Faith is for the transient people.
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You know what? I have such time on my hands right now that I'm going to go ahead and do Chapter 2! Almost every character will make an appearance here if he or she did not in the first chapter. Here we go!
Editor's Note: If I edit anything with something like 'favorite' when it was originally 'favourite', etc., please forgive me. x.x It's a habit. (Not a habit to correct. I mean when I rewrite sentences.)
Phoenix Wright: Ace College Student
Chapter 2: Lunchroom Drama
Phoenix and Thomas ran into the lunchroom, and sat down, awaiting Dahlia.
And, just as quickly as they came in, the doors of the cafeteria again opened and Dahlia Hawthorne walked in, her parasol high in the air and her face as sweet as sugar. She walked over to the line and picked herself up some soup, a personal favorite food of hers.
"Dollie!" Phoenix rushed her and grabbed her in a big hug that lifted her off the ground, then spun her around a few times.
Grr...why is this idiot here so quickly?! He wasn't meant to be here til 1'o clock... Dahlia's face didn't show her mind, so she smiled sweetly as Phoenix put her down. "Ah, my beloved Feenie...how are you?" She spoke as she tilted her head.
Thomas ran up and held out his hand. "H-Hi, D-Dahlia. M-My name is T-T-Thomas..."
"Pleased to meet you...Tommy." Dahlia shook his hand.
Another friend...? I feel for him, having a loser like this wimp... She thought, thinking of Phoenix.
"Um...shall we sit...?" She was pretending to be a little nervous, as if she was attracted to Phoenix.
"Okay, sure!" Phoenix laughed and pulled a chair for her to sit in.
"Thank you...Feenie." Dahlia blushed as she sat down with her soup and began to sip it. She hated how hot it was. "So...how are you today?" She asked politely.
"Great!" Phoenix sat across from her. "Well I think I'm getting a cold." He added timidly.
--
Meanwhile, Iris cheerfully made her way to the cafeteria, a large brown bag under one arm. She always looked forward to having lunch with her darling Feenie, but today in particular was special. All those nights of work had finally paid off, and she couldn't wait to see his reaction when she gave it to him.
She pushed the swinging door open and surveyed the dining area. Her eyes quickly found Phoenix, but the sight of the person with him drained all the color from her face, and she was just barely able to cover her mouth with her free hand in time to keep her shriek from escaping.
Iris bolted out of the cafe, praying nobody saw her. She ran to the nearest restroom, checked for occupants, and upon finding none, dialed her sister's number on her cell.
--
Meghan came into the lunchroom. "Oh, what is this? A party?" It was much more crowded than usual in the cafeteria today.
Suzumi came into the cafeteria shortly after, clutching her handbag. She chose some Japanese sushi and sat on a table with a bunch of gossipy girls. She looked across and saw Larry again...and Dahlia.
Phoenix was smiling like a little boy on Christmas. He didn't even care that she seemed to forget his lunch today; he was just happy to be with her.
Meghan saw Phoenix, and said, "Oh, it's you again..."
"Hi!" He greeted happily. "Meghan, right?" He thought about getting up, but a rather violent sneeze interrupted that thought. "This is my girl, Dollie." He introduced while he wiped his nose off with his sleeve.
"Ah, yes... er, hello... Dollie, is it? Wait, is that your real name?" Meghan asked incredulously.
"No...my name is Dahlia Hawthorne. It's nice to meet you." Dahlia held out her hand to Meghan.
"Nice to meet you, Dahlia." Meghan shook her hand. "You're very pretty... Phoenix is a lucky man."
And an annoying one at that, too. Dahlia thought, but then spoke: "Thank you...I love my darling Feenie...although I could never be perfect..." She tilted her head.
Suzumi watched as Dahlia spun her emotions around the group. She finished her food and got up. Suddenly, she tripped again and landed in front of the table where Larry, Dahlia and everyone else was.
Meghan jerked her head to the left as some food splattered onto her, and saw Suzumi on the ground. "...Are you alright...?" She wiped some food off of her skirt and held out a hand to Suzumi.
"Thank you...I'm sorry about the food..." Suddenly, Suzumi felt her pocket. It was empty.
"Oh no!" She bent onto the floor. "Oh...I hope I haven't lost it..." She murmured, she was on the verge of tears.
"What's wrong?" asked Meghan.
"I dropped my fan...someone special to me made it for me and I have to find it!" Suzumi spoke as she looked under the seats.
--
Come on, please, please, just answer... Iris paced back and forth in the empty restroom, pouring all her will into her phone as if that would actually make her twin pick up faster.
