I had just finished class for the day and was walking home with Joelle; It was the one thing I could do with her everyday.

We walked along the quiet sidewalk in silence until Joelle decided to speak.

"Hey, Elli."

"Mm?"

She stopped in her tracks and looked right at me, "Why don't we go out for dinner tonight?"

"Huh." I looked surprised by her sudden invitation.

'That totally come out of nowhere.'

She patiently waited for an answer.

"Okay. I'd love to go. I was just a little surprised. Besides seeing you at school and band practice we don't really do much together." I casually said and Joelle's expression darkened, "Sorry about that..." She mumbled.

With that decided we changed directions and began heading to a nearby restaurant Joelle knew of.

"Hey, Elli?" Joelle suddenly addressed me while we walked. I glanced at her to show I was listening.

Her eyes wandered around for a split second as she took in a deep breath before speaking, "I know what i am about to ask might be absurd but..." Joelle paused briefly, choosing her next words carefully.

'What is it...?'

"Could you please not hate Kat. I know she treats you terribly but she wasn't always like that." She said with a sigh.

'Huh. What is she trying say?'

My face turned to one of astonishment from her words, "What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

Joelle's shoulders slumped, she looked to be struggling, "I've never told you this but, I have known Kat since we were children." 'Wait... they grew up together?! Then does that mean...'

"Did something happen to Kat in the past?" I asked, feeling even more curious than before.

Joelle turned to look at me with a pained expression, "Sort of. But she doesn't want anyone to know about it, so, I'm afraid i can't tell you."

'I see... Joelle is a good friend. It makes sense now why she is always by Kat's side. It must be hard on Joelle having seen her change so much and trying to keep peace between us. It's like she's stuck in the middle...'

"So please, I know it's not easy. Kat really was once a nice, sweet girl. I don't like seeing her suffer but i don't like seeing you get hurt either... it's tough." She looked like she was in pain when she spoke, like it was difficult for her to get her words out.

I was confused, I wasn't sure how to respond in this situation.

'I don't know if i can just accept Kat pushing me around. Controlling my life... just because she had a horrible past doesn't mean she can just go and hurt others. It's not fair on anyone... I've already been hurt enough as it is, I really don't want to just accept what she throws at me...' I inwardly sighed and looked towards Joelle. She was looking at me with mixed emotions.

'Ah, why must she look at me like that. Joelle is the only one who has ever accepted me and tried to befriend me even when Kat was against it. I wonder what things would be like If Kat wasn't in the picture. Maybe we could hang out more?' A bittersweet smile crept over my lips at the thought.

Thinking it over i bowed my head just a little before speaking,"I'll try. That's all i can do. I'm sorry."

"Thank you. I'm really sorry... Hey do you remember how we met?" Joelle asked trying to lighten the mood up a little.

I nod my head, "Mm, It was nearly three years ago now. I had just turned nineteen, It was my first day of college after I moved here." I said as I thought back to the past.

"Yeah and I remember you were so nervous but no one wanted to talk to you. Everyone just gave you the cold shoulder..."

"Yeah... I guess that's expected when everyone is pretty much a snobby, rich kid." I replied with a laugh but stopped when I realized what I said, 'Oh wait.'

"Except you of course." I quickly corrected myself.

"Haha, don't worry about it. You aren't wrong. That college is usually one only people with enough money get into but then you arrived, you didn't have any money. You got in with pure skills and talent. It was not everyday we saw someone like you." Joelle said.

"Mm... I really was nervous when i arrived. I didn't quite know what i was getting myself into." I said.

'Truth is, I was expecting to be treated as an outcast. It was how i was treated at my last school and they were all normal kids. It seemed no one liked i was better than them... 'A geek' Is what they always called me.'

Thinking back on the past hurt, just because I was different people couldn't accept it. And it's exactly the same now... things just never change. Doesn't anyone understand how painful it is to be walked over, taken advantage of and be tossed aside, completely forgotten?!

I've been used many times in the past because of my carefree nature or maybe it was because i just wanted to be accepted and treated like a human being but of course everything always went sour. I'm not as willing like i was in the past. I have to keep on guard otherwise I'll just keep getting hurt...Well that's what I'd like to do but that doesn't always work. Maybe I'm just too nice or maybe I'm just naive...

