Graduation Day
Author's Note: All right, first off I got say thanks for all the reviews I got for this story so far. I'm really surprised that this story has managed to keep you all's interest. So yeah, this one's dedicated to all of you who have continued to read and support it. As usual Resident Evil will never used in the possessive tense by me. This is Chapter 9.
Chapter 9- A Fleeting Dream
"Okay Leon, spill. Why are coming with us to this party?" You should be back at home getting Claire to cancel her date or whatever to go out with you." That's the very first thing Leon heard as soon as he, Sherry, and Ashley got into the car and shut the door. Sherry was in the back seat while Ashley grabbed the front. Leon just looked up at the rearview window with a look of amusement as he began to pull off.
"I can't get anything pass you two can I?"
"Of course not", Ashley told him sternly which made Leon turn to her in surprise. He should have known these two would have gotten onto him sooner or later. While they were getting dressed, Sean came to pick Claire up for their "not a date" date. Chris and Jill had fallen asleep on the couch leaving Leon to go answer the door. Of course he was civil but at the same time, he wanted to knock the shit out of this guy. And the bad thing was, he was a nice guy. He really was. But Leon hated him only because he had Claire. Nah, scratch that, he just hated the fact that he had got to Claire first.
"Why does it seem like everyone and their mama knows how I feel about Claire?" Leon wondered outloud as he shook his head. Ashley snorted.
"Cause it's so freakin obvious it's not even really funny Leon. I could tell be the way you lit up when me and her came back today. She knows. The question is why won't you just take her out already." Leon was about to respond until Sherry added in her two cents.
"Yeah Yeah, we know Sean's her boyfriend and all that crap. Yada yada yada. But you can atleast spend more time with her than you're doing. You only got like 4 or 5 days left here. The least you can do is that. And who knows, she might just choose you over him." Of course when Leon looked at her in the mirror again like she was jackass she had to plaster on her 2000 watt smile.
"I mean really. Do you think he can handle the real Claire?" Not the work all day, rest all night Claire but the one we lived with." Leon had to smile at that.
"Yeah, he wouldn't last that long. I remember when punched a hole through the wall because she was pissed after watching that hockey game one time. That was funny." Sherry laughed as she remembered the moment.
"Yeah. That was funny. The point is Leon, I know you're protecting Ashley. She's probably just as much as a trouble magnet as me. But when we get home, I'm telling you to take Claire out. Tomorrow. Spend the whole day with her." Ashley nodded. She was listening to the conversation and she was beginning to see just what made Leon Kennedy tick. Whoever this was next to her, she had never seen until she came here. He was brighter, happier. But unfortunately his bad jokes still remained as well. She chuckled at that thought.
"Fine Sherry. As soon as tonight's over I will tell Claire that tomorrow we are spending the day together. We'll do friend stuff okay." Sherry nodded but again she noticed Leon looking back in his rearview. He had done this way too many times during the drive.
'Something's up'. She thought to herself. She just hoped whatever it was, it wouldn't have to deal with her running from something zombie related or messing up her dress. God knows she paid too much money for this thing.
It was another 20 minutes before they arrived to the hotel and Sherry was greeted by a myriad of people. Leon assumed she must have been friends with just about everybody in the whole school. Then again, he was just glad she even made it to high school. Ashley got out of the car and almost on instinct moved to stand closer to Leon who was checking out the surroundings.
"What are you looking at Leon?" Ashley asked him as he they began to walk towards Sherry, who was waving them over to her and her friends to introduce them. Ashley had seen this look on his face before when they were in Spain. Too many times. It was a very likely possibility that someone was watching them. Not wanting to jump to conclusions she tried to shake the paranoia from her head.
"Nothing Ashley, let's go meet Sherry's friends." With that the two proceeded on to the group.
15 minutes later
After introductions and the like Sherry made it very clear that she did not want Leon playing big brother to her and Ashley thus explaining why Leon was outside the door making conversation with another poor soul in the same boat as he.
"Hey, aren't you Leon Kennedy. One of the Umbrella Resistance Members? I remember seeing in the papers and on t.v all the time a few years back. Then you all just disappeared." Leon couldn't help but grin at this kid who obviously was a conspiracy nut. He must've have spent his whole 4 years in high school following up on Umbrella. It was kinda flattering in a geeky sort of way.
"Yeah, that would be me. I'm surprised you recognize me. I've been out of the spotlight for a few years. Hey what's your name?" Leon asked as he pointed to some nearby chairs and offered for him to sit. It seemed like this was going to be his conversation buddy for the rest of the night. In high school Leon never followed up with all that X-files, corrupted science crap. Now he was living testimony. And 6 years later he's sitting outside of a high school party having a conversation with some kid about it. Life was definitely funny.
