Nagi grumbled as he opened Nami’s bedroom door. He’d heard her playing music on his way up the stairs and was displeased that it was Nickleback, one of the girls’ favorite bands. “Oh, yay,” Nagi said sarcastically as he walked into her room, flopping down on Nami’s bed.

Nami pointed a pencil threateningly at Nagi, “Shut up I just got their new album,” she glared playfully at him before continuing writing down the answers on a worksheet.

“Didn’t say anything,” Nagi said as he glanced over at Nami. “Take home test?”

“Mhm,” she nodded, tapping the pencil as she read the next question.

“Got a giant mug of tea,” Anka said as she reentered Nami’s room, setting the cup on Nami’s desk. “Say anything and I’ll poke you,” Anka glared at Nagi as she settled on the bed.

“I didn’t say anything except some mild sarcasm,” he said as he closed his eyes.

“Thank you,” Nami said as she scribbled down another answer. “And he hasn’t.”

“You know, if you listened to the lyrics and not just the pounding of the instruments you might like them,” Anka said pointedly.

“Either get drunk, let’s fuck or let’s sing about the love we don’t have because of the former two,” Nagi sighed.

Nami slapped him, “Don’t talk about Chad like that!”

“Chad?” Nagi asked, suddenly jealous.

“Calm down, Cassonova,” Anka laughed, “the lead vocals and guitar of
Nickelback is Chad Kroeger.”

Nagi blushed, “Oh. Well, I heard they were generic, unoriginal and that they suck. All I’m saying.”

“What happened to the rebel who would judge for himself first?” Anka asked as she hopped up.

“Touche,” Nagi shrugged. “Where are you going?”

“Turning it up. I like the next song,” she said as she turned up the volume. She winked at Nagi who tilted his head curiously, “You might like it.”
“This time…” Nami whispered as she sat up, singing in unison with the CD, “I wonder what it feels like…to find the one in life, the one we all dream of when dreams just aren’t enough…”

“Huh?” Nagi sat up, watching Nami intently.

“So I’ll be waiting for the real thing…I’ll know it by the feeling…the moment when we’re meeting will play out like a scene straight off the silver screen…” Nami and Anka sighed happily as they rolled onto their backs.
Nagi blushed as he listened more to Nami and Anka’s singing than the CD.

It’s…like…me…and Nami… he thought as he listened to the last few beats of the song.

“Yes, we know, they suck…” Nami said as she rolled onto her side.

“They could be Nirvana,” Nagi said with a shrug.

“What was that?” Anka asked as she sat up.

“They’re not worse than Nirvana,” Nagi sighed. “But they’re not a Metallica, either.”

“I see,” Nami giggled. “You like this song so you’re curious,” she said accusingly.

“No, I just had worse expectations than how they do perform,” Nagi said defensively.

“Hey, darlings,” Lulu yawned as she treged into Nami’s room. “Ooh, love this album,” she commented as she settled in Nami’s chair.

“How went the appointment?” Anka asked.

“Depo shots are the greatest thing ever!” Lulu clapped excitedly.

“TMI,” Nagi grumbled.

“It’s either listen to me or listen to Nickelback,” Lulu offered.

“Is death an option?” Nagi asked wryly.

“Well, anyway, the greatest thing is tons of sex with no consequence!” she cheered happily.

“STD’s,” Nami reminded her.

“You’re right!” Lulu pounded her first into her palm. “Gotta watch those scrubs…”

“AKA use condoms when you’re not sure,” Nami said cheerily.

---

Okay, if that song reminded me of Nami…I wonder if she thinks about me when she hears it… Nagi thought as he tucked his arms behind his head. Creepy….it’s like it was made for us… He sat up and approached his laptop, shaking the mouse. He typed in the password and brought up youtube, typing in ‘Nickelback’. He played the song once more and replayed a few memories between him and Nami, a few of them making him question Nami’s feelings about him.

“Oh, Nami…” Nagi sighed in defeat, resting his chin on his palm. “Now something I used to dislike is tormenting my cowardice…” he sighed again, shaking his head, “And now I’m talking poetry. I’m hopeless…” he admitted as he grabbed the picture of him and Nami in an awkward pose that Anka had taken and given them each a copy.

---

"Okay, with music pirating being at its peak, nobody will ever visit a CD shop," Nagi assured himself as he walked into the mall's entrance.

He made his way to the CD store in the mall, ignoring the crowds of students in the food plaza. "Okay, alphabetically..." he muttered as he walked toward the N's.

"Well, well, well," Lulu grinned. "Didn't expect to see you here!" she was carrying a basket that was filled with CD's.

"Huh, why?" Nagi asked nervously.

"You don't own a CD player," Lulu said pointedly.

