Chapter 25: Talk
"Oh, um…hi," Merle bit her lower lip. She looked around the area for some kind of distraction to make the moment a little less tense but there was nothing there but the sky, the cit lights and a whole lot of plants. This was the last place on earth that she expected to see Folken. But then again one of their meetings have been planned. 'Why is it that we always run into each other in awkward moments?' she wondered. It was like as if faith wanted to toy with her feelings. She didn't know if she was actually happy to see him. It was hard to explain what she was feeling right then. There was excitement, but there was also fear. Maybe there was a reason why they ran into each other right when she had been thing of him. Maybe someone up there was trying to send some kind of a message. But what if he didn't feel the same away. What if he wanted to alone and was mad that she walked in on him. The reason why she can here in the first place was to try to get him out of her mind. And now, there he was, standing right in front of her. Looking not too happy to see her.
Folken stood there speechless. Wondering if he was hallucinating. He had just been thinking of her with she suddenly walked through the bushes. This had to be some kind of a joke. Maybe he fell asleep or something. "Merle?" he managed to say.
"The one and only," she raised her arms presenting herself. When he didn't respond she smiled nervously, "I wasn't following you or anything…I honestly dind't know that anyone else knew about this place." She waited for him to say something but he just stood there staring. 'God, he doesn't believe me, he must think I'm a freak.' She felt a shock of pain and turned around afraid to face him. "Look, I'm really sorry to bother you. I'll be leaving now."
It took a while for her words to register into his mind. When they finally did, he ran up to catch her just in time. "Wait, I'm sorry about that," he grabbed her by the arm, directing her back to the bench. "I just wasn't expecting to see you. I was thinking about stuff and when you cam I was just a little…um…" he ran his hand through his hair, searching for the right word to use.
"Surprised?" Merle suggested.
"Yeah surprised. I didn't think that anyone else knew about this place neither."
"Oh," she nodded. Feeling a little uncomfortable, she turned to face antoher direction only to notice that his hand was still on her wrist. T was the first time that they actually had direct skin contact. It felt weird but so good.
Folken followed her gaze onto her arm and realized that he was still holding her arm firmly. He quickly pulled away, embarrassed. While pulling back, his finger accidentally brushed against her skin. Making Merle blush even more. 'Wow, her skin is soft." He thought, 'it reminds me of…' "No," he thought our loud. He wasn't going to let his mind wander back onto that subject again.
"No what?" Merle asked, surprised with his sudden remark.
"Nothing."
"Oh okay."
They sat in silence, not knowing what to say after that. Merle pulled her jacket closer, feeling the wind pick up again. Her body shivered through the thin layer of fabric, making her wish once again that she had taken a long a thicker coat.
"Are you okay?" Folken asked, feeling her tremble.
"I'm fine, just a little cold." She smiled.
Normally, this would have been his cue to rap his arms around her but he didn't move a muscle. Part of him wanted told her; the other part felt strongly against it. Instead, he reached over to his side and handed her a paper cup. "Here, it's not as hot as before but it should keep you warm for a while," he explained giving her the coffee.
"Thanks." Merle took it hesitantly, not knowing if she was supposed to just hold it or drink it. It was not like Merle to feel nervous or hesitant with a guy. She was used to be doing the attracting, not the falling. Feeling more nervous, she decided not to think about it and tried to enjoy the view.
The lights coming from the city were parallel to the stars, making the illusion of a large lake reflecting the lights form the sky. The leaves on the tress looked like little dancers, swinging to the rhythm of the wind. There was a soft kind of inaudible music floating in the air. It was nature singing out to the world, showing off it's hidden beauty. If it wasn't for the warm presence beside her, Merle would have thought that she had drifted into an imaginary world.
Noticing the look of awe on her face, Folken asked, "isn't it beautiful?"
She slowly turned her face towards him and gave a soft smile. "Yeah, not matter how many times I come here, I'm always amazed by its beauty." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "this place is so peaceful. When I come here it's like I'm walking into a completely different world. I can just forget about all that's going on and focus on the simple things of life. I can release all the complicated emotions I have inside, and feel totally free."
