Chapter 8
Apollo was sitting down after attempting to get back up.
"Man this was easier when I was a kid!" Apollo said. He took several breaths. Phoenix rolled next to him.
"Really it seems easy to me Mr. Birthday Boy," Phoenix said shrugging. Apollo looked up at Phoenix. "Well I know it's not the safest thing in the world but Trucy was head of your surprise committee." He skated off.
"That makes sense," Apollo said getting back up. He stabilized himself against the wall. "But I'm never roller skating again." Trucy giggled rolling up to him.
"Come on Apollo!" Trucy exclaimed. "This is so fun!" Apollo nodded.
"Fun yes," Apollo said smiling. "But I hate falling." He went on the rink. "If you need me I'll be skating around the walls." He skated off. Trucy giggled. Pearl skated to her.
"I forgot how much fun this is," Pearl said. "Though it's not the best time of year to do it." She put her hand on her hip.
"Hey!" Trucy said. "I planned this party before I knew when Polly's birthday was. It's not my fault that his birthday's in December." Pearl nodded.
"Yeah," She said. "So is Vera coming?" She looked excited. Trucy nodded slyly. Pearl almost squealed. She stopped herself though.
"Come on let's skate," Trucy said skating on the rink. Pearl did her best to catch up to her. Apollo was having trouble skating even leaning up to the wall.
"Come on Herr Forehead," Klavier said skating next to him. "Try skating away from the wall." Apollo laughed sarcastically.
"I will," Apollo said. "Once I learn how to skate."
"Yeah," Ema said. "By that time Klavier may be Santa."
"I hope you mean at the Christmas party," Klavier said. "I'm not old! Besides Santa has a red suit. I'm not even wearing green let alone red."
"Scientifically speaking you are," Ema said smirking. "Purple is a combination of blue and red." Klavier laughed.
"Yeah I guess," Klavier said. Apollo laughed. "Well I hope you don't stay on the wall forever but I got some skating to do." Klavier skated off. Apollo laughed.
"He makes it look easy," Apollo said. Ema laughed.
"We'll everyone has their skills," Ema laughed skating after Klavier. Apollo got off the rink. He skated over to the table. Iris laughed.
"How come you're not skating?" Apollo asked.
"Well someone has to stay steady at all time to cut the cake," Iris said. She sighed at Phoenix who was waving at Iris. "Isn't he the best?" Apollo shrugged. Iris looked over at the door. "I think your last guest is here."
Apollo turned to the door seeing Vera coming inside. Apollo gasped at her sight. It wasn't much of a difference in her usual outfit except that she was wearing pants and her hair was tied in a ribbon. She looked so beautiful.
Apollo skated to her. He nearly fell once he reached her. Vera giggled.
"Nice outfit," Apollo commented. Vera blushed.
"Nice party," Vera said smiling. Apollo nodded.
"Yeah it is fun," Apollo said. He looked at his friends skating. "Who knew Mr. Wright knew how to skate?" Vera nodded.
"Um where do I put the present?" Vera asked. Apollo pointed her to the table.
"Well I better go see Trucy and Pearl," Apollo said skating off. Vera nodded as she walked over to Iris.
"Glad you could make it," Iris said smiling. Vera smiled putting the present down. "Don't worry it'll be fine." Iris winked as Vera went to go get skates.
Once on the skating rink she saw Apollo and skated over to him. She stumbled when she reached him. Apollo caught her arm leading her to the wall.
"I don't skate much," Vera said. Apollo waved to Trucy who was leaving the rink. Trucy gave Apollo a thumbs up sign. A Christmas tune filled the air. "Funny I haven't heard that one in years."
"Yeah," Apollo said grinning. "Too bad my birthday is so close to Christmas." He shook his head smiling. "Not the same." Vera giggled.
"It's only the beginning of December," Vera said. Klavier came over.
"Hey birthday boy," he said. "Time for cake!" Apollo smiled skating after Klavier. Vera huffed.
'Exactly when do I feel like expressing my feelings to him,' she thought skating over to the table. There everyone sang happy birthday to Apollo and he blew out the candles.
"I swear it feels silly at my age," Apollo said. Iris nudged him.
"Please enjoy it," Iris said. Apollo laughed. Phoenix cut the cake giving Apollo the first piece. After he ha the first bite everyone else dug into their own pieces.
"Present time!" Trucy exclaimed. Apollo nodded. Phoenix handed him cards. Apollo took them. He read them aloud. After reading Klavier's he looked confused.
"Really," Apollo said to Klavier. Klavier laughed.
"Oh I couldn't resist," Klavier snickered. "But don't worry that's not all I got you Forehead." Phoenix gave him the last card.
"This one's from Lamiroir," Phoenix said. Apollo looked up at him.
"She didn't have to do that," Apollo said opening the card. Phoenix looked up at Iris and smiled. Apollo gave the card a good read. His eyes watered.
"You ok Polly," Trucy asked. Apollo shook his head.
