An Inevitable Meeting
Charm groaned as the sunlight filtered into her bedroom around the edges of her curtain. She pulled the cover up over her head and rolled away from it. "Stupid sunlight. Go away." She settled back into peaceful slumber, for only about a second before one of her brother's came busting into her room. The door swung back and the handle smacked against the wall.
"Ah!" Charm screamed and fell off her bed. Hitting the floor with a loud thump before groaning at the pain shooting through her body from the collision.
"Time to rise and shine, Charm!" her brother said with extreme cheerfulness that she often wanted to shove back down his throat. "Hey, what are you doing down there?"
Charm sat up rubbing her head. She shot her brother an icy cold glare and released a low growl from her throat.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"You're so lucky that I love you," she grumbled. "Really? You do this practically to me every single day." She glanced over at her door. "I'm surprised that you haven't damaged the wall by now."
"Then you should be use to it by now," he said with a bright smile that shone just as bright as the sun outside her window.
Charm sighed at his smile. His perfectly white teeth, his childish grin, his boyish charm despite being twenty seven years old, she never could get angry with him for very long. He was just that type of person. Sometimes she wanted to ram that down his throat as well. She ran her hand through her long hair, messing it up even more from her bedhead, and sighed again. "Yeah. You'd think I would be use to it by now."
She looked at her brother again. His black hair was neatly styled. It always was, somehow. He never really did much with it other than running a comb through it once in the morning. He was gifted with looks. And she knew this well because of all the looks he got from the girls on their island. She had to deal with them girls every time she set foot anywhere in public. She couldn't get a single moment of peace with all the girls asking her about her brother.
"Is Eden dating anyone?"
"What's Eden's favorite color?"
"Do you think Eden would like this dress on me?"
"Does Eden like me?"
"Can you hook me up with your brother?"
"Your brother is just so cute!"
"Your brother is so sexy! I'd just love to get him alone!"
Yeah, she's heard it all. She was just thankful that her eldest brother, Keegan, didn't get this much attention. She didn't think she would survive having more women ask her about both her brothers. She knew Keegan was good looking in his own right. He just didn't have the same boyish charm that Eden did.
"You over slept again," Eden said as he stepped over to the window. He grabbed the light green curtains and flung them open, letting the offending sunshine even brighter into Charm's darkened room.
"Eden!" Charm whined. She grabbed her cover and pulled it over her head again. "Stop doing that!"
"It's time to get up anyway," Eden said, ignoring his sister's whine. He walked over to her closet and opened it up. Pulling out his choice of clothes for her before throwing them at the foot of her bed. "Red spaghetti top and jeans. Get dressed."
"I can do that myself," Charm said, despite not seeing him go through her closet, she knew he was doing it. He always did. He was more into fashion than she was. It raised a lot of questions from people. But he was as straight as any other healthy guy on the island. His unhealthy way of flirting with girls proved that time and time again. She peaked out from underneath her covers at him. She wondered many times how he hadn't got shot yet from a girl's overprotective father or brother.
"Up, up!" Eden said when he caught her staring at him. "We have work to do! Keegan is waiting for us!"
"Eden! This was supposed to be my day off!" Charm said.
"I know. But Ami had an emergency and had to call in sick," Eden said.
Charm groaned. "Not again! Why does Keegan keep her around?!"
"Happens when you have a chronically sick child," Eden said with a shrug. "Besides she really needs the work. Let's go. Keegan wants you downstairs in ten minutes. You're going to have to help cook and wait on tables."
"I figured as much. Well, I'm not going to be there until fifteen minutes," Charm said.
"Yeah. Right," Eden said crossing his arms.
She wadded up her blanket while she stood up from the floor. She threw it on her bed before grabbing her clothes. She then headed for her bathroom, rubbing her hand in Eden's perfect black hair as she passed by him.
"Fine. I'll tell Keegan you're on your way," Eden said. He ran his hand through his hair, somehow fixing it back to perfection with one swipe of his fingers.
