A Lesson Well Taught
Chapter 2
By: Sailor Astro
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing.
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I awoke with a big bang.
"Maxwell!!!!!!"
I got up from my temporary bed. I thought of my short conversation with Trowa last night as I dressed up. Trowa was so quiet and mysterious. It's like talking to a rock.
Duo barged through my door just as I finished dressing up. He locked the door behind him. "Do you know where I can get another ancient kantana?"
I confusingly shook my head.
Wufei banged on my door. "I know you're there Maxwell! Get out now! I told you that my sword can not cut through Gundanium Alloy!!
Duo quickly ran under my bed. I walked to the door and let Wufei in. I left my room and walked downstairs.
The smell of pancakes lured me to the kitchen. "What smells so good!?" I sat myself down at the table. I looked up and stared at Trowa who was across from me.
His emotionless dark green eyes were concentrated on my bright green ones. I couldn't tell if he was mad or anything. He just looked at me. Did I upset him last night? I didn't want to make an enemy of my comrade. All I wanted to do was get to know my trainers better.
Our silence was broken as Duo ran downstairs with Wufei right behind him carrying a loaded rifle.
"Duo! Wufei!" Quatre was holding a plate of pancakes as Duo and Wufei ran through the kitchen. Quatre sighed and laid the plate on the table.
I looked down at my empty plate. I could feel the cold stare of Trowa beating down on me. I felt as if the slightest move would attract his attention. I really wanted food.
"Corazon, why don't you eat something?" I looked up. Trowa pushed the plate full of pancakes to me.
What happened there!? At first he gives me a cold stare and now he's offering me food. Well my stomach couldn't refuse.
"Uh thanks Trowa." I got two pancakes and slowly cut them into pieces. I was very uncomfortable with Trowa around.
Quatre sat down with Heero, Trowa, and me. "Do you think you're ready for today's training Corazon?"
"Yeah! I'm ready for everything." That's why I came here isn't it? I'll be ready for anything they throw at me.
I was really mistaken when I wanted everything thrown at me. At the instant we got in our Gundams they attacked quickly.
"Corazon! You better start attacking! The Gundams aren't made to dodge attacks!" Heero yelled at me.
"Heero! Take is easy on Corazon," Quatre said to Heero.
I hated how far behind I am. My aim was the worse! I almost hit Wufei, who almost hit me back on purpose, and I almost hit Quatre's mansion.
Duo said that my aim should be the first thing I should master. I wouldn't want to hit anything that I wasn't supposed to.
After my horrible time in training I walked to my room. I really need a lot of training before I can even become a warm-up to those guys. I really needed time to think.
I grabbed my coat and sneaked downstairs. I slowly managed to get outside with out anyone seeing me.
I walked down a few blocks. I didn't know where I was going but I was going somewhere. It began to get dark and the streetlights brightened the streets.
I stopped at a little diner. It was small yet cozy. I sat myself down on the bar table and looked at the menu. I wasn't really hungry since I already had a meal.
The waitress came up to me. "What would you like, honey?"
"A soda would be fine. Thanks." I smiled as the waitress left.
I turned to my left and saw a man in his late thirties. His face was hidden under his large black hat.
He slowly turned his head toward me. "Hi little one. What are you doing out so late?"
The tone of his voice seemed almost soft, and not mean like the evil men in the movies. I felt like I could talk to him. "I just needed time to myself; to think."
"Heh, me too. By the way, my name is Greg." He held out his hand to me.
I held his hand in return. "I'm Corazon. Nice to meet you."
"So Corazon, you know there's rumor that there is a war coming soon. What do you think about it?"
I knew there was a war coming. That's why wanted to become a Gundam pilot. "I think it's." I had to think. I really don't know what I thought of the war. "I think it's good and bad."
"How so?" Greg asked me.
"It's bad because obviously people die; the innocent die. It's also good because the people who fight, fights in what they believe in. Whether if it's on either side, the people fight either because they know what's right or they want to fight for a purpose." Those were my reasons for war. I had nothing else to say but what I thought.
"It's amazing."
"What's amazing?" I asked.
He smiled. "It's amazing that you tell me what you believe in but you don't take any sides. Have you been around war a lot?"
I've been around lots of things. "Yes. For a long time now. The only thing that I'm glad about is that I never had friends who was in the other side of the war. I wouldn't have to hate war because my friends were hurt or killed."
Greg chuckled. "You are a very smart young lady for your age. How old are you?"
"I'm sixteen," I replied.
"No wonder. Well maybe I'll see you sometime. I gotta go. Bye, friend." Greg put his coat on and waved as he left the diner.
I got my soda and thought as I sipped it. I made a new friend. I don't get how amazing it is that I don't choose sides and that I say what I think as if I'm talking for both sides.
I looked at my watch and it was almost dinnertime. I finished my drink and paid with a tip.
As I walked down the street back to Quatre's mansion I could feel as if someone's watching me. I stopped in the middle of the street light. I turned my head from side to side to look around. I fast walked the rest of my way.
When I was near the mansion I stopped on the doorstep. That same feeling of being watched was still in my gut. Who was it? I quickly got out my keys and went in. As I locked the door I looked in the window to see if there was anyone following me.
"Corazon?"
I gasped as I jumped. I turned and Catherine was behind me. "Oh it's you. I'm sorry. I'm so jumpy."
"Where have you been? It's time for dinner."
I didn't know whether I should tell her. "I just walked around the neighborhood for a while. Come on. I'm hungry." I grabbed Catherine's arms and ran to the dinning room table.
"You're finally here Corazon." Quatre smiled at me as I sat down.
I looked around. "Where's Trowa?"
"Oh he went to look at his Gundam outback," Duo said.
Relena coughed a bit. "Corazon, I watched your performance today."
Oh no. She will probably tell me what I need to improve. I gave her the best fake smile ever. "What did you think about it, princess?"
"Well, you need improvements."
Ha! I knew it! "What kind of improvements?"
Hilde stood up. "Your lift off, your balance, your swiftness, your agility, your aim, I mean everything!"
Ow! Right in the kisser!
Duo calmed her down. "Hilde, Corazon is a beginner. Take it easy on her."
"You have to admit. If she can't even lift off right, she shouldn't pilot in the first place. Even Hilde, who isn't a Gundam pilot can pilot better than that," Sally pointed out.
Wufei scolded Sally. "Woman!"
It was true. If I went to battle with them I would just slow them down. I didn't know whether to be angry with them or be sad because of them.
"Corazon." I looked up at Dorothy. "Do you think that you can catch up with the guys?"
I nodded. "Yes. At least I hope and dreaming to be as strong as them."
"Well you can just keep hoping and dreaming because with your performance you can never be as great as them."
Bang! Shot right through the heart! How can they put me to down so easily? I wanted to fight back but I'm afraid that they will make fun of me even more. "Well....."
"Trowa!"
Trowa came in the room. As he walked to his seat he shot a glance at me. I couldn't tell what kind of glance it was. I just knew it wasn't good.
"About time you joined us Trowa. I was almost ready to eat the rest of your food," Duo said.
I just kept on looking at my clenched fists on my lap. I stood up. " Please excuse me." I quickly walked to my room. I quietly slammed the door.
Slowly I walked to my bed. I sat down and just cried. I really tried my hardest today! I really tried to keep up! Why can't they see that!? They only look at me in pity! I came here for training! Not to be made fun of! I wish I had a shoulder to cry on but there was never anyone there.
I fell on my pillow and just cried. There were no little wails, just tears. I hugged my pillow and just cried like there was no end. I cried so much at I cried myself to sleep.