(D2 Entry) Pretty Baby (5)
Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 3:10 pm
Title: Pretty Baby (Chapter 5)
Penname: J Alberghini
E-mail: JAlberghini2@aol.com
Categories: Best Series/Multi-part, Best Romance
Warnings:Censored language, 3+4 implications
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me. "Pretty Baby" does not belong to me. I should just copy and past this, shouldn't I?
Pretty Baby
Chapter Five
"But there are lessons that you'll never learn"
The night air is chilly. A cool ocean breeze tousles my hair and makes me shiver. I'm sitting on the cool sand, water lapping at my pale blue toes. I know I should go to where it's warm, but I don't want to for some reason. I feel coarse denim covering my bare shoulders, and someone's arms wrap snugly around me. I tilt my head upward to see who my human blanket is. It's met, first, by dark blue eyes, then, warm lips. Heero squeezes me tightly and I lean on his shoulder, watching the waves. They look calm and peaceful, just as I feel.
All of a sudden, a strong gust of wind blows and I feel cold again. I turn back to look at Heero. He's gone; not even his jacket is left. I'm freezing now. The water looks like a field of ice. So cold. So lonely. I try to stand up to go look for him. But I can't move. My feet are rooted to the spot, frozen. "Heero!" I call out. No one answers. "Heero! Hee-"
Beep beep. My alarm clock sounds like a car stuck in rush hour traffic. Beeeepppp? I smacked it shut and sat up. The covers were completely off me. I must have tossed them off accidentally during the night. A breeze comes in through my open window. No wonder my feet were cold. Heero's jacket was still on me, at least. My eyes fuzzy with sleep, I felt around beside me. There was no one there, just an empty space. It felt slightly warm though, as if someone had been there before. But maybe it was just my imagination.
It was still dark out and I looked at the clock. 5:00 A.M., why, oh why did I set my alarm on vacation? Oh, right, I must've forgotten to shut it off. I hadn't lived there in quite some time, remember. It doesn't even feel like it's my house anymore. I probably would have been more comfortable in a hotel, but Mother had insisted. She begged me to come. I hadn't wanted to; I'd wanted to be as far from this place as possible that day.
Maybe waking up the night before was all just a dream? Maybe the whole thing was? No, that can't be. I was wrong. He hadn't stayed. He left again. Why do I keep putting myself through this?
* * * * * *
A couple hours and three tissue boxes later, I dragged myself down to breakfast. My eyes were thickened with make-up, more than I'd worn the night before, to hide the dark purple circles and the swollen look about them. It didn?t work. I looked awful. And yet, my mother didn't seem to notice a thing.
"Have another piece of toast, dear. You're wasting away to nothing. I know the camera adds ten pounds, but still. You need five of them at least to make up for the weight you've lost."
My dear mother. So kind, so concerned, and so clueless. Weight was the least of my problems. I love her so much, but she really doesn't know me at all. Then again, I've never been very open with her about anything.
"I'm fine, Mother, really," I said wearily.
She frowned at me. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were saving room for birthday cake, or trying to fit into a dress for a party, but you aren't having one. You didn't have one last year either. Are you sure, dear? I can still arrange?"
"Miss Relena all ready has plans for her birthday, ma'am," Pagan, my faithful butler, interrupted, his eyes twinkling. I shot him a grateful look.
Mother looked at him suspiciously. "Is that so? This is the first time I heard about this."
I gulped. "Well, you see, I?" Oh joy. I was going to have to lie to my mother. Not an easy thing to do. Luckily, Pagan came to my rescue again.
"Actually, this is the first time she's heard about it as well. Her friends have been planning a special surprise for Miss Relena, without her knowledge, of course, that is about to be revealed today. I'm not at liberty to say more, for fear of spoiling it for her. And speaking of which, we really must be going, Miss Relena, for part one of your birthday surprise."
Yeah, I was surprised all right. Boy, can that man lie. He knows I don't have any friends here. No close ones, anyway. Of course, mother didn't know that, or at the very least was still in denial about it. It was the perfect excuse, provided I would remember it. I allowed him to escort me away. Once we were out of hearing range, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Pagan, you totally saved my ass." I blushed, realizing my mistake. My friends, mostly Duo and Dorothy, have been encouraging me to curse a lot more of late and I'm ashamed to say, I've been falling into the habit in private. Still, I've always been careful about not doing it in front of Pagan. But the old man just smiled.
"Actually, it wasn't completely my intention to "save your ass" as you most delicately put it. Indeed, there is a surprise for you, and you will find out today, provided we leave this very minute. Now hurry, we mustn't keep your friends waiting."
"But Pagan, you know I don't have any?" He ignored me and trotted down the hall with more bounce in his step than was normal for a man his age. I scurried along after him, wondering what on earth this surprise could be.
