Chapter One: A Family Emergency
Karen Kano loved candy. She had a sweet tooth the size of Texas and used it often. And today was the grand re-opening of the Candy Store down in the Tram Common. It was a very good day for Karen. Candy Stores were her idea of heaven.
It was summer and most of the students at Twilight Town School were gone for the summer. Except Karen, her best friend and roommate Emi, and a few other boarding students who couldn't make it home.
The alarm clock went off at 7 am sharp. Karen sat up in bed, having already been awake for an hour, and hit the "off" button on the clock. Emi sat up, too, but all she did was shove a pillow over her poofy black hair and fall back down.
Karen hopped out of bed, so excited she couldn't stand still, and smiled. She was a natural optimist, the exact opposite of Emi. Emi slid back under the blankets, muttering something about alarm clock homocide.
Karen, on the other hand, strolled into the bathroom they shared with the two girls next door. The other girls were gone for the summer, so Emi and Karen got the bathroom to themselves. Karen's cosmetics and other things were lined neatly on the shelf, where as Emi's were strewn all over the place. Karen grabbed a wash rag and her tooth brush and went about brushing and washing up. She thought while she groomed herself. It was May...barely summer. Emi's seventeenth birthday was in July. One more year, she would say, until I can get out of this place and travel the world. Karen decided Emi was indeed a very independent, if a little pessemistic and selfish. But she really was a good person.
Emi shuffled into the bathroom. Her wild, bushy black hair stuck up all over her head like a rain cloud. She was tall and athletic looking with strong arms. At six foot two, she was actually quite big for a sixteen year old girl. She was exactly a foot and two inches taller than Karen.
Karen was small and slender with a dancer's long arms and leg. She had short, lightly razored brown hair and clear dark blue eyes. She combed her hair and and then helped Emi's brush her's. The brush got stuck in her hair a few times, but they managed it.
"What are your plans for today?" asked Karen, as she pulled on her black shirt and purple skirt. Emi pulled a green and purple tank top over her head. "Well, I have mandatory band practice. Amd then I figured I might bring my quads down the common and play for a while to add to my beach fund."
Karen chuckled gently. It wasn't anything Emi had said, it was just her voice. Her accent was slightly different than everyone elses'. Maybe that was because, like Karen, she wasn't from Twilight Town originally. She had a very sophisticated, airy voice. She enunciated very crisply, it was almost British sounding. She'd arrived in Twilight Town at age two and just never lost her accent. And, on this early
summer morning, it was funny to Karen.
"Let me guess," Emi said, slipping her feet into some shoes. "You are going to the candy store?" "Right," said Karen, grinning. "Do you want me to get something for you?" Emi nodded. "Yes. Some Starbursts, please." "Okie dokie, have fun at band practice," said Karen, grabbing her munny purse and bouncing out the door. Emi grimaced and mumbled "Whatever."
While Karen went on her merry little way to the candy store, Emi trudged to the Sandlot. She dragged her quad case big enough to hold a small child in, and frowned. She was part of the Twilight Town City Marching Band and Orchestra. That was the bright idea of the city's Arts and Music Council. What a load of crap, she thought.
She used to only play drums for fun...but then she got arrested for beating up the accessory shop owner. She was sentenced to one year of anger management therapy and counseling. Her therapist suggested she join the orchestra... actually, she forced Emi to join, but whatever.
The therapist also insisted Emi visit the beach. Emi had cringed at this idea. She was afraid of water. She couldn't swim. "But," the therapist insisted. "That is exactly why you must visit the ocean. I think that some repressed fears may be what is causing your anger."
Emi had laughed at that comment, but her therapist insisted. So here she was on her way to practice for the big Struggle Tournament preformance. She actually wanted to sign up to fight. She allowed herself a small, secret smile. Hayer would probably compete this year. Maybe if he saw her fight, he would give her the time of day. Emi didn't really care that Hayner was younger and short than she was. She thought he was cute and funny. Emi never smiled for long. She frowned. Too bad he was wrapped around Olette's little finger.
She was still frowning as she walked into the Sandlot. And then she sneered. Other than the pathetic excuse for a marching band, Seifer and his "disciplinary comittee" were there. Emi didn't like Seifer. She never had in the ten years she'd known him. But he was very fond of her. She tried to ignore him as she unpacked her quads. But he was drawn her like a moth to a candleflame. "Hey," he said, looming over her crouched back.