This isn't good, it isn't good at all, she thought, and bit her thumb nervously.
Okay, stop, breathe. Maybe you're overreacting... No, no! Why else would she be here? She didn't even tell me! Should I just go out there? No, of course I can't do that. But what else am I supposed to do? I have to do something!--
Emi, now covered in blotches of red paint which looked too much like blood on one glance, walked into the cafeteria happily enough. She looked at the large selection of exotic foods, but as usual was too chicken to pick one of them. She grabbed her usual hamburger and fries before having a seat wherever was empty.
Meanwhile, Dahlia looked amused as she watched Suzumi frantically searching for her fan. Suddenly, she saw a flash of red hair, and smiled at Phoenix. "Oh, Feenie...I'm so very sorry...but I forgot my text book for my next class and it's best I get it now. Please, just wait here." She kissed him goodbye and walked out the door.
Just like she thought, Iris was there, Dahlia dragged her hand and pulled her up to her room.
--
Once there, she said angrily, "Iris, why didn't you tell that idiot to wait? He came earlier then you said and for the last ten minutes, I've had to listen to that pathetic talk of his with his stupid friends!"
Iris flinched. "I-I'm sorry, sister..." she mumbled, averting her eyes in shame. "He was already gone by the time I got to his room. I tried to call you, but you didn't answer..."
She squeezed her package and turned back to Dahlia. "Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about this, but...do you think it's a good idea to eat right here on campus? I mean, our classes are pretty far apart, but something like this could happen again, and if someone saw us together..."
"Are you telling
ME what to do?!" Dahlia shrieked. "I'm not going to let my life be changed because of some moron who can't even afford an umbrella!
"Actually...that reminds me, sister...do remember to try harder to get that pendant...or else I'll have to step in. But, I think I'll go eat at that fancy restaurant for lunch...perhaps you aren't so naive, after all. Just remember this...he has two new friends, Thomas and Meghan." Dahlia stepped out, slamming the door behind her.
Iris sighed heavily at the door. By now she was more than used to her twin's verbal abuse; anyone whose life was hanging in the balance like hers would feel like lashing out at the world...right? Besides, she
was giving her this chance to help end this chain of death and turn her sister's life around. Still...she just couldn't force herself to overlook these subtle threats to him...
Iris shook her head and wiped her eyes. No time for this now. She rushed back to the cafeteria to find her Feenie again.
--
"I'll help you! If th-that's okay..." said Meghan, now moving chairs around too.
Suzumi froze as Meghan bent down to help her. "No...it's fine, thank you for your help..." She smiled for a bit before searching again.
"No, no....I know how you feel." Meghan kept on searching despite the fact of what Suzumi just told her. "I've lost my guitar like...3 times. I never knew how easy it was to lose such a big thing...eh heh." Meghan blushed and giggled a bit.
"A...guitar...?" Suzumi stared whimsically at Meghan. "Umm...I'm sure....." she was at a loss for words until she went back to looking for her fan, silence coming from her.
"Yes, I dream of being...a rock star. I have a major in music, stupid grandfather told me to go here in his death will. But, there's no choice for me here...guess I'll never make my dreams come true." Meghan sighed and went off into space little bit, but then she noticed Suzumi still searching for the fan. "Please. I'd anything to help...besides, I've got nothing better to do."
"Oh.....I'm sorry to hear...about your grandfather...but I'm sure he had his reasons to make sure you get a good education." Suzumi paused, hoping she hadn't angered or upset Meghan.
"...he never liked me, I never liked him..." Meghan paused. "Don't worry about it, I've got bigger problems...trying to fit in this new college is... terrifying for me, really." Meghan noticed Suzumi staring at her in amazement.
"I see...I'm kind of into the family business...we originate from Japan and live in a Japanese style house and my room has ornaments from Japan and I even dance with styles from Japan." Suzumi spoke.
She bent down even further to see the fan. "Oh! Is that it?" She said to Meghan, she could see something wooden besides someone's foot.
"W-wow...all from Japan, huh?" Meghan laughed a bit. "You didn't look Japanese when I first saw you. Well...it helps for the conversation, I'm partly English and Australian... and I don't even have an accent!" Meghan giggled.
"Hmm, that must b-be it...let me pick it up for you." Meghan pulled on the fan gently. "Someone's stepping on it!"
"N-no!!" Suzumi immediately grabbed the shoe and lifted it off with such force that the person in the chair toppled down. Suzumi grabbed the fan and looked at the face who had fallen down. "Oh...no...Larry, I'm sorry..." She spoke, clutching her fan, which was luckily not broken.
