Chapter Nine: "Fire In Her Eyes..."
 
.CASSIDY'S POV.
 
 My eyes were locked on the Science book in front of me. Not that I really wanted to be studying right now. I just needed something to distract me. To keep me from thinking too much. I could feel his eyes on me. I pinned my ears back in annoyance. When would he get the picture? We went through this every day. He tried flirting, I'd shove him away and tell him off.
 
 "What's wrong, Cassidy?" Zac came closer to me, leaning over the couch and placing his face next to mine.
 
 I growled deeply and shoved him away from me. "You, Zachary." I replied bluntly. The red fox was too much sometimes.
 
 He chuckled to himself before standing straight and walking towards his chair. The wind blew his short red fur this way and that, as well as my own fire-red hair. I snuggled further down into the couch. It was getting more and more chilly. Even though I was wearing a sweater, I was still cold.
 
 I was sitting on a couch that sat on top of a small hill overlooking an old, abandoned junkyard. No one came around her anymore, except us. And by 'us' I mean myself, Zachary, and several other guys. We decided we'd make a gang, basically defending each other. None of us were very popular or well-liked. Heck, most of us had gotten into trouble once or twice with the police. Nothing major, some property damage or petty theft. Our leader was Zachary, the red fox. He appointed me as his right-hand person, but I really don't care. I was really only in this gang for the protection. Not that I couldn't defend myself if needed. It's like that saying 'there's safety in numbers.'
 
I was pretty sure all of us were in the same boat. Runaways, orphans, and most of us had gotten in trouble once or twice with the police. Except me. I couldn't afford it. If I got caught by the police, they'd drag me back.
 
Back to those people who dared to call themselves 'parents.'
 
Such a big lie. I was surprised know one could see it. But I guess it's something you have to experience first before you realize it.
 
They say family is the most important thing in a person's life. That may be true... but I don't really know. From life, I've never known the people who I could truely call my 'family.'
 
Maybe that's why I'm a part of this gang. We're rejects, looking for protection. I swear that's the only thing keeping us together.
 
Suddenly, a commotion broke my thoughts. I at first thought it was a couple of the guys getting into a fight. This often happened. But not this time.
 
"Who's that guy?" Zachary pointed to the stranger, a grey and white rabbit anthro, who had just gotten himself caught between Buster and Zeke, two of the biggest members of the gang, our bodygaurds.
 
"Why are you asking me? Does it look like I know him?" I snapped.
 
Zach glanced at me before climbing down the heap and going to see what was going on.
 
I continued to sit there, uninterested at first... until I noticed that this new person seemed to be a bit of a pushover. An idea began to form in my head, and I smirked almost evil-like. This would be fun.
 
I carefully began to climb down the hill, as silent as a ninja half my size, a trait I picked up from my several months of living on the streets. It was essential to learn to be fast and silent. Otherwise you'd get caught. 
 
Finally, I was right behind this newcomer. He was about twice my size. No big. Strength and size did not matter, only smarts did. I crouched down, curling my legs underneath me, ready to pounce at any moment...
 
 "RAWR!" I screamed as loud as I could while launching myself into the air towards him. He screamed as well, only his was slightly more high-pitched than mine. I landed gracefully on the dirt floor, my legs still tucked underneath me. He stared at me for several moments, eyes wide. I slowly stood up. "What are YOU looking at?" I asked saucily, placing my hands on my hips.
 
.ACE'S POV.

"RAWR!"
 
"GAHHHHHH!!!"

I spun around only to be glared at by a girl. She was short, only coming up to about my chest in height. She wore baggy jeans with an even baggier olive-green sweatshirt. Her eyes were a very dark brown, hard and unmoving. The one was covered by her fire-red hair hanging in the way. The rest of it was tied back in a long braid, almost reaching her tail. Her eyes continued to glare at me. She kept silent. I gulped. Never before had I met a girl like this.
 
Her lips curled into a smirk. "What are YOU looking at?" She placed her hands in her hips.
 
"N-nothing." I replied. Something about her gave me shivers.
 
She rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Nice scream, by the way.."
 
I glanced at the red fox, who shrugged. "Feisty, ain't she?" He chuckled.
 
The girl froze and spun around to face him. She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and glared daggers at him. A few moments passed before she release Zachary and walked a ways off.
 
Zachary brushed himself off before turning to me. "So.... you want to join our group, huh?"
 
The coyote girl paused and watched, trying to not look interested.
 