I was still wondering in the limo. More importantly, who could have planned it? Could it possibly be?? No, that's ridiculous. Heero wouldn't do that. Then again, I didn't think he would have done what he did the night before, either, but I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. Maybe he left to throw me off the track for some super special birthday surprise? I dared not hope. But I still did.
It took only about ten minutes to get to our destination, but it felt like much longer. A watch pot never boils, as the saying goes. And where, exactly, did he bring me you ask? I'll tell you: the airport. Why? I hadn't the faintest idea.
"Hurry along, Miss Relena. Come on, spit spot." Um, maybe I was hallucinating, but since when had he become Marry Poppins? Scary.
He dragged me along throughout what seemed like the entire airport. "Flight 243 is now landing," the loud speaker announced.
Pagan checked his old-fashioned pocket watch, which probably was new the time he bought it. I've tried to get him a new one, but he refused to accept it. Says it's an antique. Oh well. "Right on schedule. I just love it when they're punctual. It's so rare, no? You should know, you're always traveling, right? Miss Relena?"
"Huh?" I replied absently. I searched for a familiar face in the crowd, any face. Okay, one face. And I found one, coming from the plane. Just not the one I'd expected or wanted. But not totally unpleasant though. "Miss Relena!"
"Dorothy!" I rushed over to my weird-browed friend. "What the f**k are you doing here?"
She pursed her lips in mock disapproval. "What language! I love it.' She air-kissed me on the cheek. No more than I would expect from her. "I'm visiting you for your birthday stupid, duh. Surprised?"
"Yep," I said, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice. It didn?t work.
"Relena, what's the matter?" she asked. There was a look of concern in her eyes. She must've known it was serious, because she'd just called me by my name.
"It's nothing," I lied. "I'll tell you later, maybe."
"No way, you're not going to try and make me forget about it. I don't think so, girl. What??"
"I've gotten your bags, Miss Dorothy." Pagan came with two large black suitcases labeled "D. Catalonia." I hadn't even realized he'd left. "Next," he said cheerily.
I blinked at him in surprise. "Huh?"
"You didn't think I was the only one coming to celebrate your birthday, did you?" Dorothy asked rhetorically. She gave me a look that told me I was off the hook, for now.
"Who else?" Not? no. I wouldn't make that same mistake twice. Plus, why would he be in an airport anyway? Unless he's leaving, that is. Funny how when I do think rationally, it's always something bad.
"You'll see," she answered mischievously. I didn't like the sound of that, but I let her lead me away anyhow. Sheesh I?m being dragged everywhere this week. I've done more walking on my vacation then I ever did working.
"We're here," she announced.
"And just where exactly is here?" I asked. She pointed to the airport schedule board. Flight 881 from L4 colony.
"L4? Who-?" I was cut off by Dorothy's enthusiastic screech.
"There he is!" Who on earth is she so excited about? I wondered. Was this the same Dorothy? What the hell happened to her?
"Miss Dorothy! Miss Relena!" I found myself enveloped in a tight hug by a handsome blonde youth.
"Quatre?" I asked, shocked. He grinned at me.
"Happy early birthday, Miss Relena," he said pleasantly.
I glanced from him to Dorothy. "Could someone please explain to me what the f**k is going on here?"
"Miss Relena!" Quatre gasped. "You've been spending too much time with Duo."
Dorothy chuckled. "I guess all those years of finishing school were useless, huh, Miss Relena? I like you better this way. You should take a page out of her book, Quatre."
He shook his head. "Um, no thank you." Okay, now I was even more confused. I mean, I knew Quatre had completely forgiven Dorothy for all she did to him, but still, since when were they on such friendly terms? She hadn't even insulted him once. Welcome to the twilight zone. I giggled.
"You're too good, Quatre. You make me sick." Okay, that was a little better.
"What is this, a Sanc Kingdom school reunion?" I asked, flabbergasted.
"You don't know the half of it. Come on, let's go get my stuff and then see who's next." He took me by the hand. Honestly, people, I can walk by myself. I was sick and tired of being dragged around. If it were anyone else, I might have yelled at him. But this was Quatre. You don't yell at Quatre. It's just not done. No matter how much ill will I have towards the male sex, I can't yell at him. Besides, he meant well. I trusted him, though I wasn't too sure about Bonnie and Clyde there. Next thing you know, they'll start bringing my old elementary school teachers or-
"Hii-iii!" I was once again glomped, but this time it was apparently buy one glomp, get another one free. Two cheerful faces, grinning at me devilishly, were in mine. One was a braided hunk, wearing a priest's collar (I still don't know the significance of that). The other was a short, petite sprite, her long bangs pulled away from her face with a handkerchief in the Fiddler on the Roof style, hiding her short hair.
"Duo? Hilde?" This really was the reunion episode. Beneath my surprise, Hilde noticed my lingering disappointment right off.
