Remembrance
by Orla
Warnings: None... yet.
Pairings: Non-yaoi and not what you'd expect. ^^
***
Disclaimer: The Gundam Wing characters do not belong to me,
I am only borrowing them for a short while and promise
to return them in one piece.
//...// indicate flashbacks
***
Part Two
***
AC 191
"I think that was the most magical evening of my entire night!"
Nicola enthused over her museli the next morning.
"Uh-huh." Sally answered, frowning as she chewed her toast and
marked a particularly complex passage in her textbook.
"Of course I noticed that _you_ went off and hid somewhere!" Nicola
waved her spoon reprovingly, splattering milk on on the table. "And
I found the most delicious guy for you too!"
"MmmmHmmm." Sally re-read another passage, committing it to memory
as Nicola's words flowed over her. She swallowed the last piece of
her toast. "I'm going back to the dorm." She said, closing her book
and standing up. "See you later."
"Wait!" Nicola practically inhaled her museli and charged after her.
"Sally! Are you mad at me?"
Sally paused and looked at her. "Nicola, why would I be mad at you?
After all, you only emotionally blackmailed me into attending a
function I didn't want to attend and wearing the most ridiculous
outfit I've ever worn. Nope, nothing to get _mad_ about."
"I hate it when you're sarcastic." Nicola grumbled. "Can't you yell,
like normal people?"
Sally smirked as she pushed open the door to their room. "What, and
spoil all my fun?"
"Huh, I... OH!" Nicola squealed. "Look at those roses!"
"Well, you could hardly miss them." Sally said drily as she took in
the huge bunch of red roses that was almost taking over the surface
of Nicola's desk. "From one of your admirers, Nic?"
Nicola blushed. "It could be from Alex." She said with a little
giggle as she examined the roses blissfully. "He said he would make
contact... and look! Here's a card."
"That's nice." Sally sat down on her bed. "So what does it say."
Nicola grinned and looked at the writing on the envelope. "To Sa..."
She blinked. "Sally, they're for _you_." Wide-eyed, Nicola held the
card.
Sally blinked. "What?" She took the card and opened it. She found
herself staring at some beautiful copperplate handwriting and a
familiar name. "Oh... they're from Treize."
Nicola's jaw dropped. "T-Trieze?" She stuttered. "As... as in Treize
Khushrenada? D-Duke Demail's grandson? The most brilliant and most
handsome soldier in the Specials?"
"I guess that's the one." Sally said. "No wonder his name was sort
of familiar." She added thoughtfully.
"SALLY!!" Nicola's scream brought a whole crowd of curious cadets
to the door. "How can you be SO calm? WHY is Treize Khushrenada
sending you flowers?"
There was a chorus of gasps from the other girls and Sally felt
her cheeks flush in annoyance. "We met last night." She said
and mentally edited out the dance and especially the kiss. She
could see that the situation was already going to be blown out
of proportion without her spilling everything.
A babble of questions fell from various lips as the other girls
interrogated Sally. What had he been wearing? What did he say?
Was he very gallant? And more importantly... What did the note
say?
Sally used her superior height to keep the contents of the note
from their prying eyes. "It's nothing important." She insisted.
"Yes... he's very handsome and I guess he's gallant... if that
really matters, but really it wasn't that big a deal!" She glared
at the others. "Now... please LEAVE ME ALONE!"
In the face of Sally's anger, the other girls backed off and
filed out, although they all shot Nicola significant looks. It
was clear that she was expected to spill any details she learnt
later. Sally flopped down on her bed and sighed. Nicola was
silent for a moment, staring at the flowers.
"So... are you going?" She asked finally.
Sally blinked. "Going?"
Nicola had the grace to blush faintly. "Well... I saw that he'd
invited you to lunch today."
Sally groaned and pulled a pillow over her face. "Didn't anyone
tell you that it's rude to read over people's shoulders?" She
asked in a muffled voice. There was no answer and Sally sighed
again. "I don't know." She said. "I'm tempted to say no."
