Subjects of My Sanity - Part 7 by Terrasa
Standard disclaimers apply

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~Subject: Trowa Barton~

It was after school that ‘another’ strange occurrence happened. And I say ‘another’ because, truthfully, strange things have been happening a lot lately.

I was following Duo to the old restaurant, like I had the day before. In fact, I had followed him around for most of the school day. It was very amusing watching him try and avoid me like the plague. Of course, he only succeeded in exhausting himself as well as me. If this happened everyday I think I might get sick… or get in really good shape. Both of which might not bother me that much, since sickness is an excuse to cut class, and getting in shape would ensure catching up with the always bolting Duo.

Quatre was skipping along beside Duo, he seemed really happy about something. Maybe it was about going to the diner? Who knows? I have yet to analyze more of his behaviors. Wufei was dragging behind, looking thoroughly pissed off about going. I really don’t see why he was going through all the trouble if he had better things to do… it didn’t make much sense to me. Maybe he actually wanted to go but was too… stubborn to show it.

As we were walking away from the school, not quite out of the grounds, a boy ran straight into Duo. I saw it coming way ahead of time, of course, but neglected to warn the clueless Duo. Both fell to the ground and, after several curses from Duo, the boy I now recognized to be the Japanese boy in my first hour class, jumped up, looking in the direction of the school quickly.

“Trowa! Hide me!” That was all I heard before the boy ran up to me, grabbing my shoulders in order to ‘hide’ behind me.

How did he know my name?

I was a little shocked or maybe a tad more than that. This was the boy whom I had classified as a problem child… yet he was looking scared and cowering behind me. Ok, so he didn’t really cower… he actually looked more on the lines of determined. And he didn’t looked scared, he was actually looking rather angry… or irritated. I’ve really got to stop lying to myself, other people is fine, but to myself is just plain irritating.

In the distance I could make out a girl with long blond hair, head turning every which way, searching desperately for something… or someone.

Heh, ok, ‘now’ the japans boy seemed to be getting scared. And who wouldn’t? When a girl like ‘that’ was chasing you around. Very… interesting.

I tilted my head slightly, trying to get the others attention so they would help me hide this strange person. They seemed to take the hint easily enough and we stood, blocking the Japanese boy from the approaching Relena Peacecraft.

“Have you seen Heero?” The blond girl asked in an annoyingly proper tone.

“Eh? Who’s Heero?” I heard Duo question. His head was slowly tilting sideways and he had a weird expression across his face… something like amusement… with maybe the ever so familiar mischievous gleam in his eyes that never seemed to leave him for long.

“Oh! I’m ever so sorry.” The girl blurted out. “My boyfriend!” And before we could comment on that, she exclaimed, “He had stunningly beautiful dark blue eyes, magnificently styled brown hair… he must spend a lot of time on it. I wonder if he goes to a salon? It’s probably to impress me, of course. Oh, and he’s pretty shy…”

What the? Boyfriend? Salon?

I could feel the boy behind me stiffen as she listed off more details about him.

Heh, I bet he really wanted to kill her right now. Interesting… very interesting. Somehow, I felt that my earlier assumption was right, this year was going to turn out to be different… maybe I would actually start enjoying school if stuff like ‘this’ would happen more often. Yes… I like to see people suffer and get humiliated, now don’t I?

“Eh? I think I saw him making out with some girl by the parking lot.” Duo’s obnoxious voice brought me out of my thoughts. I couldn’t help but smirk as I processed what he had just said.

Relena’s eyes widened before she spit out, “That was NOT Heero!”

“Are you sure? I could have sworn he had amazingly beautiful eyes and…”

“My Heero would not… do something like that!” Her face was starting to flush with what might have been anger… or embarrassment. Hmm, did I mention how amused I was?

“Eh? Are you sure you know him that well? I mean… you’re dating, I don’t think he should be doing stuff like that… cheating on his girlfriend and all…”

“Well…” Tears seemed to well up in the light blue eyes over a seconds time. Then Relena ran away, with a choked back sob. Her hair flung dramatically behind her, flowing in the non existent wind like corny movies. Ok, it wasn’t that dramatic, it just looked that way to me. I think I felt a twinge of guilt from Duo’s actions. I mean, she looked seriously hurt and all… but that guilt only lasted for about three seconds before it was replaced by more amusement.