Oh no...why can't I get the courage to face Larry? Suzumi thought. "Umm...I have to go. Bye!" Suzumi immediately hurried off before Larry could say anything in front of her.
"W-WAIT!" Meghan ran along with Suzumi and she tapped her shoulder gently. "Wh-where are you going?" Meghan looked back at the puzzle man who's name was apparently Larry. "Do you like that...man?" Meghan whispered quietly into Suzumi's ear.
"N-No! I don't like him!" Suzumi spoke out a bit too quickly. "I...have to go do some studying...and practice my dancing...I'll see you later!" Suzumi waved quickly to Meghan and rushed off.
Larry stood up. "W-Wait! ... Oh man. Well, Nick, I gotta get to work. See ya!" He tore out of the lunchroom.
Felix Rodes came from behind the dumpster with an acoustic guitar.
Some first day. I come 4 hours late and get kicked out by a janitor, then I go out and play music on the street to get a quick buck. Educational step forward my ass. He looked around at everyone leaving.
DAMN! I should try and talk to someone... He walked into the lunchroom and saw Meghan, and said, "Hi! I'm Felix Rodes. And this is my guitar, Raul." He bowed and said, "Who might you be, ma'am?"
"...Hello..." Meghan was left dumbstruck by Suzumi leaving her all of a sudden; she was still staring at the place where the fan was; where Larry had fell down; and most of all, where Suzumi left her. "...A guitar named Raul?" Meghan cast a suspicious look at Felix.
"Yes, I named it to know which guitar I use for shows. Oh, I didn't catch your name. I can't properly introduce myself without knowing." he responded.
"I'm Meghan..." Meghan was still watching Felix with suspicious eyes. "That's interesting, though. Naming your guitar..."
"Yes, I'm in a rock band. I play lead guitarist." He pulled a card out of his guitar case. "Rock-Ness. We're playing tonight, actually. And... pleased to meet you, Meghan." He bowed and kissed her hand.
"Ugh...er..." Meghan quickly hid her hand behind her back and wiped the kiss so Felix couldn't see. She took the card and slipped in her backpack. "I'll...look into it..." Meghan said with a slight mumble of discomfort.
"Oh, do you have a band?" Felix put down his case and got the hair out of his eyes.
"Mhmm. It's call 'Die Happy'."
"Die Happy... Do you have a demo CD yet? I know a guy who could make you one." Felix said thoughtfully.
"Of course I do..." Meghan rolled her eyes but quickly smiled at Felix so he wouldn't notice her. "What's the point of having a major in music if you can't even succeed at it?"
"Whoa, did I insult you? I'm sorry... You don't seem to like me very much." Felix smiled anyway. He really didn't care. There were more people, more importantly, girls, at the park where the show would be.
"Er....I'm sorry. I wasn't supposed to go to this college...s-so I have to live with it." Meghan changed her expression and smiled.
"Is something wrong?" Felix stopped smiling.
"Nah, nothing... well I've lost my friends back home. But i've gained something..." Meghan smiled. "A couple of new friends here, I guess. But no musical offers here whatsoever..." She stared at the wall of the school cafeteria with a dull expression. "You know... I wonder if we'll ever...do battle with our bands." Meghan smiled at the thought.
Meanwhile, Edgeworth smiled- a very rare sight- and tossed his hair, keeping silver locks out of his eyes. He was happy to see Phoenix the way that he was- He had never thought his old-time friend would gain a girlfriend as pretty as she was. He was sitting the other side of the room, reading- He didn't like the cafeteria food, and often made his own. A thin pair of glasses were place on his face, resting squarely on the bridge of his nose. He didn't want to disturb Phoenix- If he wanted to talk to him, then let him come-Miles didn't like talking much.
The kiss earlier had left Phoenix smiling big and dumb. He waited not so patiently for his Dollie to return, and when she did he greeted her with the same enthusiasm as before. He lifted his small thin body off the ground with his hug and spun her around. "I'm so glad you're back!" He said before giving her a kiss.
From behind his novel, Edgeworth smirked. Phoenix's complete lack of anybody else around him other than the cute red-headed girl was almost cute, in a childish sense of the word- It was almost like she had spun a little spell n him and that Thomas boy, whom he knew so little about. Although... He shrugged, and returned to his novel, noble gray eyes lacing themselves into the words.
