I realized the other day that there are very few love stories primarily concerned with Garet in this entire section. It seems, barring some exceptions, that Isaac gets most of the action in practically every romance fic. (I stand guilty as charged, of course.) I suppose that's since Isaac is our hero. (He's certainly my favorite male character anyway. I dare you to take a guess at my favorite female character! ^_^) I didn't do a count, but I think Ivan has more romance stories than Garet too! Why is that, I wonder? *Shrugs* Maybe it's because poor Garet is just the goofy idiot sidekick?
Garet: T.T Everyone loves Isaac and Ivan more!
Aw, don't worry Garet. Even a dork like you has plenty of fans.
Garet: Thanks, that makes me feel better…hey!
*Mistakes*
"Are we close to Tolbi yet?" Garet asked.
Isaac studied the map carefully. "Lemuria's here, and we've been bearing south-southwest, so we must be…here." He pointed. "And Tolbi is right there." The distance between the two spots was considerable.
"We're nowhere near Tolbi!" Garet cried. "Isaac, I thought you knew where we were going!"
"I do!" Isaac insisted. "Babi's Lighthouse isn't far. If we sail northwest from here, it'll be in sight within days. In the meantime, let's get back on land and re-supply the ship. We're running low on provisions again."
"That's because someone's been eating more than his allotted food rations," Ivan muttered, glaring at Garet.
"Why do you guys always assume that it's me?" Garet demanded.
"Because it is always you," said Jenna. "You eat like there's no tomorrow. Having you around is like feeding a small army!"
Garet made a face at her. "It's not my fault I have a fast metabolism. It takes a lot of nutrients to keep this fine physique in shape, you know."
The others rolled their eyes. Jenna poked Garet's stomach with her index finger. "Fine physique my butt. You're getting soft, Garet. Too much food and not enough action will turn you in an even more useless tub of flesh."
"Here we go again," Sheba sighed.
"Soft?! What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
"That you're getting pudgy around the edges, dummy."
"Pudgy? You'll be begging for my muscles if we get into a monster fight on land!"
"I can take care of myself just fine. My Psynergy is better than yours anyway."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah! And I've never set myself on fire before either."
"That's because you were too busy setting me on fire!"
"You should've ducked!"
"You shouldn't have been practicing close-range like that! That's stupid!"
"Which you're the expert on, of course."
"Shouldn't we break them up?" Ivan asked.
Isaac threw up his arms in frustration. "With allies like this, who needs enemies? Let's go." He, Ivan, Sheba and Mia made their way down the gangplank to the dock. It took several minutes for the bickering Garet and Jenna to realize that they were alone.
"Where'd everyone go?" Garet questioned, looking around.
"Hey, guys!" Jenna cried, running towards the dock. "Wait up!"
The whole group made their first stop at the local inn to stay for the night, since the sky was already turning red. Naturally, dinner became the primary objective and the Adepts all ate with great gusto, devouring the food as fast as the inn's chef could prepare it. A freshly cooked meal was always far better than the rations they had to eat on board their ship.
"Ah, much better," said Ivan. "I always feel like my Psynergy's stronger after a good meal."
Sheba nodded in agreement. "It wasn't quite one of the feasts I used to have in Lalivero, but it sure was good."
"Uh, sir," the innkeeper began to Isaac. "Here's your bill."
"Thanks," Isaac said, taking the slip of paper. He glanced at it casually then immediately looked back at it and leaped from his chair. "WHAT?!"
Everyone jumped, except for Garet who was still too busy eating. "What's the matter, Isaac?" Mia asked.
He held up the bill for all to see, and their reactions were similar. "2000 coins?!"
"Garet, you pig!" Jenna cried. "You're going to eat us into poverty!"
"Why is it my fault?" Garet asked with his mouth full.
Ivan looked at the huge stack of empty used plates in front of Garet. "I think the answer's obvious," he sighed. "Did that break the bank, Isaac?"
"No," said Isaac. "But now we'll have to earn some extra money if we're going to properly re-supply our ship."
The others groaned. "Once again the fool has made our lives more difficult," said Sheba.
"Hey!" Garet said, swallowing. He pointed at Sheba with his mostly-eaten chicken leg. "I do almost twice the work around here, so I should get twice the food."
Sheba recoiled in disgust from the food in her face. "Twice perhaps, but certainly not five times the amount!"
"He's a bottomless pit all right," Jenna moaned in agreement. Times like these made her wonder exactly how she could love him so much.
"There's just no pleasing you women," said Garet. "Maybe you're always so grouchy because you never let yourselves experience the satisfaction of being full." He finished the meat in his hand and shoved his last plate aside.
"Are you quite done?" Isaac asked, still slightly annoyed from the exorbitant bill.
"I think so," said Garet, sounding content as he rubbed his full stomach.
"Good," Isaac said. "Then you can help the innkeeper clean up." He swiftly headed upstairs with the others.
"Hey guys!" Garet called. "Guys?" He looked at the immense pile of dishes on the table and swore to himself. Suddenly stuffing his face hadn't seemed like such a hot idea after all.
Jenna stared up at the inn's washroom ceiling as she tried to enjoy her warm bath. Mars Adepts had a natural aversion to water, but she liked the occasional long soak in the tub. And how else was one supposed to keep from feeling grimy and smelling bad? The water also helped rinse away the sense of disgust brought on by watching Garet eat. That always left her with a certain queasy sensation, since it was like watching some ravenous animal consume everything in its path. How could she love someone with such deplorable table manners? She was worthy of better behavior in her man, wasn't she?
