"When schemes are laid in advance, it is surprising how often the circumstances fit in with them." William Osler
Act 2: Attack of the Fangirls...Coming Soon
"How am I going to tell him that I'm not going?" Ahiru sighed.
"You have to! Femio specially asked you out to dinner with him! You can't just refuse!" Lillie told her indignantly.
"I told you, I can't do that...I'm just not interested." Ahiru answered with a self-important air. "I've got to tell Femio that I'm sorry, but I just can't do it. I should have done it at first, but I was just too stunned to say anything."
That gave Lillie pause. Then, she grinned evilly at Ahiru. "It's part of the plan!"
"What plan?" Ahiru asked suspiciously.
"O.K., I'll tell you. Firstly, make sure you tell Femio you have lessons with Fakir before you leave. Stress how amazing Fakir is and stuff like that. Arrive just late enough to your dance session to make Fakir slightly annoyed. Say something nonchalantly like, 'I just went on a date, nothing big'. And then, you can say something else about how much you think Femio is adorable, or whatever you want. When you're finished, tell me so I can get myself some popcorn!"
As Lillie clapped her hands in girlish glee, Pique had to admit she found her interest piqued by the idea. However, she also felt obligated to speak out against Lillie's scheme.
"That's terrible advice!" Pique interjected. "They'll both be really mad at her. She'll ruin her chances with them both!"
"They won't be mad at her." Lille said, "they'll be mad at each other. You'll thank me once the fireworks start!"
"I won't do that." Ahiru said stubbornly, crossing her arms like a petulant child. "I don't want to even go."
"You will." Lillie said firmly. "And what's more, you're going to look gorgeous."
"No! I refuse to let you dress me up like last time for that one Christmas party. It was terrible! It didn't stop itching until a week later and I was covered in red rashes!" Ahiru protested.
"Here's a deal." Pique said, "Ahiru, why don't you go eat dinner with Femio, tell him you've got to go and then don't say why, and then make your way to the dance studio."
Lillie opened her mouth to defend her original plan, but Pique silenced her. "Ahiru will not mess with people's feelings like you told her to, but she will let you pick out what she wears…and it can't be sparkly, itchy, or put her in any kind of discomfort."
Ahiru sighed. "I want to stress no discomfort. I guess it's the lesser of the two evils, so I agree with this plan. Thanks, Pique."
"No problem. Lillie, what about you?"
Lillie looked resigned, but then she brightened. "I'll make her so stunning that…everyone will get jealous! And it'll be so fun to watch the love octagon with Ahiru in the center. You know, I bet that at the end all of them will leave her because they think they have no chance with her, and then she'll be forever alone! Then we can order her a bunch of cats to start her life as a forever alone cat lady!"
"Thanks, Lillie." Ahiru said.
Thirty minutes later, after Ahiru had gone, Pique told Lillie, "I think you're more excited for this than she is."
Fakir, leaning against a lamppost as he read a newspaper, was certain that he wouldn't be recognized. Although his green eyes were distinguishable, as was his spiked dark hair, both of those features would be downplayed with his beret and oversized glasses.
It's not stalking.
It's not stalking.
It's not stalking.
It's… protection. I can't lose her like I lost my parents. Yes, that's what it is. I'm going to be there to make sure nothing bad happens. He told himself.
He wasn't really sure of his own motives. Why would he want to tag along on Ahiru's dinner with Femio?
Anyway, it was too late to turn back.
Fakir noticed Ahiru running as fast as she could towards the fountain. About time, he thought. It's two minutes till six. Fakir was a person who believed in punctuality.
Without warning, a hurried girl in a trenchcoat bumped into Ahiru. Apologizing profusely, she gathered her packages from the floor. Ahiru helped her politely out of consideration, her red handbag dangling from her arm as she knelt.
Wait, where's Femio?
Ahiru seemed to ask herself the same question as he did. Holding onto her small red handbag, she paced around the fountain anxiously.
That's what you get for going on a date with Femio, Fakir thought savagely. First he asks you to dinner and then leaves you wondering where he is. I hope he never shows up.
Unfortunately, Femio didn't arrive as late as Fakir would have liked. Fakir spotted him before Ahiru did. Femio strolled up to Ahiru at twelve minutes past six with a small bouquet of apricot-colored roses.
"Oh, woe is me! I stayed too long in the flower shop picking out the right roses for you, and how the time flew! Forgive my heinous offense against you. As promised, you shall have your aforementioned bouquet—only this time, as a peace offering. I must appeal to the heavens to punish this poor sinner!"
Ahiru felt a laugh bubbling within her at his overly dramatic language. She swallowed her giggles and accepted the roses. Femio gallantly offered his arm to her. She took it politely, and together they ambled down the street.
Fakir stayed in place for long enough to avoid suspicion. Just as he was about to trail after Femio and Ahiru, he noticed a group of girls walking in the same direction. This wouldn't have been a strange occurrence had not all of the girls been treading with utmost care to avoid noise. The usual chattering was absent; in its place was secretive whispering.
Fakir skulked closer in an attempt to hear what they were saying. Shushed whispers. A sign of something suspicious, for sure.
"Roses…that girl!"
"Who…a 'cute' café… didn't it…"
"Planned…for now…be quiet…"
Eyes narrowed, Fakir pulled on his navy beret emphatically. Something strange was going on, and he would find out exactly what it was. He had no doubt that the girls were from Femio's fan club as he recognized some of them from the lower classes; Fakir had his own fan club, and they were nothing short of incredibly annoying.
However, he had the feeling that this fan club was scheming for something more than being infuriatingly bothersome as usual.
[A/N] The fangirls are planning something...but what?