"Why?"
"Because... well... I don't know if I want to get involved
with anyone... least of all someone who's so... famous."
Sally pulled the pillow from her face and sat up. She scanned
the note again. Treize's words were very charming, saying
how interesting he found their meeting the other night and
that he would really like to get to know her better. Sally
shook her head. She had been so rude to him, how could he
want to meet her again? Still... it seemed a little off to
just ignore the note after he'd gone to all the trouble. She
bit her lip, perhaps it would be best to meet him at this
cafe he'd suggested and then tell him that she wasn't
interested.
"It's a very fancy place." Nicola said in her ear, making
Sally jump. "You'll have to dress up."
Sally's lips thinned. "Oh... really."
***
Sally prided herself on being honest and therefore would have
been lying if she had said she didn't feel an ounce of nerves
as she approached the elegant French cafe. She fiddled with
her ponytail and tugged on the edge of her sweater. Suddenly
her decision to meet Treize, dressed in jeans and a green
sweater didn't seem such a good idea after all.
"But this is who I am." Sally reminded herself. "And if he
can't take it then that's definitely a good reason for me not
to encourage him."
With a determined expression, Sally pushed open the doors to
the cafe and walked inside. She ignored the surprised looks
on the faces of the waiters and waitresses and looked around
for Treize.
He was seated at a table by the window, reading a newspaper.
He looked up and smiled, although she noticed that his
eyebrows twitched slightly. He was dressed in a casual, yet
stylish, navy suit and looked entirely at home in the
elegant surroundings.
"I'm glad you could make it." He said as she sat down opposite
him. He looked at her attire and smiled ruefully. "I suppose
I shouldn't be that surprised..."
"I did mention last night that I wasn't really into dressing
up." Sally said tartly. One of the waitresses approached and
Sally ordered a plain coffee before turning back to Treize.
"Thanks for the roses by the way."
He inclined his head. "I'm happy that you liked them."
"Although I think the sheer amount was a bit... ostentatious."
Sally added. "You really didn't need to send me an entire
garden of roses."
"Just showing the depth of my regard, Sally." Treize said
mildly and she stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh really?" She shook her head. "Treize, I can't understand
why you want to get to know me better when there are a ton of
girls who I'd have thought would suit your tastes much better."
"Sally, you barely know me... how can you know what would
suit my taste?" Treize asked.
Her coffee arrived and Sally sipped it before replying. "Well,
you're Treize Khushrenada." She said. "You've been born with
the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. You must be used to
associating with people who have a lot more grace and style
than me."
"I'm surprised at you Sally." Treize said. "You're making
assumptions based on my birth, assumptions which have no basis
in fact." He smiled. "Regardless of background I appreciate
people who interest me... and you _do_ interest me." He leaned
forward and locked her eyes with his. "Unlike many others of
my acquaintance, you don't care for my background, it's
irrelevant to you, and I find this most refreshing."
Sally drew in her breath. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't
flattered by this." She admitted. "But I think it's only fair to
tell you that I really only came today to tell you that I'm
not interested in a relationship."
Treize's eyes flickered slightly and he leaned back, his expression
unreadable. "I see. Would you mind telling me why?" He smiled
faintly. "And for the sake of my masculine pride, Sally, please
don't be too brutal."
Sally blinked, at least he was making a small joke about this.
She was impressed, other men would probably have been a lot more
annoyed with her announcement. "Well... no matter how interesting
you find me and despite the fact that I think you're handsome and
all, and more intelligent than most guys I've met... I don't think
we'd suit each other. Also, unlike some girls I know, I didn't
join the Alliance with the intention of catching a husband. I
have a goal and I really want to achieve it... which also means
that I don't really have time for romance." Sally looked
determined. "Eventually I want to help make some kind of visable
difference to the world."
"You want to make your mark on the world?" Treize asked quietly
and Sally grinned.
"In a way, yes... I guess so, doesn't everyone?"
"Oh yes..." Treize's eyes were very intent. "That's my ambition
as well."