Iris melted in Phoenix's tender embrace. In an instant, all her worries and doubts went poof. "Feenie, you're embarrassing me..." she giggled, blushing. "Oh!" She fished a bento out of her paper bag and handed it to him. "I brought your lunch! And..." she added, offering the bag and the sweater inside as well, "...this is for you. It's not much, but..." Iris' eyes and voice dropped shyly. "...I hope you like it."
Phoenix took the sweater out and for a second his face went blank. It was big, pink, and had a giant heart with his first initial stitched onto it. But when he looked up into his Dollie's face he smiled. "I love it!" He declared and put it on in front of everyone. He then pulled the chair out for Dollie to sit down so they could have lunch.
"I'm so glad!" she gushed. "It looks wonderful on you, Feenie!" She seated herself in the chair formerly occupied by her sister and started in on her soup, wishing it weren't so cold. "I'm sorry I took so long getting back. It seems your friends have left without us..."
"Huh?" Phoenix had forgotten anyone was even with him. "Oh right! I don't mind." He said as he dug into his lunch.
Iris set her spoon down, then folded her hands in her lap as she silently watched the wonderful man sitting across from her. His beautiful eyes like sapphires, his strong but dignified jaw, the rice grain that somehow stuck itself to his cheek as he ate...the delicate gold chain around his neck... "...Feenie?" she asked cautiously. "About the necklace I gave you...I know what it means to you, but...could you please let me have it back?"
Phoenix laughed. Dollie was never really good at jokes, so he liked to humor her when she made them. "This lunch is really good!" He told her enthusiastically.
"Oh...t-thank you, Feenie..." Iris threw in a little laugh to cover her dejected sigh. "S-so... How are your classes this semester?"
"Ugh, I kinda kept putting off all the 'required' courses so now I've got a lot of hard classes to take." Phoenix made fingers quotes around the word 'required' and rolled his eyes when he was done. "It's really my fault, I guess."
"That's a shame..." Iris finished her cold meal and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "Which courses are you taking? I might be able to help you study if I know anything about your subjects."
"Um." Phoenix gave his Dollie a somewhat blank stare for a moment. "I don't remember. It's a lot of really heavy books though. I'd have to go back to my room and get my schedule."
Iris shook her head. "No, I couldn't trouble you like that..." Her face suddenly brightened as a solution came to her. "Would you like me to go to your room after classes end for the day?"
"Okay, sure." Phoenix smiled back.
Meanwhile, a girl named Miley ran into the lunchroom, shouting "Oh god, I'm late!" She frantically tried to find a place to sit.
The young man looked up from his novel, lifting an eyebrow curiously as the new girl entered the cafeteria- Another face he was unfamiliar with. He looked around him, frowning. He was sitting all alone with his book, and hoped- nay, prayed that she wouldn't try to strike a conversation with him.
Maybe she could distract him from that
repulsive pink sweater.
It was sort of a fit of luck that as Phoenix was looking happily at his Dollie that his eyes slipped focus and he noticed Miles Edgeworth reading a book some way aways. His face paled.
" Hmm?" Miles, officially distracted from his novel, felt a pair of eyes on him, the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight up. He turned his head, silver stands of hair falling gracefully over his attractive face. His pale eyes were soon to meet Phoenix's, and he straighted.
Well. This was an odd reunion. His face held no expression, remaining as blank as a sheet of paper.
Phoenix wasn't really sure what to do. He hadn't seen Miles since grade school when he, as far as Phoenix was concerned, saved his life. Now he was just suddenly here at this school. Though it wasn't really the sudden appearance that kept startling Phoenix. It was how cold Mile's face had gotten. Even as a child he never was one for expressions, but there was something so incredibly different about the way he looked at the world around him now. Phoenix found himself almost afraid that if he spoke to him he might figure out what the difference was.
Miles cocked his head to the side. Phoenix looked downright confused. Yes, it had been a while, but what was with that expression? It was almost as if Phoenix didn't recognize him? Did he change all that dramatically? he didn't think so; He could probably recognize his former best friend a mile away.
In an attempt to show that he was, he gave an attempt at a smile: Something which Edgeworth rarely did.
Phoenix smiled back, though it looked a little awkward. He was always so bad at smiling when he didn't really feel like it. He then did something else that was so out of place that he sounded a little disconnected from the world as he said it. "Um, could you excuse me, Dollie?" Phoenix got up, his lunch unfinished, and walked over to Mile's table.
"Of course, Feenie," she answered sweetly. Her eyes followed him until he stopped in front of an attractive but somehow gray-haired young man; at that point she realized she was staring and turned away quickly, deciding Phoenix would introduce her if he wanted.
