Chapter 4/ An Art Class, A New Blonde and A New Guess
"Hey, what's up? I heard some of your classmates spoke about you." asked Nicol as soon as Athrun put his bottom on the seat beside him.
Athrun didn't have mood to story it to Nicol. His heart was still boiling hot. "I'll tell you later. ...What's with this crowd? I don't remember the principal said we will have Art Class together. And that Neider guy, you said he isn't in your class so what are he doing here?"he asked him instead.
Nicol sighed and stared at the teached at the front. He had started teaching but only a few were listening to her. Most of the students thought that art was an useless subject. "Athrun, Athrun...The principal said it before but you weren't listening because you are so busy staring at the blonde clerk there. We are combined with 2-A and 2-B and if you want to know, that Neider is really not in my class. He is in 2-A."
"2-A? You mean he is younger than us? But he looks matured. So Cagalli likes younger guy, huh?"said Athrun disbelievingly.
"I don't know about that. But I know something about him, wanna know?"That was the most stupid thing Nicol could say and Athrun thought he deserved a smack on his head that meant Of-course-I-want-to-know-you-stupid.
The green-haired guy rubbed his head. "Hey, don't smack my head ever again or I'll never help you! Can't you live without smacking my head for a day? Okay, okay, I'll tell you...Auel Neider is a big name here, you know. He has a big fan club but as far as I know, Attha is not one of the member. They have befriended since Neider came to this school. His bestfriend, Sting told me that Attha is Neider's favourite senior. They always hang out together, sometimes with their other friends but they usually like to hang out alone, I mean, just two of them. Both of them are an otaku, you know, anime and manga fans, so they always read manga at rooftop every reccess. Oh yeah, most of their weekend also were spent by reading manga and watching anime at Neider's apartment. Well, Neider is kind of rich, he has his own apartment and a BMW. But he is not a snobbish at all. From what I see, everyone like him. And he is also the top student in his year. And Sting also said, he and his friends always tease Neider about his relationship with Attha because they are too close for friends but he just smiled and said there's nothing between them. If you want to know, Athrun, he is also a double tennis player and his best partner is Attha. They won most of the game, though. Well...in short, he is just like you, handsome, has a fanclub, top grade in class, adorable, rich and active in sport...We can say he is the second Athrun Zala!"
"The second me?"sneered Athrun. "Excuse me, Nicol Amalfi! I am the one and only Athrun Zala, there is no such a second or third or fourth or fifth me, okay? He is he and me is me, no matter how much we resemble."
"Oh yeah? But you do want to be him, don't you, Athrun? Attha's friend, Hahnenfuss told me that Attha always said that Auel is the best guy she ever met after her father. All of her friends also think that she has something with Neider but like Neider, she just smiled and said they are just friends. But everyone take it as a lie, though. What kind of friend that can spent 24 hours together even though they said they only watched anime?"said Nicol, began to do the work as the teacher asked. Even though he was talking, he still heard what the teacher said and it was a wonder to everyone who didn't know him.
The blue-haired guy also did the same but wore an unsatisfied look in his face. "24 hours together? What do you mean by that?"he asked curiously.
"Well, there was a Saturday when Attha spent 24 hours with him in his apartment, alone. I don't know whether her twin knows about this but she told her friends. She said they were just watching a series of anime non-stop but...well, a guy and a girl alone in a house...you know what that means, Athrun..."
Athrun asked nothing more. Yeah, of course he knew what it meant. A boy and a girl alone in one house...he didn't think Kira knew about this or he had killed Auel for sure. But the fact that they had been sleeping together (no one could wake up for 24 hours, they must take some sleep) made him felt uneasy, very uneasy... He felt urge to ask Cagalli herself about this but thinking about what has she done, he immediately shoved away the idea. He hated a liar very much. But he didn't know...it was hard for him to hate Cagalli. He just felt very angry but beside that, he couldn't hate her. "...I think she is not the one..."
Nicol, who was cutting the paper with a scissors, cut his own finger. He yelpt in pain and put his finger into his mouth, sucking it gently. At the same time, he stared at Athrun disbelievingly. He really couldn't believe what Athrun said just now. All this time Athrun seemed very sure that Cagalli was the little blonde he met before. But now he was saying that he didn't think she was the girl. "Are you sure, Athrun? I mean, you are sure that she was that little girl, aren't you?"
"Well, maybe she is...but I think I keep my eyes on other blondes too, right? The only clue I have now is she is a blonde. Cagalli isn't the only blonde, is she? Even though Kira said she ever went to Heliopolis, where we met that girl, but she isn't the only little blonde who went to Heliopolis, don't you think so?" explained Athrun. He bent down to pick his fallen pencil when...
