Three Weeks Later:
Saturday Morning:
7:30 AM:
"What say you? Do you think we're ready to find our new brides?" Diamond inquired from the shadows.
"Yes, brother. But I highly doubt most of the girls will be up this early—on a Saturday. The only one who may be up is Raye. Even Amy likes to sleep in until eight." One of the guys replied.
"Don't worry about that. It just gives us time to get to the spots they usually visit." Diamond insisted.
"Yes, of course." The others replied.
"We depart and then meet back here at nine tonight." Diamond instructed.
"Of course." The others replied before heading their separate ways.
8:15 AM:
Raye:
It had been a long few weeks for Raye, so she decided to meditate under a waterfall in the mountains. It seemed to be the only thing to relax her.
"And here I thought I was the only one who came here to meditate under the waterfall." A male voice spoke, getting Raye's attention.
"And just who are you?" Raye demanded, standing up.
"My apologies, Miss; I didn't mean to startle you. My name is Coal Blake; I'm seventeen and am studying to become a priest at the seminary downtown. I have proof if you need." This male spoke, holding up an identification card.
The male was tall and had slick-back black hair and deep blue eyes.
"What are you doing here, Coal?" Raye questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I came here to meditate. I usually come on Friday after school and then Sunday before going back to school; it helps me to relax. But I'm going away for a few days starting tonight, so I came yesterday and just decided to stay until I got done here today. And yourself?" Coal answered, watching Raye with great interest.
"I come here to meditate because it helps me think." Raye answered.
"Ah. Well, pretty lady: what's your name?" Coal questioned, watching Raye.
"Does that line actually work?" Raye questioned, unamused.
"My apologies." Coal apologized.
"My name is Raye Hino, and I am fifteen." Raye told Coal her name.
"Well, Raye: it's very nice to meet you." Coal replied with a smile.
"You as well." Raye agreed.
"Well, I suppose I should be headed out to give you your space." Coal insisted, turning to walk away.
"No. Seeing as you're here now—on a day you normally aren't, why don't you join me? Unless you must be going now." Raye offered.
"That is very kind of you, Miss Raye. I think I will join you." Coal politely accepted Raye's offer.
'I suppose he's kind of good-looking. And he is studying to be a priest.' Raye thought to herself as she scooched over enough so that Coal could sit next to her.
'How the heck can she just sit under a waterfall like this? It's freezing!' Coal thought to himself, trying to keep his composure.
"You go to that one private school for girls, don't you?" Coal questioned to keep his mind occupied.
"Yes. Well, no. I used to. I started high school with some of my friends at Juban High public school. Why do you ask?" Raye answered before asking.
"I was just wondering. Clearly, I didn't go to that school, but I had seen you around." Coal answered Raye.
"Huh. I guess I've never noticed you before. But I suppose, I never really paid any attention to boys before." Raye answered.
"Are you into girls then?" Coal questioned, interested.
"No. What are you, some kind of pervert?" Raye responded, a little disturbed.
"No. Once again, my apologies. I really am screwing up today. I was only asking because of how you said you never paid attention to guys before." Coal apologized, playing a bit of reverse psychology against Raye.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I guess that makes sense now that I hear it out loud. Now, I'm not into girls like that. Honestly, I've never been into looking for a relationship; I've been too busy concentrating on my studies to become the head priestess of my grandfather's shrine someday." Raye immediately apologized, feeling guilty, before explaining.
"It's perfectly ok. I might have reacted the same way had I been asked that question. But I suppose we should stop talking and enjoy the peace and quiet." Coal replied, smiling before suggesting—despite not wanting that at all.
"Right." Raye replied, going back to mediating—embarrassed.
10:15 AM:
Amy:
Amy was at the library, studying her butt off for college entrance exams; she was hoping to get into a good college a year early.
She was studying when a male with dark green hair and blue eyes walked over.
"Amy Anderson, right?" The male questioned, standing next to the table.
"Yes. And you are?" Amy replied before questioning.
"My name is Jaden Blake. May I ask what you're doing?" The male, Jaden, introduced himself before inquiring.
