[Scene: Zoi walks into biology class. He sees Mr. Tomoe passing out microscopes and boxes of slides, and Kunzite sitting at their table. He is still smiling at Zoi, but his chair is as far from Zoi's side of the table as he can get. Zoi walks to his seat with all the resigned dread of a prisoner walking to the guillotine.]

Kunzite: [turns his chair to face him.] My name is Kunzite O'Sama.I didn't get a chance to introduce myself earlier. You must be Zoisite Midori.

Zoi: H-how do you know my name?

Kunzite: [Laughs] I think everyone knows your name.

Zoi: No, I mean why didn't you call me Zoi like all the other students?

Kunzite: …You prefer Zoi?

Zoi: Yes.

Kunzite: I prefer to call you Zoisite.

Zoi: Oh. [shivers]

Kunzite: You don't like the cold, do you? Or the dark. Hen Tie must be a difficult place for you to live.

Zoi: You have no idea.

Kunzite: …You're unhappy. That doesn't seem fair. You put on a good show, but I bet you are suffering more than you let anyone see. Am I wrong? [Looks into his eyes] I didn't think so.

Zoi: [blushes] My face is so easy to read.

Kunzite: On the contrary. I find you very difficult to read. [Continues to gaze at Zoi with his silvery eyes]

Zoi: Did you get contacts?

Kunzite: [Puzzled] No.

Zoi: Oh, I thought there was something different about your eyes.

[Kunzite turns his eyes away from Zoi, and sits silently with his hands clenched into fists.]

Mr. Tomoe: Attention class. Today you will be separating slides of onion root cells into groups by phases of mitosis. You are not to use your books. I will come by in twenty minutes to see how you are doing. Get started.

Kunzite: [pointing to the box of slides] Age before beauty, partner?

Zoi: Or you could start, if you wish.

Kunzite: …huh?

[Zoi flushes as he realizes his mistake. They both grab the box of slides at the same moment and recoil with shock as their hands touch.]

Zoi: You know what? I'll go ahead. I've done this before. I know what to look for, this should be easy. [His hand is shaking so hard that when he opens the box of slides they go flying everywhere] Oh. I'm sorry. Let me get those.

[As Zoi climbs under the table, Kunzite scoots his chair so far back he bumps the table behind them. He breaks into a sweat as he watches Zoi crouch In front of him in all fours. He looks over his shoulder to see if any of the other seniors are checking out Zoi's pert little bottom, and quite a few are.]

Kunzite: Zoisite! Get out from under there.

Zoi: This won't take long. I can grab a nice handful from here.

Kunzite: [under his breath] Yes, so can I.

[Zoi climbs out from under the table and start counting slides]

Zoi: 12…13…14… wait there is still one missing. [Slips back down under the table]

Kunzite: Leave it.

Zoi: I can't or we'll get docked 6% of our grade.

[Kunzite crouches forward and pulls out his handkerchief and mops his brow as Zoi crawls back and forth under the table, his long gold hair is coming loose from his ponytail and his shirt is creeping up to reveal just a strip of his smooth pink back, concave waist, and flat belly.]

Zoi: [Crawls out and stands up] It's not here. It must have landed on your chair. Stand up for a second.

Kunzite: I can't!

Zoi: Why not?

Kunzite: [Turns red] Forget the damn slide!

[Zoi walks over and examines underneath Kunzite's chair, while Kunzite pulls his coat over his lap]

Zoi: It's got to be here. I looked everywhere else. [Tries to check under Kunzite's coat, which Kunzite tugs so hard that Zoi goes sprawling across his lap]

Zoi: Sorry. Oh! [Giggles] I think I just felt it.

Kunzite: [sweating bullets] That's my cellphone!

Zoi: [Gives Kunzite a look of confusion] I mean I found the slide, it must have fallen through my shirt and got caught in my belt. See? [Stands and hikes up his shirt to his chest so Kunzite can see the slide stuck between his belt and his jeans.]

[Zoi unbuckles his belt to get the slide.]