"Uh..." he searched his thoughts, "My laptop doubles as a CD player."

"Oh, forgot about that," Lulu admitted.

"Yeah, so just browsing..." Nagi said as he stopped at the M's. He picked up a Metallica album.

"Don't you already own that one?" Lulu asked.

"Uh...yeah....trying to find their new album," Nagi said anxiously.

"Pretty specific for browsing..." she remarked with a smirk.

"I don't have everything in mind..." Nagi said calmly.

He's acting weird even for himself... Lulu thought as she watched Nagi leaf through CD's. "Gonna check out and head home..." she said in singsong.

---

"Okay, managed to find online tickets," Nagi grinned proudly. "It'll be here within a few days..." He clicked out of the website and started to shut his laptop when Lulu walked in.

"Hey, what are you doing?" she asked, yawning.

"Getting ready to check my email!" he said quickly as he typed in his email address.

"Uh...okay..." Lulu blinked. "Want to do something afterwards?"

"Uh...yeah sounds great!" Nagi said quickly.

"Uh...huh..." Lulu nodded slowly.

---

"Lulu! I can't believe you were the tenth caller!" Nami squeaked.

"I know! Me either!" Lulu closed her phone slipping it in her pocket, "So four tickets means us three and Chloe!" she declared proudly.

"Awesome! We might even get autographs!" Anka said happily.

"Hey," Nagi said quietly as he moseyed into the room.

"Hey, sorry to abandon you this weekend, but we're going to a concert," Anka said quickly.

"I heard about the concert," he gave a disgruntled expression.

"No comments," Nami said firmly.

"Have at it," Nagi said with a shrug.

"How'd CD shopping go?" Lulu asked.

"Fine," he shrugged.

"What'd you buy?" Anka asked pointedly.

"Metallica, a mix of ballads CD, Staind and Linkin Park," he replied.

---

"I feel really bad about leaving Nagi..." Nami whispered as she zipped her jacket.

"If it were a band he liked I'm sure he'd come," Anka assured her.

"Yeah, and some time apart might be good for the two of you," Lulu teased.

"We don't spend every waking minute together..." Nami said quietly.

"Just about...from what I've seen," Chloe cut in.

"No fighting!" Lulu shouted. "Today we bask in the awesomeness of Nickelback!"

"She has a point," Anka said enthusiastically as she started pushing through a crowd.

"Anka, learn from the best," Chloe said with a faint smile. She pulled out an airhorn, blowing it loudly.

"Nice, easy access to the stage," Nami remarked as they walked with ease through the crowds, the airhorn blowing occasionally.

Nagi watched the girls in disbelief. "They really know how to come prepared..." he muttered as he drifted into a crowd. "Can't be seen or I'll never hear the end of it."

"Nagi!" Lucas cried as he dove through the air, glomping Nagi, dropping him to the ground. "Hey, didn't know you liked Nickelback!"

Nagi glared up at Lucas, "$50 says you never saw me."

"Nagi who?" Lucas asked as he let Nagi sit up. Nagi slapped a 50 dollar bill onto Lucas' hand. "So why are you here?"

"The Googoo Dolls," Nagi said evenly.

"So I don't tell anybody you were here?" Lucas asked with a grin.

"If you do I will put you in so much pain you'll regret learning my name," Nagi said dryly.

"Which means you secretly like Nickelback but don't want Nami to know," Lucas realized.

"Shut it!" Nagi growled as he started into a crowd.

"Tell you what..." Lucas stroked his chin as he followed behind Nagi, "I'll let you keep the 50 if you hang out with me!"

Nagi blinked, "You want to hang out with me?"

Lucas handed him the money back, "Well, noone else likes the same kind of music as me...or can stand to be around me for longer than three seconds..."

"Fine, but if the girls see me, you're blackmailing me into being here with you," Nagi stated.

"Now you're making me sound like a badass. I like it!" Lucas grinned. "But what would I be blackmailing you about? Gotta know these things..."

"You wouldn't tell them anyway or it wouldn't be blackmail," Nagi reminded him.

"True," Lucas admitted. "The show's about to start!" he squeed excitedly as he and Nagi pushed their way to the near front row.

---

Lucas glanced up at Nagi. "You're getting...stiff..."

"Huh?" Nagi questioned.

"You stiffen around Nami which means you need to duck," Lucas said with a grin.

"Huh?" Nagi crouched down, glaring at the ground when he watched Nami, Lulu, Anka and Chloe push to the front of the line, assisted by an airhorn. "Thanks..." Nagi whispered.

"No problem," Lucas replied, cheering for the song immediately afterward. Lucas bent down a little as Nagi started to stand, "I hate to tell you this but the girls are like two rows in front of us..."

