Another day in High School with our favorite Gundam Wing boys. It is the end of
the day, and everyone’s in chorus, including Lauren, who is back as Ms. Johnson's assistant.

 “Okay, everyone. I’m going to pass out the music for ‘This Joint is Jumpin’,” Ms. J said.

 “Ooh,” moaned Shell. “We’re singing that again?”

 Lauren made a face. Oh well. As long as she got to be near the cute new boys. “Hey, J, can I go sit down somewhere?” she asked, eyeing the empty chair besides Heero.

 “Sure,” agreed Ms. J. But before Lauren could go running to flirt with the cute
blue eyed boy, the music teacher pointed to the empty seat*s* by Wu-fei. No one was sitting anywhere near him. “He looks lonely.”

 Lauren made a disgusted face. “Great,” she mumbled, pouting as she sat down next to

Wu-fei, making sure to stay as far away from him as possible.

 “Hey, don’t look so happy,” Wu-fei snapped. “Not like I want to sit next to you anyway, whore.”

 Lauren glared at him. “Go to hell.”

 “Zechs is gay!” was his reply.

 She twitched.

 Michelle, Shell and Jackie were bored in the soprano section. They couldn’t see the cute boys that well.

 “Isn’t Duo dreamy?” sighed Jackie.

 “No,” Michelle replied. “Quatre is much cuter. And richer.”

 “I like Trowa,” Shell put in, “his hair is so cool!”

 “He’s weird,” Jackie said. “He actually understands what Mr. Whatever is talking about in photography class!”

 “You still don’t know your photography teacher’s last name?” Michelle exclaimed in
disbelief.

 Jackie shrugged. “I think it starts with a K….or is a C??”

 Lauren was looking at the back of Heero’s head. Quatre was right in front of her, with

Heero on his right. Trowa was seated on Quatre’s left, which put him directly in front of Wu-fei.

Duo was next to Heero. She listened in on their conversation.

 “I think everyone at this school is really nice,” Quatre said. “I know I’ll make lots of friends.”

 “I hate it here!” Duo moaned. “Everyone wants to beat me up!”

 “That’s cause you suck!” Wu-fei put in.

 Duo turned around to glare at him. “Shut up, Wu-fei.” He looked at Lauren. “Ugh! I feel sorry for you, having to sit next to that.”

 Heero turned around. “Hi, Lauren.”

 Lauren smiled dreamily at him. “Hi, Heero….”

 Quatre turned around. “Boy, Lauren, you must love this school! You’re back here a lot!”

 She shrugged. “I guess you could say that the people here make it worth coming back so often.” Again she looked at Heero.

 “This school sucks!” Wu-fei said.

 “What’s going on over there?” Ms. Johnson called. “This is a choir, not a study hall, boys. If you don’t want to be in this class you can leave right now!”

 Wu-fei went to get up, but Lauren made him sit back down and then took out her anti
bacterial gel. “Gross.”

 “We’re going to start off with some simple warm ups,” Ms. J instructed.

 “What is this, gym class?” Wu-fei muttered.

 “Shut the hell up,” Lauren snapped, sitting up straight in her chair. “Sit up, moron.”

 Wu-fei slumped down more and glared at her.

 Lauren sighed and decided to ignore the jerk.

 “Look at Trowa’s posture,” Shell commented as she strained to see him over the puffy
haired girl in front of her.

 “I bet Duo has a great singing voice,” Jackie said. “After all, his speaking voice is sooooo gorgeous.”

 “Quatre’s just so cute!” Michelle said again.

 Shell sighed. “Lauren’s so lucky that she gets to sit by them.”

 The three girls heaved dreamy sighs.

 Lauren tried to listen to what Ms. J was saying, but Wu-fei was making it difficult.

 “You suck,” Wu-fei exclaimed as he poked Trowa in the back for the 10th time.

 “Please stop it,” Trowa requested without turning around.

 “You suck,” Wu-fei repeated, poking Trowa again.

 “Stop it, Wu-fei,” Quatre whined. “You’re disturbing the class!”

 “You suck,” Wu-fei said yet again, poking Quatre this time.

 “Ow! Quit it!” Quatre whined.

 Lauren sighed in annoyance. “Wu-fei, leave them alone. If you’re not going to listen at least leave the others who want to take the class alone.”

 “You suck,” said Wu-fei, poking Lauren.

 She punched him in the arm.

