It was a typical day for the average teenager, Mei. She had jet-black hair, around the height of 5 feet, 2 inches. She was just on her way to Karate, when suddenly... a rather suspicious guy, about two years older than her stopped her in her tracks; she had just bumped into a complete stranger. She quickly looked up, thinking to herself damn he looks hot. The guy looked down at the girl in front of him, wondering why she had to stare at him so much.

Mei had wondered, as she sat in her bedroom, looking outside the window, while recalling the whole fiasco. Who was he? Why hadn't he cared that she had bumped into him. Or that she was staring at him like a lost puppy. But something told her she didn't know what, but she had this strange feeling that she'd meet him again. She slowly brushed her hair, when suddenly her phone rang. Feeling lazy, she thought she'd let it ring, but then decided against it. Picking it up lazily.

"Hello?" Mei questioned, she wondered who'd be calling her now.

"Hi." said the person on the other line. Mei wasn't sure who it was. But wasn't too sure how to ask then the voice spoke again, "Umm is Sarah there?"

Of course why didn't she think of it before? The caller sounded like a male. She then reverted her thoughts back to her stepsister, Sarah. Whenever a guy called their house, it was always for Sarah. Mei sat there in silence thinking about her stepsister when the voice spoke again, "Umm, hello? Is Sarah there?" Mei snapped back to reality, she had forgotten about the caller, she quickly replied, "Uh sorry, can you hold on, I'll go get her."

As if on cue, there was Sarah, standing in front of Mei's doorway. A smirk on her face, she loved rubbing it in, Mei never had luck with guys, none of them even looked at her. Not that she was hideous or anything, they just never considered her. Though Mei wished for her 'Prince Charming' to walk into her life one day, she knew it would never happen, and it always pissed her off how Sarah always had a guy after her. She handed the phone to Sarah. Slamming the door right after. She hated it; she hated how all her friends and let alone her stepsister all were coupled. For some reason she felt left out. As if she was missing something.

Mei had never loved anyone, ever since her mother had passed away 3 years ago, she was heart-broken, and then 6 months later her dad finds some woman on the street. She hated the woman her dad went out with, it seemed that she had a rude comment for everything Mei did. And her dad, it seemed he pushed her right out of his life, ever since Kate entered the picture. After 6 months of them seeing each other, they got married, joining the two families together, which meant that Kate's daughter Sarah, would be her stepsister. She hated it, her dad had spoiled Sarah till her whole room was covered with everything a girl could dream of. Mei had never even gotten as much as a hug.

Her stepmother, geez calling her petty names such as wench, ugly, whatever name came to her stepmother Kate's mind. Mei hated it! She wanted to smash Kate's face into the wall. Throw darts at her, something! Anything to shut up her rude stepmother! That's how its always been, her stepmother treating her like dirt, bossing her around, do this do that, blah blah blah, urgh and the way Kate always treated Sarah, Aww pumpkin are you hurt? Did that witch hurt you? Glaring at her as if her eyes were shooting out fire bolts at Mei. Then her dad, Now Mei, you shouldn't do that to your stepsister! You know she would never do anything like that to you! Why can't you just pick up after Sarah, you know she's a few months younger! She is your sister after all! You should be more caring towards your sister instead of treating her like dirt. Her father's words echoed through her mind. It pissed her off, how they were always sticking up for Sarah, even if Mei does anything suspicious Sarah would freak out and then Kate would get angry at Mei for no apparent reason, and if Kate's angry, her dad's angry. Urgh she hated it! She just wanted to push Kate off a cliff! Before Kate had come into the picture Mei was never treated like a slave, she was never asked to clean the entire house every weekend. Though she didn't mind helping out around the house at first, but then the tasks got more and more bogus. Sarah had even asked her once to give her a foot rub, complaining that her feet hurt from walking up the stairs. Geez, how much work did it take to walk up 3 steps? When Mei refused her father would freak out, You have no sympathy for your stepsister! You should be grateful you have such a sweet and caring sister like Sarah. And Kate's reactions, she didn't even want to think about them. As she slowly drifted off to sleep that night.

