Steps to Acceptance
A/N: Hey, peeps. This story is mostly in Colette's POV. Kind of an one-sided Colloyd, and a bit of Zelloyd. Colette is falling in love with Lloyd, but dense as always, Lloyd doesn't seem to notice. She's trying to get him to like her, but what happens if someone else butts in, especially if it's another guy? Colette wasn't prepared for that, now was she?
I may or may not continue this. It's up you, my faithful readers!
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia in any way, shape or form. Heck, I don't even own five dollars.
Chapter 1
Nice, klutzy, kind, and sometimes pretty was how Colette was often described as. She laughed a lot, and was optimistic most of the time. She also absolutely adored it when Lloyd just said simply, "Colette is Colette."
Colette already used to have a thing for that particular boy, Lloyd. He was always so nice to her, and fun to be around. Colette guessed that it was just his nature to be like that; he was nice to most people he met.
During the Journey of World Regeneration, Colette's bond with Lloyd strengthened, but she often doubted it, and only thought it was one-sided. She'd always feel slightly uncomfortable, like someone had put their hands around her throat tightly, whenever she saw Lloyd with another girl.
Oh, not that she hated any of them, Colette simply wanted them to die and blow up in smithereens. Such a violent child. But then again, maybe she didn't truly feel that way. It was just her love for Lloyd that drove her to do some rather rash things.
Deep inside, Colette didn't want to monopolize Lloyd. She just wanted him to be happy, though she strongly hoped that he would be very happy with her. But…if he didn't want to be with her… No, Colette would think and shake her head vigorously, I will use up to all my abilities to gain Lloyd's love. And with that, she'd smile to herself, picturing herself living with Lloyd happily.
"Lloyd," Colette called, beckoning the red-clad swordsman over to her, sitting on the soft green grass. Crickets chirped, frogs croaked, and fireflies flew about. It was a typical summer night.
Walking over and flopping down beside the blond-haired chosen, Lloyd glanced at Colette, "Hey. What d'you need?"
"I…Just wanted to talk…" Colette observed the crackling campfire with more interest than before, avoiding Lloyd's eyes. She could feel the blood rushing to her face, and her voice seemed to be lost.
Lloyd, oblivious as to what exactly Colette wanted to talk about, asked, "About what?"
It took Colette a few seconds to respond, "I just wanted to know, Lloyd," she looked up, giving Lloyd a searching look, "how you really feel about me."
"Haha, what?" Lloyd laughed, his naïve way of thinking unable to comprehend Colette's words. "What do you mean? You mean if I liked you or not?" Colette nodded, and Lloyd answered, "Well, of course I like you-" the chosen caught her breath, "-just like a sister." Colette heaved a sigh. It was the most insensitive response that Lloyd could give to her.
She looked so crestfallen that even the densest of the dense people would've noticed, and Lloyd placed his red-gloved hand onto Colette's. "You alright, there?"
Pulling her hand out from under Lloyd's, Colette jumped up, tears swimming in her eyes. And without a word, she ran away from the campfire, and into the dark forest, leaving a rather bewildered Lloyd behind.
Colette stopped until she couldn't run anymore, slumped down onto the ground, pulled up her knees to her chest, and cried silently. She mentally yelled at herself, "Don't cry about something stupid like this! You've been through worse!" but Colette couldn't help but think that she'd rather go through the angel toxiosis, or even through the Desians, than have this happen to her. It was as if there was a hole inside her chest, unable to be filled in.
This is why she never wanted to ask Lloyd, she was too afraid of rejection. Too afraid of pain, too afraid of being hurt. Perhaps I'm just a coward, Colette would often think to herself.
She stayed in the same position for about fifteen minutes, and finally, Colette had calmed down. Lloyd had never said that he didn't like her, he just said that she was like a sister to him. I wasn't rejected, Colette thought happily, brightening up instantly.
Later, Colette walked back to camp, looking a lot more cheerful by the time she got back. Lloyd tried talking to her, apologizing for something he didn't even understand, but Colette just smiled her usual smile, and waved it off. She apologized to him that she was just overreacting, and he needn't worry about it.
But for some odd reason, Colette couldn't place as to why, that there was someone watching her. She turned around, looking for the source of the odd feeling. All she saw was Zelos, flirting with Sheena once again, and receiving a rather loud slap.
Colette shrugged, and decided to forget about it, perhaps it was just her imagination.
Oh, but it wasn't.
A/N: Well, what do you think, people? I think I did an okay job of doing Colette's feelings, but in some areas...it lacks. R&R PLZ and I will update! :3