 “Ow!” yelped Wu-fei. “Stupid weak woman! Do not touch Wu-fei again!”

 Ms. J started the vocal exercises. Everyone was singing, except, of course, Wu-fei.

 “Sing,” Lauren hissed at him.

 Wu-fei just pouted and shook his head no.

 Lauren gave up on him.

When the exercises were over, Ms. J stood up and looked at Wu-fei. “Why weren’t you
singing?”

 Lauren snickered.

 “Cause singing sucks,” said Wu-fei with a shrug.

 Surprisingly Ms. J didn’t start yelling at him to go to the principal's office. She just sat back down and started another warm up.

 Lauren’s jaw dropped. Wu-fei was off the hook?! Why?!

 Wu-fei snickered.

 After the class was over, Ms. Johnson called Lauren over to her.

 “Lauren, you know that boy you were sitting next to in class today?”

 “Wu-fei?” Lauren groaned.

 “Yes, if that’s his name. Well, I think he’s a little shy.”

 “Oh he’s not shy,” Lauren told her. “He’s just an egomaniac.”

 “I think he’s afraid to sing,” Ms. J said, “and I want you to help him every day
after school until he is comfortable with it.”

 Lauren paled. Now she had to hang out with that jerk after school too? “Uh….if you
think so…” she said unhappily.

 Ms. J nodded. “Good. Talk to him about a good time.” She went onto the stage.

 “It’s just not fair!” Lauren whined, stamping her foot.

 “What, is Heero gay too?” a voice from behind her teased.

 Lauren whirled around to see a familiar Chinese boy smirking at her. “You!” she
shrieked, pointing a finger at him. “Because you wouldn’t sing, I have to help you after school every day until you start!”

 “And what if I never start,” he teased.

 “I’ll kill you,” she said darkly.

 “Heh heh,” he laughed dryly. “Good luck.”

 Lauren glared at him. “We start tomorrow, and you better show up you stupid,
arrogant, prick.”

 Meanwhile, across the room, the girls were flirting with the guys while they waited for
the bell to ring.

 “I have an appointment with a guidance councilor tomorrow,” Duo was saying. “I’m
going to tell her all about the guys beating me up.”

 “I have one too,” Trowa spoke up. “But I didn’t make it myself. And they told me to
bring my sketchbook.”

 Lauren came over, looking unhappy.

 “What’s wrong with you?” Shell asked.

 “Wu-fei,” said Lauren, plopping down in a chair. “That’s what’s wrong. Now I have
to spend my afternoon’s with that loser, teaching him how to sing!”

 “Don’t get depressed, Lauren,” Quatre encouraged. “Challenges are fun.”

 “Don’t let Wu-fei get to you,” Duo added. “He’s just a jerk.”

 Heero was reading something intently. “Hmmmm….”

 Lauren leaned over. “Whatcha readin’ Heero?”

 “Huh?” he looked up. “Oh…nothing.”

 “Hey, is that on the Backstreet Boys? I love them!” she tried to lean over more.

 “Did I hear Backstreet boys?” said Shell and Michelle in unison.

 Heero looked uncomfortable as all the girls gathered around to look at the pictures.

 Duo snorted. “First Dawson’s Creek and now this? What are you turning into, Heero?”

 “I was just—“ Heero stuttered. “I just wanted to—“

 “Look, it’s Howie!” Shell screeched, pointing to one of the pictures.

 “It’s A.J!” Michelle giggled.

 The bell rang and everyone went home.

 Shell went into Spanish. Wu-fei was already there.

 “Wow! You came to class!” Shell exclaimed in surprise.

 Wu-fei glanced at the clock. “I’ll stay for five minutes, then I’m outta here,” he told her.

 Shell frowned. “What are you going to do?”

 He shrugged. “I don’t know. Make fun of Zechs? That’s always fun. Don’t question me, woman!”

 Shell sighed.

 “Can I sit next to you, Quatre?”

 “No! I wanna sit next to him!”

 “Uh….” Quatre stuttered, looking uncomfortable. “I don’t think there are that many seats around me.”

 Michelle frowned and stomped over to them. “Hey! Leave Quatre alone you blood
sucking leeches!”

 The kids all gave her nasty looks but they backed off.

 Quatre shook his head. “I don’t understand why they all wanted to sit next to me all of the sudden.”