"I know, I just can't be seen," Nagi reasoned.

"Sucks to be you!" Lucas laughed as the entire audience, save Nagi had begun clapping along with the solo.

"Lucas?" Nagi whispered, nudging his companion.

"What is it?" Lucas asked.

"Aren't those guys standing a little close to the girls?" Nagi muttered with concern.

"They probably think one or more of them is hot," Lucas shrugged. "It happens at concerts a lot."

"What does?"

"They'll get close to girls they like and make a move or two...they usually leave them alone afterward, but some can't take a hint," Lucas shrugged.

"Hey, fucker. If I were interested you'd know so keep your hands to yourself!" Lulu shouted as she slapped the man standing behind her across the face. She chuckled when she saw Nagi behind her.

"That jerk's still bothering you?" Nami asked. "We can move somewhere else and tell security."

The man rubbed his cheek before leaning forward. Lulu glared over her shoulder and softened her gaze, trying not to laugh when she saw Nagi's fingers on the jerk's neck, the jerk collapsing to the ground. "Nah, I think he got the hint," she giggled.

"You were caught," Lucas chuckled.

"That guy's...insane..." the jerk's companions uttered while they eyed Nagi.

"Maybe we should get out of here..." one said as his lips curled into a smirk. Nagi glared at the one, grabbing his wrist before he could make contact with Nami. "Got something to say?"

Nagi pressed down on the slight space between the artery and vein on the man's wrist. "What's he doing?" another asked.

They watched in disbelief as their friend collapsed in a thud. The remaining two took a cautious step backwards. Nagi glared at them both, leaving them unnerved. "Bye," Nagi said tersely.

"Bye!" they chorused as they turned to run and tripped.

"Nice touch," Nagi patted Lucas on his back.

"I figured that since you beat up two I had to help," Lucas shrugged. "They never expected their shoelaces to be entwined."

Nagi glanced down at his pocket. He pulled his cellphone out and stared down at the message from Lulu. Thanks, honey. You're a doll.

"Haha, I knew it," Lucas laughed.

Nagi replied: You're welcome. Don't tell Nami.

Lulu laughed when she read the message. "What's so funny?" Nami asked.

"Nagi's hanging out with Lucas," Lulu said quickly.

"Too bad he's not here. He'd have kicked those guys' asses," Anka said with a sigh.

"Wanna get something to eat after the concert?" Chloe asked as she glanced down at the time.

"Sounds good. I'm gonna get something chocolate..." Nami muttered.

"Why chocolate?" Chloe asked.

"Gotta make it up to Nagi," Anka said, lightly elbowing Nami and winking.

"Lucas?" Nagi asked as he scratched his cheek.

"Hmm?"

"Wanna hang out at my house?" Nagi asked. "If we leave now we can get out before traffic starts."

"Sure," Lucas shrugged. "So long as you don't poison me."

"Your paranoia never ceases to amaze me," Nagi said as he and Lucas pushed their way through the crowd.

"Ditto!" Lucas said with a grin.

"And you actually have a point," Nagi said with realization.

---

"I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it," Nami muttered as she opened Nagi's bedroom door, finding Nagi and Lucas on Nagi's bed, each with a video game controller in hand.

"What?" Nagi asked, his eyes not leaving the television.

"You normally can't stand Lucas," Nami said as she placed a bag on Nagi's desk.

"I like him more than Nickelback," Nagi said quickly.

"But the Googoo Dolls played too," Nami pointed out.

"The only reason I didn't blow up the stadium," Nagi replied.

She sighed, shaking her head, "You're hopeless."

"I know," Nagi answered.

"So what's in the bag?" Lucas asked, his eyes, like Nagi's were glued to the screen.

"Chocolate chip cheesecake," Nami said with a smile. "I felt bad that we abandoned you last minute."

"I'm sure with the constant recollections Lucas and I will both feel like we were there," Nagi said as he hopped to his feet, running over to the chocolate chip cheese cake.

"No hug for me?" Nami asked as Nagi huggled her. "Better."

"Where are the others. Nagi said Chloe, Lulu and Anka were with you," Lucas said as he set down his controller.

"They're coming. Chloe dropped me off and they went for a coffee run," Nami replied.

---

"I got to be on stage!" Anka squeaked as she ran into Nagi's bedroom.

"It was awesome!" Chloe said enthusiastically.

"Get any autographs or anything?" Lucas asked.

"Yes!" Anka held up her copy of Nickelback's latest album with all of the band members' signatures.

"Sorry we abandoned you..." Lulu sniffled.

"The chocolate offering is accepted," Nagi said as he grabbed a fork, taking a bite of the cheese cake.