Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Legendia.
Author's Note: Hello! Hope you're all having a good day! Sorry about the late update! And thanx for reading so far and reviewing!
Bishieluver01: Oooh! Thanx Im glad you like the fic! Yeh, Jay/Norma is my fav pairing, but not many out there sigh Well! Really hope you enjoy this chapter!
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Heavy
Chapter Four—Smile
Jay still sat there under the tree, motionless. He picked up a leaf from the ground and stared at it. It reminded him of the leaf he had written his wish on.
Hmm, a family...Maybe Nerifes gave me one chance, so I could live in a world other than the nightmare I had grown up in, Jay thought. But my time's up. I can't just pretend my past never happened and simply live in peace.
One tear slid down Jay's cheek as he dropped the leaf into the river, watching it drift away. More tears began running freely from his eyes.
"Am I really making the right choice?" Jay whispered through his sobs. "Is it right to just throw away everything? Quppo, Pippo, Poppo, Sennel and everyone? And…Norma?"
Shaking his head, he covered his face with his hands. "No, this is it. After all, I should've died back then...I can't live facing all the crime I've committed anymore. I wish I could take it all back! But that can never be done…"
After a while, Jay took a deep breath and stood up. The sky was a deep grey as the night got late. Jay wiped his face with the sleeve of his jacket, leaving no trace of his inner fear or the shed tears. He then began walking toward the inn before anyone came looking for him.
/
Norma and Moses sat by the fire in the foyer of the inn, chatting while they waited for Jay to get back. Just then, they heard the door open.
"Hey, JJ's here!" Norma said happily.
"We were jus' wonderin' where ya got to!" Moses said with a wide grin.
When Jay saw his two friends calling him, he froze at the doorway where he stood. His heart ached, he felt a knot at his throat and he couldn't look them in the eyes. He suddenly had the urge to just hug his friends and cry his heart out.
"JJ?"
"Ya comin' in? Close the door lil bro, it'll get cold."
Jay snapped back from his thoughts and quickly composed himself.
"Y-yeah, sorry." Jay said, closing the door behind him and went to join his friends by the fire.
"So! Any exciting news?" Norma asked.
"Haha! Bet ya didn't find anythin'! Cos I didn't!" Moses said.
"Red! Even if you didn't find anything as if JJ, the information dealer, couldn't find anything! Right?"
"Actually I didn't really," Jay replied.
"Ha! See Bubbles? I knew it!" Moses said triumphantly.
"What? No way! Well then I guess that just confirms that there's nothing really to worry about in this village," Norma said. "Well anyway! Guess what I got?"
Jay looked over at the very cheerful Norma.
"Look!" Norma exclaimed, proudly raising a basket full of something.
Peering into the basket, Jay saw an assortment of bread, fruits and cold meats. "Where did you get this?" he asked.
"I made friends with this girl who lives here. She gave it to me!" Norma said. "For free! For free!"
"Good job Bubbles!" Moses yelled. "Yahooo! Food!"
"Hehehe! I guess I'm just so charming, no-one can resist the urge to give me presents! Haha, actually she just said that it's like a thank-you-gift for what we're doing!" Norma said sweetly. "Now lets dig in!"
Norma put the basket of food down on the floor, in between the three of them.
"Woo! That's mine!" Moses said, taking the largest piece of ham. "Or maybe lil Jay needs it more than me eh?"
Jay gave no reaction as he was staring distantly into the crackling fire.
"Uh, JJ? Hello?" Norma said, poking Jay's side.
"Sorry?" Jay quickly replied, realising he had been spacing out.
"You're being weird JJ," Norma eyed Jay. "Hmm, have a butter roll! It'll get your brain working again I bet!"
"Yeah, maybe you're right," Jay said slowly, taking the butter roll Norma was holding out to him.
"Hey guys, I wonder how Senny's going," Norma said in between mouthfuls of her banana loaf. "All alone in the Merines village with just C and Shirl! C really needs to make a move if she wants him that bad. Cos Shirl's been really forward lately, don't you guys agree?"
"Hahaha, and what bout you Bubbles? Haven't found anyone yet eh? Want me t' introduce some o' my boys to ya?" Moses said, a huge grin on his face.
