Chapter 3

Line reached for the unstoppable alarm clock and tossed it to the wall.

"URUHAI (Urusai -> Shut up)!!" Monday morning . . . again. Only a month to go and summer holidays would arrive. Time didn't want to pass fast enough for the impatient girl, though. 'Must . . . go . . . back . . . to . . . Zzzzzzz' Lina told herself, but something else forced her to wake up. Something more reliable than an alarm clocks.

"KOOOOOORAAAAAA (Hey), haiyaku okinai to shikoku suru wa yo (You better wake up right now or you'll be late)!!!" Lina's mother yelled out from her messy bedroom door. With no excuse, the daughter clamored, jumped, or rather fell, out of bed and tripped over her pile of junk on the floor. She rummaged through her closet for clean clothes and slipped on a jean with a red T-shirt that read 'Independent Chic' in golden glitter. She had no time to do much with her hair except brush it. Somehow the teenager managed leave her home right on time to be able to make it to Greenland High in mid bell ring.

"We're meeting again today to practice, right?" Filia asked her friends. She took a seat next to Aya's desk and joined Lina, Amelia, Gourry and Xellos. The Greenland High's annual talent show was in three weeks and the six of them have been getting together to create a band. Lina, Amelia and Aya were vocals, Gourry was the drummer, Filia, the keyboard and Xellos on guitar. So far, the band hasn't been doing very well. They needed more people. At least two more people, preferably guys who can play the guitar and sing. However, many classmates were already in a group or had no interest at all.

"Yup, my place after school." Amelia said excitedly. "I can't wait till the talent show comes along!"

"I hope we'll be ready." They all agreed with Aya. Gourry cocked his head to the side slightly puzzled.

"What are we getting ready fore again?" The five students stared at the blonde sportsman and sighed.

"B - L - O - N - D - E" Xellos spelled out, shaking his head. That left Gourry thinking about what Xellos was trying to say for a long while.

"Be Little Or Never Die Ever? That doesn't make sense. . . . Hmmmm."

"Hey asshole!! Get out of the way!!" The teasing in the corner caught the gang's attention. Eight tall, tough looking guys in dark clothes were picking on their usual target for years. This group of guys were the most popular bike gang in the city. Their name was 'Hell's Angels' and they were one group nobody wanted to mess with. They got involved in shootings, robbery, kidnaping, practically everything illegal. Bullying was only one of their light crimes.

Zelgadis was completely different from the other students in the Greenland Highschool, in appearance wise, and always kept to himself. That was probably the main reason why he was being picked on so often. He always succeeded in hiding himself from the world. Most students have never heard or seen him before since he doesn't interact with people unless he must. He had good fashion and was extremely smart, considering he was top student in the whole grade. Teachers had to put him one grade up for science, math and social studies. If only he was a little outgoing . . . Zelgadis Graywords was a mystery. Amelia watched the blue skinned classmate being harassed and called cruel names. She wanted to get up and sock the lights out of those guys, but she wasn't strong like that. Maybe her best friend Lina could, but her?! She knew she was terrible in sports and always would be.

'Zelgadis . . . I'm sorry . . . but I. . . .' Amelia felt her heart pounding harder in her chest. It was true. She had always liked the mysterious man ever since they saw each other. As the years went by, Amelia's feeling for him grew, but her hope for him to love her back sank deeper. If only she had the guts to tell him . . .

"What's wrong Igor? Don't you know how to talk?!" Valgarv, one of the tall guys in dark clothes laughed and spat at Zelgadis, who helplessly stood in the corner, keeping calm and silent. Fortunately the bell rang and the gang split to go to separate classes. Valgarv and two other guys, Matt and Gonza remained in the same room and took their seats at the very back desks. Zelgadis, as always had the spot in the dark corner, he brought out a thick novel from his backpack and began reading where he left off. Amelia couldn't stop staring at him. She didn't realize that her friends were chatting about a different subject, until her strict English teacher stepped in and began the session.