"Relena, what's wrong?" She squeezed my shoulders.
"What, you're not happy to see us?" Duo teased. His face fell when I didn't respond immediately.
"Of course I am. I'm always happy to see you guys," I said, with all the energy I could muster. Right then, I began to feel even gloomier than before at the reminder of my depression. But no use getting poor Duo involved. He's Heero's best friend, but I wouldn't put it past him to get mad at Heero because of me. And as much as I appreciate Duo's concern, Heero needs him more than I do.
I quickly changed the subject. "So, who else is coming?" I linked arms with my two best friends, leaving Duo and a worried Quatre staring after me.
* * * * * *
"Noin! Milliardo!" I ran to my older brother and Noin, who were slithering through the crowd toward me. Noin reached me first. She squeezed me tightly, nearly lifting me off the ground.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" I can't fool any of them, can I? Trowa asked me, then Sally. Is there no privacy in this world?
My brother frowned. "She looks fine to me." He gave me an awkward embrace. I love my brother dearly, don't get me wrong, but it's still strange being with him. I think he feels the same. Noin and I are more like siblings than we are. And his lingering aversion for Heero hasn't helped our relationship any.
Noin shook her head. "Men! You're so clueless." She hugged me again. "It's about Heero, isn't it?" she whispered.
I nodded. How did she know? "I can tell," she answered my unspoken question. "But we'll talk later. Now we have a birthday party to plan." The Gundam pilots and girls cheered. Well, all but Wufei, who'd been scowling at me since he got there. I think Sally dragged him. And although he won't admit it, I think he'd do anything for her. "Now what do you want to do? Your wish is our command." She put her arm around me as we walked out of the airport. Mentally, I thanked God for giving me such good, understanding friends.
* * * * * *
"I don't believe him!" Hilde squawked.
"Shh! You'll wake up the whole household!" Cathy hissed. Hilde blushed sheepishly. "Still, that man is unbelievable. I can't believe I ever let him stay in my house. Well, trailer. Whatever. Same difference."
"Me neither," Dorothy chimed in. If I didn't know better, that would've really bothered me. But it's not just me that Heero rejects. In fact, I was probably the exception, sort of. Oh well. Anyway, my friends supported me. And nothing was going on with any of them and Heero. They're nothing if they're not loyal.
Sally sighed. "He's a man. They're all the same. What can we do about it?"
"Even Wufei?" Hilde teased.
She blushed. "Especially Wufei."
Noin raised an eyebrow at her best friend and former partner. "Is there something going on, Sally, that you wish to share with me?"
"We were talking about Heero and Relena's relationship. Not mine and Wufei's," she replied.
"So there is something going on between you two." She grinned at her. "Seriously, though, Sally's not far from wrong. Men have so much trouble when it comes to facing their feelings. Especially Zechs."
Cathy nodded in agreement. "Trowa's like that, too. Not Quatre though. He's the only decent one of the bunch, possibly the only decent male period. Wouldn't you say, Dorothy?"
Dorothy quirked a forked eyebrow. "Why are you asking me? He's an exception to the rule. He has 29 sisters. He practically has the thought process of a woman. And I'm pretty sure he's gay, too. Not that it necessarily means anything. And speaking of which, your brother?"
"What? You don?t' really think that Trowa is? Not that I'd care, of course," she said quickly.
"He's Quatre's "best friend." They spend an awful lot of time together, talking to each other on the phone or just thinking about each other, no? Think about it." Catherine frowned thoughtfully.
Hilde rolled her eyes. "Please. Who cares if they are or they aren't? Does it really matter? We're not here to debate about Quatre and Trowa's sexualities. We were trying to talk about his tightness. What is it with those spandex shorts anyway? Honestly, Relena, maybe you're better off. I doubt he can have children, wearing those things."
"Ooh, ooh!" Sally waved her hands around wildly. "Speaking of people who can no longer have children, you just reminded me. You won't believe what Wufei did?"
I let my mind drift as she began relating one of Wufei's chauvinist exploits and surveyed my bedroom. My eyes fell on my old desk chair and I nearly gasped. Heero's jacket, which I'd put there that morning, was gone. But I'd just seen it when I came into the room. I glanced quickly out the window. Was that a shadow I just saw pass by? I ran out onto the balcony, my friends too engrossed in Sally's story to notice my sudden departure. I thought I saw a figure disappearing into the darkness. Maybe it was just a trick of light. No, it couldn't have been. There was no light. It was the freaking middle of the night. I sighed.
"Goodbye again, Heero," I called. Would I ever be able to say it to his face?