 Michelle gave him a gentle pat on the back. “That’s okay, hon. Now, you did study for this test, didn’t you?”

 “Today Mr. Kushrenada is going to assign us the project he’s been talking about,” he told her.

 Jackie gaped at him. “You know his name?”

 “Yeah…” said Trowa, giving her a strange look.

 “And what project? I don’t remember anything about a project!”

 “He made it perfectly clear.”

 “To you or to everyone else as well?”

 Before Trowa could answer Treize entered the room, smiling. “Good morning, class.
Today I am going to discuss the project that is worth half of your grade this quarter. Listen carefully now, because I’ll only explain it once. As you know, photography is like art, and artis like war. The art of war is a very difficult concept, but those with enough insight can see the art in war. Kind of like Zechs. He has insight, but then again, he’s a piece of artwork himself. There are not many people who are truly beautiful, but these kinds of people are not as rare as a Gundam. They are the rarest type of mobile suit. Mobile dolls are evil and should be disposed of quickly. War is not art if it is fought with robots. Robots are difficult to construct. You need smart people to construct them and they must know how to program them as well.Beautiful people are not necessarily smart people. Therefore, smart people are not necessarily art.” He paused. “Good luck.” Treize sat down at his desk.

 Jackie just stared blankly at him. Not a word of that had made any sense!

 Trowa smiled and rubbed his hands together. “This is going to be fun!”

 Jackie just buried her head in her hands.

 “So you’re Duo Maxwell, huh?”

 “Yup. I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie. That’s me in a nutshell,” Duo recited with a grin.

 The guidance counselor gave him a weird look. “Uh huh. Well I’m Mrs. Kade. What’s the problem?”

 Duo frowned. “The kids make fun of me. They pull my hair, shove me into lockers, and do all kinds of mean things. I don’t get it! I’m so cool!”

 “Well apparently the kids don’t think you’re cool, Duo.”

 “But I really am!” Duo insisted. “Why can’t they pick on Quatre! He’s a geek! Or Heero! He’s dull! Or Trowa! He’s weird! Or Wu-fei! He’s mean!”

 “I’d say your problem is your hair,” said Mrs. K.

 “My hair!” exclaimed Duo in dismay. “But I spent years growing this out!”

 Mrs. K made a pair of scissors with her fingers. “Snip snip.”

 Duo frowned. “I’ll have to think about it.”

 “You do that,” said Mrs. K. “Next!”

 “But I’m not done!” Duo protested.

 “Cut your hair. Then we’ll talk.”

 Duo left the office unhappily. Somehow that hadn’t helped at all.

 “Know who’s cute? That blonde teacher…what’s his name?”

 “Mr. Hunk?” Lauren offered.

 “Yeah! That’s him!” Zechs nodded.

 “Yeah, he is cute!” Lauren agreed.

 Wu-fei looked at them in disgust. “I am not seeing this.”

 Lauren looked over at him and frowned. “You again? Can’t you see I’m trying to have a conversation, Wu-fei?”

 Wu-fei snorted. “How’s it going, lunch lady Zechs?”

 Zechs glared at him.

 “Wu-fei, unless you have an opinion on cute teachers, I suggest you leave,” Lauren
snapped.

 Wu-fei shrugged and leaned against the wall. “I’m not joining in, but I’m not leaving
either.” He paused. “Even though you people suck.”

 Lauren sighed and turned back to Zechs. “Anyway, hon. Why you checking out all the
teachers! Afterall, you’ve got Treize, and he’s definitely the hottest teacher here!”

 “But he’s not the hottest guy overall here,” Wu-fei said proudly. “That’s me.”

 “Sure it is…” Lauren mumbled.

 Zechs sighed. “I do love Treize, but I sometimes get annoyed with him. Besides, it’s not like we’re married.”
 “Thank god we don’t live in Hawaii,” said Wu-fei.

 Lauren turned to glare at him again. “We don’t need your comments.” She shoved him away.

 “Again with the shoving!” he whined.

 “So you’re gonna break it off with Treize?” Lauren said excitedly.

 Zechs nodded sadly.

 There was a startled gasp behind them.

 “Oh yeah,” said WuFei, “Did I forget to tell you people that Treize was standing
behind you the whole time?”

 Lauren and Zechs spun to see Mr. Kushrenada himself. Treize frowned, staring down
at his freshly picked daisies as a tear ran down his cheek.

