Chapter 19: An Eventful Evening

By the time they got to the mall’s movie theater, Mara decided that Sofia was doing fine without her. Several times throughout dinner, her friend and Pete became lost in their own little world. The double thing was unnecessary.

Not that Mara was complaining. Despite their obvious differences, she and Josh had really gotten along with one another. His easy-going personality and quirky sense of humor had made her forget her earlier distrust of his popular status.

“So, how about the new horror movie?” Pete asked, grinning at Sofia, as the group discussed the movie options. “Nothing like a good slasher flick.”

Sofia adamantly shook her head. “You know that I hate those movies, especially the gore. What about the new romantic drama?”

“Please,” Mara protested, quickly seconded by the guys. “I can’t sit through those tear-jerkers.”

Josh chuckled. “You don’t seem like the type to cry during a movie, Mara.”

“No,” she said, “I can’t stand the resulting nausea.”

Everyone laughed. Pete scanned the show times again. “It looks like it will have to be a comedy then.”

Sofia looked relieved as she looked on with him. “Hey, the new release starts in fifteen minutes. The previews looked pretty funny.”

“Yeah, I wanted to see it, too.” Mara looked up at Josh. “How about you?”

He grinned. “Since you’ve vetoed the tear-jerker, the comedy will have to do.”

Pete shook his head. “Man, I hope you’re joking. So, all for the seven o’clock showing?”

He was rewarded with nods. The four were still discussing films in general as they got in line for their tickets. As they waited, someone bumped into Mara from behind.

Annoyed, Mara turned around. However, she paused as she recognized the person. “Hello, Emily.”

Sofia immediately turned and moved to her friend. Ever since the blowout a few days ago, she and Mara had luckily managed to avoid the cheerleader at school. Apparently their luck had run out.

“Oh, it’s you, Mar,” Emily sneered, drawing a puzzled look from her boyfriend Bryan. “Of course Sofia is still acting as your perpetual shadow.”

“You guys know each other?” Josh asked, glancing between Mara and Emily.

“You can say that,” Mara replied, her eyes never leaving from Emily. “I wish I could say it’s nice to see you, Em, but you know how I hate to lie.”

“Mara!” Sofia hissed. She grabbed her friend’s arm and tried to pull the younger girl further from Emily. However, Mara didn’t budge.

“And how long do you think your innocent act will work, Mar?” Emily asked coolly. “Your true colors will show sooner or later. That will prove I was right about you all along.”

Mara tried to lunge at her but Sofia’s grip held. Josh quickly grabbed Mara’s shoulders, helping Sofia hold her back. Unperturbed, Emily just smiled, enraging Mara further.

“Something going on here?” a security guard demanded, responding to the commotion.

Mara forced herself to relax as she shrugged off the grips of Sofia and Josh. “No, we were just chatting.”

Emily’s smile never wavered. “Now, that you mentioned it, I don’t see anything worth watching. Come on, Bryan. Let’s go back to my house.”

The couple left. Satisfied the situation was over, the security guard left as well. Once again, the four were waiting in the ticket line.

“What was that all about?” Josh asked.

Sofia just sighed. “You shouldn’t let her get to you like that, Mara. She’s just pushing your buttons.”

“I hate her.”

“Mara!”

“I’m sorry, Sofia,” she said, turning to face her friend, “but I do.”

The lady in the ticket window glared at the group. “Hey, you kids want tickets or what? If not, let the rest of the line go on.”

“Come on,” Mara said with a forced smile, trying to herd them toward the window, “let’s go see the movie.”

* * * * *

Celeste stood in her room and stared at her half-packed bag. Tapping her foot against the carpet, she debated about what else she should pack. She didn’t want to pack too much but didn’t want to have to return to the apartment either.

She was really looking forward to her weekend with Jonathan. Mara and Sofia would spend the weekend in her apartment, where she thought that they would be safe under the supervision of Selene. Besides, the girls had sworn to call Celeste if there was any hint of trouble.

