So this may be shorter than the average chapter. In my defense chapter 16 was twice as long. And I'm making up for a whole month without posting. Visted my grandparents while on vacation, been working like every single day, blah blah blah etc all that other stuff. But I do hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Otherwise I wouldn't have to go to work tomorrow morning T.T
Recap:
I meet a gallery owner.
"Yes I own an art gallery in White Plains. You should check it out."
She takes an interest in the students at my school.
Selphie has a bright idea.
"Selphie I swear if I ever have to do this again I will kill you." I hold my heels in hand while I stealthily climb down the ladder. We were heading to a club downtown.
We make some business connections with an older working crowd.
I did my part of playing a struggling college undergrad, working a nine to five internship that didn't pay nearly enough, just looking to broaden my horizons while making adequate spending cash.
I also meet someone.
He was a masterpiece. But he couldn't take the hint that I was trying to leave him.
But after a while
He was certainly talking my language now. Free drinks? Yes please!
Before things go too far my friends summon me
"Well we need to get going. Selphie is out of her mind wasted. Wrap up whatever or whoever you're doing and lets hit the road."
Cloud puts a label on our relationship
"So Namine, tell me. Are we dating?"
"Yeah," I smile.
Kairi has her swim meet, helping to gain a trophy for her team.
My volleyball team scores another win
Cloud and I have a small date
All in all I think things are going well...
Chapter 17: Well Butter My Buns and Call Me a Muffin
~0~0~0~
BGM: One of the Boys – Katy Perry
With October nearing, Halloween was around the corner and another show was on its way. This time I wasn't needed for it. One thing I could check off my list.
I'd enlisted the help of more than half of the teachers. Thankfully most of them worked well with each other.
Mr. Graham and Reno were still at each other's throats. Ms. Ducas was sort of the go between for them. It really helped that they both had a crush on the drama teacher. Standing at 5'9, with beautiful Greek sculpted features, and a slender build she would deff be my Woman Crush Wednesday.
My days were slowly beginning to fall into a nice pattern: School, dance, volleyball practice, the fundraiser, and Cloud.
Not particularly in that order. I was more focused on dancing and the fundraiser. In my mind, Cloud had almost fallen to the back burner. Of course I was still interested in him; I just had more important matters to contend with. I needed to concentrate on passing my classes this semester. I wasn't exactly ignoring Cloud's texts, but I wasn't making much of an effort towards him. Our relationship was more of the physical nature.
On a side note I thought my acrobatic skills were improving by far.
I was sitting on my yoga mat stretching out pressure that had built in my calf, until Quistis had pulled me out of class for this. And I was hoping it would be worth it. I could still feel like the light tingle of the upset muscle in my leg.
I had already made my intentions clear to Jacques. But only because he could see through anything I tried I sugar coat. I guess the quickest way to know me was through my stomach.
"I can come up with a little something, mon cherie. You have anything specific in mind?" Jacques asks.
"Well I was hoping Mr. Skellington could work alongside you. I heard from Ms. Powahtan that he has great ideas for pastries."
Mr. Skellington was our Home Economics teacher. He was a tall, lanky fellow and eccentric in everything he did. I thought he would be the perfect yang to Jacques' yin. And he had wonderful creative ideas.
I was 'released' from Master Eraqus' yoga class a little early to attend to business. Quistis was gracious enough to pull me out of class. She wanted me to get the kitchen staff involved in a bake sale. And I wanted a sugar break. But the former excuse worked too.
"Ok I'll speak with him. Maybe we can get some pumpkin and bat shaped cookies."
"Oui and we can do eyeballs that are brownies dipped in white chocolate."
"That sounds delicious."
We were putting together a bake sale list. Just something small to start off with.
"You know if this will affect the school's Halloween festivities?" Hatter asks us from behind the counter.
"It shouldn't. But why do you ask?" Jacques says.
"I finally planned my costume! Can't wait to show it off." With that he ran off to finish making, what I hoped was, lunch.
Jacques sighs. "Sometimes I just don't know about him." I laugh. "But it's better than working with Brian," he whispers.
We decided on a simple list of sugar cookies, brownies, and some special punch. The bake sale should be up and running for October. It was only the third week of September but Quistis demanded that we had everything in order.
Thankfully there was a decent sized space in front of the school. The empty field of green would serve perfectly for the bake sale. So I wouldn't have to do much more besides coming up with the baked goods. And if it was planned well enough we'd make tons of money.
