Chapter 11- Day 8: Sleeping Beauty
Colette didn't know how she managed the long trudge home. She wasn't even sure if it happened, but she probably just forgot or wasn't paying attention. Colette recalled that painful night that happened not long ago….
"Whatever happened to fighting for my Lloyd?" she whispered hoarsely to herself.
Rain continued to pour, and Colette was soaking wet. The sound of thunder crashed through the skies, but it all didn't matter to Colette. She ambled along, swaying back and forth. Once in a while, she would loose her balance completely and topple over, only to pick herself up again and mindlessly walk on. To where she went, she didn't quite know yet.
At one point, she fell down to ground and didn't pick herself up. Instead she slouched down and started to cry.
"Lloyd…" she sobbed. "I never imagined…" She looked up and leaned back onto her palms. Rain splattered onto her face as she heard more thunder. She let out a scream and then fell back down on her back, feeling the water wash over her.
…
And now she was home, lying in bed with a wet cloth on top of her forehead, her father or grandmother had probably found her outside.
"Colette," she heard her grandmother say. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm… sorry…" she whispered softly.
"Hush now, you can't speak with that sore throat." Phaidra removed the thermometer and sighed. "You have a high fever, so please rest up dear."
"Okay…" she nodded meekly.
What was I thinking yesterday? She turned around, half expected Lloyd to be there.
But he wasn't.
Sheena fiddled with the white wedding gown and sighed. With its delicate yet fancy laces and it's angel-white silk it was a beautiful, she couldn't deny that. But that wasn't what made her down. Her heart was full of guilt knowing that by doing this, she would be hurting three dear friends of hers. Sheena balled up her fist and pouted in obvious displeasure. Ugh… I can't believe I've been so… feminine lately!
I wonder if everyone found out yet…Well, who wouldn't have?
The news had spread like wildfire, starting from the inn and spreading quickly through the whole village in a matter of hours. A marriage between two of the former Chosen's companions was indeed quite a big event.
Kratos is really set on this. Sheena thought, trying to get herself to think of something else. He already rented out the chapel, bought the dress, cake, everything…I wonder why…
"Hello there."
The ninja turned around startled to see Presea.
"Uh… hey." She's probably just here to get even with me, or something.
"Con-congratulations."
Her eyes widened in reply, "Huh?"
"Congratulations." She said with an honest smile this time.
"You really mean it?"
"Yes…"
"Th-thanks then," she said while blushing.
Right before the little girl turned to go, she looked at Sheena for a moment and held her gaze. The summoner knew what she meant.
It's okay, and I'm sorry too. Was her silent reply.
Sheena looked around and met face to face with yet another one of her former competitors.
She gently set the dress down on the table and got up. "Um… hey."
"It's all right…" came the young woman's reply. "As long as Lloyd is happy, you don't have to apologize."
"Oh, okay… then thanks for coming here to help with the final preparations."
Raine turned around and fell silent for a moment, looking at the floor.
"What?"
"It's nothing."
"Eh… alright." Sheena said uncertainly.
The professor turned around to go when she said gravely, "Colette… is very ill."
Her eye's widened in surprise, "How?"
"I was told by her father that she was out in the rain last night."
"What…? Why?!"
"She was… very distressed, no… heartbroken. I think that's most of the reason why she's unwell."
Sheena's heart froze. Oh no, it's because of me. Her heart raced and she suddenly felt very dizzy. "Oh no… Colette. Is she… okay?"
Raine was deathly quiet for a moment. "I don't know," she whispered uncertainly.
And without another word, Sheena ran off.
Lloyd carefully looked at himself in the mirror. These past few days had been really been a lot for him. He looked tired.
He turned around and saw the bracelet he had just completed on his desk. Only one thing was missing still. The name.
He picked it up carefully and looked at it. Why haven't I put Sheena's name on it? Lloyd Irving didn't understand why, but he was angry for a split second.
However, it was all he needed to roughly toss the bracelet aside. It was flung about a foot away and smacked the side of a shelf. He heard something else topple over and fall.
The swordsman walked over to it and picked it up. It was small and white.
He began talking to himself in astonishment. "It's the—"
But before he could finish his door was flung open.
"Lloyd!" Sheena shouted in panic. "You have to go see Colette."
"Huh? What's happened?"
"She's really sick!" Sheena grabbed Lloyd's arm and yanked him outside.
"Really? But, what about the wedding?"
"Damn the wedding! Go!"
"Do you want to come too?" Lloyd asked.
She paused. "…No, I think only you can make her feel better." I would never forgive myself if anything happened to Colette.
Colette was starting to hear things as she slept. She tossed and turned and saw events of the past few days replay itself: The moment Zelos told them about the marriage plans, when she wrote the love letter to him (Which sadly seemed to have done nothing), the day at the beach, the incident with Zelos, when she finally got the courage to mail the letter, and the tragic heartbreaking event yesterday. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked around.
Everything started to spin out of proportion, unexpectedly. She felt sweat coming down her face. But yet, Colette had no reason to try and get better. No amount of medicine nor care from her guardians was going to help.
After a few knocks Mr. Brunel answered the door.
"I need to see Colette."
"Alright, come in."
He led Lloyd inside and up the stairs. "She's…"
"I know."
Frank went back down after Lloyd went in and closed the door. Do what you can for her.
Lloyd walked over to the bed where Colette lay. He felt like he was going to fall apart when he saw her. Her face was incredibly pale, she was shivering all over, and her eyes were a bit red. Surprisingly, Colette had lost quite a bit of weight over this short amount of time, making her even skinnier than she already was. She looked so frail that when she coughed, Lloyd thought she would just fall apart instantly.
"Colette…"
She didn't move or make a sound.
The thought that he might loose her suddenly struck him hard. He ran to her and gently took her hand. It was so cold, and yet she was sweating.
"Colette, please don't die." Lloyd felt the hot tears running down his face. He couldn't remember the last time he ever cried.
Before he realized what was happening his body started to move on its own. No, his heart was conducting the rest of him. He moved closer and closer to her and then finally leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
"I love you." He whispered softly.
"I love you too Lloyd," came the quiet, yet sincere reply.
Lloyd looked down in surprise to see Colette smiling up at him.
She giggled cheerfully.
AN: The reason why I called this chapter "Sleep Beauty" is because just now it was almost the perfect recreation of it. Colette arose from her "slumber" the moment Lloyd kissed her. They ironically enough have the same hair colors too.
Oh, and just a hint of what's to come, there will be three more chapters!