* * * * * *
I woke up the next day at 12:00 PM. I'd never slept that late in my entire life, even on vacation. The room was empty. I would've thought I'd been dreaming again, but for the sleeping bags that were piled up by the door. The house had enough guestrooms, but my friends insisted that it'd be more sleepover-like if they stayed in mine, much to my mother's dismay. The girls of course, that is. I don't know what they boys had done that night. Maybe they used the guestrooms. In any case, I won't tell you how my mother reacted to all of these people showing up and staying in her house. Yes, that bad. But she could have taken it worse. And seeing as it made me happy, she consented pretty easily. I don't know what the problem was, really. They're mostly sane people. I guess a bit too noisy for her taste, and not at all stuck-up and stuffy like the people I used to hang out with. Personally, I think it was a change for the better, but oh well. To each his own. I don't think mother and I shall ever understand each other.
She was certainly not in attendance when I came down to breakfast that morning. According to Pagan, she went to a spa/country club with her friends and wouldn't be back until the evening. That suited me just fine. It would give me more time with my friends. Little did I know, their plans for the day were to desert me.
"So, what are you guys doing today?" I asked, spearing a wedge of a stack of pancakes and shoving it into my mouth in a most unladylike manner. They didn?t mind. I was sure that Duo at least would've done the same, without a fork and with the whole stack, except Hilde was giving him a look that said, "Behave yourself."
"Oh, just running some errands," replied Quatre, nonchalantly sipping his orange juice. Trowa, who was sitting next to him, nodded to emphasize the point.
I raised an eyebrow at them. "Errands? What kind of errands?"
"If we told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise, no?" Dorothy responded teasingly. "All I can say is you're not going to be involved." She grinned mysteriously. Sheesh, talk about procrastination. But I wasn't complaining.
"You don't know any places around here though," I pointed out. Pre-birthday excitement welled up within me, as it never had before. I love my friends.
"Pagan's taking us," Hilde answered promptly. "This is one of those times when your having a butler comes in handy."
"You guys can keep him," I joked. "Old family servants are more trouble than they're worth. I don't even want to think about the secrets he knows about me."
"Ooh, what secrets?" Duo asked curiously.
"I'm not at liberty to say," Pagan replied. Then, bending down to him and in a loud whisper, he continued, "I'll tell you in the car." I rolled up my napkin and threw it at him. He caught it expertly. He'd been a minor league baseball player in his prime. At least, that was what he told me when he taught me to play catch as a child. I'm not sure if it's true or not. I am certain that he had a pretty interesting life before he became my butler. What drove him to give it up and wait on people for a living, who knows? I know much less about him than he does about me.
Quatre laughed adorably. I gotta say, if it weren't for Heero and Dorothy's accusations? Nah, never mind. Erase that thought. He's not my type. (My type apparently is the emotionally and physically unavailable, I thought wryly.) "I've got to agree with Miss Relena. And she only has one butler. I have forty Maguanacs on my back all the time. I swear, if I even breathe the wrong way?" He shook his head in disgust.
"They're just doing it because they care about you," Trowa said softly. They want to protect you."
Dorothy and Cathy exchanged glances, Dorothy's smug, and Catherine's surprised. It was sweet, I suppose, and a subtle implication that Trowa had more than friendly concern for him. But hearing Trowa's words made me think. Could that be what Heero feels, too? No, the difference is that Heero's never around, I answered myself. Still, he's never actually seemed to want to hurt me; he just does it anyway. I've told him enough times. Maybe he's just too thick for it to get through. I guess you live and don't learn from your mistakes. That goes for the both of us.
"Anyhow," Noin said, breaking the silence that I felt suddenly loomed upon us. "We do need to run some errands. You just hang out here and relax, okay?" She smiled at me mischievously.
I shrugged. "Okay. I'd planned to be alone today anyway. I'll just pretend you never came." I managed a small smile. My good humor from before had faded. Why do I always let him get to me like this?
Approximately half an hour later, my friends, stomachs filled to the brim, stood up to leave.
"I'll catch you guys later," Duo said suddenly. They were nearly out the door at this point. "I have something I have to take care of quick. Pagan, if I call you in a little while, you think you can pick me up?"
Pagan bowed subserviently. "Of course, Master Duo."
"You want me to come?" Hilde asked. She seemed worried and as surprised as the rest of us. Duo had wolfed down three stacks of pancakes in approximately five minutes. He could have left and been back a while ago. Why decide this now? And what could he possibly have to do here?
Duo grinned at her. "Nah, I'll be fine on my own, babe. I know the area; remember I've been here before. You haven't. Don't worry, I won't get lost. I'll meet you there soon."
"Well, okay," Hilde said dubiously. They exchanged one of those secret eye conversations that only couples can have, and she nodded. "Well, see ya later then. Bye, Lena."
"Bye." Two by two, like animals going onto the arc, they filed out the door. Pagan gave me another bow and followed along behind them. I stood on the porch and waved goodbye as they drove away in my old pink limo.
"Alone again," I sighed. "Oh well, I'll go back to bed, I suppose. I can use the extra sleep. And I will not, under any circumstances, dream of Heero," I swore to myself. But do I ever listen?