She awoke the next day, as her alarm clock let out a monotonous but loud beep. She wasn't a morning person, but she forced herself out of bed, she wanted to get out of the house before Kate would come out of the bedroom and make a snappy comment at her. She quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face. Got changed, grabbed her books, and went out the door. It was a cool September morning, the school year had just started a few weeks ago, and she had no idea what she'd do, since the school doors didn't open until 8 o'clock. She looked at her watch, it was only 7:30, and damn she thought. She'd have to wait half an hour. What could she do? She decided to towards Second Cup, to grab a bagel and some coffee, since she skipped breakfast. As she walked on, thinking in her head how she was going to live her life, BAM, she had run right into someone. She looked up, there, a guy looked down at her, no emotions on his face. Just staring blankly at her. She got a good look and realized it was the same guy she had run into yesterday. She apologized to him and was about to leave. When.

He suddenly grabbed her arm; she looked up and asked, "What do you want? I already apologized for bumping into you."

She noticed he was smiling, nothing malicious or anything, just a sweet smile, "Well I was just wondering if you wanted to go for some coffee. seeing as how your stomach keeps grumbling in hunger." He confessed timidly.

Mei was shocked, had a guy just asked her out for some coffee? Mei, the girl that no guy had ever paid attention to, and here, some random guy that she bumped into twice, had just asked her. Her Mei, no guy had ever really asked her a question, heck she couldn't even remember the last time she talked to a guy. She stood there, staring at him blankly. Blinking, not sure how to reply. When he grabbed her by the shoulders and steered her towards the Second Cup store. When she got in, thoughts raced through her mind, why is he talking to me? Heck who is he anyway? Why can't I talk to him? Why do I just space out every time he looks my way? What the heck, I don't even know what this guy wants from me. He noticed the quizzical expression painted on her face, and extended his hand, "My names Damian, Damian Summers."

She slowly stuck out her right hand, and he shook it, as she replied, "I'm Mei." she just blanked out, she had forgotten her own last name. She just stared blankly, and then slowly continued still clutching his hand, "Mei Sh…. Sh ... Shijouko." She finally managed. He let out a laugh, "Well Mei Sh… Sh. Shijouko, what would you like? And don't worry the moneys on me." He said, through giggling outbursts.

Mei had turned beet red and was prepared to head out the door, not realizing that they were still holding hands, he felt a slight tug on his hand, and looked, "Where are you going?" He asked, a blank expression on his face. He had wondered why she was going, right when they were just getting to know each other. He thought to himself, had he done anything wrong? She slowly turned around not sure how to reply, why was she leaving? Then she realized that the fact that he had made fun of her, when she tried to stutter out her name made her annoyed. Damian noticed the anger burning inside of her as he started blankly into her eyes. Then he continued, "Look I'm sorry I made fun of you, but the way you just replied, I couldn't help but laugh. I mean it almost seemed as if you forgot your own last name."

Mei glared at him, prepared to rip his head off, then a cheerful voice in front of them said, "Welcome to Second Cup, may I take your order?" Mei blankly stared at the cashier, then back at Damian, then again at the cashier, and again at Damian. "I'll have a mocha latte and a muffin." Damian said coolly, and then turned around to face Mei, "and you? What will you have?" he questioned her. Mei, blushing furiously, replied, facing towards the cashier, "I'll have a regular coffee, and a bagel." Reaching slowly for her wallet, as she looked at the total on the cash register. But in one swift movement, Damian grabbed hold of her hand before she could reach for her wallet, and whispered slowly into her ear, "I told you, the money was on me." And smiled at her.

As they reached a table, Mei couldn't help but stare at him, thinking, He's hot, I wonder if he has a girlfriend. Heck with looks like that, he probably does! She blushed furiously at her thoughts. She didn't even know why he had invited her for coffee. She blushed even more. As she munched on her bagel, a slight beeping noise came. She looked at her wristwatch and yelled out, "Oh damn!" a little to loudly, as other customers turned around to look at her. Blushing furiously she thanked Damian for the coffee and bagel, and that she'd pay him back, she told him that she had to get going and get to school before she became late. As she leapt of her chair, he grabbed her hand. For some reason, Mei thought, every time he held her hand, she just wanted to jump up and down. For one, no guy had ever touched her, let alone spoke to her, and another, he was just oh so hot. She stared blankly at the guy sitting in front of her, emerald green eyes, dirty blond hair, sweet smile, and some nice abs too, she noted, looking at the shirt he was wearing. She also couldn't help smiling every time he flashed her one of his dazzling smiles. She could have sworn that he was an actor or something.

