Leave Me Breathless     by Hikari-chan

Disclaimer: *insert standard disclaimer song here*

AN: My English ISP presentation went as planned, so Iīm in a relatively good mood, hence Iīm posting early. ^^ I think itīd also be good news for some of you to know that while I was talking to Sere-kun yesterday night on AIM, she got rid of my writerīs block for Silent Waltz. I expect a new chapter when March Break rolls around. Then I can sit down and write.

Vixen: *hugs* Thanks for the wonderful review. Actually, Iīd much rather be doing biology than English. =\ Iīm a science nerd. Oh well, theyīre both done now. Iīm happy.

the Desert Fox: Well, I like Setsuna and Michiru and Haruka. I just donīt think I can reasonably give them a big role in the fic. But now that youīve mentioned it, I might be able to stick Setsuna in. ^^

Haruka-hime: Bubbly is good. One of my best friends is very bubbly. ^_~

Lilaclight: Donīt ask me why, but I thought your review was hilarious. I actually donīt know if the ball will have some importance, but youīre right when you say the cast and crew will be assembled. *shrugs* The storyīs starting to write itself, so I donīt even know. -.-;;;;

dreamertwin: *huggles* I hope you do well on your reports. ^^

Blonde Satan: XD As badly as you need oxygen? LOL.

Usagi Asia Maxwell: No, Iīm not that good. I write whatever I like whenever I like, so thatīs sort of bad. I havenīt updated in forever and a decade for all my other fics.

Crazygurl70: Schu-Schu-chan? Well, it wasnīt what I had in mind when I was writing this, but I like him too, so that canīt be bad. ^^

SilverRay-chan: *tackle glomp* Youīre alive! LOL! Wufeiīs not scatterbrained; heīs just confused. XD

kimeno-pebols: Iīm glad you liked HBAM. I was this close to just leaving the completed fic on my hard drive. SilverRay et. al. convinced me otherwise.

fireangel: Do you really not know? Or were you trying to be sarcastic? O.o

Sunshine Fia: I get them from various places. Some are from my head, others are lines my friends have used before. (Having really sarcastic friends help sometimes. =P) Yet more are random lines from books Iīve read or modified from fics Iīve read. Iīm running out of sources. LOL.

Raye: Heero lives in the building. ^^;;;;

Minna-san: Thanks again for all your reviews. I love hearing from you, and reading your comments made me smile through my very hard week of work (which has actually not yet ended). To those who wished me luck on my schoolwork, I thank you again. So far, itīs been good, and I hope you do well on yours as well.

On to the fic. . . .

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Chapter 9 – Coffee and Cappuccino

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Usagiīs head snapped up at the familiar voice and nickname. Quickly, she looked at the doorway to find Heero leaning casually against the frame of the door, his hair falling almost boyishly into those eyes that were slowly drinking in the sight of her. She shifted a little uncomfortably in her chair. At least the gray dress pants and melon green shirt didnīt leave her feeling more bare than she really was.

"Um. . .what are you still doing here?" she managed stutter, wringing her hands nervously in her lap. This was the first time she had seen him since the incident in his office, and it certainly wasnīt helping that they were alone in the entire building.

"I could ask you the same," he replied, not moving from the doorway.

"Iīm just finishing up something for your new security system," Usagi answered. If she kept talking about the job, then maybe they could avoid all personal issues.

"I didnīt know Trowa kept his workers in till after nine," Heero remarked.

"Oh, he doesnīt!" Usagi quickly defended her supervisor. "Heīs very helpful and very nice. He told me to leave, but I wanted to finish this."

"Iīm glad you have such a high opinion of him," Heero replied darkly.

Usagi blinked. She could almost swear he was unhappy with her enjoyment of her current job. There was something seriously wrong with the man. He gave her the job, after all. Why would it matter whether or not she liked it as long as she did her work?

Deciding to change the subject, she repeated her question. "What are you doing here, Mr. Yuy?"

"Seeing which of my scatterbrained workers left the light on in the lab and is currently piling up the electric bill," Heero answered. He removed himself from the doorway and walked towards her. "But seeing itīs you, chibi-chan, and since youīre working so diligently, Iīll forgive and forget."

Usagi wasnīt quite sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. She supposed it was good since he wasnīt mad that she was making the monthly electric bill more expensive for him. She noticed that he was approaching her work station, and she fought not to stand up and run away. He looked normal enough. Then again. . . .

