WARNING: This is my pathetic attempt at romance. If you want an even more
pathetic attempt, read my other G Gundam fic. I just can't write this
stuff. Hey, but I try. Really, really hard, and still I get nowhere. *sigh*
Ya get used to being cursed after a while. Flame your heart out! (
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Mobile Fighter G Gundam: Anonymous
Chapter VI: Serious Inner Turmoil (also known as: On a Winter's Night)
A year passed quickly. Rye started training with Chibodee, Jacque started raiding the kitchen, Gina started learning how to fix a Gundam and shop for clothes that appealed to the original crewmembers, let alone Chibodee, Chibodee started realizing that Rye was a pretty good boxer along with the fact that Gina got prettier every day. It was hard for the Neo-Mexican and Chibodee not to blush when they saw each other. It took even more self- control (on Chibodee's part) to keep impure thoughts out of his mind (and Gina didn't even know what an "impure" thought was). Bunny continued trying to get Chibodee to admit that he had a "thing" for the newest crewmember. Life went on as normal. Until New Year's.
"Gina! C'mon! The game's gonna start soon!" Chibodee called to Gina as she got up from working on a slight glitch in the Gundam Maxter.
"Is football really that interesting?" Gina asked as she walked over to Chibodee's side, wiping the dirt off onto her black pants.
Chibodee's heart skipped a beat or two. God, she's pretty. he thought as he looked at Gina. I wish-Naw, she only thinks of me as a brother. Chibodee sighed.
"Somethin' wrong?" Gina asked with concern.
"Nothin'. Let's go. The beginning of the game is the most interesting part," Chibodee said and started walking down the hall at a faster pace.
"Why?" Gina asked.
"Why what? Oh, the game. Well, at the beginning, they sing the 'Star- Spangled Banner'. It's as interesting as the game gets. Sometimes the singer is actually good, too."
"If it's that boring, why do I have to watch it?"
" 'Cause it's a stupid tradition that everyone hates. And I want to introduce you to more American culture."
"Isn't being around you people enough?"
Chibodee didn't answer as they entered the living room with the big-screen TV. "The girls don't seem to be complaining, so you don't either, 'kay?" Chibodee asked grumpily. Sometimes, he couldn't stand being around Gina. It sent shivers up his spine, and his heart skipped beat after beat. He just wanted to grab her and hold her in his arms forever.D*** it! There I go again! You're living a fantasy, Chibodee. Give it up already. She'll never love you like that. But she's so pretty.Oh, shut it already! Chibodee scolded himself.
"Everyone have popcorn to throw at the TV?" Chibodee asked and flopped down on the couch.
"Yep," Rye spoke for all. The former thief turned to his brother who was sitting on the floor next to him. "No, Jacque! The popcorn is to throw at the TV. You're not supposed to eat it!"
To Chibodee's horror-and extreme pleasure-Gina sat down next to him. Great, now I get to watch a boring football game and have the girl o' my dreams sit by me when there's no way of telling her how I feel, Chibodee thought drearily. Just what I needed.
Chibodee found the switch to the television and turned the gigantic thing on.
"Live, from New Orleans, we bring you." the reporter started speaking about the game.
"Ready.On the count of three. One.two.three!" Chibodee called out. Bunny, Shirley, Janet, Cath, Chibodee, Rye, and Gina started throwing popcorn at the television. (Jacque was busy eating his.)
"This is actually fun, Chibodee," Gina said and started laughing as a piece of popcorn hit the reporter's eye.
She's so god d*** beautiful when she laughs.What is wrong with me? Drive the little pest outta your mind, Chibodee! the Neo-American thought to himself.
The football game started, and it became harder to hit the players in action. Rye started keeping track of who had hit the most players. "Bunny: eighteen, Janet: twenty, Cath: nine, Shirley: thirty-one. Nice! Chibodee: forty-three! How does he do it? Gina: thirteen. Ha, ha! You're losing, Mexico," Rye called out the scores. "Oh, yeah, me: forty. I'll beat you yet, Chibodee! And Jacque had made it from an amazing zero to one hit!"
"Jacque gets to clean up all the popcorn after the game's done!" Rye announced a few minutes later. The others all started throwing more popcorn than ever at the TV screen.
After a while, everyone got tired of hitting football players. Bunny, Janet, Shirley, and Cath started playing Monopoly. Chibodee continued glancing at Gina-half in bliss, half in pain, while Rye and Jacque fought over who got the last bag of popcorn.