 “Daisies…my favorite,” Zechs muttered.

 “They reminded me of art! And therefore you,” Treize sniffed.

 “Treize…,” Zechs consoled him, standing. “I don’t wish to break it off forever! I
just think we need a break.”

 Treize shook his head. “Good-bye, my Lightning Baron. I give you to your new love.”

 Lauren watched as Treize hung his head and left.

 “That’s not like Treize,” Zechs murmured. “Seems like he would try harder to get me
back. Hm….”

 “Oh please. You’re not that good looking. Treize probably realized he could do
better,” WuFei snapped.

 “WuFei!” Lauren cried, punching him in the arm.

 “Hey!” WuFei protested, “What’s your problem?”

 Lauren stood and grabbed WuFei’s arm. “We have to get Treize and Zechs back
together,” she whispered.

 “Why?” he asked incredulously.

 “Cause I said so. It’ll give us something to do when we’re stuck with each other after
school.”

 WuFei sighed. “Why do I let you do this to me?”

 “I need to see my guidance counselor,” Trowa told the secretary.

 “Ok, what’s your last name?”

 “I don’t have one. But if you have to call me something, call me Trowa. Trowa
Barton.”

 The guidance counselor sighed and mumbled something about how kids these
days were getting weirder and weirder. “Mr. McDonald.”

 Trowa nodded and headed towards his office.

 “Trowa, have a seat,” Mr. McDonald said grimly.

 Trowa nodded and sat.

 “Trowa, I understand you are..um, special child. You’re a gifted artist, but somehow
you seemed troubled.” He cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I take a look at your
sketchbook?”

 Trowa nodded and handed it over.

 Mr. McDonald began to flip through the many images. A clown being hung, a clown
being drowned, a clown burning, a clown impaled…..it went on and on.

 “Trowa, why do you draw such images?”

 Trowa shrugged. “I’m looking for ideas.”

 “Ideas?”

 “For when I finally kill myself. Heero already told me self-destructing your Gundam
is too painful. What do you think of coyotes?”

 McDonald coughed. “I think I better call your mother….”

 His eyes rested on the woman pouring over her work in the music office.

 A woman. Perfect. That was just the thing to drive Zechs over the edge-and back
to him.

 Quatre frowned and moved his arm. “Why?” he whispered back.

 Michelle wrote ‘A, C, B’ on her scantron and ignored the blonde beauty.

 Heero groaned and turned around slowly. “What?”

 “Who’s your favorite Backstreet Boy?”

 Heero sighed and gazed down at his notebook. “Uh…,” he flipped through it. “Kevin.”

 Shell frowned. “Really? Uh. Well you can have all my Kevin stickers then,” she
said, sticking a Kevin sticker on Heero’s cheek. “Now you’re the ultimate fan!” she said chipperly.

 “Woohoo, thanks,” he replied dryly.

 Shell  blushed. “You’re welcome, cutie.”

 “That’s the secret, isn’t it?”

 Lauren rolled her eyes. “Alright. Sing something.”

 “I love you, you love me…”

 “Ick! In your dreams!” Lauren exclaimed in disgust, shoving WuFei.

 “Yeah, that’s it! Beat up sophomores who are three feet shorter than you,” he moaned.

 “Weeny,” Lauren snapped.

 “That’s it!” cried WuFei, pouncing on Lauren. He wrestled her to the ground.

 “Ew! Get off!” she cried.

 “Only if you stop hassling me about the singing thing!” he whispered.

 Lauren laughed. “You really do suck, don’t you?”

 “Yeah, I suck,” he said slowly.

 “What? Do you not want me to tell anyone you suck?” Lauren asked, shoving him
off.

 “No, you can tell people. I changed my mind. You can tell everyone I suck.”

 Lauren frowned. “Why?”

 “Does it matter? Let’s talk about Treize. Where the hell is that dork anyway?”

 “Oh my God….,” Lauren muttered, pointing up the hallway.

 WuFei turned and gasped. “Holy! Ick! Isn’t that Treize? Why is he with a girl?”

 “That’s Ms Walter,” Lauren whispered back. “I thought she was gay too!”

 “This is weird,” said WuFei. “Wait till Zechs hears about this….”

 “Hey, Shell?” Duo began slowly.

 She turned. “Yes Duo?”

 “You’re up on current events, aren’t you? I mean, you seem to know a lot about
the Backstreet Boys and Dawson’s Creek and all kinds of teen things.”

