Author's Note: Warnings: Shounen-ai and some mild language.
Thankies to Lady Tora, she's beta-ing for me while ReiAkari's away. Thanks to all who's reviewed *HUGS EVERYBODY!* Enjoy the next part!
"What is this?"
"Prom planning. What's it look like?"
Relena opened her mouth to retort, but all that erupted from her where unintelligible sounds. She pointed angrily to the lap the Duo was sitting on, and to the arms around Duo's waist. Duo's lips thinned and the ends began to turn downward as he tried hard not to laugh. Turning his head in Heero's direction. Their gazes locked for a moment, and Heero intentionally crossed his eyes. Duo's expression exaggerated itself as he saw his friend's expression. He fell off Heero's lap, laughing hysterically, only infuriating Relena further.
"I-I'm not laughing at you," Duo sputtered between laughs. He stood and walked over to Relena's side. "It's just that Heero. . . and then I was. . ." he trailed off as her eyes narrowed even thinner. Duo cleared his throat and again resumed with his serious expression. "Hoo, look at the time! I'll be late for work."
Heero stood and walked towards Relena. Duo sidestepped her and reached for his bookbag on the floor. Pulling various articles of his uniform, he ran into Heero's bathroom.
"So I guess he can't afford a chair too?" Relena snapped after she heard the door close. Heero shrugged and walked back to the computer.
"You're being unreasonable," he stated as he sat back in his chair. "It's a free country, Duo can sit where he wants."
"In your lap?" she countered sarcastically. Walking briskly over to the computer, she peered over his shoulder. Looking at the silver and purplish theme of the prom site, she wondered why in the hell Duo needed to plan prom anyway. 'Well, at least they weren't lying about that. But still. . .'
"He wasn't sitting on my lap," Heero reasoned, "he was on my knees. There is a difference."
Relena dramatically clutched her hands to her chest and rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a difference!" she mused sourly before punching him in the arm. "What in the hell is wrong with you? Must I remind you that he's your best friend?"
"Relena. . ."
"And a guy for crying out-"
"Relena," Heero said as he stood and grasped her shoulders. "look at me."
She slowly turned her gaze towards him and raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
"Listen carefully. You said it yourself, Duo is my friend, repeat friend. I've known him a lot longer than I've known you, and maybe we are a little close, but that's all." Heero soothed. Relena found herself lost in his low voice, his intense blue eyes, and she began to feel embarrassed for her actions. "You're seeing things that aren't there, it's just a big misunderstandi . . . Duo, you're hosting tonight."
Relena blinked rapidly. His gaze was still locked on her, did she just imagine that last part? Turning her head, she realized that Duo had left the bathroom and was putting his school clothes in his bookbag. Duo had his braid tucked into the back of his bright red T-shirt and was wearing slightly wrinkled khakis. Duo made a frustrated groan and walked over to Heero's closet. Opening it, he grabbedd a freshly ironed pair of khakis and a forest green polo shirt that was hanging neatly on the side of the door. He gave Heero a half-hearted salute before marching into the bathroom.
"Heero!" Relena snapped. "Pardon me, seeing things that aren't there? What am I seeing exactly? Could it be that you're seriously creeping me out right now? Should I even ask why his uniform is in your closet? Let me guess, since his job, and the school, is closer to your house, he changes here after class."
"Yes, that is why." Heero answered.
"And to not sound like a brat or anything," Duo added as he walked out of the bathroom and sat on the bed, "but as much as I love my foster home, the little kids just love hogging the bathroom. Not to mention the walk home is hell when you miss the damn bus!" he rambled as he began to slip on his work shoes. Grabbing his thin coat, Duo stood and walked out into the hallway. "Well, I'm gone, sorry about eavesdropping, but the walls of your bathroom aren't that thick."
"They are." Heero stated loudly.
Duo's laughter could be heard as he bounded down the stairs. "That explains why I could only make out Relena. And Heero, could ya print out that schedule for me? Thanks, man. Check you later, Princess!"
"That's not right." Relena whined. 'Why am I the only one who sees this? Am I imagining things? And did that bastard just call me "Princess"?'
'Sure did.' her mind taunted. 'And Heero let him. Some boyfriend. . .'
'I didn't ask you.' Relena argued back, ignoring what Heero was telling her at that moment.
'Well if you ask me, I think that you dear boyfriend likes.'
"I didn't ask you!" she snapped. Heero took a step backward.
"All I said was that I thought that it would do us some good to go out and get some fresh air."
"I'm sorry sweetie," Relena apologized, hooking an arm around Heero's waist, "how about the movies?"
'Don't worry,' her mind reassured her, 'either way he's as good as yours. It just up to you to keep it that way.'
'Oh, I will. I have my ways. . .'
Duo stood in the small cramped space, a tiny workstation set apart from the kitchen in the back. Grabbing a freshly washed knife and fork from the large silverware holder. They were warm to the touch, probably just out of the dishwasher. Setting a large stack of napkins in front of him, Duo placed a knife close to the corner of the top napkin. Add fork, fold corner, wrap, wrap, throw. Repeat. Duo thoughtlessly continued on his task, all the while being pushed aside by waiters and waitresses who needed silverware for their tables. "Folding forks," Duo muttered as he threw another perfectly rolled set into the bin, "the hosting pastime of champions."