Well, I've definitely had worse New Year's. Maybe I'll even be able to sneak a drink or two before the girls find out. Chibodee thought. "Huh?" he said aloud as he felt something soft lean against his arm. Chibodee looked down to see a sleepy Gina curl up against him. Hey, maybe this can get better, Chibodee thought a bit more brightly. He a silly smile played across his lips as he continued looked at Gina. Slowly, so that she wouldn't notice, Chibodee slipped his arm around the Neo-Mexican. Gina snuggled up closer to Chibodee. He sighed blissfully and leaned back, holding the dozing Gina close to him. Bunny glanced his way and smiled knowingly.
Yep, he likes her. Maybe even loves her. Naw, that's not playboy Chibodee. He doesn't love any girl until she's been in bed with him-at least twice.Bunny thought, but brought her attention back to Monopoly.
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A flying pillow woke Gina up with a jolt. "Whoa!" she shouted as the pillow bounced off of her shoulder and behind the couch. "Who threw that?" she said upright, not realizing that Chibodee was still next to her. A giggle came from nearby. "Chibodee?" Gina turned to Chibodee, to find him unnaturally close. She pulled back, burning red.
"Sorry," Chibodee mumbled, also a bit red.
Gina turned around, avoiding Chibodee's penetrating gaze. Why does he do that? It makes me feel so.so.see-through, like glass. A shiver went up Gina's spine. Her attention was suddenly diverted as another sofa pillow came flying at her.
Gina got up and whirled around to see Jacque hiding behind the arm of the couch with a store of pillows. "Jacque, I'm gonna get you for that? I was having a nice dream." Gina picked up a pillow and threw it back at Jacque. The young boy caught the thrown object and hurled it back again. Unfortunately, a moving target is not as easy to hit as a stationary one. Jacque missed Gina by a mile and hit Janet instead.
"Oops," he muttered under his breath.
"JACQUE! You little runt!" Janet screamed. "You messed up our Monopoly board!" A pillow went flying, and soon everyone in the room was caught up in a pillow fight.
"Jacque, why'd ya have to hit Gina in the first place? Now we're all being bombarded by pillows!" Rye complained, blocking a flying pillow from hitting him.
"Think of it as training," Chibodee said and hit Gina impishly with a pillow.
"Hey! That wasn't nice," Gina complained, laughed, and threw a pillow back at Chibodee.
A wide smile spread across his face. Gina. Chibodee punched the pillow that was soaring towards him, throwing it off course.
"No fair! You're supposed to let me hit you!" Gina giggled.
"I am, am I?" Chibodee asked, a sly smile taking the place of the broad one. He sprang forward and started an onslaught on the poor girl, hitting her playfully with pillow after pillow.
"Chibodee! Get offa me! Chibodee!" Gina squealed and hit Chibodee back.
The cocky Neo-American rolled to the side as Gina started trying to hit him back. She was failing miserably.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Gina asked through fits of laughter. "Stop it!" she shouted as Chibodee fell off of the couch and onto the floor, pulling Gina down with him.
"Told ya." Bunny whispered to Shirley, Janet and Cath as they continued hitting each other, taking a break every few seconds to watch the laughing Gina struggle with an excessively happy Chibodee. This was as close as he was gonna get to Gina, right?
Fifteen pillows later, the fun eventually subsided. Gina was still on the floor, laughing, with Chibodee leaning on top of her. Jacque and Rye- especially Jacque-had started bursting the pillows, sending feathers everywhere. Gina started coughing as one landed on her mouth. Chibodee removed it gently.
The Neo-Mexican suddenly realized exactly where she was and the awkward position she was in. "Oh," she murmured quietly and removed herself from the space in between Chibodee's widely spread-out hands that were keeping her boxed in against the floor. "Sorry," she said weakly, turning redder than red.
Chibodee looked disappointed, but tried not to show it. I was this close! This close! he thought. This close!
Gina moved back onto the couch, touching her temple. "Hey! What are you doing?" Laughter. "Stop it!" Another voice, "Told ya".Gina shook her head. Those words sound so familiar, but from where? Gina wondered.
"Gina, c'mon!" The Neo-Mexican was brought back to the present as Shirley called to her. "C'mon! We gotta go start cooking dinner."
"Right," Gina replied and got up, brushing some feathers off her. She walked out of the room with Shirley.
Bunny walked over to Chibodee. "Told ya," she whispered to him.
He looked up at her questioningly. "Huh?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Chibodee," Bunny said.
