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Vocaloid Fic: Diamonds in the Rough Chapter 9

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With Friends Like These...


"I can't believe you're doing this." Allen said, watching Kyle fiddle with his newly blue hair.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," he replied, smiling.

They were at the Vocaloid HQ (okay, Allen had caught on to the new name) and Allen and Riley were waiting while Kyle, Meckenzie and Michaela were turned into their Vocaloid selves. Ms White had organised a public performance for them outside the town mall. The idea was to attract an audience and then hand out fliers that Riley and Michaela had made to spread the Vocaloid word further.

Michaela sat down next to Allen, carrying her twintails so that they wouldn't hit him. She opened her plastic water bottle and took a sip.

"You nervous?" Allen asked when she had finished.

"Of course, I'm shaking all over!" Michaela laughed. "But I'm excited too."

"I feel nervous and I'm not even going to be performing," Allen said jokingly and smiled at her. It was easier to talk to Michaela now, and he was getting used to her big, shiny
eyes making his heart race a little. Now he talked to her whenever he could.

Nerissa came over to Michaela to fix up her wig. "Be careful not to trip on these, or the whole thing will fall off."

Michaela nodded. "Got it."

Then Nerissa looked at Allen, who instantly cowered a little.

"W-what?" Allen admitted to himself that he was a bit frightened by Nerissa.

"Did anyone tell you that you seriously need a haircut?" she asked bluntly.

"Actually, yes," Allen confessed, remembering Riley making a similar remark.

Nerissa sighed irritably and left them.

"She's a little…" Michaela began.

"Scary?" Allen finished.

"Not exactly," Michaela shook her head, "she's like…well, actually yeah, she is totally scary and creepy. But I think there's more to her and there's a reason why she's so grumpy
all the time."

"You think so?" Allen stole a look at Nerissa who was straightening Kyle's coat and telling him not to fidget.

"Sure," Michaela said hopefully. Allen admired her optimism, but he wasn't sure if he agreed with Michaela or not. Nerissa hadn't exactly been treating him kindly since he had arrived.

He shook the thoughts away when Ms White gathered them all up to leave. They would be taking two cars—Ms White's and Annabelle's. He, Kyle, Meckenzie and Riley would be going in Annabelle's car while Nerissa and Michaela would be travelling in Ms White's car. Michaela's hair alone took up much of the backseat so everyone was thankful they wouldn't have to be squished. Michaela waved to him as they went to their separate vehicles.

"See you at the mall!" she called out and Allen gave a bashful wave goodbye.

Kyle and Meckenzie were already sitting in the back of Annabelle's car and Allen was about to follow them when Riley pushed past him and scrambled into the seat. She folded her arms and stared pointedly at the front seat. Allen sighed and sat next to Annabelle at the front.

No matter how happy she was, Riley was still refusing to talk to Annabelle. Allen was doubtful that even with everything that was going on around them, some things would ever change.

Annabelle seemed to be learning and didn't try to make a conversation with Riley, knowing that it would probably start a fight. She simply talked to Allen every now and then. Riley was occupied with chatting to Kyle and Meckenzie, freely laughing and joking with them. He wished he could do that. Allen was making steady progress with becoming friends with Michaela, but he still wasn't completely comfortable with the other Vocaloids. They weren't cold to him like Nerissa was, but they were definitely more Riley's friends then this.

As Annabelle parked near the front of the town mall, Allen could see Michaela waving at them. He and his travelling companions quickly joined her in setting up the performing area for the Vocaloids. There wasn't much to it.

"What is that?" Riley asked, looking at the small, wooden box that Ms White was placing on the ground.

Ms White said simply, "Our stage."

Riley started to laugh and Meckenzie had to donk her on the head to get her to shut up.
"It's better than nothing at least," Meckenzie said. "How do we start this thing?"

"With these!" Kyle said proudly, putting down a shabby speaker set and a microphone.

"Well they're…practical, I guess." Michaela shrugged, not wanting to hurt anybody's feelings.

"They belong to Peaches and Uta, who've kindly let us borrow them," Ms White explained.

"Hey, where's Mim? And Teto for that matter?" Meckenzie asked suddenly. "You'd think they'd want to come to the first new Vocaloid performance even if it is in front of a mall."

"Mim's still looking for some adult members to join the Vocaloids," Annabelle said sadly. "She won't stop until she at least finds somebody."