"Sure. I'm studying to get into a good college so that I can become a doctor." Amy answered.
"Oh, cool. But you're still so young. I mean, don't you have a few years left of high school yet?" Jaden questioned, stunned.
Amy giggled slightly before speaking, "I'm only a freshman. But in order to become a good doctor, I have to study hard—even if I'm not able to graduate a year early. What brings you to the library on a Saturday before noon?"
"Well, I'm a junior, so I have to start studying to get into a decent college as well. I'm nowhere near as smart as you, but I still want to go to college." Jaden answered with a smile.
"What are you going for?" Amy questioned, marking her place in her book.
"Either an engineer or a lawyer. But most likely an engineer." Jaden answered.
"Both good career goals." Amy answered with a smile.
"So, do you have any siblings? Oh, I hope you don't mind." Jaden questioned, sitting down.
"No, I don't mind, but I do have to get back to my studies. No, I don't have any siblings—as far as I know. My parents are divorced, and I live with my mom, who is also a doctor. I used to see my dad all the time, but now he lives over two hours away. What about you?" Amy replied before asking.
"Well, my parents died when I was a child, and I have five brothers. I suppose, I should find a book on engineering and start studying as well—especially with the looks the librarian keeps giving us." Jaden answered before insisting.
"Mrs. Scarlette is only giving you that look because you're being noisy instead of whispering." Amy answered with a small giggle.
"Oh, my bad. Do you mind if I come back and sit with you while we study?" Jaden requested.
"No, of course, not. I'll be here for another few hours. I have a slumber party to go to later tonight." Amy answered with a smile.
"Of course." 'How can she study for more than half an hour?' Jaden replied before asking himself, going to find a book on engineering.
By the time he returned, Amy had read six and a half pages.
"Welcome back." Amy greeted Jaden.
"Thank you." Jaden replied with a smile.
"So—I know this is sudden, but how would you like to go out sometime?" Jaden asked Amy out, looking over his book.
"I don't know; it's something I have to think about." Amy replied, blushing.
"Ah, I see. Well, this is my number. Call or text me when you have an answer—if you have an answer." Jaden insisted, handing Amy his number on a piece of notebook paper.
"Thank you. I will—or I won't." Amy replied with a smile.
Noon:
Mina:
Mina was playing volleyball with one of her best friends, Artemis, when a guy with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair and blue eyes approached them. There was another guy with dark silver hair and amber eyes.
"May we help you with something?" Artemis questioned, watching the two guys.
"Sorry. We didn't realize there was someone in here." The guy with silver hair calmly spoke.
"Yeah, well, now you do." Mina retorted, watching the guys.
"Hey, you're Mina Aino." The guy with reddish-brown hair enthusiastically spoke.
"Yeah, what of it?" Mina questioned, annoyed that her practice was interrupted.
"Sorry. It's just that you're only a freshman, and yet you're one of the top members of the volleyball team. That's just unheard of. If I may properly introduce myself. My name is Jasper Blake, and this is my best friend, August Sims. We are in an up-and-coming band. Our other members are out of town for a few weeks." The guy with reddish-brown hair, Jasper, calmly spoke, introducing him and his friend.
"I've never seen you here before." Mina spoke, narrowing her eyes.
"We're juniors, and we just transferred. See? I have an ID badge. But because we're up-and-coming musicians, we're only here part-time." Jasper spoke.
"I've never heard of that before—being part-time just because you're an "up-and-coming" artist." Artemis spoke up.
"Well, I guess we're some of the first, aren't we? Who are you—Mina's boyfriend?" Jasper callously replied before questioning.
"No," "he's" "I'm" not!" Mina and Artemis yelled, embarrassed.
"Ok…" "He's my older brother/best friend." Mina spoke up, interrupting Jasper and August.
"Oh, I wasn't aware you had an older brother who went to school here as well." 'That was nowhere in her file.' Jasper spoke before thinking to himself, stunned.
"I'm not a student here; I'm here to help Mina practice for her upcoming tournament before she goes to hang out with her friends." Artemis plainly answered. He didn't like or trust this Jasper character.