Penname: J Alberghini
E-mail: JAlberghini2@aol.com
Categories: Best Series/Multi-part, Best Romance
Warnings:Censored language, 3+4 implications
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me. "Pretty Baby" does not belong to me. I should just copy and past this, shouldn't I?
Pretty Baby
Chapter Five
"But there are lessons that you'll never learn"
The night air is chilly. A cool ocean breeze tousles my hair and makes me shiver. I'm sitting on the cool sand, water lapping at my pale blue toes. I know I should go to where it's warm, but I don't want to for some reason. I feel coarse denim covering my bare shoulders, and someone's arms wrap snugly around me. I tilt my head upward to see who my human blanket is. It's met, first, by dark blue eyes, then, warm lips. Heero squeezes me tightly and I lean on his shoulder, watching the waves. They look calm and peaceful, just as I feel.
All of a sudden, a strong gust of wind blows and I feel cold again. I turn back to look at Heero. He's gone; not even his jacket is left. I'm freezing now. The water looks like a field of ice. So cold. So lonely. I try to stand up to go look for him. But I can't move. My feet are rooted to the spot, frozen. "Heero!" I call out. No one answers. "Heero! Hee-"
Beep beep. My alarm clock sounds like a car stuck in rush hour traffic. Beeeepppp? I smacked it shut and sat up. The covers were completely off me. I must have tossed them off accidentally during the night. A breeze comes in through my open window. No wonder my feet were cold. Heero's jacket was still on me, at least. My eyes fuzzy with sleep, I felt around beside me. There was no one there, just an empty space. It felt slightly warm though, as if someone had been there before. But maybe it was just my imagination.
It was still dark out and I looked at the clock. 5:00 A.M., why, oh why did I set my alarm on vacation? Oh, right, I must've forgotten to shut it off. I hadn't lived there in quite some time, remember. It doesn't even feel like it's my house anymore. I probably would have been more comfortable in a hotel, but Mother had insisted. She begged me to come. I hadn't wanted to; I'd wanted to be as far from this place as possible that day.
Maybe waking up the night before was all just a dream? Maybe the whole thing was? No, that can't be. I was wrong. He hadn't stayed. He left again. Why do I keep putting myself through this?
* * * * * *
A couple hours and three tissue boxes later, I dragged myself down to breakfast. My eyes were thickened with make-up, more than I'd worn the night before, to hide the dark purple circles and the swollen look about them. It didn?t work. I looked awful. And yet, my mother didn't seem to notice a thing.
"Have another piece of toast, dear. You're wasting away to nothing. I know the camera adds ten pounds, but still. You need five of them at least to make up for the weight you've lost."
My dear mother. So kind, so concerned, and so clueless. Weight was the least of my problems. I love her so much, but she really doesn't know me at all. Then again, I've never been very open with her about anything.
"I'm fine, Mother, really," I said wearily.
She frowned at me. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were saving room for birthday cake, or trying to fit into a dress for a party, but you aren't having one. You didn't have one last year either. Are you sure, dear? I can still arrange?"
"Miss Relena all ready has plans for her birthday, ma'am," Pagan, my faithful butler, interrupted, his eyes twinkling. I shot him a grateful look.
Mother looked at him suspiciously. "Is that so? This is the first time I heard about this."
I gulped. "Well, you see, I?" Oh joy. I was going to have to lie to my mother. Not an easy thing to do. Luckily, Pagan came to my rescue again.
"Actually, this is the first time she's heard about it as well. Her friends have been planning a special surprise for Miss Relena, without her knowledge, of course, that is about to be revealed today. I'm not at liberty to say more, for fear of spoiling it for her. And speaking of which, we really must be going, Miss Relena, for part one of your birthday surprise."
Yeah, I was surprised all right. Boy, can that man lie. He knows I don't have any friends here. No close ones, anyway. Of course, mother didn't know that, or at the very least was still in denial about it. It was the perfect excuse, provided I would remember it. I allowed him to escort me away. Once we were out of hearing range, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Pagan, you totally saved my ass." I blushed, realizing my mistake. My friends, mostly Duo and Dorothy, have been encouraging me to curse a lot more of late and I'm ashamed to say, I've been falling into the habit in private. Still, I've always been careful about not doing it in front of Pagan. But the old man just smiled.
"Actually, it wasn't completely my intention to "save your ass" as you most delicately put it. Indeed, there is a surprise for you, and you will find out today, provided we leave this very minute. Now hurry, we mustn't keep your friends waiting."
"But Pagan, you know I don't have any?" He ignored me and trotted down the hall with more bounce in his step than was normal for a man his age. I scurried along after him, wondering what on earth this surprise could be.