The doors opened, announcing the arrival of yet another person. Chris Hall walked in, carrying his bookbag on his back. His red shirt read 'This is the part where I nod and pretend like I'm listening,' and he had on a serious look about him, though upon entering the lunchroom, he seemed to tense up a bit.
There's so many people... he thought, adjusting his glasses a bit.
Miles, seeing Phoenix approach, took out a paper bookmark from the front cover of his novel, setting it at the page he was at and closed the book, his smile keeping in place, despite the fact that he wanted to badly to wipe it away like a hand swatting a fly- It was almost like the expression had frozen onto his face the minute Phoenix stood.
Well, he contemplated as he eyed Phoenix curiously, standing in greeting,
You can't say you weren't expecting this. Time to face things like a man. His nodded at his thoughts, (Although when he thought about, it could have looked like a greeting gesture.) even has his stomach tightened slightly.
Phoenix had a hard time getting at least one of the thousands of questions rushing through his head to slip out of his mouth. So until one did he just stood and stared with his mouth open. This lasted until he closed his eyes, shook his head, and decided to just start simple. "Hi."
Miles stood rooted to the spot. He, like the other young man, really didn't know what to say. He was sure there was a lot of unanswered questions that Phoenix had, and he didn't quite know if he could answer them or not. But, he could only avoid these questions for oh-so long. He, in an unpredicted motion, extended a hand. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Phoenix jumped back like the hand was a snake that had intended to bite him. Then he laughed nervously and took it. "Yeah." He shook it hard to hide the fact his hand was trembling then pulled it away so he could wave. "Well I have class. I guess I'll be seeing you around." Without waiting for Edgeworth's response to all this Phoenix backed up a few paces and left the cafeteria.
Only a couple minutes passed, during which Iris had begun thinking over what sort of snacks she should prepare for their study date, before her curiousity forced her to steal another glance at her Feenie's meeting - or what would have been his meeting if he wasn't dashing out of the cafeteria. She jumped out of her seat and nearly called out to him, but he was gone before she could speak.
Emi, meanwhile sat with her feet propped against the table. There were so many people to just sit and watch today. The foreboding appearance that all the red paint on her clothes gave off was helping to keep her table pretty empty, so when she was done eating all there was left to do was people watch. The different exchanges were amusing at least.
As she observed she noticed several students walking in looking new and confused as to what to do with themselves. She watched them without reservation or shame as the cogs whirred in her brain. Then she took the sketch pad from her bag and started to draw.
Chris walked around the lunchroom, looking at everyone who was around. He was really tense by this time, and had no idea where to sit. Almost every table was taken, and he didn't know anyone.
This is what I get for not being able to make friends...Chris noticed the spikey-haird man run past him, wearing a pink sweater.
Heh, he looked kind of silly in that. But why'd he run away so quick? ... Right, that's not my concern. I've got to find a place to sit, I must look so weird walking around... He kept wandering around, feeling his head spin.
Scratch that... I'll just sit on the floor if no tables open up.Iris turned back to the table and the unfinished lunch box. Without a word, she solemnly packed the remains and walked towards the exit.
Chris finally saw someone standing up, but saw her look quite sad. "Are you all right?" he asked. He was glad the seat was about to be vacated, but he was one to be curious, especially if someone seemed upset and was with nobody.
Iris turned to the spectacled man. Seeing his shirt made her wonder about the authenticity of his concern for a moment, but thought she should put on a brave face anyway. "Ah...y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you..." Her brain ordered her to smile reassuringly. "I apologize if I gave the impression something was wrong."
Chris nodded. When he saw her look at his shirt, he quickly responded, "The shirt's just for laughs. I thought it was amusing. Either way, er, sorry if I intruded on anything with my question. I just saw someone dash out, and then you looked sad." He tilted his head for a second.
Felix waited a tad longer, watching them converse. His mom told him never to butt in. Noting the pause, however, he realized he had been waiting too long, and stuck out his hand. "Hi! My name is Felix Rodes. Who are you?"
Chris turned around. "Chris Hall." He didn't take the hand; he disliked handshakes. Probably one out of the many reasons he didn't make many friends.
"Chris Hall... Nah. I thought maybe I'd known you from somewhere before. So, what's your major, Chris?" He took back his hand and smiled.
"Computer Programming. I'm studying various programming languages, to broaden my abilities for the future."
