Chapter5: Final Pitstop

[stardust]

Page 5!! XD
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Stardust's wet pink bangs keep hitting her eyes as she made her way inside the Cafeteria. She saw the hacker Hadrian walk past her, and she continued inside. The first thing that she noticed were the familiar faces of her teammates all huddled in their own respective tables. Suddenly, she didn't feel like socializing. She would just get some food and eat it someplace else.

/I'm not even going to say anything./ Diwata piped in.

There was too long a line on the main counter, so she resorted to the footstands where there were lesser lines. A rice in a bowl would be good. Minutes later, she was holding a portable plastic bowl containing her ready made dinner.

Keeping her eyes on the big wide entrance, she proceeded towards it.

[Jax]

Laughing at the sight, Jax strolled up to the lunchline Leaning his elbows onto the counter, he smiled charmingly at the lunchlady.

"Hello Mrs. Gerund, you are looking extraordinarily lovely today. Could I get hamburger, and oh yes don't forget the extra onions. And if not its not too much to ask, a side of french fries and a bottle of water please? Thank you, you are far too kind."

Picking up his order on the side, Jax peeked inside the large bag to find a lovely slice of chocolate mousse cake.

Works everytime...


Jax usually liked to eat alone. It wasn't that he was anti-social. He simply felt that eating with others required for him to make small-talk, rather than concentrate on his food, altogether taking away from the deliciousness of his meal.


But looking around the packed cafeteria, Jax couldn't see any empty tables. However, he did see a whole bunch of his team meets all crowded together at one table. There was the blue-haired guy, the sunny looking girl, the pink-haired chick, the three Opps, Stella and some blondie all chatting it up. He made a note to himself to figure out all of there names. Groaning inwardly, he felt he had no other choice but to join them. Feigning a nonchalent walk, he casually approached their table, holding his tray of food.

"Hey, mind if I join you guys?"

[Gemma Ridean]

Gemma was sitting at her computer desk, eyes glued to the screen as she typed her last email responses. The Honorary Blue Mage Society, in which she was president of, had sent a barrage of questions to her regarding their upcoming forum. In addition, Junctioning Fanactics wanted to know if they could use her dorm room for their next meeting. Finally, she clicked 'Send' for the last time. Leaning back in her swivel chair, Gemma let out a sigh of relief. As if on cue, her stomache started growling.

Wow, it was already late and she hadn't eaten anything yet. She quickly put her shoes on and with a final glance in the mirror, Gemma left her room and walked over to the cafteteria.

Everyone was already there, happily snacking and socializing with eachother. Pushing past a group of Cadets, she made her way to the front counter and ordered a tofu salad and a lemonade. As she waited for her food to come, Gemma wondered what she would be doing for the rest of the evening. She had hoped to go spend a few hours in the Training Center but she needed a sparring partner...

"Um miss..is this your food?"

Slightly dazed for a few moments, Gemma shook her self back to reality and smiled at the young man.

"Yes, it is thank you."

Gathering everything onto a tray, Gemma noticed that Polaris and her friend were sitting alone at their table. She didn't know it, but she surprised the other SeeDs when she joined them at their table.

[miyavi]

Ooooo, poor Sho's desperate because his wife left him!!! XD

Sho: W, WHA?!?! No way!!! ><; I wouldn't pick Deo for THAT!!!! I'd rather take---NEVERMIND!!! *GULP!* >_>;;

---

Sho looked up and saw the pilot Jax heading towards them at an easy pace. Raising a hand in greeting, Sho shook his head, "Aa, come on and join us! The more the merrier, right?" He looked around at the rest of the table with a small grin that vanished as quickly as it came.

"Now, back on topic." He peered at Jun intently. "Ju~n," he said her name with an odd inflection, lengthening the 'u', "are you sure you'll have room for Pixie AND Jaime in your dorm? I know SeeD rooms are usually bigger than the usual cadets dormitories, but...well, what if you all have to squish on the same bed? That'll be uncomfortable." He scrunched up his face and shot Deo the most distrustful of looks. "Not to mention it might be too much for you. I have no problem locking you in the bathroom, just so you know."

< Going a bit far with the paternal thing, are you? > Zephyr sounded dryly amused.

Sho ignored him, his face lighting up when he saw a familiar brunette walking in their direction. "It's Milady!" he said with a beaming smile. "Aa, isn't that your sister?" he asked Jax. "Hey! Maybe she wouldn't mind sharing her room with Pixie! ...Ehh?"