Charm snarled at him when his hair went back to normal. All that work trying to mess it up for nothing. She sighed and stepped into her bathroom as he laughed and headed back downstairs. Purposefully taking her time as she meandered through her morning routine, she let her thoughts wonder wherever they pleased. She knew she was going to have to go shopping at some point. Some of her clothes were starting to wear out. She didn't care much for shopping so she put it off for as long as she could. But her clothes were becoming far too worn out for her to wear them much longer. And if she didn't go shopping soon, Eden would do it for her. She knew if that happened he would bring her back very girly apparel. She wasn't one for looking girly. If she needed to move, and move fast, she needed to be wearing something that would allow her to do that. Dresses and skirts and high heels were always limited in how a girl could move. And she often needed to move. And move fast.
Charm paused and stared at herself in the mirror. Snapping out of her trance she pulled her hair back into a braid before leaving the bathroom. Walking down the stairs all the smell and spices from the lunches being cooked washed up at her as she descended. Her stomach rumbled in protest of being empty. "Calm down. Keegan will have food waiting for us while we do our jobs." She put a smile on her face and added, "Yes! Today is a new day! And nothing will go wrong!"
"About time," Keegan said when she stepped into the kitchen.
"Yeah, yeah." Charm waved him off. Grabbing an apron from the drawer she tied it around her waist before grabbing a small notebook and pencil. Straightening her body she saluted her oldest brother. "Waitress Charm reporting for duty, Boss Man, sir."
"Very funny." Keegan rolled his eyes. "You're responsible for tables six through twelve. Get out there"
"I'm on it." Charm turned from her brother, grabbed a couple fries for herself, and stepped into the dinning area. Several people were coming into the room. She had arrived just in time for the lunch rush. She stepped over to a table and smiled. "Welcome to Three Meals. What can I get you all to drink today?"
…
"Sanji!" Luffy whined as he sprawled his top half over the bar in the kitchen. He looked at his cook. "I'm hungry! I need food!"
"Well, that's your own problem!" Sanji growled from the sink. He was washing up some dishes from a snack he had prepared for the crew. He glared at his young captain. "If you hadn't eaten everything in the fridge I could have already made lunch by now!"
"But I'm hungry!" Luffy whined again.
"We don't have any food! You ate it all! What about that do you not understand?!" Sanji snapped.
"When are you going to get food?" Luffy asked.
"When we get to the next island," Sanji said. He gathered up the finished dishes and started putting them away.
"And when will that be?" Luffy asked.
"I don't know. Go ask Nami. She's the navigator," Sanji said.
"Hey! Nami!" Luffy said as he dashed out of the kitchen.
"You idiot!" Sanji said. "Try taking some time and learn how to save food not just eat it all in one bite!"
Luffy didn't hear him. He continued to run out of the kitchen, down the stairs, and around the deck as he called Nami's name. "Nami! Nami! Nami!"
"What?!" Nami asked looking up at her captain from over her red sunglasses. She and Robin were sunbathing on the deck in the warm sun. Brook was also there, pulling his bow across his violin, filling the air with a sweet music that danced across the breeze that pushed them along through the waters.
"When are we going to get to the next island?! I'm hungry and we're out of food!" Luffy said, leaning right into Nami's face.
"We'll get there when we get there," Nami said, pushing him away from her face.
"But when?!" Luffy asked.
"It should be any time now," Nami said checking the log pose. "Probably about twenty to thirty minutes."
"Aw! But I want to be there now!" Luffy pouted. His shoulders slumped over as his arms hung lifelessly at his sides.
"Well, we can't just snap our fingers and get there in a second," Nami said, snapping her fingers to prove her point. She then placed her hands behind her head, tilting her face towards the sun. "Just relax. We'll be there soon enough."
"But I can't relax when I'm this hungry!" Luffy said.