"Don't tell me," Sally quipped. "You want to be King of the
World?"
Treize was very still for a moment and then he laughed. "Not
quite." He said. "But Sally, I admire your ambition and drive.
Not many people have the courage to go for what they want. In
that way we are alike." He smiled at her. "So I can't agree
with your comment that we wouldn't suit."
Sally shrugged. "Maybe, but I'm not convinced."
"How can you be so sure when we hardly know each other?" He
asked. "It's unfair to assume without giving me a chance."
Sally frowned. "But I just told you that I don't have time
for romance!"
"How about friendship?"
***
AC 198 Christmas Day
"Merry Christmas, Miss Sally!"
She smiled at the young man standing by the huge Christmas tree
that dominated the main hall of Lady Une's mansion. "Merry
Christmas, Quatre."
He held out a beautifully wrapped present. "Is Wufei going to
be joining us?"
Sally took the gift with a smile and thanked him. "I don't
know. I did tell him, but he muttered something about not
believing in it and that he had work to do and so do I!" She
smiled ruefully. "He's such a workaholic sometimes."
"I resent that remark, woman!"
Both Sally and Quatre turned to see Wufei walking into the
hall, brushing snow off his shoulders. Sally raised an
eyebrow.
"So Scrooge decided to join us after all." She smirked.
Wufei looked puzzled. "Who is Scrooge?" He asked and Sally
shook her head.
"Never mind."
"It's good to see you, Wufei!" Quatre beamed and held out a
present to the Chinese man. "It wouldn't have been the same
without you here as well."
"I only came because I hit a dead-end with the leads on the
arson." Wufei said, accepting the present with grudging
thanks. He also handed Quatre a small gift which made the
blond Arabian smile sunnily before he excused himself to
go and find the others to tell them that everyone had arrived.
Sally frowned once Quatre had left. "A complete dead-end?"
She asked in surprise. "There's nothing to indicate _who_
could have done it?"
Wufei shook his head. "All the possible suspects have iron
clad alibies."
"How... frustrating." Sally sighed. "I guess that means we
have to go back to square one. Yay." She added sacastically.
Wufei rubbed his chin. "However, we were investigating the
angle that it was related to Dekim Barton's actions. I was
wondering if it might not have something to do with either
Duke Demail or..." He hesistated for a brief moment and
Sally filled in the end of his sentence.
"Or Treize." She couldn't stop the slight sigh from escaping
her lips.
Wufei looked at her, searching her face with intent eyes. "I've
noticed that this incident has been bothering you alot." He
said. "Do you suspect something?"
"No." Sally said honestly. "I don't have any ideas." She looked
away, and her eyes fell on a portrait at the far end of the
room. A portrait of Treize Khrushrenada that had been painted
when he was just twenty years old. "It's just... it's brought
up a bunch of memories that I thought I'd left behind." She
turned back to Wufei and smiled faintly. "But I don't really
want to explain them yet."
Wufei's lips tightened slightly. "Understood." He said, and
Sally knew he meant it. Wufei wouldn't pry if she didn't want
to explain just yet. "The only thing I ask..." He said. "Is
that you tell me if this is going to affect your work."
Sally nodded. "I will Wufei, I promise." She held out her
hand. "Now why don't we go and enjoy this Christmas party?"
He snorted and the tension in the atmosphere disappeared. "We
can try." But he took her hand anyway.
Sally laughed. "You really are a Scrooge!" She teased.
***
AC 191
//"I don't believe you, Sally!" Nicola cried. "How can you say
that you and Treize are just friends when you've been spending
so much time with him?"
"Because that's just what we are." Sally said patiently.
"But for the past two weeks you've been going out to dinner...
to movies... walks in the park... hasn't he...?"
"No."
"Not even..."
"No."
"So you haven't..."
"No!" Sally looked at Nicola in irritation. "Is it so
unbelievable that we could just be friends?"