"Wait!" she stopped him in his tracks, one eyebrow raised at her. "What did you have for breakfast this morning?"

His eyes laughed at her, but he somehow managed to make his voice as serious as hers. "I had an apple and a cup of coffee," he answered. "Do I pass, Miss Health Inspector?"

"Coffee is bad for you, and Iīm not sure what it does to your mental state," Usagi replied cautiously.

"Iīm only trying to see what youīve written for my security system," Heero responded dryly. "If it helps your state of mind, chibi-chan, I promise not to ravish you."

Usagi flushed, and she could almost hear him smirk as she looked away. His footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent room, and stopped once he reached her. He skimmed the coding that she had thus far from over her shoulder, and Usagi could feel her heart thump loudly because of their proximity.

"Right here," Heero muttered, pointing to something on the screen and making Usagi jump a bit at his sudden comment. "It wonīt work. Someone can override the password system just by jamming it with random letters very quickly."

"How do you know?" Usagi asked, examining her work and momentarily forgetting who she was talking to.

"Not all my secretaries knew how to use a computer," he replied flatly. "She ran into my office saying that the computer had crashed and was doing strange things."

"Like?" Usagi prompted.

"Giving her access to the accounting departmentīs books and the legal departmentīs confidential files," Heero stated wryly. "Not that she knew or ever figured it out."

"Did you fire her?" Usagi asked, trying to hold back her giggles.

"She quit," Heero replied, "after claiming that the computer attacked her while she was working."

Usagi bit her lip. "How did Miss Une ever ended up selecting her for the position?" she continued.

"Because she had coffee that morning?" Heero suggested, raising a mocking eyebrow at Usagi. "Wufei and Trowa had a field day with it."

"I would too," Usagi laughed. "I canīt believe this. How many secretaries have you had?"

Heero shrugged. "Ask Wufei. He has a tally of them and how long they stayed," he admitted.

"Because he wants to see which one would be good if he ever wanted to break into the central computer?" Usagi joked.

Heero gave a small smile. "Because he and my other department heads donīt have a life and bet on how long each one lasts," he deadpanned.

Usagi laughed again, and Heero reveled in the musical sound that rang through the room. "What were the bets on me?" she asked with a smile.

"Shortest was three hours. Longest was six weeks. But yours didnīt count, because you didnīt quit, so the betting on that one was declared void," Heero explained with a shrug.

"I feel so special," Usagi commented sarcastically.

Heero flashed her another smile, and Usagi suddenly felt as though the room had become smaller. Even though she hadnīt known him for very long, she still knew that his smiles were very rare. And to see his eyes soften when he looked at her made her feel like a deer caught in headlights.

"Should I hope," he suddenly started, "that this friendly conversation means youīve forgiven me, chibi-chan?"

"I. . .I donīt know," Usagi admitted softly.

"Iīll take that as a yes," he replied.

"Feel free to ask," Usagi answered, rolling her eyes.

"I will, then," Heero said with a smirk. "Are you free tomorrow night, chibi-chan?"

"No, Iīm meeting with Ami," Usagi responded. She quickly made a note to change the coding, then saved and turned off the computer. "Thatīs Mr. Changīs wife, in case youīve forgotten."

"I havenīt gotten forgetful yet, despite my age," Heero replied wryly. "And sheīs not free tomorrow night."

"How would you know?" Usagi retorted, grabbing her purse to check if anyone called her cell phone. "Do you have a date with her?"

"If I said yes, would you be jealous?" Heero mocked, looking over her shoulder to see what she was doing.

"Yes, of you, because Ami promised me the day already," Usagi bit out, glaring at him briefly before looking back at the phone. "Nine missed calls?" she spoke aloud.

"Iīd hate to be the one with an emergency trying to reach you," Heero stated flatly.

"If you were the one with the emergency trying to reach me, Iīd throw the phone into the nearest body of water," Usagi retorted.

"What would that be? Your sink?" Heero teased. "Who tried to call you nine times?"

"I donīt know, but my guess is Mr. Maxwell," Usagi replied. "Heīs been calling non-stop all week."

Heeroīs face suddenly darkened. He snatched the phone from her and started to press buttons on it. This new fact was not going over well with him. He didnīt know how the actor got Usagiīs cell phone number, but he wasnīt pleased with it. Why? He didnīt really know himself. He just knew that the thought of another man with her made him want to hurl the next thing he came across out the window.

"Hey!" Usagi protested, trying to take back what was hers. "Havenīt you ever heard of asking?"

