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There's nothing else to do...but sit here. Watching the Twelve Zodiacs, as they are called, bullying those who are just like me: underneath them. I'm of middle-class status, but nothing compares to the amounts of cash those thirteen people could possibly get within reach, as well as most of these students here, with the exception of...me. Hosting parties that only them and the 'worthy' are allowed to go to. Boring. Besides, we all belong to a star sign (or two, in my case), so...what really makes them more special than me or somebody on the street?

Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Gemini, Pisces, Libra, Aries, Virgo, Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio and Capricorn...they are the top of the top, the wealthiest and most popular people in this high school, not to mention that all of their parents were behind this whole project of building this school, running it as well. I'm lucky that I even got in because I've won a scholarship to this place, which I am starting to dislike deeply, being tripped all the time by Leo, Aquarius, and Sagittarius... Let's keep in mind that….the only one who doesn't prey upon the souls of the unworthy is Capricorn. He is very sweet, from what I've heard, but he disappears like a ghost in the wind. Though he is quite cute...doesn't talk much, like me. That's okay. I don't mind him, as long as he does nothing to disturb the peace I have inside of my mind. ...speaking of which, Capricorn's not here, in the cafeteria. I wonder where he could be...

I stood up to go get my lunch in the cafeteria line, but something stopped me, and who might that be? Oh my, the leader of the whole "group,' Leo! What an asshole. I've never met someone who tries too hard to impress someone more than him. I just don't get it why people love him so much; his looks aren't everything. Who would want a guy that has thick and long, curly blonde hair, "ocean blue" eyes, and the facial structure of one of those pretty bishounen guys in manga? Oh, yeah. The whole school. Aside from me, of course. Maybe it just disturbs me to know that every class that I go to that has him in it has plenty of girls that fall all over him like he was a pure piece of chocolate... or something.

I don't care for the Zodiacs, but I do care from my best friend. She's very beautiful, and her name is Alexis. She said that I can call her Lexi because I was close to her. Lexi. The light brown haired woman who has blonde highlights, almond shaped green eyes, and a body with all the right curves in all the right places. But she tells me so many useless facts, like, 'Capricorn's natural hair colour is brunette, but he dyes his hair black," or even, 'Aquarius and Sagittarius are in love and are dating, despite the fact that they're both women." Why should I care about their daily lives? If it's not mine, then why should I care? But I just nod on, replying to every sentence she says with a "really?".

She bores me to death sometimes, but I won't tell her that, in fear of breaking her lovable heart.

I really love potato salad, so that was all that I got for lunch today, aside from a capped bottle of Nestle Pure Life water I've gotten out of the nearby vending machine.

"Heads up!" Leo bellowed as I was approaching the Zodiacs' table, and, once again, he tripped me. He started laughing while my face went deep into my favourite food. It started a chain reaction; I wiped my eyes a little, my face feeling substantially hot of embarrassment. But I really shouldn't feel that way, because this happens on a daily basis. My eyes were stinging and I hastily walked to the exit of the cafeteria doors.

"Why does this happen to me?" I asked myself, sliding my body down against the concrete walls. Tears were persistently running out of my eyes and dripping off of my food-face. "This isn't fair! I don't deserve this!"

"Of course not, honey...but if you do nothing about it, then you won't succeed at what you naturally are inside." There was a person in front of me, but he told me not to look up; instead, he just helped me wipe my face and put the dirty cloth into my hands. "Go to the bathroom and wash your face up; you don't want to smell like that when you go back to your class."

He sounded like a teacher to me. A wise teacher. He reminded me of Mr. Watkins, my world history teacher, the only teacher whom I happened to be close to because he 'knows what it's like.' He was there for me when Lexi wasn't, and treats me even today like I am on of his own. Mr. Watkins is the only one, besides Lexi, that I would consider to be part of my extended family, filling the voids that my father and half-sister would never occupy.

"Who – who are you, may I ask?" I asked, but no one was there, or at least, no reply. I looked to my left then to my right, then realised that no one was there to talk to me at all. I'm lonely, if for a second...but I then remember the last of the mysterious person's words: 'Go to the bathroom and wash your face up; you don't want to smell like that when you go back to your class.' So I did. I washed my face in a sink that looked like it was made of pure gold, or maybe it was just sprayed with gold lacquer to make it look that way, I don't know. But I've washed the cloth that was still in my left hand, and I cleaned it with the little time I had, rang it out, too. It was beautiful, with golden embroidery lines that were doubled that laid across the edges with excellent care. There was a weird symbol on it, like a giant mess of delicately crafted squiggly lines... Could this possibly belong to one of the Zodiacs?

