Chapter Two
Chayka walked down the street. She
seemed to do a lot of walking lately. She needed to pick some things up for
school, but it gave her time to think. Especially with her newest friends,
Quatre, and his friend Relena. She never bothered to meet anyone else. She
wasn't even sure if Quatre and Relena even counted as friends. More like
aquaintances.
Christmas was coming, and she was
going to get them something. Just a couple little things so that they knew that
no matter how impersonal she seemed, she did care at least that little bit.
'It's
so cold here.'
She pulled her trench coat even
closer around her to try to ward off those last knives of chill managing to get
through her coat. Finally, she came again to the shop where she had begun her
new life.
'I've come so far from home,
and now this is as close as I can get.'
Walking into the store, she nodded
to the shopkeeper, and when he acknowledged and ducked into the back, she
disappeared into the rows of miscellaneous items. As she walked along, she
looked at numerous items. Dolls, bears, then statuettes, and little ceramic
figurines. She really had no idea what to give Quatre. Sure, she knew he liked
the arts, and he liked animals too, but what to get him?
Relena wasn't so hard. Chayka
already knew what to get her; it was at the front o of the store. In the stand
on the counter was a silver ring with red and blue crystals peppered onto it.
She walked up to the stand just as the shopkeeper came back out.
"Hello Chalk." He smiled at her.
"You don't have to call me that,
Jade. I'd be nice to hear my real name once in a while. Here. I want to get
this for Relena." She tapped on the glass cover, and Jade reached for the keys,
unlocking the glass, and taking out the ring.
"Very beautiful. You going to ask
her out?"
"No. It's for Christmas."
"Ah, maybe next time. Do you want it
wrapped?"
She glared at him, shook her head no, and turned to do
another round of the store.
"I've been everywhere trying to find
something for Quatre that would say 'don't worry, I don't hate you, even though
I act like a freakish little man that can't seem to get his head straight.' And
'yes, I do value your friendship.' Something…" She walked as she spoke, then
suddenly stopped. "…like this." She reached out, picking up the wooden flute.
It was unpainted, with a beautiful swirling design carved into its length. She
fingered the designs, looking at the flute from every angle against the light
before lowering it to her lips. Blowing softly she moved her fingers as a
smooth, low note came. Starting slowly, she played a short tune, before walking
over to the counter again, and setting it down.
"I'll take this too."
Jade smiled, and took her money,
then slid the bag over the counter. "Oh, by the way, It's on the way."
Chayka looked up at him suddenly.
"Really? Do you know when?"
He shook his head. "I don't know
that yet, but you will as soon as I do. But hey, knowing your abilities, you'll
know before I even do."
Smiling, she thanked the old man,
and left, running all the way home, not even noticing the freezing temperature.
She got in the door, just in time to
hear the phone ringing. Dropping the bag onto her sofa, she grabbed her
portable phone, and ran into her room to change.
"Hai, Moshi?"
"Hello Chalk? This is Relena."
"Hai?"
"I'm having a Christmas party on
Friday, and all of my closest friends are coming. I was wondering if you would
like to join us. Quatre will be there, as well as the others that I have told
you about. Even my brother is wanting to meet you."
"Well, Parties aren't really my
thing."
"That's okay, that seems to be what
a certain few people tend to say. Well, I'll give you time to think about it. I
hope you decide to come. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, Sayonara."
"Sayonara."
She went out into the living room,
put the phone back on its bed, and returned to the bedroom.
'Great.'
She shed her clothes, and walked to
the bathroom, turning on the shower. Looking in the mirror, she realized how
much she missed being herself. Sure she was a tomboy before, but she never had
to tell, to convince, anyone that she was something she wasn't. She shook her
head, and jumped into the shower. She took her time in the shower, enjoying the
warmth that soothed her aching muscles. During her shower, she thought more
about going to the party.
'She
wants me to go to a party. How am I supposed to say no? How am I supposed to
stay inconspicuous? Oh, what am I supposed to do?'
She stepped out of the shower, water
dripping off of her slim body in rivulets. Reaching for a towel, she dried off,
and dropped it on the floor. Reaching down, she grabbed it, and started on her
hair. As she was finishing, she just barely heard the door open, and someone
talking.
"You weren't answering your phone, I
thought something was wrong…" Quatre stopped in his tracks, mouth agape. She
looked back at him just as shocked, but he was the first to move. "You're a
girl!" Then finally, he realized he was staring at a very nude woman, and
blushing, turned, and stalked into the living room, aiming for the door
outside.
"Quatre! Wait!" Chayka ran after
him, wrapping the towel around her body.
"You're a girl! No, you're a WOMAN!"
"I can explain!"
"What's to explain? I think I just
saw all the explanation and proof that I needed, thanks."
"Quatre!
Wait!" She ran up to him and grabbed him by the arm, stopping him in his
tracks. He swung around to look at her, his eyes a mixture of anger and hurt.
"If you are a girl, why are you
pretending to be a guy? Why were you leading me on? Is everything about you a
lie?!"
No, I am not just lies, and to be
fair, I was not leading you on. But sit down. I'm going to get clothes on. I
will be really happy if you are still here when I'm done, but I'll understand
if you're not." She looked up at him hopefully. His blue eyes softened, and his
shoulders dropped.
"I'll be here, but I'm calling
Relena. She doesn't deserve to be lied to."
Chayka looked at the floor. "Alright.
You know where the phone is."