of alcohol wipes and started to treat the bleeding cut. Tink winced but staid stilled as she let the girl across from her teat and dress her wounds. "You know that Mary Margaret is going to kill you when she sees you right?" she didn't get a response from the other girl, Tink just sat there slightly slumped over. "Okay tell me what's wrong."

"I lost."

"You what?"

"I lost. My chance to lift whatever weight is on my heart."

"My father told me something when I was little and that is no real opportunity is ever really lost you just have to find a way in again," Tink gave her a sad smile and she started to cry.

"God have I mention how much I hate your spouts of wisdom," Mulan let the dirty blonde cry and carried her home, just like she did that Thursday.

Thursday she was placed back on lifeguard duty but this time she and Phillip were on the same shift and it was getting on her nerves. Every time she looked up he would be staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable. When they were switching out he all but ran to open the door for her and once again offered a bottle of water to her. Shaking him was near impossible, what finally made him stop was the girl's locker room door being slammed in his face. Did her prince comment automatically mean she needed one? Never, she wasn't a princes but a warrior and warriors don't need rescuing.

Friday was gymnastic day, it wasn't her forte but she went along with it for it was part of the job. She didn't go back to the apartment afterwords, her instructions from Mary Margaret were very specific, she was to go to Ms. Lucas' since she would still be at the hospital until seven and she was done at six. Ruby greeted her in true Ruby fashion, with a large smile and even larger hug. Mulan automatically stiffened when her red loving friend wrapped her arms around her but relaxed slightly for she knew who it was.

"What has caused this more hyper Ruby?"

"Come here," the red streaked brunet beckoned the Chinese girl to her so that they were almost touching. Ruby leaned in and whispered something into her ear, which made her jaw go slack.

"You did not?" Ruby nodded enthusiastically and started to twirl around the room until the back of her knees hit the arm of the couch. She landed on the creme plaid couch with a giggle as though it was her intention all along.

"Oh my god it was..." she released a sound that Mulan thought was not humanly possible, if it hadn't just passed red painted lips. "I can't describe it. I swear there should be a new word for this feeling," Ruby turned her head so that she was facing the gated fire place, Mulan swore that the smile the brunet was sporting changed. "Can you do me a big favor and not tell anyone, especially Granny."

"Why? From the looks of it your happy."

"And I am, I just," she makes an attempt to get up but the position she was in made it near impossible, so she moved herself until her feet were back on the ground. "I want to keep this feeling to myself you know? I desperately want to run around town and scream what I did, how I feel but in a way this isn't about what I want its about what she wants and I don't know if she wants people to know. You understand?"

"Yes I do," Ms. Lucas came in and announced it was dinner, Mulan didn't have to join them but she did and when Mary Margaret, along with an angry looking Tink, came they were offered to join in but choose to take dinner to go. Before Mulan turned to go to the car she took one last look at her brunet friend and the two shared a look confirming that she was trusting Mulan to keep her secret until it was time for it to be to be relieved.

A/N: What is Ruby up to? Who knows, well I do, but you guys don't so... another mystery yay! And another yay for Sleeping Warrior see I haven't forgotten about you guys. Thanks for reading!