Some chapters may not have any connection with the current plot. This is a continuation of what happened in the previous story "Closer than Expected" and some of the characters here are just made up.
Chapter 1: What the Girl's Think
Fiona hummed a song along with Moonbay while arranging dozens of roses on a vase inside the Villa's mansion in Sera City.
All of them finally had time to relax for a whole week but Dr. D and the other scientists seemed quite busy as usual.
"Where do you think Van is right now?" Fiona began to wonder.
"He must be somewhere out there with the other guys." Moonbay replied looking distracted. "I think we're the only ones around here. Everyone else must be goofing off somewhere."
"I feel like taking a dip in the pool. Dr. Jonathan said that we can go there anytime, right?" Fiona said.
Moonbay agreed. "Sounds like a great idea. Let's finish up this one then we'll go there."
At that moment, they heard the door open. They glanced by the entrance to see who arrived.
Fiona smiled as she saw Reese coming in with Raven followed by Shadow and Specula. There was still a bandage wrapped around his head and shoulder but other than that, he seems to be in good shape.
"You're finally out of the hospital. How are you doing?" Moonbay asked accommodatingly.
Raven shrugged. "Good."
"Has Thomas already apologized to you?" Moonbay asked. Behind Raven, she could see Reese gesturing at her not to ask about it.
"Why would he apologize to me?" Raven curiously asked.
Moonbay quickly took back what she said. "Uh," She started to think for an excuse. "What I was trying to say is that…um…"
Fiona chimed in all of a sudden. "Didn't you know? His Dibison struck the Zoid you were on because he thought you were—" Just then, Moonbay quickly covered Fiona's mouth.
"Don't mind what she's trying to say. It's just something that Thomas did but it doesn't matter now since you're alive and well!" Moonbay giggled, trying to change what the real deal was.
Raven didn't mind at all then went up with Shadow to his bedroom. Once he was out of sight, Moonbay began to ask Reese. "You didn't tell him what really happened back then?"
"Maybe in another time…or not ever…I just want him to take his time to recover for now." Reese replied.
"You've had your hands full this entire week looking after him. He's lucky he has you around." Moonbay said, trying to tease Reese.
"It's not like that." Reese's pale cheeks slightly turned red.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about it. It's like, the same thing with Van and Fiona." Moonbay faced Fiona. "Isn't that right?"
"What's the same thing about me and Van?" Fiona asked obliviously. Fixing the roses in the vase got her distracted and got her a little confused with what Moonbay was trying to say.
"The vase already looks divine, Fiona." Moonbay reached an arm around Fiona's shoulder. "Now just come over here and listen to what I'm saying."
"What is it?" asked Fiona.
"I'm going to my room now." Reese said, finding it tough to comprehend what Moonbay has in mind.
Moonbay stopped Reese from leaving by reaching her other arm around her and squeezed both Fiona and Reese in her arms with no intention to let both sides go. "Listen carefully; the last thing we want is another psycho disturbing our vacation again."
"But we're not here for that." Reese said.
Moonbay glanced at Reese. "Hey, I'll do the talking first." She closed her eyes, mesmerizing and trying to picture her ideal holiday. It's perfect! I can't wait to get out from here and enjoy the sun and the sea!
"You're too demanding Moonbay, we're already in a Villa. Can't you just try to enjoy what you already have here?" Reese contemplated after taking a good look at what Moonbay has been imagining about.
"I'm a girl with many needs. It takes more to please me." Moonbay said with a dramatic tone.
"You mean, wants, right?" Fiona stated.
"I think that's just the right term." Reese agreed.
Moonbay grasped them tightly so she could continue.
Reese tried to wriggle herself free but was surprised by Moonbay's strong arms. "I can't breathe! Let go!"
"It will only get tighter if you don't stop struggling." Moonbay said.
She just wanted them to listen to her.
"Fine, just hurry up." Reese grumbled as Specula watched what was going on.
"Okay." A grin grew on Moonbay's face, loosening her grip. "I was kind of thinking that we deserve a little something like a…like an icing on the cake because of successful missions we've done."
Fiona liked the idea. "So what do you have in mind?"