I was still wondering in the limo. More importantly, who could have planned it? Could it possibly be?? No, that's ridiculous. Heero wouldn't do that. Then again, I didn't think he would have done what he did the night before, either, but I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. Maybe he left to throw me off the track for some super special birthday surprise? I dared not hope. But I still did.
It took only about ten minutes to get to our destination, but it felt like much longer. A watch pot never boils, as the saying goes. And where, exactly, did he bring me you ask? I'll tell you: the airport. Why? I hadn't the faintest idea.
"Hurry along, Miss Relena. Come on, spit spot." Um, maybe I was hallucinating, but since when had he become Marry Poppins? Scary.
He dragged me along throughout what seemed like the entire airport. "Flight 243 is now landing," the loud speaker announced.
Pagan checked his old-fashioned pocket watch, which probably was new the time he bought it. I've tried to get him a new one, but he refused to accept it. Says it's an antique. Oh well. "Right on schedule. I just love it when they're punctual. It's so rare, no? You should know, you're always traveling, right? Miss Relena?"
"Huh?" I replied absently. I searched for a familiar face in the crowd, any face. Okay, one face. And I found one, coming from the plane. Just not the one I'd expected or wanted. But not totally unpleasant though. "Miss Relena!"
"Dorothy!" I rushed over to my weird-browed friend. "What the f**k are you doing here?"
She pursed her lips in mock disapproval. "What language! I love it.' She air-kissed me on the cheek. No more than I would expect from her. "I'm visiting you for your birthday stupid, duh. Surprised?"
"Yep," I said, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice. It didn?t work.
"Relena, what's the matter?" she asked. There was a look of concern in her eyes. She must've known it was serious, because she'd just called me by my name.
"It's nothing," I lied. "I'll tell you later, maybe."
"No way, you're not going to try and make me forget about it. I don't think so, girl. What??"
"I've gotten your bags, Miss Dorothy." Pagan came with two large black suitcases labeled "D. Catalonia." I hadn't even realized he'd left. "Next," he said cheerily.
I blinked at him in surprise. "Huh?"
"You didn't think I was the only one coming to celebrate your birthday, did you?" Dorothy asked rhetorically. She gave me a look that told me I was off the hook, for now.
"Who else?" Not? no. I wouldn't make that same mistake twice. Plus, why would he be in an airport anyway? Unless he's leaving, that is. Funny how when I do think rationally, it's always something bad.
"You'll see," she answered mischievously. I didn't like the sound of that, but I let her lead me away anyhow. Sheesh I?m being dragged everywhere this week. I've done more walking on my vacation then I ever did working.
"We're here," she announced.
"And just where exactly is here?" I asked. She pointed to the airport schedule board. Flight 881 from L4 colony.
"L4? Who-?" I was cut off by Dorothy's enthusiastic screech.
"There he is!" Who on earth is she so excited about? I wondered. Was this the same Dorothy? What the hell happened to her?
"Miss Dorothy! Miss Relena!" I found myself enveloped in a tight hug by a handsome blonde youth.
"Quatre?" I asked, shocked. He grinned at me.
"Happy early birthday, Miss Relena," he said pleasantly.
I glanced from him to Dorothy. "Could someone please explain to me what the f**k is going on here?"
"Miss Relena!" Quatre gasped. "You've been spending too much time with Duo."
Dorothy chuckled. "I guess all those years of finishing school were useless, huh, Miss Relena? I like you better this way. You should take a page out of her book, Quatre."
He shook his head. "Um, no thank you." Okay, now I was even more confused. I mean, I knew Quatre had completely forgiven Dorothy for all she did to him, but still, since when were they on such friendly terms? She hadn't even insulted him once. Welcome to the twilight zone. I giggled.
"You're too good, Quatre. You make me sick." Okay, that was a little better.
"What is this, a Sanc Kingdom school reunion?" I asked, flabbergasted.
"You don't know the half of it. Come on, let's go get my stuff and then see who's next." He took me by the hand. Honestly, people, I can walk by myself. I was sick and tired of being dragged around. If it were anyone else, I might have yelled at him. But this was Quatre. You don't yell at Quatre. It's just not done. No matter how much ill will I have towards the male sex, I can't yell at him. Besides, he meant well. I trusted him, though I wasn't too sure about Bonnie and Clyde there. Next thing you know, they'll start bringing my old elementary school teachers or-
"Hii-iii!" I was once again glomped, but this time it was apparently buy one glomp, get another one free. Two cheerful faces, grinning at me devilishly, were in mine. One was a braided hunk, wearing a priest's collar (I still don't know the significance of that). The other was a short, petite sprite, her long bangs pulled away from her face with a handkerchief in the Fiddler on the Roof style, hiding her short hair.
"Duo? Hilde?" This really was the reunion episode. Beneath my surprise, Hilde noticed my lingering disappointment right off.
"Relena, what's wrong?" She squeezed my shoulders.
