I slugged down the hallway with Kiyoi beside me, her coughing her lungs out through her small mouth, her purple scarf offering little protection around her slightly pale neck. Her dark hair often brought out the features in her that made her sparkle. But being sick made her look like death warmed over.

I ignored the murmurs and daily laughs and whoops coming from the freshmen as we passed through towards the sophomore section. Man...to think we used to be like that. I couldn't even picture us that way. I found my locker and knelt down to shove my books away, and pause for a good long break. What I really wanted, was for a certain pair of crystal blue eyes to meet mine excitedly.

Instead, I saw a long sleeve of a blue flanel, and round hazel eyes peering down at me with pursed lips. "Yes...?" I asked, a small smile on my face. Kep was alright, but some of his actions were so strange. His wide eyes and pushed out lips softened into a relaxed smile, his teeth capped with metal. Braces. I rolled my eyes and pulled out my history book, wondering where he was.

I kept knelt down as long as I could, but once Kep shut the locker, it was time for me to go. "What's your next class?" Kep asked, offering some small talk while he looked around for his best friend. I searched in my own peripherals as well. Not only for Kami and Raito, but for Wood. "I've got history. You?" I drowned out his still somewhat non puberty voice, missing what his class was.

Automatically I spoke anyway. "Oh that's...uh...great?"

"Yeah, if you like that sort of thing. I'll see you around Inochi," he said, and I caught Silv pulling at his arm with a smile. I waved and walked over to find Kami and Raito with Kiyoi and Al, all in the little circle by our lunch pillar. "Suupp Kami," I smiled. She pulled her lips into a smile and tilted her head, "so we on for this week?"

I nodded and gave a thumbs up. "I'll work double time for it," I grinned. She chuckled and turned back to Ellie who was in depth with some made up story, her crafty artist hands making crazy motions. It was then I found them. That crystal blue gaze. But...it wasn't for me. It was for someone else. I'd seen him talk to many a girls, but this one, for some reason made my jaw clench, and my fingers dig into my fist.

She looks like a third grader. You want her over me? I paused, and blinked several times, shaking my head from the thought. Did I just think that? I didn't like him. We were just friends. First level basis at that. I heard the bell for five minutes ring, and he waved her goodbye, then his eyes finding me. I felt chills of both excitement and guilt run down my spine, sudden nausea pit in my stomach.

I'd just claimed Kep's best friend to my own personal satisfaction, and not only did I like him, Kami predicted we'd meet. His fingers made a snap as he threw his head in a joking gesture, and inside joke no one got between us. My body switched to autopilot, and I smiled and did the same, laughing and waving as he kept going by. Why was I such a mess?

~*~*~

"Kami...I'm not sure what to do. I don't like this guy...but he's always around." Kami twisted the cherry flavored lollipop between her neatly glossed lips and directed her eyes towards the posters on the wall.

"I think you like him. And you're jealous of that girl."

"NO! I'm not!" I growled, scrolling through my page to see the updates. "Yeah, you are," she smirked. I glared at her, and went back to the page, seeing a little screen pop up. Hey, do you know this guy...? I froze, and my hands fell from the keys.

Was karma really that much of a bitch? Did Karma hate me? I think it did. Instantly images whirred through my head of sapphire jeweled eyes and spastic blond hair, as I sat against my computer. No...sorry.

aren't you my year?
One behind...

"Chi? What's wrong?" I shivered and logged out after saying goodbye. A five minute conversation with a person I tried to forget. ANd as soon as I did, he reappeared. I felt nausea pit in my stomach again, and tears pricked my eyes.

"Kami... I think my tables turned..."