How To Win a Girl's Heart
She is so beautiful, Noel thought as he and Serah laid on the bed of grass in Yaschas Massif, looking up at the dark night, the thousands and thousands of stars collected together, making the brown haired man's head spin.
But that could also be the doing of the breathtakingly gorgous woman lying next to him, her eyes twinkling much brighter and beautifully then any stars ever could.
Yes, Noel Kreiss had fallen in love with this woman, Serah Farron. But unfortunately for him, it was one sided. This woman was engaged to a man named Snow Villiers.
He got to her first. Noel never had a chance, and his heart did an uncomfortable clench at the thought of the two getting married and having babies with Serah's beautiful starlike eyes...with the brains of her idiot of a husband.
"Noel, look!" Serah's voice pulled the man out of his thought as she pointed upward. A streak of a fiery light blue caught the man's eye, as it fell from the heaven's slowly and so far away. "A shooting star!"
His breath hitched as Serah's hand slipped into his. "Make a wish." She whispered, closing her eyes.
He watched in facination as her eyelids fluttered and her soft pink lips moved quickly as she uttered a wish under her breath, barely above a whisper her couldn't even hear it. Noel closed his own eyes, making the wish he knew would never come true.
"What did you wish for?" Serah asked, oblivious to the brown haired man's racing heart as she squeezed his calloused hand with her much smaller, softer ones.
"i..." He turned his head to look at her icy blue eyes. They were so clear that he could see himself staring into them, even in the dark. "I wished..."
But before he could say anything he noticed Serah's face leaning in, her eyes half lidded. He leaned in himself in spit of himself, and his mind derailed when their lips met. Serah softly sighed into his mouth as she ran her fingers through his long slightly untamed hair.
And soon, Noel was softly laid the woman back onto her back as he leaned over her. When he finally pulled away he was sure his heart was about to leap out of his chest, especially when Serah's eyes opened, glossy with passion. "Noel..." She breathed, pulling his head down.
"Hmmm, Serah," Noel groaned as he bunched up in his blankets, "I'll be gentle."
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in his bedroom...alone.
Damn, another dream. He faceplanted into his pillow in disapointment. It actually felt real this time.
After he took his morning bath and changed into his usual attire he heard a knock on his door. "Noel?"
Serah.
His heart nearly skipped a beat, and even fixed his hair a bit before he trotted to the door that wasn't far from his bedroom. He lived in a little place anyway.
He swung the door open with a litte too much excitement revealing the girl from his dreams.
"Good morning, Noel." Serah greeted, her smile as bright as the morning sun.
"Good morning, Serah." He said back with a smile of his own.
"GOOD MORNING NOEL!" Snow's huge frame suddenyl came into view as he leaned too close to Serah. "DID YOU SLEEP WELL? HAVE ANY GOOD DREAMS?"
Does this man have to yell, I am two feet in front of him.
It seemed like everytime Serah was around now, that...bafoon was somewhere in the vicinity. Noel missed it when it was just the two of them looking for Lightning.
It was like Snow was trying to keep the two apart. Or supervise them. And he says he isn't the jealous type.
Maybe, instead of hiding my feelings, I should just tell her. Even if she turns me down, which she would most likely do, I could get this off my chest.
After Serah's visit, Noel made up a story about having to run errands, and now the pulsian was wandering the Cocoon Streets...lost.
He never actually had nothing to do before, with constant threat of doom looming over him. The man was so lost in his thoughts he accidently ran into someone. Or they ran into them.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention!" A girl's voice apologized yanking him on his feets and dusting dirt off him. "Hey, your Noel."
Noel looked up...er down since he was taller to see a girl with red pigtails and wearing Oerban clothing. He remembered her from after the gang saved the two crystals from becoming shattered glass. Now they were up and walking about, alive.
At least I did something right.
"Um, your Fang?" Noel guessed.
The girl giggled. "No, I'm Vanille. The other one is Fang."
"Oh, sorry." Noel apologized himself.
"Don't worry about it!" Vanille assured with a smile on her face. She's alot more...sunnier then Serah, Noel thought nochalantly to himself. "Is something bothering you?"
The brown haired man was surprised when she said that. "What makes you think that?" He tried to smile, but it was clear on Vanille's face she wasn't buying it.
She even raised an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips and cocking her head to the side. "I do the same thing when I'm hiding something. I put on a cheery persona." (AN: Picture Vanille pronouncing it like "Per-Soh-Na")
Before Noel could even correct her, she grabbed his hands and led him toward a picnic area. He didn't know why, but he felt like he needed to confide in someone. Maybe a girl could give him better advice.
"You poor thing!" Vanille cried much to Noel's awkwardness.
Maybe confiding to a emotional woman wasn't such a good idea. Though he wasn't exactly complaining the amount of touching and hugging the young pulsian was doing. "Don't worry, I'll help you win her heart."
"Win her heart?" Noel asked. "How?"
"A present!" Vanille already had a whole plan in her head. "Girls love gifts."
"You know, that might not be a bad idea. But what should I get her? Jewelery?"