Iris snapped back to reality after spacing out, and gasped. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't realize we were making such a scene..." she stammered, fidgeting nervously. She noted the boys' names mentally, and hoped her sister hadn't forgotten to mention them as people she should know. "I...my name is Dahlia Hawthorne," she introduced with a polite head bow after recomposing herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"Ah, no, don't worry," Chris shook his head. "I only noticed that boy go talk to the grey-haired one, and then run off. And, the pleasure is mine, Ms. Hawthorne." He bowed respectfully.
"As is mine. My name is Felix Rodes." He bowed down and almost reached for her hand to kiss, but remembered his mental note. "How are you, Ms. Hawthorne?"
"Oh, please feel free to call me Dahlia. I'm very well, thank you for asking," she smiled. "How has this beautiful day treated you?"
"Well, Ms. Haw- Dahlia, today has been great for me. And how about you, lo- miss?" He was about to say, "love", but he barely knew her to call her that.
Iris blinked in confusion. "Lowmis?" She shook her head clear and glowed again. "Each day at this school is wonderful to me. I've treasured every moment here..." Her eyes grew starry, gazing off at nothing in particular.
"Oh, nothing. So you like the school? I haven't heard anyone say they liked it while I've been here!" He shrugged. "So, Dahlia, what are you majoring in?"
"Well...I have a special reason for enjoying it here..." she murmured half to herself, feeling her face redden. It took Iris a moment to process Felix's question and snap back to reality. "Oh! My major? It was...no, I mean, is...literature! Yes, my major is literature! What about you?" she answered clumsily.
"Literature, eh? Interesting! Do you want to be a writer? Well, as for me, I aspire to be the world's greatest surgeon, so my major is anatomy," said Felix.
"...What? I thought you were a rockstar, Felix!" Meghan smiled.
"Well, thank you for calling me a star, but that's really just a passionate pastime. My real dream is to be a surgeon, like my good friend Derek Stiles." He smiled back.
Chris chuckled. "Really, now? A surgeon is a difficult job to achieve. ... Well, I guess as is the job I'm going for... not so much difficult to achieve, but difficult to prosper in." He looked back over at Dahlia. "You aspire to be a writer? That's a very good career choice!" He grinned. "There need to be more writers in the world, if you ask me. The world of books is quite fascinating. I bet you will do very well."
"Chris, you beat me to it. Well, you're right. Being a surgeon is hard, but it's my calling in life. I know it. I think I can do the best I can and do it well," replied Felix.
Chris nodded. "Well, as long as you strive to achieve what you wish, I'm sure you will do well. ... By the way, is this table taken anymore? I need to get to my studies..." He trailed off.
"I suppose... Oh yeah, let's sit down." He offered Dahlia a seat. "Please, ma'am, take a seat."
Chris sat down, and saw Felix doing the same and offering Dahlia a seat. He took his backpack, and out of it came a laptop. He quickly set it up and flipped up the monitor. He logged on, and began typing. "Just gotta keep working on this..."
"Term paper? A programming term paper? How funny that you're doing it on a computer," chuckled Felix.
"Actually, it's not a term paper. It's a program I'm coding." He said this while looking at the computer screen, typing away madly. "This isn't anything related to my studies, but I find it good practice for the upcoming chapters."
"Felix...you haven't introduced me to this young man, have you?" Meghan was obviously implying it on Chris, whom was talking with Felix.
"Oh, please, allow me to introduce myself." Chris actually stopped typing, and looked over at Meghan. "My name is Chris Hall." He bowed his head slightly, actually giving off a smile. "May I ask your name?"
"Im...er...Meghan Elise Rose, but just call me Meg or Meghan." Meghan blushed and backed away a bit to reassure of herself to reality. "I overheard you were a computer programmer; that's quite interesting..."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Meghan. And as for my computer programming, it's a very difficult field of work. I've been working with computers for years, only beginning programming about four or five years ago."
Felix butted in and asked, "What kind of program?"
Chris responded, "A simple program designed to work with any sort of science equation. If it works, I will have something to evaluate myself on, and help with my science homework."
"I have a major in music, but I see that's not as hard as computer programming..." Meghan trailed off.
"Anything can be easy or somewhat easy when you work at it and know what you're doing," said Chris. "No field of work is necessarily harder than another, if you can do it. I'd love to hear you sing sometime."
"Oh, geez...I can't do solos." Meghan giggled and blushed. "All of my band members are back at home in New York. I think I'm going to have to quit my dreams..."
Chris shook his head. "You should never give up on your dreams. I bet if you tried, you could do a single. All you have to do is try. Sometime, you should go someplace where you're alone, and feel comfortable, and just try to sing. Have a music sheet or something to sing to with you. It really works."
