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Friday the Thirteenth by AngelMoon Girl

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~Friday the Thirteenth~

Chapter 3: "Not Quite Armageddon"

Usagi slunk in the door just before dinner, dragging her heels and pouting all the way.

'They could have at least *tried* to be sympathetic to my situation! I needed *advice*, not to be laughed at!' she brooded. 'Some friends I have...'

The blonde deposited her book-bag and shoes haphazardly on the floor, then eased her feet into comfy pink slippers. Tsukino Ikuko peeked her head around the kitchen doorway, steaming bowl of yakisoba in hand. "Oh, Usagi dear, how did it go?"

Usagi started, yanked from reverie by the query. "Eh, what?"

Ikuko sighed, perseverating, "How did it go? Did you accept Fumara-chan's offer? Honestly, Usagi, sometimes you're floating in a cloud."

"Oh. Yeah. Me and... um... one of her coworkers are watching Koto-chan tomorrow night."

"That's good. I'm very glad you didn't let Fumara-chan down... Dinner will be on the table in a few."

The prospect of food seemed to cheer the sullen fourteen-year-old up instantly. She relaxed, letting a brilliant grin overtake her countenance. All thoughts of Mamoru-baka and childcare worries fled Usagi's mind, and she bounced blithely into the living room to greet Papa and Shingo.

oOo

The mood, unfortunately, didn't persist into the morrow. Usagi woke up feeling worse than ever, and seriously considered feigning illness. Forget butterflies- this was utter and painful *dread* gnawing holes into her stomach. For perhaps the first time in her life, she didn't feel hungry. The blonde groaned, throwing the blanket back over her disheveled form. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for an apocalypse.

"Usagi-chaaaan," a sing-song voice purred, and aforementioned Odango Atama felt paws pressing threateningly into her side. Maybe not the Armageddon per say, but... close enough. Usagi knew all too well that if she didn't respond in approximately five seconds, sharp claws would protract and pierce her delicate skin. And that was *never* a fun way to approach one's doom.

"I'm up, I'm up," the Senshi leader mumbled, disentangling herself from sanctuary. Blearily, she sat up and glared at Luna disdainfully. "Watch where you decide to stick those things. If you're not careful, you could end up seriously damaging a vital organ."

Luna smirked rather smugly. "Then I suppose you should make a habit of this, and I won't have to. But I confess myself surprised; only seven o'clock and and you're actually cogent."

Usagi grimaced. "It's going to be an eventful day. I have a lot on my mind."

"So I've heard," Luna chirped, leaping nimbly from the crescent moon-adorned coverlet onto the floor. She began tugging out her charge's school uniform, as was their daily ritual. But of course, today seemed hardly normal. Most mornings saw Usagi dozing until five minutes before eight, then rushing half-asleep out the door to the nags of first Luna, then her mother.

Usagi rolled her cerulean eyes heavenward in exasperation. "That Minako-chan's such a gossiper. I take it Artemis told you?"

"How on earth did you guess," Luna teased, sarcasm lacing her gibe. "Now hurry up, before you waste this little miracle of mine and arrive late."

Usagi made a face at the black cat, shirking off her flannel shirt and pants. "Keep an attitude like that, and maybe I'll be tardy just to spite you."

"Don't test your luck, Usagi-chan."

"Yes, m'am."

Impalement by feline claws really did hurt.

oOo

By some combination of dumb luck, unfortunate coincidence, and perhaps an overly large sprinkling of irony, Usagi met a roadblock in the name of Chiba Mamoru. He seemed taken aback at her presence as she reeled, dazed, after the impact.

"Odango... Fifteen minutes to eight? Is this some new record?"

Usagi knew she was tempting fate, and the wrath of Luna, but she couldn't help herself. When this guy insulted her, the world went red. So who cared if she was late? There was dignity to uphold here!

"Oooh, you jerk!" the teen fumed, hands unconsciously planting themselves on her hips. She'd give him a piece of her mind! "What are you, some pedophile? How the hell do YOU know when my school starts? Do you *wait* for me on this corner, or something?"

"I have better things to do than stalk a street corner, awaiting your oh-so-joyful presence," the ebony-headed college student sneered. Yet, despite his derision, Usagi could have sworn she caught a glimpse of some... foreign emotion... lurking in those beaut- ah, *ordinary* blue eyes. Ordinary. *Ordinary*. Can't forget that. "Besides, Odango... I may be in college, but back in the day I used to attend Juuban Junior High too."

Usagi thoroughly debated what comeback to use, but came up with nothing suitable. When words fail, work the infamous Tsukino glare!

"Scary, Odango."

"Hmpf! I have nothing more to say to you, baka! You're going to make me late!" And on that final note, Usagi stomped off.

Oh yes, they were *definitely* going to kill each other tonight.

'But... why didn't he mention our babysitting together?' Usagi wondered, chancing a sidelong glance at the bane of her existence, still haunting that darn corner. She blushed when realizing he was staring at her retreating back, and hastened her pace to put some distance between them. 'Creep...'

Then she gasped, stopping right in the middle of the sidewalk as revelation dawned. "He... he doesn't know, does he?"

Usagi swirled on her foot and really did look backward this time. Even yards away, his midnight depths connected with her softer hue. She scowled as he cocked a brow and started laughing, probably betting on her sanity. 'Early to school, then having a staring contest with my sworn nemesis from across the street?' Oh, something was *definitely* wrong with her today.

And, terrifying as it was, the reason lay smack dab in her field of vision, still chuckling up a storm as he turned tail and strutted off to who-knew-where.

oOo

"Oh damn," Usagi cursed, listening as the school bell tolled eight... with she still a few inches to go before reaching the front door. 'I knew I shouldn't have stopped to chat with Mamoru-baka... I knew it, I knew it, I knew! The guy is going to drive me into an early grave!'

Well... maybe more like out of school. But it wasn't as though that would be much different. Ikuko would skin her daughter alive, bare-handed, if Usagi did end up flunking out. And that wasn't even taking into consideration what Luna might resort to. Forget claws- cat teeth ('fangs', Usagi's morbid brain supplied helpfully) could slice through any Senshi-born pain threshold!

With no desire whatsoever to go sprinting down hallways ('what's the point?'), Usagi meandered lazily about the school until she reached Ms. Haruna's classroom, moping on the possible consequences of her tardiness.

'Best not delay the inevitable...'

With a gigantic breath, Usagi flung open the door and exclaimed her usual, "Haruna-sensei, I'm so sorry, my cat forgot to wake me up!" while bowing repeatedly.

The class erupted in howls of laughter... all except for two. Ami eyed her scatter-brained friend with a mixture of remorse and humor, wearing an expression that clearly stated 'Usagi-you-need-to-gain-more-responsibility'. Makoto just grinned, winking sympathetically. Obviously, she knew an inkling of the horrors one had to endure with a cat that liked to nag. Usagi winked back, then sidled inconspiciously into her seat. Ms. Haruna decided to ignore her delinquent student; after all, a few minutes after the bell was an almost laudable feat in the case of Tsukino Usagi. Without any more ado, the auburn-haired teacher delved into her lesson and Usagi into her rejuvenating nap she blamed Mamoru-baka for needing. If it wasn't for him, she'd have been early. If it wasn't for him, she'd have gotten more sleep this morning. If it wasn't for him... hell, the world would be a better place!

And, if it wasn't for him, Usagi wouldn't be sporting the goofy smile currently stretching the circumference of her face.

Stupid Mamoru-baka.

TBC

~Please review!
AngelMoon Girl

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