"Do you come here often?"
"I just discovered this place last week. How 'bout you?"
"I used to," he sighed, staring straight ahead. He never talked about his feelings to anyone. He didn't like to dump his troubles onto other people. From time to time he would talk to Sora, but that was all he was willing to reveal. With Merle it was no exception. "But for the same reasons as you."
"Oh," she said, understanding right away what he meant. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"You know, you'll feel a lot better if you say it out loud," she said before she could stop herself.
"And what makes you think that I would want to talk about it with you?"
Merle felt her annoyance begin to rise, "I never said it necessarily had to be me! I just think that you should talk about it to someone. If you keep on holding everything in and pushing everyone away, sooner or later you'll go crazy or something."
"Thanks for your advice but I seem to be doing pretty damn fine without your help!" Folken couldn't believe that she had just said that. What is it with women? Why do they think that they know everything about men when they don't? Why was everyone trying to tell him how to live his life?
Merle slammed the coffee cup onto the bench and stoop up, "Folken Lacour, if you only open your eyes a little, you will see that there are other things worth living for and that you're not the only one affected by what happened!"
"You have no right to be telling me what to do, you don't even know anything!" Folken shouted, standing up as well.
"Don't give me the 'I'm taller than you so you can't mess with me' shit! I admit, I don't know much about the situation, but what I do know is that no matter you might think, it wasn't your fault!"
***
"What happened next?" Hitomi asked Merle with interest.
"Well, we screamed at each other a little longer, then he left," she sighed, "he said that he didn't have to star around and take shit from me and told me to stay away from him."
"Ouch…"
"Yeah, talk about saying the right things," Merle buried her face in her palms and groaned, "Why can't I ever look before I leap? Now he's probably never going to speak to me again. He hates me."
Hitomi put an arm around her friend and patted her shoulder, "he doesn't hate you. He was just pissed off. Look, it's been over a year since his girlfriend's accident. He suddenly went from the school's most poplar guy to the most ignored person in town. He's not used to people speaking to him like that."
"Well that's his damn fault. Why does he have to be so arrogant?" she pouted. "Out of all the guys in Gaia, why him? Why did I have to fall for him?"
"Merle, you can't just treat him like that. You both have very stubborn personalities; you should find a way to talk to him without getting angry. He's been through a lot. He just needs someone to open his eyes, and I think you're that someone."
"You make it sound like a piece of make. Remember, we're talking about Folken Lacour; he's not exactly the whole's easiest person to reason with. Plus you're forgetting the fact that HE WON'T EVEN TALK TO ME NOW!" Merle complained. "Never mind, forget it let's not talk about it anymore. My head is going to explode if I think about it anymore." She rubbed her forehead then sudden smiled teasing and whispered, "Tell me, how are things with you and Van?"
Hitomi looked away embarrassed, "What are you talking about? There's nothing between us."
"My ass!" Merle exclaimed, she ran to the other side of oh Hitomi so she'd be facing her friend, "Come on, I already told you everything about Folken and I… or what was Folken and I. Hitomi…"she gave her best sad puppy face.
"Oh fine," Hitomi motioned her to come close so she could whisper into her ear. Merle listened attentively and made a few faces from tine to time. Finally, after a while Merle yelled out, "He kissed you?"
Hitomi quickly slapped Merle's arm and warned, "Shut up Merle!" I didn't say he kissed me I said he almost kissed me. At lest he looked like he was going to …until he turned away and started to swim."
"Wow, how romantic!" she smiled dreamingly. "Just my luck, you get to have a seductive, private swim lesson in the dark with a drop dead gorgeous guy, while I'm stuck out in the brushes, screaming my lungs out at a psychological freak who's obsessed with his dead girlfriend." She banged her head on her locker.
Hitomi placed her hand between her friend's head and the locker door, "Merle, stop it!" she ordered, "People are staring."
"Let them stare!"
She sighed and searched desperately for something to interest Merle. "Hey look." She suddenly cried out. "There's Folken."