"What, you're not happy to see us?" Duo teased. His face fell when I didn't respond immediately.
"Of course I am. I'm always happy to see you guys," I said, with all the energy I could muster. Right then, I began to feel even gloomier than before at the reminder of my depression. But no use getting poor Duo involved. He's Heero's best friend, but I wouldn't put it past him to get mad at Heero because of me. And as much as I appreciate Duo's concern, Heero needs him more than I do.
I quickly changed the subject. "So, who else is coming?" I linked arms with my two best friends, leaving Duo and a worried Quatre staring after me.
* * * * * *
"Noin! Milliardo!" I ran to my older brother and Noin, who were slithering through the crowd toward me. Noin reached me first. She squeezed me tightly, nearly lifting me off the ground.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" I can't fool any of them, can I? Trowa asked me, then Sally. Is there no privacy in this world?
My brother frowned. "She looks fine to me." He gave me an awkward embrace. I love my brother dearly, don't get me wrong, but it's still strange being with him. I think he feels the same. Noin and I are more like siblings than we are. And his lingering aversion for Heero hasn't helped our relationship any.
Noin shook her head. "Men! You're so clueless." She hugged me again. "It's about Heero, isn't it?" she whispered.
I nodded. How did she know? "I can tell," she answered my unspoken question. "But we'll talk later. Now we have a birthday party to plan." The Gundam pilots and girls cheered. Well, all but Wufei, who'd been scowling at me since he got there. I think Sally dragged him. And although he won't admit it, I think he'd do anything for her. "Now what do you want to do? Your wish is our command." She put her arm around me as we walked out of the airport. Mentally, I thanked God for giving me such good, understanding friends.
* * * * * *
"I don't believe him!" Hilde squawked.
"Shh! You'll wake up the whole household!" Cathy hissed. Hilde blushed sheepishly. "Still, that man is unbelievable. I can't believe I ever let him stay in my house. Well, trailer. Whatever. Same difference."
"Me neither," Dorothy chimed in. If I didn't know better, that would've really bothered me. But it's not just me that Heero rejects. In fact, I was probably the exception, sort of. Oh well. Anyway, my friends supported me. And nothing was going on with any of them and Heero. They're nothing if they're not loyal.
Sally sighed. "He's a man. They're all the same. What can we do about it?"
"Even Wufei?" Hilde teased.
She blushed. "Especially Wufei."
Noin raised an eyebrow at her best friend and former partner. "Is there something going on, Sally, that you wish to share with me?"
"We were talking about Heero and Relena's relationship. Not mine and Wufei's," she replied.
"So there is something going on between you two." She grinned at her. "Seriously, though, Sally's not far from wrong. Men have so much trouble when it comes to facing their feelings. Especially Zechs."
Cathy nodded in agreement. "Trowa's like that, too. Not Quatre though. He's the only decent one of the bunch, possibly the only decent male period. Wouldn't you say, Dorothy?"
Dorothy quirked a forked eyebrow. "Why are you asking me? He's an exception to the rule. He has 29 sisters. He practically has the thought process of a woman. And I'm pretty sure he's gay, too. Not that it necessarily means anything. And speaking of which, your brother?"
"What? You don?t' really think that Trowa is? Not that I'd care, of course," she said quickly.
"He's Quatre's "best friend." They spend an awful lot of time together, talking to each other on the phone or just thinking about each other, no? Think about it." Catherine frowned thoughtfully.
Hilde rolled her eyes. "Please. Who cares if they are or they aren't? Does it really matter? We're not here to debate about Quatre and Trowa's sexualities. We were trying to talk about his tightness. What is it with those spandex shorts anyway? Honestly, Relena, maybe you're better off. I doubt he can have children, wearing those things."
"Ooh, ooh!" Sally waved her hands around wildly. "Speaking of people who can no longer have children, you just reminded me. You won't believe what Wufei did?"
I let my mind drift as she began relating one of Wufei's chauvinist exploits and surveyed my bedroom. My eyes fell on my old desk chair and I nearly gasped. Heero's jacket, which I'd put there that morning, was gone. But I'd just seen it when I came into the room. I glanced quickly out the window. Was that a shadow I just saw pass by? I ran out onto the balcony, my friends too engrossed in Sally's story to notice my sudden departure. I thought I saw a figure disappearing into the darkness. Maybe it was just a trick of light. No, it couldn't have been. There was no light. It was the freaking middle of the night. I sighed.
"Goodbye again, Heero," I called. Would I ever be able to say it to his face?
