Duck stood in the entrance hallway the next morning, arms clenching her books, face furrowed in determination. "I'm just gonna tell him the truth! There's nothing bad about that… I mean, after all, it's something that has to be done! And… The only way I'll feel better about any of this is if I tell him!" Her cheeks were flushed with both determination (bordering on self-agitation) and nerves.

"DUCK! Who you talking about?!" Pique tackled her from behind, and Lilie came running up behind her.

"No one!" gasped Duck. "Ouch ouch OUCHHHHH!"

"Ah, Duck, you always act as if you're the only one who can hear yourself talking," Pique sighed, releasing Duck and patting her shoulder in her characteristic way.

"But whatever you're prattling on about, you might as well go for it!" Lilie giggled.

"EXACTLY! Wait…" Duck froze and turned to her friends. "You – you know who I'm talking about?"

"Well, it's kinda obvious, you know," Pique jerked her head in the direction of Duck's gaze. "You were glaring at that new kid's locker – Mytho, isn't that his name?"

"His parents must be hippies – that makes for all the more of an original romance!" Lilie squealed.

"No, no, I – you don't understand!" Duck panicked. "I – it's not like I – I just…"

"I wouldn't be in such a rush, though," Pique cut in.

Duck paused in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, haven't you heard?" Lilie asked.

"Heard WHAT?!" Duck began to panic once more.

"You know, Duck, for someone who's fallen head-over-heels for the new guy, you certainly don't keep tabs on him very well, do you?" Pique shook her head.

Duck's blood turned to ice. She gulped. "Will you guys just tell me what's going on?"

"Well, okay, here's the thing. So, yesterday, I was walking down the sidewalk and I saw – "

"Pique, you told ME you just heard about it, not that you – "

"Sh!" Pique shushed Lilie. "I'm getting to the good part! But, anyways, so I was walking and I saw that Mytho guy and – "

"Wait, Pique!" Lilie pointed to the entrance doors. "Let THAT finish the story!"

Duck looked at her friends in confusion, then leaned back and craned her head to see through the crowd.

There, making their way steadily through the flow of teens, was Mytho and Rue, arm in arm. Rue made a comment, then laughed, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder and hugging Mytho's arm tighter. Mytho said nothing, just looked down at her.

But Duck couldn't speak. She couldn't move. She was frozen as an invisible rain flooded over her and cemented her to the spot.

"Duck? Duck…?" Pique waved her hand in front of Duck's face. "Hey, c'mon, it's not that bad!"

Duck couldn't hear her. The raindrops of frost continued – she could even feel their wetness on her cheeks, trailing down her skin…

Wait. These raindrops were warm, not frigid… She rose her hand to wipe away two tears on her cheeks.

"Duck?" Pique's voice wavered in uncertainty.

"Why are you crying?" Lilie asked.

"It's nothing! It's nothing, okay?!" Duck dropped her books and sprinted away through the crowd, fighting past elbows and backpacks. It's not fair it's not fair it's not FAIR! Mytho… My Mytho… My Ren! I was too late! I WAS TOO LATE! I'm sick of this! I can't believe it! I… just… can't…

Wait. This doesn't mean anything. Maybe… Maybe they're just friends! Duck skidded to a halt around the corner in an empty hallway, catching her breath. And maybe I'm really a swan princess that bakes pies in her spare time…

It's all my fault, once again. I… I can't believe it. Where do I go from here?! It's just one roadblock after another, and I don't know what to do! Why can't I just be with him? Is it really just not meant to be?

She took a deep, shaky breath and tugged on her braid. "I can… I can still do this. 'Sides, it's just been a day since Mytho started school here, so maybe he and Rue – "

The sound of clicking footsteps made her halt, and she gazed around the corner cautiously. Rue and Mytho, still arm in arm, were approaching rapidly. Duck smoothed her braid, took another deep breath, and lowered her gaze.

They came around the corner at a leisurely pace, Rue chattering away at Mytho. "I mean, it is a city school, and not a very prestigious one at that, but I told my father I wanted to attend a school with more culture and life than a private school. My father is very wealthy and a producer with quite the reputation, so of course he was surprised when I told him –"

"Hello, Duck," Mytho said quietly upon spotting Duck.