"I want us…" Moonbay continued. "…to throw a big party!"
"Again?" Reese muttered.
"We can do it near the pool where the guys can see us in bikinis." Moonbay started posing like a model.
The expression on Reese's face turned completely sour. "I think I'll have to pass that one."
"Why not? Are you feeling insecure to show your skin?" asked Moonbay, raising an eyebrow, but it only made Reese stagger as if she didn't know what to say. "It's fine if you don't want to wear a bikini." Moonbay added.
"Partying isn't exactly my ideal way of relaxing." Reese said in a low tone, feeling apprehensive to prolong the conversation.
With a pout on her face, Moonbay tried to think of something else. I don't think she even knows how to have fun, I wonder if there's a place in this city where she can chill. "We can go to a spa today. You need to get yourself pampered every once in a while."
Fiona's face lit up. "That's a great idea."
"And after that we can shop for new clothes!" Moonbay exclaimed excitedly.
"Do you have money for shopping?" asked Fiona.
"Nope! But I know who has..." Moonbay's eyes narrowed at Reese with a cunning expression on her face. "I remember that Raven received a lot of bucks from the Count. Has Raven been using it?"
Reese looked puzzled. "I don't really now. Why?"
Moonbay clasped her hands together with a face trying to ask for a favor without verbalizing any requests. "Can't you ask him to share his wealth so we can finally go out now?"
"Gee, I don't know…" said Reese in an unsure tone.
"But, aren't you two lovey-dovey with each other?" Moonbay stated with curiosity, and at the same time, eager to persuade to make Reese borrow money from Raven.
Specula gawked.
Reese's reaction was completely different from what Moonbay was expecting. "We're not together, we're just friends!" Reese denied.
"We just thought that you two were going out because we noticed how close you were with each other." Fiona said.
"Hmm." Moonbay eyed Reese with a speculative thought. "Tell me, is there someone else you like?"
"No." Reese blandly replied.
"Then if Raven would whatsoever show up with an engagement ring will you say yes?" Moonbay interrogated, pacing back and forth.
"Uh…" It depends. Reese thought in her mind. "Why are you asking me these things anyway?"
There was a pause.
With a shrug, Moonbay's expression bored as if she ran out of flighty ideas to say. "I just wanted to keep you occupied, plus, Fiona and I also want to get to know you, Reese. When do you plan to open up to us? A little closure won't kill you."
"Moonbay, she's been through a lot in the past few days. Let's just give her some space." Fiona murmured, trying to make Reese feel at ease. Moonbay was able to comply with her reasons.
"All right." She stated. "But next time we ask you to go out with us we won't allow you to refuse."
Reese bit her lip, bowing down her head with a glower. "I'm sorry. I just don't think that I'm doing enough to fit in with everybody else here. I didn't want to make anyone think that I'm a bother…"
"Cheer up, Van never thought that way when he acted on his own and then reached out for you and Raven." Fiona calmly said to comfort Reese. "He knew that both of you deserved a new life. Now all you need to do is to give yourself a chance."
Moonbay crossed her arms, soothed after hearing Fiona's remark. You're a real confidant, Fiona. I wish I can do that other than having people persuaded to do what I want. She laughed at herself.
Just above the staircase, Raven stared below; hearing every word the girls have said. He never knew that Reese actually felt that way when she often looked like nothing was worrying her. She always seemed confident around him and never talks much about herself.
Come to think of it, we never really had any personal conversations. He thought, making his way his bedroom.
It was as if there's an invisible wall that was making them distant and it would remain that way if they would just keep their thoughts for themselves. He recalled what Reese told Moonbay a while ago. It made his mind unsettled even if he thought of something else.
"Just friends". I don't even think I've done enough for her to be called that way. He told himself.
The black organoid gazed at him, noticing that Raven looked bothered at some point.
"I don't think I'm good enough to be called a friend." The maverick muttered, glancing out of the window.
He sighed, and then felt Shadow nudging him gently with its snout. "I didn't mean to be sentimental." muttered Raven, patting the organoid's head.
I've got to let go of my anger if I want to move on…
But it's all just too much.
