Chapter 2
And that was my first introduction to Athrun Zala.
Athrun egotistic Zala.
The next big thing in the world of baseball. Word has it that he throws somewhere between ninety three and ninety four miles per hour when he is on the mound. That's fast. Especially for a lefty. And you can't even teach speed! You either have the ability to throw that fast or you don't.
And apparently he had it.
On and off the baseball field.
Two days later, after the incident at the Frat house part, I walked into the Bowl-O-Zaku, scanning the area between the bowling lanes for Lacus. Everyone on campus seemed to congregate there since it's the only pizza restaurant in the area. When it came to college and college students, pizza seemed to be on everyone's diet menu and a couple of cheap games of bowling.
Lacus spotted me and waved her arms frantically above her head. Lacus looked like a lunatic and it made me laugh out loud to myself. I waved back and made my way through a crowd of students toward her table.
"Princess."
The deep, haunting voice stopped me in my tracks as my smile faded. I turned toward the source of the voice with disgust. "You know, I don't even like fairy tales. The whole Princess being rescued by her Prince charming is sort of foolish."
He fiddled with his baseball cap before putting it back on his head and tucking his midnight blue hair underneath. I felt almost mesmerized as he ran his fingers across the front of his shirt. I found myself noticing the way his white polo fit snugly against the muscles in his arms and shoulders. I hated how good-looking he was.
"Actually, I didn't know. But I'm glad I do now." He smiled and I swear part of my heart melted right then and there.
I totally suck.
I tried to walk away toward Lacus, who eyed me with piqued curiosity, but he grabbed my left arm.
I tore my arm from his grip. "It costs fifty cents every time you touch me. Don't do it again."
Smiling widely, Athrun quickly stood his stupid gorgeous body in my path instead. I quickly moved to the right, but he hopped to his left to block me. I took another step to the left and he quickly moved too.
"What do you want, Athrun?" I said, the anger in my voice began to rise.
"Are you always this hostile? Especially to a friend?" His smile told me he was teasing.
"Only to guys like you."
"So tell me, Princess, what's a guy like me?"
"Not worth my time." I shoved both my hands into his gut and when he left out an ooof, I hurriedly past him.
"You will come around," he shouted.
"I wouldn't hold your breath."
I rushed to Lacus, thumping straight down to the nearest chair at the table.
"Nice scene." Lacus's eyes were huge as she fought a grin.
"Huh?"
"Look around." She waved an arm, gesturing toward the crowd.
I glanced around the bar and the other tables. All eyes were either on Athrun or me. Great. The last thing I wanted was the entire school thinking I was Athrun Zala's latest conquest.
"Is he always that obnoxious?" I stole quick bite from Lacus's pizza.
"To be honest," Lacus paused briefly. "I've never seen him act that way before if that's what you are asking.'
"I don't know what I am asking." Irritated and annoyed, I scanned the room for Athrun's face. He sat at a table surrounded by giddy girls, tossing their hair, pawing his muscles and laughing obnoxiously at whatever he said. His eye briefly met mine before I turned away, and I felt my heart beat a little faster. "Don't those girls have no shame? I am almost embarrassed for them."
"You know they all want to be the one he actually falls for." Lacus sounded sympathetic as she removed the crust from her slice of pizza.
"Good luck with that, ladies!" I gave the fan girls a fake salute, then turned my attention to attacking the remaining of Lacus's slice.
Curiosity got the best of me when I heard shouts and the sound of slapping high fives. I looked back to Athrun's table and noticed a boy about Athrun's height and build, with chestnut hair and violet eye, sitting down next to him. "Who's that?" I asked Lacus.
"The one who just sat down next to Athrun? That's Kira Yamato, Athrun's best friend. They go all the way back to pre-school."
"How do you know that? You're like a freaking college directory." I teased.
Staring at him fondly, Lacus replied "He is in one of my classes."
"Wait," I said, putting one hand up in the air. "Do you like him?"
"Well…he is really sweet. Not like Athrun at all," Lacus added with a smile. "I am not entirely sure how they are best friends."
"So you like him then?"
"I barely even know him. I'm just saying he is nothing like Athrun, is all."
"Whatever you say Lacus," I glanced back at Kira, admiring his smile. "It's okay to like Kira. He is cute."
"He is cute, right?" She eyed him from a distance.
"At least you like the good one." I smiled, turning back to see the best friends throw their arms around each other's neck playfully.
"As if I would ever like Athrun Zala! He is just a bad boy." She pretended to stick a finger down her throat and made gagging noises.
"So you keep saying," I said, wiping my hands off.
"I swear Cagalli. If you end up falling for his crap, I don't want to hear it. In the past two years, I have watched him and he is the ultimate playboy."
"I hear you. Okay? Steer clear of Athrun Zala. It shouldn't be that hard, considering I don't want to go anywhere near him."
We both smiled, momentarily satisfied with my promise.
The sun warmed my body the moment I stepped out of the Communications and Arts building. A gentle breeze swept across my face as I observed my students across the campus. Some rushed to get to class, while others fought for sunny areas on the lawn.
I passed by the university bookstore and shops, making a mental note to pick up two supplies for my upcoming tests. Herds of people mailed in and out of the student center as I walked in. My eyes immediately fell on Athrun and his group of fan girls.