Duck blushed despite herself. "Hi, Mytho."

"Ah, Duck's your name, is it?" Rue asked. "How very interesting. Is everything all right… Duck?"

"Y-Yes!" Duck immediately straightened up. A wave of guilt swept over her when she remembered the rage she'd been in just moments before… At least Rue seems nice. Maybe things will work out for now. Better Mytho with someone friendly rather than a witch, right?

"I mean, your hair is quite the mess, and your face is blotchy," Rue continued.

Duck felt as if she'd been pinched. "Yes, well… I had a long night!" She forced up a smile. "See, I had a lot of chores to do, and plus I had to work, so – "

"Work? At your age? But you're so young."

Duck scowled. A fire flashed up inside of her. "What's it to you?!"

Rue seemed taken aback for a moment, and Duck immediately regretted her venomous words. What's wrong with me?

Rue regurgitated a simpering smile. "…I see. Most of the students here are low-income, anyways, and I bet they have situations close to yours. Come on, Mytho, I want to speak to Mr. Gato before class starts. Have a nice day, Duck." Rue led Mytho away.

Duck stared after them as they left. As soon as they were out of sight, she gathered back up her stuff and walked out of the school, back towards home.

As soon as she reached her house, she slammed her stuff onto the floor and strode into the living room. She needed something to take it all away. Something to distract her from this right now, from life's ridiculous issues…

The stereo had an almost magnetic pull to her. It called to her, promising that, even if only for a few minutes, it would relieve her of her desperation.

She jabbed the buttons impatiently, waiting for it to buzz and whirr to life. As she waited for it to warm up, she searched the stacks of CDs next to it. In her haste, she knocked them over. A few cases popped open, their CDs sliding out. She grabbed one with a ruby colored disc and jammed it in.

"COME ON COME ON!" She scuffed the floor with anger as the stereo took its time to load the song. A futuristic beat began.

"Ahh… This is better!" She stretched a little as the intro beat began to pick up. She smiled – she felt better already. She lifted her arms above her head and twirled around the room. She raised her leg and swung it down to the side, her motions echoing a robot. She moved smoothly, forwardly, without any frivolous sweeps or curves. To the rhythm of the music, she danced gleefully. Then the androgynous singer started the chorus.

"If only I could get through this…

I just gotta get through this,
I gotta get through this, I gotta get through this,
I gotta make, gotta make it, gotta make it through,

Said I'm gonna get through this, I'm gonna get through this,

I gotta take, gotta take my mind off of you…"

I'm gonna get through this, Duck thought with the singer. No worries… Ah, dancing makes

everything better! She pirouetted in bliss around the room. No worries!

"Give me just a second and I'll be all right,

Surely one more moment couldn't break my heart.

Give me 'til tomorrow and I'll be okay…

Just another day and then I'll hold you tight…"

Duck hesitated between steps. Just another day and then I'll hold you tight...

"When your love is pouring like the rain

I close my eyes and it's gone again,

When will I get to just say I love you?!"

Duck began to dance again with a vengeance. She stormed through the room, arms flashing, legs swooping. But there seemed to be no movement strenuous enough that could relieve her of her angst.

"I pretend that you're already mine,

That my heart ain't breaking every time

I look into your eyes!"

She stretched her arms out as far as they could go, until her shoulders were tingling and her hands were brushing against the wall and furniture. Papers were sent flying like white feathers through the air. Dropping to her knees, she skid back to the stereo as the song ended.

"I just gotta get through this…"

The song stopped, and the stereo whirred to load the next one. In the quiet, the only sound was Duck's labored breathing. It had been such a workout… But even that, in the end, did not warm the cold that had seeped into her bones, nor relieve her of the emptiness she felt consuming her at the thought of Rue and Mytho arm in arm. The papers continued to fall like feathers, calm and white, all around the room. Their serenity did not hint to the feelings of the girl they surrounded, who so desperately wanted to scream.

Sorry that it's been so long since I last updated. My Microsoft Word is way out of date, so that causes a lot of problems... (sweatdrop) The next chapter's almost finished, so stay tuned!

Lyrics from Gotta Get Thru This by Daniel Bedingfield. :)