Konnichiwa, minna. I really don't think there is anything you need to know about this chapter. Sooooo on with it. Oh and, as always, comments, ideas, flames even are welcome. I just want feedback. =) ************************************************************************ Title: Falling of an Angel, Chapter 3 Author: Dreamer (me :)) Rating: PG, nothing too horrendous this chapter Disclaimer: You know the drill I cringed as the harsh, high-pitched school bell stabbed through my ear and straight to my brain. The only good it did was in making my headache worsen. I gathered my papers and books together and shoved them carelessly into my black bag. I reached down near my right foot and the tips of my fingers skimmed the cold, gritty marble floor. Damn it, I thought. I looked up to see the last person leaving the room, her black shoes clicking in time with her steps. She looked at me as she passed my desk. I looked back at her and she quickly turned her head and moved out the door, leaving me sitting alone in the empty classroom. I stayed there for a moment, wallowing in the silence. Then I grabbed the handle of my black school bag and left the room, too. I walked down the long hall catching bits and pieces of other people's conversations. "Did you hear....", "No way...", "And last night I..." The sun hit my eyes hard as I pushed open the heavy, aluminum doors. I squinted through the brightness and scanned the green grass of the schoolyard. "Oi, Usagi! Over here!" I turned my head and placed a hand at the tip of brow. Makato was sitting with Ami underneath the shade of a tree and waving frantically in my direction. I sighed, and the thought to run back inside and pretend I didn't hear them crossed my mind, but I ruled against it. Besides, the dark shade looked welcoming. I walked over and sat down with them. Yes, no sun was definitely good and the grass felt soft on my bare legs. "Hi guys" I heard myself say. "Hi Usagichan" Ami said cheerfully "where is your lunch?" I looked down at their laps and saw their open, colorful lunch bags . Then down at my bare pleated, blue skirt. "Oh...I.... um..." I stuttered avoiding their eyes. I really wasn't in a mood to be reprimanded. "You forgot it again?" Ami asked. I looked up. Her eyes were wide and she looked concerned. "Yeah" I started "I...um...didn't really sleep all that well last night and kind of got up pretty late..." my voice trailed off. I suddenly found the yellowed stain on my white socks to be quite interesting. "Usagi, you get up late everyday," Makato stated with a smile "but its ok, we'll share with you. Right Amichan?" She looked over at Ami and Ami nodded to me. I weakly managed a smile that I hoped didn't look as pathetic as I thought. Makato moved next to me and smiled again at me. She didn't seem to notice a single difference. Neither of them did. I wasn't very hungry, but picked up a piece of food from Makato's tray anyway. "So, you guys study for that test in Math...?" It had been at least a week since it happened and I still couldn't bring myself to say anything. I don't think I even wanted to recognize it. But I knew that if I didn't do something, find someone to talk to about it, I would indefinitely go crazy. Mokochan and Amichan...they just... Abruptly, I felt someone's eyes on me and turned my head around. No one. I noticed Naruchan was sitting a few feet away from me on a bench talking animatedly. My mood brightened and a smile crossed my face. Naruchan. Makato's laughter floated over to me in happy little puffs. I smiled and laughed with them. After lunch I moved through the rest of my classes with a renewed optimism. That was all that I needed, something to look forward to. I fidgeted in my desk and then flung my head towards the clock. 3:27. I had it all planned out. I would race out of here as quick as I could then I would wait by the gates until she passed. I quickly grabbed my school bag and flung my body from the wooden desk, almost toppling it, as the musical sound of the dismissal bell filled my ears. I raced down the hall at full speed while skillfully dogging the students heading in the opposite direction. A gift from Sailormoon, I thought wryly as my black shoes pounded on the ground. My stomach twisted into knots, but I couldn't help but smile. I reached my hand out and swung myself around the gate and to a stop on the other side. Butterflies flitted through my insides, I felt good despite it, though. I could already feel the weight being lifted as I watched the other high school students pass by me on their way home. I scanned the crowd for Naru. A couple students looked at me. I probably looked like a stalker, I thought. Out of nowhere a red, wavy haired head was illuminated through the mass. No mater how much I could have prepared myself for this it would have startled me. I wanted to scream out