"Andrew. Okay now that I know that it's you.. what in the hell are you doing here at this party dude?" By the look on his face he was obviously stumped by the fact that a government agent and someone as famous as Leon was just chilling out in the lobby of this hotel. Leon smirked at the look on Andrew's face.
"Yeah, I can see your point. Well, do you know Sherry Birkin?"
"Sherry? Yeah, I know her. We used to chill out sometimes. She was a loner for a while. Hung around with the rest of us loners. Next thing you know she's like one of the most popular kids in the whole school. I haven't spoken to her much since sophomore year." Leon listened with thoughts going through his head. He remembered before he left when Sherry would always stay close to him and Claire everywhere they went and didn't want to meet new friends. It made him proud that she eventually overcame that fear, yet he kinda felt sorry that she and Andrew didn't keep hanging out. He seemed like a pretty cool kid.
"You see, me and my friend Claire…." Leon started before and Andrew interrupted.
"Claire as in Claire Redfield?" Leon nodded.
"Yeah. In Raccoon City Claire found Sherry. Her parents were Umbrella scientist who got caught up in the outbreak. We've been like surrogate parents/big siblings to her ever since." Andrew's eyes practically bulged out of his head after hearing this.
"Oh my God! You're telling me she survived Raccoon City! I cannot believe that. I mean don't get me wrong I like Sherry and all but she doesn't seem the type to be that tough." Leon had to smile.
"Yeah, she was on the short side too. I mean shorted than your typical 12 year old. Now's she taller than Claire."
"Man, that's awesome. That explains why she was so quiet when she first came to school here. Damn, I wish weren't graduating just yet. I would love to talk to her again." Leon looked over at Andrew. Did Sherry even have a boyfriend? He didn't even know. Not that she needed one but wouldn't be something if one of Sherry's somewhat geeky friends decided to hit on her at a party. Hey, Leon could deal with that. Ashley however was off limits for the moment. He'd have to further investigate the guys trying to hit on her.
"Andrew, why aren't you in there? I mean this is a party and you don't look the bodyguard type." Andrew rolled his eyes but was grinning nonetheless.
"Well, I was in there for a while. I just wasn't having that much fun. I mean most of my friends aren't here yet and a lot of those people in there. Well they can be jerkoffs." Leon let out a low laugh knowing good and well how true that could be. He remembered high school well. Hell, he was friends with half of them.
"I can see what you mean. Still I think that you should…." At that moment Sherry decided to peek out and check on Leon. She was about to ask him what he was up to before she noticed Andrew sitting next to him.
"Andrew? Hey how have you been?" Andrew looked surprised that she even remembered him. He let that thought be known.
"Don't remember you? Of course I do. We just didn't get to see each other too much after 10th grade. What are you doing out here with Leon of all people?" She asked with sarcasm oozing from her voice. Andrew grinned.
"Catching up on your life story." At that Sherry's jaw dropped and she slapped Leon on the arm
"Leon!" Andrew stood up grinning. "It's all right Sherry. I thought it was pretty cool. I'm about to go back in now, you coming?" Sherry gave Leon another look before turning to Andrew with a grin that only Claire herself could have taught her.
"If this is your way of trying to talk to me right before graduation to tell me you like me, that would be cool." Andrew looked taken back but smiled back at her. Leon gave him a thumbs up as the two walked back into the party. Leon decided to go follow them and check up on Ashley.
As he was about to reach for the door handle, he noticed something sticking out from the crowd of people standing outside the lobby door. A woman. In a blood red dress. And next to her a man. To the average person he was just another person waiting for a room. He couldn't get a good look at there faces. But Leon could tell easily that they were both armed. And they damn sure weren't the police. Slowly making his way to a side door he stepped out trying not to look too suspicious. He kept his eyes on the duo the entire time. Coming around the corner he noticed that they were looking at the spot he had previously been in.
'Must be looking for me.' He thought. After apparently realizing this the two persons started to walk off towards a less lit and populated area. Leon continued to follow.
5 minutes later Leon found himself walking into what looked like a small alley. Yeah, something was definitely coming his way.
Before he could turn around the mystery man he was following was coming at him with a knife not too dissimilar from his own. Tactical. This was just great. As this assailant, who was obvious trained in close encounter combat attempted to take his first swing, Leon dodged it with easy and quickly rolled to the side. Pulling out his knife he could feel the grin tugging at his mouth. Even if it has only been a month since Spain, he had to admit he missed some of the action.