 “I guess so,” she replied. “Why?”

 “I need someone to teach me to be cool,” he admitted dejectedly. “And I don’t
want to chop the braid.”

 She nodded. “That’s my specialty! Come on! We’re going to the mall!”

 Trowa spun. “Who are you?”

 Jackie slapped him.

 “Hi Jackie. I really have to stop sniffing those paints,” he replied, smiling weakly.
 “What did they all you into guidance for?”

 “They wanted to know about my pictures. I think they came to the conclusion that
I’m a troubled artist and nothing to be worried about. After all, this is *our* school. They don’t care too much.”

 Jackie nodded. “I know. Anyway, I was wondering if you could help me with that
photography project. You know, since you’re the only one who can decipher what Mr.
Whatever is talking about.”

 Trowa nodded. “Jackie, I don’t think you’re ready for photography. You seem to
be having a lot of trouble…”

 Jackie sighed. “It’s not my fault! So what do you say? Partners?”

 “Alright. If you tell me which of my pictures looks most practical, I’ll help you with
your project.”

 “Great!” Jackie cried happily.

 “Just pick up some film, some macaroni, and some puffy paint and meet me in
the courtyard.”

 Jackie frowned. She had listened to the entirety of Mr. Whatever’s speech, and while
she didn’t understand a word of it, she certainly didn’t remember anything about puffy
paint. “Ok….”

 “And if you see any coyotes, you can get some of those too,” he added.

 “Quatre wears Armani pants and no one’s shoving him into lockers,” Shell shrugged.

 “Not funny,” he replied. “And besides, you dressed me like James Bond. I don’t
remember any of the kids dressed like James Bond.”

 “Sure there are. They’re just too cool to hang around you,” she replied, enjoying
the sight of a hot guy in a tux.

 “And what about my hair?”

 “Leave it down,” she suggested. “The braid’s too girly.” she yanked the hair elastic
out.

 “It’s all wavy,” he griped.

 Shell giggled.

 “And the guys will stop picking on me?” he asked uncertainly.

 “Oh, I don’t know about that. But the girls will dig it.”

 He raised an eyebrow. “They will?”

 “Well, I am at least.”

 He frowned. “Will the guys stop beating me up?”

 “Oh, oh, God no!” Shell laughed.

 “What? But I said I wanted to fit in! I didn’t want your help just so you could dress
me up and giggle!”

 She sighed. “Alright, alright. Follow me. I’ll make you fit in.”

 Zechs was just about to leave the cafeteria, but he stopped when he saw Lauren
running towards him shouting his name. Everyone stared at her with really weird looks. They must have thought she was screaming something else. “What is it?”

 She was out of breath. “It’s Treize!”

 “What about him?”

 Wu-fei laughed. “Your boyfriend’s flirting with someone else.”

 Zechs shrugged. “He’s entitled.”

 “A woman!” Lauren told him.

 Zechs paled. “A woman?”

 “And a gay butt-ugly one at that,” Wu-fei added.

 Zechs stumbled. Lauren had to hold him up.

 “Zechs?! Are you okay?” she asked.

 Wu-fei laughed.

 “Where is he?” asked Zechs.

 “Come on,” said Lauren, taking him by the hand. “I’ll show you.” They ran out of the
cafeteria.

 “Ooh…” Wu-fei moaned. “Do we have to run everywhere we go?” He followed them.

 “Uh….hello.”

 “Have you seen Quatre?” she asked him.

 “Can you help me?”

 “If it’s about scoring with Lauren, you don’t have to worry. She’s a slut.”

 “Huh? No….I thought you might help me with….uh…*normal* conversation.”

 “Normal conversation?” she questioned, giving him a weird look. “What do you mean?”

 Heero cleared his throat. “Apparently I’m not in on the ‘lingo’,” he said like someone’s father trying to be cool.

 “The lingo?!”

 “Uh…I don’t know what the kids are talking about. I feel lost,” Heero explained. “I
thought maybe you could help me. You seem cool.”

 Michelle smiled. “Thanks. I am cool. Sure I’ll help you, Heero! Now just let me find
Quatre.”

 “So….what do I do with this film, macaroni and puffy paint?”

 “What color puffy paint did you get?”

 “Red,” she told him.

