************

Introduction

************

Sarah opened her apartment door, revealing drunk Steve.

"Oppa?"

He staggered into the house. Sarah quietly closed the door behind her, silently thanking the Lord for her parents being out of town that week. He sat on the couch.

"Did you drive here?" Sarah asked, wrinkling her nose at the smell of alcohol. She already knew the answer. "It's a miracle that you drove here in one piece." She said as if she was talking to herself.

"She left."

"What?"

"Crystal left me."

Sarah didn't know what to say. She knew how much Crystal had meant to him. It was her that convinced him to stop all the things he did... fighting, drinking, smoking...

"She left me for some singer... and do you know what I did? I just stood there. I didn't ask why or how..." He shook his head, his eyes closed. His face was emotionless yet warm tears slid down the cheeks. Sarah sat beside him, her comforting hand on his shoulder. Steve let it all out. He cried himself to sleep with Sarah patting his back motherly.

He awoke to find his head on her shoulder. She was sleeping peacefully, still in her shirt and jeans. His head was splitting with a headache. He rose to leave. Sarah unconsciously repositioned herself for more comfort, deep in sleep. He smiled a thanks at her, although she didn't see it.

He drove away, pledging to be a gasoo and bring Crystal back to him.

************

Chapter one-

************

4 years later~

"EW oppa, THAT was GROSS. Don't ever do that again." Sarah said sternly after Steve's loud burp. "Men." She muttered under her breath only so Claudia could hear.

Claudia only smiled in response. Steve oppa was back for the summer. He might be a famous gasoo in Korea, but here, he was just like every other guy.

"It slipped out." He defended himself.

"Thank God that it doesn't SLIP OUT in live concerts." Sarah shot back, rolling her eyes.

Claudia couldn't help but let out a little laughter at Sarah and Steve. 'They would make a cute couple' she thought. It was Thursday night, right before the College Group prayer meeting.

"Are Amy or Nicole coming?" Sarah's sudden burst startled Claudia.

"What?"

"Amy... Nicole?"

"Uh, no. I don't think so. Call." Claudia went to the bathroom, Sarah trailed behind her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Yeah, something's up. You can't hide things from me. Are you thinking of Korea again? You know, just cause you went to the in-ki kayo you're dreaming away about all those gasoos. I mean we know Yoo Seung Jun for goodness sakes! And he is not at all what every girl thinks of him."

"Yeah, I know... but I got H.O.T.'s signatures."

"Nuh-uh... Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I brought it with me"

"Ack! WHAT?"

"Hey girls!" Steve called from the outside, "Stop telling secrets in the bathroom. Come out."

"Shut up, oppa." Sarah said rolling her eyes. "You know, sometimes I don't know what I like about him."

"Shhhh." Claudia warned, eyeing the door. Sarah had liked Steve oppa for some time now, but she never tried to tell anyone but the girls. The College Group was small, and it only had 5 girls in it so naturally, they were best buds. Claudia pulled out a page of a magazine with H.O.T.'s faces and black scribbles on it.

"Oh... my KangTa..."

"I thought you didn't like KangTa. You said he was too girlie."

"Well... Yeah, but still his voice is da best."

"Maybe that's why you like Steve oppa."

"I'm hearing my name~!" A voice called from outside of the bathroom.

"OPPA, GO AWAY!" Sarah shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Sorry, Geez!" He apologized as he stuck his head into the bathroom. "Is that H.O.T.?" He rolled his eyes.

"Yes, What?"

"They are not at all what you think they are. They are like every other guy."

"With a nice voice, great dance skills and nice face." Claudia said, defending them.

"Agh, whatever. The meeting is starting."

~ * ~

"Maybe Amy and Nicole aren't coming." Claudia whispered to Sarah.

"Shhhh." Sarah said, not taking her eyes away from the pastor. Suddenly, the door busted open and Amy's dyed head was visible. Amy, Nicole and Emily took a seat next to Claudia.

"Sorry. We had to pick up Emily."

Emily just smiled that cute smile. Her long black hair was highlighted in reddish brown. And soon all the people's attention started drifting away from the college pastor's long sermon.

"GOD! I hate it when he repeats things over and over." Nicole complained, tucking her short black hair behind her ears. All the other girls nodded in response. The service droned on and on.

"FINALLY!" Emily whispered as they were dismissed.

"Really it wasn't that bad." Sarah said, trying to make everything seem better.

"Yeah, you guys are so heartless." Steve said sarcastically, catching up from behind.

"Hey, let's have a girls' night out." Claudia said. Everyone nodded in agreement seeing her eyes. Her eyes were saying we need to talk.