"Yeah. I do. Is there a problem with that?"
 
"Uh, yes." The fire-headed girl coughed in reply.
 
Quite honestly, I had already had more than enough of the girl's attitude. I glared at her. "Oh really? Do you wanna say that to my face? Or is coughing inconspicuously enough for you?"
 
The girl's expression was surprised for a moment, then it switched to the glare that seemed to be usual for her. "I'm impressed.... A little."
 
My hands clenched into fists. She wanted to be impressed? Bring it on! I lunged at her, but, as if she had been expecting it, the girl backflipped and held her hands in a classic karate style. I paused. She had WANTED me to do that. She just wanted to show me up!
 
Zachary stepped in between us. "Hey, listen buddy. We'll think about it, okay?"
 
.BLUE TRIANGLE.
 
.REGULAR POV.
 
Lexi sighed as she walked towards the large doors of Acme High School. Her first day here. She knew no one, her family had just recently moved to the city. Before she had gone to a small private school in a small town nearby their old farm. Things had been hard since her little sister had left. They eventually could no longer run the farm, and had to sell it and move. That was the last thing any of them had wanted to do, but they had no choice.
 
The pink-clad bunny walked down the long hallways of the school alone, clutching her books, and a peice of paper, with her locker assignment, and class list. She soon reached her locker and punched in the combination. She noticed a taller, blonde-haired girl beside her. The girl was dressed in the latest fashions, and she had tons of make up on her face. Lexi knew there would be no chance of the girl even thinking of talking to her. After all, she was from the country, and on top of that, her family didn't have the money to afford such clothes. Lexi shrugged 'Oh well, there's tons of people around here. There's gotta be at least one who'd be my freind.'

.PINK TRIANGLE.  
 
Ace glanced to his left. "So... what's your story?" The bunny had met up with the coyote he had met only the previous day while on his way to school. He decided to try another approach to the confusing girl.
 
Cassidy gave him another glare. "What do you mean?"
 
"Y'know... where you're from.... how long you've gone to this school, stuff like that." Ace shrugged.
 
She paused, then shrugged to herself. There was no harm in letting him know. "I'm an orphan. Been that way for as long as I remember..."
 
"Were you adopted?"
 
"Nah, I was put into to foster system. I had a lot of families... a new one every few months..."
 
"Really why?"
 
The coyote shrugged. "They'd either move, or have a new baby or have an allergy." She rolled her eyes. "Same old story over and over, so I ran off. Now I live on the streets."
 
"Allergy? To what?"
 
She gave him a disgusted look. "My fur... duh."
 
"Oh...." Ace rubbed the back of his neck. "Well... I have two parents... And.. well... we have a lot of problems... I just... couldn't take it anymore... so I just..."
 
Cassidy suddenly froze and spun around to face him. "Are you trying to tell me that you ran away from your family?"
 
"Errr.. I uh.."
 
"I cannot BELIEVE you!!! How could you do that?!" She screamed. "You left your family because you guys have a few problems?! So what?!"
 
"But, you don't understand-"
 
"Oh I understand perfectly! You're obviously nothing but a spoiled little boy who doesn't know when he has something special!!!"
 
"What?! You think that having a family is a picnic? Sometimes, maybe. But my family's different. And you, you have freedom from everything! I'd give anything to have what you have!"
 
"And I'd give anything to have what you have!" She paused, not fully realizing how much she really meant that. Ace stared at her. Cassidy turned away, her face red and hot.
 
Ace frowned. "Are you okay?" He reached out to set his hand on her shoulder.
 
She quickly jerked away. "Don't touch me." She glared at him once more before running off.
 
Lexi paused. She had overheard the arguement, and stopped to see if she could help. "Is everything okay?" She asked, walking up to the grey bunny.
 
Ace spun around to face the peach and cream bunny. "Uhh.. Yeah.." He replied, stammering. His cheeks went red. "H-hi. I'm Ace."
 
Lexi smiled. "Hi Ace. I'm Lexi..."
 
"Uh.. You... you haven't met that girl, have you?" Ace asked, gesturing to where Cassidy had been standing.
 
"No, I haven't...." Lexi paused. "Who was she?"
 
"Honestly, I just met her yesterday. She hasn't told me her name yet.." Ace shrugged. "Are you new?"
 
"Yeah.. My family moved here just a few months ago.."
 
"Where'd you live before?"
 