Chibodee blushed. "Oh, yeah."
"Well, do ya?" Bunny asked quietly, sitting down beside Chibodee.
The Neo-American looked at his hands. "Yeah, I-I think so," he replied weakly.
"Tell her," Bunny suggested.
"What? No! She only likes me as a brother," Chibodee protested.
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you."
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Gina hummed a tune as she worked in the kitchen, alongside Shirley. "Remind me why we need burritos at a New Year's Eve dinner?" Shirley asked.
"Because they taste good," Gina explained.
"That works," Shirley agreed.
Gina continued working on the Neo-Mexican food as Shirley prepared some typical Neo-American recipies.
"What'cha making?" Gina asked after a minute or two of silence.
"Eggnog," Shirley replied, not looking up from her work.
"Huh?"
"Eggnog," Shirley repeated.
"What's that?" Gina looked over at Shirley's work.
Shirley shrugged. "A drink."
"Does it taste good?"
"No, not really," the red-head said frankly.
"Oh," Gina ended the conversation lamely.
"Chibodee likes it, though," Shirley added.
Gina brightened at those words. "Really?" She blushed. "Can you teach me how to make it?"
"Sure. I don't see why not," Shirley replied. "I'll show you later, 'kay?"
The Neo-Mexican nodded. "Wanna learn how to make burritos?" she asked.
"Yeah!" Shirley said enthusiastically.
Gina smiled at her friend. "Great."
The two continued working for an hour or two. Gina looked at the clock on the wall. Is it really seven already? she wondered silently.
"You done?" Shirley asked.
"Almost. I just need a little more time." Gina responded.
"Hurry up, all right? I think Chibodee and Jacque might be gettin' a bit hungry," Shirley said. "I'm gonna go set the table and stuff." She left the room.
Gina started humming again as she finished cooking her Neo-Mexican meal. Her breath caught in her throat as she heard someone sneak into the room and close the door.
Okay, Bunny convinced me to try.the intruder thought.
"Jacque, I am not giving you any extra food. You don't need it," Gina said without turning around.
"I'm not Jacque." Gina's breath caught in her throat again as she recognized the voice.
"Chibodee?" she turned around to see the cocky Neo-American staring at her. "What do you want? I'm busy cooking." He didn't reply, just walked up closer to Gina. She moved backwards, cornered against the edge of the stove. "Ch-Chibodee! Get away from me! Can't you see I'm cooking? Do you want dinner or not? I can always feed yours to-Mmmm." Gina was cut off as Chibodee's lips made contact with hers. She wanted to stay like that forever, but no.I-I can't! This isn't supposed to happen! Reluctantly, Gina pulled away.
"Ooooooh. Do that again," Gina heard a small voice say from below. She looked down. Jacque. The boy was standing there, eating a burrito.
Gina breathed shallowly. She leaned back against the stove and gripped a pan handle. There was a moment of silence, then Gina brought the pan banging down on Jacque's head. Rye's brother fell to the floor, dropping the burrito.
"You-you!" Gina pointed accusingly at the still-stunned Chibodee. "You! I- You-What-" The Neo-Mexican broke down in tears. She ran out the door, past Shirley who was just entering the kitchen, and up the stairs to her room.
"Chibodee Crockett! What did you do to make that girl so upset?!?" Shirley practically screamed at Chibodee.
"I-I dunno," Chibodee said, confused. She seemed like she wanted to kiss me, but.he thought, dumbfounded.
"You tell me what you did this minute or I'll-" Shirley was cut off by Chibodee's quiet response.
"I kissed her."
"You WHAT?" Shirley asked in disbelief.
"I kissed her," Chibodee repeated.
Shirley stared at her boss, then shook her head slowly. "Chibodee, you're insane. People do not just do things like that.Let me see if I can get Gina to come down for dinner." Shirley left the kitchen and walked over to Gina's room. She knocked on the door. "Gina?" Shirley asked.
A sob came from within the room. "What?"
"Do you want to come out for dinner?" Shirley asked gently.
"No," Gina replied weakly. "Please, just leave me alone."
"Ya sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll save some food for you, then," Shirley said and walked back down the stairs. "People, people!" She gathered everyone into the dining room. I hope Gina's all right. "Let's eat!"
Shirley and Chibodee both wore masks of happiness and played their roles wonderfully.
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Chibodee walked up to Gina's door. She seemed like she was enjoying it.God, I've never met a girl who ran away from me when I kissed her! Go figure, though. All the girls I date are idiot blondes. He knocked on the door.
