Chapter 10: Free At last

Days followed into weeks and weeks followed into months. Cagalli hasn't heard or seen Athrun for many weeks. If he was at school he was avoiding her in the hallways or anywhere. Cagalli has even called Yzak to see where he was but Yzak couldn't help her. She finally gave up after a couple of weeks. Cagalli didn't know what else to do. She felt that what had happened that night scared him off in a way.

Cagalli was at home looking through her mail as she got a new one. When she opened it the email was from Athrun. As she read it Cagalli now understood what was going on. Athrun wrote in the email that he was having trouble with telling Alex how he felt about her. Cagalli also felt mad because if he wasn't able to tell Alex how he felt then obviously he still loves her, even when he told her that he loved her more. Cagalli rolled her eyes then signed off.

Cagalli decided to text Lacus and see if she wanted to hang out. Lacus texted back telling her sure and to meet her at her house. Cagalli got up and ran out of the house and started to walk down the street. A text showed on her phone and to her surprise it was from Athrun, telling her to meet him at the park. Cagalli sighed, wrote back Lacus telling her what was going on, and turned around to head to the park. Cagalli saw dark clouds coming in and thunder started up. She stopped and looked up at the sky.

"Please don't start raining. Please."

Cagalli kept walking and when she was at the park Athrun was sitting on a swing staring at the ground. Rain started to come down and Cagalli pulled up her hood and walked towards Athrun.

"Athrun? Are you alright?"

He looked up at her then stood up and took a step towards her.

"Cagalli. I am so sorry."

Cagalli crossed her arms and leaned on her hip.

"I don't understand you Athrun. At all. Where the hell have you been for like the past 2 months?"

He looked down and sat back down on the swing.

"I've just been thinking lately about things. I swear to you that no one has been with me. No one has known were I've been. Not even your brother."

She shook her head and uncrossed her arms.

"Ok, so then why did it take so long?"

"Cagalli you don't understand. How bad it feels to be stuck between to beautiful women I love and I can't let go of."

"Right. Athrun I may not know how it feels to be stuck in between two people but I know how they feel if they find out that that person is cheating on them. Alex may not have cared but I did. I loved you and I showed you in every possible way that I was. But yet you couldn't of told me to my face that you were cheating on me until I heard you talking to Alex on the phone that one day and then you finally told me. Do you have any idea how that feels? Do you?"

Athrun sighed and shook his head.

"I guess I don't."

Cagalli moved closer to him and sat in swing next to him.

"Athrun you can't do this to people. You can't."

"I know Cagalli. I'm trying so hard to let one of you go. Really I am. I want to let Alex go so bad. There's just something about you that I want to keep seeing you. You make me feel different about the world and I feel that you have changed me. Please help me Cagalli."

"Athrun I don't know if I can do anything. You have to change this by yourself."

"How can I do that?"

"Maybe you should start by telling Alex how you feel."

"She will not be able to handle that. Trust me."

"It's worth a shot Athrun."

Athrun put his head down and put his face in his hands. The rain started to get heavier and heavier. Cagalli looked up and closed her eyes then sighed. She got up and squatted in front of Athrun and grabbed his hands. Athrun looked up at her and squeezed her hands.

"Athrun I love you and you know that. I will try to help as best I can but I don't know what I can do. You know?"

Athrun nodded his head and put his head back down. Cagalli let go of his hands and raised his head. Athrun stared at her then put his hand on her cheek. Cagalli grabbed his hand with hers then hugged him.

Athrun tightened his grip on her neck and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you Cagalli and I'm gonna do everything I can to break away from Alex. I promise."

Cagalli leaned her chin on his chest and looked up at him. She nodded her head then kissed him.

"I know you will Athrun."

Cagalli let go of him and stood up.

"Come on. Let's go somewhere where it's not raining ok?"

Athrun smiled then got up. They walked down the sidewalk hand in hand. They both decided on going to Lacus's house. As they were walking Athrun explained everything to Cagalli and of course apologized in almost every sentence. When they reached Lacus's house Kira was on the front porch waiting. When he saw Athrun Kira ran as fast as he could then hugged Athrun.

"Oh my god. Where the hell have you been man?"

Athrun laughed and explained everything all over again to Kira. They all walked into the house and Lacus was in there waiting with some dry clothes for the both of them. Cagalli and Lacus went in Lacus's room.

"So what's the deal with you and Athrun now?"

I smiled at her as I was putting on the t-shirt.

"I don't know. I mean we kissed and hugged but I don't know if that even means anything for us."

Lacus shrugged her shoulders and sat next to Cagalli.

"Give it more time Cag's. He will come around and forget about Alex for good."

"I know. He said that he was going to tell her everything and he promised me so I guess that means something to him. You know?"

"I do. But I don't think he had to disappear for like 2 months just to tell you all that."

"Yeah. But think about it. You might of done the same. I know I would of. Getting stuck between two girls is hard to pick one."

