MONDAY

Her locker was closed with force, almost cutting her fingers off. Reyna turned to glare at Sierra, who just grinned in excitement.

"Ready to go to class?"

"Do we have the same one?"

Sierra blinked, before raising her arm and flicking Reyna's forehead.

"HEY!"

I forgot how much I hated when she did that.

Well, if she does that with frequency, we're gonna have problems.

She's good at reading my humor; when I am truly annoyed, she doesn't do that.

If she does that, she'll get me truly annoyed.

"I spend a couple of months suffering, missing my dear friend every day..."

"Poor you."

"... and when I finally manage to return to you, you forget most things about me; like the fact my dad is a Senator and it doesn't matter if he ignores me 90% of the time, if I want to get all the same classes with you, I can. I chose to just have half of it, instead. Now, let's get going, because being the GOOD friend I am, I remember how much you hate getting late for classes."

***

"Have I told how much I love your hair?"

Sierra was sitting behind Reyna in their third period, and after insisting so much, Reyna finally allowed her to play with her hair, unbraiding and braiding it into different styles.

"You know what would look amazing in you? Streaks. Purple ones. Maybe dark blue. I could take you to my hair dresser."

"No, thank you."

"Come on, Reggie, you would love it. And it would take the edge of your 'don't approach me' image."

I like this image.

"I like this image. Ow!"

Reyna held her hair at her nape and turned to glare at her friend, who had pulled it.

"That hurt!"

"Well, it also hurts me to see my friend so lonely because you insist on being so cold."

Sierra's mouth opened and her eyes gleamed. Before Reyna could ask what happened, the bell rang. They stepped outside the classroom and Sierra squeezed Reyna's arm with her black painted nails.

"I know! Join me in the track team! You're fast and resistant, we both know it. I have friends there, it would be a perfect start."

"No, thanks."

"Pleeeease, Reggie? You need to do an sport, you know that."

"I already do, Krav Maga."

Noooooooo, why did you tell her?

Shouldn't I?

She won't rest now until she meets Adam and won't rest until she gets us in a date with him.

Ugh, sorry, I didn't know.

"Is Krav Maga a way of saying sitting in front of TV and watching Chuck Norris' movies?"

"I don't even like Chuck Norris."

That Coach Hedge doesn't hear me saying this.

Who is him again?

The faun... satyr.

Oh, right. He likes Chuck Norris?

He named his kid after him.

Addicted then.

"Well, you should. He's amazing."

Sierra would probably win the 'gold cupcake' medal.

"Not as much as Jet Li, though."

And then she would lose it.

***

"Bye, Sierra."

"I'm coming with you."

"Don't you have the track team to keep you busy?"

"I haven't joined them again yet. I'm going with you to try one of these Krav Maga classes."

Reyna gaped.

"What makes you think they're today?"

"The fact that you tried to kick me out to the track team was a sign."

"What about the track team?"

"Please! I can join them tomorrow. We both know I'm the girl with the highest jump in our school in the last fifteen years. Besides, the coach is my aunt, remember? Now let's get going, I want to see what you were trying to hide."

***

"Sweet baby Jesus with sprinkles on top; who is that hunk?"

The said hunk turned with a grin to the girls.

"Regina! You came!"

Sierra's head whipped with so much force to stare at Reyna she was surprised her neck didn't snap.

"Yeah, like I have been doing for some time. Why the surprise?"

Adam blushed and smiled sheepish.

"I guess I'm always expecting you to ditch me and disappear without any explanation."

... I admit, the idea crossed our minds.

He doesn't need to know that.

***

Under her tan skin, Sierra was deep red and tired. Still, she approached Adam with a large grin by the end of the class, waving Reyna to go shower without her.

Oh, she got into Sierra mode.

What does that mean?

She'll hit on him, charm him and get him taking her on a date.

Reyna turned the shower on and felt the warm water washing the sweat away.

But ADAM?

Any guy she finds interesting. She gets every guy she wants.

But Adam is interested on us.

Yeah, when she gets into Sierra mode, it doesn't really matter.

Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?

What!? No! Why would I be jealous of ADAM!? I don't even like him!

Uhum. I was talking jealousy of Sierra's charm, not Adam.

Oh. Hum, yeah, I don't feel jealous of it either.

Yeah, right. So, do you like Adam?

No! Why would I?

Because he's sweet, and smart and hasn't given up yet?

He's just playing.

Are you sure of it?

Sierra entered the bathroom whistling a merry tune.

"Reggie, you here?"

"Yes."

Where else would we be?

Sierra stuck her head into Reyna's booth to grin at her.

"I hope you're free this Saturday, because I just got you a hot date!"

WHAT!?

"Wait, WHAT?"

"You're very much welcome!"

"Sierra! You can't just get me into dates!"

"Of course I can, what are friends for?"

"Sierra!"

"Besides, we're not talking about a date, we're talking about a VERY HOT date, Mr. Hunk! And I expect you to kiss AND tell. ALL the details. He looks like a guy who knows how to kiss a girl until her knees fail."

"Sierra!"

"I love how you remind me my name every time so I won't forget it."

TUESDAY

Reyna was beside Sierra, while she opened her locker. Reyna's eyes went round at the number of notes inside.

"What is all this?"

"My admirers, who else?"

That much?

She is back for only a week. Wait until next month. I told you, Sierra mode.

That is actually scary.

Reyna's phone vibrated in her pocket and she picked it up, groaning along with Regina when she saw the ID caller.

What does she want now?

Only one way to find out.

Reyna accepted the call.

"Yes, Hilda?"

Sierra's head snapped to attention, but she said nothing.

"Good to see you stopped your little tantrum of ignoring my calls."

"Want me to end this one?"

Sierra scooted close to Reyna's head so she could listen to both ends of the conversation.

"Regina!"

"What do you want?"

"To say I want you coming here for Christmas. I already bought your ticket."

"No, thanks."

"Then we'll go back together and search for a good apartment, and move there. I'm already contacting some realtors and a couple of decorators, everything should go smoothly."

"Hilda, I already said..."

"I'll email the details of your trip. If I'm busy, Kate is picking you up at the airport. I trust you to be sensible. Bye, lil' sis, until next time."

The call was cut off. Regina's anger washed over Reyna.

That... she just... I can't even... ARGH!

Reyna close her eyes, took a deep breath and murmured to herself.

"Di, da mihi virtutem et sapientiam, quia stultum aliquid pertimesco..."

"Stop cussing so much!"

Her eyes snapped open at Sierra's voice.

"I wasn't cussing, I was praying for strength and wisdom to deal with my sister."

"That was no praying."

"I was praying in latin."

"Right... don't try to trick me. That wasn't latin! Not in here, and not in Rome. The old one, I mean, since the modern one speaks italian."

"Do you know latin?"

"No, but neither do you. I'm your best friend, I'd know if you had learned latin. So stop cussing. Besides, why would you pray? You're not religious, as far and I know."

Reyna shook her head, but said nothing.

A/N: Anyone else loving Sierra? No? Just me? Okay then. Yes, Sierra is a flirt, snob and a little slut, but loyal to the bone to Regina. I think she looks like she could be a daughter of Venus, and I like the idea of her befriending the daughter of Bellona. She appeared because Reyna needed a close friend and Reydam(?) needs a little "push". This last dialogue was inspired in a fic I read some time ago, but can't remember which one, sorry. What Reyna said: "Oh gods, give me strength and wisdom, because I fear to do something foolish."