"Why don't you try fishing?" Robin said. She flipped to the next page of her book. "There should be a lot of fish in this area."
"Did you say fishing?" Usopp asked as he and Chopper popped out of the ship with their fishing poles in hand. They dashed over to the railing and sat down on it. "I'm all for fishing. Maybe we can get something to eat."
"Yeah! Fishing!" Luffy cried as he joined them on the railing.
"Most likely we'll get to the island before we catch some fish," Franky said as he crossed the deck of the ship. He paused and looked down at the women pirates.
Robin just chuckled and shrugged.
"You did that on purpose," Nami said giving her friend a sly look.
"Well, he's distracted now, isn't he?" Robin asked with a smile.
"And thank you for that," Nami said.
"At least it's a super nice day," Franky said.
"Indeed," Brook said.
…
"1001…1002…1003…1004," Zoro said as he counted how many times he lifted the massive barbell towards the sky. He was currently up in the Crow's Nest, simultaneously working out while keeping an eye out for the next island they were going to dock at to gather up supplies. His skin was warm and covered in sweat as he pumped the heavy barbell multiple times. The room was thick with his sweat, but a cool breeze washed it right out the window. That's when he glanced up at the window. Slowly an island started to come into his view. He lifted the barbell five more times before placing it back on the rack where it wouldn't roll around on the ground. He then grabbed his cup of water, guzzled it down, and then stepped over to the window. Leaning out of it he informed his crewmates of their arrive to the island. "Hey! We're about to reach land!"
"Yes!" Luffy cried as he jumped off the railing. He swung his fishing pole around in enjoyment upon finally getting some food. "Yes! Yes! Food! Food! Food!"
"Ow! All right!" Franky said as he ran up to the helm. He took a hold of it and started steering them towards the island.
"About time," Sanji said as he stepped out of the kitchen. He leaned his arms against the railing and took a puff of his cigarette. "Now we can finally stock up on food again."
"I would like to venture into the music store if this island has one," Brook said, putting away his violin.
"I want to go shopping," Nami said. "Want to join me, Robin?"
"Sounds like fun to me," Robin said with a smile.
"Then lets get dressed," Nami said. She stood up and gestured to her red and white spotted bikini. "I really don't want to walk around town like this."
"But, Nami, my sweet, you look so incredible in that bikini!" Sanji said as he spun around with hearts in his eyes. He made his way down to the deck and took her hand in his. "You should wear it all the time!"
"No thanks," Nami said. She pulled her hand from his and headed for her shared room with Robin following behind her.
"Well, I'm heading right to the closet restaurant I can find!" Luffy said.
"I'm hungry enough that I think I'll join you before heading off to do my own shopping," Usopp said as he climbed off the railing. He then looked down at the reindeer beside him. "What about you, Chopper? Are you going shopping with the girls or are you coming with us?"
"I think I'll come with you guys this time," Chopper said. "There are a few items that I need to pick up as well, but I'd like to eat before I do that."
"Good plan," Usopp said with a nod. "We can go shopping together after we eat. What do you say?"
"Sounds good to me," Chopper said with a grin.
"Great! Then lets go!" Luffy said.
"Huh?" Chopper and Usopp said as they looked at their captain. Luffy was standing right behind them.
Luffy flung his hands out at the Sunny's figurehead. Once he was secure, he said, "Gum Gum Rocket!"
"Ah! No! What are you doing?!" Usopp and Chopper asked. They grabbed onto each other just before Luffy flung himself at them. All three went sailing through the air and towards the island. "You idiot!"
Luffy just laughed as they sailed away from the Sunny and towards the island at a fast rate.
Zoro jumped from the Crow's Nest. Landing with a thud, he asked, "Where are they going in such a hurry?"
"Luffy was really hungry," Brook replied. "I guess he couldn't wait for the ship to be docked at the island. So they left without us."
Zoro growled as he watched his three friends grow smaller and smaller. "That guy needs to learn some patience."
