Chapter 2-Sittin' in a Tree, Secretly
Ok, disclaimer, I didn't create any of the characters in the story, the Almighty Tamora Pierce did. I am writing this nearly right after writing the first chapter and I am probably going to post them at the same time, so I don't know if anyone even likes this. This thing is going to get twisted, you can bet on that. I am presently trying to make it weirder. I am also working on like a million other stories at the same time, readying for the time when the stupid email will get through and I can start posting my stuff. PS: thoughts are in Italics.
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Alanna never seemed to get over George's death. After she told Jon, Gary, and Raoul, she seemed kind of withdrawn. She would often go for long walks without reason, coming back late and receiving punishment duties. Never enough to get her kicked out, but still.... Alanna tried to take Faithful's advice. He's dead. You aren't sorry for George, you're sorry for yourself. Get over it.
"Oh yes, Faithful, you are such a kind and considerate person." she said,
Looking at the trunk at the end of her bed, Alanna thought of George, and how they used to go for walks through the city, flaunting her new dress and buying this and that. Without George, she wouldn't have Moonlight. Without George, she would never have found love. Alanna felt like she was going to cry again, but somehow, so many George tears had come out that Alanna didn't think she had any more left. She opened the trunk and put on her favorite dress, one that George had said brought out her eyes. With some small, ladylike slippers on, Alanna silently left her room and went into the gardens. The moon was full and bright, and she left her cloak on the bench to take a walk in the light of the stars. Upon returning, she noticed that a man was sitting on the bench. He looked up, saw her, and handed her the cloak.
"I think this is yours," Gary said. "Come sit by me."
Alanna nearly blanched and run away, but then she thought: What if he thinks it strange that I run away and recognizes me? Better put him off track while I can. Alanna had already sat down on the bench before she realized that she had forgotten her black wig. It was still in her room, locked away in her trunk. Oh, well, too late now.
"What's your name, lady?" he asked. "You may have heard of me, I'm Gareth."
Alanna feigned confusion. "I thought you were older."
"I'm Sir Gareth the Younger. My father is Sir Gareth."
"Delighted to meet you, Sir Gareth." Alanna grappled for a name. "I'm Arabia."
"Funny," he said, looking at her, "You look familiar, though I haven't heard your name before."
"Oh, I probably look like someone you know. Everyone says that. My father says I look like everybody, and the name stuck, and now people call be Everybody."
Gary chuckled. "I still can't shake the feeling that-" Then he really looked closely at her. "Shakith!" he whispered. "Alan?" He started to turn pale. "Please don't tell me you have this obscure passion for cross-dressing."
Alanna soaked in what he had said, and buried her face in her hands. "I'm a girl, Gary. My real name is Alanna. And I swear by Mithros and the Goddess that if you tell anyone I will kill you."
Gary looked as if he was swallowing a large peach stone. "Are you nuts?" he asked finally. "What made you think that you could pull something like this off? What if someone found you out? And Mithros above, Why, why, why did you even think of trying it?!? Mithros, Uncle will have fits."
Alanna explained everything, from her and Thom switching places to the Black City. She even told him (haltingly) about her romance with George. "So now you know it all." she said.
Gary was stupefied. "Alan-Alanna, I have no idea how you did it. All that time not swimming, no wonder we never saw you bare! All I can say, Alanna, is that you are the most amazing person, male or female, that I have ever met."
And he swept her up in a passionate kiss, Holding her tight and go of years of strong friendship, now magnified into passion and love. Alanna just let him kiss, and then held him just as tightly, thinking that George would want her to be happy, and just wishing that this moment would never end.
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Aw, isn't that sweet, and twisted!!!! Bye-bye Jon, Gary is in the house!!! Tell me if you think it is too short (I always say this) and flame me to hell all you A/J lovers, though don't get me too hard, A/G lovers, 'cause they were madly in love before George was hit by a flying bucket ;) I would now like to say that GARY ROCKS!!!! I just had to let that out. R/R, please! PS, It's going to get less romantic later, probably. Do you like fluff? I can always add more *winks again*.