Reminiscent 3

[Lei]

Reminiscent
Part 1
Chapter 3

I must?ve fallen asleep on my arm, somehow, because when I woke up, I had no feeling in it what so ever. I couldn?t even move my forearm. My mind was playing tricks on me that morning, because I thought I saw myself lifting my hand high, but I could feel it scratching my nose ever so slightly. This has been happening lots lately?

?Relena?? My eyes opened. Sylvia sat on my bed, watching me sadly. I looked over at my clock; it read five forty in the morning.

?What in the world??? I blinked rapidly, trying to wipe the sleep in my eyes. Sylvia ran in and out of focus as I groaned lightly and rolled around on my large bed. I finally sat up and she fell into my arms, wide and outstretched as they were.

?Mia had a nightmare??

?Oh??

I?ve mentioned it before, but now I?ll elaborate. When I was thirteen, my father, Sylvia?s father, and our uncle got into a huge fight. They lived in three separate countries, but my father and uncle still managed to fight with Sylvia?s father. I?m not sure what happened, but it was something about the youngest of the three, Sylvia?s father, was being rude and ignorant.

Back then, Sylvia and I were already really close, despite being an ocean apart. We never saw each other much, but about two years ago, Mia finished university and went home to chaos. She took her sister out of the household and they ran away. Our uncle set them up with flight fares to England, to live with us. Sylvia doesn?t completely regret it, but she still feels lonely at times? Mia? she had once been very close to her mother? and she could not leave her husband?s side?

Mia now fears her father, and worries about her mother. I cannot explain the sadness she feels about this. She?s been depressive and aggressive at times. Sometimes, she?ll have these nightmares as well, and we, being her family, always took her in with open arms.

I slowly stood myself up, limping against the leg that hadn?t fallen asleep. I struggled to stay awake and Sylvia draped one of my arms around her to hold us steady. We were all still in our sleepwear, I noticed; even Mia and Sylvia, only they had jackets over their gowns. In the living room, my parents sat together looking down with Mia, who was hugging my mother?s knees. Mother stroked her long, black hair in soothing motions as they watched. She looked pitiful, Mia. Milliardo sat across from them, unsure of what to do. He looked up when I entered, and moved for the two of us to sit down. Zechs was probably asleep?

I sat back, against the cushions, while Sylvia leaned on me. I watched solemnly as Mia shook, not from sobbing, but still like it. I?ve also mentioned before my mother needed protection sometimes herself, considering she?s unstable, at times. Well? it was Mia and Sylvia?s father that taught me a lesson I will never forget, and should I, I shall be damned.

Many children see their parents as invincible, complete, and so strong. But in the end, they are only human, as everyone is. Parents, on the other hand, find it unfair that all the weight of the world should rest on their shoulders, but bear it anyways for their children. The belief that adults have all the answers is usually what causes things like disrespect of the adult from the child. The three men that follow this feud are the perfect examples of this. They act like children, only in different circumstances. The result is the sobbing woman in Mother?s laps, and the girl leaning on me for support.

?Today, I think it?s one of the worst ones this summer. I felt so mad at my dad for no reason, well, actually, he was yelling a lot today. I told him I hated him, and that he was being sooo mean, but then he sat me down and talked to me. Like, about how he was doing this because he loves me, and how many people have asked him to be their father. He made me feel so lucky I felt as if I was going to cry!?

My eyes drooped and I found myself falling against Milliardo. I tried to sit back up but Sylvia was already asleep against me. I gave up, and hoped to heart that my brother wouldn?t mind. I saw father looking at me, or Sylvia, I?m not sure, with his own sad eyes, and then the world went black.

~*

The smell of eggs and bacon with the pitter patter of rain woke me up. My stomach growled and I sat up, all alone on the couch. It took me a moment to remember why I was here exactly. The rain soothed me as I waited for my eyes so moisten. Something didn?t feel right? like I had had too much sleep.

I finally picked myself off the couch and stretched. My arm felt numb again, that and half my body felt as if it were twisted and gnarled. Not the most pleasant feeling in the world?

The first thing on my to-do list was to find out what that smell was. I walked into the kitchen and saw a very unfamiliar sight. Mia and Sylvia were in the room, scurrying about. The stove was on with a filling smell. You know you must be hungry when the simple smell of food fills you up.

?Hi Relena!? Sylvia greeted me. I pulled a chair out and fell into it. My eyes still heavy, I managed to wave to her. ?You might want to wash your face, chickie-poo, just to wake you up. We made you brunch!?

My mind was half in the gutter, sure, but I could still see there was something wrong with that sentence. Or hear whichever it was? now if only I could figure out what it was?

?Brunch?? It was a school day? My eyes slowly drifted up to the clock over the stove. It read ten fifteen? I was supposed to be in school by eight. ?Damnit! I overslept! Why didn?t anyone wake me up?? I shot upright, scraping my thighs on the table. I nearly fell over from the sudden shock if Sylvia hadn?t been there to help support me.

?Relena, relax.? My eyes fluttered to her.

?Come to think of it, why aren?t you at school?? At least, that?s what I think I said.

?Mia called the schools and told them that we would be at home today. She feels a bit bad for what happened?? I gave them both a confused look, sitting up properly again. ?About making us stay up late last night.? Sylvia finished off. I looked at Mia, worry now etched into my face.