Selene yawned and stretched. Her yellow eyes studied Celeste for a moment before waking completely. “You’re still here?”

“Not for much longer,” Celeste replied with a smile. “I’m almost finished packing. At least I think so.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy your weekend.” The cat curled back up into a ball. She promptly fell back asleep.

Celeste shook her head at the cat’s antics. She threw a few more articles of clothes into her bag and quietly zipped it up. The cat didn’t even stir as Celeste left the room.

As she neared the door of the apartment, Celeste dropped the bag. She wondered if there was something she was forgetting. However, as she decided that everything was all right, she shuddered.

‘No, not now,’ she pleaded, but it was to no one in particular. She already had her transformation pen in hand as she entered the hallway on her way to the roof. The warning feeling was stronger than it usually was. She hoped it wasn’t indicative of the upcoming battle.

* * * * *

With a weary sigh, Jonathan looked at the clock once again. Celeste was really late by now. He was becoming worried, especially since she hadn’t called him like she usually did.

Calling himself a fool, he grabbed the phone and called her apartment. “Pick up, pick up,” he chanted as he listened to it ring. His heart plummeted as the answering machine picked up.

“Celeste, if you’re in, please answer the phone.” He waited, listening for any hint that she was about to pick up. “Look, I’m just really worried because you’re late getting over here. I hope that . . .”

“Jonathan?” a voice interrupted.

“Selene? Is Celeste still there?”

The cat glanced around the bedroom. “No, it looks like she finished packing. Let me check the rest of the apartment.”

He absently wondered how the cat, lacking opposable thumbs, answered the phone. His idle thought was answered when he realized that Selene was activating the speakerphone. “Jonathan, her bags are still here but she’s not. She’s not answering her communicator either.”

His knuckles grew white as he clutched the phone. “Selene, you have to contact the other Sailors. She’s in a battle. She has to be.”

“I’ll take care of it,” the cat replied. However, Jonathan could hear the apprehension in her voice. “As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know.”

Before he could even protest, Selene hung up.