"I'm sorry but can you pick my pencil over there too?"someone asked.
Athrun looked under his chair and saw another pencil. He picked it and looked up. His emeralds met a pair of violet eyes. "...Err...this is yours?"
"Yes, thank you...um..."
"Athrun, Athrun Zala. Here, um..."Athrun handed the pencil to a beautful girl in front him.
The girl smiled and took the pencil from Athrun. "I am Stellar Loussier. Thanks, Athrun Zala."
Nicol rolled his eyes and pulled Athrun to look at him. Athrun gulped by seeing Nicol's face. "Hey, hey...don't look at me like that...I just returned her pencil, that's all. Well, is she one of your classmates?"he asked interestedly, narrowing his eyes to glance at Stellar.
Stellar had a pair of stunning violet eyes like Kira but was a blonde like Cagalli. Her face resembled Cagalli but she sure was cuter and looked more innocent than Cagalli. But Athrun didn't care about whatever else; he only knew that she was a blonde. A BLONDE.
Again, Nicol nudged him with reproachful look. "I know what you are thinking, Athrun but Stellar couldn't possibly be the one so don't look at her like that!" he said angrily.
Nicol's reaction made Athrun a little bit surprise but a tiny guess appeared in his heart, making him to smirk. "...Oh, why? Does my little Nicol has fallen in love with a girl named Stellar Loussier?...Such a big surprise but big brother Athrun is proud with you, little Nicol. Don't worry, big brother won't do anything to princess Stellar. He only wants to borrow her for a little while to make sure she is really not the little girl he met before, okay, Nicol?"
A blush appeared on Nicol's cute face. Actually what Athrun said was true. He only met Stellar today but he immediately liked her very much and it felt different than his feelings towards his other friends. But he also knew she might be the girl Athrun had fallen to. "...Well, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier about her. She was absent yesterday and I only met her today. Um...well, she may be the one, right, Athrun?"
Athrun stared at his bestfriend disbelievingly. He never heard Nicol talked that way before. "...Nicol? Hey, don't talk like that. Maybe she is but maybe she is not too, right? ...Nicol, do you like her?"
"What if I do?"asked Nicol coldly as he began to concentrate on his works.
His blue-haired bestfriend also did the same but at the same time, thought about Nicol's question earlier. Nicol sounded very cold and since he knew him, Athrun never heard he sounded like that. Maybe Nicol was serious about Stellar. Athrun was confuse now. Stellar might be the little girl he had fallen to, but she also Nicol's dream girl; what should he do? He had befriended with Nicol since birth, he didn't want to break it just because of a girl. "...If you do, then, I will let her go. I mean, I will not try to investigate her or anything. Maybe she is not the one, who knows, right? ...Hey, we've been friends for a long time...don't be like this. There is a lot of blonde girl out there and Stellar maybe not the the little girl. You can have her."
No one spoke a word for a while. After all of sudden, Nicol sighed and turned to Athrun. "...You're right. But Athrun, if she is the one, I will give up on her. Well, I don't do a move on her yet, you know. So, we will try to investigate her first, okay? I always wish you will find the little girl and Stellar is the one, I will be very happy. You mean a lot for me, Athrun. More than anyone else in this world."
"...Same here, Nicol. But I don't know...I still have a feeling that Cagalli is the one. Sigh...Maybe I should try Stellar later. Oh yeah, you haven't done a single move on her, right? I can help you. What if we corner with her after school...wait, oh yeah, I forgot...I have detention...that damn Cagall..."
"Mr Zala! Please stand up!"A loud voice cut off Athrun's words.
Athrun blinked at the teacher and immediately stood up. He could feel his cheeks coloured. "Yes, Mr Neo."
Neo Lornokke glared at him, arm folded. "Mr Zala, if you don't want to learn art, then please go out from my class with Mr Amarfi as well. I think it is better for you two to talk outside."
"I am sorry, Mr Neo." apologized Athrun. His face was red in embarassment as he noticed everyone's gaze were on him.
"You may sit down and continue with your work. Don't let me catch you two talking again." said the teacher.
Athrun walked to the staffroom as soon as the bell rang. He wanted to finish his detention quickly. He was about to knock on the staffroom door when someone called him.
"Zala!"
He turned to see Auel and Cagalli behind him. Auel was smiling at him while Cagalli looked around, obviously didn't want to catch Athrun's eyes. Athrun sighed. "What is it?"
Auel looked at Cagalli before saying, "Well, it's like this...We, this is to say, me and Cagalli had seen Miss Ramius during reccess and explained to her what had actually happened and well, you don't have to do the detention. Cagalli will do it instead, so..um, hope you can forgive her now."