"Iīve seen it in the dictionary," Heero replied, turning his cold eyes at her.

Usagi suddenly took a good three steps back. She recognized that look. It was the same one that he had when he practically attacked her. Cold fear griped her, and as though he sensed her change in emotion, his eyes slowly lost their glowing edge.

"I donīt like him," he stated plainly, giving the phone back to her.

Tentatively, she reached out and took it back, keeping an eye on him the entire time. "I never would have figured it out," she retorted, turning the little device in her hands over and over again. "What did you do to it?"

He shrugged. "I blocked off his number," he answered.

"Thatīs horrible!" Usagi replied. "Tell me how to fix it."

"Iīm so glad you asked," Heero responded, throwing her words back at her. "Arenīt you smart enough to figure this out?"

"I havenīt tinkered with this yet. Itīs the first time Iīve ever had a cell phone," she admitted. "And Minako said that if I broke it or took this apart, sheīs not getting me another one."

Heero raised an eyebrow at her. "Take it apart," he stated with a shrug. "Youīll learn something from it. Iīll get you a new one."

Usagi blinked and looked up at him. Heero stared back levelly, and she narrowed her eyes in return. "Whatīs the catch?" she asked.

Heeroīs lips twitched, then he pointed to the wall clock behind her. "You let me take you home. Itīs past ten, chibi-chan," he said.

Usagi looked between Heero, the clock, and the dark sky outside. He looked back at her with amusement in his eyes. "Iīm not going to eat you," he commented dryly.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly nodded and let him guide her out of the lab, turning the lights off on their way out.

~*~*~*~*~

"What do you mean, she wonīt answer the phone?" Minako asked into the receiver as she flipped through a fashion magazine.

"Her answering machine picks it up at home, and she wonīt answer her cell phone," Duoīs voice replied from the other side.

Minako sighed. "I canīt believe she turned you down for tomorrowīs ball," she stated. "I donīt know what my sisterīs thinking sometimes."

"Minako, do you think thereīs something about me she doesnīt like?" Duo asked.

"Whatīs there not to like?" Minako replied. "Youīre hot, friendly, funny, cheery, caring, and the list goes on, Duo. I just think my sister is being stubborn. Maybe she likes you but she doesnīt know it."

"You think so?" Duo questioned hopefully.

"Of course! But that aside, we have to work out the arrangements for tomorrow," Minako said decisively. "I mean, since she wonīt go with you, that means sheīs coming with me. But I invited Rei already, and you know itīs one guest per person. So that leaves you to escort Rei."

If Minako could have seen the look on Duoīs face, she would have noticed the change in colour. He had gone a few shades paler. "You want me to escort your friend?" he squeaked out, remembering the few experiences heīs had with the raven-haired woman.

"Donīt worry, Duo," Minako assured him. "Weīll all go together anyways, so itīll be like youīre with Usagi. Just come pick us up at our place at six tomorrow night. Iīll call up Usa and convince her."

"Okay," Duo agreed.

"I just thought of something," Minako suddenly put in. "Why donīt you visit her at work on Monday? You can invite her to lunch or something."

Duoīs voice brightened. "Thatīs a great idea, Minako!" he exclaimed. "What would I do without you?"

Minako giggled. Her mood was suddenly a lot lighter. She proceeded to chat with Duo about her escapades for the day and the photographerīs funny moustache and horrible accent. Duo laughed with her and added his comments on her stories.

When Rei came in half an hour later from an errand for tomorrowīs ball, she found Minako on the phone, laughing as though she was insane and talking non-stop. She decided that her roommate probably had too much ice-cream for dessert, then went to her own room to sort through her tumbled thoughts regarding her boss and the woman who was slowly becoming her friend. Rei flopped down on her bed, not even bothering to put away the new accessories she bought to go with her dress for tomorrow.

Makoto was cheerful and full of stories to tell about France. Today, she had invited Rei and Quatre to lunch at her newly opened restaurant. As the woman ran back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, both Rei and her boss had found Makotoīs antics amusing. They had ended up chatting about various subjects, ranging from Makotoīs restaurant to their co-workers. Rei had realized when Makoto had joined them later that she personified everything a man would want in a woman. She was nice; she was friendly; she was athletic; she could cook; she could clean; she could tell amusing stories and jokes, and the list went on.

Rei was slowly finding out that she couldnīt compare to who she now knew as Mr. Winnerīs girlfriend. Then again, why did it matter so much? She had even acknowledged it as perfectly normal. Plus, Makoto was possibly one of the nicest women she had ever met. So why did it hurt?