"Oh, well—may we join you? It's always better with more people, right?" Jasper requested.
"I suppose so." Mina replied.
"Shall we make it interesting?" Jasper questioned.
"What do you mean?" Mina and Artemis questioned, narrowing their eyes.
"It will be August and me against you two. If we win, Mina, I would like to take you on a date. If you win, I'll leave you be." Jasper explained.
"Fine. Let's see what you've got. Come on, Artemis." Mina agreed, having Artemis come to her side of the net.
"Gladly. You're going down, Aino." Jasper replied with a confident smirk.
"Who serves first?" August questioned, watching Mina.
"Be my guest." Mina replied, tossing Jasper the ball.
"Gladly." August got ready before tossing the ball in the air and served it to Mina and Artemis.
"Not bad." Mina responded as Artemis hit the ball back, and Jasper hit it to her.
Half an Hour Later:
"Damnit. How could I lose? I never lose." Jasper complained, exhausted and covered in sweat, leaning against a wall.
"Everyone has bad days—even me." Mina replied with a smile.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you alone. A deal is a deal, and a promise is a promise." Jasper stood up to walk away.
"Wait. Seeing as you did so well—and are honoring your commitment, I will go out with you for a treat sometime. But you're buying." Mina stopped Jasper, watching him.
"Yeah, sure. I can do that. When were you thinking?" Jasper questioned after agreeing.
"Maybe next Friday after school—if you're not too busy gigging or whatever." Mina answered.
"Sounds like a plan." Jasper agreed with a smile.
"See you then." Mina replied, watching Jasper leave, waving at her.
1:30 PM:
Lita:
Lita had just finished lunch and was now planting seeds and picking strawberries in her garden.
"Excuse me, Miss. Can you help me out?" A guy with jet black hair and blue eyes requested Lita, standing on the other side of a fence.
"Oh, sure. What do you need?" Lita questioned, standing up.
"You see, I'm new to town, and I seem to be lost: can you tell me how to get to the dojo on Center Street?" The guy requested.
'He looks like my ex-boyfriend.' "Of course. You go west two miles to town, turn east, and then go straight until you see the dojo." Lita thought to herself before instructing the guy.
"My name is Jet Blake. Thank you for your help." The guy, Jet, thanked Lita.
"It's no problem, Mr. Blake." Lita replied with a smile.
"Jet, please, Miss…" Jet insisted, watching Lita, waiting for her name.
"Oh, how rude of me. My name is Lita Kino, but you can call me Lita." Lita replied with a smile.
"Well, Lita, it's very nice to meet you. What are you doing if I may ask?" Jet inquired, watching Lita.
"I'm just working on my garden before I have to get ready to meet my friends at the arcade to go to one of their houses for a slumber party. What are you going to the dojo for?" Lita answered before asking her own question.
"Gardening, huh? I haven't done that since my mother was alive many, many moons ago. I'm going to practice some karate. What is it that you plant?" Jet answered before questioning.
"I'm sorry about your parents; my parents died in a plan accident a few years ago. Karate, huh? I enjoy some karate as well. I plan all sorts of things from strawberries to tomatoes. Peas and green beans to radishes and rhubarb. I also have an array of flowers over that way." Lita answered, letting the guy through the gate to show him her garden.
"It's very nice." Jet insisted, looking around.
"Thank you." Lita replied, blushing a little.
"You're welcome. What are you doing in the next few weeks?" Jet questioned, watching Lita.
"I'm not really sure. School and hanging out with my friends. I'll probably work in my garden, maybe go to a karate or judo class. Why do you ask?" Lita answered before asking.
"I was just thinking that maybe you'd like to do something sometime. Like a date maybe?" Jet replied, giving her a hopeful look.
"I'd have to think about it. I mean, you seem nice and all, but I don't know you—and you don't know me." Lita replied.
"I understand. But if you change your mind, this is my number. Give me a call whenever you want." Jet handed Lita his number.
"Ok. Thank you." Lita replied, taking the number.
"Of course. Have a good day." Jet spoke before heading out.
3:00:
Serena:
Serena was merrily skipping to the arcade when she bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Serena quickly apologized.
