That night, "Uggh, I knew I shouldn't have waited until the last minute to finish this assignment." I mess my hair up in irritation, "I'll be up all night at this rate." I leaned back in my chair, hanging my head back in frustration. "Sigh, I can't complain. It is my fault. I'll just hurry and get it over with and go to bed." Or so I thought but It ended up taking much longer than I expected.

"Zzzz..." 'Beep Beep.' "Hnngh..." I slowly opened my eyes, "Huh." It took a bit for my eyes to adjust to the morning light, "What?!" I sat up in surprise when I realized I fell asleep at my work desk. "Owww, my neck..." I rubbed my sore neck and stood up. 'Oh wait.' I quickly checked my papers on the desk and sighed in relief. "Good. I finished." I can't remember, but I must have fallen asleep the moment I completed my work, not even having the energy to go to bed. "Talk about punishment for not finishing that assignment sooner. My neck won't forgive me." I sighed in discomfort. I tried my best to ignore my acheing neck and get ready for school that day.

...

Some how, I got through the day after my uncomfortable night sleep. My neck is still acheing but it's not as sore as this morning. "Are you okay? You keep rubbing your neck." Joelle asked. We were walking home together after school. "Yeah. Just got a crick in my neck. No biggy." I gave an awkward smile but Joelle continued to stare at me, "Really... Don't tell me you stayed up all night to finish that assignment?" She asked and I waved my hand at her, "Of course not." I laughed nervously, she didn't look like she bought it but decided to drop the matter. "Oh. I have something I want to ask you." Joelle suddenly spoke. "Hmm?" I looked at her curiously. "Would you like to come over my place this weekend? Kat has decided their will be no band practice and I actually have the weekend free." Joelle asked and I was absolutely shocked. 'Wow. I've never been to her place in the whole time I've known her. She's really asking me over?' "This would be the first time I've seen your place." I said and Joelle's expression dropped for a moment. "I'd love to." I smiled and Joelle instantly perked up with a smile of her own. "Great. I can't wait." She grinned.

We went our separate ways and before long it was the weekend.

...

'Wow. So this is where she lives. It's huge.' I was in awe at the mansion that towered before me. Of course Kanata villa was bigger but this was definitely nothing to sneeze at.

"Oh, Elli! Over here!"

"Huh?" I heard Joelle's voice calling out to me and in the distance I spotted her waving to me with a smile on her face. I headed straight over to her. "Hey." I greeted her and she greeted me back. Besides us was a huge luxury swimming pool. Joelle wanted to go swimming and so I brought my costume. I placed the bag I had on my shoulder on one of the pool chairs.

"Um." Joelle suddenly started to speak as I had my back turned to her. 'I don't like her tone. What's going on?' I braced myself for what she had to say and turned around to see her head on. "Kat and the gang will also be coming shortly." Joelle revealed and my eyes went wide, "What? I thought it was just going to be the two of us?" 'I can't believe this... Just when I thought I'd get to spend some quality time with Joelle. Tch. What a pain.' Joelle looked a little contrite, she probably realized just how I'd feel. "I'm sorry. Kat found out and invited herself over..." She said with a sad look in her eyes. I just shook my head and shrugged, "It doesn't matter." I said curtly. I tried to act like it was no big deal, though it really was.

No long after a couple of cars pulled up and out stepped Kat and the others. I straightend up on her arrival and did my best to not show my contempt for her on my face. As soon as she saw me, Kat flashed me a smug grin as if she did this on purpose. 'Urggh. ...No, stay calm. I won't slap that ugly mug of hers. Though I want to. Ohh yes do I want to.'

"Elli? Hello?"

"Wha?!"

"Oh good. You're back. You looked like you were thinking about something devious." Joelle stood in front of me with a look of curiosity. "Ahaha. Perish the thought. I was just thinking about lunch." I laughed it off and Joelle leveled me a funny look, "Right. Anyway, I forgot to mention, the guys from Tres Spades will also be coming." She stated and I nearly choked on air, "What?! No way. Why?" I was besides myself in shock. "Kat asked them." Joelle replied. I couldn't wipe the look of surprise from my face.

"What's the matter? You worried once they see you in your costume it'll send them running?" Kat walked up with a wicked grin, she was being her usual smug self. "No! Of course not. I just didn't expect them to be coming." I replied in a calm manner. "Hah. Don't worry. They will only have eyes for me." Cocky was written all over her face, the face I so wanted to smack. I then recalled the costume I had brought with me, 'Eep. I brought the one Joelle gave me. I thought it was just going to be us girls. ...That costume doesn't really leave much to the imagination... N-no way can I wear that. Not in front of them. Why did Joelle have to gift me something so skimpy.' I sighed at the predicament I was in.

"Eeeh! They are here!" Yumi screamed out in excitement. The guys from Tres Spades just arrived. "Yoo-hoo, over here!" Kat called out with her flirtatious smile as she waved wildly to them. 'There he is...' I glanced over at Eisuke. He confidently made his way over to us with the others besides him. "Eisuke! I'm glad you could make it." Kat ran right up to him. She was definitely a great actress, always changing appearances when they were around. "Soryu! Heeey!" Stephanie called out to him, a big grin on her face.

The guys greeted the girls with smiles though I could tell they honestly weren't interested in being smothered by them. I had stayed back and just looked on, 'What did I expect? Of course the girls would turn into giddy school girls.' I shrugged when Eisuke looked in my direction, 'Huh.' We locked eyes and I was unable to break free of his gaze. The way he looked at me, it was as if I was the only one he was interested in and the others were nothing but a nuisance.

"Alright. Let's get changed and go for a swim!" Joelle stated, thrusting her arm into the air and running off to the change room. 'Ah, I don't want to wear my costume...' I started to inwardly panic.

"Why do you look like you just saw a ghost? That's no way to greet me."

"Hu- Owww. Hey!" At some point Eisuke must have walked up to me but I was too worried about my costume to notice. "You didn't have to flick me!" I pursed my lips and glared at him as I rubbed my nose. "I was doing you a favor. You should thank me." He said with a smirk and I scowled, "Some favor." I huffed but Eisuke didn't look the least bit fazed. "Aren't you going to change into your costume?" He asked and I immediately froze, "Maybe. I-I don't really feel like going for a swim." I tried to shrug it off but he leaned in closer, "Why is that? We are here to swim after all." I could feel his gaze burning right through me, I thought I'd die under the intensity, "I know that. I'll change later." I shrugged and looked away when I heard him scoff, "You are hiding something." I immediately turned back to him and saw the cocky grin on his face, "Just leave me alone. I can decide If I want to swim or not on my own!" I exclaimed in a fit, trying my best to hide my embarrassment that was my costume.

I turned my back to him but he still wouldn't leave me alone. "How about I throw you in the pool?" He said and I jumped, "N-No you don't." I quickly turned around but he already tried to grab me, "Hey, let go. Uggh, fine. I'll go get changed!" I said in a huff, Eisuke smiled triumphantly, 'Jerk.' I stuck my tongue out at him and grabbed my bag. I could feel Eisuke's eyes on me all the way to the change rooms. The other girls had just finished as I entered.

'I wish I didn't pick this one. Just my luck... He's going to laugh at me, I just know it.' I took the costume out of the bag and held it in front of me, I looked at it as if it was something loathsome, "Of all the times to go skimpy." I hung my head like it was hopeless and proceeded to put the costume on.