I heard a sigh escape the lips of the strange boy behind me and he seemed to collapse down to the ground, sitting on the sidewalk with his legs flung in front of him and eyes shut tight.

“Are you alright?” Quatre, finally finding his voice, asked.

Ignoring the question, dark blue eyes opened to glare at Duo, whom seemed surprised for a second before a cheeky grin appeared on his lips.

“That was the best excuse you could give?” The boy asked angrily.

“Hey! I didn’t see you helping me none!” Duo’s smile fell for a second and he looked rather irritated. I bet he was proud of his little show and this newcomer was… uh… hurting his feelings?

“Hn.” The short Japanese boy stood, crossing his arms in anger as he did so.

“Heerooooo?” The ‘Heero’ guy froze up in place, arms dropping to his sides and his eyes widened in horror. I turned towards the direction of the voice and noticed Relena standing in the middle of the courtyard with her hands cupping her mouth as she called for him.

Was she really that thick headed?

Duo started chuckling slightly, grin settling back on his face. As he looked towards Heero, I could also make out the ruthless gleam in his eyes.

“Maybe I should call her over and tell her that Heero is here.” He pondered to himself, but really his words were directed to the shocked Japanese boy a few feet away.

“You… wouldn’t…” He stuttered, looking quickly over to the ‘ever so dense’ Relena in fear.

“Well… since you were so ‘rude’ to your savior… I might decide to save you once again… only if you buy me dinner, that is.” Duo said, seemingly smug with his own cleverness.

Heh, Duo was really cruel sometimes. Thank god I never had any money to begin with or I would be broke by now. If that made sense at all then you would know that I am penniless, like always.

“I don’t have any money.” Heero replied, causing my eyes to widen ever so slightly when I realized that he had mirrored my own thoughts.

“Well then, I guess I should go call Ms. Blondie.” He turned towards Relena, cupping his hands like she had done when yelling. Taking a deep breath, he made sure it was loud enough for all of us to hear, then he held it in for a second… probably for effect… and it worked, because Heero caved in.

“Stop! Alright… I’ll… buy you dinner.” He looked to the ground in defeat. Anger flaring in his eyes, because he was being used, no doubt. But, it was his fault, now wasn’t it? He had marvelously got the ever so happy Duo to be angry!

“Woohoo! Onward to the Edwards!” Duo cheered, skipping ahead of us in the direction of that old beat up eating place.

“What’s Edwards?” I heard Quatre ask, trailing on his short legs behind us.

Five people… we had somehow picked up stragglers on the way… very interesting. As we walked down the cracked sidewalks making our way into the restaurant part of town, I couldn’t help but stare at Heero. He had known my name… and he did look a little familiar. So why couldn’t I remember where I had seen him before? That was very rare… I usually had a perfect memory, especially with people.

Heero caught me staring at him a couple times, the fifth time he sent me a warning glare and spit out, “What?” Of course, I didn’t answer him. So he left it at that and I stopped my staring… much to my disappointment. I think I was starting to figure something out… yes, if only I could stare some more! Listen to my sarcastic thoughts, oh how they are so filled with such… sarcasm.

Edwards was… not crowded, like usual. We ended up having to pull a chair over in order to fit everyone in the diner’s four person booths. Heero was grumbling most of the time, especially when Duo ordered two hamburgers, a shake, and extra fries. It made me wonder if he was actually going to be able to afford Duo’s monstrous dinner. I felt a tiny… tiny bit sorry for him… maybe he was like me, and never had any money…

That’s it!

I finally remembered where I had seen him! At the orphanage, about a year or so ago… I wonder why I hadn’t seen him since… well… I only saw him once. Maybe he wasn’t even an orphan, or was soon adopted… hmm. Interesting.

I grabbed my backpack from under the table, pulling a pen and piece of paper in front of me so I could communicate somehow. Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing to watch me as I started to scribble out words. All except Wufei that is, he seemed to be absorbed in the news that was playing on a small television set by the counter. It was a really old one, black and white and you could barely make out the people with all the fuzz… I noticed how Wufei seemed to be pretty pissed off right now. Seeing as he came all this way only to watch static. Well, it was actually my fault, I told them there was a television here… I actually guessed about on that one, but I was not in any big hurry to tell the truth. A couple of the waitresses were gathered closely around it, also watching the wonderful blurs. Must have been something interesting.

