CHAPTER 3
They'd been decorating the house for five hour and they were both exhausted. Positioned in the couch they leaned back and sighed in relief.
" Finally finished ", Zell exclaimed.
Tionna bit her lip and slowly shook her head.
" Eh, not really."
Zell let out a deep breath.
" What? There's more? It's getting late Ti, and frankly, I'm beat!"
" I know, but there's just one, tiny little thing I need help with."
" What's that?", Zell asked suspiciously.
"The Christmas tree…."
Zell looked tortured and Tionna tried to beg.
" Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease Zell. All you need to do is to help me carry it inside, then I can do the rest."
" Sure", he said sarcastically. " And when we've done that, you want me to decorate it and all that."
" Please", she pleaded with puppy-eyes and Zell genuinely tried to resist, but failed.
" Oh, alright! But I only help you carry it inside, then you're on your own."
" Absolutely."
Outside stood a rather large tree, dark green and it was the perfect Christmas tree.
" You carry by the foot and I take the top."
Zell nodded obediently , lifting it up. They proceeded into the house.
" You'll have to lead the way."
Tionna pointed at the far left corner of the living room.
" Over there."
They put in down, settling it into the holder, securing it so I wouldn't fall over. They stood there for a while, admiring their work.
" It's nice", Zell admitted. " You chose a good one."
Tionna smiled.
" Thank you. I had it transported from Esthar. I figured it was worth it."
Zell nodded and put an arm around Tionnas shoulders.
" I'm gonna sit back down in that couch, and I'm not moving a muscle until you give me a back-rub. Deal?"
" Only if you agree in putting up the star."
" You sure?"
It was an unusual request, considering it was such an honour to do it.
" Positive. Do we have an agreement?"
" No, but we have a deal."
Tionna smiled at put her elbow in Zells stomach.
" Sit down, wimp."
The tree was almost finished and Zell remembered his previous Christmases. Both the ones with his family and with Allie. It was a lot to remember. He'd wanted last Christmas to be something special to both of them. He had planned to ask Allie to marry him, be he never had the chance to ask her, nor tell her how he felt deep inside.
Hyne, he missed her!
" A dollar for your thoughts."
Tionna sat down next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder.
" I normally only charge a nickel for them."
" These seemed important to you, so I didn't wanna insult you by offering that little."
" So you offered a dollar instead?"
" Alright, a 100 dollars for your thoughts!"
" Are they that important to you?"
" If they're important to you, they are for me too. So please tell me."
" I was thinking about Allie."
Tionna nodded, not at all surprised.
" I figured, but do you care to elaborate."
" Well I was thinking about last year, when I was gonna ask her to marry me."
Tionna sat up straight, eyes full of disbelief.
" You were gonna do what?! You crazy?"
Zell looked surprised at her, she seemed agitated and he wondered what had caused this reaction.
" I loved her, I thought it was the right…"
" … thing to do", Tionna finished. " It's still crazy. You were WAY to young. You can't get married!"
" Well, I won't now will I, 'coz the one I planned to marry is dead!" he yelled back and stood up. Tionna shook her head, obviously regretting her words, but she had opened a door in Zells mind, and now everything poured out.
" You can never imagine how much I loved Allie. She was my everything. I don't think you can even guess I much you suffer when someone you love that much disappears out of your life. Ever since Allie died, since I killed her!, you have done nothing than to make me forget her. You never cared about her, did you? And I can bet you don't even remember her, not like I do. I can't believe you can be so heartless."
Tionna shook her head fierce fully, while tears was running in rapid speed down her cheeks.
" I'm not. I did all that for you!" she sobbed. " I didn't want you to suffer anymore. I just wanted to help you…"
" Fat lot of help you've been! The only thing you've managed to do is to rip open half healed wounds, by forcing me to help you with this stupid Christmas party, which you're cold heartedly enough placed on the anniversary of Allies death! You can forget having me helping you again. I don't even want to see you! EVER!"
Then he ran out, leaving a red eyed Tionna crying uncontrollable.