"I-" Norma began.
Jay held his breath, eager to know what Norma was going to say. 'Why do I even care?'
"I…A-As if any of them would be interested in me," Norma said, laughing weakly.
Norma had a smile on her face but Jay could see her pained expression underneath. Watching her made Jay feel that he wanted to protect her. He wanted to take the sadness away, the sadness no-one else seemed to notice behind the cheerful expressions. His heart ached as he thought to himself that he would never be the one to protect her or take her pain away.
"Norma," Jay said with a small smile. "Please don't sink so low. There's no need to go and join Moses at his bandit camp."
"Hey! What's so bad bout ma camp? An' all ma boys are the nicest gents on the Legacy!" Moses said defensively.
Norma cracked up. "Red, do you honestly think that? Even the scallop brothers seem to be more gentile!"
"Yes, that's definitely a fact," Jay said. Then after a moment of thought he added, "Uh, a-after this mission's over, you two and the others should uh, visit Pippo, Poppo and Quppo…please. They would like that…"
"Sure! Oooh! I have the best idea! We should hold a party in Scallopville!" Norma clapped her hands together. "The scallop brothers are soooo cute! I'm excited already! We can have a dance floor and hmmm, what else? Oh please JJ? Can we have a party at Scallopland? Please?"
"I-I guess there's no reason not to," Jay said.
"Yay! Thanks JJ!" Norma cheered. "Promise?"
"Uh, I-I can't make any promises," Jay said awkwardly.
"JJ!" Norma whined. "C'mon!"
Norma clasped her hands together and continued pleading Jay. The eagerness in Norma's eyes was hard to resist, so Jay gave in.
"I promise."
"Yes! I win!"
"Aah, Bubbles' started again!" Moses said. "Well, I'm gonna go sleep now. You comin' Jay?"
"I have something I need to do before sleeping. So I'll see you in our room later," Jay replied.
"Okey dokey," Moses yawned as he got up to leave. "Nite Bubbles, nite Jay!"
As Moses closed the door to the stairway, his heavy footsteps could be heard climbing the stairs to where his and Jay's room was. Then the only noise that could be heard was the soft crackling of the flames in the fireplace. However, the silence didn't last for long when Norma broke the silence.
"Hey JJ?" she said cautiously.
"Yeah?" Jay replied as he stared into the flames.
"I have a bad feeling," Norma came out.
Jay was slightly shocked at Norma's statement. He was afraid that she might have picked up on something. But that was impossible. So he tore his eyes away from the fire and looked into Norma's eyes.
"About what?"
"About…something. I don't know actually," Norma admitted. "Haha, kinda stupid huh? I dunno, maybe some gut feeling, you know? Girly instincts?"
"Hmm…"
"JJ, you really are acting kinda weird today. Since we arrived here actually!"
"I don't feel different in any way," Jay lied.
"Oh, okay then," Norma said but there was still something bothering her. "Well anyway! I think I'm tired too now, so I'm going to bed!"
Norma picked up the now empty basket and stood up. Jay also stood up, then he reached his hand to touch Norma gently on the arm.
"JJ? Something wrong?"
"…Norma, I'm sorry," Jay said as a flash of despair crossed his eyes.
"What?"
"Uh! No it's nothing," Jay said, quickly dropping his hand to his side. "Just uh, goodnight Norma…"
Norma didn't reply at first and just stared at Jay for a moment. It was clear to Norma that Jay was definitely hiding something. It hurt her that he wouldn't open up to her. She hated secrets.
Norma then gave Jay a big smile and said, "Nite JJ! See ya in the morning."
Jay nodded and watched her leave the room.
'I guess I'll never see them again now…'Jay thought. 'I'm glad I got to see Norma's smile one last time though. I guess I should go now.'
Jay then left the inn. He shivered as he stepped outside into the night. The wind blew against his face as he walked. When he looked up into the sky, numerous clouds loomed overhead, hiding any sign of the moon.
The moonless sky reminded Jay of the night he had come to this place with Solon. But this time the proper ending would take place.
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That was chapter 4! Hope you enjoyed it! Sorry about all this angst…! Please leave me reviews! Have a great day everyone!