"I'm not even gonna ask who you are. But I will tell you that I'm off duty. So I'm expecting overtime for this." Leon joked as his knife connected with knife of the assailants. With no emotion once so ever he charged back at Leon swiping his weapon twice before catching Leon in the stomach with his foot. This sent him flying back. Hitting the ground Leon simply rolled backwards before pushing himself back up and throwing the knife at the merc or whatever he was. Soon the knife was in his leg and Leon was making his way over with his Blacktail pistol in hand.
"Okay, that was fun. Now this is the part where I put hold you at gunpoint and ask why you were following me? Looking up at Leon, the man in black simply laughed. Sensing the slight breeze behind him, he heard the cocking of the handgun behind his head.
"T.O.F.U the car's in the front. We got a medic waiting for you." The mystery woman said. Leon just looked at him as he got up and started limping towards the light part of the end of the alley. That guys name was TOFU!? After he was around the corner, Leon heard the safety being put back on the gun. Slowly he turned around and was face to face with Ada.
"Ada, we gotta stop meeting like this. Can't we just arrange lunch or something?" Leon started before leaning back onto a wall. Ada just smiled at him.
"I see you and Ashley are plaga free. Have there been any side effects?" She asked as she started to move closer to him. Leon instinctively started to move his hand towards his chest slight.
"Other than the nightmares, painkillers, and my growing dislike of the Spanish language, no not too much. Is it Ashley or Sherry Wesker's trying to get data on Ada? You can atleast tell me that much."
"Both of them actually. Ashley seems to be free of any serious side affects as well as you. And Wesker just wanted to wish Sherry a happy graduation. He said that she was a sweet kid. You know Leon, I did have orders to terminate you in case our cover was blown. You are off duty aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am. Sherry's graduation. But I see you already know about that. Ada, I'm going to say this once. Whatever you and Wesker are up to, I know we're going to have to stop it. But for this little bit of me time, I'm willing to let it slide if you would do the same. I mean I am off you know. You should take off a few days yourself." Ada looked at him thoughtfully before nodding.
"That actually sounds good Leon. I wanted to se the Washington memorial but I think it's best if I stay of D.C for a while. I may go north to New York instead."
"I would check out Broadway." Leon added a few seconds later. Ada sighed softly.
"Yeah, that does sound good. I heard the Lion King was playing there. I'm a big Disney fan." Leon just chuckled at this revelation. He never would've thought that. Next thing he knew Ada was walking away from him and towards the light at the end of the alley.
"Hey Leon, don't let Claire slip away from you. She's definitely a keeper. See you around." She called back before disappearing around the corner and into the stream of people flooding the street. Standing still for a second he thought about what in the hell just happened. Shaking his head he started back to the hotel to make sure Sherry and Ashley were ok.
Later that night after returning home
"And that's end of the story." Claire was in shock that all of this took place in a matter of hours. She placed a blanket over her brother and Jill, who were still sleeping on the couch. Nobody wanted to disturb them.
"Wow. Our lives are anything but normal." She noted before turning of the last lamp and walking up the stairs with Leon who was getting sleepier with each step.
Stopping by the guest room Leon and Claire peeked in to see Ashley asleep in the bed and Sherry conked out on a makeshift bed consisting of a mattress and cover. Claire smiled at the scene.
"She's really grown up. I still can't believe it." She said softly with disbelief still in her voice. She slightly leaned into Leon's chest as he stood behind her. Rather or not she did it on purpose he didn't know but either way it felt good. He slowly wrapped his arm around her as if he was answering her comment. She didn't react. She just eased into his embrace.
"Yeah, she has. I'm gonna call it a night. Are you off tomorrow?" Leon asked as began to let go of her. She nodded before closing the door and started walking to her own. Leon gave her a genuine smile for no reason other than he wanted to.
"We're going out tomorrow. All day." Claire slowly returned it as well before wishing him goodnight. He did the same before closing the door. Claire stared at his door a little longer with the same smile on her face before closing her own.
Author's Note
Oh my God! I finished the chapter. Not too much more left I think. Maybe 4 or 5 chapters tops. I gotta say thank you to all the reviewers and those who are still following this story. They really have given me a boost of inspiration to continue. As long as I know you want more of this I'll keep writing it. Please continue to show the support. I know it's been a while since the last update so I hope that this came out good and was worth the wait. Until next time Hell Yeah!