There was no response.
"Gina? Can I come in?" Chibodee asked quietly.
"No! Go away!" Gina replied. Chibodee could hear the pain in her voice.
"Look, I-I'm sorry," Chibodee apologized.
"Go away!" Gina repeated.
The Neo-American sighed. He moved back, ran forward, and kicked down the door.
Gina looked up in surprise. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her eyes red and puffy. Nevertheless, she still looked stunningly beautiful to Chibodee. It was all he could do not to run over to her and hold her in his arms.
"Go away!" Gina repeated, her voice cold. She reached for her CD player that Bunny had gotten her for Christmas and started listening to her music, ignoring Chibodee.
"Gina, please." Chibodee saw that Gina was not paying him the least bit of mind. "Gina Rodriguez, LISTEN TO ME!" he shouted at the Neo-Mexican.
She whimpered and slowly removed the head set from her ears. "Wha-What?" she asked weakly, lying down on her bed and hiding her face in a pillow.
"Please." God, isn't it amazing how a little brown-headed girl like that can have so much power over a guy? Chibodee thought in wonder. If she asked me to do anything, I bet I'd do it. Chibodee sat down on the bed, next to Gina. He rubbed her back gently.
Gina moaned. Why does he have to be so nice? Does he have any clue how hard this is for me?
"I.I'm sorry if I sort of scared you, Gina," Chibodee apologized. He withdrew his hand from her back. "It's just that, well, god, you look so pretty! How can anyone resist?" Chibodee looked down at Gina. He was surprised to see that her face was turned up now, her dark eyes looking deep into his.
"Do you-do you really think I'm beautiful?" she asked softly.
"Do you really think I'd lie?" was Chibodee's only response.
Gina blushed profoundly. I shouldn't be doing this.But he's sooooo cute! The two just stared at each other; it was enough for Gina, but not for Chibodee. The Neo-American suddenly leaned down and was about to kiss Gina when she realized the position they were in and sat bolt upright. "Don't do that, Chibodee!" she wailed. "This is hard enough already." Gina leaned against the headboard of the bed and started crying again.
Chibodee sat, stunned. Why? What's wrong? Have I really been that bad with all my other girls? Wait! She wouldn't even know about any of my other dates! God, I'm confused. "What's wrong?" he asked aloud and moved to sit beside her.
"Go away," Gina replied softly, turning around. God d*** it! Why does he have to be so handsome? Why?.No! It'll just be even more painful if I let him. Gina's mind stopped working as Chibodee wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him.
"Gina, look at me," Chibodee ordered. Reluctantly, Gina turned around to face Chibodee. "I won't do anything to hurt you, I promise," he said softly.
"I-I can't!" Gina sobbed and started crying into Chibodee's shirt.
"What's wrong?" Chibodee asked again, dumbfounded. He had seen desire in Gina's eyes.but even more overpowering was a sense of fear. What the hell could she be so afraid of? Me? he wondered.
"I can't," Gina repeated again into Chibodee's shirt.
I swear, that girl could probably win a prize for being the most complicated human being ever. Well, except Domon, of course. The confused and confounded Neo-American started running his hand through Gina's hair gently. "Hun, I'm not gonna hurt you," he promised.
"Yes, you will," Gina prophesied. "You won't do it out of your own free will, but you'll hurt me."
Now Chibodee was more confused than ever. "That doesn't make any sense," he said.
"Yes it does," Gina replied with a slight smile at Chibodee's stupidity, which she hid in his shirt. "You're going to do something that you won't want to do, but you're gonna do it anyway." Gina looked up at Chibodee. His face showed that he still didn't comprehend anything. "Oh, never mind." the Neo-Mexican said with a sigh.
"Great! Then there's nothing to worry about!" Chibodee said with a smile.
At least that last sentence got across to him, Gina thought. "Haven't we just been through this?" she asked with a sigh.
"Yeah, but you said, 'Never mind'," Chibodee pointed out.
Gina just looked at him. "I can't," she said, the words barely audible.
"Why not?" Chibodee asked again.
"Chibodee, we've been through this before." Gina closed her eyes and pressed her face to Chibodee's shirt. "It'll only make things more complicated than they are already."