 Trowa nodded. “Red….like blood.” He was drawing another picture, this one of a clown being run over by a big truck. He studied it. “I could do that….all I would have to do is jump out into the street when I see them coming….”

 “Ok, Trowa. But before you kill yourself, tell me what to do for the project.”

 “Now that I’ve told you what you need, isn’t it obvious?”

 “NO!” she exclaimed.

 “Oh. Well…take some pictures, and then get back to me.”

 Jackie sighed and took her camera.

 Trowa shook his head. Then his face lit up. “Hey! What about having a piano fall on me! There’s one in the auditorium….”

 “What do you expect? You’re 5’1 and not even 100 pounds. Besides, that’s the way
people wear them.” Shell put her hands on her hips and grinned at him. “Nice boxers.”

 Duo turned red. “Fine. What about my hair?”

 “Just put it back in a ponytail instead of a braid. Braids are for girls. A ponytail is more acceptable.”

 Duo sighed but did what she said. “Okay, how do I look now?”

 Shell smiled. “Perfect. No one will make fun of you anymore.”

 “I teach photography,” Treize was saying, leaning casually against the wall.

 “He’s so hot,” Lauren and Zechs sighed in unison.

 “Oh please,” Wu-fei muttered.

 “Photography is a confusing art form,” Treize began.

 “Listen, I don’t have time for this,” Ms. Walt interrupted him. She walked away.

 Treize frowned. “Dammit. No one finds me attractive anymore.”

 Lauren pushed Zechs forward.

 “Treize….” said Zechs.

 Treize looked at him in surprise. “Zechs?”

 “Treize….I want to apologize,” Zechs said, stepping forward.

 “Oh? For what?” Treize looked away.

 “You know what for. Treize….I want you back.”

 Treize looked at him hopefully. “For good?”

 Zechs nodded. “I love you, Treize.”

 “And I love you, Zechs.” They hugged.

 “Aw….” Lauren sighed. “Aren’t they cute?”

 “Please excuse me while I throw up,” muttered Wu-fei.

 “Go ahead and kiss!” Lauren encouraged.

 They were about to, but Wu-fei interrupted loudly with, “Ugh! Oh gross! Spare us all
please!”

 Lauren glared at him, and Zechs and Treize looked at him in confusion.

 “That’s it!” Lauren roared, grabbing the Chinese boy by the ear and dragging him into the auditorium.

 “Unhand me, woman!” Wu-fei yelped.

 “No, you’re so mean,” Lauren complained. “Go on that stage and sing. Right now.”

 WuFei frowned. “No. I’m not singing.”

 “Yes you are.”

 He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

 Lauren stepped forward to dwarf him. “SING!”

 “I said no! Are you listening to me, woman? Huh?” he snapped.

 Lauren smacked him.

 WuFei kissed her.

 Shell grinned. “See? Told you!”

 “Hey, how come you’re not dressed strangely anymore?” the kid pressed.

 “Oh, I was just mackin’ ya before,” Duo said with a cocky grin. “Big Pimpin’,” he sang.

 “You like JayZee too?” the kid asked. “Phat! Hey, I’m Homer Wannabe.”

 “Ack!” Shell exclaimed.

 “I’m Du- I mean, MacDaddy,” he said confidently.

 “Wanna walk down the hallway and rap senselessly?” Homer asked.

 Shell shook her head madly and tried to get Duo’s attention.

 “Sure!” Duo said, happily following Homer down the hallway.

 Shell frowned. She had to find Jackie, fast, or Duo would be unrecognizable in mere hours.

 “Are you straight?”

 “Yeah….”

 “Then you hate them. Try saying ‘hey, Eminem is the man, dontcha think’? Then you’ll fit in. And start dressing in Aeropastle.”

 Heero nodded, writing it all down. “And what do I say to girls?”

 “Hmmmm. Nothing. Just sexually harass them,” Michelle ordered.

 “Michelle, that’s not very nice,” Quatre said worriedly.

 Michelle pet him. “That’s cute of you sweetie, but Heero is trying to fit in. He doesn’t want to be a geek like you.”

 Quatre frowned.

 “Just pretend every girl is Relena,” Michelle advised.

 Heero shuddered.

 “I know it’s difficult,” Michelle said sympathetically.

 “Hey, have you guys seen Trowa?” Jackie asked, coming up from behind Michelle. “He mumbled something about ‘just a quick flash of pain and then it will be all over’ and left.” She frowned. “And I need help with my art project!”