"You mean we're not good enough for her?" Riley said, hands on her hips.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Annabelle said hastily.

"And Teto?" Allen asked, wanting to the cut the potential argument short.

"She's working on outfits for you and Riley," Nerissa said over her shoulder as she set up the microphone and made sure the stand wouldn't fall over. "They're more detailed than she originally planned, so they're taking almost as long to make as Michaela's costume did."
"Detailed sounds good," Riley said, perking up instantly. Allen wasn't so sure though…
"What about our alias names?" Meckenzie asked. "We're not exactly recognizable in these outfits, and I kinda like the idea of having a secret identity."

"I couldn't think of anything for my name." Kyle said, looking shamefaced.

"Peaches and Uta had suggestions for you two. Since you sing well together, they came up with some names that could fit your partnership, if you will."

Meckenzie raised her eyebrow. "Let's hear them then."

"Meckenzie, as Leon and Lola were big fans of Japan, Peaches suggested a Japanese name for you; Meiko." Ms White told her.

"Sweet, I like it. What does it mean?"

"Flower bud."

"What! I get a dipsy meaning like that? What does that even mean?!"

"The potential to bloom into a beautiful flower."

"But that's silly! How can I be compared to something like a flower?"

"I think it suits you," Kyle said sweetly. "Besides, you said you liked the sound of it."

"Exactly." Ms White nodded. "Right now, Meckenzie, you are not Meiko. You are Meckenzie, who often acts impulsively and acts tough to solve her problems. The Vocaloid, Meiko, on the other hand is a strong, mature woman who has the wonderful gift to bring people together and lead them."

Meckenzie was silent for a moment, looking unusually thoughtful.

"I could…learn to like being Meiko," she mumbled, cheeks pink. Ms White's smile grew wider.

"And for you, Kyle, Uta thought of the name Kaito, which means to soar."

"To soar…?" Kyle looked worried, "I'm not going to be expected to fly over the roof, am I?"

Riley snickered and Nerissa rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"I think it could have a meaning similar to Meckenzie's alias. Being a Vocaloid could help expand your potential to become someone like Kaito," Ms White said.

"My, you're full of it," Nerissa said, putting her finger in her mouth and pretending to throw up.

"I'd like to be Kaito." Kyle grinned briefly, then his scared expression returned. "But…no flying, alright?"

Ms White and Annabelle chuckled.

"No promises."

-----

Twenty minutes in and 'Meiko' wasn't getting much of a crowd. After warming up she had started slowly with one or two simple songs that the people passing by ignored. Discomforted, she tried some stronger songs, but unfortunately most of the attention she was drawing was from the male crowd and Allen didn't think they were enjoying her singing so much as her short skirt.

"I feel silly!" she said, putting the microphone back in its stand and stomping off the mini-stage. "These people don't want to hear my singing at all!"

"I'll say!," Kyle said, surprisingly dark as his narrowed eyes followed the perverted men as they left.

Meckenzie sat down on the pavement, back resting against the brick wall, looking peeved.

"I don't feel like Meiko," she grumbled. "Meiko wouldn't be ignored."

"I wouldn't say you were ignored exactly…" Allen said, keeping an eye on Kyle to make sure he didn't run off after the drooling men and beat them over the head.

Meckenzie slumped further, her anger visibly draining and being replaced with disappointment.

"I thought maybe I'd at least get some listeners…" Meckenzie's dark brown eyes were distressed. Allen felt a pang of sympathy for her and was glad to see Michaela sliding down next to her to pat her on the arm.

"I'm not sure," Ms White said unhappily. "I should've expected this to happen but I…."
She trailed off, looking as forlorn as Meckenzie.

"Am I doing something wrong?" Meckenzie asked, with a touch of vulnerability in her voice.

"Of course not!" Kyle objected instantly. "These people just don't know a great singer when they hear one!"

Everyone stared at him, shocked by his heated words, especially Meckenzie whose eyes were as wide as saucers. Kyle turned pink and began stuttering. Annabelle coughed to ease the tension.

"Why don't you have a go, Kyle?" she suggested. "Maybe you'll have better luck."
He didn't. After another twenty minutes of trying and Kyle had done worse than Meckenzie. The only looks he'd received were directed to his bright blue hair. He stepped down, equally disappointed, but trying for a smile anyway.

"So what now? This crowd isn't biting." He sprawled on the ground near Meckenzie and began to fiddle with his blue cotton scarf.