The Neo-American blinked. Finally, he understood.and, as a result, exploded. "You're telling me all these things at a distance of two millimeters!" Chibodee got up from the bed and started pacing the room. "God, Gina, you can't expect someone to take 'no' for an answer when you're that close! This is painful enough for me already-actually, I've been livin' with it for the past year now! I'm surprised I'm not dead yet from all the pain! And then you have to reject me like that! Don't you care about how I feel, too? Sometimes you can be really selfish, ya know that? And the worst part is, you act like you want to be near me! So it's like I'm clinging to this little bit of hope-prayin' that someday you'll say, 'I love you, too'-but every time I'm this close to telling you that I love you- have been lovin' you for the past year-you run away! And just now.that's the final blow! What-" Chibodee was cut off by the soft voice of Gina.
"Do you really love me?" she asked quietly. Please say, 'No', please say, 'No', half of her wished. Please say, 'Yes', please say, 'Yes', the other half prayed.
Chibodee stood there, breathing heavily. "And now you ask me if I love you! That's just it, Gina. I can't take this anymore. Being around you is a million times more painful than any Gundam fight I've ever been in! You don't want to have anything ta do with me, and then you just go and ask me how I feel! You shouldn't care about how I feel, 'cause what I think and what I feel don't seem to have a large affect on you-"
"Please, tell me," Gina whispered, hugging her knees to her chest as she watched Chibodee. "I'll die if I don't know," she added in an even softer tone.
"Ya really want to know how I feel?" Chibodee asked, almost challengingly. His voice was still full of anger. "I think you're the most wonderful person ever! I think everything you do-except this-is right! I think if you asked me to, I'd give up everything I had to be with you! You're the prettiest girl I ever laid eyes on-even if you are crying hysterically. I can't stop thinking about you! Everything about your little b****y self is perfect!"
This time it was Gina's turn to stare at him. God, if only he knew.
A voice came unbidden into her mind. 'Everything about you is perfect!' The voice echoed what Chibodee had just said. Gina's eyes widened.
You-you want me to? she asked the voice inside her head. But.but it'll be even more painful for him.
'.that I love you', the voice repeated Chibodee's earlier words.
It's supposed to happen? Gina asked the voice.
'Yeah'. With that the voice was gone.
Gina looked up at Chibodee, who was still pacing back and forth, muttering and shouting. He finally noticed that there had been no whimpering or moaning or crying in the last minute and stopped lecturing. ".Gina, are you okay?" Chibodee asked, his voice full of concern.
The girl laughed. It was more of a "humans-are-so-pathetic" laugh-a laugh at her own weakness, her own stupidity, and her own self-imposed torture. No! she wanted to scream out. I'm far from fine. I'm far from being anywhere remotely near to fine. I'm living a nightmare that's turned into a dream.and soon it'll be a nightmare again. It'll just hurt more.This'll just make it worse. "As good as I'm gonna get anytime soon," Gina said aloud in response to Chibodee's question.
Chibodee looked at her. His heart melted. God is she beautiful.stunning, gorgeous.Don't think like that! he told himself. She's a little conniving brat.But she looks so pretty, even like that.Stop it! the excessively small smart side of his brain ordered. I can't help it, the impulsive part of Chibodee muttered. I.I.The Neo-American shook his head slightly. He remembered something Bunny had told him earlier that day. "Once you say it, Boss, you're condemned forever. A girl never forgets once she's heard those three words.Go for it, though! I mean, if you really think she's that important to you, you should tell her. I think-I know she'd love you back."
Gina waited for a response from Chibodee. She could see that he was struggling with it. You have no idea. God, Chibodee! I-I do, but I can't!
Chibodee knelt down beside her. His eyes were no longer angry or sad or confused; they were full of love-love for that skimpy brown-haired girl with tear stained cheeks who was scared out her mind and shaking more from excitement than cold. Why do people have to be so god d*** soft? Chibodee wondered. Gina followed Chibodee's every move with her eyes. She didn't make a single sound when Chibodee sat down beside her and enfolded her in his arms. She just sighed deeply and leaned back against the Neo-American.
Soft and warm and safe.For the eighteenth time that day, Gina's eyes widened. Soft and warm and safe. 'No! I mean-you look nice in that. I think you should wear it.'.'You're afraid of a clown?'.'Hey! What are you doing? Stop it!'.'Get away from me! Can't you see I'm cooking? Do you want dinner or not? I can always feed yours to-Mmmmm'. Soft and warm and safe.Oh my god! That-that dream. It's my future.Gina's past.God, he's gonna destroy me! A quiet sob escaped Gina's lips as she realized the truth of the matter.