"Bye girls!" Steve shouted as the guys piled into his red sports car. He screeched out of the church parking lot. The girls waved in unison, plastering a smile on their face.

"Okay. My house." Claudia insisted as she sat in the passenger seat of Sarah's cute pink car. The pink car and silver bug raced out the parking lot lit by a lonely orangish street light.

~ * ~

"Ack! I wanna see!!!!" Amy grabbed the paper out of Claudia's hands.

"If you rip it, Amy, I'm gonna kill you." Claudia threatened jokingly. They were all sitting in her room, each hugging some kind of a pillow, all wearing Claudia's extra t-shirts and shorts. Sarah sat on Claudia's bed, detaching herself from the chaos with Emily. Nicole rolled her eyes at her sister.

Claudia and Amy sat together, their eyes intensely glued onto the paper, giggling and whispering. They were so alike at times. Nicole looked over Claudia's collection of cds. "We need music." She declared. "No more H.O.T. for today." She skipped over the 3 cds, "No Steve oppa, either," She skipped over 3 more cds.

"Okay... ShinHwa?" Nicole touched the 2 cds with her finger tips.

"No, just looking around Claudia's room is enough." Sarah said, tiredly. The wall across from the bed was covered with ShinHwa posters and HyeSung's close ups.

"Are you dissing my boys?" Claudia asked.

"No... it's just that too much of them is sickening."

"Let's listen to that mix that Steve oppa made you." Emily suggested. She rarely talked, so it was obvious that she was getting tired of her unnie-deul's arguing. She was also the youngest of them all, although she almost acted the eldest.

"Okay." Nicole popped in the cd into the black stereo.

"Wait, aren't they all his songs?" Sarah asked.

"No."

"Oh." she said as if she was disappointed.

"Why? Do you wanna listen to your lover?" Claudia asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"He is NOT my lover." Sarah declared.

"Well, I thought you liked him." Emily asked, a little confused.

"Well... I donno." Sarah trailed off.

"They would make a cute couple, huh?" Amy asked elbowing her little sister.

"OW~! YES." Nicole gave Amy a mean look.

"Gee, You're cranky today." Amy whispered turning away.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Claudia asked Sarah.

"I mean, I was so over him like a day ago, but... I donno. I'm having second thoughts." Sarah said fooling around with her hair as she looked at herself in the closet door mirror. "Oh, guess what?"

"What?"

"Last time I went to Korea to get my hair highlighted, the mi-jang-won ahjummas thought I couldn't understand Korean or something."

"Gosh! I hate that!" Amy said.

"Wait, I'm lost. Where is this story coming from?" Emily asked.

"Sarah's desperate attempt to change the subject." Claudia answered simply.

"I am NOT desperate. What is this, pick on Sarah day? I was looking at my hair and remembered."

"Okay, so they were talking about you." Nicole reminded Sarah.

"Yeah, and they said my hair looked like KangTa's."

"Okay. It's cold..." Amy huddled with Claudia.

"Yeah, that was sulleung." Claudia agreed.

"Well, that made me mad cus I do not want to look like a GUY!" Sarah shouted

"Wait, why not? It's a compliment, don't you think?" Nicole asked, "I mean KangTa is a really pretty girl."

The room busted with laughter.

"You guys are SO LOUD!" Kathy poked her head into the room.

"Kathy, go away." Claudia said to her little sister.

"Well then, Let me sleep, okay?" Kathy stomped away to her room.

"Okay, you guys maybe we should go to sleep now." Nicole said to the gang. "I'm really tired."

"I know." Amy said, "You're always cranky when you're tired."

"Okay, you guys, I get the bed." Sarah pushed Emily off.

"HEY! I want the bed!" Emily cried, throwing a pillow at Sarah.

"You guys, this is my house. I get the bed." Claudia stood up.

"No way." Sarah threw Emily's pillow, and hit Amy instead.

"You GUYS~!" Amy said, throwing the pillow back.

"Oh, yeah?" Claudia took her long pillow and started hitting Sarah with it. Amy and Emily joined it.

"ACK!" The girls giggled and screamed. Nicole gathered the blankets and retreated into the corner, and soon she was sound asleep despite the noises the rest were making.

~ * ~

'Rrrring~'

"ARGH!" Sarah woke up and answered Claudia's silver cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Sarah?"

"Steve oppa?"

"Isn't this Claudia's number?"

"What? You don't want to talk to me?"

"No, it's just that..."

"I'll wake her up." Sarah cut him shortly and shook Claudia. "yah... YAH! Il uh na."

"hmmmm... what?" Claudia opened her eyes a slit. Sarah handed her the phone.

