Chapter Seven
A Beautiful Shawl
Your voice it used to captivate me…
Now I'm bound to the world you left behind
-Evanescence "My Immortal"
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"Quistis?"
The morning sent columns of light into Seifer's room. He slowly opened his eyes weakly. He stretched and looked about; Mina was asleep less than a foot away from him. At the foot of his bed, her silvery dress glimmered in the morning light. Seifer gave it a confuse look and rolled out of bed.
What time did Mina get home from work? He thought, as he looked himself in the mirror. His eyes looked weary, yawning he trudged back to his bed and went under the covers.
He put his hands behind his head and titled his head towards the window. The sun was bright making it hard to see the grand view of Esthar below. The apartment was at the top of the building and the large amount of windows gave Seifer a great view of the city no matter what room he was in.
This drinking, is killing me. I don't remember a goddamn thing. He sighed blew out some air and heard a shuffle of sheets. Mina scooted towards him and rested her head against his chest.
"Good morning," She yawned wrapping one arm around Seifer. Seifer nodded and said nothing. He kept his eyes on the morning outside his room. The silver dress came into view again as the thought puzzled him. Last night he remembered getting a minute of a nap before someone woke him up, what time was it? Damn drinking.
"What time did you come home last night?" He asked calmly. Mina cocked her head oddly as she lifted her neck up.
"From work? I-I never went Seifer, remember?" She gave him a worried stare, "What were you drunk?"
Yes, I was, but I don't want you to know that. Let your mind think whatever, I drink not get drunk. Keep telling yourself that Mina. "No, I barely drank anything last night." Seifer lied straight faced.
"You must've been really tired… oh well." Mina twiddled the gray sheets between her fingers as her eyes danced on Seifer's face. "Well can we talk… about your work?"
Seifer blinked his thin eyes and faced Mina with a confused and slightly angry face, "What about it?"
"Why can't I come?" Mina nearly whined.
"Cause I said so, got that?"
"You got so mad. I don't understand! Seifer if I want to be the—"
"I SAID NO! It's not a playground Mina! It's not even a normal office it's a laboratory! I got to concentrate there, why can't you get that!"
A small quiver went across Mina's bottom lip; she nodded slowly and threw herself on the mattress cuddling the sheets with her back to Seifer. The morning's silence continued and Seifer heard a sniffle.
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Alexston rested his head on his desk. The refreshing smell of fresh coffee filled his nostrils as the scent trailed from the mug near his face. He moaned tiredly and raised his head just enough to sip the warm goodness.
"Alex!"
The lanky brunette turned his head to the voice and saw Lear walking towards him. Alexston raised an eyebrow and sat up slumped in his chair. "What is it?"
"You look awful, what happened. I heard you were sick yesterday." Lear said with friendly concern.
"I just didn't get any sleep last night." Alexston mumbled drinking more coffee and giving a small twitch as he did so.
"It looks like there's a bit more," Lear pressed taking a seat on Alexston's sturdy desktop. Stamping his mug down hard, Alexston stared at Lear.
"I. Am. Fine." Alexston muttered slowly.
Lear jerked his neck backwards at Alexston's cold stare. The two shared a blinking contest until a familiar arrogant voice snapped them out of it. "Good morning you two, what in Hyne's name are you doing?"
Alexston returned his head to rest on the desk as Lear turned to Kyte and shrugged. "Doesn't it look like something is wrong with him? He won't tell me what's up though."
Kyte squinted his eyes and inspected him, "I must agree. You're a bloody mess Aurozoth. What's come over you?"
"Lack of sleep," Alexston said muffled. His answer wasn't fulfilling enough for Pantalemon and Yates. The two went interrogating ceaselessly. "I SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG!" Alexston finally roared silencing the entire writer's room.
The silence held in the air as Alexston sat straight in his chair and continued his coffee. The first to break the ice was the door opening allowing Quistis to enter. All eyes fell on her. She wore a knee-high skirt, which was a black and violent marble design while wearing a tight fitting long sleeve black shirt. Her black boots she often wore came halfway to her knees only revealing a little skin, and as usual, her blue shawl hung on her.
"Good morning everyone," She smiled giving her head a small bow. Small black clips held her two free locks in place. After her greeting, she carried her small file and herself into her office along the long wall of the room.
Kyte and Lear moved their view from Quistis to Alexston immediately. "If you refuse to speak…" Kyte began a sly twinkle in his eye.
"Then we'll just ask Quistis." Lear finished. With that, the two men rushed across the writer's long crowded room. Alexston gulped the coffee in his mouth with haste and leapt after them.
