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A/N: Don't own Gundam Seed characters. I do own the plot ideas and my own characters.

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-Sweet Dreams-

Chapter 3

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Everyone was silent, but after a few moments, the customers and morning employees looked away and shuffled about doing whatever it was they were doing before. Cagalli ignored the subjective glances coming her way as she marched over to her brother's table with Lacus following anxiously behind her.

Kira and Lacus exchanged similar glances before Kira cleared his throat and spoke sympathetically to his friend, "Sorry about that, Athrun. Cagalli really hasn't changed much over the years."

Athrun took off his blue baseball hat revealing his dark, shoulder-length hair. He moved a lock away from his eyes, chuckling lightly, "I guess not." He turned his brilliant green eyes to Cagalli and smiled, "Hey, Cagalli. Long time no see."

Cagalli's unyielding honey eyes seemed to melt in recognition as understanding flickered across her face, erasing all lines of previous tension, "Athrun? Athrun Zala?"

"The one and only," he assured her gently.

As her brother ushered her and Lacus to join them, exchanging pleasantries and introductions, Cagalli found herself trying to remember the last time she saw him. His hair had grown, but he didn't seem to have lost that intellectual streak in him. Now she recalled his younger self in her mind. During the winter holidays she used to spend with her brother and father, Athrun seemed like a permanent guest in the house.

From what she remembered, he was almost like a rival of hers for Kira's attention and time. Whenever Athrun was with Kira, the two would constantly talk about computers – in computer language, she assumed. She always felt a little stung being left out sometimes and tried to prove her worth by acting tomboyish, and trying to do whatever they did. Of course, when it came down to video games and ice cream contests, she whipped them both. Either one of them would usually end up passing out just by trying to keep up with her.

Sure, there was never any reason to hate Athrun, but she never liked him either. He was just there. His mannerism was always that of a humble and polite person, and he never intentionally hurt anyone. Not that she knew about anyway. Cagalli's right brow twitched in agitation. That was exactly the point though! He was too nice. So nice that she felt threatened. Looking at him now, he really didn't seem that different… She wondered if he was any easier to pick on now…

Vaguely, she heard someone speaking to her. But she was having too much fun toying with the idea of somehow wiping that annoyingly good-natured grin off Zala's face. It wasn't until Lacus started shaking her shoulder lightly when she came out of her stupor. Idly, she retracted her mental claws for another time to be creative.

Lacus grinned inwardly, misinterpreting her lapse of silence, "Well Cagalli?"

Cagalli looked at her friend quizzically, "What was that?"

"We were wondering what you'd like to order," Lacus told her. She pointed a finger over to the large manila menu board hanging on the wall behind the cashier.

Cagalli squinted through the dimness of the bustling café and picked out a cold order, "I got it. Caramel Frappe – but no whipped crème please."

Judging his expression, Athrun seemed surprised that she would want something like that on such a cold day, but Kira and Lacus were used to Cagalli's spontaneous choices. Lacus stood up, "All right, I'll go get the drinks and order some house specials to snack on. I'll be right back."

"Wait," Kira said standing and smiling down at her, "I'll go with you." Turning to his balking sister and Athrun, he suggested encouragingly, "It's been a really long since you two last saw each other. Why don't you guys catch up? It shouldn't take us very long."

Cagalli was about to protest when Athrun nodded, "Sure."

As Kira and Lacus walked away with their arms around each other, Cagalli leaned back in her seat and let her head hang from the back of the chair, closing her eyes. That pair could be such a nuisance sometimes, Cagalli growled to herself. She heard Athrun let out a quiet cough to gain her attention. Feeling highly annoyed, she didn't bother to sit up as she snapped, "What is it?"

"How were you these last few years? Kira didn't tell me why you stop visiting after the freshman year…" she could hear the underlying discomfort and hesitance.

Well good riddance, she thought.

Cagalli opened her eyes and propped her arms back, staring at him, but still not quite sitting up. She could imagine herself looking very immature in her oversized red jacket as he sat there in his all his sophisticated awe. She snorted, finally taking in his black cashmere v-neck shirt. She could also imagine that he was probably wearing a nice pair of pants or faded jeans. He looked like a runaway model out of a magazine without that dinky blue hat of his.

Athrun looked a little perturbed, "Is something wrong?"

Cagalli rolled her eyes. "You don't have to talk to me because Kira suggested it."

"Well, I do want to talk to you," Athrun began slowly, "And it's not because Kira said so."

Cagalli could feel the old nagging feeling she used to feel around him. This is exactly what she meant. He was always such a goody-goody two-shoes. It was no wonder Kira hung out with him so much – the two of them would have made better twins. To put it lightly, she was beginning to feel a little resentful. Reluctantly, she offered, "Fine. But I get to ask questions first." She really didn't want him to bring up the stinging memory her father again.