But there were more dimensions to Garet other than his buffoonery. Underneath it all was a kind, warm heart with a strong sense of justice and righteousness. Not to mention that he was highly dependable. He'd stayed by Isaac's side during this entire ordeal, even after seeing things that would've sent most people screaming for mercy. And he was certainly handy with a sword and a brilliant fighter as well, albeit slightly impatient when the melees got particularly heated.
Garet had a tender side too, which always revealed itself at precisely the right time. On many occasions after the storm in Vale, she'd seen him sitting with Isaac at his most distraught. And in those instances, Garet hadn't been running his mouth or attempting to crack jokes; he'd simply sat silently beside his grieving friend, using his presence as a reassurance of support and brotherly love. He'd done that for her as well. A few times they'd been hanging out as usual, and something would suddenly trigger memories of her loss, causing her to burst into tears for no apparent reason. And Garet hadn't said a word. Rather, he'd pulled her into his arms and let her cry as much as she'd needed.
Jenna smiled. Those hidden layers were what made her love him. They were often over-shadowed by his oafish exterior, but they were still there--one only needed to look for them to see them. And his oafish side had its charms as well, despite the bad manners and numerous brain cramps. He could make her laugh like no one else, and that was important too.
Now if only I had the courage to tell him how I really feel, she thought. Why are those three beautiful little words so hard to say? Mia did it, so why can't I? She sighed and started rinsing the suds off of her skin. It was getting late and she needed a good night's sleep.
Down the hall, Garet had finally finished assisting the innkeeper with the pile of dinner dishes and had returned to his room. This inn hadn't had enough free rooms, so they'd had to bunk up as normal instead. Isaac was reclined on his bed reading and Ivan was sitting on the floor meditating.
"Thanks for the help, guys," Garet growled lowly.
"You're welcome," Isaac said, not looking up from his book. "Of course, you really should be thanking yourself. If you hadn't run up such a huge bill, we wouldn't have had to exact our revenge."
"Consider it a way of paying your debt to us," said Ivan, opening one eye.
"Debt?" Garet questioned. "I helped earn that money too!"
"Yes, but you seem to spend more of it than anyone else," Isaac said.
Garet grumbled audibly at his friends, wishing that for once everyone would stop ridiculing him. Was loving food really such a bad thing? And he certainly wasn't pudgy at all, so what was the harm in filling himself? It helped him sleep and made it easier to focus on other matters. Whenever his stomach growled, he could barely think of anything else, even if he was in the middle of something important like a battle.
Ivan stretched and rose from his spot on the floor. "You guys turning in?" he asked.
"To what?" Garet implored.
"That's such an old joke," said Isaac with a small laugh. He shut his book and yawned. "I suppose that would be wise. Tomorrow we have to find some extra cash and get going again."
"I'll be glad to put an end to all of this sailing," Garet said. "I don't care for being surrounded by water day in and day out." He started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Ivan asked.
"Nature call," Garet replied, exiting.
"He's something else, isn't he?" Ivan questioned.
Isaac nodded. "I'm still trying to figure out what though." He rolled onto his side to sleep when a blood-curdling scream suddenly shook the entire building. Leaping to attention, he and Ivan dashed down the hallway, meeting Mia and Sheba on the way, to find the source of the sound. The four of them found a dripping wet Jenna hastily wrapped in a towel hyperventilating with rage at Garet, who had fallen to the floor. Both of them had beet-red faces.
"GARET!" Jenna shouted at him. "Why didn't you knock?!"
"H-How was I supposed to know you were taking a bath?" he asked nervously.
"The door was closed! You should've knocked!"
The other shook their heads, trying hard not to laugh. "Garet, you idiot," said Ivan. "Basic courtesy dictates that one knock before opening a closed door--especially a bathroom door!"
"I didn't see anything, Jenna!" Garet insisted to defend himself. "I swear I didn't!"
Jenna's face was twisted in anger and embarrassment. Her temper was even hotter than normal as she continued ranting at Garet. "You jerk! How could you! How could you!?" She unintentionally started to cry. She'd never been so embarrassed in her entire life. Not only had he caught her without a strip of clothing on but it'd happened in a public place too!
"Jenna!" Garet said uneasily. He never liked seeing her cry and in this uncomfortable situation it was far worse. Dammit, why hadn't he had the good sense to knock? "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
"Come on, Jenna," said Mia gently, putting her arm around her. She led her back to their room, Jenna still sniffing audibly. Sheba shut the door behind them.
"Well that was an unnecessary disaster," Ivan sighed. "You're a real winner, Garet." He went back to their room.
"Are you all right, Garet?" Isaac asked.
Garet held his head in his hands. "That's one for the record books, isn't it? Jenna's never going to forgive me for this."
"Yes she will. Just give her a little time to get over the shock. It's actually kind of funny in a way."
"She certainly wasn't laughing!" He sighed. "I must be the biggest oaf in all of Angara. I can't believe I made her cry!"
Isaac tried to smile in reassurance. "It was an accident, plain and simple. Don't beat yourself up over it, Garet. I'm sure Jenna will forgive you in time. She's not the kind to hold a grudge indefinitely."
Garet wasn't so sure. Even if Jenna did forgive him, he had a feeling this unfortunate incident would hang over them for awhile. And he'd actually made her cry! There was no way he could hope for deeper relationship with her after causing that. You're not supposed to make the one you love cry--he was certain of that. He'd blown his chances with Jenna for sure now. Why was this love stuff so hard?
----------------------------------------------------------
I hope that was at least mildly amusing. It sure was fun to write, I'll tell you that! ^_^ You gotta feel sorry for Garet though. How does he get himself into these messes anyway? Well, as Shakespeare says, the course of true love never did run smoothly!