"Stop!!!" He hissed as he reached Quistis' door. Like the other doors in the room in was thick and wooden, with a frosted glass window in the center. Her name in bold letters was centered in the window. Alexston gave dark glares to both his friends. "Don't you dare go in there!" He whispered angrily.
Lear and Kyte exchanged glances and chuckled. They shook their head and paced around Alexston. Lear stood behind him and clasped his shoulders. Kyte stood with his arms crossed before the door.
"Do you really take us for that big of fools Aurozoth?" Kye asked mockingly, "We aren't going in there."
Alexston stood straight puzzled, "You're not?" He stumbled out.
Kyte shook his head as a hand reached behind him and squeezed the doorknob. The grip on Alexston's shoulders tightened.
"Then what are we doing here?" Alexston continued.
The door flew open and with it, Alexston flung into air. He landed on his stomach right in the middle of the office, while hearing the door slam loudly behind him. Alexston groaned and looked forward, a shiny black boot was all that was in view. He raised his view until he saw Quistis staring down at him.
"Alexston?" She questioned. Alexston jumped to his feet and brushed himself off. Quistis walked to her desk and took a seat. She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Well?"
"Well what?" Alexston retorted clueless.
"Why are you here?" Quistis pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Wha- why do you say it like that?" Alexston smiled innocently, "I'm hurt." From across the desk Quistis looked uninterested and awaited his real answer. "We-well," He swooped suavely to Quistis' side, grabbed her hand gently, and brought it to his lips.
"Can a man not just come in here and tell his friend how beautiful she is?" He smiled slyly and kissed the surface of Quistis' hand.
Quistis slid her hand from Alexston's grasp and shook her head softly, "A man can do whatever without question unless he is thrown into a room." Her eyebrow rose slightly. Alexston chuckled and stood. He brushed himself off and stood in front of the desk.
"You know Yates and Pantelemon, crazy idiots."
"Are you sure there's nothing you want to say?"
Alexston nodded and winked kindly. Quistis gave a small shrug as she slipped her shawl off her shoulders. "Very well then." She held the blue membrane in her arms and tossed it towards Alexston who caught it easily. "Hang that up as you go please?" She asked as she turned her head back to her work.
The blue shawl glimmered in Alexston's hands. He held it and gave it a long stare. Flashes of Quistis in a corner crying returned to him as his grip tightened. Angry he let the shawl over the ground and let it drop.
Immediately after hearing its small plop, Quistis' head shot up in shock. She looked from Alexston to ground, "Alexston! Pick that up." She snapped. Without reply Alexston stood, without care of the garment. A groan escaped Quistis as she moved forward and snatched the shawl from the ground.
"If you didn't want to hang it, you could have said so." She hissed as she hung it on a small peg beside the door of the office.
"Quistis…" Alexston started, the blonde turned to him with an irritated look. "Why is that so important to you?"
Quistis released a sigh, "What importance Alexston? I take good care of my things; that's all. Is that wrong?"
Alexston shook his head slowly, "If I dropped a coat of yours, you wouldn't have looked up. If I dropped your clock and broke it, you wouldn't have gotten so mad! WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT DAMN SHAWL!"
The grip on the shawl tightened as Quistis pulled it from the peg and kept it in her arms. "HE gave it to you didn't he?!" Alexston continued to shout as he moved a step closer. "You need to get over him Quistis! Three years!" Alexston threw a hand out and grabbed the shawl from Quistis' arms.
"And the recovery starts with this!" With that, Alexston flung the blue membrane out the open window near Quistis' desk.
"NOO!" Quistis cried rushing to the window a moment too late. Her eyes watered with shock, anger, and sadness. She gripped the windowsill trying to contain her frustration.
"I'm your friend Quistis, I'm trying to help you—"
A hand went across Alexston's face making him see the opposite wall clearly. A burning sensation went across right cheek. His arms stayed limp at his side as he let the burn turn into a tinkling wildfire on his face.
"If you were a friend, then you would stay out of things that need not concern you!" Quistis hissed storming out.
She left the door open allowing Pantelamon and Lear peer inside. "Alex?" Lear called in shock.
Kyte hesitantly walked in and grabbed Alexston by the shoulders and gave him a small easy shake, "Come off it man, what the bloody hell happened?"
Alexston slowly moved his lanky arm and brought a hand to his right cheek allowing his cool palm to sooth the fire on his face. "I—I went too far."
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Thanks for the reviews guys! Sorry for the delay, I have exams this week.