Athrun sighed, giving in, "All right, but it better not be black mail related."

Cagalli perked up a little. Finally! She was beginning to wonder whether he had any nerve in him. She grinned impishly as her words laced with sarcasm, "What made you come to this quaint little city of Tokyo?"

Athrun shrugged, but a pleased smile seemed to be poorly hidden on his face, "I happen to have landed a job here for the time being."

Cagalli suppressed herself from making a double take. Then she remembered – while Athrun was only a little older than herself and her brother, he had skipped two years ahead of them when it came to school. That meaning… he was already out of college. Go figure. "What kind of job?" Cagalli asked, curious.

"Should I tell you? You might not like to hear it," Athrun said. His green eyes seemed calculating as he waited for her response.

Cagalli's bright eyes met his evenly as she sat up and leaned forward in intimidation, "What? Are you a male stripper or something?"

"Hardly," Athrun replied, nonplussed.

"You haven't changed much either, huh?" Cagalli lifted a corner of her mouth in a half-smile. "This kind of talk still makes you flighty," she added.

Athrun replied with his own crooked grin, "On the other hand, your brother was wrong. You have changed in the sense that you've become more observant."

"I've always been observant."

"Oh, have you?"

The two of them stared at each other, neither looking away, neither willing to lose. Just then, Kira and Lacus came over and set down the freshly ordered beverages and snacks onto the smooth table. This made Athrun and Cagalli look away simultaneously, Cagalli at the food and Athrun at Kira and Lacus. Lacus smiled down at him and Cagalli's downcast face, "I hope you two haven't been waiting long."

"Not at all, right Cagalli?" Athrun asked pleasantly, "Didn't we have a productive conversation?"

Cagalli fumed under her bangs, her eyes blazing at him. Production my ass, she growled when she looked up at her friend and brother, all trace of anger was gone as she grinned brightly, "Oh yes, we caught up very well. I heard Athrun was paid as a stripper and porn star during his college years to pay for tuition."

Lacus was struck dumb-tongued, as Kira looked between Cagalli and Athrun, almost sensing the actual sparks beginning to fly. Athrun was as pleasant as ever, but the look in his eyes screamed bloody murder, "Sure did. And Cagalli finally managed to complete kindergarten – or so I heard."

"Yes," Cagalli nodded, her flexed fingers looking lethal as she drummed them against the table, "I even learned to recognize the big number of prostitutes that Athrun has befriended. Didn't you say it was… ninety-nine of them you've slept with?"

By this time, Lacus and Kira had awkwardly taken their seats again, feeling like they should cut in, but didn't know if it was worth facing hell's fire. Kira tried clearing his throat to gain their attention, but it didn't do anything to stop either of them.

Athrun's grin turned stiffer, losing the ease it once held, "You aren't jealous, are you?"

Cagalli laughed with a menacing edge, "Should I be jealous? Why would I envy a toasty bed warmed by a bunch of spooning men?"

Athrun's already pale complexion drained the rest of his color as his gaze hardened. But Kira waved his hands in front of their faces, breaking up the intense discussion. Kira seemed nervous as Athrun and Cagalli turned their frightening glares onto him, "Well, food's here. Let's not waste time, okay? Cagalli, don't you have morning classes soon?"

"Yeah, I do." Cagalli grabbed her favorite frappe and stuffed a fresh out of the oven cornbread into her mouth, "Ah'll pay you lay-fer, Ki-rr. Fank you!" She stood up checking her pocket for her keys before weaving out of the café in record time.

She was gobbling up her large chunk of cornbread when she thought she heard someone calling her name. Actually, it was the one person she really didn't want to see right now whom she thought she heard. Ignoring the voice, she sped up, not wanting to take any chances.

But he was faster and caught up behind her easily despite the early crowd, "Hey, why are you walking so fast?"

Cagalli swallowed her food to snap back over the noise, "I'm going to be late."

"It's only ten minutes till seven. I can't imagine how you'll be late for your eight o' clock lecture," Athrun confronted her smartly.

The blonde stopped dead in her tracks, almost making Athrun slam into her had he not stopped the instant he did. She turned a sharp eye on him, "What did you just say?"

"Your eight o' clock lecture on Understanding Criminal Justice. Am I wrong?" He questioned, his handsome face innocently confused.

"You're dead on, in fact. How the hell did you know?" Cagalli walked on again, asking the last part more to herself.

Athrun had somehow managed to stay beside her instead of behind her. His voice sounded quite complacent, Cagalli noted, "You remember when I said you wouldn't want to hear what my new job was. You might as well find out once we get to your class."

Cagalli pointed out smugly to him, "I can always skip it today. I'm about three days ahead in work and three weeks ahead in reading."