* * * * * *
I woke up the next day at 12:00 PM. I'd never slept that late in my entire life, even on vacation. The room was empty. I would've thought I'd been dreaming again, but for the sleeping bags that were piled up by the door. The house had enough guestrooms, but my friends insisted that it'd be more sleepover-like if they stayed in mine, much to my mother's dismay. The girls of course, that is. I don't know what they boys had done that night. Maybe they used the guestrooms. In any case, I won't tell you how my mother reacted to all of these people showing up and staying in her house. Yes, that bad. But she could have taken it worse. And seeing as it made me happy, she consented pretty easily. I don't know what the problem was, really. They're mostly sane people. I guess a bit too noisy for her taste, and not at all stuck-up and stuffy like the people I used to hang out with. Personally, I think it was a change for the better, but oh well. To each his own. I don't think mother and I shall ever understand each other.
She was certainly not in attendance when I came down to breakfast that morning. According to Pagan, she went to a spa/country club with her friends and wouldn't be back until the evening. That suited me just fine. It would give me more time with my friends. Little did I know, their plans for the day were to desert me.
"So, what are you guys doing today?" I asked, spearing a wedge of a stack of pancakes and shoving it into my mouth in a most unladylike manner. They didn?t mind. I was sure that Duo at least would've done the same, without a fork and with the whole stack, except Hilde was giving him a look that said, "Behave yourself."
"Oh, just running some errands," replied Quatre, nonchalantly sipping his orange juice. Trowa, who was sitting next to him, nodded to emphasize the point.
I raised an eyebrow at them. "Errands? What kind of errands?"
"If we told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise, no?" Dorothy responded teasingly. "All I can say is you're not going to be involved." She grinned mysteriously. Sheesh, talk about procrastination. But I wasn't complaining.
"You don't know any places around here though," I pointed out. Pre-birthday excitement welled up within me, as it never had before. I love my friends.
"Pagan's taking us," Hilde answered promptly. "This is one of those times when your having a butler comes in handy."
"You guys can keep him," I joked. "Old family servants are more trouble than they're worth. I don't even want to think about the secrets he knows about me."
"Ooh, what secrets?" Duo asked curiously.
"I'm not at liberty to say," Pagan replied. Then, bending down to him and in a loud whisper, he continued, "I'll tell you in the car." I rolled up my napkin and threw it at him. He caught it expertly. He'd been a minor league baseball player in his prime. At least, that was what he told me when he taught me to play catch as a child. I'm not sure if it's true or not. I am certain that he had a pretty interesting life before he became my butler. What drove him to give it up and wait on people for a living, who knows? I know much less about him than he does about me.
Quatre laughed adorably. I gotta say, if it weren't for Heero and Dorothy's accusations? Nah, never mind. Erase that thought. He's not my type. (My type apparently is the emotionally and physically unavailable, I thought wryly.) "I've got to agree with Miss Relena. And she only has one butler. I have forty Maguanacs on my back all the time. I swear, if I even breathe the wrong way?" He shook his head in disgust.
"They're just doing it because they care about you," Trowa said softly. They want to protect you."
Dorothy and Cathy exchanged glances, Dorothy's smug, and Catherine's surprised. It was sweet, I suppose, and a subtle implication that Trowa had more than friendly concern for him. But hearing Trowa's words made me think. Could that be what Heero feels, too? No, the difference is that Heero's never around, I answered myself. Still, he's never actually seemed to want to hurt me; he just does it anyway. I've told him enough times. Maybe he's just too thick for it to get through. I guess you live and don't learn from your mistakes. That goes for the both of us.
"Anyhow," Noin said, breaking the silence that I felt suddenly loomed upon us. "We do need to run some errands. You just hang out here and relax, okay?" She smiled at me mischievously.
I shrugged. "Okay. I'd planned to be alone today anyway. I'll just pretend you never came." I managed a small smile. My good humor from before had faded. Why do I always let him get to me like this?
Approximately half an hour later, my friends, stomachs filled to the brim, stood up to leave.
"I'll catch you guys later," Duo said suddenly. They were nearly out the door at this point. "I have something I have to take care of quick. Pagan, if I call you in a little while, you think you can pick me up?"
Pagan bowed subserviently. "Of course, Master Duo."
"You want me to come?" Hilde asked. She seemed worried and as surprised as the rest of us. Duo had wolfed down three stacks of pancakes in approximately five minutes. He could have left and been back a while ago. Why decide this now? And what could he possibly have to do here?
Duo grinned at her. "Nah, I'll be fine on my own, babe. I know the area; remember I've been here before. You haven't. Don't worry, I won't get lost. I'll meet you there soon."
"Well, okay," Hilde said dubiously. They exchanged one of those secret eye conversations that only couples can have, and she nodded. "Well, see ya later then. Bye, Lena."
"Bye." Two by two, like animals going onto the arc, they filed out the door. Pagan gave me another bow and followed along behind them. I stood on the porch and waved goodbye as they drove away in my old pink limo.
"Alone again," I sighed. "Oh well, I'll go back to bed, I suppose. I can use the extra sleep. And I will not, under any circumstances, dream of Heero," I swore to myself. But do I ever listen?