"What's wrong, Gina?" Chibodee asked into Gina's hair.
"Everything," the Neo-Mexican said softly. Chibodee didn't hear. Is this supposed to happen? she asked the voice that had talked to her a few times before. There was no reply, but Gina already knew the answer. Yes.
She whimpered softly as Chibodee turned her around gently and kissed her. There was no rejection-no defense-this time from Gina. She submitted fully to the will of Chibodee's mouth and even wrapped her arms around his neck. They eventually parted, more for breath than anything else.
Chibodee's old cocky smile was back. "Now that's more like it, girl!" he said happily and kissed Gina again. Neither of them noticed the crowd of six people that were watching from the door. Rye and Jacque stood, mouths gaping. Bunny smiled smugly.
"Told ya guys," she whispered to the others. "Pay up."
Okay! Yeah! Done with that nine page chapter. Ughhhh.Hand hurts.gotta go write next chapter. T-t-f-n! ~* ShadowTide *~
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Mobile Fighter G Gundam: Anonymous
Chapter VI: Serious Inner Turmoil (also known as: On a Winter's Night)
A year passed quickly. Rye started training with Chibodee, Jacque started raiding the kitchen, Gina started learning how to fix a Gundam and shop for clothes that appealed to the original crewmembers, let alone Chibodee, Chibodee started realizing that Rye was a pretty good boxer along with the fact that Gina got prettier every day. It was hard for the Neo-Mexican and Chibodee not to blush when they saw each other. It took even more self- control (on Chibodee's part) to keep impure thoughts out of his mind (and Gina didn't even know what an "impure" thought was). Bunny continued trying to get Chibodee to admit that he had a "thing" for the newest crewmember. Life went on as normal. Until New Year's.
"Gina! C'mon! The game's gonna start soon!" Chibodee called to Gina as she got up from working on a slight glitch in the Gundam Maxter.
"Is football really that interesting?" Gina asked as she walked over to Chibodee's side, wiping the dirt off onto her black pants.
Chibodee's heart skipped a beat or two. God, she's pretty. he thought as he looked at Gina. I wish-Naw, she only thinks of me as a brother. Chibodee sighed.
"Somethin' wrong?" Gina asked with concern.
"Nothin'. Let's go. The beginning of the game is the most interesting part," Chibodee said and started walking down the hall at a faster pace.
"Why?" Gina asked.
"Why what? Oh, the game. Well, at the beginning, they sing the 'Star- Spangled Banner'. It's as interesting as the game gets. Sometimes the singer is actually good, too."
"If it's that boring, why do I have to watch it?"
" 'Cause it's a stupid tradition that everyone hates. And I want to introduce you to more American culture."
"Isn't being around you people enough?"
Chibodee didn't answer as they entered the living room with the big-screen TV. "The girls don't seem to be complaining, so you don't either, 'kay?" Chibodee asked grumpily. Sometimes, he couldn't stand being around Gina. It sent shivers up his spine, and his heart skipped beat after beat. He just wanted to grab her and hold her in his arms forever.D*** it! There I go again! You're living a fantasy, Chibodee. Give it up already. She'll never love you like that. But she's so pretty.Oh, shut it already! Chibodee scolded himself.
"Everyone have popcorn to throw at the TV?" Chibodee asked and flopped down on the couch.
"Yep," Rye spoke for all. The former thief turned to his brother who was sitting on the floor next to him. "No, Jacque! The popcorn is to throw at the TV. You're not supposed to eat it!"
To Chibodee's horror-and extreme pleasure-Gina sat down next to him. Great, now I get to watch a boring football game and have the girl o' my dreams sit by me when there's no way of telling her how I feel, Chibodee thought drearily. Just what I needed.
Chibodee found the switch to the television and turned the gigantic thing on.
"Live, from New Orleans, we bring you." the reporter started speaking about the game.
"Ready.On the count of three. One.two.three!" Chibodee called out. Bunny, Shirley, Janet, Cath, Chibodee, Rye, and Gina started throwing popcorn at the television. (Jacque was busy eating his.)
"This is actually fun, Chibodee," Gina said and started laughing as a piece of popcorn hit the reporter's eye.
She's so god d*** beautiful when she laughs.What is wrong with me? Drive the little pest outta your mind, Chibodee! the Neo-American thought to himself.