"And we should know better by now than to expect anything different from our captain," Sanji said. Those remaining on the deck exchanged looks with each other before releasing a collected sigh. They all knew Luffy would never change no matter how much they wanted or asked him to. Deep down they all didn't really want him to change. They just wanted him to grow up a little and think once in a while. But they knew that would never happen. Luffy would always pull them into one dangerous adventure after another. "All well. Let's get ready to dock."
…
Charm huffed before grabbing the two plates of food that was set out by Keegan. She turned and rushed for the table that was waiting for them. With a practice smile, she said, "Thank you for waiting. Here's your food."
"Thank you," the woman said.
"Yes, thank you very much," the man said.
"Please enjoy your meal. If there's anything else I can get for you don't hesitate to ask," Charm said. After receiving another round of 'thank you' from them, she scurried off to take care of her next table. She paused and groaned when she noticed who it was sitting at one of her tables. It was two local boys, Pratt and his best friend Jon. Pratt had a thing for her. He always sat at her table and always tried to grab her in ways that he shouldn't. Nonetheless she placed a forced smile on her lips and walked over to the table. "Afternoon, gentlemen, what can I get for you today?"
"You," Pratt said with a smile. His black eyes ran over her body, making her shiver uncomfortably.
Jon chuckled but didn't say anything.
"Sorry, I'm not on the menu and never will be," Charm replied. "Now, what can I get you that's on the menu there?"
"The usual," Pratt said, still roaming his eyes over her body before letting them settle on her eyes. "But seriously, we should go out some time."
"Not interested," Charm said before walking off. "I'll get your orders in and be right back with your drinks."
Charm growled upon entering into the kitchen.
"I see Pratt is back," Eden said. He leaned the island counter they placed the food on when it was ready. "Do I need to get rid of him for you?"
"No, there's no need for that," Charm said as she handed him the ticket with the order on it. "I can handle him easily enough. You know that."
"All right," Eden said with a nod. "We're here if you need us."
"I know," Charm said. She grabbed the two drinks Eden sat on the bar before walking them over to Pratt and Jon. "Here you go, gentlemen. Your meal will be ready in just a few minutes."
"Great. How about we talk for a while then?" Pratt said. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him. "You've got the time."
Charm caught a perverted thought running through Jon's brown eyes before looking at Pratt. She was about to open her mouth to reply to him when more guests came busting into the restaurant.
"Meat!" one of them cried. Everyone turned their eyes to find a straw hat wearing man with his arms stretched out high above him. Next to him was a reindeer and a bandana wearing young man who looked disheveled for some reason.
"Isn't that…?" Jon asked.
"Monkey D. Luffy," Pratt said.
"I wonder what they're doing here," Jon said.
"Who cares? As long as they don't cause trouble," Pratt said. He turned his attention back to Charm. "Now, where were we?"
"We weren't anywhere. I was getting back to my job while you leave me alone," Charm said. She placed her hand on his face and pushed off of him before he could say anything else. She walked over to the new guests when they sat down at one of her tables. She smiled at them. "Hello, my name is Charm and I'll be your server today. What can I get you today?"
"Meat!" Luffy demanded, banging his fork and knife on the table.
"I'm sorry. What?" Charm asked with a confused blink of her eyes.
"Ignore him," the other black haired man said. He smacked his friend. "Luffy, stop being so rude!" He smiled at Charm. "He'll just have whatever the largest meat dish you have. I'll have spaghetti."
"I'll have spaghetti too," the reindeer said.
"All right," Charm said as she scribbled down their orders. "What would you like to drink?"
"I think I'll just have some water," the reindeer said.
"I'd like some tea, unsweetened, please. What about you, Luffy?" the black haired man asked.
"Meat! I said I wanted meat, Usopp!" Luffy shouted.
"Just bring him water," Usopp said with a glare at his captain. "If he wants something else later he'll ask for it.