"Hey, Elli?"

'What?!' I was suddenly brought back to reality when Joelle called my name, she was waving her hand in front of my face.

"Oh good, you are back." She smiled, "You know, I still can't believe you tripped and spilt your lunch over Kat that time. Boy was she furious." Joelle laughed as she talked about the past. "But thanks to that I got the chance to speak to you, though Kat was visibly annoyed I befriended the girl who threw their lunch on her."

"Haha, yeah. I never thought It would lead to us being friends either. I thought I'd go through college all alone." I said with a little laugh but Joelle remained silent, a sadness flickered in her eyes, 'I shouldn't have said that...'

"I'm glad i met you." I said quickly trying to lighten the mood, "I was surprised to find out you have an interest in music and even more so when you invited me to join the music club. Though i didn't quite like the idea at first. I guess my love for music and wanting to spend time with you helped me get use to it." I said.

"Yeah, you were pretty against it at first but I'm glad you accepted. I never expected we'd actually form a band. That was completely out of the blue." Joelle said.

"It did come as a shock. It did add more pressure though. I thought we'd just play together and once we graduated from college go our separate ways but I'm not sure what to expect anymore. Though It was a pleasant surprise when the guys showed up. I never imagined we'd have a boyband staying at the villa." I said thinking about the guys in 'Tres Spades.' One guy in particular played in my mind.

'Eisuke... why does he pay me so much attention?'

As I was thinking that the restaurant we were to be eating at came into view.

...

We stepped inside and were showed to our seats. I looked around my surroundings, everything looked so expensive. Plush carpet, potted plants and many paintings decorated the wall. Even the tablecloths looked to be made of pure white silk. I couldn't believe i was eating somewhere so fancy.

'It sure has the atmosphere of a high-end restaurant. I never even knew it existed.' I looked down at what I was wearing. I was still in my school clothes and totally unkempt, 'How embarrassing.' I peeked over at Joelle, she also just come from school but, unlike me, she still looked neat and well dressed.

I picked up the menu from the table and carefully browsed through it when I glanced over the prices, "Ah!" I gasped and Joelle immediately jumped and asked what was wrong.

"I can't afford any of this. You'd need to be loaded to eat here." I said and quickly closed the menu like i was too afraid to look at for another second.

Joelle began to laugh at my reaction, "Don't worry. I will pay for everything. Choose whatever you like." She said and continued looking through her menu.

"I can't have you-" I tried to refuse but she quickly cut me off, "I said don't worry. Just pick something." She said not taking her eyes off the menu. With no room to talk back I focused my eyes on my menu.

'Hmm, what do i feel like eating?' As i was deciding I heard approaching footsteps.

'Is the waiter already coming? But I'm not ready yet...' I looked up to tell the waiter to give me more time but was shocked by who i saw, "Eisuke?!"

'What's he doing here? And everyone else is here too.'

"I never thought I'd see you eating here. What a coincidence." Eisuke said looking smug.

'Is he trying to start something?!' I then remembered how i looked and inwardly panicked, 'Oh no, I'm such a mess... I really don't fit in here...' I wanted to flee from the restaurant but then I changed my mind, 'Ah, stuff it. It shouldn't matter how i look. I'm still me no matter how I'm dressed. Nothing will change that. No use getting worked up over it. I'll just enjoy myself.'

"What are you doing here?" I asked and eisuke focused his gaze on me, "Eating here of course. What else is there to do at a restaurant?" He answered like the question i just asked was stupid, which it probably was.

"Hey guys." Joelle said with a smile, putting her menu down.

"You haven't eaten yet have you? Come eat with us." Eisuke said, it was like it wasn't even a question but he was practically demanding we ate with them.

"We haven't but-" I couldn't finish off my sentence as Eisuke cut in, "Great. C'mon then." He said and they started to walk off. Just as Eisuke passed me, he looked me straight in the eye, it was like he was telling me I couldn't refuse him. Joelle didn't seem to mind at all. They notified the staff and we got a table to seat us all, and that's how I ended up having dinner with the guys from 'Tres Spades.'