The football game started, and it became harder to hit the players in action. Rye started keeping track of who had hit the most players. "Bunny: eighteen, Janet: twenty, Cath: nine, Shirley: thirty-one. Nice! Chibodee: forty-three! How does he do it? Gina: thirteen. Ha, ha! You're losing, Mexico," Rye called out the scores. "Oh, yeah, me: forty. I'll beat you yet, Chibodee! And Jacque had made it from an amazing zero to one hit!"
"Jacque gets to clean up all the popcorn after the game's done!" Rye announced a few minutes later. The others all started throwing more popcorn than ever at the TV screen.
After a while, everyone got tired of hitting football players. Bunny, Janet, Shirley, and Cath started playing Monopoly. Chibodee continued glancing at Gina-half in bliss, half in pain, while Rye and Jacque fought over who got the last bag of popcorn.
Well, I've definitely had worse New Year's. Maybe I'll even be able to sneak a drink or two before the girls find out. Chibodee thought. "Huh?" he said aloud as he felt something soft lean against his arm. Chibodee looked down to see a sleepy Gina curl up against him. Hey, maybe this can get better, Chibodee thought a bit more brightly. He a silly smile played across his lips as he continued looked at Gina. Slowly, so that she wouldn't notice, Chibodee slipped his arm around the Neo-Mexican. Gina snuggled up closer to Chibodee. He sighed blissfully and leaned back, holding the dozing Gina close to him. Bunny glanced his way and smiled knowingly.
Yep, he likes her. Maybe even loves her. Naw, that's not playboy Chibodee. He doesn't love any girl until she's been in bed with him-at least twice.Bunny thought, but brought her attention back to Monopoly.
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A flying pillow woke Gina up with a jolt. "Whoa!" she shouted as the pillow bounced off of her shoulder and behind the couch. "Who threw that?" she said upright, not realizing that Chibodee was still next to her. A giggle came from nearby. "Chibodee?" Gina turned to Chibodee, to find him unnaturally close. She pulled back, burning red.
"Sorry," Chibodee mumbled, also a bit red.
Gina turned around, avoiding Chibodee's penetrating gaze. Why does he do that? It makes me feel so.so.see-through, like glass. A shiver went up Gina's spine. Her attention was suddenly diverted as another sofa pillow came flying at her.
Gina got up and whirled around to see Jacque hiding behind the arm of the couch with a store of pillows. "Jacque, I'm gonna get you for that? I was having a nice dream." Gina picked up a pillow and threw it back at Jacque. The young boy caught the thrown object and hurled it back again. Unfortunately, a moving target is not as easy to hit as a stationary one. Jacque missed Gina by a mile and hit Janet instead.
"Oops," he muttered under his breath.
"JACQUE! You little runt!" Janet screamed. "You messed up our Monopoly board!" A pillow went flying, and soon everyone in the room was caught up in a pillow fight.
"Jacque, why'd ya have to hit Gina in the first place? Now we're all being bombarded by pillows!" Rye complained, blocking a flying pillow from hitting him.
"Think of it as training," Chibodee said and hit Gina impishly with a pillow.
"Hey! That wasn't nice," Gina complained, laughed, and threw a pillow back at Chibodee.
A wide smile spread across his face. Gina. Chibodee punched the pillow that was soaring towards him, throwing it off course.
"No fair! You're supposed to let me hit you!" Gina giggled.
"I am, am I?" Chibodee asked, a sly smile taking the place of the broad one. He sprang forward and started an onslaught on the poor girl, hitting her playfully with pillow after pillow.
"Chibodee! Get offa me! Chibodee!" Gina squealed and hit Chibodee back.
The cocky Neo-American rolled to the side as Gina started trying to hit him back. She was failing miserably.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Gina asked through fits of laughter. "Stop it!" she shouted as Chibodee fell off of the couch and onto the floor, pulling Gina down with him.
"Told ya." Bunny whispered to Shirley, Janet and Cath as they continued hitting each other, taking a break every few seconds to watch the laughing Gina struggle with an excessively happy Chibodee. This was as close as he was gonna get to Gina, right?
Fifteen pillows later, the fun eventually subsided. Gina was still on the floor, laughing, with Chibodee leaning on top of her. Jacque and Rye- especially Jacque-had started bursting the pillows, sending feathers everywhere. Gina started coughing as one landed on her mouth. Chibodee removed it gently.
The Neo-Mexican suddenly realized exactly where she was and the awkward position she was in. "Oh," she murmured quietly and removed herself from the space in between Chibodee's widely spread-out hands that were keeping her boxed in against the floor. "Sorry," she said weakly, turning redder than red.