"How soon do you think we can do this?" I ask.
"Getting the supplies and having things settled with Ansem, maybe in a week and a half," Jacques replies.
"Alright. Can I have a sample of something? All that dancing and yoga I did really dropped my blood sugar."
Jacques rolls his eyes. "Oui mon Cherie, you may have a small taste of what was prepared for lunch."
I follow Jacque further into the kitchens. "I hope it's something deep fried and smothered in chocolate."
0.0
"Do you think it'll be much?" I ask.
"That'll be determined with time," Rinoa says to me.
She places some brownie mix into the shopping cart.
Quistis saw that there was a sale on baking goods at A&P. Somehow I ended up taking the trip with Rinoa. Quistis said she 'trusted' us with buying necessary items. She probably just didn't want to make the trip.
Principle Ansem had supplied us with the school's credit card. It was used for school supplies of any nature and was to be used solely for the purpose of school activities. I guess this counted as one.
A good amount of the cakes and brownies were only fifty cents a box so we were stocking up.
"We just need to keep a positive attitude. And everything will work itself out," Rinoa tells me.
It was only fitting that she was captain of the cheer team. With pep in each step and smiles in her eyes, it was definitely fitting.
"It wouldn't hurt if we starting making Oprah money," I say.
Rinoa laughs at me.
I was being a bit serious though.
Rinoa was being a bit picky about each box that went into the cart and was scoping it out like she was picking out a new brand of tampons.
I roll my eyes. We'd be here forever if we continued at this rate. Quistis didn't make any specifics of what we needed.
"Just get cake mix and come back to the school."
Her directions were clear enough to me.
I move from alongside Rinoa and walk to stand at the edge of the cart. Before she can register what I'm doing, I bring my arm out dragging it across the top shelf. A mountain of cakes and cookies fall into the shopping cart.
After the mass of chocolates and yellow cakes fall, I get a clear view of her. She's used her hands as a cover for her head. In a calm voice she says, "Namine what the hell?"
"I'm saving time and energy," I smile at her. "Now for the sugar and eggs."
"Please don't do that with the eggs. I like mine whole not scrambled."
"Oh we'll see," I reply.
~0~0~
BGM: Self Inflicted – Katy Perry
Over the short course of time that school started Van and I had learned a great deal in acrobatics. Mulan patiently waited for us to gain trust in each other before teaching us certain moves. With each lesson we built more on previous moves and learned new things, exercising our muscles in different ways. And pushing our patience and reliance with each other to the max.
It was challenging but fun. And it was working my muscles to the bone. The last set of moves Mulan had made us practice were more of the ballet variety. An Arabesque is what she called it. I felt like a ballerina trying to balance on one foot while moving the rest of my torso all over the place. It was more of a stretching exercise flexing the muscles in my legs and back.
Today we started with a simple warm up, slowly making our way through some simple moves we'd learn.
"I want you to try the Valdez."
"It already sounds complicated," I say.
"Well you're sort of right," Mulan replies. "Start off on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. We'll do this in parts so you can get the hang on it."
Van and I both sit on a mat. "Now bring your left knee up to meet your chest. Your left arm, you're going to place it behind you as if you're bracing yourself. The right arm is going to lift up in front of you to be parallel to the floor." She checks to make sure we've got it. "Now your right leg and arm are going to make its way up and over your heads and onto the floor behind you. Really use your left arm and leg to support you."
She makes us practice this a few times, stopping briefly to show us herself and letting us try the move out on our own.
"Well this seems easy enough," Van says.
"We're not quite done. A Valdez is meant to be done languidly and swift. And it's as if you're doing a backwards cartwheel." We get the hang of it in no time.
"Why don't we try some partnering moves?"
We both stand up.
"Namine you're light on your feet. Vanitas this will test your strength and control. Simply hold Namine's arm with both hands and swing her around in a circle."
We try it and I feel a bit silly.
"Ok now you're going to do the same thing, bringing Namine around. But she's going to drop low to the ground, the only thing supporting her will be your tight grip on her hand." She makes us try the move, speeding it up each time.
"Ok now that you've got that, you're going to repeat the move, this time Vanitas take your right leg placing it around Namine's. So it's almost like you're holding her in place. When she gets ready to come back up, lift your left leg to release her and pull her back up." With each release and pull I was just hoping that Van wouldn't drop me.