"Well I didn't think it was right for him to cheat like that, especially with you."

"I think he learned his lesson."

"Hopefully."

I looked at her and pushed her gently. The both of us walked down stairs to hang out with the rest of them. Kira and Lacus called everyone else to come over to hang out since we haven't done that in a while. Well since Athrun disappear.

Yzak and Shiho came about an hour later with Dearka and Miriallia.

Everyone said hi to Athrun, asked him questions, and was angry that he left like that. We all hung out for the rest of the day and when it was time for me to head home Athrun walked with me.

"Cagalli?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for helping me out."

"Your welcome. That's what friends do. They help each other out."

Athrun looked down and put his hands in his pockets.

"Is that all we are Cagalli? Friends?"

Cagalli stopped and stared at him.

"Athrun what do you want me to say we are. You're still with Alex Athrun. I'm not going down that road again."

"Ok. Ok. I get it. Then can we just be friends?"

He looked down.

"Good friends?"

Cagalli laughed.

"Yes and I will help you out with this, All right? But under one condition?"

"Name it."

"No funny business between us all right?"

"Deal!"

Cagalli nodded her head then sighed.

"Well I better get inside. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"

Athrun nodded his head. Cagalli laughed then kissed Athrun on the cheek.

"Bye."

"Bye."

As Cagalli walked inside Athrun watched then walked down the street. He felt better now that he and Cagalli were cool again. But he missed her badly.

Athrun got a text message from Alex asking him if he wanted to come over. It was so tempting but he rejected her and went back to Yzak's house. Yzak was sitting on the steps as Athrun walked up.

"Hey. Where have you been?"

"I was with Cagalli talking things over with her."

"Oh. Are ya'll cool now?"

"Yeah. I think so."

"Great. Well Shiho is gonna be coming over and stuff. So um maybe you could leave for the night? You know?"

Athrun started laughing.

"Sure Yzak. Anything for you master."

Yzak leaned to one side and shook his head.

"Well you know I would like a little privacy without you being around so much you know?"

"Hey just remember that you invited me to live with you. Besides we planned this for our last year in high anyways remember?"

"Yeah I do but I didn't think you would be around as much as you are."

"Uh its my house to you know. I'm allowed to be in it."

Yzak started to laugh.

"Yeah but please Athrun one night. I told Shiho we would have one night to ourselves and I would really like to give it to her. We've been planning this for a while now and I would like to go through with our plans."

"Ok, ok, ok. Goodness. Don't get your panties in a bunch I'll see if I can stay at Kira's or something ok?"

"Thank you."

Athrun nodded his head then walked past him to get some clothes and stuff together for the night. When he walked into his room Alex was sitting on his bed.

"Uh? How did you get in here Alex?"

"Your window of course. You always leave it unlocked."

"Ok. Well right now isn't a good time. I'm going to be leaving."

"Where?" Alex gave him a depressed face.

"To a friend's house. Yzak wants the house for the night so I'm staying at a friends house."

"You wanna stay at mine for the night? My parents are out."

"Alex your parents are always out. When are they ever home?"

She stared at him like she just got hit by something. Athrun sighed, looked down, and shook his head.

"I didn't mean it like that Alex. You know that."

"This isn't about my parents Athrun. It's about that girl."

"Alex, why do you keep thinking about her? Seriously."

"Well let's see. She keeps flirting with MY boyfriend."

"Alex I've had it ok. You need to stop talking smack on her like that. She's not doing anything. She's left us alone and maybe you should do the same."

"Wait you want us to break up?"

Athrun sat on his bed and looked at her.

"Alex you're an amazing girl. But you make everything in a relationship based around sex. You always want to have it and I don't want to sometimes."

"So you're breaking up with me cause of that."

"No, I'm breaking up with you because I love someone else. Don't get me wrong I've had a lot of fun times with you but maybe our time has come to an end."

Alex got up and walked to the door, turned around with an angry look.

"You'll be sorry Athrun Zala. Very sorry."

Athrun shrugged his shoulders to her.

"I don't know what to tell you Alex. I don't love you anymore."

Athrun smiled while looking at the floor.

"I love Cagalli Yula Attha."

Alex flung her arms up and screamed.

"You'll be back Athrun. I promise you that."

"Get out Alex."

She stared at him then stormed out of the room. Athrun made a sigh of relief and smiled.

"I did it." He said to himself.

About 10 minutes later Athrun had his duffel bag in one hand and his coat in the other.

"Well have fun tonight. Ok."

"I will thanks Athrun. I owe you one."

"Naw, it's cool. I should be owing you one. See ya."

When Athrun was out of the house he looked back at it once more then turned to get in his car. While he was driving Athrun couldn't help but think about what he did in his room. He felt very proud of himself and hopefully Cagalli would feel the same.

Author's Note:

Sorry that I'm awfully late. There's been a lot going on lately and I wasn't able to write. I'm sorry for the wait. But here's chapter 10. I hope you enjoyed it ^_^