"Oh, I meant I COULD do solos, but I'm not used to singing them to random people. Not that you're random; it's just that I always did it to locals in my city..." Meghan smiled. "Perhaps, I could try..."
Chris nodded. "I understand. I'd like to hear one sometime, though. If you don't mind, that is." He saw someone try to come and take his laptop, and his head quickly snapped toward the person. "Don't. Touch. My. Laptop."
Meghan laughed at Chris' reaction. "That's how I would react to my guitar if someone smashed it, except I'd go nuts."
As the person walked away, Chris put one arm on his laptop, as if protecting it, and he looked back over at Meghan. "Oh, it's been stolen plenty of times. I've always gotten it back in the end though. Never really ran into anyone maliceful enough to actually keep it for very long." He sighed. "They just think it's hilarious to steal my laptop because I'm too 'geeky.'
"Awwh! That's not true...I don't think you're geeky at all, Chris!" Meghan smiled at him once again. "...that coming from a musician."
Chris laughed. "Well, being a computer programmer isn't an easy task. It's highly ridiculed by people who prefer brawn over brains, and sports, etcetera..."
"Oh well....I had a computer loving boyfriend before. He was nicer than the ones that played football..." Meghan was attempting to make Chris feel better about himself. "They aren't so obsessed with their looks all the time."
"That's the way it always is," said Chris. "I never cared about the way I looked. Perhaps that's why people ridicule me for it. But it doesn't bother me. All I want is to succeed in life as my dream job... and make more friends, despite my traits." He half-shrugged. "I have these bad tendencies of losing friends for almost no reason..."
Miley looked around for a table and found Chris, and more notably to her, his laptop. "Can I use that for something real fast?" She asked after running over to the table he was sitting at.
Chris kept his laptop to himself. "...I'm afraid I can't let someone who I don't know use my laptop. Sorry." He pointed over to a wall, where another computer sat. "That's one of the public school computers, though. You could use that easier."
"Oh...But the school public computers block ebay." Miley said. "I guess I won't be able to tell if I'll win that limited addition Pichu Plushie. By the way, the name is Miley."
Chris and Felix introduced themselves.
Emi walked up to the group. It was unclear as to just who she was addressing as she said, "Could you show me the back of your hand real quick." Her eyes had settled on Felix, but since he wasn't responding immediately she clarified. "The one with the music going."
Chris rose an eyebrow as the girl came up and asked Felix to show her the back of his hand.
Exactly what is she doing? He waited to find out.
Felix looked up at Emi. "My hand...?" He stuck it out. "Uh, here..."
Emi grabbed it and inspected it for a moment. She then simply went back to her seat and resumed her sketching.
Chris rose an eyebrow again. "Wow... that was... odd." He then turned back to his laptop, typing away again madly.
"...What was that for...?" came Felix's voice.
Emi honestly hadn't expected him to speak to her again. Much less want to know what she was up to. As an answer she flipped her sketch pad around to show him an unfinished somewhat shaded drawing of the group of them talking. She'd just finished the back of his hand, which at the time she started sketching, you could see at his side.
"Ooh! That's a great drawing! Is Raul in it?" He tried to see it again.
Chris kept on typing, and finally stopped. "...Finished." He grinned, and compiled it into the program. He hadn't expected to finish it so early, but he felt happier than he did when he first attempted to sit down. This was the first time in a long time that people had actually spoken to him, let alone acknowledge him at all. Once it finished, he launched the program. A very large calculator appeared on the screen, with all sorts of buttons and functions from various science classes; Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, and Physics, all which he had to learn.
Emi processed Felix's request, fllipped the book around and in a minute or so she changed his pose to what it had been before she'd spoken to him. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that Raul was the name of his little item. She looked up at him, deadpan, and showed the picture to Felix.
"Whoa, that's amazing!" he said.
"I have a photographical memory," said Emi plainly.
Felix nodded, and then ran to see Chris' program. "What is that?"
Chris grinned again, turning the screen that so Meghan could also see. "Can do any function from any science class... though I really only need it for Physics. Only science that I'm really interested in."
Felix ran back over to Emi, who motioned him to look.
She flipped the pages over to some other sketches. Each nicely shaded and detailed of things that had happened while she was watching. The some poses from the conversation of band battling, and the awkward reunion of friends. The earliest ones (which she logically got to last) were of people walking in looking for seats or just generally confused, and two of the tackle hugs that a spike haired man had given to a red haired girl. In each one the expression of the girl was different.
Chris closed his laptop, and put it up. He then went over to Emi. "May I look at the pictures?" he said, interested.