0.0
When we get home from school on Friday, we find Dad's car double parked in front of the house.
He's speaking to Mom when we walk through the front door.
"Hey how was school." He scoops us all into a hug.
"Fine," Yuffie replies.
"When do we leave?" I ask.
"You girls ready to go?" he asks.
"Yup."
"I'll go get my bag." Kairi races up the stairs.
"Yeah we're prepared."
"You're dropping them off at school Monday?" Mom asks him.
"Yeah. I'll even make them breakfast."
Yuffie shakes her head. "Please don't."
"Why not?" Dad questions.
"I don't like eggshells in my eggs." She leaves to get her overnight bag.
"Oh come on. it was that one time."
"Dad, there was nothing left of my bread after scraping the burnt part off the toast," I say.
"The effort is appreciated but I'll pass," Yuffie returns with both of our bags.
"We can go to IHOP," I suggest.
"We're going to IHOP?" Kairi comes racing down the stairs. She loved getting their Rooty Tooty Fresh N Fruity.
"So that's settled."
We say goodbye to our mom and race to the double parked car. I don't think Dad needed another ticket for parking violations.
"Well I took off of work," I say.
"So we have no time restrictions! Maybe I can get Dad to take me to that shoe specialty store."
"Don't you have enough shoes," I say to Yuffie.
"Don't you have enough jewelry?"
"Touché," I reply.
We make our way into Dad's car and into the city. The drive was loud, filled mostly with Yuffie talking about how well she was doing, school wise, hoping to get Dad to buy her a new pair of sneakers. We were speculating on what we would do this weekend. We had a whole three days with our father, the possibilities weren't exactly endless but they were vast.
We settle into the living room of his condo after dropping our bags in our room.
"So where do you think we're going?" Kairi asks excitedly.
"I'm not sure to be honest."
Dad wasn't much of a cook, but he had a thing for cuisine. I really did take after him.
"Has there been a place around here we haven't been to? I'd really like to try something new," I say.
"That Thai place was great."
"So was that German restaurant. Oh my God I love their sauerkraut," Kairi smiles.
I cringe at that.
Dad returns from the other room with a strange look on his face. It looks like his bad news face. I brace myself.
"That was the office," he starts.
"Yes," I prod him for more info.
"They've decided to have a dinner tonight. It was last minute and they want me to meet some prospective partners." I guess even being your own boss has some drawbacks. "It could mean expansion on our end. But I don't want to spend my time with you working."
"That's a good idea," I say.
"I'd love an older crowd. I'm getting sick of teenage hormone crazed idiots. A nice mature group would be perfect for us young ladies to entertain ourselves," Yuffie says.
"Ok Ms. Bennett, hold your horses," Dad says. "Now we don't have to go. I don't want to drag you-"
"I'd love to go," Kairi says.
"Yeah maybe we can find some nice connections for the fundraiser." Some old people with too much money and time on their hands. "I'm sure they'd love a cause to occupy their time."
Dad gets silent and just gives us a deadpan look. He purses his lips a moment and sighs before saying, "Ok. But I don't think you've brought anything fancy you can wear."
We wave him off. "The night is young!" Kairi exclaims.
"Kairi we are not going shopping," Yuffie shakes her head at her.
"I'm sure we have some evening wear somewhere," I chime in.
We kept a stash of clothes at our dad's condo for times like this. "We'll find something nice," I assure him. "So when is it?" I ask.
"In about two hours."
"Two hours? How are we suppose to get ready in that time?" Yuffie exclaims and jumps out of her seat. "Then we need to get to work. Come on girls." With that I leave the comfort of the love seat and head into our room.
0.0
Dad constructed the condo with five bedrooms; one for himself, one for each of his daughters, and a guest bedroom. When the wound of divorce was fresh my sisters' and I didn't want to be separated from each other. Something about being in a strange place away from home made us crave each other's company. So Dad had the walls in between our rooms knocked down.
While we each had our own bed and dresser, each area was separated by the wall color. Though we often argued on who's poster went on what wall. It was a cool gradient that started with red and made its way to a deep purple. Kairi was in the area with the warm reds and pinks. I was in the middle where the green and blue met for turquoise time. Yuffie was in the end with the deep purples and violets.
