Disclaimer: Gundam Wing doesn't belong to me. Just doing this for fun (^_^) so please don't sue me.
Author's notes: Yay, I updated after a week. I'd promise to keep updating at this speed, but I don't know how well I'd be able to keep that ^_^. So like before please just be patient as I work with my hectic schedule. I'll apologize in advance if I take too long to upload future chapters. I've fixed the problems in ch. 5. Thank you, Infinity Serenity for pointing out that little mix up with Trowa's hair color. You didn't misunderstand, the mistake was on my part. I even misspelled Quatre's name in that chapter, silly me. And thank you to sweetangel14 for another delightful review. I think there was that saying about the road to true love never running smooth. Well, it wouldn't be that much fun if we didn't let Wufei and Sally sweat a little (hehehe). To Penbee of Treewood, our little bishounen will definitely get the girl, if I have anything to say about that. And I'll try my best to supply you with your Wu/Sal reading material as fast as I can. Again thanks to all my reviewers. Enjoy the story!
Chapter Six: Aftermath
Quatre silently watched the woman in front of him blankly stare out the window of the restaurant and wondered what could be occupying her mind. Even though Sally had welcomed him cheerfully when he came by to pick her up at work, he noticed that her smile did not exactly reach her eyes. He wondered if she was having the same misgivings about their date like he did earlier.
When Relena called him about Sally, he was not sure if he should give in. But after hearing all about the woman from his friend he thought that it could not hurt to give it a try. She seemed pleasant enough and he had to admit, looking at her now in person, she was not bad to look at.
Both occupants of the table snapped out of their own reveries when the waiter laid down their food in front of them.
"So, how do you like it?" he asked Sally with a smile when she took her first bite.
She smiled back at him and gave an approving nod. "The food is great like you said it would. Thanks for taking me here. Though, you really shouldn't have made a reservation in a fancy place like this," she said, eyeing the establishment's elegant interior. "A regular restaurant would have been fine."
Quatre frowned a little. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you'd be uncomfortable eating here in your work clothes."
"Oh no, it's not that," she quickly amended. "I'm just not looking forward to seeing a bill that's up to the wazu -" Sally quickly shut her mouth once she realized what she had just said.
The blond man in front of her gave a hearty laugh when he saw her shocked expression.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean …"
"It's okay," Quatre said pleasantly. "It's always good to meet a person who doesn't foolishly throw away their money."
"Well, at least you have a nice way of putting it," she commented, remembering what Wufei had called her last night. "Unlike some people I know."
The last part was mumbled darkly and Quatre had to strain to hear what she said. "I don't think there's anything wrong with being frugal. I wouldn't be where I am right now if I hadn't made some wise financial decisions earlier in life."
For the first time that night, Sally felt herself relax in the man's company. He really was not that bad, but there was definitely something missing. He did not make her feel warm and tingly like Wufei did every time he looked at her. Or make her heart speed up whenever he got too close. Unbidden, the dark-haired man's face flashed before her eyes and Sally gave herself a mental shake. She focused her attention on her fair companion and tried to concentrate on what he was saying.
Oh boy, she thought wearily. This is going to be a long night.
**********
Early morning found Wufei in his kitchen. No doubt he was angry and jealous that Sally went on a date with another man last night. He thought dinner the other night had gone real well in his opinion and was hoping for a repeat when she comes by to pick up Jax. It never occurred to him that she might be seeing someone else at the moment. Scowling at the mug in his hands, Wufei set the mug down in the sink none too gently.
Jax, having finished his breakfast, was busily chewing on an old sneaker he found by the back door. The dog's head had jerked up at the sound of the cup hitting porcelain. He let out a soft bark and walked up to the man. With his head, he offered Wufei a comforting nudge on the leg and wagged his tail.
Wufei looked down at the puppy, glared at him for a few seconds before closing his eyes with a sigh. The young man crouched down and patted the dog, a sad smile on his lips.
"I'm not that bad a company am I?" he asked the dog.
As an answer, Jax barked once and enthusiastically licked the man's face. Wufei chuckled and scratched the dog's ears. He did not know how it happened, but somehow he and the dog managed to create a bond between them in the little time they spent together.
"Tell you what," he was telling Jax. "I'll pretend you didn't just mutilate my favorite sneakers if you help me win over your mistress."
Jax barked once more and planted his paws on Wufei's chest. He was thoroughly lapping up the young man's face when the doorbell rang. Wufei felt his heart skip a beat knowing who he would find on the other side of the door. He shook his head an instant later, disgusted with himself for being nervous.
"Well, come on mutt," he said with gruff affection. "Time for you to go home."
With practiced ease, Wufei slipped on the all too familiar mask on his face and opened the front door with a stoic expression. Before either Wufei or Sally can call out a greeting, Jax darted out the house. He happily ran around the young woman, barking all the while. The blonde girl crouched down and greeted the puppy with the same enthusiasm. For a second Wufei's mask slipped and his eyes softened as he listened to Sally's musical laughter. He then quickly took note of her outfit and with eyes gleaming, easily came up with an idea to manipulate the whole situation in his favor.
"Took you long enough," he said coolly. "I didn't have all morning to wait for you, you know."
Sally felt herself blush. She had planned on taking Jax for a jog around the park this morning, but the realization that she would be seeing Wufei, or rather would be seeing her, sent her into a panic. She would have been here earlier if it had not been for the hour and a half she spent in front of the mirror making herself presentable enough to look good in sweats.
Trying to redeem some dignity, Sally straightened her back and put on what she hoped was a firm expression. "Not everything revolves around you, mister."
Wufei raised an eyebrow and was mildly amused. He almost forgot that he was suppose to act angry with her.
"Well, you might as well join us," he said, putting just a hint of irritation in his voice. He grabbed the keys lying on a table near by and stepped outside onto the patio.
"J-join you?" she asked as she watched him lock the door. "What do you mean?"
"At the park," he answered brusquely, but inwardly enjoying himself. Luckily he had dressed appropriately for the occasion. "I thought I'd take Jax for a run while we waited for your lazy ass to show up."
Her eyes widened. "B-but … I was just …" sputtered Sally, not sure whether to be insulted at his comment or be excited at the turn of events.
"Well?" Wufei asked impatiently as he opened the passenger door of his SUV. Jax had already jumped inside the vehicle and eagerly waited for her, his head tilted as if wondering what was taking her.
"What you have on is fine," he said, appearing as if he was ignorant of her plan to visit the park herself.
Not knowing what else to say, Sally wordlessly got into the SUV. She missed the fleeting way Wufei's lips curled up at the corners as he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side.
Author's notes: Welp, what do you all think so far? Don't forget to leave a review and tell me, specially if you think I made a mistake somewhere.
Next Chapter: Wufei continues to be jealous and Sally realizes that he may not be as indifferent towards her as she thought he was.