Chapter 3: Kallen Stradtfeld
The knocking on her door woke her up. She made a groan.
It's my day-off… Ms. Shirley can't be here again.
She instead cuddled on her sheets and blanket and covered her head with her pillow. She wasn't the hospitable person she is whenever she felt languid.
"Oi, CC! Get up, will you? Stop being a lazy bum!"
As if she wasn't sleepy a while ago, her eyes shot open.
The voice was familiar.
She threw her blanket leaving a soft thud and quickly stood up.
"Heh? Finally you stood up!"
She walked on the cold, porcelain floor and opened the door swiftly, her face full of anticipation.
Before she knew it, a body threw itself at her. And the familiar scent of strawberries, assured her that it is her.
"Oi, Kallen! You're heavy!" CC cried out. "Don't you throw yourself at me!"
Kallen Stradtfeld then let go of her. She stared at how messy her best friend looked. "I haven't seen you for so long, girl!"
Once again, she gave her a gentle hug, which CC was able to return though quite reluctantly.
The green-haired girl asked after breaking the embrace. "I thought you were in Japan."
"My brother let me take a vacation which I denied. It felt stupid you know. I would leave him, but soon enough, I discovered that both the Black Knights and Shirley would come here."
"Black Knights?"
"Yeah. The rest of them have been my classmates also, except for the new drummer. And I think I should also meet Gino, because he's been trying to invite me in their past concerts. He's been one great colleague."
"Up until now."
Kallen ignored CC's statement even though it's right.
"…and we haven't seen each other for so long, so, I think it will be nice meeting him now."
"You think he likes you?"
"I don't know, but he says some stupid things like, 'Kallen, don't you mind me being yours?'"
CC smirked. "But don't you mind?"
"I don't know… Geez, CC! How did we fall to this topic?!" she then grabbed CC and put her inside her room and locked her up.
"What are you doing?"
Kallen smiled teasingly. Deep blue eyes glinting in naught. "Well, CC, you know, it's summer and summer means swimming on the sea and wearing-"
"No! Kallen!" CC exclaimed. She ran towards the door but unfortunately, she got blocked by Kallen.
Kallen grabbed her arms as CC struggled in vain.
"See? That's what you get for not going out and not working out. You're eating too much pizza."
"Shut up. I'm working hard; I've been carrying heavy things, so I can knock you out if I punch you."
"Oh? A believe a baby could beat you out. And I'm still stronger than you."
Kallen pushed her down to sit. "I'll give you pizzas if you wear what I command you."
"No."
"Three boxes."
"Nope."
"5 boxes."
"Heh? Won't work on me."
"Eight, special, large boxes. Overloaded with cheese and the best ingredients of a pizza can ever have. Your favorite too. Super thin, freshly delivered; all from Pizza Hut."
"…"
"Deal?"
All too suddenly, her stomach craved which CC cursed inwardly.
"Haha. Gotcha."
Kallen stripped CC's white polo and her pajamas. Kallen snickered as she stood up and scanned through her clothes. "Finally CC's gonna wear some bikinis." She muttered along as she searched for a bikini.
CC cringed at what the red-head said.
"CC, didn't you bring some?" Kallen asked disappointedly as she found out that there was nothing on her closet but only her necessary clothes.
"Of course none. I told you I don't wear swimsuits and bikinis," CC told her easily.
Kallen stood up, hands both on the sides of her waist. "Then I guess I'll lend you some." She then took out her phone and contacted a number.
"Can you bring a pair of bikinis here at room 103 Palms? If possible, I want black," After one press, the phone beeped then put her phone back again.
CC's body fell on the bed and made a stretch. "Can we stop this now, Kallen? I hate wearing those, you know."
A smirk graced her face. "Oh? So you don't want those pizzas?" she teased.
This time, CC pondered on the thought. Sure, she would love to have those eight pizzas. But having to wear swimsuit would be like going out naked in a field full of nothing but men.
"I would like to but-"
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Oh, coming!" Kallen shouted. She shot a mischievous glance at CC and ran towards the door.
After a 'Thank you' and after a soft 'click' on the door, the red-haired girl went to CC and showed her a pair of black bikini.
Its top was a black bikini that is backless and its bottom was just a plain one.
"Be thankful I didn't choose strings for you."
CC flinched. "What?! There's no way I'll wear those!"
…
"We need a substitute for Rivals."
Villeta Nu told the Black Knights in their meeting. They need a new keyboardist, especially because the next song they will play needs one. The song's main instrument for the song is the keyboard. Their musicians were all on the leave, leaving them searching for a substitute.
"Why don't we just change the song?" Lelouch demanded. In actuality, he didn't want someone to take Rivalz' place. He didn't know if it was just his pride or just his strong friendship bond to him, but it felt insulting for him for someone to take his place in his stead when they were already playing with each other since their start and so having someone to play the instrument instead of the blue-haired man bruised his ego.
"Oi, Lelouch. We can't. This song is in our Die in a Toaster list. In fact, the song's main instrument is the keyboard. And of course, we can't start the boom without the keyboard, can we?" Suzaku explained.
Villeta spoke as she nodded in agreement. "We can't. And there is no risk in playing the song with a different keyboardist, right? But of course, we need a sub with an experience; a good one at that."
The band members nodded, but Lelouch didn't. "What if we won't find someone?"
"We still can't think of that if we haven't tried yet," Villeta told Lelouch, legs crossed in a lady-like manner.
Lelouch didn't say anything anymore. They made sense and his opinion seems to be mistaken.
"Well, if that's the plan, then all is settled. Summer!" Gino shouted and got outside.
Suzaku and Rollo chuckled. "Gino's starting to act like a kid again. Oi, Gino! Wait up!" they then ran outside to chase their blonde mate.