Merle immediately stopped her pounding and looked around nervously. When she realized that her friend was just joking, she pointed her finger threateningly, "Don't you dare ever do that to me again. You scared the hell out of me!"
"You see, no matter if he's a psychological freak or the capital of the football team. You still like him," she tried not to smirk.
"Still like who?" a voice asked from behind. The two girls were too busy caught up in there conversation to notice a figure walk up behind the. He was carrying a beautiful bouquet of red roses. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Allen smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Merle asked in a cold tone. "Just how stupid are you? What part of no don't you understand? It's been what? One month now? Can't you take a hit?"
"Merle," Hitomi pulled her friend away, "Don't I can handle this."
"Fine but I was just trying to save this pathetic loser here some money. I guess he's too dumb to even take some good, although not deserved advice." She saw the look her friend gave her and sighed, "Okay, okay I'm leaving. I have to be getting to class anyways."
***
"Allen, what Merle said is right. You shouldn't be spending money on me anymore." Hitomi sighed and looked at the bouquet of flowers in his hand. "I said it before and I'll say it again, we're over. Flattery and first will get you no where."
"I don't care what you think of my gifts. As long as you know that my thoughts are on you; they're going to a good cause."
'You bet,' she thought, thinking of what she did with the last necklace she relieved. Allen reached out, handing the flowers to her but she just trund around and walked away.
"Hitomi, why won't you give me another chance?" he chased after asking. I made a mistake and I hurt you, but I've changed. Please! Why don't you believe me?"
Hitomi turned to hind her face from two passing girls who were giggling and whispering. After they passed, she said impatiently, "So far, you haven't given me any reason to believe you. All I've seen are gifts and that means nothing to me. Now if you will excuse me, I have to get to class," with that, she left him.
***
Hiotmi sat quietly in French class, and tried to look interested in the lecture he teacher was giving on the start of the French revolution. She scanned over her notes one more time to see if there was anything she left out. It was impossible to take notes with Mr. Lafortain for he was always running of subject. Therefore, Hitomi always read a chapter ahead in their book and took notes off of the reading. Whatever the book forgets to mention, the teacher would cover…eventually.
As she studied her notebook, Hitomi noticed there was a piece of paper on the left corner of her desk that wasn't there the last time she checked. She carefully reached over to retrieve it, not wanted to attract any attention. 'Hey stranger, did you have a good tine last night?' She smiled to herself as she recognized Van's sloppy writing. She sneaked a quick glance at him and replied. 'I don't know what's your definition of a good time but I had fun.' She shoved it onto his desk and immediately turned her attention back to the board. She heard him scribble something with his pencil then saw the paper being pushed back onto her desk. 'I was wondering when you'd respond,' it read, 'since you had fun, I was wondering if you're willing to repeat last night.'
'Repeat which part?' she wanted to write but instead answered, 'we have practice tonight.' 'Well, let's skip it then.' He wrote back. 'But Van! We're the main characters, if we skip it, Steve (A/N: remember the assistant director) will go crazy. Plus, I'm not willing to sacrifice the plays success for my own pleasure.' She wrote.
Van noticed her writing a lot and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I was just joking."
"Oh," she blushed and put the paper away, not wanting him to read it and think that she's goody-too-shoes.
"So how 'bout coffee after practice then?" he asked, "and I'll drive you how afterwards."
"That sounds nice," she whispered back smiling.
"Miss Kanzaki!" her teacher suddenly said, making Hitomi jump. "I'm sure Mr. Fanel's face is face more interesting then the history of France but I doubt it will get you passé this class."
"I'm really sorry sir. We were just talking about the play." Van apologized.
"Talk about it after class. This isn't the time or place."
Hitomi sunk lower into her chair, she could feel her face burning and wondered how Van could keep his cool like that when the whole class was laughing at them.
***I'm back! ^_^ *jumps around happily* This is the long juicy chapter that I promised. Okay…maybe it's not that long or juicy but hey… at lest I updated. Thanks to all of you who waited patiently and I hope it was worth the wait. Once again, please review and I'll update the next one some time next week. Oh yeah, if any of you guys want to be on my mailing list, please email me. Bishouji88***