"You could say that again," Nerissa said, rubbing her hands together for warmth in the cold autumn wind. "If anything, they're actually purposely heading in the other direction
when they see us."

"I didn't exactly need to hear that," growled Meckenzie, who hadn't moved since she sat down.

"Hey, I'm just saying what everybody's thinking," Nerissa retorted. "We all know this expedition is going to shi―"

"Shut up!" Meckenzie stood up so suddenly that she startled Kyle who gave a squeak. Michaela looked flabbergasted. Allen almost jumped out of his skin as well as out of the way as Meckenzie, wearing a dangerously angry expression, stalked over to Nerissa, getting right up in her face.

"You have done nothing but complain and whine since we joined the Vocaloid project. You're spiteful and mean-spirited and cut us down for no reason. Frankly, you have no right to be so mean to anyone of us because the only thing you've done to benefit this project is give us a haircut."

Nerissa scrunched up her nose, about to open her mouth, but Meckenzie was like a speeding train. Nothing could stop her now from going off at Nerissa.

"You constantly insult us and never have anything good to say to any of us. I can handle most of the jabs at me, but trying that on the other kids? I don't think so. We're a team and the last thing I'm gonna do is let you push my friends around with your bitching."

"Meckenzie!" Ms White hissed, but Meckenzie gave no indication that she had heard her.

Nerissa's hazel eyes were practically flaming now and her jaw was locked.

"I've done nothing to benefit this group?! You're the one who can't even scramble together a few measly people to listen to your pathetic songs!"

"Nerissa!" Ms White whispered fiercely, but again, she was ignored. A small, curious crowd was forming, all wondering if it was some public stunt.

"You take that back." Meckenzie threatened, her voice low and scary. Wearing her high-heeled boots she was more than a head taller than Nerissa  and this gave her an advantage
in looking intimidating.

"No way," Nerissa snarled, glaring straight up at Meckenzie, not fazed at all.
Meckenzie took a step back and to everyone's surprise began to smirk.

"What's your real reason for hating us Vocaloids so much? We haven't done anything to you. None of us knew you before we got involved and I doubt you would've harassed us if we weren't in the project. What makes us so special? Have we got something you haven't?"

The last question seemed to strike a nerve and Meckenzie's smirk grew wider, knowing she had won.

"I'm going home," Nerissa stated, barely audibly. She turned on her heel and stomped off. As Allen watched her figure get smaller and smaller and he felt some intangible pull to follow her. Before he could take two steps, Ms White gently stopped him and gave him a look to say that'd she do it. She gave another speaking look to Annabelle who nodded firmly. Ms White grabbed her keys and went off after Nerissa and the small group of spectators melted away into the crowd.

"Whoooooooo!" Riley whistled. "Boy, that was heavy!"

"Meckenzie, I think you went too far," Annabelle said to her. Meckenzie shrugged.

"I had to. It was bugging me so much that she felt that she could push us around. I mean, she's the same age as me and Kyle, what makes her think that she's superior?"

"I suppose you're right," Annabelle said quietly, eyebrows furrowed showing she was thinking.

"Besides," Meckenzie continued, "I gotta look out for my fellow Vocaloids. No one messes with you guys on my watch."

Allen, Kyle, Michaela and Riley all grinned. Allen was especially happy.

She cared about him. They all did. He had people who cared about him; people that he knew would cover his back.

It was a great feeling.

"Should we pack up now?" Riley wondered.

"Michaela still hasn't had her go," Kyle said, squeezing the teal-haired girl's shoulder.
"I'll go!" she replied, cheerfully, making her twintails bounce.

Smoothing her Vocaloid outfit, Michaela hopped onto the stage. There was a bit of a delay while she stuffed around with the microphone, which she had to pull down several inches due to the height difference between her and Kyle, who'd used it last.

"Um, uh, hi!" she said once she turned the microphone on. "My name is Hatsune Miku and I will be performing for you now!"

"Great name," Kyle said admiringly.

"Isn't it?" Annabelle replied. "We figured we'd slap a last name on her alias too."

"What does it mean?" asked Allen.

"Well…" Annabelle scratched her chin, "Japanese most definitely isn't my strong point but Peaches told me it roughly translates to 'the first sound of the future'; whatever that means."

"I like it," said Meckenzie.

"Me too," Allen agreed, "but why is she called the first sound? She isn't―"

"Shh! She's about to sing!" Riley hushed him, tugging on his arm in excitement.