An Eventful Evening By the time they got to the mall’s movie theater, Mara decided that Sofia was doing fine without her. Several times throughout dinner, her friend and Pete became lost in their own little world. The double thing was unnecessary. Not that Mara was complaining. Despite their obvious differences, she and Josh had really gotten along with one another. His easy-going personality and quirky sense of humor had made her forget her earlier distrust of his popular status. “So, how about the new horror movie?” Pete asked, grinning at Sofia, as the group discussed the movie options. “Nothing like a good slasher flick.” Sofia adamantly shook her head. “You know that I hate those movies, especially the gore. What about the new romantic drama?” “Please,” Mara protested, quickly seconded by the guys. “I can’t sit through those tear-jerkers.” Josh chuckled. “You don’t seem like the type to cry during a movie, Mara.” “No,” she said, “I can’t stand the resulting nausea.” Everyone laughed. Pete scanned the show times again. “It looks like it will have to be a comedy then.” Sofia looked relieved as she looked on with him. “Hey, the new release starts in fifteen minutes. The previews looked pretty funny.” “Yeah, I wanted to see it, too.” Mara looked up at Josh. “How about you?” He grinned. “Since you’ve vetoed the tear-jerker, the comedy will have to do.” Pete shook his head. “Man, I hope you’re joking. So, all for the seven o’clock showing?” He was rewarded with nods. The four were still discussing films in general as they got in line for their tickets. As they waited, someone bumped into Mara from behind. Annoyed, Mara turned around. However, she paused as she recognized the person. “Hello, Emily.” Sofia immediately turned and moved to her friend. Ever since the blowout a few days ago, she and Mara had luckily managed to avoid the cheerleader at school. Apparently their luck had run out. “Oh, it’s you, Mar,” Emily sneered, drawing a puzzled look from her boyfriend Bryan. “Of course Sofia is still acting as your perpetual shadow.” “You guys know each other?” Josh asked, glancing between Mara and Emily. “You can say that,” Mara replied, her eyes never leaving from Emily. “I wish I could say it’s nice to see you, Em, but you know how I hate to lie.” “Mara!” Sofia hissed. She grabbed her friend’s arm and tried to pull the younger girl further from Emily. However, Mara didn’t budge. “And how long do you think your innocent act will work, Mar?” Emily asked coolly. “Your true colors will show sooner or later. That will prove I was right about you all along.” Mara tried to lunge at her but Sofia’s grip held. Josh quickly grabbed Mara’s shoulders, helping Sofia hold her back. Unperturbed, Emily just smiled, enraging Mara further. “Something going on here?” a security guard demanded, responding to the commotion. Mara forced herself to relax as she shrugged off the grips of Sofia and Josh. “No, we were just chatting.” Emily’s smile never wavered. “Now, that you mentioned it, I don’t see anything worth watching. Come on, Bryan. Let’s go back to my house.” The couple left. Satisfied the situation was over, the security guard left as well. Once again, the four were waiting in the ticket line. “What was that all about?” Josh asked. Sofia just sighed. “You shouldn’t let her get to you like that, Mara. She’s just pushing your buttons.” “I hate her.” “Mara!” “I’m sorry, Sofia,” she said, turning to face her friend, “but I do.” The lady in the ticket window glared at the group. “Hey, you kids want tickets or what? If not, let the rest of the line go on.” “Come on,” Mara said with a forced smile, trying to herd them toward the window, “let’s go see the movie.” * * * * * Celeste stood in her room and stared at her half-packed bag. Tapping her foot against the carpet, she debated about what else she should pack. She didn’t want to pack too much but didn’t want to have to return to the apartment either. She was really looking forward to her weekend with Jonathan. Mara and Sofia would spend the weekend in her apartment, where she thought that they would be safe under the supervision of Selene. Besides, the girls had sworn to call Celeste if there was any hint of trouble. Selene yawned and stretched. Her yellow eyes studied Celeste for a moment before waking completely. “You’re still here?” “Not for much longer,” Celeste replied with a smile. “I’m almost finished packing. At least I think so.” “Well, I hope you enjoy your weekend.” The cat curled back up into a ball. She promptly fell back asleep. Celeste shook her head at the cat’s antics. She threw a few more articles of clothes into her bag and quietly zipped it up. The cat didn’t even stir as Celeste left the room. As she neared the door of the apartment, Celeste dropped the bag. She wondered if there was something she was forgetting. However, as she decided that everything was all right, she shuddered. ‘No, not now,’ she pleaded, but it was to no one in particular. She already had her transformation pen in hand as she entered the hallway on her way to the roof. The warning feeling was stronger than it usually was. She hoped it wasn’t indicative of the upcoming battle. * * * * * With a weary sigh, Jonathan looked at the clock once again. Celeste was really late by now. He was becoming worried, especially since she hadn’t called him like she usually did. Calling himself a fool, he grabbed the phone and called her apartment. “Pick up, pick up,” he chanted as he listened to it ring. His heart plummeted as the answering machine picked up. “Celeste, if you’re in, please answer the phone.” He waited, listening for any hint that she was about to pick up. “Look, I’m just really worried because you’re late getting over here. I hope that . . .” “Jonathan?” a voice interrupted. “Selene? Is Celeste still there?” The cat glanced around the bedroom. “No, it looks like she finished packing. Let me check the rest of the apartment.” He absently wondered how the cat, lacking opposable thumbs, answered the phone. His idle thought was answered when he realized that Selene was activating the speakerphone. “Jonathan, her bags are still here but she’s not. She’s not answering her communicator either.” His knuckles grew white as he clutched the phone. “Selene, you have to contact the other Sailors. She’s in a battle. She has to be.” “I’ll take care of it,” the cat replied. However, Jonathan could hear the apprehension in her voice. “As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know.” Before he could even protest, Selene hung up.


Chapter 20: Things Fall Apart Sailor Sol: Battle Against the Winds