“Hey! Why didn’t you tell me you could write! It would have made communication a whole lot easier, ya know?” I heard Duo complain from across the table.

“What? You didn’t think he could write?” Quatre asked, chuckling lightly into his soda. That was all he had ordered, though from the looks of it, he seemed like he could afford way more than that.

“Well, you can never tell with this guy… I guess I just assumed that since he doesn’t talk he doesn’t write…”

“Maxwell, you are such an idiot. How else do you think he got into high school? By sitting there acting dumb?” Wufei seemed to finally turn away from the television. I think he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to call Duo an idiot one more time.

I had been done writing my little note and was waiting for them to calm down before showing it to Heero. That’s when I realized how stupid ‘that’ action was. The note wasn’t for them, no, it was for Heero. Why I had been waiting for them to calm down is one of those mysteries I will never solve about myself… or maybe I just can’t admit my mistakes?

I slid the piece of paper in front of Heero. He seemed like he was going to ignore it at first so I pushed it a little closer to him. His head finally tilted down, causing a scowl to erupt on his features as he read my nice handwriting.

His eyes lifted up to mine as he answered with a simple, annoyed, “ Yes.”

“Yes what?” Duo asked, trying to grab the piece of paper. Heero snatched it before the braided boy could get a finger on it and it now stood crumpled nicely between his hands.

Hmm… interesting. It seems that Heero is still at the orphanage… as he said he was. So why hadn’t I seen him for a year? I wanted to investigate into this more thoroughly… something was wrong and I was getting really curious. I knew everyone at the orphanage… it was hard not to. We all ate together in the big mess hall and most boys shared rooms with at least one other person… if not five other people. Usually the little kids had rooms with that many occupants. But… how could I have not seen Heero for a year?

I looked at him in confusion as my mind tried to come up with a possible explanation, but he just ignored me and turned to watch the television with Wufei. Damn, sometimes not talking is really annoying, I can’t demand answers.

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~Subject: Heero Yuy~

I hate him, I hate him, I really hate him. Duo Maxwell… I hate him.

My hard earned, saved money all down the drain because I had to feed ‘him.’ I couldn’t even order anything for myself! As we sat in the crappy diner playing crappy music, I just drank my water while wishing to be someplace else. Someplace… I don’t know. I guess there isn’t anywhere better. I am such a loser… I can’t even find someplace I would rather be… instead of here, sitting with that rude loudmouthed!

I only made so much delivering newspapers… without a vehicle. The pay is crappy actually, I think I am getting cheated too… well, maybe not, I only deliver a couple days a week and can’t do that many neighborhoods… but still, money is money. And now I am going to waste my pay check on someone who eats like a pig.

Life really sucks sometimes.

Trowa had kept staring at me, all the way to this run down place. I didn’t think he remembered me, which was good… and the point. I’ve seen him around plenty of times, but that didn’t mean that he had to see ‘me’ around. I think he got even more confused when I told him I was still living at the orphanage. Must have been a shocker for him to realize that he hadn’t noticed me. Not that I really cared all that much about what was going on inside of his head. Ok, maybe it was bugging me, slightly.

“Oy? Heero?” Duo was looking at me again with that smug look on his face. I just growled and waited for him to finish the fry he had shoved into his mouth… the one belonging to his ‘second’ order of French fries. Both of which I would be forced to pay for. “What you doing after this?”

“Leaving.” I stated, praying to god that he didn’t have any more evil ‘plans’ with me.

“Good, then you can leave with us. We’re going to go over to… uh… where are we going?” He directed that question to Quatre, who was currently sitting and staring at Trowa, who was still staring at me… thank god Wufei was watching television or I’m sure that he would be joining our little staring contest!

The blonds light blue eyes widened when he realized that Duo was talking to him, he must have been spacing or something. “Huh? Were we doing something after this?”

“No, but we are now.” Duo answered back… he was really demanding. I’ll have to make note not to run into him anymore or I’ll get dragged into these… horrible plans of his.