She ignored him. When she stood, the quads hung from her strong shoulders, she was just as tall as he was. She gave him her ugliest grimace. He didn't give up. He was almost a year older than her, and they were the same size (which turned a lot of guys off) but he was still attracted to her for some strange reason. "I was hoping you'd be here, Emi," he said. Emi just glared. "Bummer you're stuck preforming with
this lamer band. You would make a great cheerleader during the Struggle."
It took every ounce of Emi's almost non-existent self-control not to haul off and punch his smug face. She clenched her jaw and hissed "I am not a cheerleader." Seifer made a tisking noise and shook his head. "Too bad. You would've looked great in one of those little pleated skirts."
Emi's bright green eyes widened in anger. She clenched her fists and arm muscles and then whirled, counting to ten and deep breathing, just like her therapist told her. She threw herself into a warm-up, drowinig out anything Seifer might have said after that. She tipped her head back, feeling the sun warm her face and her hair tumble from her shoulders down to the backs of her knees. She had contemplated cutting it, but everytime she did, a little voice in her head said "Never cut your hair." So she didn't. And now it was waist long. It would have been longer...except once, last year, she got gum in it and Karen had to chop it off to her shoulder blades.
She stayed that way until the director called everyone to attention. While she fell into formation with the rest of the drummers, she noticed Seifer, Rai and Fuu all standing beside the big chalkboard. Seifer had his arms crossed. When he saw Emi, he lifted one hand, waving at her with two fingers.
She was sorely tempted to give him the finger, but she restrained her self.
The director had a very important announcement to make before they started. After a protesting screech of feedback from the ancient megaphone, the directore called "Attention!" We're at attention, thought Emi, rolling her eyes. The director continued his annoucement. "We've moved from three months of practice to...three weeks," he called out. Emi's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. There were loud protests from everyone, but Emi's shrill voice as loudest as she shrieked "WHAT!? WHY?!"
The director calmed everyone down before continuing. "Due to a conflict in scheduling, the city board has pushed the date of the Struggle three months," he said. Emi threw her drumsticks to the ground, screaming, losing control of her anger. She was a VERY good drummer. And she knew that the rest of the drummers, no, the rest of the BAND sucked. She was angry because now they weren't going to have enough time to practice and get better and THEY were going to ruin this for her. Her first big preformance.
"Let's not waste time now, people," said the director. Everyone settled down enough to play. Emi stooped to pick up her stick. Might as well make the best of this sucky day.
While Emi was at band practice, Karen was heading to the candy store. She grinned as she walked along, greeting everyone she saw. She was known around down as "that happy girl with the purple coat".
Even though Karen was relentlessly happy, she had a small rebellious streak. She'd been with Emi when she snuck out and got a tatoo. No fake ID or forgery needed... the tatooist didn't even care or seem to notice that Emi was hardly sixteen and Karen, younger than that. Sh'd gotten her three ear piercings from the same guy.
She hadn't been there the night Emi was arrested, though. She'd been in her room, obeying curfew and studying.
There was already a crowd in the common. Mostly small children and their exaspertated parents. Karen was happy to see Hayner, Pence and Olette there. She ran over to meet them.
"Hi, you guys," she called, waving. Olette smiled and waved back, yelling "Karen!" Hayner grabbed and shook Karen's slim hand and another jaunty wave came from Pence. Out of this particular group of friends, Karen realated to Pence the most...she didn't know why.
"I wonder if the store carries sea salt ice cream," said Pence. Karen grinned and laughed her tinkly laugh. "Emi will be really happy. She adores ice cream." "Speaking of Emi," mentioned Hayer, looking around warily. "She's not with you?" "Nope," said Karen. "Band practice, for the Struggle."
"They moved the Struggle up a few months. It's in only three weeks now, can you believe it?" remarked Olette. Karen tilted her head . "Really? Are you guys competing this year?" she asked. Olette grinned and looked over at Hayner. Pence punched him lightly on the arm. "I am," Hayner said, proudly. Karen smiled gently. "Great. Good luck. I heard Setzer's been training like crazy since he got defeated last year."
Suddenly, there were cheers and shrieks of joy. Not to mention sighs of relief from the parents. The store had opened it's doors. Karen smiled, thinking about the candy. She hoped there would be taffy, her favorite.
Twenty minutes later, Karen finally got to go inside. It was like walking into heaven. It was warm, just like a candy store was supposed to be. The warmth felt good even after the summer heat. She breathed deeply and sighed. She picked up a box of salt water taffy and some Starbursts. More candy to add to the stash under the floor boards in their room.