"Hmrogh?"

"What?"

"Hello? Oppa?" Claudia re-closed her eyes. "oppa, why did you call me on the cell phone? Call my house."

"Wait..."

"What?"

"When's your birthday?"

"Oh, God, oppa. Write it down somewhere. July 15."

"Holy... That's next week! You're turning 18, right?"

"No oppa." She sighed. "19"

"Really?"

"Yes... Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Me and the boys will be at your house in about 10 minutes. We're gonna watch a movie."

"WHAT?!" Claudia's eyes shoot open, and her shout awoke everybody.

"10 minutes." He hung up.

"What?" The girls asked in a drowsy voice. Claudia shot up from the floor.

"They're coming here in 10 minutes." Claudia said and everyone ran to the bathroom.

"Hey, I'm first!"

"Whatever." Sarah shoved herself in and closed the door.

"YAH!!!!~!" Amy started banging on the door. Claudia redirected the desperate Amy to her parents' bathroom and locked herself in her room. She changed from her PJ and pulled her hair into a bun. There was no way there would be time for everyone to take a shower.

"Claud, I know I left some of my clothes from a while ago..." Nicole said as she entered the room.

"Oh, yeah. You left your blue shirt and khaki shorts." She handed them to Nicole.

When Emily entered the shower and Sarah and Amy had just gotten out of the shower with towel wrapped on their heads, The door bell rang.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" The girls screamed. Claudia saw Steve oppa's face peering through the blinds into her room.

"Calm down, you guys. It's just us." Matt said, tapping on the window.

"JUST YOU? Easy for you to say." Claudia muttered as she opened the door for them. "Be good little boys and wait here." She pointed to the couch in the living room.

Steve, Matt, David, and ChulMin all sat on the couch. They all sat in silence and the whirling sounds of blow dryers and giggles filled the house. That's when they realized that the girls wouldn't be ready anytime soon. They flipped on the TV.

"You guys! We're gonna miss the movie!" David whined.

"Okay, Okay!" Nicole shouted. Then a little later, the girls stumbled out of the hallway. Amy tripped and grabbed the wall for support.

"So impatient!" Sarah said, her hands fussing over her volumized hair. Her jean jacket pulled up, revealing her beaded and very feminine violet shirt. Her dark pants stepped over Amy's leg. Amy's dyed hair fell over her face.

"Geez you guys. Don't push!" Amy said. Her yellow and white shirt sparkled with glitter words 'Angel'.

"Okay, y'all. Clear out." Claudia shouted, pushing the guys out the door. She held keys in her hand and shoved her cell phone into her shoulder bag. She had on baggy khakis and a wide-strap tanktop. "AMMA! MOVIE GAT DA OL KAE YO!" She shouted into the house and locked the door.

~ * ~

Sarah carefully parked her car in front of the theater. This side of town was heavily populated with Steve oppa's former rival gang from back when he was involved with those things. She took in a deep breath and gripped onto the steering wheel.

"Yah, let's go." Steve tapped on the window. Sarah looked up and saw his smiling face. Claudia gently touched Sarah's arm. She knew why Sarah was hesitating.

"The nightmare is over." Claudia said quietly to Sarah who nodded and got out. What Claudia didn't know was that another nightmare was just beginning.

************

Chapter two -

************

"So, what are we watching?"

"Tarzan." The boys answered simply

"Are you serious?" Sarah's mouth gaped at the answer.

"We have a few minors here." Steve nodded towards Nicole and Emily.

"Oh, for heaven's sake. They're almost 18." Amy said.

"But the point is they're not yet." Steve replied.

"Oh, don't be such an ass. Who follows those rules anyway?" Claudia narrowed her eyes. Sometimes, she looked so scary.

"They do." David pointed to the workers that guarded the doors to all the good movies.

"You guys dragged us out here at 8 in the morning to make us watch TARZAN?!" Nicole asked un-believingly.

"Agh." Emily groaned simply at her oppa-deul's action. The groan said enough.

"You're pathetic." Claudia shook her head.

"We'll movie hop. Gosh, calm down."

"Whatever. I'm not paying the full price. Get us children's ticket." Sarah shoved 5 dollars in Steve's face.

"Anyone else?" Steve asked. All the girls went through their purse in unison and followed Sarah suit. He shook his head. "Here I am, single, buying an adult and 5 children's ticket." He walked over to the counter.

"An adult and 5 kids please." He said, slapping down the pile of cash he collected from the girls.

"5 kids, eh?" A dark voice said mockingly from behind him. Steve shot up his head. The voice was too familiar. His eyes met with a man about his age who's face was tan and rigid. His eyes piercing right through and a long scar ran down the right side of the face, less then a centimeter off the eye.