I ran to make it to Mrs. Boyer's class, my calculus teacher. She's nice when she wants to be...she only really nice to any member of the Zodiacs, lending them passing grades and giving them answers when she knows that they're failing. I'm so ashamed to even acknowledge that fact that she does that. Why should I care, though? It's not like I'm the one who gets things sent to me on a golden platter. It sickens me to know that know that these people don't earn what they have to; karma's gonna stab them and her in the back when they fail in life.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Mrs. Boyer has sex with Leo on a daily basis. She's so far up his rectum that she can only see blindly.

I didn't notice before, but Capricorn is sitting next to me, peering at me calmly. I only looked back at him once, and he instantly turned away after we both stared into each other's eyes for a quick second. I hope nothing would ever make me go further than that...

~~SOME TIME LATER~~

The end of the day. A thing that I absolutely look forward to, going to an apartment that has not one of the Zodiacs in sight. No Leo, no Aquarius, no Sagittarius...I'm the only one, taking care of myself. Every one of my neighbours knows about the elite school that I go to...that's something that I am not proud of. But at least my neighbours don't trip me and make me land face-first into potato salad each and every day. I'm getting tired of it.

"Hey, Celeste..." I turn around. It's Lexi calling me, walking up to me as I opened my apartment door with the silver key.

"Hey." I say coolly. "What's up?"

"I've seen what Leo did to you...I'm sorry I couldn't help you out because Aquarius called me over –"

"And you'd pick Aquarius over me? Really?" I exploded, breathing heavily and noticing the neighbours creeping out of their apartment and homes to check on us. "That's pretty rude, don't you think? I'm supposed to be your best friend, but you'll pick someone you barely even know over me, someone you know for basically all of your life! What a crock of shit! ...you know what? Don't talk to me, because a true friend is there for those are supposed to be considered the same."

I slammed the door in her face, locking the door behind me. Why the hell would she do that? I guess the term "best friend" doesn't apply to her. At all.

"Celeste...Celeste! I said I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I'll say it again if I have to! I love you, Celeste! Please...I don't mean to have this friendship end!" She was banging on the door, screaming until she had to cough. She was still calling my name, but I just went to the back door and left. I'm angry at her. She'd be with a person that she knows absolutely nothing about, and yet...she saw the potato salad on my face and didn't bother to help me...that's a shame. I guess she really isn't as close to me as I thought...

Two weeks later...and still the same old crap. I'm still dealing with Leo tripping me and pushing me up against the lockers every chance he gets. I'm tired of this. I'm just going to do the same; just...rebel. And if I get kicked out, then so what? I'll find a place that's actually paradise to me. Somewhere that's meant to fit me and my lifestyle; Mom's dying, and she sent me here with all of the hope she has...but I need to be happy. She must understand.

"Hey, Celeste..." I turn around and see none other than Lexi – nah, Alexis.

"What do you want?" I asked her, rolling my eyes. She's wasting my time. Keep in mind this happening in the school cafeteria, after I had gotten up to get my lunch...again...it's potato salad, and it's still my favourite. "Came back to tell me you're with those idiots again, huh?"

"What can I say? I love Leo. I'm going back to him, to prove to him that I am worthy for his presence. If you're in love, wouldn't you do the same?"

"No." I stated. "That's not love, no matter how you put it. All you're useful for, to them, is to give them the answers for the next quiz. That's it. They don't love you, and I'm pretty sure they never will. You've got to learn from your mistakes; this will be your biggest yet."

"You're wrong! Leo told me he loved me!" Alexis intervened. "Love isn't the same as what you think. You're just a little girl who lives in the run-down parts of my neighbourhood! You just live like the poor woman you've always have been since you were in the womb!"

I have the mental pictures in my mind. Slapping her. Beating her down with all of the strength I have in my body. I hate it when she talks so stupidly. She's letting that ignorance of hers get in the way...I loathe what she has done to herself.

"So then...what are you going to do if you find out he's been talking to a girl on the side, keeping her under control until the actual day comes when you'll be tossed to the side like a bone that's been deprived of meat?" I asked; she seemed as if she was taken aback. I guess she hadn't though of that. "Are you going to tread around the school with pure loneliness in your heart because someone has found someone else and new? Are you going to kill yourself because your precious Leo kicked you to the curb? And whom will you cry on the shoulder, and be your close friend? You better think again if you think the person who will put up with your bullshit will be me; I'm not your little "bestie" anymore."

I'm tired of it. I'm tired of this that she puts me through. I've been friends with this girl through thick and thin, always guiding her with my inner thoughts and advice to help her get on her way. She just doesn't understand...I won't be here forever.

