This is a random story that came to life cause I had Moodswings by Charlotte Church replaying in my playlist. I doubt anyone will be reading this but I figured I have nothing to lose, so here it is. This was just for fun so don't take it seriously. Big thanks to whoever is reading, and reviews on how to improve my amateur writing skills are always welcome!

After working out in the gym Barnaby took a break, looking as if he'd been bathing in a cold mountain spring after he poured the last amount of bottled water on his face. He'd been surviving interview after photo shoot for the past few days so he was more than glad for a breather.

A good exercise was exactly what he needed at the moment.

Kotetsu, the Asian in his mid thirties offered him a friendly smile. "Taking a break? You know she'll see it as a victory on her end."

Barnaby had known that Alexia would be thrilled to see him take a break. "Of course," Barnaby sighed, his gaze lingering at the female redhead with the flushed cheeks, currently running a marathon on the treadmill. She wore cotton black workout pants that hugged her hips nicely and a white, short-sleeved T-shirt. Her pretty hair was a remarkable shade of red and there were a few sandy freckles on her face. The color of her eyes were a vivid shade of dark ocean-blue, highlighted by lush, black laces.

As he studied her, another sigh escaped his perfect lips. "You can stop running altogether before you tire yourself out, Silver Saint." Alexia snorted in defiance. "Put a sock in it," she huffed and puffed. "Just because you're a quitter doesn't mean I am!"

"There's no sense telling a kid to stop playing," Kotetsu laughed. "That's not funny," Alexia turned her head and simultaneously her sneaker lace loosened, resulting in a slippery downfall off the treadmill.

Locked in place like a pretzel, a worried Keith offered her a hand. "Are you alright? You must be careful, Silver-kun. Shall I accompany you today just to be safe?" Alexia dusted off her shirt and persisted that it wasn't necessary to follow her around.

It would be a waste of time on his end.

"Not at all! Why, you remind me of John when he was but a small pup! He was always getting himself into trouble," Keith laughed animatedly and pats her head. "I'd say she's more like a stiff-necked goat," Barnaby walked past with his towel hung around his neck; she came close to strangling the life out of him with the cloth.

Keith managed to hold her back before it got out of hand, her arms flailing about in anger. "Let's get you outside for some fresh air. Hopefully it'll cool down your temper some," the Asian mumbled the last line under his breath. Alexia–now calm and collected since Barnaby left the picture–eyed him strangely. Kotetsu shrunk under her sharp gaze. "You must be famished," he said, a tad bit nervous. "Ah! Tell you what, I'll pay for dinner!"

His offer was extremely suspicious; every fiber of her being screamed not to trust this man. "I'll drive. Suit up and meet me outside," Alexia walked off without another word and left a dumbfounded Kotetsu in her wake.

After getting freshened up they decided to go to Blue, one of her favorite restaurants in Stern Bild. She glanced at the reflection in the rear-view mirror of her car. Kotetsu was clearly cramped in the back; his legs poked her seat searching for sufficient space, twisting this way and that.

"Your car really is too small for me," Kotetsu stretched for emphasis. "I can't feel my legs anymore," he chuckled heartily. Alexia mentioned that he was just too tall in general, especially his legs. "I'll have you know that Bunny is four inches taller than me." "Then I guess I can take him for a spin in my car." Kotetsu laughed; he knew her intentions by getting Barnaby in that tiny car.

"Good luck getting him to listen."

They made their way through the crowded parking lot and into the busy restaurant. The waitress, a woman in her mid-twenties, offered them a friendly smile. "I'm sorry. It'll be a bit of a wait. We're a little shorthanded."

"That's alright," Kotetsu told the waitress. "We can wait."

"Alright then." The woman reached for a notepad. After they ordered, the waitress left them to wait in the entry. Alexia hoped she wouldn't see anyone she knew since she looked out of place, especially with Kotetsu grinning at her side. She wasn't in the mood to answer questions about how she was feeling and where she would go from here.

In truth, she was still coming to grips with the loss of her best friend and true love, Connor Reynolds. Six months ago their relationship ended. He fell in love with Helen Walker, her younger sister by three minutes. It had forced Alexia to reevaluate her life.

"I'm fed up with waiting," Kotetsu complained much like a child. "You're the one who said we can wait so stop nagging." "But I'm really hungry. I can eat an extra large pizza with olives on it, and I hate olives." He stood on his tippy-toes and peered inside, afterwards fidgeting with his hat and then peering inside again.

Alexia sighed. It seemed that everyone she knew was in a hurry. Helen and Connor certainly didn't wait to get engaged. It took them exactly three months to do so. It hurts to see him; yearning the man who she still loves to this day but doesn't return her love is a recipe for more heartache.

The waitress returned, drawing Alexia from her musings when she announced, "There's one last table in the courtyard. Apparently, the couple I'd seated there earlier decided it was too cold and went into the lounge to eat." "Fine with us," Kotetsu pinched Alexia's cheek who was about to protest altogether.

Dinner had been unexpectedly nice. Alexia wouldn't take any further advantage of his offer to spring for dinner when he was already trying to feed his ten-year old daughter. She'd also ordered something cheaper instead of the hearty—and more expensive—char grilled steak she'd decided on earlier. There was no way she'd let him pay a hefty bill when a smaller one would do.

"So," Kotetsu averted his attention from his now mayonnaise-stained empty plate to Alexia, who annoyingly rolls her eyes. "How come you're so eager to beat Bunny?" He picks his teeth steadily with a toothpick. "It's not only Bunny. You're competing against everyone." "I thought we were supposed to compete against each other," Alexia shot back. Kotetsu stroked his beard. She did have a point there.

"That's… true," he said slowly. "But we're also there for one another when times are rough, and I have yet to see that from you. It's like all you think about is the competition." Utterly bored, Alexia plopped a piece of bread in her mouth. Kotetsu's shoulders slumped; she's not gonna talk. "At any rate…" He said tiredly, reached across the table and placing his hand over hers. The gesture stirred up thoughts in her head like, gross he was picking his teeth a minute ago.

"At least try to open up to us. You have a friend in all of us, even Bunny," He smiled at her. "You'll feel better once you stop seeing us as mere rivals and more as family." He was talking as if he knew what she's going through.

She smiled sarcastically, revealing a pair of dimples that he didn't notice before. She hated his optimism, she hated the faint sparkle in his golden orbs, and she hated herself for joining him for dinner. "I'm not gonna take any chances. I'm fine with where I am now, safe and secure in my position," she answered.

Kotetsu sighed heavily once more. "You really are a stiff-necked goat," He yelped when her foot connected with his shin under the table. "No sense of humor whatsoever…" The man grumbled.

At that moment his cell phone rang. It was Antonio inviting Kotetsu over at the bar for a drink.

"Want me to give you a ride?" Alexia offered when they reached the parking space; the least she can do is give him a lift after he paid for dinner, no matter how much she disliked his eating habits at the table. "You'd like that wouldn't you?" Kotetsu smiled. The ordeal with her car being too small was troublesome indeed. "I might lose the ability to walk before I even start drinking," he joked. Alexia managed to smile a bit after unlocking her lunar black and white Tata Nano.

"Don't blame my car. You're the one with the weak spider legs, after all." Leaning against the car, he threw her a cheesy smile at that comment. "Maybe you should consider working out at the gym for once." With that said, she got in the car. The rumbling vehicle started to trot away on the road. Kotetsu waved after her with his hat and unfortunately the wind blew it out of his grasp.

Alexia looked at the rear-view mirror and laughed heartily; Kotetsu was running after his precious hat and no doubt cursed when it landed in a puddle of rainwater.