"Alright, let's do this one more time before we go." Aya spoke into the microphone and took her place between Lina and Amelia, in front of the drummer. Since Amelia was from a wealthy family and had an enormous stage room, they practiced as much as they could for a month in preparation. It was difficult when everyone had a tight schedule. Gourry and Xellos had basketball and rugby games in the first two weeks. Amelia had her drivers test and a ballet concert to rehearse. Filia had a keyboard concert, plus an art pottery project to finish. Lina was in the girl's basketball team in the first two weeks and had kick-boxing lessons. Aya, had a vocal and jazz concert coming around near the end of June and Tai-kwon-do lessons from her father. They managed to fit a time and improved so much during the past weeks. Still, they needed two more members. "Ready?" Aya tapped her foot to get the right beat. "One, two, three, four!" Xellos played his guitar for the opening solo. Filia and her keyboard came a little later. "Stop!!" Aya turned to Gourry on the drum, "You were supposed to start with Filia, Gourry."

"Oh . . . Sorry, I forgot."

"That's alright. Let's start again, from the top." Aya said. Lina rolled her eyes in agitation.

'How many times has that dimwit forgotten when to start? Too many to count . . . Grrr . . . '

The sun was setting, leaving pink and orange shades of hue in the sky. Aya was walking home alone from Amelia's place and thought of the upcoming events and personal problems. Well, they weren't really personal, but her feelings to the problem were. The talent show or concerts weren't bothering her at all for some reason. She could remember herself sweating over those things like the world was ending, but kept her cool in appearance. Not now, though. Aya was concerned for her friends and certain classmates. In her mind, she knew Lina liked Gourry and it was obvious Gourry liked Lina. He always acted like her bodyguard when she was one of the strongest females in school. Gabriev always went to her when he needed something and tried most of the time to be near her. That was enough body language stuff for Aya, at least to figure out the message. Lina Inverse is a hard rock and is difficult to tell what she's feeling in most cases. The teenager then remembered Zelgadis. 'Amelia's liked Zelgadis for a very long time now. More than four years now, I think . . . ' She thought about it for a while, 'Y'know . . . They would make a very good couple. I'm sure Zelgadis is nice and all, he just looks so lonely . . . Maybe I should---' Aya's thoughts were hindered when a motorcycle engine of the Hell's Angel squealed from behind. The eight members encircled the girl and stopped their wheels once she was surrounded. She observed the detailed designs painted on the motorcycles, from raging fire, skulls with wings, which was their logo, zombies and other gory pictures. Their uniform was basically any leather type jacket with the gang name written in the back with the angel skull. Some of the guy's jackets had spikes and chains decorating the shoulder part. The bikers got off their engines and walked toward Aya. She saw her classmates, Valgarv, Matt and Gonza by the leader, Tobias. He was six foot six and very muscular with two pierces on each ear, his hair was spiky like a porcupine and died dark red.

"What do we have here guys?" Tobias grinned, making Aya very uncomfortable and a little scared.

'Please tell me they're not carrying any guns.' Aya wished.

"It's getting late for a little girl to walk home all - by- her - self, isn't? Why don't we take you home for you?" Two members from behind and two more from her side instantly ran toward her. Just as fast, Aya spin kicked two members to the ground and nailed the other two with her punch to the nose, which was enough to break approximately ten bricks. Matt and Aya charged at each other. When she came close enough, she jumped in the air and her flying side kick got her opponent on the face. Matt flew backwards and crashed into Gonza and a motorcycle. Aya sighed thinking, 'Only two more. . .' and accidentally turned to face Valgarv, holding a gun at her face, few inches away.

"Ugokuna (Don't move)!"

"Crap . . . " Aya whispered. Tobias placed his hand on her shoulder roughly,

"You messed with the wrong group." Aya thought fast and took the risk of being shot at the last minute. She back kicked the leader between the legs as hard as she could and did the same to the member with the gun, with a front kick. Without looking back, the blue haired teenager made a lucky get away run all the way home.