The background music began to play and Michaela started singing the first line.

"I'm the number one princess in the whole wide world, know how to treat me that waaay…"

"She's doing her crazy high notes again," Riley said, impressed. Allen was beyond impressed. Although he had heard her sing since her audition he was still in awe. Not just of her singing but of how alive and animated she was on stage. If she was nervous you certainly couldn't tell and she did the whole performance with a big smile on her face.
In this song she portrayed a spoiled girl who bullied her crush and ordered him around when all she really wanted was for him to notice her and say he loved her. It was a really odd song for Michaela, and Riley and Meckenzie had rolled about laughing when they heard the sweet Michaela become the nasty princess. Whatever, Michaela was really enjoying herself on stage.

No, not Michaela.

When she put on that wig and sang she became Hatsune Miku.

Best of all, a crowd was forming. A big one. And this time it had nothing to do with prurient interest in a short skirt or a scuffle between team members. They were there for Miku's presence and voice.

And they were loving it.      

Miku's vibrant and energetic performing paid off as people drew around her, some cheering her on, others simply gawking at the strangely dressed teenager.

When she did a twirl, she caught his eye and Allen could swear he was looking at someone completely different. He couldn't see Michaela at all. Only Miku. She gave him a sly wink, spinning around again to face her audience. The song finished on yet another long high note and people roared with applause and scuffled through their wallets for change.

Meckenzie acted quicker than the rest of them and rushed forward with a handful of fliers.

"No, no! We don't want your money—take this!" she said and the others snapped out of it and joined her in handing out the fliers.

"Who are you people?" one person asked.

"We're Vocaloids!"  Miku said.

"What's a Vocaloid? Where did you come from?" Questions started flowing and they all tried
their best to answer them.

"We're a new singing group; set up in honour of the magnificent Leon and Lola Lloyd!"

"Please come to our upcoming show! Support the cause for remembrance of the first Engloids!"

"Hey! Hands off the merchandise!" Meckenzie snapped when people started to try and touch Miku's wig.

"What are your names?"

Kyle, Meckenzie and Miku exchanged glances.

"I'm Meiko!"

"I'm Kaito!"

"I'm Hatsune Miku!"

"And we are Vocaloids!" they all said together.

---

Ms White had returned and was parking her car as the crowd drifted away, every single one of them clutching a Vocaloid flier. She did a double-take when she heard the word 'Vocaloid' fall off several lips.

"I'm so proud of you," Ms White said with a tear in her eye.  Michaela/Miku hugged her, carefully, to avoid entangling care Ms White's slender person in her blue-green locks.
"All of you."

Kyle beamed, but Meckenzie was noticeably quiet. Allen hoped he was just imagining it and he didn't have much time to think because Riley was jumping up and down and yelling in his ear excitedly.

"How's Nerissa?" Annabelle asked the inevitable and now everybody was quiet. Ms White shifted uncomfortably.

"I took her home. She didn't say anything to me."

"Is she mad?" asked Michaela.

Ms White gave a huge sigh and rubbed her temple.

"You have no idea…"

They packed up and headed home celebrating to their victory, though Meckenzie was still looking a little disheartened. Miku took off her wig so she could sit with her friends in the car; transforming back into Michaela.

"Everything all right, Meckenzie?"she asked, "Aren't you happy?"

"Yeah of course I am…" Meckenzie said, looking out the car window.

"Then what's wrong?" Kyle probed as he strapped himself into the seat beside Michaela.

Meckenzie gave them a long, unreadable look.

"I am really happy that the Vocaloid project has started so well but I just wish it was me who…" Meckenzie stopped herself. "…never mind. I'm happy for you, Michaela."

"Thanks, Meckenzie!" Michaela said warmly as she leant over and gave her a hug.

Allen was still outside the car while this went down and was about to take his place in the front seat of Annabelle's car when a gentle voice prodded his ears.

"Allen?"

Allen turned around and saw Ms White. "Yes, miss?"

"Would you like me to drive you home? There is something I want to talk to you about."

"Uh...sure?" Allen was confused as to why Ms White suddenly wanted him, but he would go along with it, nonetheless.

Riley was extremely grouchy about having to sit up the front with Annabelle, but Kyle, Meckenzie and Michaela were all settled in the back and they weren't planning on moving. After a lot more grumbling, Riley finally sat her butt in the seat, but refused to look at Annabelle. For once, Annabelle was too happy to notice.