"Knight." Steve's soft eyes narrowed and his old face took place.

"You still remember, I'm impressed. Look what you did to me." He ran his finger down the scar starting from his eyebrow down to the cheek.

Steve squared his shoulders. "I'm through with everything. I don't want any trouble."

Knight snickered at this as he turned to his 4 other friends, the toughest of the gang. "No trouble, eh? A little late for that don't you think?"

David, Matt and ChulMin walked up behind Steve. "Hyung, is everything okay?"

"Yeah." Steve breathed, never taking his eyes off Knight.

'He still has the spark in him.' Knight thought when he saw Steve's intense face.

The girls were talking, waiting for Steve to arrive with the tickets.

"What's taking him so long?" Sarah muttered as he turned around. Her face turned stiff.

"Unnie, what's wrong?" Emily followed her gaze.

"Oh, no." Claudia whispered to Amy. Sarah walked hurriedly towards Steve, the rest trailing behind her.

"Oppa, is something wrong?" Sarah asked standing in between Knight and Steve.

"No, it's fine." He touched her shoulder.

"Well, the girls decided that we don't want to see the movie, so let's go. Okay?" Sarah asked Steve, totally ignoring Knight.

"Still hiding behind a girl?" Knight snickered again. Steve was ready to jump him, he lunged towards Knight, but the guys held him back.

"Let's go, hyung. Okay?" ChulMin said carefully, leading Steve out of the theater.

Nicole took the money from the counter. "Sorry about that." She said to the worker, who was scared stiff.

"You watch your back... And your little princess' too." Knight shouted at their backs.

"You shouldn't have stepped in like that, Sarah." Steve said quietly.

"Sorry." Happy Sarah was gone, and instead she kept hearing Knight's last words echoing in her brain.

Amy timidly touched Sarah. "I'll see you all on Sunday." She said, waving as she drove out of the theater in her silver bug with her sister. Sarah drove Claudia and Emily home in silence, with no music. She followed up the road, dropping each of them off on her way. At last, after dropping off Emily, she was alone. She gripped the wheel, her knuckles turning white.

'Why now... again?' Sarah thought, concern gnawing at her head, 'Guys with too much pride never forgive and forgets.' She was mad beyond words. It seemed as if it was just been yesterday visiting Steve at the hospital after a serious rumble. He had a broken arm and Knight got the scar on his face. Steve's involvement in gang activities had given so many pressure and stress to his College Group friends, especially Sarah. She was the first one he actually opened up to, and developed a bond that even they themselves weren't aware of. She was not ready to go through everything again. She mumbled a prayer. It became her habit to pray whenever she felt shaky or unbalanced, especially because she was the daughter of very religious parents. If her parents learned that she had a crush on a former gangster, she would be locked up until she was 30 for sure. She sighed as she turned on the left signal before turning into her house.

~ * ~

Steve had H.O.T. on full blast. ChulMin and Matt were practically plugging their ears to save them from deafening. David lowered the volume from his passenger seat.

"Hyung, you're passing Matt's street." David pointed to a turn off.

"Shit." Steve swerved, barely making the turn.

"Are you seriously that upset?" ChulMin asked.

"What are you stupid?" Steve barked. "Me being involved is one thing, but dragging Sarah into this is another."

"What do you mean?" ChulMin asked again.

"Didn't you hear what that guy said?" David retorted impatiently.

"Watch your back... And your little princess' too." Matt muttered, "His exact words."

"Oh." ChulMin said, finally understanding. His body jerked as the car skidded to a stop. Matt jumped out and waved good-bye.

"You know, I've never been inside his house." David said to himself. Steve raised the volume again. ChulMin felt the seat vibrating from the base and the noise.

~ * ~

YSJ: Nothing happened so far.

PinkPrincess: Jung-mal?

YSJ: i guess that was all just talk.

Steve pressed 'send'. He was online, talking to Sarah. He just reread what he wrote. Knight was never just talk. But he didn't tell her.

PinkPrincess: You don't know how relived I am.

YSJ: Yeah.

PinkPrincess: So, when are you going back?

YSJ: I donno. I still have a month or so.

PinkPrincess: okay.

YSJ: Actually I have to go record songs. I made promise for 4 o'clock.

PinkPrincess: o ic. K then. See you tomorrow.

YSJ: Tomorrow?

PinkPrincess: Sunday.

YSJ: o yeah. Right. Okay. C u.