 “What’s the assignment?” Michelle asked.

 Jackie shrugged. “As far as I can tell, it has something to do with smothering a photo with puffy paint and macaroni.”

 “Wow, that Mr. Ku-uh, Whatever is pretty existential, huh?” Michelle mused.

 “Yeah, if that means he’s crazy. So have any of you guys  seen him? Heero?”

 “Leave me alone, slut,” Heero said.

 “Heero!” Michelle scolded.

 “But you told me to-"

 “I said treat them like Relena, not act like WuFei!” Michelle insisted.

 “Speaking of WuFei, where did he go? I just saw Zechs and he said he hasn’t been harassed for at least fifteen minutes,” Quatre said worriedly.

 “That’s strange,” Jackie murmured. “And where’s Duo?”

 “Come on! Don’t you know any other raps?” Homer pressed, irritated.

 Duo shook his head nervously.

 “What? You mean you’re not a real brother?” Homer cried in outrage.

 Duo frowned. “Well, neither are you, man. We’re white.”

 Peter mirrored Duo’s frown. “Huh?”

 “Yeah, I know. But believe it.”

 “Get him!” Peter cried to a bunch of onlooking boys. They grinned and began to chase Duo down the hall.

 Lauren yelped in surprise and turned to find Trowa lying on the ground next to a trashed piano.

 “Trowa!” WuFei cried in horror. “What’re you doing here?”

 Trowa stared at the piano, an irritated look on his face. “All that work….I was trying to get this piano to roll off the stage and onto my head, but it missed.”

 “How long have you been standing there?” WuFei asked.

 “I don’t know….twenty minutes?”

 “You mean you watched us the whole time?” Lauren asked in horror.

 Trowa nodded blankly.

 “Uh oh…,” WuFei murmured.

 “Trowa, you’re not going to tell anyone, are you?” Lauren questioned desperately.

 Trowa shrugged.

 “Ack! You can’t!” WuFei snapped.

 “I can’t have people know I like WuFei!” Lauren cried.

 WuFei turned to her. “You mean you like me, slut?”

 “Yeah, in a hateful sort of way,” she shrugged. “And stop calling me slut!” she shoved him into the seats.

 “Ow! Whore!” He groaned. He dragged himself to his feet. “Alright, Trowa. If you don’t tell anyone about our uh, meeting, uh, I’ll….sing a song.”

 Trowa seemed to smile, although with Trowa it’s hard to tell. “You’ll sing, WuFei?”

 WuFei shrugged. “Any song you want.”

 Trowa laughed.

 WuFei and Lauren exchanged looks.

 “Wow, he does laugh,” Lauren commented.

 “Eerie,” WuFei added.

 “Alright,” Trowa agreed. “Sing…. ‘I dreamed a Dream’ from Les Mis.”

 “WHAT!” WuFei cried. “You skinny little bastard! I’ll kill-"

 “WuFei! It’s for the cause,” Lauren reminded him.

 WuFei muttered under his breath. “Alright fine, whore, fine.” he took a deep breath….

 “That’s it! Get him while he’s down!” a homie cried.

 Duo groaned.

 Just as they reached him, Zechs stepped over to them.

 “What’s going on here?” Zechs asked, looming over the students.

 They gazed up at him.

 “Nothing,” Homer replied. “Why do you care?”

 “Well, because if you were going to fight this young man, I just thought you should know that I trained him to fight personally, and the only reason he’s running from you is because he doesn’t want to injure you permanently.”

 Homer snorted. “Yeah sure.”

 “You don’t believe me? Any of you wanna try me?” Zechs questioned.

 Peter shook his head. “No…”

 “Good, Then leave my cafeteria.”

 They did so.

 Duo stood up. “Hey, thanks Zechs. I never thought I’d owe you one.” He rubbed his head.

 “Well there is something you can do for me,” Zechs said hopefully.

 Duo shrugged. “Sure. Whatever you want.”

 “Well Treize and I want to leave early and……”

 “Wow!” Michelle said. “What a voice!”

 “How come he’s not in the drama club?” Shell asked.

 They all peered around to find the source of the loveliness.

 “WuFei!” Heero cried in surprise.

 “Ew!” said Michelle.

 “Ack!” said Jackie.

 “He’s so good,” Quatre commented.

 WuFei stopped mid-note and gazed down from the stage. “Oh crap! You guys didn’t hear that, did you?”