~*~*~*~*~

"This is it?" Heero asked softly as he pulled the black Porsche into the circular driveway outside the apartment building.

"Yea," Usagi replied. The entire ride there had been silent, and it had been a strange experience, since the two of them had never been able to stop arguing before. Then again, it hadnīt been uncomfortable. It had just been. . . weird. "Thank you."

"Donīt get lost on your way up, child," he mocked her, unlocking the doors.

Usagi rolled her eyes. Fine, if he wanted a child, then sheīll be a child. "Yes, your lordship," she answered with her usual sarcasm, then stuck out her tongue at him.

Heeroīs eyes darkened as the little pink tongue flashed his way. "You could put that tongue to better use," he suggested, leaning across the space that separated them.

"Oh yes, like getting it stuck to ice when I tried to lick it as a kid," Usagi replied dryly.

Heero chuckled, then reached up to cup her face in his hands. "Not exactly what I had in mind," he murmured.

Alarm bells rang off in Usagiīs head. She knew he wanted to kiss her. She knew he was going to, but for some reason, she stayed frozen to the spot. He captured her lips with his, and Usagiīs eyes slowly fluttered close. His lips moved over hers gently, molding the softness of her lips to his. Usagi found herself kissing back a little uncertainly. Compared to every other woman heīs probably kissed before, she really was just a child. But Heero didnīt seem to mind. He guided her and coaxed her to be more bold with her explorations. When their kiss finally broke, her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was laboured.

"Why do you always do this to me?" she whispered, looking up at him.

He pecked her lips again before replying, "Do what?"

"This," Usagi repeated, indicating their positions.

Heero gave her a mocking smirk. "Kiss you?" At her nod, he shrugged. "Because I want to."

His apparent indifference annoyed her, and his egotistical outlook that he could do whatever he felt like irritated her even more. But her anger was directed to herself. She had done nothing to stop him, and this was the second time he had kissed her, not counting the unpleasant ones. "Iīm so glad I can amuse you," she retorted, pulling away from him.

"You amuse me more than you realize, chibi-chan," Heero replied. "Youīd better get some sleep. Sweet dreams."

Usagi glared at him. "I hope you have nightmares for the rest of your life," she bit out, getting out of the car and slamming the door shut.

Heero watched her as she disappeared into the building. Yes, she amused him with her antics and comments more than she realized. But she most definitely did not amuse him when they kissed. It took every ounce of his control just to remember that she wasnīt the same as all those other women. They had all come willingly, and would probably seduce him to bed if he had been even a little unwilling. Usagi was different. He was chasing her, and if he moved too fast, she was going to run even further away, so he had to move slowly. However, it was getting harder and harder to slow down. Every time they touched, it made his blood boil with desire. He wanted her, badly.

Sighing, he turned back to the office. If she was meeting Ami tomorrow, that means she would probably turn up at the ball. The fact that heīll see her not even twenty-four hours from now lightened his mood. Mentally, he made a note to see a psychiatrist. Ever since she stepped into his life, he had been doing things that even he himself couldnīt explain, and the fact that this didnīt bother his state of mind was becoming disturbing.

~*~*~*~*~

Usagi awoke to the shrill ringing of the phone by her night table. Warily, she opened one eyelid to catch the time on the clock. It was seven in the morning. She growled and proceeded to glare at the phone. If it was Mr. Maxwell, she would personally strangle him.

She picked up the phone. "Hello," she muttered groggily.

"Girl, where were you last night?!" came the exasperated voice of her sister. "I tried to call you and you werenīt home."

"Iīm sorry I didnīt give you a schedule of my whereabouts for the day," Usagi replied, flopping back into bed and rolling her eyes.

She could hear Minako huffing on the other side at her usual sarcasm. "Well, good morning to you too," she grumbled.

"I fell asleep when dawn was breaking, Minako, so itīs not morning until I say so," Usagi growled out, rolling over underneath the covers.

"Oh?" Now Minako sounded interested. "Where were you last night again?"

"I got in at ten-thirty, mother," Usagi replied. "I just couldnīt fall asleep, and before you ask why, Iīm not telling you."

"Youīre mean, Usa," she could almost hear Minako pouting on the other side.

"If you agree with that, raise your hand or say ‘ayī," Usagi mumbled in return.

"Ay," was Minakoīs reply.