It was all bright, radiant hues but the colors weren't overwhelming. I really had to hand it to the interior decorators. They outdid themselves.
"So are we going with a theme?" Kairi asks.
I shrug my shoulders. "If you want to."
"I have an idea," Yuffie says lacing her fingers together. "Do you have any accessories with you?" she asks.
"Yeah I just threw some into a bag," I reply.
As she takes a look at them she says, "They're pretty basic tones so I have a lot to work with."
"And what exactly are you going to have us parade around as?"
"Don't worry about it doll. Just go make your hair and face pretty. I'll pick out our clothes," Yuffie says.
0.0
BGM: Next Time You See Me – JR Parker
"I don't see it," Kairi says. Her hair is pinned to one side and set in a thick 20s wave. She was wearing loose black palazzo pants and a loose fitting top. She has cute feather earrings and a large gold watch on her wrist. Kairi looked like she was part of the affluent class.
Yuffie has settled on a dark green dress, pairing it with black and gold heels. Her short hair hangs in loose curls.
Yuffie went a little overboard with my look. I was wearing a red A-line skirt with a yellow sleeveless top that had a triangle cutout on the bottom. I felt a bit exposed where the skirt didn't quite cover my abdomen. My hair was up and away from my face, in a high ponytail.
"Ok Yuffie I'm not sure what you were going for. But we do look great," Kairi says.
"No one understands my artistry," she says with a hand on her waist.
"I kind of have a Mickey Mouse thing going on. With the yellow, red, and black." I turn to her. "Did I get it?"
"You did. We're Mickey, Donald, and Goofy."
Kairi scrunches her face up. "I still don't see it."
"Ok enough ogling at the mirror, I'm starving." On cue my stomach gargles.
"You're always hungry."
"Exactly. So let's go before I eat that leather chair in the living room."
0.0
The place was gorgeous. I wondered if the company rented it out or owned it. as we pulled up to the building I admired the thick white stone columns on the outside. As my sisters and I stepped out of the car there was a valet ready to take the keys from our dad.
Fancy.
It was a short few steps to the building itself.
The foyer was huge. The dark wood floor was polished so clean I could see myself in it. It was paired with rich red velvet walls. A black table sat in front of the two doors.
"This would be beautiful for the set of Beauty and the Beast," I comment.
"Or costume party."
"I wonder how much it would cost to rent this out." I could already see the wheels turning in Kairi's head. Her and Selphie loved to plan things like that.
"More than you have in your piggy bank," Yuffie replies.
"Because you cleaned it out," Kairi says.
"Oh that's the last time I ask for your help fixing-"
"It wasn't my friend that threw up on Mom's comforter."
They were arguing about a party we had thrown some time ago. Things got a little out of hand and we had to have Mom's bedspread dry cleaned. It was not cheap. But I sure wasn't paying for it.
"Oh, Mr. Odayaka. We were wondering when you'd arrive," a lady with a tight bun and a floor length black dress walks up to us.
"We were just running a little late," he says. Our dad settled for something simple, a dark navy suit with a white shirt. Yuffie insisted on picking out his tie; a blue and white polka dotted bowtie.
A few more words to the lady and through the doors we went. The ballroom was huge. With a dark mosaic on the floors, floor to ceiling windows, and golden curtains lining the walls I felt like I had just walked into a grand castle.
"Are we here for dinner or to see a king," Yuffie comments.
"I dunno but this place is gorgeous," Kairi responds.
We took our seats at a table towards the center of the room. Personally I don't think the world revolves around me but it sure felt good to be the center of attention.
Our dad made small talk with some people who I assumed where his employees. He was kind enough to introduce us to some of them. After about the tenth introduction, he was whisked off to tend to business.
My sisters and I spoke amongst ourselves until I decided to stretch my legs. I didn't get all dolled up to sit around. Puling myself from my seat I straighten my skirt and bid my sisters adieu.
In the immense crowd of my dad's employees and prospective business partners I did find a familiar face.
"Anne, how are you?" I ask.
"Oh my God, Namine. You've grown so much." The tall slender woman engulfs me in a warm hug. Although there was an obstacle between us.
"I should say the same about you. What did you swallow a watermelon?" Ann was a friendly person, specializing in the PR and sales department of my father's business. And what with her bubbly attitude and upbeat mindset she had a permanent position in his company.