Allen walked over to Ms White's car where she was waiting for him.

"Ready to go?" she said, her voice as soft and musical as ever. It was a sound that Allen had missed.

"Yeah."

Ms White smiled and held open the passenger door for him.

"After you."

----

It was quiet in Ms White's car and she drove slowly through traffic. It was very different from riding with Annabelle. Annabelle was always moving around, tapping her long manicured fingers, humming a tune, and using traffic light stops to fix her hair or check her teeth. Ms White sat relaxed at the wheel, her reddish-brown eyes looking out for other cars. She didn't hum, but she had the radio on, albeit turned down so low Allen had to strain to hear the classical music. But still, she glanced at Allen every now and then, giving him that special smile she had been giving him for about a month.

A month…

It was a month ago that Allen had lain under the big autumn tree and found the wall that held so many secrets and treasures just waiting for him to discover. A month ago Allen would have never imagined he'd be where he was today.

And when he really got down to it, it was all thanks to Ms White that he had joined the Vocaloid project. She had been the one to encourage him, to support him, to pick him up from the dirty leaves and give him a whole new outlook on his life.

When Ms White was around, Allen truly believed in magic.

"It's been a while since we've been able to chat, hasn't it?" Ms White mused.

"Yeah!" Allen admitted, "I've just been so caught up with...well everything that I kind of forgot about how you brought me to the Vocaloids in the first place."

"Oh, Allen," Ms White chuckled, "I hardly did anything. It was you who decided to join and make yourself a Vocaloid. I only gave you a push."

"I'm glad you did."

"Me too."

They shared a companiable silence and didn't speak again until they reached a red light.

"Allen…" Ms White began, taking a big breath as if it was taking all her energy to speak to him.

"Yes, Miss?"

"I hope you know that I acknowledge you as one of the best students I've ever had the pleasure to teach."

"Really?" said Allen, genuinely surprised.

Ms White nodded. "Absolutely. That's why I hope you will understand me when I say this."

"What, Miss?" Her worried tone was making Allen anxious. Was he failing Art and she was trying to break it to him as gently as possible? Or was it even worse? Had he broken any rules lately? He had skipped (by accident) two lessons when he fell asleep and met Michaela after school. Oh no, was he going to be expelled??

"There's no reason to look so tense, Allen," Ms White assured him. "I just wanted to talk to you about Nerissa."

"Nerissa?" Now he was really confused!!

"Yes. I wanted you to know that Nerissa isn't as mean as you and the others make her out to be."

"Then why does she always bully us?" The red sphere on the traffic light turned a bright emerald green and Ms White pushed on the accelerator to move forward in the traffic whilst shaking her head slowly.

"That's not for me to say. After what happened today I just wanted you to know that she isn't completely horrible. Nerissa is really close to me and I find it such a shame that people never spend the time to get to know her. I think with your help, and some good will from the others that could possibly change."

Allen played with his fringe, thinking it all over. Ms White mistook his silence for
anger.

"It's not that I agree with how she's been treating you all," she said hastily. "I only believe that maybe you can help her."

"But she hates us Vocaloids!" he cried out.

Ms White frowned and looked at him.

"She doesn't. Believe me, Allen, she doesn't."

He couldn't say anything after that because they had pulled up at his house. He got out and watched as she drove away, confused and tired.

----

Allen hadn't felt like dressing up in years. After all, he sort of had to grow up after his dad died; even before that really, when his mum left. Either way, it had been a while since he'd had the pleasure of pulling on a costume and transforming into somebody completely different.

That's what was running through his head when, a week after their visit to the shopping centre, he held his new Vocaloid outfit out in front of him. It was the same sort of gig as the Hatsune Miku outfit—like a futuristic cyber-tech school uniform.

It consisted of a sailor outfit top, complete with a yellow tie. There were two attachable sleeves that had robotic markings on them and a matching pair that he wore over his calves. He wore long, yellow-striped black shorts that brushed his knee caps and comfortable white slip-on shoes. Riley got a feminine version of his outfit, with a sailor shirt cut short to show her stomach, a big bow instead of a tie and short-shorts instead of baggy pants. Other than the gender styling, it was the most they had looked like twins in a long time.

"This is so cool!" Riley said, doing a full turn in front of the big mirror to check herself out.