Kunzite: Mr. Tomoe! Assign me a new lab partner at once! This one is impossible to work with!

Mr. Tomoe: Too bad for you. There aren't any free chairs, so I guess you are stuck with him.

Kunzite: I don't accept that!

Mr. Tomoe: Then I guess it's too bad you aren't the one in charge here. You will stay where you are.

[Zoi gives Kunzite a startled look. He shudders when he notices Kunzite's eyes are blue again.]

Mr. Tomoe: I think it is good that the two of you are lab partners. It will teach you some patience and humility.

Motoki: [Raises his hand] Mr. Tomoe? I'm already good friends with Zoi, so I wouldn't mind trading seats with Kunzite.

Mr. Tomoe: That's very kind of you to volunteer, Motoki, but since Neffy O'Sama is your current lab partner, that would put two family members at the same table, and I can't allow that.

Neffy: I have a better idea. [rubs his hands together] Why don't I change seats with Kunzite, and Zoi can be my lab partner? I can tell from here he's even ~more energetic~ than Motoki. I assure you, Mr Tomoe, I don't have the same…qualms… my brother does. [Grins from ear to ear]

Kunzite: Don't even think about it, Nephrite!

Neffy: [Leans back with his hands behind his head and winks at Kunzite] Oh, don't worry. I'll take good care of him. Or should I say: I'll take care of him…for good. No sense in letting all that youthful energy go to waste.

Kunzite: Try it, Nephrite, and it will be the last thing you ever do.

Mr. Tomoe: Kunzite, are you quite finished being disruptive? Because other people would like to get on with their work.

Kunzite: [Puts on his coat] Don't worry. I'm leaving.

Mr. Tomoe: Where do you think you're going? Get back in your seat.

Kunzite: I just realized I'm supposed to be at a conference right now.

Mr. Tomoe: You are on thin ice mister—

[Kunzite leaves, slamming the door behind him. Zoi sighs and completes the assignment without him. The bell rings and Motoki is at Zoi's desk. He scoops up Zoi's books and carries them as he walks alongside Zoi.]

Motoki: That was awful. I'm sorry you got stuck with Kunzite O'Sama as a lab partner.

[Zoi just looks sad]

Motoki: He seemed so much friendlier at lunchtime. I wonder what his problem is?

[Zoi says nothing as Motoki walks him to the gym]

Motoki: [hand him his books] See you later, Zoi.

Zoi: um…sure…ok

[Zoi spends the rest of the schoolday in a haze of selfpity. As the final bell rings, he gets his jacket and gloves from his locker and waits in the icy parking lot for his father. He watches as most of his freshman classmates board the bus. As it pulls away his phone rings.]

Zoi: Hello, Dad.

Chief Midori: There was another incident at the conference. Same as before.

Zoi: Same conference or same incident?

Chief Midori: Both. This will take a while, so I want you to wait for me in the library.

Zoi: [Watches Motoki walk to his dark blue Crown Center van] Can I ask for a ride from my friend Motoki? He's a senior and he's got a van.

Chief Midori: Absolutely not.

Zoi: Oh, come on!

Chief Midori: No, Zoisite! Get in the library right now and wait for me!

Zoi: Damn it Dad! I don't want to wait there! That might take hours! I could have been on my way home already if you'd just let me take the bus! [stamps his feet]

Chief Midori: Zoisite O. Midori! Don't you sass me! Get your butt in the library and work on your homework until I get there!

[Zoi hangs up and paces the icy parking lot in a huff. He stops pacing when he notices Kunzite off in the distance, staring at him again. Zoi makes a face at him and he sees Kunzite's mouth fall open in an expression of sheer horror. Zoi is so preoccupied with trying to interpret that expression that he doesn't hear the high pitched screech behind him until it becomes painfully loud.]

[He turns around and sees Motoki's blue van skidding with its tires locked and squealing against the brakes, spinning wildly on the black ice directly toward him.]

[Impact is imminent. Zoi doesn't even have time to blink. ]