"Yeah, it feels more like an anvil. Only three more months til this sucker pops out." She was well into her pregnancy. I was glad she was having a baby and I wasn't just calling her fat. That would be embarrassing.
We continued to talk until someone who I assumed was her husband stole her away for a dance. I found a few more faces, old and new to speak to. My stomach was still grumbling but I decided to stay busy chatting, hoping to keep the noise at bay.
I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. Thinking it was my dad I turned around with a smile. "Can we eat now, I'm starving. I want some buffalo wings."
"Well you certainly seem to have an appetite for various things," a cool voice says.
Oh shit.
It was that guy I met from the club the other day. What was his name? Delta? Devin? Dan?
Dammit.
I could feel the blood rush to my face. I just hope it wasn't showing.
"Hi, fancy seeing you," I slip on a mask of calmness.
"How about a dance?" he asks.
It isn't really a question as he links arms with me and briskly leads me to the dance floor like a pig to slaughter.
I took a deep breath and released it easily. My mind was racing but a demure smile graced my lips. He was careful to keep his hand above my waist and our distance at least a foot apart.
"It's nice to meet you Mr.-"
"Please we're passed formalities. Call me Taka."
They were playing soft music but not loud enough to drown out the chatter. I was about to ask him about what business he was involved with when he beat me to the punch.
"I have quite a story to relate to you."
"Please, do tell." Not that I really want to hear.
"Imagine me meeting a man who is someone I would love to do business with. I have great ideas, he has a flourishing business. Then come to find out that he's not too keen on the idea. In fact he might despise me and my business dealings. I mean that's all fine, business doesn't always work out the way you want it to. But when wind gets around about some little school fund raiser he throws a party inviting all the business connections in the area. And inadvertently I happen to be one of those connections."
I start to open my mouth but he cuts me off.
"And it just so happens that the woman I met a while ago is his daughter. Who goes to this school that is having this fundraiser. High school too. How ironic."
I keep silent, sizing up my options: run to my father and tell him to dispose of this guy, tell Desta I just wanted to hit it and quit it, or play with him a bit more.
"Just what game are you playing at?" he asks.
"What makes you think I'm playing a game?" I raise an eyebrow.
"You're dancing around the questions expertly like you've done this before."
"You know what they say, don't hate the player, hate the game."
"You must like the older ones. Tired of playing around with boys, Lucy?" he asks while tightening his grip on my hand.
I blink unaffected. "No just testing the waters." Hopefully I wouldn't drown.
He smiles slightly and brings his mouth close to my ear. "How come you didn't say anything about being a minor?"
My heart is beating a mile a minute when I respond. "You never asked," I reply calmly.
"I should've known something was off when I never received a phone call from you."
"Maybe I just wasn't interested. You ever think about that?" I give him a pointed look.
"Every woman is interested in me."
"Don't flatter yourself, Desta. You come off as cool and casual but you're obviously compensating for something." I could feel his anger rising slowly, his hands still gripping me vice-like.
I continue to look him straight in the eye. "And I'm sure if I had stayed longer I would've found out just what it was."
I saw something in his face change. It was very slight and I would've missed it if I wasn't paying attention. Did I hit a nerve?
"Alright Taka, I'd like to get a dance in with my daughter before the night ends." I had never been so grateful for an interruption in my life. Super Dad to the rescue.
"Oh this lovely young lady is your daughter?" he releases his hold on me. "She was so sophisticated that I had mistaken her for one of our colleagues."
"Yeah I must give off that mature vibe." I smile.
"Well sir you can definitely have the next dance. Nice meeting you Namine." Something about his words sent a chill down my back.
My father picks up where Desta left off, swaying slightly to the lively jazz music.
"Was he bothering you Nam?" Dad asks with a concerned look.
I shrug my shoulders. "He gives me the creeps. Just a bit. He seems like he's dangerous."
"No not like physically," I say when my dad gives me a look. "He just looks like he's planning something devious and scandalous."
I never even bothered to get all detailed with him. revealing my night life to my dad would make him flip his lid. Let alone that I was hanging around a much older guy.
"He's nothing short of a bully and loan shark."
That's what he meant by his business dealings. Well I was glad my father wasn't going involving himself with that jerk. I should probably follow in his stead.
Because it's funny how some things come back to bite you in the ass.
The outfits I chose for the girls is on my Polyvore.
Sook