He felt someone stand beside him and begin the same monotonous work. Duo reasoned it to be Hilde, her shift must have started a while ago. It wasn't until a slender hand waved frantically in front of him did he snap out of whatever trance he was in.
"Who's maning the station?" Duo asked casually. Hilde craned her neck around the corner.
"Tim's opening the door. . . looks like Jane and Melissa are sitting. I've got clipboard once Chris's shift ends. What's your assignment?" she informed him, turning to see he had blanked out again. "You know that you are out of forks?"
Duo paused as he realized he had folded about six lonely knives. Picking them out of the bin, he threw them in the dishrack and began to fill the basket at his feet.
"Whoa. . . this is serious." Hilde joked as she leaned against the counter. "Give me details. I betcha Heero's in the mix."
"Hilde," Duo warned as he grabbed the basket, slid past Hilde and began to briskly walk to the host station at the front of the restraurant. After setting down the basket, he began to organize the menus that had been thrown during the evening rush when Hilde's fingers began to poke him in the side.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Fuck you." he hissed, and began to look around to make sure a customer or manager wasn't around to hear that.
"Oh, you're blushing! I'm so right! So tell me!" Hilde insisted as she practically glomped him.
"Chris?" he pleaded to the curly-haired girl standing in front of a crowd of people. She turned and gave him an apologetic smile before mouthing ten minutes. "I wasn't asking how long the wait is!" Duo exclaimed in defeat as he removed Hilde's arms from around his waist.
"All the tables are full of people, no one to seat for another ten minutes," Hilde pointed out, "just enough time to tell me why you've been in la, la, land."
"For all you know it could be about the prom we've been designated to plan." Duo countered. He watched as his fellow cabinet member and junior class vice-president cross her arms and wrinkle her nose.
"Nah, you'd be pissed about that." she reasoned. "You looked pretty happy folding those napkins."
"Nothing happened," Duo blurted out suddenly, "absolutely nothing. . . but Relena walked in and then all of a sudden it was something! Stupid, huh?"
"I swear. . ." Hilde trailed off as she saw the hopeless look appear in Duo's eyes. "So what didn't happen?"
"I went over to Heero's, as usual. I was still pretty mad at Mrs. N's prom assignment and was ranting about it. So, Heero had pulled up this prom company on his computer-"
"That's wonderful! Did you get a cata-"
"I'm bringing all that I found to tomorrow's meeting. As I was saying, I was sitting on Heero's lap and-"
"Whoa there!" Hilde gasped. "Was it a nice lap?"
"You can be so crude at times."
"That wasn't crude. It would have been crude if I asked you if Heero's-"
"Customers . . ." Duo sang between clenched teeth.
"Fine. So you were innocently sitting on your friend's lap at the computer. . ."
"I was."
"Whatever. You were there and the girlfriend walked in. And then. . ."
"Yeah," a female voice behind them blurted out, "what next? This is getting good." Spinning on his heel, Duo realized that the large party that Chris had been talking to were staring at the two teens. They were all grinning.
"Oh gee! Look at that, low on balloons!" Duo exclaimed as he began to walk back toward the kitchen. Maybe he could learn how to prepare those Aztec salads that his friend loved so much.
So he could put it down the back of her shirt.
Few days later
Quatre closed his locker and looked around the large hallway. It was early, only a fair smattering of students could be seen. Classes didn't start for another hour, most of the kids he knew were probably just getting out of bed. The students that were there probably had before school practice, he had spotted the JROTC drill team marching in the empty parking lot. Others were at their lockers, sleepily lounging with friends or finishing homework. Some were stuck with early morning detention. He, on the otherhand, had other plans.
Walking briskly down the hallway towards the cafeteria, Quatre could see the large blue sign. "Prom Committee Meeting Here!" was printed in still dripping white paint. He had no clue why he was joining the prom committee, for he was only a sophomore, and the new kid to boot. Duo had insisted that he should come, but he still felt that Duo had a different reason besides wanting all of his friends to be a part of the prom commitee. Quatre paused at the cafeteria door as he promptly remembered that Trowa was also a friend of Duo's.
Quatre turned and began to walk away from the doors when they opened and a hand clutched his jacket and pulled him in.
"You made it!" Duo cheered as he pulled the bewildered boy into a quick hug. "Trowa's over there," Duo added with a wink. Quatre laughed faintly.
"If you say anything else," Quatre whispered in a low voice. "I will kill you.*"
"Geez, thought you would be grateful," he muttered as he pushed Quatre in the room. Looking at the clock, he realized that it was time to start the meeting.
"Welcome everybody!" Duo stated loudly as he sat at the head of the cafeteria table besides Hilde. "I pleased that you could all make it to-"
Entering the cafeteria door was Heero, Relena latched tightly to his arm.
And she didn't look happy.
TBC