"You're jealous of what I have...you're jealous of what I have!" Alexis started to scream...so I did the same.

"I'm jealous of what you have? Hell no! Unlike you I could care less about those Zodiacs because they're people just like you and me! So what if they've got more money, because money isn't everything, haven't you heard?" I spat at her. "You have no idea that we all belong to a star sign, right? I'm fine with having my two and I'll just leave it at that! If you want to be blinded by those Zodiac lowlifes, then go and be merry! I can promise you it won't last long!" I calmed down a bit, seeing the tears that shot out of her eyes, for some odd reason. "Once I leave this place, you'll have nobody. I'm not your friend anymore. You'll have to struggle on your own and know what it's like to be in my shoes."

I took my food and nearly left, but as I passed their table, I called Leo's name and did the same thing he made me do when I fell on my face: smash into potato salad. But I smashed it on his face instead of tripping him; I'm not that harsh. I just had to lay down my law. I'm tired of all that I go through to be in an "elite" school, and yet I am treated here like I'm in the slums. I can't deal with this anymore.

"Tell your father that I want out of this scholarship. Tell him Celeste Morgan said that she quits." And with that...I left, ignoring the deafening silence that shot throughout the cafeteria. The lunch ladies were quiet. All of the other rich kids were quiet. They wanted to hear what I say, and can they blame me? I want a voice. I have a voice. I'm meant to speak my mind whenever I want to, and it shouldn't occur when I get in a "fight" with a former best friend. Or even when I smush salad made out of potatoes and whatnot into a worthless yet popular boy's face.

What can I say? It was fun while it lasted.

I go back into the hallway and relaxed against the wall again, this time in pure, blissful happiness, laughing to myself as I stared down at the marbled floor. I wonder what's going to happen next, when I leave this place...I wonder if I'll be able to leave upstate New York to go to Boston or somewhere other...

"Only about a couple months of school left and you want to leave? That's not so good, you know...pretty baby." The same man's voice that has been lending me advice through the whole way came back. I was thinking it was in my dreams or in my mind, but...I guess I was wrong.

"Can I look up, now?" I asked with a smile behind closed eyes. "I want to see your face, is that too hard to ask?"

"High and mighty, I see. You're in your element. That's what I want to see." I opened my eyes and noticed that the guy got on his knees, extending his pale arm to me. "Take my hand. I want you to eat lunch today, so let's go."

I took his hand, attempting to look at his face. He turned it too fast, so I waited until he whisked me away to a place I've never been.

I peeked around after he told me to open my eyes, so I did. Wow...it looks like it could be similar to the Garden of Eden! So full of flowers of all sorts, green and lavishly breathtaking. There was a waterfall in the centerpiece, so big that I wanted to just run through it. But that waterfall doesn't belong here; it belongs outside, though there is already one out in the back of the school.

"This place..." I paused, continuously begging myself to find a word to describe this giant area. I didn't even know that we walked up steps to get here.

"It's beautiful, I know." He said, releasing my hand but led me to a little park bench to rest on. "My father made it for me; he knew how much I was into horticultural studies."

I paused...Father?

"'Father,' you said...so...you're one of those Zodiacs, aren't you...?" I asked him calmly.

"Would you hate me if I was?" He questioned me. My heart sank. This person really was one of those people.

"I take that as a yes...which one are you?" I feel so bad. The one protecting me and my thoughts happened to be one of those guys? That's inexcusable! Though...I can't be angry or upset, because I should've known.

"I'm...Capricorn. But don't be mad at me. I just wanted to know what it was like to be you...I wanted to guide you, help you find your place in this school. To be honest..." He picked up my face, inaudibly allowing me to stare into his deep green eyes and revel in his long and wavy jet black hair...why do I like his features so much? ...oh yeah. Maybe because he reminds me of Jimmy Page, the best freakin' guitar player of all time. "I envy you in all parts of everything. I'm a tad curious about your signs; will you please tell me?"

"Gemini and Cancer...I 've got more features towards my Cancer side, though." I said. That's a bit odd...For some reason, when he speaks even one word, my heart starts racing...why does this happen?

"Aah...so you're a Camini. That's pretty different, my girl." He laughed, pulling me into his arms. "Will you eat today, a food that's not potato salad?"

