A/N: Third chapter! Puh. I've been writing two days in a row to get this going. I don't want to lose my vibe, I know I have a tendency to do that.

Anyway, what are you thinking? Talk to me, peeps!

I know I'm not gonna be able to do long projects at the moment so I'm gonna go ahead a write short stuff. So if at the end of this fiction, you miss something; tell me! I can consider writing a one-shot. :)

Kisses to ya'll! (*..*)/

Read away,

Wikked

It was getting close to exams. My parents, especially my dad, had been calling and nagging me day and night about my grades and how the studying was going. I was getting seriously nervous. Lucky for me I had Zero. He was really smart so he'd been helping me with math which was my biggest problem. Hotaru had helped me with chemistry and economy.

By now my closest friends knew that I was no brainiac. I desperately needed help if I was going to pull this off. Also, Zemmi had told me that I wasn't the only one. According to her Yuki was doing a lot worse than me. I know it's horrible but it made me feel a little better.

"Hey, Nadeshiko!" Mei exclaimed when I met her in the library.

"Oh, hey, Mei," I said shyly.

"Are you studying?" she asked me.

"Yes, my parents are calling me every hour to quiz me on whatever I've been studying the hour before," I said tiredly.

"Oh, that must be rough," she said sympathetically. "… by the way, how did the date with Zero go?"

"How did you know about that?" I asked surprised.

"Please, did you honestly believe Zemmi and Hotaru could keep that to themselves?" Mei laughed. "… now, tell me! How did it go?"

"It went well. We talked a bit before the movie and on the walk home. I've heard from him since so I guess that's a good sign," I said insecure.

"Yeah, if he didn't enjoy himself he wouldn't have bothered," Mei encourage.

"He's been helping me study as well," I added.

"Well, speaking of studying, that's something I ought to be doing as well. Talk to you later," she said and left.

It was the day of the exams, the first test was english. I sat next to Zemmi and above us sat Mei and a guy named Arata, he was a friend of Zemmi.

I heard her sigh and she looked really wound up.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked her shyly.

"The ball, I really want to go. But like always I think we'll be forced to work," she said gloomily. "I suppose I'd have to work either way though…"

"I know the feeling," me, Mei and Arata muttered in unison.

We all sighed and looked rather depressed. Before we knew it the first test began.

The english test went fine, I actually think I might get an "A". I'm doubtful about math but I feel like it went better than expected. As for my two other struggles, economy went okay. However, I'm almost completely sure I failed chemistry. The rest of the subjects I had scored, at least I felt that way. But you never knew.

But the chemistry. I probably had to redo it. I could not show my father a failed test, that was out of the question.

"What are you panicking about?" I heard Zero say.

"How did you know I was panicking?" I asked surprised.

"The expression on your face. Unmistakable." Zero stated.

"I think I failed chemistry," I said. I know it's silly but I was so close to crying. I couldn't fail.

"You are better than you think and even if you did, you can just redo the test," Zero comforted.

"Yeah," I said still worrying.

"Stop worrying, it won't change anything," he said.

"I'm sorry. I'm being selfish, how did your exams go?" I asked.

"I don't think you're capable of being selfish. It went as expected, okay." he said rather indifferent.

"Thank you," I suddenly said.

"For what?"

"For being here, you helped me study and now you're cheering me up," I said.

Zero P.O.V.

"Don't worry about it," I told her. This girl never seizes to amaze me.

"See, I told you that you're not so bad. A cold and rude guy would never help me the way you do," Nadashiko said and smiled, blushing too of course. She always did.

I didn't know what to say. I don't understand how she can see good in me, I don't deserve to even be friends with someone like her. She's kind, innocent and caring, how is it that she would want anything to do with me?

I can barely stand myself so how can she?

"What are you thinking about?" I heard her gentle voice ask.

"Nothing, I still don't get how you see something like that in me," I said confused.

"I still don't get how you don't see it yourself. You are a good guy, Zero, whether you see it or not," she said and took my hand.

Where did she get the courage to do something like that? She's not really the brave type. Not that I minded, definitely not, but it wasn't like her.

It would seem she realized that herself because she blushed to the color of a tomato and let go. She gave me a small smile and left the opposite direction rather fast.

Nadashiko P.O.V.

It was the day of the ball and obviously we had to work but I had decided to go anyway.

Mei, Zemmi and I had decided to get ready together. I would've liked to get ready with Hotaru but she wasn't in my class so she had gotten ready with some girls from her class.

I wore a yellow dress that ended just above my knees and Mei wore a turquoise dress that was very fluffy. Zemiria wore a green dress and were very beautiful.

When we were done we decided to go to the ball, reaching our destination we met the headmaster and Zero. I was still rather embarrassed about earlier so I could hardly look at him.

Mei and I watched the conversation between the family in front of us. Yuki, Zemmi, Mr. Cross and Zero. After he'd complimented Zemmi, Zero also complimented us.

The ball was going great and after a pep-talk from Hotaru I decided to ask Zero to dance. I walked up to him.

"Uh... Zero?" I asked and he looked at me. I could feel the others' eyes upon me and it bothered me a great deal. I was losing more and more courage by the second. "Will you dance with me, Zero?" I asked, trying to ignore the others.

He looked at me and gave me one of those almost smiles.

"Sure," he said and took my hand.

I smiled and blushed as usual.

The dance was heavenly, I felt as if I was in paradise. Zero was actually a pretty good dancer if you think about it.

Zero had disappeared at the ball after a while. He must have been busy, he was working after all.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed though. I would have hoped that he'd followed me to my dorm or something but I didn't blame him.

I undressed and took a shower. While putting on my pajamas I found myself having butterflies. I really did like him. A lot. He understood me, and he didn't look down on me like some of my other friends did. He saw me as something more.

It was Sunday, the day after the ball and I was sitting watching the fountain. Slowly dipping my fingers in the water. It was quite peaceful actually.

"Hey," I suddenly heard a voice saying. I looked to the source and saw Zero.

"Hey," I said and smiled.

"Sorry for disappearing last night," he said and actually sounded sorry.

"Don't worry, you were working. It must have been busy on a night like that," I said and smiled.

"Look, I like you. I do. But I don't deserve someone as good as you," he said and looked rather pained.

"What? No! You're wrong," I said and stood up. "… You're kindhearted and a great guy. Not to mention that you're in an entirely different league than me..."

"Don't say that," he interrupted.

"You are the first guy to see me for who I am, you don't look down on me. I feel brave and happy when I'm with you! Please don't leave me," I said, afraid.

He looked at me and walked up to me. We were only inches away from each other.

"Please don't leave me," I said again, almost begging.

"I won't," he said and hugged me closely.

I put my arms around him and felt so safe.

(A/N: I'm sorry, this was such a kiss-moment but I feel like they aren't there yet. They are both so not used to these situation so they gotta take their time ;P)