"Yeah," Vanille's eyes sparkled like she just recieved the gift herself. Then suddenly she gasped, jumping onto her feet and covering her mouth. "You can make her something! Like a necklace or something."
"Nah," Noel withdrew which was very unlike him to do, since he was usually straightfoward with people. But when it came to his blooming love for Serah, he suddenly developed this suddenly shy trait.
And he hated it!
"She already got a necklace from Snow."
"Then make her a bracelet." Vanille advised. "It may be small, but if it came from you it will mean the world to her."
"You think so?"
She just smiled, already grabbing hold of his hand again, "Come on, I know where we can get the supplies from!"
"What is this place?" Noel suddenly found himself surrounded by the most impressive and incredible building he has ever entered in Bodhum.
Statues were made out of tiny colorful play arts that seemed almost mindblowing to believe that it was manmade to make shapes like Cocoon's cracked shell, cartoon characters, and repliccas of the towns. Children ran around amuck while their parents chased after them. Loud pop music blaring from the speakers to echo throughout the gigantic place.
Toys, toys, and more toys. Big toys, small toys, Toys for boys and girls of all ages!
It was a Kid's Dream.
It was...
"It's called Toys r Us!" Vanille spread her arms out wide like wings were about to sprout from her back, and some sort of fanfare rung out after she said that. Probably from a videogame a kid was playing somewhere. "You think this Toys r Us is great, I heard that Eden's is like super, duper, mega, awesome!"
"I take it the toys are really not..." Noel began as he eyes landed on some chewables that were left out. He grimaced at how sugary and jiggly it looked. It reminded him of the Flan.
"No they are not alive. I thought that too, when I first came here." Vanille once again grabbed hold of Noel's hand and the two ran through the Toy Store.
But of course whenever you go to a Toy Store, you can't just go get what you want and leave. You'd like to "evaluate" the other selections. Soon your wallet is empty and you have bags and bags of cool toys.
Of course this also applied with Vanille's childlike demeanor and Noel's curiosity.
She's just like a kid. His lips curled up as she went on ahead without him to watch the children painting on easels.
Vanille knelt down by a little girl with blonde pigtails. "Whatcha' painting?" She asked curiously tilting her head to the side.
"I dun' know." She shrugged. "It's eether an erupting basin of lava...or a firetruck."
Noel had to blink a few times at the little girl's blatant interpretation of her artwork. "I like firetruck." Vanille replied with a welcoming smile.
"I do too."
So after another hour and a half of being led around by Vanille (Though Noel was starting to take the lead now) of playing with toys and singing karaoke (They got at least five encores), the two finally decided to buy Serah's present.
"Here it is." Vanille held up a box that said "Make 'em Yourself Jewelery Set" "Pulsian Addition" in big glittery letters. An image of two girls showing off their creations with a unbelievably neat tray of leftover supplies on the table.
Obviously a toy for little girls between the ages of six and nine.
But he probably wouldn't have the money to buy a diamond ring or anything. And it is supposed to be handmade, Vanille knows what she's talking about.
Right?
"Alright, let's go then." Noel said, reading the description on the back of the box. That was when he noticed the way Vanille was eying a doll standing on the shelf.
It was pretty tall for a doll, with tan skin and shiny black hair. She wore a stylish blue sweater exposing her artificial shoulders and a pleatd mini skirt.
"It's so pretty, kind of looks like Fang." Vanille reached for her wallet (He didn't sare ask where she kept it) and opened it up with a disapointed furrow of her brow. "Aw, shoot, out of money."
Noel reached up for the doll, "here, I'll buy it for you."
"Oh, you don't have to do that." Vanille shyly said, twirling in her skirt.
"No, you helped me out today, I can spare a bit more cash on you."
"Aw, your so sweet," She mussed up Noel's mane like he was a little kid and skipped off to the counter.
As soon as the two got back to the apartment Vanille and Fang shared, they got right to work. The latter wasn't home, probably with Lightning or something.
"And done." Noel said at last when he finished tying the bracelet together.
"Lemme see!" Vanille reached over for the piece of craft as the brown haired man handed it to her.
The bracelet wasn't all extravegant, but it had a pretty dark purple and light pink color scheme on a yellow string. The straight tassles hanging out from the side to give it a purposely messy but pulsian look. "ooh, she's going to love it! Let's show it to her now!"
The door then opened as Fang came waltzing in, she looked surprised to see Noel there. "'ey, it's...that guy..."
"His name's Noel, Fang~" Vanille giggled, pulling him to his feet. "We are just about to leave. This guy is going to win over Serah!"
"Ain't she with the gorilla?" Fang asked with a perplexed quirk of her eyebrow, and crossed her arms.
"That's why I said win over!"
"Interesting."
"Well let's go." The redhead then dragged Noel and the two left with the bracelet.
Of course it wasn't all going to be easy, especially with the mischievous pulsian with now way too much time on her hands. She pulled out her phone and called Snow.
He answered on the first ring. "Fang? Did you need something you never call."
"Oh, Snow, your just such a good friend of mine that I needed to warn you about something." Fang said in an uncharacteristically sugary sweet voice that anybody else would have saw through, er, heard through. "You know about that boy, Noel, right, that's his name?"