as loud as I could, but mentally restrained myself and kept composure. I jogged up to Naru and grabbed her arm from behind. She turned around to see my smiling face I was trying desperately to keep under control. There was no turning back now. "Konichi wa Naruchan" I said still holding her arm. "Oh" she said "konichi wa Usagi." Just Usagi, I wondered. But shrugged it off and guided Naru out of the sea of moving people and to my shadowed spot up against the gate. "Naruchan" I said holding back my smile "I have to talk to you-" "Well" she interrupted, avoiding my eyes "I'm glad I finally have the honor." I looked at her strangely. The honor? What was she saying? Was she joking? "Usagi, don't give me that confused, innocent look. I'm just really tired of it." Her eys met mine. I didn't speak. Then she moved her gaze behind me. "I'm tired of waiting for you to notice, Usagi. I'm tired of pretending I don't" Her brown eyes reached in to my blue. It was a look I couldn't quite read. She looked angry and confused with a hint of sadness and other emotions I couldn't place. "Naru" I croaked out "I don't..." I could feel the tears pulling at my eyes . I took a piece of skin between my pointer finger and thumb and let the pain travel up my arm. "Usagi, if you have a problem why don't you talk it out with your new friends because I can't take this waiting around anymore. I..." She let the sentence get lost in the thick air between us. We stood there for a moment in silence. I squeezed harder. Then, I watched as she raised her hand and then let it fall to her side as she turned and quickly walked away. I knew what that sign meant. I moved up the red padded stairs quickly and clumsily, using both my arms and legs. As I reached the hall at the top of the stairs I slowed . I had run home with no real direction or hope. I just kept thinking if I could make it there, something would happen. Something would be there. But now, looking down this bleak, vacant hall, all I felt was emptiness. A small relief intermixed with disappoint had flooded through me as I walked through the door. No one had been home then and they still weren't. A small relief intermixed with disappointment had flooded through me. My legs moved mechanically now. I felt nothing here. My hand swiped the frame of the door as I turned into the room on my left. I peeled off my socks and placed my feet on the cold tiled floor . Then I moved to the shower and turned the knobs simultaneously. The water poured out in a spurt. I stripped away the rest of my clothes and let them fall to the ground around me. Then I stepped inside the stream of water. I let a gasp escape. It felt good. Purifying almost. Almost. The hot water eased my muscles and I let myself slip to the floor of our marble shower. I leaned my back against its cool, wet surface. Tears began to fall from my eyes. Questions and emotions I had wanted to let out all the way home exploded out of me like a broken dam. Why...? I asked myself. Why would she want to do this? We were friends for so long. How could she just throw it all away? I brought my arm around myself and held the opposite shoulder tight. The water pounded hard on my body , scorching it. "How could she do this?" I whispered into the ceramic surface. Tears poured down my face getting lost in with the millions of other meaningless water droplets. "Naruchan" my voice quivered. "Why...How...?" I whimpered. "Naru" Little maroon circles manifested on my pink rug as I clutched my soft, protective towel around my drying body. I dropped onto my bed, my wet hair soaking through the blanket. My energy felt depleted. But at least I didn't feel as horrible as I did before. I had read somewhere that you shouldn't keep your emotions inside; you should get them out. Who ever said that was right. It does help some. Brriing! I jumped at the sound and almost fell off the bed. I let a breathe out I hadn't realized I was holding in. Than smiled sadly at my childishness. Just the phone, I thought. I ran a hand through my hair, and then reached over to my side dresser. "Mos-" I cut myself off at the sound of voices. A woman. Just Mom, and some man. I was about to set the phone back onto the receiver, when I realized. Dad!? I flung the phone back up to my ear and covered the bottom with my palm. I held my breath. "You know it just as well as I do," "I know" came a whispered voice. "It was just never meant to be," continued the first voice "we were young and carefree and then..." "And then Usagi came" "We knew it from the start, and I think the kids are old enough to understand." "I know" the voice whispered again, sadly now "I know-" I dropped the phone back onto the receiver. And then Usagi came. Terrifying thoughts began to ensue my mind. An accident, illegitimate. That day my descent increased. So that's that. E-mail Please!!!!!!