"Sure," I mutter hesitantly. He let go of me and grabbed my hand again, taking my directly into another room, with just another waterfall in it. He told me to take off my shoes, so I agreed with him and obeys. We put our feet into the small but deep "river" and we talked about things that didn't really matter, just random subjects. I feel so calm around this man. My once tense demeanour has now vanished; I never would've imagined that I'd feel this way towards or even around a member of the Twelve Zodiacs. I've always thought that the thirteen members (Gemini has twins, keep in mind) were all assholes and stuck-up bastards, but Capricorn is down-to-Earth and calm man. He's a harmless goat (did you get it?) that's calm and warm-hearted in nature; I like that about him.

Anyway...we both had a bento box lunch, you know, those Japanese lunches with sushi and fruit and whatnot inside. I enjoyed it; he told me he made it for me, so I was impressed. He didn't get a butler or someone else to cook it all for him/us...the bell rung after we finished, so I thanked him dearly and kissed him on the cheek, something I told myself I would never do in a million years. It's sad to still know that I hadn't lost my virginity yet...

I passed his cloth towelette back and left, racing down the stairs and leaving him alone in there. Who would've thought that's what the attic of the school was...a horticulturist's dream, full of tricky escapes, winding, golden staircases and lively Japanese koi fish and goldfish of many different kinds. I giggled purely with Capricorn. I laughed with him more in a day than I ever had in a lifetime with Alexis.

Now back to Mrs. Boyer's classroom...

Alright, so I'm in her class, and Capricorn sits next to me again...but this time he wrote on a piece of paper and passed it to me.

'How did you know that the cloth was mine?'

I smiled, replying to him, taking the pencil in my left hand. 'You're the only one who's been 'taking care' of me. Besides, do you honestly believe any of your friends would lend me something? I'm an outcast. I don't belong here since I'm the only one who's of a lower class than everyone here.'

His eyes followed my every move, watching closely as I passed the paper back to him.

'You still feel that way? You're not an outcast, at least not with me. I feel comfortable around you, like I've found someone that I've been wishing for years to have...are you really planning on leaving, babe?'

I nodded as I read on. 'Yes, I am. I don't want to, but it's something that I have to do. It's kinda hard to try and adjust yourself to this environment if you have someone bullying you while you're just trying to lay low...I feel like a rebel now!'

Mrs. Boyer seen us and confiscated the note that I passed to him and read it....did I also mention that she balled up a perfectly normal note?!

"See me after class, the both of you." She said, but I just laughed. This is the last class of the day, and yet I've got detention. It's not like the note was bad in any way, but the two of us will have to wait a half an hour to get home. And to think I told Mother I'll be at the hospital by three o' clock. Guess I was wrong.

~~HALF AN HOUR LATER~~

"What do you think you were doing in my classroom, passing each other notes and ignoring my lessons?" Mrs. Boyer asked, raising her voice. "Well? You two better answer me or you'll both get –"

"Or we'll both get what, Mrs. Boyer? Detention, is that it?" Capricorn questioned, inching closer to Boyer's body. "You know you can't give me detention. I'll just tell my father, you know that, right? He'll fire you; do you want that?"

Who gives detention any more?! This is a university, not an elementary school! Besides, who gives detention over an innocent note such as that??

Mrs. Boyer gulped, the bones in her throat shifting slightly. I stared on, not speaking a word until it was all over.

"N-no..." She said. "Don't tell him, please..."

"I won't, but you'll have to let me go." Capricorn turned to me, seeing my 'upset' face. Just him? That's cruel! "...and Camini over there. You have to let us leave; we have significantly important places to go."

She just stared at us, switching her gaze from me to Capricorn as she pondered. "...fine. You two can go."

We smiled at one another then left, going our own separate way. Though, as we went into the hallway, we did start talking again.

"So...where are you going?" He asked. I glanced at my wristwatch, then looked back up at him. I couldn't believe that he began to follow meafter we nearly departed...awkward and weird.

"I'm going to the hospital, to visit my mom," I replied, "I told her I'll be there at three, but it seems I'll be about ten to fifteen minutes late on my arrival there."

"Can I drive you there?" Capricorn suggested. "In that case, you won't be late."

"People would think you're my boy toy, you driving me around ...you can't. I'll just walk. My neighbours would be suspicious because I'm with someone who drives a Lamborghini or some other expensive car around..." I chuckled, hugging him before we got to the entrance...our exit. "Thanks for the offer, but no. I'll see you tomorrow, if you'll be there."

"Yeah, sure." He said, walking in the opposite direction of me, again, waving his keys that jingled rather loudly, even from a distance. I waved back, smiling at him. I'm curious about where this 'important' place Capricorn has to go is located. It wouldn't be so important if he offers to take me to see my incredibly sick mother....

Who would've thought I would be acquainted with a Zodiac...???

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