?Mia, you don?t have to feel bad, you know I can function on less than three hours of sleep.? I smiled at her, hoping to lighten the mood. However, Mia?s saddened expression never left. She simply turned around and continued to cook.

?Relena? I?m older; I should be taking care of you, instead of burdening you?? I didn?t push it. Just simply sat back and watched the window.

~*

I ended up going for my afternoon classes. My friends gathered around and questioned me. They filled me in on the gossip and new events since that morning. I listened for the sake of knowledge, even though I have no interest in that. However, being the local shoulder to cry on, well, one of them, I have to know. My shoulders sagged with my homework, my eyes were raspy and drooping, I could hardly walk straight, and furthermore, I was surrounded by constant whining all day. Not once did I hear anything besides elements of a teenage soap opera.

I didn?t even get to see Heero. I wonder why he wasn?t at school. Or was he ignoring me? Maybe? maybe I did pass him a few times today, but the others were always surrounding me?

?Relena?? Catherine bent down and looked up at me. I raised an eyebrow at her. ?Oh, sorry, you just look dazed. Are you okay??

?Just a little tired, that?s all.? I smiled at her, trying to act reassuring. She watched me for a moment afterwards.

?I can see the bags under your eyes, Relena. You really should try wearing makeup for once if you want to lie.? She had a point. ?Listen, why don?t I drive you home today??

?Oh no- I could ask Mia??

?It?s alright. I?m free, as Trowa just got his license.? I smiled and finally accepted, before promptly tipping into my next class. Lord, someone help me stay awake through this. Where was Boris to lighten my mood? In fact, where were all the guys? The stress was freaking me out?

The weekend was up next, at least. When I got home, I didn?t go to volunteer at the daycare like usually. No, I fell asleep on my couch, with my little brother yelling out battle moves as he played his video games.

~*

I woke up an hour and a half later, in very much the same position as this morning. The sky was starting to darken, a bit later than usual. A sign of spring. With spring came rain.

The rest of the house was eerily silent. I sat up and walked over to my computer, looking over my messages.

In one of the websites I frequently visited, there were over five journals, each one a story of how much their life sucked. Normally, I would care, but these people... they always complained. I?ve grown quite numb to it. The website was one I helped manage. They made a series about war, one episode every three months. I wrote the songs. There were singers to perform them, as well as bands, artists, programmers, writers and actors. There was one other that helped me write the songs.

One band seemed to be making these journals (the website programmers designed a system for journals to keep each other informed on our lives), oh how I?ve grown to detest them. Today, it was something about wanting, to write their own songs. They had been answered by something along the lines of, ?If it will actually fit with the series? except much more crude.

I was already irritable today. You can imagine my twitching when I saw people complaining about the smallest little things. I hate it when they do that, when they have all the talent they?ll ever need to manage?

So I signed into Our Messenger and looked over the people online. Heero and Boris were among them, but which to talk to? Heero managed to answer that question for me.

?Hey.? He greeted me as his window popped up, his face looking sour.

?Hi there,? I replied to him with a smile, ?you look happy.? Note the sarcasm, my dear Heero, note the sarcasm.

?Funny.? He retorted, just as sarcastically as I. Smiling halfheartedly, I pulled my homework out of my bag and began to work.

?So, what?s up?? I asked after a moment?s silence. ?I mean, you don?t usually look too happy but today seem a little different.? His cold Prussian blue eyes watched me as my own slid upwards to look at him. Now he was worrying me.

?I may drop out of school.? Before I knew it, my hands were on the table and my nose was almost flat up to the computer screen.

?What!??

?My marks aren?t that great, and there are plenty of ways to survive without a full education, Relena.? Figures that Heero, could keep a straight face. But there was something else bothering me? his tone? The way he had said my name made it seem almost foreign coming out of his mouth?

?You?ve got to be kidding me.? The look on his face told me he wasn?t, then again, Heero never kidded. ?But?? what will I do without you? ?What about your friends?? You?ve always been there! ?And? that may be so but?? When did I push you so far away? ?It would probably be easier if you stayed??

?I?m still thinking about it.? Heero? My blood started to boil as all the stress and fatigue finally got to me.

?Stop being such a moron!? One part of me wanted me to stop, but? ?Heero, do you have any idea how much crap and shit I?ve been through today?? the other part of me, ?and I?ve been trying to be supportive and kind but,? just wouldn?t hold on, ?I?m only human.? That part came out quietly? too quietly.

?Relena?? I didn?t have to look at him to know he was worried. Good, let someone worry about me for a change. I don?t want to have to hold the world on my shoulders. ?Are you okay??

I took five minutes to calm down before switching to text mode.

Rel: I?m leaving now, got to finish homework.
Heero: Wait? but who else am I supposed to talk to?
Rel: You?ve got plenty to keep you busy.
Heero: What?s that supposed to mean?
Rel: I meant? you need to study. Good night, Heero.

With that I signed off and packed my things. I?d have to do this in my room? but I couldn?t stop thinking about our conversation; did I just screw up our whole friendship?

~!

Yeah, chapter Three. ^^ I hope you enjoy!

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