The other two girls suddenly stopped laughing and froze dead in their tracks, staring ahead of them in disgust. �Oh no.� Mimi groaned under her breath. �Not her.�
Cassie looked up. Sitting just down the street from them was another girl. She was a student at Sukiyaki Middle School, but she was in Mimi and Kaira�s class, 8B. Cassie was in 8A, so she took in everything about this girl carefully:
Her hair was long and black, streaked purple in certain spots, and her eyes were a deep violet. She still wore their school uniform, a long-sleeve, buttoned black shirt, knee-length white skirt, a white sailor�s collar with black ribbons and a red neckerchief. She was sitting like she wanted to just disappear, be as small as possible so no one would notice her.
�Look at her, the brat.� Kaira sneered.
�Ugh�and she has that�that crow with her!� Mimi spat.
A large bird, with shiny black feathers and dark eyes, sat on the girl�s shoulder. She was stroking it gently, and her lips moved as if she was talking to it, though they couldn�t hear a word.
�What a freak show.� Kaira sniffed, turning to Cassie. �You�ve heard about her, right?�
�She�s that new kid, isn�t she?� Cassie asked, weary.
�Yeah, but everyone says that her mom�s that big model, Celesta Kinsei.� Mimi was pouring with gossip info. �So she lives in that huge mansion at the end of town. She�s real stuck-up, too, never says a word to anybody.�
�Celesta Kinsei?� Cassie asked. �I hear that woman�s a creep.�
�See? Our point exactly.� Kaira turned her back on the girl. �It probably runs in the family. Rich people are all the same.�
�You�re right.� Cassie said in a voice loud enough for the girl to hear. �Come on, let�s go. We don�t want any of her snotty attitude rubbing off on us.�
Selene watched the other girls go, then sighed sadly. Cyprus cawed gently and rubbed his head against her cheek. �Relax, Selene.� he whispered telepathically. �You don�t need to listen to them.�
�Thanks, Cyprus.� she muttered, stroking her friend. �I needed that.�
Selene stood slowly, heading down the street for home. She rubbed the silver ring around her finger. �Why do I need this thing, Cyprus?�
�I told you.� the raven said calmly, preening his feathers. �It allows you to transform into Sailor Gemini in times of need.�
�But I haven�t needed it yet.� the girl sighed, holding the hand with the ring up to the sunlight. The amethyst Sign of Gemini sparkled brightly in the light, sending tiny purple rays over her face. �It�s been over two weeks. You said the enemy was coming �soon�.�
�And they shall.� Cyprus urged. �You must not be in such a hurry, Selene. Your time will come��
He stopped, suddenly taking flight. Selene looked up, surprised. �Cyprus?� she called. �What�s�?�
The long, black limo pulling up to the curb in front of her was an obvious answer. The door was suddenly thrown open and a tall, thin black-haired woman with way too much hairspray struck her head out. �Selene, dah-ling!� she exclaimed. �Have you forgotten that today is your big day?!�
�Big day?� Selene groaned as the driver got out and pushed her into the back of the vehicle. �What �big day�?�
�Your first photo shoot, of course!� the mother cheered, slamming the door shut. �William, please hurry! Maxine and Drake are very important connections, and we don�t wanna keep them waiting!�
Minutes later, Selene was staring at her reflection in disgust. �It�s�orange!� she exclaimed, annoyed. �I hate orange!�
�Oh, don�t be silly, honey!� her mother cheered. �Orange is this year�s pink!�
Selene glared at the outfit. A knee-length orange summer dress with a white sash, short white gloves, small white shoes, and a white-straw hat with an orange bow. It really was an awful color on her, but her mother and her assistants never listened.
�Doesn�t she look gorgeous?� the woman, Maxine, exclaimed in a loud, high-pitched voice.
�Oh, yes!� the male one of the two, Drake, tossed his black-haired head back excitedly. �She�s just your spitting image, Miss Kinsei! A ravishing beauty!�
�Yes! On to the shooting!� the mother yelled, dragging her daughter into the studio.