UUUUUUPDATE! Okay, some writer's block with my other fic, but here goes nothing for this one!
Ib- Age 9
Garry- 21
One shot - Fleeting Thoughts on a Moonlit Night
(Garry's first meeting with Ib after the gallery)
I parked my car on the curb, and climbed out, approaching a large gate in front of a big driveway. Behind the driveway stood a big house, and I cocked my head in awe. I walked up to the gate to get a better look, and it felt as if I as small compared to it.
"What a big house..." I said under my breath, and I wondered how I was going to get in. I inspected the gate for a bit, but then I saw a small panel at the side of the gate. I walked over to the columns made of brick and there was a single button on the panel. Then, my mind started questioning my conscience. What if this is the wrong house? What if they're not home? I fished out the small slip of paper I had written the address on that was in my pocket, and surely on the other brick column were gold plated numbers that matched the paper. I shuffled nervously, then went ahead and pushed the button. After a second of waiting, I started to feel flustered and started to back towards my car. I'll come back another time...
"Hello?" I turned around to see a woman in a long red dress, neat brown hair tied up, and deep crimson eyes. Familiarity struck me, as I had seen her before, and I nervously went up to her.
"Uhm, hello," I stuttered.
"Can I help you?" she asked, and I started to change my mind again.
"Oh! I'm uh- at the wrong address. Sorry to have bothered you," I said with a nervous chuckle. She gave me a funny look as I opened the door to my car.
"Wait," she said, and I stopped.
"Your name wouldn't happen to be Garry, would it?" she asked, and I straightened my back.
"That's me..." I said.
"Then you absolutely don't have the wrong address! We've been expecting you!" she said, and opened the large gate. I was considering just driving away to avoid the awkward-ness, but I thought of Ib and backed away and shut the door. I entered into the big driveway, and she walked beside me.
"So, you're here to return Ib's handkerchief?"
"Yes,"
"How kind of you!" she said, smiling. I felt like something was off, so I kept silent. We reached the door to the large house, and I entered. I took off my shoes and Ib's Mom flashed me a smile.
"Here, let's go to her room and surprise her," she said, so I followed her up a grand staircase, past many rooms, until we found one with a closed door. I heard some strange murmurs coming from the room, which made me a bit nervous.
"Ib!" she said, and opened the door.
"-ever tries to TOUCH you-" was all I heard when she opened the door. I blinked a few times, and took a step back. Ib's dad was talking to her, and she was sitting on the bed. He had stopped talking and looked at me.
"Garry!" Ib said, a sweet smile spreading across her face. She stepped off the bed and threw her arms around me.
"Hey, Ib," I said smiling in return, ruffling her hair. I couldn't avoid her dad's glare, which felt like it was piercing into my soul.
"Garry, it's so nice to meet you! Would you like some tea?" Her mom said.
"Uhm... I-"
"I'll go get some nice tea, Ib can take you to the living room," she said, and rushed down the stairs, which left me with me Ib, and her dad. Her dad's glare didn't change, so I turned towards Ib, trying to avoid his glance.
"Uhm... at any rate, do you want to take me to the living room?" I asked, and she flashed me a look then took my hand, and I followed her. We went down the grand staircase, around the corner, down a hall, and into a room with a very high ceiling and lots of windows. There was a fan on the ceiling, sofas around, a wide screen television, and a tea table in the middle. Ib sat down and patted the spot next to her, motioning me to sit down next to her. I sat down, and her dad sat across from us. I kept steady, and tried to look away.
"Here we are!" Ib's mom entered with a tea set made of delicate China, and she put it down on the tea table, "It's warm, but still be careful not to burn your tongue," She poured a cup and handed it to me, and I took it. It felt warm in my hands, but I didn't feel like drinking it. She poured a cup for everyone else, and finally herself and sat down.
"Oh yes, before I forget-" I said, reaching into my pocket and taking out the soft, white handkerchief. She put down her cup of tea and took it, and smiled as she put it in her lap.