"Yes!" Nicola argued.//
Sally shook her head as she recalled the arguement she'd had with
Nicola before she had left the dorm. But it wasn't only Nicola
who didn't believe that Sally hadn't 'done' anything with Treize.
They just couldn't conceive the idea that Sally could just be friends
with their prize catch. She grinned, she'd have to tell Treize about
this one... he'd probably find it quite amusing.
He did. In fact he laughed quite loudly when she gave him a verbatim
account of her arguement with Nicola.
"I fear I'm doing your reputation a diservice, Sally." He said
finally.
Sally wrinkled her nose and stirred her coffee. "I don't care what
they think." She said. "It's my life and what really matters is
how I see it!" She looked at him and smiled. "I'm not about to
abandon a decent friendship just because of a load of gossip."
Treize smiled back at her. "That's good to know." His eyes turned
serious. "After all, I think would miss you and your barbed comments."
An unexpected heat rose up within Sally, one which she quickly
quelled. Nicola's remarks were really getting to her, she decided
and quickly changed the subject. "So did you enjoy the function
you attended last night?"
Treize shot her a searching look at the sudden change, but said
nothing and began to tell her some anecdotes about the party Duke
Demail had thrown.
Sally was only half-listening. She was feeling mildly disturbed about
the feelings that had ran through her earlier and Treize's expression
when he had said he would miss her. She recalled a conversation that
they had had a few days earlier when she had come to his apartment
and heard the end of a telephone conversation.
//Sally knocked sharply on the door of Treize's apartment and then
pushed open the door. He turned and smiled tightly at her and she
noticed that he was on the phone.
"No... no, Leia." He said and she could hear a note of frustration
in his urban voice. "It just won't work... no... I'm sorry." She
watched as he rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. "I can't give
you what you want." He said firmly. "Farewell, Leia."
"Old girlfriend?" Sally asked bluntly once he had hung up the phone.
He looked at her blankly for a moment, as if he had almost forgotten
she was there and then he sighed. "Yes... I made a mistake getting
involved with her." He admitted. "Her family..."
"I thought you said family background wasn't so important to you."
Sally said a little sharply.
Treize shook his head. "It's not that. It's the _ambition_ of her
family that concerns me. Beside which... Leia and I... we weren't
suited."
He wouldn't say anything more and she didn't press him. After all,
it wasn't really any of her business.//
*But I was curious* Sally admitted to herself now as she leaned her
chin on her hands and looked at Treize while he talked. *And that's
disturbing... I shouldn't _care_ so much.* She wondered if she was
falling under Treize's spell, just like so many other women. She
looked at him. He was charming, intelligent and handsome... what was
not to like? And to be perfectly candid, if she was going to get
romantically involved with anyone then why not him? Sally tilted her
head and narrowed her eyes, admiring the light in his blue eyes and
the way the light made his hair look like...
"Sally?" Treize's voice broke into her musings and she straightened.
"Yes?" Sally blinked.
"You had the oddest look on your face." He said. "What were you
thinking about."
"Your hair." Sally said promptly, making him raise an eyebrow.
"Your hair just reminded me of milk chocolate... and now I really
want some."
Treize said nothing but merely indicated to waitress. When she
came over he smiled. "Could you bring us the dessert menu?" He
asked. "The lady needs something sweet to eat, before she climbs
over the table and starts chewing on my hair."
Sally's eyes widened. "_Treize_!" She said, slightly embarrassed
as the startled waitress took off, and he smiled teasingly at her.
She laughed and shook her head. "Okay... so maybe I deserved that!"
"Oh you did." He said. "Now... what were you really thinking?"
Sally didn't want to say. Not now, not yet. "Nothing special,"
she said. "But I did want to tell you that I won't be able to
meet you for a while. My exam is in four days... and I really
want to study without distractions."
"Heaven forbid that I become a distraction." Treize said. "I do
understand, Sally... only..." He reached out and took her hand.
"Let me know as soon as the exam is over."
Sally looked down at his hand covering hers. "Hmmm..." She said
carelessly. "I guess I'll consider that."
