Disclaimer- I do not own D. Gray-Man or any of the characters from the series and with never claim them as my own.
Why was I even here in the first place? It was Monica's job to man the counter and I was supposed to be the one going around cleaning and whatnot. How did we end up switching positions? Or was she off goofing around again? Well, it didn't really matter because it seems that nobody has been to our inn for a long while, long even to drive me batty just standing here.
I could be off doing something fun with Vincent or Cathy, but I was stuck here. Stuck where there was nothing to do and no one to talk to. I've really never enjoyed working here, but my parents were so insistent on having Monica and I work here. But that was what, three or four years ago? I don't really remember.
And it seems that I was so lost in thought that I nearly leapt out of my skin when the bell on the front entrance announced that visitors had arrived. I straightened up as quickly as I could in an attempt to not make it appear as though I was slacking off on the job. Much to my surprise, a group of four had stepped inside. Each of which was good looking in their own way, but my attention was on the redhead that had stepped inside first. I've always liked red hair, but that may have been a personal bias because my hair was red.
"Hey there, beautiful." The man said, smiling at me slightly. "Can I get two rooms?"
His words made me jump slightly. This was partly because I'd managed to lose focus yet again and partly because I hadn't expected to be called "beautiful". And what was he doing leaning on the counter like that? I could feel my face heating up slightly and I hoped I wasn't as red as I thought I was.
"I wouldn't feel right letting a pretty young lady sleep in the same room as a guy." I said slowly, looking over at the only female in the group. "I give you three rooms, no extra charge. You can decide who sleeps where as long as she gets a separate room."
I was surprised again when the lady that was traveling with him came up to the counter and shoved him back a bit. I can't say that I wasn't relieved when she did that because I knew my face must have been redder than my hair by now. I smiled at her and handed over the keys to the rooms. She took them and smiled back.
"My sister usually cooks food for our guests," I said suddenly before they could go anywhere. "So we'll let you know when it's ready if you're not out."
"Thank you." The lady said before turning to her companions.
The red haired man looked back at me and said something about 'seeing me later' before he was shoved up the stairs. I quickly turned toward the mirror one the wall to my right to see just how red my face was, as it still felt hot enough to fry an egg or too. It was just as I feared; I was bright red. I also realized that my hair was messier than I thought it was, so I brushed my fingers through it rather quickly to fix it up a bit. I knew I should have pulled it back when I brushed it this morning.
I slowly brought my arms to my chest before sighing at what a wreck I was. I brought my hand just under my eye and stared at the color. Time seemed to have escaped me because I'd honestly forgotten the last time I looked in a mirror and saw the blue eyes that I was born with rather than the color they were now. The outer edge was a purplish color, but it faded as the color moved in told my pupil. As the purple faded away, it began to show nothing more than the tiniest hint of blue.
With these eyes came nothing more than a bunch of visions I wished were nothing more than my mind screwing with me, but I wasn't that fortunate. My entire family wasn't that fortunate, what with my mom losing her mind and running off after my father died. Monica was older enough to take care of the both of us then, being that she was almost twenty at the time. I can't even count the times that I've thanked the heavens that I had a sister like her.
"Slacking off again, I see."
I spun around quickly to see Monica standing there, her arms crossed like she was upset with me, but the look on her face said otherwise. She had that same old gentle expression that I honestly couldn't see her without. I'd often thought she was too kind for her own good, but she just smiled and ruffled my hair whenever I told her so. She was a good role model, I suppose, and I really truly did look up to her and adored her. That must sound silly, though, considering siblings don't seem to get along very well.
Not that Monica and I didn't fight or anything because we've certainly been in a few scraps here and there. It's just… she wasn't someone you wanted to fight with because she was quick to end them in a peaceful manner. It's grated my nerves on several occasions, which is why I tried my best not to butt heads with her.
"I'm not slacking off!" I shouted, forgetting I had no need to be so loud. "I'll have you know I just checked in four people."
"I'm only messing with you, silly." Monica replied, chuckling a little bit. "I do need you to go get some things for me really quickly, though. It seems I don't have everything I need to make dinner tonight."
"Oh, sure." I replied. "You aren't going to make me remember everything you want this time, are you?"
