Chapter 6

The next day at school, as promised, Lina arrived in class with her bag of cookies. She wrapped them up in a pink polka-dot, hand size handkerchief with a blue ribbon tied around the opening. Both her and her best friend had a few bruises from fighting last evening for over an hour, although they weren't that noticeable. They never looked or talked to each other for the entire day. Gourry, who was often a bright and cheerful character, now acted sad and depressed. Filia explained to Aya what happened during her absence and she understood the conflict.

'If only I came to the practice . . . maybe this never would've happened . . . I can't believe I forgot about the band! I'm so irresponsible! I'm such a idiot!' She slapped herself and wondered how long Lina and Amelia would be like this. 'I'm sure things will turn out. It's not like they've never fought before.'

Time flied by briefly and Lina was ready to give her little present to her crush. The highschool students stampeded out of class, leaving Lina and her friends with Zelgadis, packing his books into his backpack. He was about to cast off, when the long red head came up to him with the bundle of sweet cookies.

"Here Zelgadis," She lifted the present up, "I made these cookies for you last night. I worked my butt off baking these. I hope you'll like them." Zelgadis looked at the cookies she held in her hand. The whole group stared anxiously as his blue hand took the gift. He glanced at Lina for awhile, his face was a usual frown. However, the mysterious student did something very unexpecting. He casually headed to the classroom door and stopped to drop the bag of cookies into the garbage can. The dismaying part was he made sure Lina and everyone was watching him.

"Ore amai mono kirai dakara (I hate sweet things)." Was Zelgadis' reason and he absconded outside.

Amelia was chatting on the phone with Aya and Filia in three-way, late that night in her bedroom. Filia and Amelia sounded just about ready to give Zelgadis a lecture and teaching him a lesson. Aya kept quiet for most of the conversation and had a more peaceful strategy, such as getting Lina to talk to Zelgadis about his action and only Lina. A group of people coming at once could intimidate him, but that's what Filia wanted.

"We should corner him and have him explain all this to us! Nobody messes with my friend's feelings like that!"

"Filia wait!" Aya disagreed, "Put yourself in his shoes, how would you feel if a group of people came at you and threatened you." Amelia didn't know. Sure, she thought it was rude of her crush to do that, but a part of her was telling her that was a good thing. 'How could it be good? If he did that to Lina, what difference would I make? He'll probably do the same thing if I give him something.'

"I'd better go. It's late." Amelia said her goodnight and placed her cell phone on her night table. She hugged on a soft, fluffy pillow with tiny sheeps and red hearts. 'How could Zelgadis do that . . . I thought he was more polite and mature to not do something like that . . . Why? . . . Why do I still feel for him . . . ?"

Amelia couldn't get enough sleep last night because she was still thinking of yesterday and dozed off in all her subjects. She still didn't talk to Lina and Gourry seemed keep his distance from the person he liked. He did keep and eye on the heartbreaker of his crush and a vibe told the other five that something was going to happen.

Amelia walked with Filia and Aya to get their bikes at the right alley of Greenland High. When they reached the alley, the trio saw Gourry and Zelgadis facing face to face. Gourry was the third tallest person in his grade and Zelgadis was around the same height. The blonde teenager's body was much more broader and muscular since he was one of the school's top five athletes in all sports. His face was stern and acrimonious. That was the look Gourry made when he was ready to pound someone to the pits of hell. The blue young man, as always, staying calm, collected and cool.

"Lina ni ayamare (Apologize to Lina)!!" Gourry ordered, his voice was unusually serious and demanding.

"Iyada (No)."

"Uh oh, that guy chose the wrong answer," Filia said.

"Na- (Wha-)! Kono (Why you)!!" The sportsman dashed with a punch. Zelgadis stepped out of the way and pushed him to the cement fence.

"We have to stop them!! I'll go get a teacher!" Aya grabbed Amelia by her arm before she could take off,

"No, that'll only get them into more trouble!" Gourry punched Zelgadis in the stomach, but his opponent threw him over his head with a loud bang. The blonde teen was determined to not give up until he won the fight and he climbed back on his feet.

"Omae no kimochi wa sono teido ka (Is that all you've got for how you feel)?" Zelgadis stood in front of Gourry, ready for the next round. The sportsman reeled back his fist,

"O - ore no kimochi ga omae ni wakaru ka (Y - you'll never understand how I feel)!! His knuckle met with Zelgadis' cheek and he slipped to the dusty dirt. Aya opened her mouth to shout at the boys to stop, but the voice of Lina came instead.

"Gourry stop it!!" On the other side of Filia, Amelia and Aya was Lina, holding back her tears.

Gourry let his hands off of Zelgadis' white, sleeveless shirt and applied his attention to his friend, so did everyone in the scene. "I knew Zelgadis and I would never be a couple . . . but I wanted to test you . . . If I like another person, I wanted to see if you cared or not . . . " A tiny drop escaped from her watery eyes. She didn't bother wiping it away. "Because you . . . You're never straightforward and always confusing me!!" Gourry strode to Lina and gave her a comforting hug. Lina silently hid her tears. She never cried. That's what she wanted everyone to think. "I'm sorry Gourry, I'm. . . ."

"Lina . . . " Gourry patted her back, "I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you sooner that I liked you more than a friend . . . I just didn't have the nerve to tell you right away . . . "

Filia and Aya walked their bike out of the alley reflecting what had happened just a few minutes ago.

"Lina liked Gourry the whole time too. I never realized . . . " Filia said to herself and hopped on her bike.

"Y'know, Zelgadis is pretty cool." Aya said, happy that things did workout for her two friends. "I think he knew Lina and Gourry had a thing for each other. That's why he threw away the cookies."

"Maybe . . . I'll call you tonight! Bye, bye!" She waved her hand and pedaled out of the school district.

"I can bike you home if you'd like Amelia." Aya offered. Amelia refused the offer kindly,

"No thanks, I'll walk. Besides I have to do something before I go." Aya grinned, showing her complete, pure white teeth. She knew, or had an idea of what Amelia was up to.

"Have fun visiting Zel-chan!" Aya laughed and rode off.

Yes, she was going to see Zelgadis, although she had no-good reason to. Perhaps she just had to see if he was alright or needed some help getting home. She found him alone, washing his face out of blood and dirt with the outside water tap. Amelia held out a handkerchief for him to wipe with, but he ostracized it and used his own shirt.

"Arigatou . . . " Amelia murmured, but Zelgadis heard her and peered back to his secret admirer. "Without you, I don't think Lina and Gourry would've been together." Her heart fluttered like a thousand birds when he smiled a sweet smile her way. With hardly and sound, like the wind he motioned around the corner and departed for his home.