"Yyyyes?" Snow droned out the "y" in an impatient tone.
"Well, I couldn't help but noticed he's a bit...clsoe to her."
"Haha," Snow laughed halfheartedly, "Don't worry Fang there's nothing going on between he and Serah."
"And what makes you so sure?" Fang asked, a devious glint in her eyes that the man on the other line couldn't witness. "Maybe not Serah, but have you seen the way the boy looks at her."
"Nice try, Fang, but I am not the jealous type."
"Listen, man, he is on his way right now with Vanille to deliver a present to your girl confessing his undying love for her. And knowing your girlfriend/fiance/wife she will not turn him down right away. She would string him along not even realizing and then BAM! She'll reject him so hard it will smash his heart! Now you wouldn't want that would you?"
It was dead silent on the other end. Gotcha'
"Should I talk to her?" Snow asked.
"No idiot!" Fang bellowed, "Your so typically male. And your a moron on top of it! You can't confront her with this because she will think your aking it up because your jealous! You have to hire someone! Someone who everyone will least expect of helping you so they won't think your the one trying to sabotage-"
"Sabotage!"
"Yes, sabotage, it is the only way to save both Serah and Noel!"
"I don't know about sabotage Fang, it's just a love confession."
"Didn't your love for Serah start with a love confession, and look at you two now. Think about it, Villiers."
Click.
"Snow is something the matter?" Serah asked her fiance' that sat across the dinner table.
"Huh?" He asked, his mind faraway. "Oh I'm fine. I uh...wanted to ask you something. But promise me you'll be honest."
"Of course, sweetie." Serah answered, setting down her fork.
"Um, if we never got together, who would you fall in love with?" He asked, trying to make it sound light.
Serah became silent, the only sound coming from the television that was on but nobody was watching. "Why do you ask that?"
"Just hypo-hypo-"
"Hypothetically?"
"Yeah hypotethically speaking." Snow corrected shoving a mouthful of pasta into his large mouth.
"I don't know. You don't exactly pick who you want to fall in love with. It just happens..." Serah explained in a matter of fact voice.
"Well, who would you see yourself falling in love with. I would have probably...er...I don't really know."
"I see you and Lebreau together."
Silence.
"If-" Serah quickly started again, "you know, I wasn't with you."
"Oh, I see." Snow nodded, taking a gulp of his can of soda.
"Lebreau's a pretty girl, and fun to be with."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Snow asked with a playful smirk and a wink, making Serah fluster and make up excuses. But deep down he had a feeling she was pointing Lebreau out in case...
No, come on man, don't let Fang's words confuse you. Your in love with Serah. And Serah's in love with you...right?
"I guess, since you asked," Serah looked away, her face turning pink. Snow hadn't felt this nervous since the day he proposed to Serah. "I can see myself with..." She froze up.
Snow tried to keep up his cheerful act. "What with Maqui? Maqui and you are pretty chummy. Bit of a nerd but..." Serah shook her head, the big man felt his mask waver only lightly. "Yuj? Nah, too flamboyant. Gadot thinks he has it out for Maqui."
Is she thinking of Noel? What if she likes him too? Is it possible to fall in love with more then one person. He didn't want to think about it.
"You sure it's not," Snow tried to think of other guys he knew that was not Noel. "Hope? He's a good kid, I can see..."
Is this what it feels like to b jealous. Well I can't blame anybody except me. I had left her just so another guy can sweep her off her feet.
"What about...Noel?" Snow felt his heart tighten when Serah tried to stifle a gasp. I see.
Knock! Knock! knock!
Serah was quickly out of her seat and heading for the door. Snow took his empty plate and headed towards the kitchen to clean up.
Noel looked back at Vanille who was hiding behind a few shrubs next door. His heart skipped a beat when the door opened and Serah stepped out. She smiled.
"Hi Noel, what a pleasant surprise, what are you doing here?" She asked in her usually sweet voice.
Damn, I forgot what I was going to say. Noel wracked his brain for the speech he practiced with Vanille during the walk to Serah and Snow's place. "I uh, brought you something."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bracelet he made her. "I thought, you might like it."
Her eyes lit up as she took the bracelet from him and slipped i around her wrist. "It's beautiful. Where did you find it?"
"I made it, actually." He smiled, feeling a bit more confident.
Serah leaned over and kissed Noel on the cheek.
Does she...? Noel thought to himself as the very cheek Serah kissed burned. This is it.
"Noel, you are such a good friend."
-a good friend...
-good friend...
-friend...friend...friend...
Those words hit him harder then Snow's Sovereign Fist.
Vanille winced at the crestfallen expression on Noel's face.
"Poor guy." She whispered to herself placing her hands over her chest like her's were broken along with his.
AN: Poor Noel! Poor Snow! Serah's a little heartbreaker isn't she. I still love her though, unlike alot of other people.
What will Noel do next? Will Vanille help him? Who is Serah really in love with? Is Snow getting jealous? Is Fang really that evil.
Fang: *Evil laugh*