Gemma made her way over to the next table, setting her tray down with Polaris'. Sho blinked. "Wow, she's so sweet and brave," he remarked, "sitting down next to Blaze the Demon Incarnate." Before anyone could react to his whole speech Sho had vaulted over a chair and made his way to the table where the three girls were sitting. "Good evening!" he sang, beaming at Gemma and Polaris. Blaze was too evil to waste his good mood on. "Would any of you wonderful, charming ladies mind having a guest for tonight? The Opps need some places to crash for the night, you know."

[Polaris Lyn]

Polaris glanced up just as Gemma stopped at her table. She offered a small, shy smile. "Hello," she said quietly, gesturing towards the last empty seat. "Have a seat."

Gemma didn't even open her mouth when Sho came bounding up to them, looking unnaturally good-natured and cheerful. "Good evening!" he announced, a Cheshire Cat grin on his face. "Would any of you wonderful, charming ladies mind having a guest for tonight? The Opps need some places to crash for the night, you know."

< Oh, so that's what that last outburst was about. > Polaris picked up her cooling mug of hot chocolate and took a sip, surveying the other table past Sho. She moved her gaze from the Opps to Sho. "Are you playing representative for the Opps, Miyavi?" she asked softly, a smile tugging the corner of her lips.

"Yes ma'am!" Sho snapped a perfect salute. "Heyy, is that chicken noodle soup?! Where'd you get that?!"

< He's one of those easily distracted types. > Polaris shot a quick glance at Blaze, who was her usual menacing self. < Reminds me of someone else I know... >

"If one of them needs a place to stay, I don't mind sharing," Polaris said, her sister complex kicking in. "It's fine---"

"Okay!" And Sho was suddenly at the Opps table, practically shouting, "Polaris said she didn't mind having a guest!!!"

Polaris stared mutely after him. < He is definitely something else. >

< Yeah. He's a Wendigo on SPEED. > Obsidian cracked up.

[vanesse]

Vanesse looked up to see the pilot from earlier asking them to join their table. She welcomed him with a smile as Sho invited him to sit down. She moved aside to provide him some space to sit.

"You're that pilot from the ship, right? I'm Vanesse." She offered to shake his hand and then withdrew it to point at Jaime. "Oh, and this is Jaime. She doesn't talk much but she's a great cook, I'm telling you." She glanced at Jun too. "And lastly, that's Deo. He's a genius." She motioned her head to him. He was in his usual slouching pose, kind of looking bored or sleepy.

"Okay!" The next thing she noticed, Sho was running back to them. Hey, when did he leave our table? Vanesse wondered.

"Polaris said she didn't mind having a guest!!!" the flashy SeeD announced, and Vanesse had to look back towards Polaris. She noticed that Gemma was hanging out with them as well. Vanesse concluded that Blaze and Polaris weren't as unfriendly as they looked afterall. Her grin glistened. She just got an idea.

"Polaris, is that true?!" she shouted from over her table. "What do you think of a slumber party!!"

/Hold it missy!/ Paridge interrupted her thoughts. /W-what?/ That was a bit off-topic for her GF.

[Polaris Lyn]

She started when Vanesse called out to her.

"What do you think of a slumber party!!"

Polaris stared...and stared some more. The expression on her face was something like shock, disbelief, confusion and shyness, all at once.

A pause, then she spoke.

"...What...what is a slumber party?"

[Blaze Sanaku]

Blaze gawked at Polaris, "You don't know what a slumber party is?!" she asked in disbelief.

/oh and YOU do?/ DS's voice rang in Blaze's mind.

of course I do!

Blaze stood up and leaned one of her hands on the table, "A slumber party is when a group of girls get together and spend the entire night terrorizing guys. I've done it a thousand times," Blaze sighed as if the answer was obvious.

"Anyways... I'm always up for a slumber party. Count me in if you have one," Blaze smiled maliciously.

[Polaris Lyn]

Polaris turned to look at Blaze as her friend launched into a short, concise explanation about these so-called 'slumber parties'.

< Terrorizing guys...? >

"...I've done it a thousand times," Blaze concluded with a deep sigh, and an expression of pity, like Polaris was an extremely stupid twelve-year-old asking what one plus one was. Then a smirk lit up Blaze's face. "Anyways... I'm always up for a slumber party. Count me in if you have one."