It was true that Athrun was relieved the he didn't have to do the detention that he didn't deserve but he was still boiling mad. "I've told you, Neider, you didn't have to apologize to me for her! If she wants me to forgive her, she should apologize by herself! You are not her servant, are you, Neider?"
The lad flushed. "Of course I am not! Cagalli is my best friend! I know she is awful sometimes but you should just forgive her! It's not like she wanted to do it! Isn't it enough with everyone deserting her? I know you have the advantage of being a handsome and wealthy student..."
"I thought you have that advantage as well, Neider. I may be new here but I know a lot about you. I wonder if Kira knows about you spending 24 hours alone with Attha here?"said Athrun darkly. He didn't know when did he find the courage but he really was mad with both of them.
Both Cagalli and Auel turned pale as they looked at each other. Cagalli then stared at Athrun with a disbelieving look on her face. "How-How do you know about that? W-Who told you?"
Athrun smirked. "I have my sources. Anyway, I'm not that bad, okay? I am not you. I won't blab your little secret just because you are not brave enough to apologize to me."
"You...!"Cagalli started but she couldn't find the exact words to say. She felt like want to cry again. "You stupid, arrogant, annoying, ugly, stubborn jerk! You are a new student so act like it, will you?"
The smirk disappeared from Athrun's lips. "So just because I am new, you can do whatever you want to me? You can lie about me? You can put me into detention for what I didn't do? Just because I am new? Hah!"
Cagalli flenched her fist. "It was not like I wanted to do it! I simply slipped from my tongue, okay? And it was you fault, too! If you didn't ask me the stupid question, I wouldn't yell! How dare you suggested me being jealous..."
"It was joke, Attha! Haven't you heard of a joke before? Did you think I mean it?" Athrun said, there was a slightly desperate note on his voice. He sighed. "...I'm already tired of you. If you don't want to apologize by yourself than be it. I don't care."
"YOU SAID THAT?! You said you don't care?!"
Athrun nodded and continued doing his work. He and Nicol was in Nicol's room, doing their homeworks together. He had just told Nicol what had happened earlier. "Yeah, I did..."
Nicol frowned and put down his pen. "But, Athrun...you know yourself that it's not true! You do care about her!"
"I was angry at that time, Nicol, I wasn't aware of what did I say. Well, what I said is true, right? If she didn't want to apologize, then I can't do anything. I don't want to be her enemy but if she wants to, so be it. She and her perfect bestfriend..." muttered Athrun slowly, looking lost in thought. "But something that Neider said really bothered me..."
The green-haired guy gazed at his bestfriend excitedly. "What did he say?"
Cagalli swung the swing slowly. She didn't know why she was lack of mood. Maybe it was because of the detention she had done that evening. But the teacher only gave her lines so it wasn't a big deal.
It was him who was bothering her. Or rather, the thought of him. She didn't know why she couldn't stop thinking about him. He had grabbed her attention since his first day at the school.
She knew she had been horrible to him. She wasn't sure why since she knew he was a nice guy actually. He had been very kind to her. But she just couldn't act normally around him. For instance, she knew he was joking about her being jealous, back in Miss Murue's class, but she couldn't stop herself from blushing and acted like an idiot. To make the matter worse, she even lied to the teacher.
She knew he had the right to feel angry to her. If she was in his place, she would feel angry as well; or perhaps angrier. And when he said he didn't care whether she wanted to apologize or not, she felt very upset. She wondered why she felt like that; she should felt relieved since it was her who founded it hard to mutter even a 'Sorry' to him.
The blonde stared at the starry sky and sighed. She wondered what had really happened to her…she never been like this before. Not before she met him.
-FLASHBACK-
"Zala..."
Athrun turned with an annoyed look on his face. "What is it, Neider? Why do you follow me?"
Auel smiled and shrugged. "Well, about Cagalli..."
"Don't talk to me about that girl again. I'm already bored."snapped Athrun before Auel even finished.
Chuckling, Auel leaped few steps to walk beside Athrun. "You really hate her now, huh?"
The emerald-eyed guy frowned. "No, I don't. I don't hate her. I just don't undestand why can't she apologize. It is just a word, isn't it? Just a 'sorry' and maybe I would forgive her."
"Maybe?" Auel raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm not sure whether I would forgive her...I've never been lied about in previous schools..."
Auel chuckled again. "So, I'm right, then. You are really a pampered, perfect prince. This must be your first time to be, umm...you know. But, well...that is Cagalli. She is nice but sometimes she just couldn't control her temper. You saw how she yelled at her brother earlier, right?"
Athrun nodded curtly. "Yeah, just because Kira said something bad about you..."