Forgetting that they were still holding hands, her watch beeped again, with its mocking tone, snapping Mei back to reality. She twisted her wrist free of his grip and rushed out of Second Cup. Great, now she was going to be late, all because of some complete stranger that she didn't even know. His smiling face flashed in her head, she couldn't help but smile, she had never gotten the attention of any guy, let alone a cute one at that.

Mei rushed up the school steps, as she rushed towards her locker, there was a loud "Rrrrrrrriiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggggggg" the bell had rung. Geez, she thought, now she was late for class, all because of some stupid guy, she couldn't help but feel like he was stalking her too. Then she thought back to yesterday, she knew it, she would meet him again. She also had this burning desire that she wanted to see him again. Focusing back to reality, and noting the settings around her, she had almost forgotten she had to get to class.

"Mr. Stevenson" said the teacher; he was doing to roll call, making sure that the students were here.

"Here." Replied a blond haired boy.

"Ms. Shijouko. Ms. Shijouko!" spoke the teacher. "Does anyone know where Ms. Shijouko is?" he continued.

Suddenly in the doorway, appeared Mei. "Sorry I'm late Mr. Peterson. I was uh... held up."

"Held up my a**!" called out Sarah, "I saw you at Second Cup, with some guy! You probably were planning to skip class and go off to make out with him!"

The whole class let out an "oooohhhh" as the teacher gave Mei a disappointed look. Since Mei was usually ignored by her family and had never gone on any dates, she spent her free time either with her best friend or studying. So the teacher was shocked to see her late, and of all the reasons.. a boy? The teacher continued to stare at Mei with a disgruntled look. But Mei had nothing to excuse, what was she supposed to say? I uh ran into some stranger that I bumped into yesterday, and he offered me some coffee. We started talking and I lost track of time? Geez, why did she have to bump into him? And why couldn't he have just minded his own business? Great, now she was going to get detention. She had never received detention in her life. As the teacher was about to announce her punishment a sudden knock came at the door.

"Come in." replied Mr. Peterson.

As the doorknob turned slowly, a dark brown haired boy entered the room. Mei turned around to get a glimpse of the person she was shocked to see… Brian. Her older brother who had moved out ever since their dad re- married to that dared she say wench! She noticed he had dyed his hair again, this time a dark brown, before it was a slight blondish color.

Brian looked up at Mei, then to the teacher and made up an excuse, explaining how Mei and him hadn't seen each other in years, and were just keeping up to date with each others lives when they lost track of time. He also handed the teacher a hall pass, which was written for Mei, saying that she had forgotten it. The teacher just gave them a suspicious look and said, "Very well then, it seems that you, Ms. Shijouko are off the hook. But next time don't forget your pass, and be aware of the time." Before Mr. Peterson could close the classroom door her brother held up his hand, requesting that the teacher allow him to talk to Mei for a second. Annoyed Mr. Peterson agreed, but said she must come back inside in five minutes.

As soon as they were out of the classroom Brian looked at Mei, confused, "Why were you with that guy?" Mei was taken aback, wondering how her brother knew. She just stared at her brother, shocked yet confused. "Do you have any idea who he even is? For all you know he could be some rapist. Heck he could even be a murderer, or a kidnapper." Continued Brian. He couldn't help but be a little over protective of his little sister. Also because of the fact that she'd never even been near a guy aside from their family, he began to worry. Looking down at his little sister, who was obviously confused, he ruffled her hair and apologized. "Sorry, I guess I'm just being a bit over protective. Just be careful around this guy. I mean do you even know him?"

Mei continued to stare at him blankly, about to reply, when the classroom door swung open, "Ms. Shijouko it's time for you to return to class." Demanded Mr. Peterson. Feeling slightly annoyed she looked at her brother, wishing she could just pound his head to a pulp for thinking that she was even with Damian, but she had to go back, so she just let out a simple good-bye and left. Brian rolled his eyes and walked out of the school. He was beginning to worry more and more about his little sister, he knew that he was the only one left in the family that cared for her, and knew she wasn't used to others caring about her. Though he was happy for her, since she'd never even talked to guys before. He was actually proud of her, I mean the girl avoided a lot of people. He was also worried, especially since he happened to know who Damian was. But he wasn't about to burst Mei's bubble and tell her that Damian and him were worst enemies. They had gone to the same high school, before their mom had died, and Brian had to switch schools because he had moved out of the Shijouko house and into his own apartment. But to this day, he still had the burning desire to kill Damian, though he knew better.