She left, taking one last deep breath, savoring the smell of the shop. She decided to hurry back before the sweets melted.
Back in the Sandlot, the band was taking a break. The tuba player had passed out in the heat. They still had several hours of practice in front of them. Emi was sitting on a bench. Her quads were laying on the ground. She was attempting to gather her hair and push it through a rubber band. If she succeeded, she would have to cut the rubber band out later, but she had to get it up off her neck.
She felt someone take her hair out of her hands and gather it up, pulling it off her shoulders. She snapped her head around, growling. Seifer was holding her hair. "What are you doing?" demanded Emi. Seifer smirked. "Nothing. Just trying to help you out,: he said, using her shoulders as a brace to hop over the bench and sit next to her.
Emi stood as he sat, putting her hands on her skinny hips. "Look, Seifer, what the heck do you want? I've told you once if I've you a million times, I'm not going on a date with you."
Seifer stood up and grasped Emi's shoulders. Emi growled and sneered at him, but he started talking anyway. "I'm not going to give up. I'm going to be persistent. I'm going to have you, Emiline DesCoteaux."
Emi's jaw dropped. How the heck did he know her full name? With a cry of indignation, Emi brought her hand back and then snapped it forward, slapping Seifer across the face. He stumbled a little, and Emi turned and ran. So what if she missed the rest of band practice? The worst they could do was kick her out, which she wasn't opposed to.
She did kind of wish she'd grabbed her drums before fleeing. Hopefully some kind soul would see the ID tag and bring them back to her. She really hoped Seifer didn't take the liberty to.
She sped into the Tram Common, searching for Karen. She wasn't there, so Emi started off towards the school. She saw Karen as she ran. She skidded to a stop and grabbed Karen by the shoulders, dragging her backwards into an alleyway. Karen screamed and swung her money purse around, thinking she was being mugged. The purse narrowly avoided Emi's face and Karen whirled around, blushing. "Sorry," she muttered. "Help me," hissed Emi, looking around. Karen groaned, wondering what kind of trouble Emi had gotten herself into this time. "What happened?" she asked.
Emi bit her top lip. "I slapped Seifer and ran away," she sighed. "I left my drums in the Sandlot and I don't want to go back and get them. I might get myself arrested again. Can you go get them?"
Karen gave a pert nod. "Yup," she said, shoving the bag of candy into her friend's arms. "Go back home and put this in the stash. I'll be there soon." Emi was gone in a heart beat, the only thing left to remind anybody she'd been there was the sound of her rapid footsteps. Karen walked back to the Sandlot to retrieve Emi's drums. She thought as she walked. Why didn't Emi just humor Seifer? Just one date would be enought if Emi played her cards right...but then again, Emi sucked at poker. Besides, Seifer wasn't THAT bad...it wasn't as if Rai were asking for a date.
When Karen got to the Sandlot, practice had resumed. Karen ran against the wall, behind the band so she wouldn't get caught.She saw Emi's precious quads still laying in the dirt.
Unfortunately, Seifer was standing guard. Karen groaned and walked over. Seifer looked angry, and there was a red hand print across his cheek. He confronted her. "Hey," he said, angrily. Karen tried to ignore him as he walked over. She started putting the quads up. The case was on wheels and was sitting next to the bench. It has huge, and Karen hoped she could make it up Market Street with it.
She stood up, and looked squarely into Seifer's face. Well, as squarely as she could when she could only see his chest when she looked straight ahead. "Tell your friend," he hissed. "That I'm not giving up." Karen sneered and said, loudly so he could hear her over the band, "She's interested in someone else, Seifer. Forget it."
Now it was Seifer's turn to sneer. "Then I guess I'll have to elimanate the competetion." He pushed past Karen and waved for Rai and Fuu to follow him. The bad was so loud. Karen called after him "Why are so facsinated by her anyway?
Seifer was only a few paces away. He turned and walked rapidly towards her. He got in her face so quickly it was frightening. "Emi has a certain charm that I find very attractive," he hissed into Karen's ear. "No other girl around here has that rebellious streak."
And then he was gone. Karen ran back to the dorms, dragging the quads behind her.
Emi was playing her snare now. Karen could hear it from down the hall. She fished the key out of her jacket and opened the door. She loved their room. They had lived in it for nearly twelve years. There were two twin beds, with a window in between them. Two desks, two sets of drawers, two footlockers at the foot of the beds, and two bedside tables. There were also two closets, and the room was split evenly down the middle.