"That's very kind of you, Garry," she said.
"Can I go upstairs and put this on my nightstand?" Ib asked.
"Why don't you just put it in your pocket?" her mom said.
"So I don't forget to put it in my pocket for school tomorrow," she said.
"Hm, I suppose," Ib stood up, but then looked back at me.
"Can Garry come with me?" she asked, and her dad resumed glaring at me.
"Sure, sweetie-"
"WOAH, hold on," Her dad said, getting to his feet, "You can NOT-"
"I-It's fine, I'll... stay here then," I said, and Ib glanced back at me. Although her mouth was a line, her eyes remained bright, but I could tell she was disappointed. Didn't know how I did though. She hesitated a moment, then proceeded to leave the room, leaving me with guilt in my chest. After a moment of silence, I changed my mind.
"I guess I better follow," I said, and her dad stood up to protest, but her mom hushed him. I walked out of the room, but forgot where to go. I walked forward, as I thought it was the way to go, but I couldn't see the staircase. I turned around another corner, but the staircase wasn't there either. I turned into a room with a guitar stand with a few acoustic guitars, a grand piano, and some violin cases. I shook my head and turned back. I turned again, and saw the kitchen, with fine marble table tops and lots of cabinets. I shook my head again in disbelief, and how embarrassing it would be to say I got lost.
"Garry?" I turned around to see Ib walking up to me. I felt a stroke of relief to find it was Ib, and not her mom or dad.
"Hey, Ib," I said.
"Did you want to come upstairs?" she asked, and I nodded. She took my hand and lead me around a few corners I didn't go around, and finally up the stairs. We went past a few rooms, then into the one at the end.
It was a nice room, with a small bed, a nightstand, and a sofa. Ib walked over to the nightstand and put down her handkerchief.
"Do you want to go back down?" I asked, after she stood there for a few moments.
"Can we stay here for a bit?" she asked, and I gave a soft smile.
"Sure, Ib," I said, and she sat down on an empty rug in the corner of the room. She motioned me to sit with her, so I did.
"Father and Mother act weird around you. They don't like you?" she asked, and I felt relieved that Ib was here.
"Not to be offensive, but your Mom... she's uh, a tad too cheerful. And your Dad? I... don't know about him," I said, honestly.
"Sometimes Mother's nice, but sometime she yells. She's more... impatient. Father, he's very patient, but he can jump to conclusions," she said, and I nodded.
"Yeah, parents can be like that," I said, and she turned around to grab something. Then, she revealed a giant stuffed bunny. She gave a smile and hugged it, and then looked up to me.
"My dad gave me this for my birthday," she said. I looked over to her bed, which had stuffed bunnies all over it, but none as large as this one.
"You know... When I was a kid, I had a stuffed elephant that I carried around everywhere. Shopping, the playground, you name it. I even took it to school every day," I said, smiling at the memory.
"Where is it now?" Ib asked, still holding the large bunny in her arms. I looked away from Ib, because in 7th grade I had tried to stop taking it to school, but I felt so insecure without it. So I ended up taking it anyway. In 8th grade, I had still been taking it to school, but then someone found it, and ruined my social status within hours. I got so mad at myself, I had tried to throw it away... but merely minutes later I was digging through the trash.
"It's... in my room," I said truthfully, for the stuffed elephant was in my college dorm, but it was kind of like a photograph, my memories of middle and high school.
"Really? I've never taken my bunnies to school, although they are my friends," she said, and I smiled at her. I heard the door swing open behind me, and I whipped around. Her dad was standing there, not looking too happy.
"Garry, I need to talk to you," he said through his teeth.
"I'll be back, Ib," I said to her, and she nodded. I went out, and he shut the door behind me.
"Listen up. If you think your going to get close to my daughter, you better think again. Because no one, I say NO ONE is going to-"
"Alex!" I heard Ib mother said, and she rushed over, "What do you think you're saying?"