Polaris hesitated, frowning. Then she turned back to the Opps' table.

"...Would any of you...like...for me to throw a slumber party?" Her thoughtful frown deepened. "Would any of you go...?"

< What the heck do I even DO to start one of these things...? >

[vanesse]

HAHAHAHAH XD
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Vanesse's eyebrow lifted. Polaris had never heard of a slumber party before? Blaze had an idea about it, but she was kind of...off too. Was it a SeeD thing?

"Well...hehe...I don't think terrorizing guys is a part of--" she mumbled, sweatdropping.

"Anyways... I'm always up for a slumber party. Count me in if you have one." Blaze ended. It looked like they were going to have fun tonight.

"...Would any of you...like...for me to throw a slumber party?" Polaris still looked a bit puzzled about the slumber party. "Would any of you go...?" But she was down for it. Vanesse stood up in her seat, grin unfading.

"Of course we will!" she hollered, looking back at Jun and Jaime. "You heard that? Slumber party, girls. Wanna come?" Her eyes were brimming with enthusiasm. "We should probably invite Stella and that pink-haired girl too if they want. It'll be fun."

/Sucks to be a man, huh?/ Paridge intervened.

[Polaris Lyn]

Vanesse was on a roll. Polaris blinked in puzzlement and turned to Gemma. "Would you...?" she began tentatively, but her softspoken personality got the better of her.

< Oh, seriously, to hell with this. >

Polaris stood up abruptly, grabbing her tray and her laptop. Her cheeks were flushed a dusky rose but her expression was blank...as usual. She strode up to Vanesse, "My dormitory number is 817. You plan this...this slumber party." Then she spun on her heel and walked away, depositing her trash in the nearest receptacle and neatly stacking her tray with the rest. Securing her laptop under her arm, Polaris left the cafeteria.

Sho stared after her, scratching the back of his neck. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she was scared of slumber parties," he said out loud. "But that can't be right...aa, right?" He looked thoughtfully cute.

[Myacu]

"If I didn't know better, I'd say she was scared of slumber parties," But that can't be right...aa, right?"


Gemma softly chuckled at Sho's comment. Yes, it did seem strange that Polaris, a person who seemed so strong and confident on the battle field would be so hesitant about a mere slumber party. Then again, she wasn't alone. Gemma had never been to a slumber party in her whole life. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she had attended any kind of social event.

<<You need to get out more.>> smirked Calypso

Well it's not like you're particular chummy with anyone else either..


Turning towards Vanesse, Gemma smiled and said, "Well it looks like Polaris has dumped this onto your hands. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."

[Myacu]

Between bites of his meaty burger, Jax looked over at the congregating group of girls..and Sho. His munching of fries blocked out most of the conversation, but he managed to make out "sleepover" and "Room 817". Deciding to turn completely around, he saw Gemma and Vanesse nodding their heads eagerly, with wide smiles plastered on both their faces.

Gemma having friends? That's laughable..
Jax couldn't picture his sister at a slumber party. It seemed so girly, even for her.

Finishing his meal, Jax wiped his mouth with a white cotton napkin. Tipped back in his chair, he yelled out, "So looks like the girls are gonna be busy tonight. Any of you guys care for a little pow-wow in my dorm? We can bake brownies and fold paper stars!"

[miyavi]

Sho leaned in to conspire with Gemma and Vanesse. "Make sure to distract Blaze with something shiny and bloody," he said in a stage whisper, chancing a quick peek at the dark-haired girl. "So you can keep her from starting a war with us guys."

He beamed cutely at both Gemma and Vanesse. "Have fun!" Then he heard Jax and turned around.

"Folding paper stars?" Sho snapped his fingers, putting on a mock-excited expression. "Great idea! Let's go and do those stupid quizzes in those crappy girly magazines, too!" He smirked.

[waterlily43]

Jun was initially rather uninterested in the slumber party, but seeing the girls get so excited over it was contagious.

"Hey I'm in too!" She smiled at Gemma and Vanesse. "And I'll appoint myself to ask Stardust along, although there's no guarantee that she'll go. So...what should each of us bring? I've never been to one before too." She stuck out her tongue a little in embarrassment.

"Pillows, definitely." Jaime said firmly. "Cos you don't wanna lose out by not having enough ammunition. Right Van?" She turned to Vanesse with an eager grin.