PinkPrincess: =)

Steve signed off and got up to put clothes on. He was in his tanktop <wifebeaters?!> and pants. He pulled a loose gray shirt over his head, and pushed his blue cap onto his head, covering his eyes. Taking his cell phone and putting it in his pocket, he drove his red sports car downtown.

He parked and walked a few steps when he heard a scream. He turned to see a group of oriental girls. One of them came up to him

"Yoo Seung Jun oppa?"

He nodded curtly. "Ahnyoung hasaeyo."

"Can I have an autograph?"

"Uh, okay." Before he knew it, he was surrounded by a lot of asians. He signed a paper after paper after paper. When he looked up to get another paper that was pushed into him, he saw Knight with his gang coming towards him. "Uh, I gotta go." Steve started running as fast as he could.

The fans stood dumbfounded. Knight and his gang ran through them, chasing Steve. Steve circled around the block before disappearing into the studio. He didn't want them to know his work place. He walked in, all sweaty and breathless.

"Hi oppa. What happened?" A familiar face asked him, smiling.

"Why are you here?" Steve shot back.

"I'm here for the recording." Crystal said, a little hurt from his sharp remark.

"Oh." Steve looked at her. He didn't want her back anymore. Just when he forgot her, she reappears in his life. She brought back his past, something he wasn't proud of. It seemed that all of a sudden, his past came back to hit him in the head. First Knight, now her.

"What's wrong, oppa?" Crystal touched his damp chest. Steve stepped back.

"Don't touch me." He said coldly and looked for his manager. "Hyung, Crystal is in As One?" His manager nodded his head. Steve looked back at Crystal, expressionless. Crystal's eyes were moist.

"God, I should have known. I don't want to record this song anymore."

"Steve... Seung Jun-ah, You gotta do it."

Steve rolled his eyes and went into the recording room. Crystal and her friend followed. They put on the head set and the strong beat came on.

"Remember this Crys? I guess 1995 was the time." Steve said into the microphone, his eyes never leaving from Crystal's face. "Nal ttuh na gi ma. Mit ul soo upsuh, a ttuc kae ni ga nae gae ee rul soo it suh?" He started singing.

[one minor note: i know this song was to his girlfriend, christine, but let's pretend it was crystal, okay? :) ]

Crystal's eyes filled with tears. She made a mistake in the past. She wanted to start over...

By then, Crystal was crying. She felt warm tears trickling down her cheek. Her friend, MinYoung looked at her strangely as she harmonized with the song. Crystal realized this song was about her. Her voice started shaking when her part came on. "Na neun al ah, Ni ma oom ul al ah..." She stopped, the song kept going.

"Are you okay, Crystal?" A voice asked from the main control room. She shook her head. "Do your part over again." the voice said gently.

"Na neun al ah, Ni ma oom ul al ah..." She couldn't do it. She was still hurt and shock at Steve's reaction to her. She took off the head set and ran out. All the while she was crying and running, she kept repeating in her head, 'I need him, I need him, I need him.'

Steve was surprised at Crystal. She was her pride was too strong to let him see her cry... at least before. She never showed her weakness. "Take five while I go get Crystal." A voice from the control room said... his manager.

MinYoung spoke up. "Do you know how hard it was to convince her to do this?"

"What?" Steve asked, distracted.

"Crystal... She is sorry for everything... She didn't think she could face you. Now I know why."

"Why?"

"You think I didn't see you greeting her? How could you do such a thing?"

"Who are you to butt in my business?"

"Her best friend. Look, she's sorry okay?"

"No. Those words will not erase the endless nights that I stood awake, the pain and the hurt."

"Look. I understand... but give her a chance to talk."

Steve raised his head when the door opened and Crystal's silhouette blocked the door. She walked up to him. "Oppa... I am deeply and truly sorry. I was young and stupid. I just wanted a second chance... at anything... even if it's only friendship."

Steve stood motionless. She looked so fragile and weak. She kneeled on the ground. Steve was unsure of what to do. "Crystal, what are you doing?" Steve asked, half amazed and half embarrassed at her action. Steve crouched beside her. "Okay, okay... just don't do this." He hugged her. He missed how she fit into him, and he realized how much she meant to him in the past. He felt her tears on his shoulder.

The manager stepped in. "You know what? Today is a bad day. Let's do this tomorrow. Fix whatever is going on. We need this done on the due date, you know."

MinYoung nodded. "Got it. Crys, I'm going first. I have to do something anyway." She grabbed her jacket and walked out. Crystal knew MinYoung had nothing to do, but she nodded, thankful for her keen eye in things.

"Can we go for a shake? I'm starving." Crystal asked Steve as they got up.

"Eung. Whatever." He put his arm around her and walked out.