"Yeah..." Allen said, unable to form a full sentence. He felt goose-bumps on his decorated arms and butterflies in his stomach.

The other Vocaloids seemed equally happy with their latest Vocaloid partners. But Nerissa wasn't so impressed.

"Okay, I can't take it anymore!" She threw her hands up in the air. "I'm not going to be content with this kid's look until I give him his way-overdue haircut!"

"My what?" Allen said, with a look of horror painted on his face as she approached him.
Nerissa marched right over to Allen and dragged him by the arm towards a chair.

"Sit," Nerissa commanded. He sat, without saying anything. Even if Meckenzie stood up to her, Allen sure wasn't going to try. He knew very well that she could floor him in a second.

She wrapped a towel over his neck so tightly it was practically a noose and reached for her haircutting scissors. Still, he said nothing and sat frozen with fear.  
Sharp, pointy objects in the hands of an angry Nerissa were enough for him to want to wet his new pants.

"Nerissa, are you sure about this?" Ms White said, coming over a bit closer to the armed blonde.

"Of course. I did Meckenzie's hair and Kyle's hair, didn't I?" she snapped, twitching when she said Meckenzie's name.

"And turned Kyle's hair bright blue," Riley reminded her. Nerissa glared at her but didn't say anything. She grabbed a hunk of Allen's hair, making his head tilt back.

"Now stay still if you want to keep that neck of yours," Nerissa hissed in his ear, not loud enough for the others to hear. Allen gulped, starting to break out in a cold sweat as he nodded.

Nerissa started snipping off the ends of his hair, but found she didn't have much scope.
With an eye-roll she fetched a hairbrush and began a vain attempt to ease the numerous tangles in his hair. But after years of neglect, Allen's hair was an entire mess of knots, dry-ends and golden clumps.

Nerissa's efforts with the brush got a lot more vigorous. After one particularly vicious attack, Allen finally broke his silence to yell out in pain.

"Nerissa, you're hurting him!" Ms White stepped even closer and put a restraining hand on Nerissa's arm, but Nerissa shook her off.

The brush was now completely stuck in Allen's haystack hair.

After a few mercilessly violent tugs to free her beloved hairbrush and several shameful squeals from Allen, Nerissa put her foot on his shoulder for leverage and pulled back as hard as she could.

Allen began to holler, wondering if the skin on top of his head was going to be ripped off. Nerissa kept pulling until they both heard a sickening snap and Nerissa tumbled backwards, slamming her head against the wall.

To his relief it wasn't Allen's neck that had made the snap but the hairbrush that had been split into two. The brush part was still lodged in his hair while Nerissa was left with a snapped off bit of stick.

Rubbing his smarting head, Allen got up off the chair to check on Nerissa who was rubbing her own head where it had collided with the wall. When she saw the broken brush in her hands she gave Allen the dirtiest of looks.

"You broke my favourite brush, idiot!" Nerissa exclaimed as she lunged for him. Allen covered his face, preparing for her punch, but instead felt the immense pain of her renewed effort to remove the piece of brush still embedded in his wild locks.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" he yelped, sure his head was going to be torn off along with her brush.
This time Ms White managed to grab hold of Nerissa and stop her.

"That's enough," she said and then looked at Allen, "Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah…" Allen had his fingers touch the brush that was practically swallowed by his hair.

"That's in there pretty deep," Michaela said, having gotten up to check on him. Riley, Kyle and Meckenzie were too busy giggling at the funny sight. Teto was already past that; she was keeping a hand on the counter so as not to fall over laughing.

"I told you you were a sheepdog, sheepdog!" Riley remarked, holding her stomach while laughing harder.

"Maybe we should just leave it?"  said Annabelle, worried for her stepson's health.

"We can't leave half of a brush stuck in his hair," Nerissa said, having calmed down a little thanks to Ms White. "I'm going to cut around it to get it out and then I'll have to even it out."

"He's not going to be bald is he?" Michaela asked.  

"If he behaves then no." Nerissa answered, motioning for Allen to sit in his seat again. He did, his head still reeling a little.

To his surprise, when Nerissa calmed down she was actually gentle with him, slowly cutting and when her fingers brushed the nape of his neck he felt a shiver run up and down his spine. It felt nice until she poked him hard in the back and told him to quit squirming.
She carefully and smoothly cut around the brush and, after a worryingly long amount of snipping, she was able to reach in and pull it out.