Lexi's eyes glanced at the floor. 'Should I tell him? How will he react?' "Welll... I... I lived in the country, actually..."
 
"Oh really?" Ace replied, interested.
 
"Yeah.. We lived on a farm.."

"Cool." Ace smiled, trying to show her that he was being genuine.
 
Lexi smiled back. "Thanks.... We should be getting to class."

Ace nodded. "Let's jet!"
 
After class, Ace and Lexi continued to hang out. They were beginning to enjoy each other's company, and Ace was especially glad that at least this girl didn't want to bite his face off.
 
"..Haha! That's funny!" Ace chuckled as Lexi told him about one of her experiences during her time on her parent's farm. He was about to say something more when he caught sight of the mahogany-coloured coyote turn the corner ahead of them.
 
Lexi followed his gaze. "Is that the girl you were arguing with before?"

"Yeah. I'm actually a little worried. She's a very strange person..."
 
"Oh, you mean Miss Heidi?" A female voice interrupted. The bunnies turned around to see a blonde-haired human girl  a few feet away. It was the girl Lexi had seen at her locker.
 
"Do you know her?" Ace questioned.
 
"Yeah. She and I used to ice-skate together. She used to be a part of the figure-skating club. Her name's Cassidy. She's got some real issues, though. She doesn't like people very much."
 
"Hehe, I figured that last part out already." Ace rolled his eyes.
 
"Who are you?" Lexi asked the girl.
 
"My name is Kerri. I-" The girl was about to continue, but Lexi cut her off.
 
"I knew I saw you somewhere! You're Kerri Gladstone! The next figure skating chamion!" Lexi squealed excitedly.
 
Kerri smiled. "I guess I am."
 
Ace rolled his eyes again. This was almost as bad as talking with those famous actors. Good greif. What was so great about being famous anyway?
 
"Uh, listen goils.. I gotta go.. I'll catch up with ya later.."
 
"Sure.. bye Ace!" Lexi smiled and waved goodbye.
 
Ace left with a wide, goofy smile. Lexi was a really nice girl. 'Kinda cute, too..'
 
.YELLOW TRIANGLE.
 
"Hey! Cassidy! Wait up!" Ace called out after the fire-headed coyote.
 
The girl spun around and glared at him. "How do you know my name?" She growled.
 
"Oh, your freind... uh.... Kerri?"
 
"Figures." She sighed, adjusting her back pack and pulling the hood of her sweater over her head. It was beginning to rain lightly.
 
They walked along the sidewalk in silence. It was after school, and Cassidy was headed for the junkyard. Suddenly, the coyote froze in her tracks.
 
Ace blinked. "Sometin' wrong?"
 
"Look.." She whispered, pointing to the sidewalk across the street. There stood a man, a woman, and a young child in one of the alleyways. The man had his hand holding the child roughly, and his other hand was holding a gun, inconspicuously towards the woman. There were tears streaming down the woman's and child's faces. The man was whispering some orders to the lady, trying not to attract attention.
 
"We should call the police!" Ace gasped.
 
"Yeah, but they won't get here in time. And that guy might kill the girl and the lady if he hears the sirens!" Cassidy quickly ran to the edge of the street, crossed at the lights, and ran straight down the sidewalk perpendicular to the one the man and woman were on.
 
"Where are you going? They're that way!" Ace shouted to her.
 
"I know! But we're obviously not gonna get anywhere attacking from the front!" She shouted back, running down another alley. It looked like a dead end, but there was a short brick wall, and in front of it, a large garbage bin. The coyote lept up and landed on the lid.
 
"You said 'we.' Does that mean me as well?" Ace pointed out.
 
Cassidy paused. "Is there anyone else around who's been stupid enough to follow me?" A small smile played on her lips.
 
Ace smirked back. "I guess it does..."
 
(END CHAPTER)

ACE AND LEXI SITTING IN A TREE KI- *brick'd*

Zachary? ....0.o..... The dude in Melting Like Ice XD

Phew, haven't been on here in AGES >_>' But yes, I will be updating this shortly. I am just right at the end of my courses for grade 12 so I'm really pushing it. After I'm done I will actually be going back and re-writting a few chapters of this story. I'm glad to hear you're still interested in it. You can find me on FF.Net and dA under the same name, as I most likely will not be updating here anymore. Thank you for the comment! 83

done yet? done yet? done yet? done yet? done yet? done yet? R.......U.........DONE..........YET?!?!?!?!?!?!?!