My fingers flexed unconsciously, that’s when I looked down and noticed my hands, shaking slightly from the cold, fingers numb where they rested against my thigh. Thankfully, they were hidden where no one could see. I didn’t feel like explaining to them that I was cold, I’d probably sound like some little kid.

“Huh… umm… we could go watch a movie.” Quatre tried, eyes looking at each of us in turn. I think he was nervous about being put in the position of ‘decision maker.’

“Not enough money… and I’m sure ‘he’ wont have any either after this.” Duo stated, long hand extending from under the table to point in my direction. Didn’t he know it was rude to point? Of course he has no sympathy on me! He is the one stealing my money and…. Ugh! The world is full of greedy people!

Oh just admit you like sitting with them and shut up.

I do not.

Yes, maybe I do.

No, I do not.

Shit, shit, shit…

Quatre gave a weak smile of apology, I guess… apologizing because his idea was not taken. What a weird person… ok, so everyone here was weird. There is the boy who does not want to speak… for reasons unknown. There’s the annoying loud mouth who is ‘really’ bossy. The shy blond who wears rich clothing, and of course the ‘lets ignore the world Wufei’. How did these people even end up to be Duo’s friends anyway? Who would want to be around someone like that? He draws attention to everyone, him and his long braid. And the worse thing is… he still doesn’t look like he cares when people are watching him.

Envious?

No.

Sure.

I am not Envious…

“Well… we could always rent a movie.” Duo suggested, playing with the unused fork and hitting himself lightly in the forehead with it. Trowa reached across the table, quickly snatching the sharp object away. This left a very pissed Duo, glaring daggers at the silent teen.

“Why… would we want to rent a movie when we can go home?” Wufei had now entered into the discussion. It seemed he was thinking along the same lines as me and didn’t want anything more to do with these people.

“It’s Friday.” Was the only answer Duo would give. I watched as his hand sneaked forward in the direction of the fork he had been playing with earlier. It rested right by Trowa’s right hand, seemingly unnoticed by closed emerald eyes.

“So?” Wufei was looking… ok, glaring still at Duo, whom had his hand almost in contact with the metal object.

Duo rolled his eyes at Wufei‘s short question. “Sooooo… Friday’s are the days you’re supposed to hang out with friends.” Friends? Yeah… right… why would I consider someone I just met a friend? Well, maybe he wouldn’t make me come then, since I was most definitely ‘not’ his friend… I only hoped that he would have been so easy.

You’d think we were being held hostage. No one could seem to go against anything Duo was saying. How pathetic. I would have argued, but I think I’ve drawn enough attention to myself. Yes… way too much attention… shit, I don’t think I will ever be able to forget that horrible Relena incident… I don’t think anyone else will be quick to forget it either.

Green eyes snapped open and pushed the fork Duo had been aiming for further from his reach. Duo growled again, but gave up trying to retrieve the object, leaning back into the booth with a puff of exhaled breath. I found that a little odd. Trowa and Duo had a strange relationship… one I could not quite figure out yet.

“Ok, what movie should we rent?” He asked, looking straight at me. What? Did he think I was going to answer that question?

Thankfully, Quatre piped in to help. He listed off a bunch of names I had never even heard of… or planned to hear of. Some just sounded plain stupid… and one thing I really did not like was a dumb comedy, where there is no point except to make the person laugh. Or the sad stories that have no point, but to make the watcher cry. Why would you rent a movie to cry? Crying was painful… why torture yourself. I also disliked corny love stories… ok… there was a lot that I did not enjoy in movies… and it would take some time to discuss those… time in which I obviously didn’t have seeing as Duo nearly ran us to the movie store.

Shit. We ended up renting a sad movie. Just great.

Thirty minutes after eating at the diner had us standing outside of the rental place, looking expectantly towards the grinning Duo. I think he had officially become our leader now… or torturer, us not having much choice as he dragged us along everywhere. Well, I really didn’t think Trowa and Quatre minded all that much, but I was positive Wufei was feeling pretty irritated.

“So… whose house are we going to?” Duo asked, violet eyes looking to each of us.

No one spoke.

“Come on, we need to watch this ‘somewhere’!”

I think this would be an appropriate time for the ‘cricket sound’, that comes about in silent situations.

 

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TBC

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