"Ah, you're right. Cagalli is special, you know? She's always being honest. Always. That's why I like her. She never sees me as a wealthy, handsome guy like everyone do...She treats me as myself. You are just same as me; people say we are perfect. But Cagalli doesn't. I believe she sees you as yourself, like she does to me. Please bear with her, Zala."
Nicol looked puzzled after Athrun finished the story. "Please bear with her? Did he mean please forgive her?"
"Maybe, who knows...Hey, Nicol, wanna walk around here? I feel bored.."said Athrun, putting away his books and took one of Nicol's jacket. "Lend me your jacket..."
"Athrun, Athrun..." sighed Nicol as he followed the lad.
They walked around the neighbourhood. Athrun was quiet so Nicol didn't know what to say as well. They simply walked towards the playground near by. Both of them thought no one would be there at that time but much to their surprise, there was someone there.
"It's her..."whispered Athrun so quietly that Nicol almost couldn't hear it. "It's Cagalli...what's she doing here?"
The two approached Cagalli, who was sitting on the swings as she swayed slightly. She didn't seem aware that they were approaching her. Only when the two of them were in front of her, Athrun let go a false cough, which made her jumped. She took some times to recognise their faces.
"Ah, it's you, Zala. Please, if you don't want me to have heart attack, don't do that again." she said, sighing. She looked at Nicol and realized she didn't know him. "And this is..."
Nicol offered his hand as he smiled. "Nicol, Nicol Amalfi. Athrun's bestfriend and erm, kinda adopted brother...right, Athrun?"
Athrun nodded. "Yeah, my parent has adopted him since his birth. He is in the next class. I've introduced him to the others ealier but you weren't there. What are you doing here, anyway?"
Cagalli looked down. Her face looked solemn. "Well, I am none of your business, right? You are already tired of me, right? You don't care about me, right?"
The blue-haired guy felt like he was slapped by someone invicible. He took the seat on the swing beside Cagalli, leaving Nicol standing beside him. "You know...I didn't actually mean it.."
"Oh, so this is one of your joke, then?"asked Cagalli ironically. "Really funny. Love it very much. You should be a joker. If this is the way you joke, Zala, then I don't have to wonder why you are always moving schools. Maybe no one can understand you here except for our green-headed friend here."
"Don't you dare to insult Nicol!" Athrun shouted, leaping to his feet. "Anyone; you could insult me; but not Nicol!"
"Athrun...you don't have to..I don't mind..."
"I DO MIND! YOU ARE MY BESTFRIEND! IF SHE COULD WENT BERSERK JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE INSULTED HER BESTFRIEND, WHY CAN'T I?" Athrun's voice was getting louder that even Cagalli backed off.
"W-Well..I...I apologize, okay? Sorry...I'm sorry, Amalfi..."she stammered.
Nicol looked at her symphatically. She looked really regretted her words and a little frightened of the mad Athrun. He nodded and drew his usual sweet smile. "It's okay, I forgive you..."
Athrun sighed, sitting back on the swing. He swung it rather childishly. Nicol and Cagalli simply stared at him. He seemed to notice it, as he glanced at them and muttered slowly, "I'm not like Nicol. I don't forgive people easily. I hate it when someone lie to me. It was embarassing, too, your lie."
"I'm sorry, okay? It just...slipped from my mouth." said Cagalli dryly. She had sat on the swing, staring on the ground. "I apologize."
There was silence suddenly. Nicol walked away from the two, blushing slightly. He didn't want to distub the two. He knew there was something between them, or at least, there would be something later. Athrun was lying back then. He was a forgiving person all this time. Maybe he couldn't forgive Cagalli because he liked her. It was what Nicol thought.
Athrun pretended to fix his shoe laces to hide the fact that his face was burning hot. He didn't why he felt that way. Cagalli didn't do anything but apologizing, which what he wanted her to do so much earlier. He could say that he fogave her; it was that simple. But why must he felt very uncomfortable?
"Erm...I...uh...yeah, you should do that earlier... I mean, it wasn't that difficult, right?"
Cagalli blushed. Luckily it was quite dark so it wasn't so obvious. She leapt onto her feet and ran from the park, yelling "Well, I owe you nothing from now on!"
It left Athrun dumbfounded. He stared at the spot where she disappeared for a few seconds before smiling to himself. He never saw a girl like her. Auel was indeed right; she was very honest.
Timidly, Nicol approached Athrun at the swing. The blue-haired guy suddenly stood up, making Nicol nearly fell. Athrun stared at his bestfriend as his handsome face showed two opposites expressions ; happy yet confused. He seemed shivering slightly which was odd since he was wearing a coat.
"Athrun, what's wrong?" asked Nicol worriedly.
"Nicol...I think...I think I love her!"
Huhuhu...it seems too rush up, right? Don't worry, more will come later! Please review and au revoir!