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Now tell me why youīre calling me in the ungodly hours of a Saturday," she stated, changing the subject.

"Iīm glad you asked," Minako answered proudly. "Thereīs a charity ball tonight, and itīs going to be a lot of fun, and you know you want to come with Rei and me."

"I have plans with Ami," Usagi grumbled. She knew that this was probably another attempt on Minakoīs part to set her up with Mr. Maxwell. Most of the invitations for balls allowed for only one guest, so it would be convenient for Minako to get her escorted by Mr. Maxwell.

"Ami who?" Minako asked, sounding almost panicky. "Usa, you have to come!"

"Ami, my best friend other than Hotaru. That Ami, the one who was student council president and valedictorian the year you graduated," Usagi informed her, rubbing her eyes. There was no way she would be able to go back to sleep.

"Oh, her," Minako replied. "I remember her. She was the brain, or the nerd. I still donīt understand how the two of you became such good friends."

"I was also a brain, or a nerd, as you often reminded me back in those days," Usagi commented flatly. "Anyways, Iīm not going with you, so Mr. Maxwell will just have to be happy with escorting you."

"Howīd you know? I didnīt say anything about Duo!" Minako exclaimed, and Usagi could hear Reiīs "I told you sheīd figure it out" in the background.

"It was a lucky guess after he called me numerous times despite the fact that I never gave him my phone number," Usagi responded, her tone of voice obviously not amused.

"Oh," was Minakoīs reply, followed by a nervous giggle. "Well, you have to admit heīs nice, and heīs trying really hard, and heīs willing to go to all kinds of length just to go out with you. Why wonīt you give him chance?"

"Why donīt you?" Usagi quipped, tossing the covers aside and getting out of bed. She glanced in the mirror and made a face. She looked like she had been run over by a truck. Ami would have to be the best make-up artist in the world to make her look presentable at whatever social gathering she planned to take her to tonight.

"What do you mean, why donīt I?" Minako sounded confused. "Of course I give him a chance. He would be my best friend if it wasnīt for Rei."

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Never mind," she muttered. "Listen, you really need a boyfriend yourself, preferably one thatīll keep you out of my love life, or lack thereof."

"If you gave Duo a chance, youīd have a love life!" Minako argued.

"If I gave every man I met a chance, Iīd eventually have a love life," Usagi pointed out. "Iīm in Tokyo because of work, remember?"

"Sure," Minako drawled. "Thatīs why you were flirting with Mr. Yuy the first time we went to the Stone party, right? Speaking of Mr. Yuy, what do you do in his office?"

Usagi blushed hotly and sank weakly into the nearest chair. Minakoīs question had carried a suggestive tone, but Usagi knew that her sister was just making fun of her. Minako didnīt really know what had happened in his office, or when he took her home last night. The memory of their kiss had burned brightly in her mind, and she hadnīt been able to stop the automatic replay in her head until the breaking of dawn. The feel of his lips moving over hers, the warmth of his arms, the security she felt, the commanding aura – she just couldnīt stop the skip of her heart when she remembered them.

"Usa?" Minako prompted, sounding a little worried. It wasnīt like her sister to have nothing to say. "Nothing bad happened right?"

"Of course not!" Usagi amended quickly. The last thing she wanted was for her sister to find out. She didnīt want to have a daydreaming Minako or a huge amount of gossip out there about her and Mr. Yuy. She knew her sister wouldnīt be able to keep her mouth shut, and the media was unforgiving when it came to news about its cityīs most eligible bachelor. "He switched me to the research department and I havenīt seen him very much," she added casually. "Besides, heīs irritating."

Minako laughed. "Thatīs a compliment compared to what Rei used to say about him," she joked.

Usagi smiled weakly, even though her sister couldnīt see her. "Anyways, Minako, Iīm sorry I canīt go. I have to get ready for lunch with Ami," she said, effectively ending their conversation even though she could still hear Minakoīs complaints as she hung up.

Sighing, she laid back in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was so confused with her own situation. Why didnīt Mr. Maxwell understand that she didnīt like him back? Still, at least he was easy to read. The person she really didnīt understand was Mr. Yuy. He was warm one minute, and then he was cold. She couldnīt imagine him wanting to date someone like her, but there seems to be some physical attraction between them. Then again, she had never been so shallow. To be honest, Mr. Maxwell wasnīt bad looking either. She groaned at the long chain of thoughts and got up for the second time that day.

Why did men exist at all?