************

Chapter three -

************

Amy was shopping with Nicole, Sarah, and Emily for Claudia's present when she saw them. At first she thought she was mistaking someone, but she saw his walk as he walked into McDonald's arms linked with another girl.

Nicole saw this right away too. "Unnie, isn't that...?"

"It is." Emily whispered. She couldn't believe it. He was back with Crystal? Since when? Amy was walking toward them.

"I'm gonna confront him." She said to them.

"Amy, it's not like I'm going out with him." Sarah said in her reasonable tone. Amy sighed. Steve saw them and waved.

"Smile." Nicole said through clinched teeth and the girls plastered on the biggest grin possible.

"Hey guys, what are you doing?" Steve asked pulling Crystal along with him.

"Shopping for Claudia's birthday. And you?" Nicole asked eyeing Crystal.

"Oh, this is Crystal... my..."

"Girlfriend." Crystal cut in.

"Since when?" Amy asked.

"Well, I was his ex until couple minutes ago." Crystal smiled.

"Oh." the girls looked at each other.

"Well, nice meeting you." Nicole said with a tight smile. Crystal nodded. Emily pulled the girls. She hadn't said a word or attempted a smile at them. She hated Crystal. She was a people user and she knew Steve oppa was going to get used again.

~ * ~

"WHAT?" Claudia practically screamed into the phone.

"Yep... Crystal." Sarah was in the phone booth, calling Claudia.

"Out of all the Korean girls in LA he's back with CRYSTAL?"

"I'm kinda feeling weird. I mean, I should be happy for him, right?"

"Wae?"

"You remember what he was like when they broke up."

"Yeah, he turned to you! I swear, I'm beginning to think that HE's the people user."

"Claudia! Listen to me. I don't want your pity. Isn't anyone feeling bad for his sake and not mine? He's gonna get used again or something."

"Sorry. It's just that you guys are so perfect."

"I'm over him. He's too short anyway." Sarah said, but she was confused. "Well, I called so you know. K? See ya tomorrow at church."

"K. Sarah, him-nae." Claudia put down the phone. She laid on her bed. "Just when everything got quiet." She said to herself.

~ * ~

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Claudia. Happy birthday to you~!"

Everyone gathered in the familiar house of Claudia's family. Ever since her family bought the house, it had been unofficial hangout of the College Group. Everyone felt comfortable and relaxed... But not everyone was comfortable. Steve had brought Crystal along. Ever since they got back together, they were inseparable.

Amy and Emily played it off with a tight smile, Nicole and Claudia stayed their distance, and Sarah... she didn't say a word - she acted normally as she has been her whole life.

Steve watched Sarah clapping as Claudia blew out 19 candles. He did notice a sudden coldness he had gotten from the girls when Crystal was around... and Amy did ask him to try coming without her. But with her hanging onto him for her dear life, he couldn't refuse. He thanked the Lord that Sarah was still herself... the last thing he needed was Sarah's coldness.

Crystal was sick of smiling, wishing Claudia happy birthday. She tried her best and she had received nothing but sulleung treatment from the girls, especially Claudia and Nicole. She stood next to Steve. 'I hope it's worth all this icy treatment...' she thought as she slid her arm around him, pasting on a grin. All she needed was some exposure.

************

Chapter four-

************

"That's cute." Sarah said, helping Amy pick out clothes at her work. She loved working at the clothes store because she got discounts and the constant eye on fashion change. Some called her a clothes horse, but she didn't mind.

She smiled at Amy when suddenly she felt rough hands on her mouth and a pointy object on her back.

"You better follow me quietly, princess."

Sarah was roughly pushed, her back arched awkwardly from the gun. In the corner of her eye, she saw her startled friend, unsure of what to do. Sarah reached her hands outward, trying to gain balance. Sarah's heart beat in panic.

She was shoved into a van where she was set free from the rough hands that held her. She looked about and found Knight's face breathing on her. Sarah shrank back.

"Hi, Princess." He said, mockingly.

"What's this about?" She asked, her voice shaking.

"We need to find your prince."

"What? Steve oppa?"

"Steve... heh heh, yeah."

"You've got the wrong person, mister. He likes Crystal. He's not gonna come for me." Sarah said. Her heart ached at how true the statement was.

~ * ~

Amy reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone. Her shaking fingers dialed Steve's cell number. She was hysterical.

"PICK UP, DAMMIT!" She screamed into the phone, as she ran into her parents' car. She started the engine and followed the van. His song, "Yul Jung" played for a while, ending with a loud beep.

