I apologize for the very late update everything's been real hectic with school and stuff. I actually hadn't planned on writing this chapter but I got a PM from 'peterspie' asking me to write what Cagalli was doing during Athrun's time at work and since I promised to take every reviewers suggestions so I had to make this chapter. Since I already started the next chapter it should be up in the next day or so.
It wasn't until an hour later that Miguel finally pulled up in front of the Comfort Inn; the hotel Cagalli had booked a whole month under. Luckily, her uncle Kisaska volunteered to pay for the whole month for her. That left all the money Cagalli saved to be put towards food, sight seeing and of course shopping.
"Thank you so much Miguel," Cagalli had repeated while handing Miguel her money plus a usual tip.
Miguel shifted in his seat so he could get a better view of Cagalli, "It's my job Pup, there's no need to thank me so much." Miguel offered to help with Cagalli's stuff to which she kindly declined.
Cagalli now stood outside with her suitcase facing the taxi, "you know my name's Cagalli", she said smiling, "but you can keep calling me pup."
"Alright," Miguel winked, "see you later pup."
Cagalli watched the retreating taxi then turned to head for the entrance of the hotel. When she stepped inside, she was momentarily in awe at the fact that even though this wasn't a high class, five star hotel, the lobby was still beautiful. Cagalli looked forward to seeing what her room would look like, causing her to walk faster towards the main desk.
"Good evening," Cagalli was instantly greeted by a lady with brown hair.
"Hi, I have a reservation under Yula Attha," Cagalli got straight to the point.
The receptionist typed her name into the computer, "Cagalli Yula Attha?"
"That would be me," Cagalli smiled.
"Okay Miss Attha, you'll be staying in room 206 on the second floor," the receptionist pulled a card out of the drawer and scanned it before handing it to Cagalli, "here's your key card."
"Thank you," Cagalli said nicely taking the card.
Just when she was about to turn around and leave, Cagalli remembered that she wanted to meet as much people as possible on this trip.
"What's your name?"
The women looked up from the computer a little surprised, and then smiled, "Murrue."
"It's very nice to meet you Murrue," Cagalli said, "my name's Cagalli.
Murrue nodded still smiling, "well I hope you have a wonderful stay here Cagalli."
Cagalli grabbed her suitcase handle and headed in the direction of the elevator.
As she waited for the elevator to come, she did a silent prayer that her room would look exactly like it did in the photo on the internet. A few years back, Cagalli had experienced first hand what it was like being deceived by a hotels advertisement of there rooms. It was a bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania and after an uncomfortable stay there, Cagalli swore she'd never book under them again.
"Going up?" a voice beside Cagalli snapped her out of her wandering thoughts.
She turned to see a young man with purple hair dressed in a formal black suit carrying one tiny suitcase.
Cagalli let out a small chuckle, "I can't possibly be going down on the main floor."
The man allowed a small smile tug at his lips as he looked Cagalli over, "I supposed you're right."
Cagalli's smile instantly faded as she noticed the way he was staring at her. His eyes were making her feel bare and weak, like a prey who found his meal. She pulled her suitcase closer to her and zipped up her sweater, hoping to feel more covered up under the man's intense gaze.
"You have a name sweetie?" the man asked seductively.
Cagalli frowned at the way he addressed her and felt repulsed at his tone. The unsettling feeling she had growing more and more in the pit of her stomach.
She hesitated in replying, unwilling to reveal to this man her name.
It seemed as though the man sensed her discomfort, he offered her a friendly smile, "it's okay, you can tell me. I'm just being friendly."
Cagalli rolled her eyes, making no attempt to hide it. She turned to the man and plastering on a fake smile, "my name's Claire," she lied.
The man seemed satisfied as the elevator door opened. Cagalli hurried in, moving to the farthest corner and keeping her suitcase tight infront of her.
"Well Claire, it's a pleasure to meet you," the man walked in as well standing beside Cagalli despite her best efforts to be away from him.
"My name's Yunna."
Cagalli didn't bother commenting; deciding that if she kept quiet there would be no further conversation.
When the elevator door closed, Yunna leaned forward towards the panel to choose his floor. Pushing the button for the fourth floor, he turned his head expectantly at Cagalli, "What floor?"
Cagalli contemplated the consequences of telling this man the floor she was staying on.
"Third floor please," Cagalli decided that lying to Yunna again was her best option.
Putting back on his seductive smile, Yunna pushed her floor and leaned back into his spot.