"Don't know why I'm crying," he said. "I just feel happy." Trucy put her hand on Apollo's shoulder. "I'll be fine. Really." After the cards and most of the presents Apollo finally got to Vera's present.
'Oh boy,' Vera thought. 'He's going to open it.' She crossed her fingers and closed her eyes. 'I hope he likes it.' Apollo unwrapped his present.
"It's a painting," Apollo said. Everyone at the party looked at it. "Vera?" Vera opened her eyes. "Could you explain?" Vera looked at the painting.
"It's um." Vera's face blushed. "Well it's a prince over a sleeping princess." She looked at Apollo. "Sleeping Beauty was my favorite fairytale." Apollo nodded.
"It's really good," Apollo said smiling. "Thanks." Vera nodded. She smiled as Apollo complimented highly on the painting.
However through the compliments Vera didn't find that Apollo understood the real reason she gave him the painting. Vera realized that Apollo didn't understand that she was the princess and he was the prince.
"I have to go to the bathroom," she said. She skated to the bathroom. She let loose some of her tears.
'Of course he didn't realize,' Vera thought. 'He only sees me as a friend.' Vera took some paper towels and dries her tears.
Meanwhile back at the table Apollo was thinking as his friends went back to the rink. Iris stood over the wall watching Phoenix.
'Vera's present,' Apollo thought. 'It was well painted. I love it.' He smiled at the painting. 'Like it's painter.' He stopped cold. 'Did I just say that?' He went back to the rink to get rid of the thought. 'I can't believe I thought that. We're just friends! It would get weird.'
"Forehead," Klavier said snapping Apollo out of his thought. "You do know you ran into a wall right?" Apollo nodded getting up. Klavier helped him. "Hey man it's ok. Birthdays are emotional times."
"Mr. Gavin," Apollo said. Klavier looked at him. "I think I'm in love." Klavier got wide eyes. "With a girl." Klavier sighed clearly relieved. "Hey!"
"Well that's good for you," Klavier said. "But take it from me tell her soon." Ema skated to them. "It'll be worth it." Apollo nodded as Klavier skated off with Ema. Vera came out of the bathroom.
'Oh what am I going to say?' Vera thought. She took a breath in as she went over to the D.J.
"Excuse me," Vera said. Her voice was barely audible. "Excuse me!" The D.J. looked at her. "Can I make a request?" Once her request was in she skated toward a Apollo.
"Hi," he said. Vera nodded. "I liked your gift." Vera nodded again this time smiling.
"I worked hard on it," Vera said. The Christmas song she requested played then. "I knew you'd like it." Apollo looked at Vera listening to the music.
"Make my wish come true," Vera whispered. Apollo didn't hear though. She looked down. She smiled as they skated. She smiled. Apollo looked over to her.
'Maybe I should tell her," Apollo thought. Phoenix passed them. He smiled.
"Go for it," he whispered. Apollo looked shocked as Phoenix sped off.
"Apollo," Vera said. Apollo looked at her. "I do love this song." She smiled. "It was one of my favorites. I mean it still is."
"That's nice," Apollo said.
"But now it has a different meaning," Vera smiled. Apollo looked at her confused. "Be-because I find myself in the artist's position."
"Vera," Apollo said.
"I know it's your birthday," Vera said. "But it's true. And the lights are shining like you are." She blushed. "But my Christmas wish is." She stopped.
"Vera," Apollo said.
"Make my wish come true"
"All I want for Christmas is," Vera said. "You!" Apollo froze.
"What?" he said. He fell over. "Little help." Vera helped him back over to the table. Vera blushed a lot. So did Apollo.
"What do you mean?" Apollo eventually said. Vera started crying.
'I was afraid of this,' Vera thought. 'Oh god it's hurts.'
"Mr. Justice, I mean Apollo," Vera said. He looked over at her. "I really like you." She blushed. Apollo sighed. Then he did something neither of them expected.
He kissed her.
Vera blushed but smiled.
"Me too, Vera," Apollo said smiling. "Me too." He put his arm around her. Iris walked up to them.
"You ok?"
"OH I'M FINE!" Apollo shouted. The people on the skating rink looked at him. He flushed out of embarrassment. Vera smiled leaning into Apollo.
"Apollo!" Trucy yelled. "Are you sure?" She was smiling. "I don't think you're just fine." She and Pearl laughed. Klavier laughed as well.
"Give Forehead some rest," he said. "He had a long night." He smiled at Apollo. After a few minutes everyone went back on the skating rink. Apollo looked at Vera.
"Wanna go back on?" he asked. Vera smiled as he took her hand and led her to the rink hand in hand.
AN: The end! Hoped you like the ending and the story. And have a Merry Christmas. Those who thought it ended near Christmas pat yourselves on the back. Those who didn't hang your head in pride.
Now I originally planned to incorporate "A Whole New World" into the story but who can't have everything can you . But I hoped you liked it and have an excellent Christmas (or day if you don't celebrate Christmas)