***
tbc
by Orla
Warnings: None... yet.
Pairings: Non-yaoi and not what you'd expect. ^^
***
Disclaimer: The Gundam Wing characters do not belong to me,
I am only borrowing them for a short while and promise
to return them in one piece.
//...// indicate flashbacks
***
Part Two
***
AC 191
"I think that was the most magical evening of my entire night!"
Nicola enthused over her museli the next morning.
"Uh-huh." Sally answered, frowning as she chewed her toast and
marked a particularly complex passage in her textbook.
"Of course I noticed that _you_ went off and hid somewhere!" Nicola
waved her spoon reprovingly, splattering milk on on the table. "And
I found the most delicious guy for you too!"
"MmmmHmmm." Sally re-read another passage, committing it to memory
as Nicola's words flowed over her. She swallowed the last piece of
her toast. "I'm going back to the dorm." She said, closing her book
and standing up. "See you later."
"Wait!" Nicola practically inhaled her museli and charged after her.
"Sally! Are you mad at me?"
Sally paused and looked at her. "Nicola, why would I be mad at you?
After all, you only emotionally blackmailed me into attending a
function I didn't want to attend and wearing the most ridiculous
outfit I've ever worn. Nope, nothing to get _mad_ about."
"I hate it when you're sarcastic." Nicola grumbled. "Can't you yell,
like normal people?"
Sally smirked as she pushed open the door to their room. "What, and
spoil all my fun?"
"Huh, I... OH!" Nicola squealed. "Look at those roses!"
"Well, you could hardly miss them." Sally said drily as she took in
the huge bunch of red roses that was almost taking over the surface
of Nicola's desk. "From one of your admirers, Nic?"
Nicola blushed. "It could be from Alex." She said with a little
giggle as she examined the roses blissfully. "He said he would make
contact... and look! Here's a card."
"That's nice." Sally sat down on her bed. "So what does it say."
Nicola grinned and looked at the writing on the envelope. "To Sa..."
She blinked. "Sally, they're for _you_." Wide-eyed, Nicola held the
card.
Sally blinked. "What?" She took the card and opened it. She found
herself staring at some beautiful copperplate handwriting and a
familiar name. "Oh... they're from Treize."
Nicola's jaw dropped. "T-Trieze?" She stuttered. "As... as in Treize
Khushrenada? D-Duke Demail's grandson? The most brilliant and most
handsome soldier in the Specials?"
"I guess that's the one." Sally said. "No wonder his name was sort
of familiar." She added thoughtfully.
"SALLY!!" Nicola's scream brought a whole crowd of curious cadets
to the door. "How can you be SO calm? WHY is Treize Khushrenada
sending you flowers?"
There was a chorus of gasps from the other girls and Sally felt
her cheeks flush in annoyance. "We met last night." She said
and mentally edited out the dance and especially the kiss. She
could see that the situation was already going to be blown out
of proportion without her spilling everything.
A babble of questions fell from various lips as the other girls
interrogated Sally. What had he been wearing? What did he say?
Was he very gallant? And more importantly... What did the note
say?
Sally used her superior height to keep the contents of the note
from their prying eyes. "It's nothing important." She insisted.
"Yes... he's very handsome and I guess he's gallant... if that
really matters, but really it wasn't that big a deal!" She glared
at the others. "Now... please LEAVE ME ALONE!"
In the face of Sally's anger, the other girls backed off and
filed out, although they all shot Nicola significant looks. It
was clear that she was expected to spill any details she learnt
later. Sally flopped down on her bed and sighed. Nicola was
silent for a moment, staring at the flowers.
"So... are you going?" She asked finally.
Sally blinked. "Going?"
Nicola had the grace to blush faintly. "Well... I saw that he'd
invited you to lunch today."
Sally groaned and pulled a pillow over her face. "Didn't anyone
tell you that it's rude to read over people's shoulders?" She
asked in a muffled voice. There was no answer and Sally sighed
again. "I don't know." She said. "I'm tempted to say no."