 Heero grinned.

 “Oh no….”

 “WuFei, you’re very talented. You should sing more often,” Quatre complimented him.

 “Shove it, fruit!” WuFei snapped.

 Lauren grinned. “Wow! He’s good at something!”

 WuFei turned bright red.

 “Aw, he’s blushing,” Jackie teased.

 “Stop it! I hate all of you!” WuFei sneered.

 “That’s not very nice, WuFei,” Quatre told him.

 “Let’s all go celebrate WuFei’s talent by getting some frozen yogurt from the cafeteria!” Shell suggested.

 “No! Shut up! I hate you!” WuFei said again.

 Jackie grabbed Trowa by the hair. “What did I say? I said you could kill yourself after you helped me finish the project!”
 “Ow,” said Trowa.

 “Yeah! Let’s go see Zechs!” Lauren said chipperly.

 WuFei nudged her.

 “What?”

 He whispered, “I thought you were my chick.”

 “I can dream,” Lauren muttered.

 WuFei hissed. “Well at least he’s gay-ow!”

 “Shut up!” Lauren cried, smacking him again.

 Oh no! thought Duo. Stupid Zechs and his lousy job!

 “Duo!” Jackie said happily, running up to the counter. “Thank God you’re okay! I thought for sure you’d be a homie by now!”

 Duo shrugged shyly.

 “What are you doing here? Where’s Zechs?” Lauren asked, clearly disappointed.

 Duo scowled, “Him and Treize went off together.”

 WuFei snickered.

 Lauren smacked him.

 “Ow! I’m getting bruises you know! You’re beating up sophomores!”

 Lauren smacked him again.

 “Can I have a frozen yogurt, lunchlady Duo?” WuFei asked. “Maybe I can use it as an icepack.”

 Duo narrowed his eyes. “I hate you, WuFei.”

 “Just do your job.”

 “I learned the lingo,” Heero said proudly.

 “What did I say about that word?” Michelle warned.

 “Uh…shut up whore!” Heero replied.

 Michelle smacked her forehead. “No! Stop acting like WuFei!”

 WuFei snickered.

 Lauren smacked him.

 “Ow! Getting old!”

 Lauren snickered.

 WuFei took a bite of his frozen yogurt. “Uh- ew!This is disgusting!” he cried in indignation. He removed a three foot long strand of chestnut hair from his yogurt.

“What the hell is this? This place is so unsanitary!”

 Duo’s eyes darted back and forth. “Uh….what makes you think that’s mine?”

 “It’s three feet long you stupid twit! Can’t you cafeteria losers cut your hair like normal people? You make me sick!”

 “I’m wearing a hairnet,” he said weakly. “Maybe it’s yours.”

 WuFei’s face seemed to be getting redder.

 “Uh, WuFei, let’s go find a table,” Lauren suggested, giving Duo a quick smile and steering the furious Chinese boy away.

 “Does anyone else want yogurt?” Duo asked, blushing.

 “Uh….no….thanks,” said Jackie. “I need to finish the art project.” She grabbed Trowa by the hair and started dragging him towards the table.

 “But I wanted yogurt,” he protested weakly.

 “Uh, yeah we have work to do,” Quatre said apologetically, leading Michelle and Heero away.

 “Aw, don’t leave me here!” Duo called. “Stupid Zechs!”

 “Ow! Harder! And against a wall!” he suggested.

 “How do I do this project!” she pressed.

 Suddenly Treize appeared from lunchline with a cup of yogurt.

 The table shuddered. (Because of the yogurt, not Treize)

 “Hello Jackie,” he said. he pointed at WuFei’s discarded yogurt. “Great project.”

 He walked away.

 Jackie frowned. “What?”

 “Hey, great job,” Trowa added, staring at the yogurt.

 “But this has nothing to do with photography, puffy paint, or macaroni!”

 “Yes it does,” Trowa replied.

 Jackie slammed her face onto the table top. “I’m not asking.”

 “Shut up whore!” said Heero.

 “I agree!” said Wufei.

 They high fived each other.

 WuFei shifted his chair away from Lauren warily.

 “So how’s everyone’s year going?” Michelle asked.

 “At least I’m cool,” WuFei offered.

“It’s not so bad,” said Quatre.

 “I hate this school!” cried Duo.

 And once again, the girls all agreed with Duo.