She only laughed at me before pulling a folded list out of her apron and handing it to me. Before I knew it, she'd shoved me out the door to be on my merry little way. I know I said she was nice, but she was also very forceful at times when she really didn't want to do something. I was pretty much her errand girl most of the time and it was hard to say 'no' to her because she had this little pout that she did. She's very manipulative and I think she knows it.
So, I spent a good hour or two roaming around trying to find everything Monica wanted. I think she added some things to this list that she really didn't need, but she did ask for strawberries. Strawberries make everything better because she makes a darn good cake whenever she buys them. But she doesn't buy them very often because of how expensive they are. I just figured she was in a really good mood.
It was getting late by the time I finally got home. The look on my sister's face was the last thing I wanted to see when I walked in the door. And I didn't exactly enjoy the big hug she gave me afterwords. I tried to stop her because of everything in my hands, but she didn't listen and hugged me anyway.
"What took you so long?" She asked, finally releasing me from her grip.
I had honestly feared that she'd crushed something and was afraid that she'd just huff at me and make me go back outside and buy a bunch of stuff again. Nah, she wouldn't do something like that. It was almost dark out and I think she'd panic too much if she did.
"Next time," I paused and laughed nervously. "Please make a shorter list, okay?"
And, with that, she nodded and hurried me back into the kitchen so we could start cooking. It didn't take as long as I thought it would and, before I knew it, Monica hurried off to go get our guests for dinner. She left me alone to set everything up, though, and I wasn't even finished by the time she got back, followed by the group of four that had checked in earlier. I was surprised that they were the only ones here at the moment, but I guess no one was looking for an inn to stay at. It really didn't bother me because I didn't like having too many people here at once.
Introductions were given and I found out that the red haired man from before was named Lavi, the pretty girl that was with them was named Lenalee, and the other two were Allen and Kanda. The one named Allen had really odd a colored hair, being that it was gray or silver or something, and he seemed to have a really big appetite, as well. Though I couldn't blame him for that; I couldn't help eating a lot, either.
"You're like a mouse."
I turned my head toward Lavi, who'd sat down beside me just moments before. Monica was on my other side, sitting at the end of the table and in front of me was that Lenalee girl. Beside her sat Allen and that grumpy looking Kanda guy was at the other end right next to him.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, leaning toward Monica a bit as I felt my face growing hot again.
"You're really quiet and shy." He said with a smile. "It's kinda cute."
I stumbled to my feet upon hearing that and hurried out of the room. I can take a compliment, but he was very obviously flirting with me and I was really embarrassed. I heard Monica laughing and saying something to him before I heard a chair scraping against the floor. I felt something knot up in my chest as I heard footsteps getting closer, but I didn't turn to see who it was. Luckily, it was only Monica.
"You shouldn't get so scared like that, Julia." She said. "I think he'll flirt with any girl that crosses his path. He just seems like that type of guy."
Those words did nothing to call my nerves because I felt more insulted by them. I know she was trying her best to cheer me up, but that wasn't the best way to do so. Guys like that really ticked me off. I can't believe how easily it is for people like him to move on from one person to another. It seemed, then, that I'd gone from really embarrassed to really annoyed.
Monica frowned at me before patting me on the head. I couldn't stay upset with the look she was giving me. Golly, I swear this woman could calm a room full of rampaging children! But I suppose that's what I really looked up to in her. I grumbled as she placed her hand on my shoulder and lead me back in the room to eat.
She promised me cake later, so I'd just have to move to another table and deal with it. It honestly wasn't as easy as that, though, because I could feel eyes on my back every-so-often. Or maybe that was just me getting really paranoid for no reason. Monica moved over to sit next to me and the two of us said nothing to each other the rest of the time. It probably would have been really quiet if it weren't for the laughing and conversations going on behind us.
I didn't mind. I didn't need friends like that anyway. Or was that me just trying to convince myself that I had no need for any friends than the ones that I had now? How silly of me that I would do such a thing, but befriending travelers wouldn't end well. Eventually they would leave, though there was the chance of getting letters.
A/N- Hope you like my story so far, though.I apologize for those of you who hate first peron. I just felt like doing something other than third at the moment.