But that's where the similarites ended. Emi's side was the left side. Her unmade bed had a green and purple quilt and butterfly shaped pillow. Her desk was messy, covered in sheet music and various drummer things, including her five pairs of drumsticks. Her closet was also a wreck. Her snare and quads were usually stored in there. Her drumset was set up in the corner.
Karen's side was neat and tidy. A lavender down comforter was spread neatly acorss the bed. The desk was clean, her homework and books in all the right spots. All of her clothes were clean, ironed and folded.
Emi was sitting on the bed, attacking her snare drum. She had an ugly grimace on her face. Karen waved over at her and walked over to put the quads in the closet. She was almost crushed by all the stuff that fell out of it. Emi stopped playing adruptly, the sticks falling to the floor, and hopped up to hug her friend.
"Thanks. You didn't run into any trouble with Seifer, did you." she asked, breaking the hug. Karen sighed, going over to collapse in her desk chair. She tipped her head back and groaned. "Actually," she said. "I collided right smack into it. Seifer finds your rebellion attractive. I told him you were interested in someone else." She cringed and continued. "And then he said he would have to get rid of the competetion."
Emi roared in anger. "Oh my gosh...YOU TOLD HIM THAT? KAREN, DARN IT!" She started pacing. She could feel her pulse quickening. "Settle down, you can handle this. I didn't tell him who exactly you were interested in. There IS a way around this, you know," reassured Karen.
Emi whirled, sucking in a breath through clenched teeth. "TELL ME A WAY AROUND THIS, THEN, GENIUS! Seifer and his gang are going to beat the CRAP out of every guy in town, and it's YOUR fault." Karen's complexion reddened. Just settle down, thought Karen. It's just Emi being Emi. "The way out is obvious," said Karen, spining around in her chair. "Go on a date with Seier."
Emi roared again. "No way! NO WAY!!" she screamed. "That would only make my problem WORSE." Karen smiled evilily. "You didn't let me finish. You go on a date with Seifer...and totally bomb it. He'll never want to go on a date with you again." Emi setttled down a little. She sat on her bed. "That might work. Might," she
sighed. "Darn it... I don't want to go on a dare with him. But...I don't want Hayner beaten to a bloody pulpm either. She fell backwards on to the bed.
They hung out in their room for the rest of the morning and into the early afteroon. Emi practiced her quads, trying to justify missing practice. She would have to hope the director didn't see what happened. And she would have to come up with good excuse, too. She asked Karen for a good excuse. "You could say you had cramps," said Karen, taking a bite out some taffy. Emi shook her head. "No good. I used that one last week.
She laughed bitterly. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to blame it on a family emergency. Too bad everyone in town knows I'm a freaking 'ward of the state' or whatever crap they told me." "Hush, Emi. You'll get yourself all worked up again. Besides, it's lunch time. Your favorite...noodles!"
Unfortunately for them, the headmaster also decided to have lunch. He ambushed them as they entered the cafeteria. "Miss DesCoteaux...Miss DesCoteaux!" he called in his annoying, too-shrill-for-a-man voice. Emi rolled her eyes and turned around. "I got call from your therapist, Miss DesCoteaux. She got a call from your band director. Apparently, you missed most of band practice today. Is this true?" he asked.
Emi gave that same bitter laugh she was always did when she did what she was about to do. "I had a family emergency," she said, hanging her head. The headmaster sighed heavily. "Don't give me that, Emi," he moaned. He wagged his finger at him. "I know what you are trying to do. You're trying to make me feel guilty. Well, that's not going to work. One more slip-up, Miss DesCoteaux, and you will be stuck in your dorm for the rest of the week."
Emi didn't bother to tell him that she would love nothing more than to stay in her room all week. At least then she didn't have to go to practice. They ate their noodles in silence. Emi was in one of those moods. She was angry at the world.
This was one of the places Karen very much related with Emi. They were both wards of the state. Emi had come to Twilight Town at age two. They found her on the steps of the school, alone. She had been finishing the remains of a ice cream. She had only one memory of her past life.
Karen had come along four years later. They also found her on the steps of the stairs, very sick and hardly breathing. She had a very weak heart. Clasped in her little five-year old hands was a a typed note with very specific directions for her care. Emi was actually the one that found her. And, after Karen spent two years in the hospital recovering, they became the best of friends. Inseperable. Karen had only one memory of her past life, as well. Unfortunately, Emi took abandonment a lot worse than Karen did.
It was May. It was summer. And the Struggle was three weeks away.