"Yeah. We're sorry for his rudeness," the reindeer said.
"Right. I'll get your drinks and put in your order right away," Charm said. She scurried off and brought their drinks right back before heading off to clear a table when the people there left.
"Hey, isn't the captain of the Straw Hat pirates?" Eden asked.
"Uh, I'm not sure," Charm said. "I think Pratt and Jon called him Straw Hat Luffy."
"That's him all right," Keegan said.
"Pirates, huh?" Charm looked out the door. The young captain was still banging his fork and spoon on the table. "He seems a lot like a child. Is he really a pirate captain?"
"He is," Keegan said. "Be careful around him."
"Don't worry. I know how to handle myself," Charm said. A few minutes later the Straw Hats' order was up and she went to get it. After gathering it up in her hands, she made her way back over to the group. She placed their plates down on the table. "Here you go."
"Great!" Luffy cheered. He grabbed for his plate before she could sit it down. His skin brushed against hers, a strange spark of something washed through both of their hands and up their arms. It was a chilling feeling but also a warm one. They looked into each other's eyes at the same time. Both became confused at the feeling that past between them. "What was that? It felt weird. Hey, your hair's white!"
"Uh," Charm said, her heart pounded inside of her chest. She jerked her hand away from him. "Nothing. I guess…it was probably just static charge. I've been running around a lot today. Well, I have to get back to work. Call me over if you need anything else."
"What was that about?" Usopp asked as they watched the white haired girl walk away from them.
"What happened, Luffy?" Chopper asked. "You look a bit weird."
"I dunno," Luffy said. He looked down at his hand. "I just felt something from her. But I don't know what it was. All well. Time to eat!" He reclaimed his fork and started shoveling in his food.
…
Charm stared at her hand as she walked away from the Straw Hats. She past by all of the tables and into the kitchen without looking at anyone. Reaching the island counter, she leaned against it.
"Hm? What's up with you?" Eden asked.
"What do you mean?" Charm didn't look up from her hand.
"You're staring at your hand," Eden said.
"Huh?" Keegan looked over at them.
Charm didn't answer.
"Hey. Eden to Charm." Eden snapped his fingers in front of Charm's face.
She jumped, startled. "What?"
"What is going on with you? You come in here and just stare at your hand," Eden said.
"Did something happen out there with Pratt?" Keegan asked.
Charm looked at her eldest brother. Murder was in his eyes and a knife gripped tightly in his hand. "Oh! No! Don't get upset. It wasn't him at all. I was at the Straw Hat's table. The captain's skin brushed against mine. A strange spark past between us. It was cold at first but then became warm."
"Oh," Eden said. "Is it possible that our darling little sister has finally developed a crush on someone?"
"What?! What are you talking about?!" Charm gapped at her brother. "I don't even know that guy!"
"You would if you paid attention to the newspapers instead of the-"
"Shut up, Eden!" Charm snapped. She then lowered her voice. "You know you can't talk about that here. Someone will hear you. Remember Pratt's here."
"Oh! Right!" Eden covered his mouth.
"You two." Keegan turned back to his food preparation.
"Even if I did pay attention to the newspapers it wouldn't mean anything," Charm said. "I still don't know anything about him. And I have no interest in him."
"Sure you don't." Eden snickered.
Charm growled while punching him on the arm. "Shut up. You know I don't have time for anything like that anyway."
"You would if you only took time," Eden said.
"Order up," Keegan said placing a couple plates on the island counter.
"I have work to do." Charm picked up the plates and walked them out to the dinning room. "Here's your food. Hope you enjoy it."
The two said thank you but she didn't hear them. Her eyes lifted up to the Straw Hats. Luffy was waving his now empty plate in the air and screaming for more food. Her brother's words came back to her mind. It was impossible for her to develop feelings for someone that quickly. But there was something engaging about this Straw Hat Luffy that wouldn't leave her mind.