~*~*~*~*~

"Ami!" Usagi called out joyously as she ran towards her friend, who was waiting for her in the lobby of the restaurant.

The two women hugged tightly, and people around them smiled at the reunion they witnessed. They chatted non-stop about everything and anything as they settled down to their reserved seats in the restaurant.

"Youīve grown up, Usagi," Ami commented, flipping through the menu.

"Oh yes, if a quarter of an inch since the last time you saw me counts as growing up," Usagi laughed.

Ami smiled. "Perhaps itīs better to say that youīve matured," she corrected herself.

Usagi raised an eyebrow. "Ames, please, that sounds like something my grandmother would say to me," she replied with a laugh.

Ami laughed along. After placing their orders, she proceeded to ask about Usagiīs final years in university. The conversation carried on about friends and professors until both women were laughing at a ridiculous comment Usagi remembered her physics teacher made about the relationship between obesity and roller coasters.

Lunch was eaten and one the waiters came to ask if they would like any beverages. Usagi yawned and smiled sleepily at Ami, who looked at her with concern.

"Are you okay, Usa?" she asked, going into doctor mode.

"If itīs possible for the human body to run on lack of sleep, then Iīm perfectly healthy," Usagi replied.

Ami blinked, then turned to the waiter and ordered two cappuccino.

"Ames, I donīt like coffee," Usagi protested.

"I admit that itīs not healthy, but itīll keep you awake for now," Ami responded. "I donīt want you falling asleep at the ball tonight. I want you to have fun, and as long as you donīt get addicted and get enough sleep tonight, itīll be alright."

"Thanks for the health lesson, Ames," Usagi commented with a giggle, "but I just donīt like the taste of coffee."

Ami blushed. "Cappuccinoīs not bad, Usagi," she stated. "If you donīt like it, then you can order something else."

"And you can have twice as much and stay up until the sun comes up tomorrow morning," Usagi laughed.

Ami giggled, then Usagi asked about her life and work, which launched the conversation into their current careers as they sipped their drinks. As Usagi finished telling her friend the simplified version of her stay at Aegis, Ami suddenly cried out, "Itīs you!"

Usagi raised an eyebrow. "I should hope so," she giggled. "Otherwise, who else did you talk to for an hour and a half?"

Ami flushed. "No, no, I mean the person Wufei was talking about was you," she amended.

"He talked about me?" Usagi questioned, suddenly wondering just how much the Chinese man had told his wife about the circumstances under which they had met.

"He didnīt tell me your name, but he said there was a new woman in the office that makes Heero act unusual," Ami explained.

"Um. . .maybe heīs just ill," Usagi stuttered, staring into the depth of her cappuccino with great interest.

"Wufei swears that man is immune to all illnesses," Ami replied with a shrug. "Maybe he likes you."

"And Iīm a hippopotamus," Usagi bit out sarcastically. "Really, Ames, thatīs something I expect to hear from Minako."

Ami stared at her best friend levelly, then decided that the matter was not worth arguing over. Her husband knew Heero well, and if he said Heero was acting strangely, then there was something very odd going on. And Heero Yuy looking at a serious relationship would be classified as odd. Oh well, things will play out on their own. "Fine, donīt believe me, Usagi," she responded, finishing up her cappuccino. "Heīll be there tonight, so weīll see what happens between you and him."

Usagi slumped back in her seat in a mixture of fatigue and disbelief. "What am I? Your source of amusement? And what do you mean heīll be there tonight?" she asked.

Ami grinned almost evilly, and Usagi suddenly decided that her friend loosening up might not be such a good thing after all. "I told you I was hosting it when we talked on the phone," she reminded Usagi nonchalantly. "You donīt really expect me to forget inviting one of my husbandīs best friends, do you?"

"Yes," Usagi groaned. "I was hoping youīll forget his existence all together." She sure as hell wish she could.

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End of Chapter 9.

Tidbit: The physics comment about obesity and roller coasters was something my physics teacher said in class. The conversation between him, my friend, and me went something like this:
Teacher: So what would you say is a reasonable mass for a person riding a roller coaster? 150kg?
Me: O.o
Friend: O.o Thatīs like. . . 300 pounds!
Me: The guy would take up two seats in the car. . . .
Teacher: So what, fat people canīt ride roller coasters?
Me: ^^;;;;;;
Friend: ^^;;;;;;

AN: Again, just thought you might be interested in the weird things in my life. ^^;;; Iīm off to finish my calculus homework. I hate integration. Please review!