"That's a lot of hair on the floor..." Riley said and everyone's eyes fell to the carpet where it seemed half of his hair lay.

"I guess you probably want me to even it out now, right?" Nerissa said with a sigh.
"Yes, please."

With a resigned shrug, she took hold of Allen's head again and got to work on evening what was left of Allen's hair, while the other Vocaloids waited patiently on the outcome and Annabelle cleaned the carpet of gold clumps.

After a few minutes, Nerissa let him stand up and look in the mirror. He gasped.
He had known his head felt a lot lighter and his neck was now bare but he hadn't expected it to turn out so…good.

Nerissa had given him bangs that, with the gel she supplied, were spiky and out at an odd but really cool angle. Now Allen had less of a mane at the back too but there was still just enough for Nerissa to be able to pile it up into a miniature ponytail.

And the best thing was that when Allen took the towel off, his new hair went way better with his costume then his old one.

"Ooooh…" Riley cooed. "Me next!"

"But your hair is fine, Riley." Michaela pointed out, puzzled.

Riley pouted her lips, "So? It's not fair that you all get to have a haircut and I don't!"
"But you said so yourself that when Kyle got his hair style it turned blue," Meckenzie reminded her.

"And I just wear a wig. I don't think I could handle having a hairstyle like that for too long. I mean, how would I manage in a place like a shower?" Michaela added.
Allen shut his brain up from imagining Michaela in the shower and focused on his sister who wasn't giving up on wanting a haircut from Nerissa. After a bit more whining, Nerissa snapped and caved in.

A couple of minutes later and Riley had gotten a style similar to Meckenzie's bob, except that Nerissa had made the ends a bit spiky to match Allen's and given her a thick fringe that dipped over one eye.

"I'm blind!" Riley screamed, flailing her hands. Nerissa was not amused and Riley pushed her new hair back just in time to yelp, seeing Nerissa reach for her again. Thankfully it was only to put in two thick white hair pins so the fringe stayed in place and that seemed to please Riley. Finally finished with her work, Nerissa collapsed into a nearby chair, giving yet another sigh.

"You look so sweet!" Michaela said, taking a hold of Riley's hands. The two started to jump up and down on the spot in a girly fashion. Allen didn't watch this for too long as he felt a tug on his new ponytail, and spinning around defensively, found Meckenzie.
"You're not too bad yourself, shortie," she complimented and Kyle gave him the thumbs up.
Hearing this, Riley let go of Michaela and walked over to them. "Yeah, but now I can't call him sheep-dog anymore; ruined my fun."

The four of them shared a laugh that felt really good to Allen. He had done a lot of laughing lately, or had been around it for the last couple of days. He hoped it stayed.

-----

He didn't feel like laughing when he went to school the next day. It was winter now and frost was already on the ground. The leaves had fallen and got turned into mush if someone didn't sweep them away. It was bitingly cold and Allen was almost starting to wish that he had his old hairstyle back as it covered his ears, nape and lots of his face. With just a ponytail, he was extremely exposed to the bitter elements.

He had gotten a couple of looks― and quite a lot of them were from girls― and people were being a little more sociable with him now, which was very strange for him.

"Hey sissy-boy!"

Well, almost everyone. Sometimes the new look caught unwanted attention.
Allen groaned and looked over his shoulder to see three senior boys sneering at him.

"You called?" Allen said, his breath coming out in a white fog. He wasn't in the mood for these guys.

"Nice haircut, sissy-boy!" one of them smirked. "You turning gay on us or somethin'?"
Although he probably shouldn't have, Allen took the bait.

"No."

And then he turned and started to walk away from them. But he wasn't fast enough. He felt a shove in the small of his back and tumbled forward, only just managing to stop himself from crashing onto the slippery ground, his bag slipping off his shoulder in the process.

"We aren't done with you yet, sissy-boy!" another one of them jeered, laughing with his mates.

Allen steadied himself and went to face them.

"My name is Allen," he said steadily, trying to be assertive like his lively friends, but he couldn't ignore his heart pounding in his chest.

"Ooooooo," they all whistled, coming into a circle around him. "Okay, sissy-boy."

"Leave me alone," Allen continued, trying to get away. One of the boys stepped in front of him.