"You are an asshole, you know that?" she said as she swerved the car to stay on trail with the van. "I bet you're with that bitch while someone REALLY needs you. I HATE YOU! You better call back soon, or I swear I'm gonna kill you for this." She snapped the phone off. She saw the van slow down, and skidded to a stop. She stopped far away and watched in agony as she saw Sarah being pushed off and into the dark building that looked as if it could be collapsing at any moment.

Panic and desperation drove her to calling Crystal. 'I can't believe I know her phone number.' Amy muttered to herself.

"Hello?" A sing-songy voice answered.

"Is Steve oppa there with you?"

"Yeah, who's this?"

"It's an emergency. Let me talk to him now."

"Uh... no. You explain yourself first."

"There is no time. Let me talk to him now." Amy screamed, desperately. Then she heard the click. She screamed in frustration. She dialed Claudia's phone number.

~ * ~

"Who was that?" Steve asked as Crystal put her phone down.

"Oh, nobody." Crystal smiled at Steve, who turned and continued watching the movie.

~ * ~

"Claud?"

"Yeah, Amy? What's wrong?"

"Sarah... She's with Knight..."

"What? With Knight?"

"Yeah, they took her from her work."

"What? Why?"

"To get Steve oppa, no doubt."

"Where is he?"

"He turned off his cell. He's at Crystal's. Go get him..."

"I'm there."

"Get Emily too. We need all the help we can get."

~ * ~

"What do you mean we've got the wrong person?" Knight seethed.

"He's going out with Crystal now. He's oblivious to all the things around him... including me." Sarah said calmly, taking in slow breaths.

"I don't care!" Knight punched Sarah's stomach. "If he doesn't come by sundown, you're going down."

Sarah shut her eyes, absorbing the pain on her stomach. She gasped for breath as the wind was knocked out of her.

~ * ~

Steve left Crystal and got up for a glass of water when he decided to check his cell phone.

"You're an asshole, you know that? I bet you're with that bitch while someone REALLY needs you. I HATE YOU! You better call back soon, or I swear I'm gonna kill you for this."

Steve was literally frozen in his place. He had never heard Amy talk like that to anyone, especially not him. She was sweet and courteous, and played everything off with her bright smile and happy voice. He turned when he heard urgent knocks on Crystal's door.

"I know you're in there oppa. Open this door!" He heard Nicole banging on the door. Crystal took her time as she opened the door.

"What do you want?" Crystal asked, trying to suppress her coldness in her voice. Claudia barged in and walked straight to Steve.

"Oppa, come with us now."

"What? Why?" Claudia didn't answer Steve's question and took his wrist, pulling him out.

"Wait oppa, what about the movie?" Crystal shouted at them.

"Shut up." Emily said to Crystal as she walked into Claudia's car. Steve heard Emily's remark. He looked at her in surprise. What was going on?

He grabbed the arm rest when Claudia cut in and out of lanes sharply.

"Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God..." Nicole kept muttering. Nicole took Claudia's cell phone and dialed.

"Amy? We're going now... Wait, don't go in... NO LISTEN TO ME. We've got Steve oppa. We'll be there in no time. Don't worry. I donno... I understand about Sarah..."

Steve's eyes shot up when he heard Sarah's name.

"Okay, oppa, listen carefully." Emily said in tearful voice. "Sarah's going to hate us for dragging you back in..."

Steve watched the roads. They were driving back to his past... with the gangs and fights...

"But they have Sarah... and we didn't know what to do. Amy tried calling Crystal's but she hung up on her... Amy is by herself..."

They neared the old building. Before the car halted to a stop, Steve jumped out and ran frantically into the building. He heard Amy yelling at him.

"If anything happened to her, I swear..."

~ * ~

"KNIGHT. COME OUT HERE."

Sarah's ears perked up at the familiar voice.

"He's not coming, eh?" Knight asked her. "What were you thinking?" He slapped her hard across her face. Sarah's head jerked from the force, still in denial of Steve's presence in the building.

"Don't you touch her."

"Who's going to stop me?" Knight slapped her again.

"Dirty bastard." Steve lunged at him, only to have others attacking him. The odds were too great.

~ * ~

"I have to go in." Claudia said nervously. Emily was biting her nails. Amy had her hands on her forehead, trying to think of something else.

"Ahh!" They heard Steve.

Claudia couldn't help but run in. She threw her cell phone at Emily. "Call the police... and the boys." On her way she picked up a wooden pole about half of her height.

"Sarah? Sarah?" She shouted frantically as she ran through the shadows. "Oh my God." She saw Steve throwing punches like crazy at at least 4 people at once. Knight stood behind Sarah, watching.