"We're only one floor apart," Yunna remarked breaking the silence Cagalli was trying so hard to keep.
As far as you know, Cagalli sighed, knowing very well what Yunna was implying with that statement. She pulled her suitcase even closer, feeling more protected the closer it was. Cagalli watched at the light indicating which floor they were on, passed on the first floor.
Even though her eyes were glued to the panel at the top of the elevator indicating which floor they were at, she could still clearly make out Yunna's face from her peripheral vision.
"Maybe I should come visit you," Yunna continued despite the fact Cagalli hasn't said a word to encourage the conversation.
"What suite are you staying at?"
Cagalli closed her eyes tightly at the stupidity of this man. Her eyes flew open as relief spread through her whole body at the sound of the elevator beeping indicating the arrival at the third floor.
Smiling Cagalli gathered the handle of her suitcase than turned to Yunna.
"My apologies Yunna," Cagalli started as the elevator doors opened, "unfortunately I'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon."
Cagalli didn't wait for a reply as she rushed out down the hall towards the stairs.
Approaching the stair way entrance, Cagalli wondered if lying to Yunna about her floor was the smartest idea. Her suitcase, packed for a month, is far from being light and the thought of carrying it down two flights of stairs wasn't very appealing.
Cagalli sighed, cursing Yunna for the situation she was in. Lifting up her suitcase and preparing herself for the weighed of it to tug her down.
Panting heavily from carrying her suitcase down the stairs than having to walk the length of the hallway to her room, Cagalli finally reached her destination. Pulling out her key card, Cagalli mentally vowed to start lifting weights when she returned home, knowing that carrying a suitcase down stairs shouldn't leave anyone this much out of breath.
Cagalli slid her key card through the swipe lock watching as the light turned green indicating that it had successfully unlocked. She pushed the door and started fumbling to find the light switch as she braced herself to either be greatly disappointed by the room or be extremely happy.
As Cagalli's hand slid along the wall feeling out for the switch, her search ended as she felt the familiar form of a light switch underneath her finger tips. Flipping it on, Cagalli's breath hitched as she took in the sight of her room.
It's perfect. Cagalli pulled her suitcase in from the hallway then shut the door.
The hotel room had a large queen sized bed in the very center, leaving a lot of room around for walking space. Directly in front of the bed was a twenty four inch television with the remote sitting on top. That will come in handy, Cagalli smiled. On either side of the bed were bed side tables with a small beige lamp on each of them. The dresser was located at the far side of the room by the window. To Cagalli's left, there was a little closet meant for holding her jackets and outdoor shoes. A door on her right led her to the bathroom which was also very clean and impressive. Although the room wasn't huge, Cagalli felt comfortable in calling this place home for the next few months.
The thought of home made Cagalli realize that she hadn't called or sent a message, informing everyone back home that she arrived safely in New York.
Knowing that her brother, Kira, was going to call at some point, she didn't even consider calling him. Instead Cagalli longed to hear the voice of her fiancé.
Cagalli pulled out her blackberry and went through the contact list in search of her fiancé's home number. Passing the first few names, Cagalli became confused since she didn't recognize them at all. She continued down the list as every name she saw, she'd never seen before. By the time she reached the names starting with d on the contact list, Cagalli had already started panicking.
This isn't my phone! Cagalli rechecked the contact list, preying she had just made a foolish mistake and was over reacting. Giving up, she decided to check the last few incoming or outgoing calls. Looking through the list she saw an outgoing call that was to Meer and an incoming call that said work. Cagalli paused, remembering the lunch she had with Athrun.
"Oh shit!" Cagalli exclaimed, throwing the phone on the bed feeling extremely stupid for picking up his phone instead of hers.
Cagalli started pacing the room, thinking of a way to locate Athrun and get her phone back. Deciding that calling her phone, which Athrun probably has, would be the best idea she went to pick up the phone when it suddenly rang.
She felt relieved as she immediately recognized the number as her own.
"Athrun?"
My question for you guys today is how often would you guys like me to update? If you guys tell me that weekly updated will make you lose interest, I'll try my very hardest to update more often. Also, I apologize for not replying to any reviews for the last chapter/
So special thanks to:
-Mage666
-Fire Lady Oren
-aChlollieFan
-star01
-Kkornelia
-Guess-who
-cagallifangurl
-Million Voices ( I love the name ) XD
& thank you so much for the suggestions, I take every single one of them to heart :)
~Hegodart