"Leaving so soon, sissy-boy? What, gonna get your nails painted next?" the guy who seemed to be the leader said, while giving him another shove so he fell back towards the other guy, who pushed him over to his other friend, who thrust him back to the leader. The game continued with Allen being tossed between the three of them. He tried to find an escape or exit, but they were bigger, stronger and tougher then he was. He could feel bruises appearing on his arms where they caught him and tossed him. He couldn't get his footing and the whole world seemed to be spinning, stars forming in his eyes, and all the while the three seniors laughed and yelled at him.  

"Oi, cut it out!" A new voice cut in. The torturous game paused and the leader squeezed Allen's arms tight making him wince.

"Who are you?" one of the boys asked, sounding half curious and half scared; and so they should've been Allen thought when he saw an all-too-familiar blonde standing a few feet away from them.

"Someone you don't want to mess with," Nerissa growled, holding up her fists. "Drop the kid."

The boys were at least twice her size, but the threatening tone in her voice made them quiver for a moment before the leader regained his composure. He threw Allen onto the ground at his feet. Without time to shield his face and shoulder, Allen met painfully with the cement.

"You need your girlfriend to fight your fights, eh, sissy-boy?" the leader mocked cruelly,
but his eyes were on the fierce-looking Nerissa.

Allen had barely managed to lift his head, dazed. "N-Nerissa?"

"I won't tell you again," Nerissa warned, taking a fighting stance. "Leave the kid and
beat it."

The leader laughed and the other two followed suit, shakily.

"Tough chick, huh? She's got more balls than you, sissy-boy!"

Nerissa narrowed her golden-hazel eyes.

Two seconds later, the leader was on his knees, howling, with his hands over his crotch. He swore, biting his lip.

"I warned you," Nerissa said simply and then locked her scary eyes on the other boys. They jumped and took a few steps away from her.

"If you don't want to end up like your pathetic tool of a friend, I would recommend you leaving Allen alone from now on. Got it?"

She didn't need to tell them twice and they scrambled out of there, their leader wobbling behind them.

Allen was in utter shock as he watched Nerissa walk over to him, grab him by the shoulders and heave him up. She let go of him almost instantly and crossed her arms.

She had called him Allen…

"W-what was that?!" Allen exclaimed, "You just took out one of the toughest guys at our school!"

"That poser?!" Nerissa scoffed. "He was nothing. Heck, you'd probably be a better match than him."

Allen blinked, astonished.

"Was that a compliment?"

Nerissa flushed, looking away angrily.

"Don't get the wrong idea, idiot. I didn't do that thing back there for you. I just can't stand losers like that and he was asking for it."

"Uhm, okay." Allen rubbed the back of his head, unsure of what to say.

"You…you're alright, aren't you?" Nerissa muttered, still not looking at him.

"Yeah, a lot better then I would've been if you weren't here." Then he thought for a moment. "Wait, why are you here?"

Nerissa looked relieved at the subject change. "I'm here to see Clare." Seeing his confused expression, she rolled her eyes.

"Clare is Ms White, dumbass," she explained. "Anyways, I sometimes come to visit her to check up on stuff and I managed to find you on the way by pure chance."

"Right…" Allen shuffled awkwardly.

Nerissa gave another irritated sigh and started to walk away.

"Hey, wait!" he called out. She half-looked back at him, annoyed.

"What is it, idiot?"

"Er…thanks? For saving me, I mean. It was really nice of you."

Surprise flickered in Nerissa's eyes for a second and her cheeks pinkened, but she shook her head and practically ran away from him.

"Don't get used to it, idiot."

Allen picked his bag up when she left, thinking.

Did…did he just make friends with Nerissa?
Chapter 8: [link]

Chapter 10: [link]

You know the drill, folks; show me some love! Comment and tell me what you think.

Also, I'd like to hear your opinions on whether you think Meckenzie was in the right to critisize Nerissa or not.

In fact, just give your opinion to the whole chapter! Go wild, my lovelies!
© 2012 - 2024 TheWhiteJewel
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Vyslanec's avatar
First of all, you must be bored of hearing this but anyway, great chapter as always. They say that the art is to express yourself in a way that other ones understand your feelings and thoughts, by that definition I really think that you've earned the title of artist.

Nerissa seems like a total tsundere, if not she would had never help them with their hair and being so involved with all the project, maybe they don't understand all this, I'm sure that deep in the bottom she is a sweet girl.

I don't think Meckenzie was right, but maybe it was necessary, sometimes we need to hear those things to grow as persons.

Really enjoyed the chapter and I'm looking forward to reading the next ^^