"Why?"
"Because... well... I don't know if I want to get involved
with anyone... least of all someone who's so... famous."
Sally pulled the pillow from her face and sat up. She scanned
the note again. Treize's words were very charming, saying
how interesting he found their meeting the other night and
that he would really like to get to know her better. Sally
shook her head. She had been so rude to him, how could he
want to meet her again? Still... it seemed a little off to
just ignore the note after he'd gone to all the trouble. She
bit her lip, perhaps it would be best to meet him at this
cafe he'd suggested and then tell him that she wasn't
interested.
"It's a very fancy place." Nicola said in her ear, making
Sally jump. "You'll have to dress up."
Sally's lips thinned. "Oh... really."
***
Sally prided herself on being honest and therefore would have
been lying if she had said she didn't feel an ounce of nerves
as she approached the elegant French cafe. She fiddled with
her ponytail and tugged on the edge of her sweater. Suddenly
her decision to meet Treize, dressed in jeans and a green
sweater didn't seem such a good idea after all.
"But this is who I am." Sally reminded herself. "And if he
can't take it then that's definitely a good reason for me not
to encourage him."
With a determined expression, Sally pushed open the doors to
the cafe and walked inside. She ignored the surprised looks
on the faces of the waiters and waitresses and looked around
for Treize.
He was seated at a table by the window, reading a newspaper.
He looked up and smiled, although she noticed that his
eyebrows twitched slightly. He was dressed in a casual, yet
stylish, navy suit and looked entirely at home in the
elegant surroundings.
"I'm glad you could make it." He said as she sat down opposite
him. He looked at her attire and smiled ruefully. "I suppose
I shouldn't be that surprised..."
"I did mention last night that I wasn't really into dressing
up." Sally said tartly. One of the waitresses approached and
Sally ordered a plain coffee before turning back to Treize.
"Thanks for the roses by the way."
He inclined his head. "I'm happy that you liked them."
"Although I think the sheer amount was a bit... ostentatious."
Sally added. "You really didn't need to send me an entire
garden of roses."
"Just showing the depth of my regard, Sally." Treize said
mildly and she stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh really?" She shook her head. "Treize, I can't understand
why you want to get to know me better when there are a ton of
girls who I'd have thought would suit your tastes much better."
"Sally, you barely know me... how can you know what would
suit my taste?" Treize asked.
Her coffee arrived and Sally sipped it before replying. "Well,
you're Treize Khushrenada." She said. "You've been born with
the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. You must be used to
associating with people who have a lot more grace and style
than me."
"I'm surprised at you Sally." Treize said. "You're making
assumptions based on my birth, assumptions which have no basis
in fact." He smiled. "Regardless of background I appreciate
people who interest me... and you _do_ interest me." He leaned
forward and locked her eyes with his. "Unlike many others of
my acquaintance, you don't care for my background, it's
irrelevant to you, and I find this most refreshing."
Sally drew in her breath. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't
flattered by this." She admitted. "But I think it's only fair to
tell you that I really only came today to tell you that I'm
not interested in a relationship."
Treize's eyes flickered slightly and he leaned back, his expression
unreadable. "I see. Would you mind telling me why?" He smiled
faintly. "And for the sake of my masculine pride, Sally, please
don't be too brutal."
Sally blinked, at least he was making a small joke about this.
She was impressed, other men would probably have been a lot more
annoyed with her announcement. "Well... no matter how interesting
you find me and despite the fact that I think you're handsome and
all, and more intelligent than most guys I've met... I don't think
we'd suit each other. Also, unlike some girls I know, I didn't
join the Alliance with the intention of catching a husband. I
have a goal and I really want to achieve it... which also means
that I don't really have time for romance." Sally looked
determined. "Eventually I want to help make some kind of visable
difference to the world."
"You want to make your mark on the world?" Treize asked quietly
and Sally grinned.
"In a way, yes... I guess so, doesn't everyone?"
"Oh yes..." Treize's eyes were very intent. "That's my ambition
as well."