Villeta Nu stood up, a smile plastered to her face. "Well, Lelouch, you should enjoy this summer of yours. Spend this time with your sister," she went outside after giving him a light pat on the shoulder.
…
She can't step outside, not with the clothes she was wearing. She thought it will be easy, but it seemed like it's easier said than done. Men will see her, and they might do something to her.
"CC, stop thinking those."
As if Kallen had read what's on her mind, CC looked up. "How did you know?"
"Of course I know what you're thinking. That is what paranoid women think of when it comes to these situations."
"I'm not paranoid, I'm just aware."
Kallen shot her a lazy look. "You just don't know how dumb you look like."
CC was just peeking at the people outside, hiding at the backdoor, as if she was a child that was scared of the people around her…it is the truth, in a way.
"CC, men won't harass you. There are so many women outside, and some of them are wearing more revealing clothes. No one will harass you. I promise."
After that, Kallen stepped outside, and spoke to CC, "Well, I won't give you your pizza if you won't come with me."
…
It was hot, real hot. The raven-head thought he could no longer endure the heat outside. The heat of the sun's rays almost gave him the sharp sting that he wanted to avoid as the dazzling light of the sun added more to the heat he had anticipated.
He put on his sunglass to protect his eyes from the dazzling light of the sun.
"Onii-san, don't you want to swim?"
He bit his lip; he had tried to avoid this situation. Of course, he would do everything for his sister, but things aren't always as easy as it would seem. "Nunnaly, don't go there. It's dangerous, and in fact, you just don't know if someone would do something bad to you."
Nunnaly chuckled. "Nii-san, it's okay. That's why I'm asking you to come with me, remember?"
Suzaku patted him on the back. "C'mon, Lelouch, don't waste this time to be with your sister. She'll enjoy this swimming more with you."
Lelouch gave Nunnaly a considering look. Well, his best friend made a point. And he wants Nunnaly to have a good time around him, so he stood up a bit reluctantly and walked towards the beach.
"Look! Lelouch!" a shout from Suzaku immediately stopped him.
Without getting to process what happened, girls swarmed around him.
"H-Hey! Wait!" his voice was muffled by the voices around him.
Different bodies bumped against him. There were the slick skins and wet clothes gliding on his body and there was the smell of seaweeds and shampoos all around him. All he could hear was the girly squeals and screams all around him. He thought he could even hear arguments turning into a huge catfight. Why did he let his guard down, anyway?
Just then, he heard Suzaku's voice. "Hey, guys! You see, Lelouch is going to spend this time with his little sister, let us not disturb them, okay? And by the way, don't you want to go with me?" he almost joked on the last sentence, which Lelouch almost laughed at.
Bit by bit, girls got away from him and went to Suzaku. Some apologized to him for doing so.
Lelouch looked at Suzaku, who is now on his position he was a while ago. The brunette gave him a go-on look and gave him a smile.
Nunnaly ran to him, and gave him a hug. "Are you okay, onii-san?"
The violet-eyed man gave her a smile, which of course, managed to calm his sister down. "Of course. I'm sorry for a while ago."
Nunnaly grabbed his hand then ran towards the sea making Lelouch follow her.
They stopped until the water was on his hips. Nunnaly was in front of him, without any warning, she splashed water to him.
Shocked at her actions, he could only exclaim a confused "Nunnaly" that his voice sounded distressed which isn't one of the best some could hear from him. He was already wet. Once again, a wave of water was sent to him in the air.
This was when he had gotten what she had meant. And so, to favor the brunette's want, he returned the gesture into a splash fight. Her giggles were heard all over the area, loud enough to reach the shore when all too suddenly, two hands grabbed his shirt as it was completely ripped off!
Bewildered, he spun around and saw Gino holding a ripped shirt which the vocalist wore to avoid getting his body completely sunburned. Though of course, people will not be as dismayed as he is. His body was lean, carefully toned muscles apparently showing off. But back in his earlier ages, he was frail and easily exhausted which earned him laughs from his companions.
Raising an eyebrow, he questioned Gino in one of his venomous tones. "Why did you do that?"
"It's better without a shirt, Lelouch!" Gino laughed everything off. Much to Lelouch's chagrin, he only turned around and ignored the bassist.
"Lelouch!"
He turned around grumpily only to be splashed on the face.
At the same time…
"Wha-?!"
CC cursed when she got splashed right in the face. So she dipped her arm in the water and gave Kallen a hard splash.
"Ooh? Giving me a payback eh?"
She sent water dashing towards the green-haired girl's face, stinging her skin.
"Ouch!"
CC then gave Kallen a hard one on the face, strong enough to tumble her down the water. And so they continued on. After a few seconds, they finished off laughing and throwing banters to each other.
After some rounds of chuckles, Kallen spoke. "Hey, is that Gino over there?"
Kallen pointed at the direction on where she thought Gino is.
CC looked at where her friend was pointing. It is Gino. Gino…splashing water to their vocalist. She found it funny that she almost laughed.
"It's Gino!" Kallen exclaimed. Before the green-haired girl could raise her eyebrow at how desperate and excited her friend's voice seemed, Kallen grabbed CC's arm and pulled her against the current of the water.
Fortunately, CC has freed her arm from Kallen's grip. However, Kallen didn't seem to notice CC so she continued to run towards Gino.
CC instead looked down at her cut. It was wet, and it was bleeding. It stung! She didn't realize that pain a while ago. She looked at her best friend who is already facing the blond haired man.
Her heart almost skipped a beat when he finally turned around and saw her.
"K-Kallen?"
…
a/n: I know this chap is more like a filler. XD But it's okay I guess. I deleted more than what I changed. This chapter is still crappy, I know. But better than never.
Please review.