"I'll still see you there everyday that you do go."

"Whatever," Cagalli said lightly, covering the fact that she was very annoyed. When they returned to campus, Cagalli turned one way while Athrun went the other. She felt herself getting held back by the arm. She stomped to a halt and wrenched her arm from his grip, "What the hell do you want now?"

Athrun pointed in the direction of the lecture hall, "It's that way."

Cagalli let out an exasperated sound, "I know that. I've gone to this school for over two years. I'm going somewhere else first."

Athrun's look was so quizzical, it made Cagalli want to tear her hair out from the roots. Instead, she replied in a cool business tone, surprising Athrun a little, "I don't have my materials with me. Now why don't you run along and get to the lecture hall already?" She sounded like an adult chiding a child, "I'm sure that you can get there without needing a babysitting service."

"As in, you're referring to me not needing to baby-sit you, correct?" Athrun retorted smartly.

"Up yours," Cagalli snorted and continued her way back to the dorms. She didn't hear him following after her anymore, so she relaxed as she rounded up the stairs.

Though she wished grabbing her things would take longer, she couldn't find anything else to do on her own. She paused momentarily to wonder whether or not she should use the bag her father bought her, but then decided not to without a second thought. So she left with her stack of huge textbooks and grunted as she took her time picking her way to the lecture hall.

Athrun was unfortunately right though. It was impossible for her to be late to class seeing that she left so early. Clearly, she was beginning to regret leaving her brother and Lacus so early at the Blue Café.

Nobody was around to bother her as she trekked down the concrete paths and avenues on bright, sunny campus until she neared the large modern building. She glared up at the ascending stairs before her that led into the hall. Her eyes tightened, regretting not using the stupid bag after all as she heaved the books in her sore arms.

Nearing the top, Cagalli heard some leaves rustling in some bushes crowding the polished stone steps. Her head whipped toward the sound, long enough to see someone's hands disappear and catch the sound of something heavy hurrying away. She frowned suspiciously wondering what that was all about. As she continued on, she wondered whether it was some underclassman playing a prank or whether Athrun lost his mind and suddenly decided to play hide and seek with her.

It wasn't going to happen, she groaned, pushing her way through the classroom's doors. She slammed her heavy stack of books down into her usual seat in the front row (for the sake of not having to fight her way up more stairs everyday.) Sighing, she slid down into her seat and waited with her head in her arms.

Nobody had arrived yet, not even Athrun. She swore he would definitely be far ahead of her already, but he wasn't. She thought back to the guy in the bushes just before and snorted at the thought. If it turned out to be Athrun, she'd give him a good wallop for startling her. She could have fallen down those stairs and cracked her head open for all she knew. Then someone would have to avenge her, most likely Kira. She'd make him even if he tried to make up excuses or complaints.

Her eyes wandered to the professor's podium and demonstration table. She caught sight of a briefcase and immediately sat up. So the professor was here? She looked around. No one was in the room though.

Suddenly, the door opened where Cagalli had entered moments before as a few sleepy faces of her fellow classmates filed in. More and more students sleepwalked in and many promptly doze off, leaving trails of spit in their wake. Cagalli grimaced as she shoved her books to her other side when the guy next to her began to pool an alarming size of saliva under his face. Scooting two seats over, she settled down again and waited patiently for the professor to walk in.

Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours until finally she heard the door open the instant the clock struck eight. She still had her head in her hands even when she heard the professor's quick footsteps cross the floor towards the podium and stop.

Probably waiting for attention, she guessed. Either way, she felt eyes boring into her head, forcing her to straighten up warily again.

What she saw nearly made her scream.

"Morning class," Athrun greeted cheerfully, "Please call me Professor Zala. I shall be covering this class with you for the rest of the year. It's a pleasure to meet you all." His brilliant green eyes roamed the lecture room full of sleepy bedbugs until landing a moment too long on Cagalli's horror-stricken face. "Please be kind, and try not to maim me," he joked absently, turning to face the rest of the class again to begin his actual lecture.

Cagalli had a nagging feeling that his last remark was directed more towards her than anyone else. She clicked her jaw shut, narrowing her eyes as she leaned back into her seat to stare at him defiantly.

Even if it were only a request to be considerate or whatever, like hell she would roll over and play dead for the likes of him. Cagalli nearly snapped the spine of one of her hard-covered law books as her mental claws extracted again to toy with a hundred different ways to make Professor Athrun Zala cry.

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A/N: Oh, oops. Hopefully people haven't forgotten about this story… Anyway, I would like to thank the following reviewers for reviewing the previous chapter: ANONYMOUS , Maryam Khanoom , asga , MyouseiSeed , rightnow. . Thanks for taking the time to review! Your comments are all appreciated.

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