"Don't tell me," Sally quipped. "You want to be King of the
World?"
Treize was very still for a moment and then he laughed. "Not
quite." He said. "But Sally, I admire your ambition and drive.
Not many people have the courage to go for what they want. In
that way we are alike." He smiled at her. "So I can't agree
with your comment that we wouldn't suit."
Sally shrugged. "Maybe, but I'm not convinced."
"How can you be so sure when we hardly know each other?" He
asked. "It's unfair to assume without giving me a chance."
Sally frowned. "But I just told you that I don't have time
for romance!"
"How about friendship?"
***
AC 198 Christmas Day
"Merry Christmas, Miss Sally!"
She smiled at the young man standing by the huge Christmas tree
that dominated the main hall of Lady Une's mansion. "Merry
Christmas, Quatre."
He held out a beautifully wrapped present. "Is Wufei going to
be joining us?"
Sally took the gift with a smile and thanked him. "I don't
know. I did tell him, but he muttered something about not
believing in it and that he had work to do and so do I!" She
smiled ruefully. "He's such a workaholic sometimes."
"I resent that remark, woman!"
Both Sally and Quatre turned to see Wufei walking into the
hall, brushing snow off his shoulders. Sally raised an
eyebrow.
"So Scrooge decided to join us after all." She smirked.
Wufei looked puzzled. "Who is Scrooge?" He asked and Sally
shook her head.
"Never mind."
"It's good to see you, Wufei!" Quatre beamed and held out a
present to the Chinese man. "It wouldn't have been the same
without you here as well."
"I only came because I hit a dead-end with the leads on the
arson." Wufei said, accepting the present with grudging
thanks. He also handed Quatre a small gift which made the
blond Arabian smile sunnily before he excused himself to
go and find the others to tell them that everyone had arrived.
Sally frowned once Quatre had left. "A complete dead-end?"
She asked in surprise. "There's nothing to indicate _who_
could have done it?"
Wufei shook his head. "All the possible suspects have iron
clad alibies."
"How... frustrating." Sally sighed. "I guess that means we
have to go back to square one. Yay." She added sacastically.
Wufei rubbed his chin. "However, we were investigating the
angle that it was related to Dekim Barton's actions. I was
wondering if it might not have something to do with either
Duke Demail or..." He hesistated for a brief moment and
Sally filled in the end of his sentence.
"Or Treize." She couldn't stop the slight sigh from escaping
her lips.
Wufei looked at her, searching her face with intent eyes. "I've
noticed that this incident has been bothering you alot." He
said. "Do you suspect something?"
"No." Sally said honestly. "I don't have any ideas." She looked
away, and her eyes fell on a portrait at the far end of the
room. A portrait of Treize Khrushrenada that had been painted
when he was just twenty years old. "It's just... it's brought
up a bunch of memories that I thought I'd left behind." She
turned back to Wufei and smiled faintly. "But I don't really
want to explain them yet."
Wufei's lips tightened slightly. "Understood." He said, and
Sally knew he meant it. Wufei wouldn't pry if she didn't want
to explain just yet. "The only thing I ask..." He said. "Is
that you tell me if this is going to affect your work."
Sally nodded. "I will Wufei, I promise." She held out her
hand. "Now why don't we go and enjoy this Christmas party?"
He snorted and the tension in the atmosphere disappeared. "We
can try." But he took her hand anyway.
Sally laughed. "You really are a Scrooge!" She teased.
***
AC 191
//"I don't believe you, Sally!" Nicola cried. "How can you say
that you and Treize are just friends when you've been spending
so much time with him?"
"Because that's just what we are." Sally said patiently.
"But for the past two weeks you've been going out to dinner...
to movies... walks in the park... hasn't he...?"
"No."
"Not even..."
"No."
"So you haven't..."
"No!" Sally looked at Nicola in irritation. "Is it so
unbelievable that we could just be friends?"