"No, I'm sorry; I wasn't watching where I was going." Diamond spoke with a smile.
"Well, ok. I'm glad you're ok." Serena replied before trying to pass him.
"Hey, wait. You're Serena Tsukino, right? You go to Juban High School?" Diamond questioned, stopping Serena from her destination.
"How do you know that?" Serena questioned, backing up a little.
"Sorry. I don't mean to scare you. My name is Diamond Blake. I've seen you around town and school. I'm in my junior year; I first got a glimpse of you in my last year of middle school. I was hoping you'd come to Juban High as well." Diamon spoke, creeping Serena out.
"Umm… It's nice to meet you, but I have to get to the arcade. I'm meeting my friends there for a slumber party." Serena insisted, trying to pass Diamond again.
"Wait. How would you like to go out on a date next Saturday?" Diamon requested. Though he was asking, Serena didn't feel like it was a question; she felt like he wasn't giving her a choice.
"No thank you. Besides, I don't think my parents would let me anyway." Serena replied, trying to pass Diamond for a third time.
"Wait. I'm sure if you told your parents that you really wanted to go out, they'd let you. Or you could lie and say you're hanging out with a friend. Or if you want to lie to them, I can always meet them to show them I'm a great guy." Diamond insisted, grabbing Serena's arm.
"No, thank you. Please let me go." Serena replied before requesting.
"Not until you agree to go out with me." Diamond demanded, tightening his grip.
"Let me go, you're hurting me!" Serena cried out, trying to pull away from Diamond.
"Hey! She said she wasn't interested and to let her go!" Amara, Michelle, Trista, and Luna yelled, rushing over.
"Back off! Serena and I having a conversation." Diamond demanded.
"No, you're having a conversation, and Serena isn't having any of it. Let her go before I call police on charges of harassment—verbal and physical." Luna ordered, annoyed.
"Or I can take him out right here and now." Amara declared, glaring at Diamond.
"Fine. But I'll be back." Diamond retorted, letting Serena go and backing off—for now.
"And we'll be waiting." Amara, Michelle, Luna, and Trista replied, narrowing their eyes.
"Are you ok, Serena?" Luna asked Serena, concerned.
At the same time, Amara, Michelle, and Trista were watching Diamond, making sure he was leaving.
"Yeah, I'm ok. Thank you for your help." Serena replied, rubbing her wrist.
"Don't worry about it. Guys like him are creeps. If you see him again, and he bothers you, don't hesitate to call us." Michelle insisted with a smile.
"Thank you. I will." Serena replied with a smile.
"Now, come on. We have to meet Amy, Raye, Lita, and Mina at the arcade for the slumber party." Amara insisted, changing the subject.
"And I have to meet Artemis for our date." Luna insisted with a smile.
"Ok. Have fun." Serena and the others replied with smiles.
"Don't worry about that." Luna replied, walking away.
At the Blake Household:
"So, how'd it go? It went great." Coal, Jasper, Jaden, and Jet spoke at the same time.
"What's wrong, brother?" The four questioned when Diamond came stomping in.
"I had a mild interruption when speaking with Serena. Her friends took it the wrong way and dismissed me. Now, did any of us stop to think that any of these girls were friends?" Diamond angrily retorted before questioning.
"No, why?" The others questioned, confused.
"Because along with Serena and her interrupting friends, they were met by Amy, Lita, Mina, and Raye at the arcade for some slumber party!" Diamond furiously yelled.
"How did it never come up that they were friends?" Jasper questioned, confused.
"I don't know. We did so much research to find out about these girls." Coal and Jaden spoke up.
"It doesn't matter. None of that matters. We've already picked the girls we wanted; we're not going to start the process all over again. We just need to focus on the girls and make sure they don't see us at the same time. It's important to keep anonymity in our lives." Diamond instructed, looking around.
"Yes, of course. So, what's the next step?" Jet questioned.
"We woo them before bringing them home to never let them leave again. At least, once they find out the truth, they'll never be able to leave." Diamond answered, watching his brothers.
"Right." The others replied with smiles before being surrounded by darkness again…