"I am telling this... this..." he spat out, but she put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so, so sorry Garry. Please excuse him," she said, and brought him over to another room.
"Garry?" I turned around to see Ib waiting behind me. I joined her in her room.
"Hey Ib, can I talk to you about something?" I asked, as I wanted to discuss something that had been on my mind for quite a while now. She looked up at me, telling me to proceed.
"You... ever feel guilty of something?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know... maybe, you were mean to a friend at school, and now they don't talk to you because of it?"
"I don't talk to anyone at school," she said, and I cocked an eyebrow. No friends at school?
"Oh well... my feelings are mixed towards Mary. I know there was no other choice but to burn it, but if we didn't you might've gotten hurt," I said. The door opened again, and Ib's mom came in.
"I'm so sorry about that Garry... maybe you could stay for the night and eat some dinner? It's getting dark," she suggested, and I shrugged. As long as Ib was here, I guessed it would be worth it.
The dinner went much more smoothly than expected, but when it got to sleeping positions, there was some trouble.
"I'll stay in a spare room, if you have one," I suggested.
"There's a few spare rooms upstairs. Feel free to pick and choose," her mom said. I was about to get up to me feet, when Ib spoke.
"Can Garry stay in my room?" she asked, and I looked over to her.
"No. Absolutely not-"
"Alex, shush! Garry, would you be comfortable staying with Ib?" she asked almost too lightly.
"I can just stay in one of the spare rooms," I said, but then I looked to Ib, the same expression on her face.
"...But if Ib wants me to, I'll stay with her," Ib gave a brief smile, and headed up the stairs to get ready for bed. Her father gritted his teeth and looked towards me.
"I swear, you do anything..." he said, and trailed off. I gave a nod, then headed up the stairs. First I checked out the spare rooms, and they seemed nice, but Ib urged me on. As much as I loved being around Ib, I didn't want her parents to get the wrong idea. I came into her room, and she shut the door behind me.
"Can I tell you why I wanted you here?" she asked.
"Sure," I said, knowing it couldn't by anything, really.
"Sometimes, I have dreams. I have dreams that Mary comes back, and she... she..." she said, and I could tell she wasn't feeling okay. I put my hands on her shoulders and comforted her.
"It's okay... she's not here anymore," I said.
"She took your rose..." she said, and I blinked.
"She ripped it apart, I can remember all the petals fluttering to the ground... and you followed," she said, tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Ib..." I said, trailing off.
"I don't want that to happen to you. I don't want to see Mary again..." she said, losing it. This was bundled up inside her ever since the gallery visit... and I couldn't blame her. Instead, I just wrapped my arms around her, and I could tell she felt better.
"I want to make sure you're safe," she said, and I put my hand up to her face. It struck me deep within when I realized how much this small girl cared for me. A vibe of warmth, comfort but worry went through my body.
"I'm alright," I said, wiping away her tears, and she gave a weak smile, "I think it's time to go to bed," I said, and she laid right down on her bed. She crawled under the covers and looked to me. She was only a child.
"I'll sleep on the sofa, I guess," I said.
"Good night, Ib," I said, as she rested her head on her pillow, "Don't worry about me,"
"You sure you'll be okay?" she asked, and I smiled.
"I'll be fine," I said, and a sweet smile formed on her face. I turned out the lights, and laid back on the couch. It was really comfy, but for some reason I couldn't sleep. I just wasn't tired, and I was thinking about Ib.
Such a sweet and cute girl... I couldn't really contemplate what her parents were like to her, but I felt some disconnection. She didn't have many friends at school either, so I was a bit worried for her. A child should have many people to lean on, as they're only children. Ib didn't seem to have that though... I tossed on the couch, although Ib's heavy breathing was soothing. When worst came to worst, I sat up, and looked around in the dark. Ib was sleeping soundly, so I stood up and walked silently to the door. It's not that I wanted to leave, it was just I needed some air. I saw small night lights on around the house, and I went down the stairs, thankful I didn't trip or anything.