"Yes!" Nicola argued.//
Sally shook her head as she recalled the arguement she'd had with
Nicola before she had left the dorm. But it wasn't only Nicola
who didn't believe that Sally hadn't 'done' anything with Treize.
They just couldn't conceive the idea that Sally could just be friends
with their prize catch. She grinned, she'd have to tell Treize about
this one... he'd probably find it quite amusing.
He did. In fact he laughed quite loudly when she gave him a verbatim
account of her arguement with Nicola.
"I fear I'm doing your reputation a diservice, Sally." He said
finally.
Sally wrinkled her nose and stirred her coffee. "I don't care what
they think." She said. "It's my life and what really matters is
how I see it!" She looked at him and smiled. "I'm not about to
abandon a decent friendship just because of a load of gossip."
Treize smiled back at her. "That's good to know." His eyes turned
serious. "After all, I think would miss you and your barbed comments."
An unexpected heat rose up within Sally, one which she quickly
quelled. Nicola's remarks were really getting to her, she decided
and quickly changed the subject. "So did you enjoy the function
you attended last night?"
Treize shot her a searching look at the sudden change, but said
nothing and began to tell her some anecdotes about the party Duke
Demail had thrown.
Sally was only half-listening. She was feeling mildly disturbed about
the feelings that had ran through her earlier and Treize's expression
when he had said he would miss her. She recalled a conversation that
they had had a few days earlier when she had come to his apartment
and heard the end of a telephone conversation.
//Sally knocked sharply on the door of Treize's apartment and then
pushed open the door. He turned and smiled tightly at her and she
noticed that he was on the phone.
"No... no, Leia." He said and she could hear a note of frustration
in his urban voice. "It just won't work... no... I'm sorry." She
watched as he rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. "I can't give
you what you want." He said firmly. "Farewell, Leia."
"Old girlfriend?" Sally asked bluntly once he had hung up the phone.
He looked at her blankly for a moment, as if he had almost forgotten
she was there and then he sighed. "Yes... I made a mistake getting
involved with her." He admitted. "Her family..."
"I thought you said family background wasn't so important to you."
Sally said a little sharply.
Treize shook his head. "It's not that. It's the _ambition_ of her
family that concerns me. Beside which... Leia and I... we weren't
suited."
He wouldn't say anything more and she didn't press him. After all,
it wasn't really any of her business.//
*But I was curious* Sally admitted to herself now as she leaned her
chin on her hands and looked at Treize while he talked. *And that's
disturbing... I shouldn't _care_ so much.* She wondered if she was
falling under Treize's spell, just like so many other women. She
looked at him. He was charming, intelligent and handsome... what was
not to like? And to be perfectly candid, if she was going to get
romantically involved with anyone then why not him? Sally tilted her
head and narrowed her eyes, admiring the light in his blue eyes and
the way the light made his hair look like...
"Sally?" Treize's voice broke into her musings and she straightened.
"Yes?" Sally blinked.
"You had the oddest look on your face." He said. "What were you
thinking about."
"Your hair." Sally said promptly, making him raise an eyebrow.
"Your hair just reminded me of milk chocolate... and now I really
want some."
Treize said nothing but merely indicated to waitress. When she
came over he smiled. "Could you bring us the dessert menu?" He
asked. "The lady needs something sweet to eat, before she climbs
over the table and starts chewing on my hair."
Sally's eyes widened. "_Treize_!" She said, slightly embarrassed
as the startled waitress took off, and he smiled teasingly at her.
She laughed and shook her head. "Okay... so maybe I deserved that!"
"Oh you did." He said. "Now... what were you really thinking?"
Sally didn't want to say. Not now, not yet. "Nothing special,"
she said. "But I did want to tell you that I won't be able to
meet you for a while. My exam is in four days... and I really
want to study without distractions."
"Heaven forbid that I become a distraction." Treize said. "I do
understand, Sally... only..." He reached out and took her hand.
"Let me know as soon as the exam is over."
Sally looked down at his hand covering hers. "Hmmm..." She said
carelessly. "I guess I'll consider that."
***
tbc