"You... you..." Claudia ran towards Knight. Knight drove at her. Claudia aimed for his stomach. 'Thank God for those self defense classes.' Claudia thought to herself as he doubled over. "Sarah, run." She told her. Sarah disappeared into the shadows.

Claudia realized she was no match for Knight, a gangster, even with a year of self defense class behind her. He grabbed her shirt, pulling her to him, a fist ready for her. All of a sudden, there was a wooden board that smashed onto his head.

"Didn't anybody tell you not to hit girls?" Sarah said, holding the end of the wooden board. They heard sirens and the others fled, leaving unconscious Steve and Knight with 2 girls.

************

Chapter five-

************

"Again?" Crystal ran into the walked room to find him bandaged and bruised up. The whole College Group was there. Sarah was crying, muttering "It's all my fault."

The girls were huddled, telling Sarah it wasn't her fault.

"Sarah. It's nobody's fault that they held you hostage."

"I'm telling you, this doesn't happen to everyday people, only in dramas."

"He didn't have to come, but he did."

"We did it. We brought him there."

"It IS your fault, Sarah." Crystal said coldly. All the conversation stopped. Crystal was definitely mad that her easy road to success and exposure was ruined. She had to make someone feel bad. "It's ALL your fault." Her face was cold, her eyes were icy.

"Is it just me, or did it get colder in here?" ChulMin asked Matt.

"You have no right to be here and barge in like this." Claudia said, her tone equally chilly, if not more.

"I'm his freaking girlfriend. You barged into my house... to lead him to this end."

"Shut up, both of you. This is a hospital and Steve oppa is gonna get rest."

Steve started mumbling.

"He's calling for someone." David hushed them.

"Of course, he's calling for me." Crystal said as she pushed everyone out. She sat beside him, putting on her angelic face. "It's okay, oppa. I'm here." She said in a oily voice.

Steve's mumbles became more clear. "Sarah... Sarah..."

~ * ~

Sarah leaned against the wall next to the door.

"You should have called us sooner." Matt said. "I could have helped him."

Claudia snorted at his comment. He was skinny as a stick.

"I could have!" He said, offensively.

Sarah could hear Crystal. "Oppa, I'm here."

Sarah shed a silent tear. She was out of the picture. He didn't even remember her in sickness. She was his second choice.

"WHAT? WHO ARE YOU CALLING?" Crystal's voice carried out of the closed door. Nicole rolled her eyes as she opened the door.

"Don't yell at him." Then Nicole heard who he was calling for... Sarah. Nicole smiled triumphantly. "I guess you're out of the picture. You're not even his girlfriend anymore."

"No, you can't." Crystal said, shaking Steve.

"Don't touch him." Claudia said, pushing Crystal away from the invalided.

Crystal ran out crying in defeat. Not because he didn't love her, but because her exposure and easy way for her singing career was ruined. This was the first time any attempt to use people to her advantage have been beaten.

"Sarah. He's calling for you." Emily said, ushering Sarah in the room. Matt raised his eyebrows at this. David smiled. He knew it was coming, he knew Steve too long and well to think Crystal will work.

"You knew this, didn't you?" ChulMin asked David who had a ridiculous grin.

David smiled at the questioning faces and shrugged.

************

Chapter six - final

************

"Bye oppa, good luck with your 4th album!" Amy smiled.

"Don't forget to bring us presents when you come back." Claudia winked at him. "Why do I feel used?" Steve asked as Sarah gave him a hug.

"Oh, you know the truth, oppa." Emily said laughing. She was more talkative. Maybe she just needed to be comfortable with the boys...

The plane announcement was blasted on the intercom.

"Okay, you better go." Nicole said, pushing his bag into the direction of the plane. The boys all gave him a shake and a brotherly hug.

Sarah couldn't help but yell to Steve's leaving back, "Don't fall on your comeback stage or do something embarrassing for us. Understand?"

The girls turned and got into their rides.

"So, do you have understanding with Steve oppa now?" Emily asked Sarah as she started the car.

"What understanding?" Sarah asked as she backed out of the parking spot.

"You guys aren't going out?" Claudia asked, amazed.

"No. Who told you that?" Sarah asked puzzled. Okay so maybe they didn't get together and live happily ever after. But both Steve and Sarah knew they would each always be a part of each other... maybe even their half. And if it was their destiny, fate would help Sarah's parents yield.

*After thoughts*

Hey, mai etoile gals!!! I love you lots, and this story is dedicated to you... and our YGFamily... =) Can you guess which of you is which?!

your Sunyuh... =)

ps... I love AsOne and they are not at all like how I portrayed them. The same goes for some of you... well, i wouldn't know if AsOne are like that... but they probably aren't right?