Ch 3 The surprise
The shuttle stopped after a while. My father was right it was fast. We had landed on the colony. A stewardess escorted my friends and me off the shuttle while my father walked out holding the cake. My mom had made it and they were always delicious. We walked down large corridors of the station. Finally we came to a man who was holding a sign that said Tamara and Mark Yui. My dad shook the mans hand and said, "long time no see." Now I'm assuming my dad knew him. He introduced my friends and I to the man. "well hello young ladies. Would each of you like some candy? Ive go lots!" He gave us a smile as we replied, "yeah we'd love some!" He must've some how known it was my birthday because he gave me more than everyone else. He led us out to a limousine and we piled in. he and my father loaded my presents and party favors. My dad handed me the cake and let my friends hold all the presents we brought for each of the winner children. Then my father got in and we drove off to the winner estate. It was gigantic! There were beautiful flowers everywhere! And a direct drive way to the garden. My father stepped out first and Mr. Winner greeted him. I looked to his side and saw a young blonde boy. He looked to the door of the car. Mr. Winner told him something and he approached the car door. He opened it and took each of our hands letting us out. I could tell he was a perfect young gentleman. But he had never met a tomb boy before and looked at me with curiosity. I took the cake out and handed it to my father who set it on a picnic table. Then many girls came over to my father and greeted him with hello's and smile's. then he put his finger to his lips signaling for them to be quiet. He walked to the trunk and opened it handing each and everyone of the girls a beautiful gift. Then he took out present that was different from the rest and handed it to the boy.
"here you are Quatre. I brought you something from earth that isn't very common here."
The boy took the present and bowed. "thank-you sir I will open it later."
My father walked to me and pushed me towards the boy. "ack!" I said as he did this with a smile. "father I can walk myself." My father smiled at me then to Mr. Winner.
"this is my daughter Tamara. Today she is ten years old." Mr. Winner looked at me.
"so this is the birthday girl. Happy birthday young lady" he said with a warm smile.
"thank-you I replied." My dad nudged me signaling for me to kertsie and say I was thankful for them allowing me to have my party here. I bowed to Mr. Winner, "thank-you for allowing me to have my party here Mr. Winner, and I'm very pleased to meet you." He chuckled and looked at my father. "well the Tamara you described to me wasn't so well behaved."
"well she has to be behaved today."
"oh, lighten up Mark. Tamara and her friends may do as they please as long as they stay out of trouble."
"yes I suppose your right. Tamara you may go explore now if you like." I looked at him "ok daddy." I grabbed Alicia's arm and made her walk with me. When she, my other 3 friends, and myself carol, Dalie, and Karen were a ways away Alicia turned back and looked at the boy.
"Tamara don't you think he's cute?"
"Wha! No!" I started to blush.
"Oh my god! You do don't you!" said Karen.
"N..no I don't!"
"Your blushing you must like him in some way." Said Hannah.
"Oh shut up!"
"Maybe she's thinking of when they get married." Said Carol.
"You don't know what your talking about!!"
then another girl came up to us. "Excuse me ladies?" I turned around. "yes?" It's time for cake and ice cream, are you coming? "Yeah wouldn't miss it for the world." Said Carol. She had a real sweet tooth. We walked back with the girl to the party. We saw that my dad had gotten some music going. My friends stated chopping down on the cake and Ice cream. I looked across the garden patio. That boy was ballroom dancing with his sisters. I noticed that he was the only boy besides my dad and his father. When the music was over the boy walked back to his father and stood there as if a cadet reporting back to a lutenet. Mr. Winner nudged him. The boy looked to Mr. Winner and he made him direct his attention to me. The boy looked across the patio where everyone was dancing and shrugged. Then started walking towards me. I turned and pretended I was talking to Alicia. He tapped my shoulder and bowed. "Hello. My name is Quatre Ruberba Winner. Would you care to dance?"
"Uh…"
Then Alicia pushed me to Quatre.
"Of course she would!"
"ACK!" I said as she pushed me to him and I fell. He caught me though. I looked up at him and said. "Uh…sure….but I don't really know how to ball room dance."
"That's alright. You just have to fallow me. You'll get the hang of it fast."
"Uh…ok…"
We walked to the dance floor. If I had known my birthday party was gonna be so formal I would have worn a more formal out fit instead of my shorts and T-shirt. The music started and Quatre began to move. He told me we were waltzing and all I had to do was fallow him. I did simply that and found I was pretty good at it. Quatre was a fine young gentleman. I could tell he would probably want to do other things like playing army, or sword fighting with his friends. But instead he was dancing with me. He looked like he was enjoying himself. I wasn't sure if that was just a cover up though. We were after all only 10. My father was watching us. He stood talking to Mr. Winner. They chuckled as they watched us. They were talking about something. I could make out a few words they said. My father mentioned some matter about Quatre and me. The music ended and we stopped. Quatre bowed and kissed my hand. Then he escorted me off the Dancing area of the patio. He bowed again to all the other girls and walked away. I began to wonder what my father was talking about with Mr. Winner. This caused me to become very curious. I slipped away to behind some pillars. My father was on the other side. I began to listen.
"So Mark. How is that brother of yours? Heero?"
"Oh I don't know what kind of trouble he's gotten himself into now. Frankly I won't even begin to care."
"Why?"
"He hasn't even made an effort to some see his nieces and nephew. He doesn't wish to see me and I don't wish to see him."
"Well…. Anyhow mark do we have a deal with Quatre and Tamara? It might help to keep peace between colonies."
"I'm not sure Tamara will like the Idea of an arranged Marriage. After all I am becoming the Leader of the L7 colony. Though it may keep peace between your and my colony's people."
"It seems the children to get along well though. Maybe we should bring them together more often and see if they click?"
"That seems like a better Idea than that of just throwing them together in a relationship."
"Then it's a deal?" Mr. Winner held his hand out to my father
My father put his hand to Mr.Winners "deal."
I was shocked and appalled that my father would even think of betrothing me to Quatre. I knew there was something fishy about this trip. I began to cry and ran. I ran faster and faster down hallways away from the party. Further and further away. I couldn't bear to run any longer. My legs hurt. I fell to my knees. My red hair fell into my face and my eyes watered with tears. Now my shirt was wet with them. My father wasn't even interested in my happiness. Only business. I knew this marriage might mean everlasting peace between at least two colonies. But, He didn't even consult me about it. I felt betrayed.