"He is such an attention hogged," I mumbled softly in disgust. I slammed my body down in the seat across from Lacus.
"Then stop paying attention to him.'
"It's sort of hard not to when he's always creating a scene." I waved my arms toward the group of girls following his every move.
"Hi Lacus," A soft voice interrupted my Athrun-bashing.
"Oh! Hi Kira," Lacus responded, her voice all soft and sweet. I shot a quick glance at her and smiled.
"Would you mind if I sat with you?" Kira smiled when he asked and kept his violet eyes locked on with her.
"Of course not. I bet we are much better company than Athrun's table and his mob of fan girls," she teased.
Kira glanced at Athrun's direction, shaking his head. "It just gets old sometimes, you know." He quickly grabbed a book from his backpack and bag of chips. Turning his gaze up at me, he smiled. "Hi, I'm Kira."
"Cagalli, I'm Lacus's roommate."
"It's nice to…."
"Kira! What are you doing over here?"
Athrun voice echoed throughout the student center and I felt my stomach lurch. I lifted my gaze to find him staring at me, so I pinched my lips together, hoping my annoyance would be loud and clear.
"Oh, Princess. I see you have met my best friend a person could ask for." Athrun winked before placing his hand on Kira's shoulder.
"Thank god he seems nothing like you. I might actually be able to tolerate him." I tilted my head and smiled sharply.I noticed Lacus and Athrun sharing an amused glance, and I wanted to kick Lacus under the table. But I restrained myself. "Why don't you just go torture someone else?"
"But I like torturing you." He grinned and moved to sit next to me. Bending closer to me, I felt his warm breath on my face. "You'll come around. You'll see. You can't resist me forever."
I suddenly had the urge to throw up all over his arrogant face. Before I had the chance to respond, Athrun stood up straight and turned away smiling.
"Sorry about Athrun. He really isn't a jerk." Kira smiled as he defended his best friend.
I coughed to clear my throat. "He just plays one on TV?"
"Something like that. Don't take him too seriously. He is just having fun with you."
I half smiled. "But I'm not having fun."
"But you are. And he knows it," Kira added, his expression a mixture of confidence and knowing.
I didn't respond to Kira's accusation, not wanting to prove him right or wrong. Grabbing a sandwich from my bag, I took a big bite when Athrun walked back over to our table. Caught with a mouth full of food again, I couldn't speak, so I simply narrowed my eyes and glared at him.
He shoved a napkin into my hand and walked away without saying a word. I started to unfold it before reading , #25 on the field, #1 in your heart, followed by some numbers written in black ink. I quickly crumpled it up and threw it in my bag.
"What was that?" Lacus interrupted the thoughts swirling around my head.
I swallowed. "His phone number, I think. I didn't really look at it."
"He gave you his number?" Kira's face appeared puzzled.
"I think. Maybe I am wrong. I'll look at it later." I was suddenly embarrassed at the assumption that Athrun had given me his number, when maybe it wasn't Athrun's number at all.
Lacus turned toward Kira. "What is with the face?"
"He doesn't give out his phone number. There is no point with him." Kira's gaze darted from my face to Athrun's, turning his head to scrutinize his friend, now sitting several tables away.
"He has a cell phone, right?" Lacus asked, slightly confused.
"Yeah…..?" Kira responded, dragging out the word like a question. "But you see, his number is private."
"Why?" I asked curiously.
"Someone who had to change his phone number fifteen times in high school because it never stopped ringing or receiving texts messages."
"Fifteen time?" I asked, far louder than I intended. I ducked my head as several people sitting nearby stared at me with curiosity.
"It might have been more, but it was insane. The girls would post his number online and then his voice mail would fill up within a day. And then they would all start calling my phone looking for him when he didn't answer."
"That's bananas!" Lacus laughed at the insanity.
"That's why it is weird that he gave you his number. He doesn't give anyone his number." Kira shook his head. "But you might be his exemption."
"Well, like I said. I could be wrong." I quickly replied.
Lacus gestured toward my bad. "Then get it out and read it now."
Heat spread throughout my checks and down to neck to my chest. "No. Not in the freaking student union while he is right over there. I need to get to class, later."
I rose from the table, before either could say anything more. I grabbed my bag and my trash and walked nonchalantly past Athrun and his group of fan girls. I heard the sound of female voices whining when Athrun pulled himself away to jog over and catch up with me.
"I expect you to call me, Princess."
"I'm sure you expect a lot of things," I said rudely, refusing to look at him as his stride slowed and he let me walk away.
"Come to my game tonight!" he shouted when I opened the glass doors.
I turned toward him before walking out. "I don't think so."
"Don't you want to see me pitch?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice cocky.
I titled my head, holding the door open with one arm. "I saw you pitching earlier. In slow motion, remember? I think I got the gist."
The glass door closed behind me with a loud bang and I walked to my next class, wondering how long I would be able to resist him.
Author's Notes
Want to say thank you for everyone who reviewed my first chapter. I have always wanted to write a fanfic after reading so many other great stories on this website! So, thank you again for those who reviewed and gave their thoughts and opinion. It means a lot to me
I am not the best of writes, so I do apologize in advance if the story doesn't flow 100% but I will try my best.
Till next time!