I went to the kitchen, and there was a large glass sliding door concealed by a curtain. I slowly revealed the door, and glanced outside. There was what looked like a meadow, and there was small hill, with pink trees around it. It seemed appealing, but I had to be quiet. I checked the clock, and it was 1:34. It had only seemed as if I had lied awake for merely half an hour, but it had been much longer. I turned back to the door, and unlocked it. The click was quiet, but it sounded like a blaring engine in the position I was in. I pulled gently, and it popped open. I froze, because the sound sounded like an explosion, but there wasn't any movement whatsoever through the house. I slipped through and pulled it back closed behind me.
I looked up to the sky, and the moon was a bright hazy yellow color. I looked at the pink trees around, and I climbed up the small hill and sat down on the soft turf. I glanced up to the sky again, and found comfort in the hazy yellow color. The air was cool, but it wasn't cold. There was a soft breeze that felt good on my skin, and was strong enough to rustle the trees.
Ib, such a sweet girl, but I really didn't know her. I knew how she'd react to dangerous situations, how she shows affection for someone she cares about, and a lot more of that sort, but I didn't know how she stood socially, or what the norm of her life was like. I wondered about it, thoughts coming and going. I was so consumed with my thoughts I jumped when heard someone sit beside me.
"Ib?" I said, quietly. She looked up at me, her red eyes glimmering in the moonlight.
"Why did you leave?"
"Couldn't sleep..."
"I was scared. What if Mary came back?" she asked, and I suddenly felt guilty for making her worry like that. I put my arm around her and held her tight.
"I'm okay,"
"Good," she said, looked up at the sky. I could tell the moon caught her glance, and there was a faint, soft, yellow glow that I could feel on my skin.
"The moon's pretty tonight," I said.
"Yeah..." she said, in awe.
"Ib," I said, "You have any friends at school?" Her eyes shined.
"Not really," she said, "You're my friend though, right?"
"Of course Ib... I'm your friend," She smiled a smile illuminated by the moon.
"Don't tell mother and father I was out here... okay?" she asked.
"Sure... but why?"
"They don't like me coming out of the house without permission," she said, and I felt bad for her suddenly. When I was a kid, I would leave for my friends' house that lived nearby, but stopped at the end of 8th grade, because all my friends were nonexistent.
"Okay. I'll keep it secret," I said.
"And um, Ib?"
"Yeah?"
"If you do make some friends at school I don't let their opinion change your outlook on the world. In 8th grade, I lost all my friends because they didn't accept me for who I was," I said.
"That's not right," she said, "If they're your friends, they should accept you for who you are," I nodded.
"Yeah... so just to show them I didn't care what they thought, I dyed my hair purple," I said, half-smiling.
"That's why you're hair's purple?" she asked.
"Mmm,"
"It's a good reason. Just to show them," she said, and I smiled. I was telling her, not knowing if she would quite understand, as she was only a child. However, she understood well, as I had underestimated her.
"Will you ever come over again?" she asked.
"If you want me to," I said, "We still have to go to the cafe and get some macarons," her eyes glistened.
"You'll love them," I assured. I stayed silent, but the silence was comforting as long as Ib was by my side. It was everything but awkward, so I kept silent, my arm around Ib. She rested her head on my lower thigh and knee, and soon I heard her heavy breathing. I didn't want to disturb her, so I let her stay there for a while, rubbing her back. I glanced back to the night sky, a comforting navy blue color, and ruffled Ib's hair.
:3 Had some stuff bundled up for a while, and this is the product. It might be bad, but I don't know until other people read it. Well, I hope you enjoyed! More one-shots coming soon! Make sure to leave a review if you want more! Why is this one so long... the others are really short. Dunno.