She handed him the sketch pad. While he had it she absently drew on the table.
He flipped through the photos. "Wow. Your drawing is amazing!" He flipped through some more, and saw the two pictures with Dahlia. "Odd... she has different expressions in each one." He tilted his head. "I guess she was happier the second time around."
"These are good! Hmmm..." Felix skimmed with Chris.
Emi had her own theories as to why the expressions were different, but there were too many of them to blather out. She added, "I have been drawing since I was six."
"Come to think of it, in that first picture, she seems to be surprised... and not in a good way," he said. "Well, I guess with how loud that kid is, he can startle anyone... But it's still odd..." He looked at Emi with an expression that read 'Something here is more than meets the eye...'
She pointed at a window in the building across from them. "My angle was different for the first photo," she said deadpan.
"I see." Chris tilted his head. "I guess something else must've happened... it's nothing to worry about."
"What were you doing up there, anyway?" asked Felix.
"I was painting," said Emi simply. "On top of the art department building." She looked down at the table; it now had a perfect sketch of the three of them conversing. "It's a habit," she explained, then licked the side of her hand and began wiping the drawing off of the table.
"Ah, no, it's fine," came Chris' reply. He handed her back the sketchpad with a smile. "You draw magnificently well."
"You say you've been drawing since you were six?" Felix kept playing.
"I couldn't talk until I was about thirteen." Emi started sketching again once she got it back. "There was nothing wrong with me, just something bad happened when I was little, and I never wanted to talk. I don't remember what it was." She explained. People always asked the same questions when they learned about her past, so she tried to answer them all before they did.
"Ah, I see." Chris stood up straight.
"That's horrible. I'm sorry for you, er....... What's your name again?" asked Felix.
"Emily Brown." Emi replied and tore a page out of her sketch pad. She handed Chris one of himself showing off his calculator program. "I liked that smile there." She pointed at his expression with her eraser. "Thought you might want to have it."
"Oh, thanks!" said Chris, smiling. "My name is Chris Hall."
"And I'm Felix Rodes," said Felix.
Suddenly, Iris spoke up. "Um...excuse me... Please forgive me for eavesdropping, but...the reason I appeared upset the first time Feenie hugged me is because I had injured my side earlier and he had accidentally squeezed a tender spot." She wasn't exactly sure why she felt the need to address this, as it was probably nothing.
"Mm?" Chris had almost forgotten that Dahlia was there. "Oh, really? Hm. Well, that would explain it."
Not entirely, though... I still have my doubts, he thought to himself.
I'll just keep quiet... He sat back down. "Have to go to class soon... and yet, for the first time, I really don't want to leave the cafeteria..."
"Yes...yes, that's all it was..." Iris confirmed, a bit late, seemingly a bit flustered. She bowed to the group suddenly. "Please excuse me, I have to be going," she blurted swiftly. "It was very nice meeting all of you." She clutched the lunch box and rushed out of the cafeteria before anyone could question her.
"...She's quite shy, isn't she?" asked Chris, tilting his head. "I guess she's still a bit flustered from when that boy left so suddenly."
Felix saw Dahlia run and got up. "Whoa, slow down! She's er.... Pretty shy, you're right."
"Speaking of leaving, I have to leave for class..." Chris sighed. "But it was very nice meeting all of you."
"Oh, crap, me too! Hey, if we don't see each other again, come to the park at 6:00 and see my band play! Bye everyone!" Felix took Raul and his bag and ran off.
Chris stood up. "See you all." He started walking out.
--
Phoenix couldn't really help but wonder what was wrong with himself as he walked back to his room. The truth was it was another thirty minutes before his next class, and it wasn't until his stomach grumbled that he realized he hadn't even finished his lunch. Then the realization of something far worse set it. "I didn't say goodbye to Dollie!" He wanted to slap himself as he ran back towards the cafeteria.
He had a hard time getting back to the cafeteria. It was like the universe around him was doing its darnedest to keep him from saying good bye to his Dollie. It wasn't long until he had to choose between finding her or being late to his next class. "I'll get to see her tonight." He assured himself and turned around.
END OF CHAPTER 2
Gawd, that was a long one. XD However, I felt the need to put more content into this one. I hope you all enjoyed it. If I missed any grammar errors, feel free to tell me. I think I kept the story flowing really well by editing what was necessary. I might go ahead and compile Chapter 3 tonight. Depends if I have time.
Comments, questions, whatever are welcome.
Proud supporter of Phoenix/Iris, past, present and future

Thank you Elriel! :D