Chibodee looked disappointed, but tried not to show it. I was this close! This close! he thought. This close!
Gina moved back onto the couch, touching her temple. "Hey! What are you doing?" Laughter. "Stop it!" Another voice, "Told ya".Gina shook her head. Those words sound so familiar, but from where? Gina wondered.
"Gina, c'mon!" The Neo-Mexican was brought back to the present as Shirley called to her. "C'mon! We gotta go start cooking dinner."
"Right," Gina replied and got up, brushing some feathers off her. She walked out of the room with Shirley.
Bunny walked over to Chibodee. "Told ya," she whispered to him.
He looked up at her questioningly. "Huh?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Chibodee," Bunny said.
Chibodee blushed. "Oh, yeah."
"Well, do ya?" Bunny asked quietly, sitting down beside Chibodee.
The Neo-American looked at his hands. "Yeah, I-I think so," he replied weakly.
"Tell her," Bunny suggested.
"What? No! She only likes me as a brother," Chibodee protested.
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you."
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Gina hummed a tune as she worked in the kitchen, alongside Shirley. "Remind me why we need burritos at a New Year's Eve dinner?" Shirley asked.
"Because they taste good," Gina explained.
"That works," Shirley agreed.
Gina continued working on the Neo-Mexican food as Shirley prepared some typical Neo-American recipies.
"What'cha making?" Gina asked after a minute or two of silence.
"Eggnog," Shirley replied, not looking up from her work.
"Huh?"
"Eggnog," Shirley repeated.
"What's that?" Gina looked over at Shirley's work.
Shirley shrugged. "A drink."
"Does it taste good?"
"No, not really," the red-head said frankly.
"Oh," Gina ended the conversation lamely.
"Chibodee likes it, though," Shirley added.
Gina brightened at those words. "Really?" She blushed. "Can you teach me how to make it?"
"Sure. I don't see why not," Shirley replied. "I'll show you later, 'kay?"
The Neo-Mexican nodded. "Wanna learn how to make burritos?" she asked.
"Yeah!" Shirley said enthusiastically.
Gina smiled at her friend. "Great."
The two continued working for an hour or two. Gina looked at the clock on the wall. Is it really seven already? she wondered silently.
"You done?" Shirley asked.
"Almost. I just need a little more time." Gina responded.
"Hurry up, all right? I think Chibodee and Jacque might be gettin' a bit hungry," Shirley said. "I'm gonna go set the table and stuff." She left the room.
Gina started humming again as she finished cooking her Neo-Mexican meal. Her breath caught in her throat as she heard someone sneak into the room and close the door.
Okay, Bunny convinced me to try.the intruder thought.
"Jacque, I am not giving you any extra food. You don't need it," Gina said without turning around.
"I'm not Jacque." Gina's breath caught in her throat again as she recognized the voice.
"Chibodee?" she turned around to see the cocky Neo-American staring at her. "What do you want? I'm busy cooking." He didn't reply, just walked up closer to Gina. She moved backwards, cornered against the edge of the stove. "Ch-Chibodee! Get away from me! Can't you see I'm cooking? Do you want dinner or not? I can always feed yours to-Mmmm." Gina was cut off as Chibodee's lips made contact with hers. She wanted to stay like that forever, but no.I-I can't! This isn't supposed to happen! Reluctantly, Gina pulled away.
"Ooooooh. Do that again," Gina heard a small voice say from below. She looked down. Jacque. The boy was standing there, eating a burrito.
Gina breathed shallowly. She leaned back against the stove and gripped a pan handle. There was a moment of silence, then Gina brought the pan banging down on Jacque's head. Rye's brother fell to the floor, dropping the burrito.
"You-you!" Gina pointed accusingly at the still-stunned Chibodee. "You! I- You-What-" The Neo-Mexican broke down in tears. She ran out the door, past Shirley who was just entering the kitchen, and up the stairs to her room.
"Chibodee Crockett! What did you do to make that girl so upset?!?" Shirley practically screamed at Chibodee.
"I-I dunno," Chibodee said, confused. She seemed like she wanted to kiss me, but.he thought, dumbfounded.
"You tell me what you did this minute or I'll-" Shirley was cut off by Chibodee's quiet response.
"I kissed her."
"You WHAT?" Shirley asked in disbelief.
"I kissed her," Chibodee repeated.
Shirley stared at her boss, then shook her head slowly. "Chibodee, you're insane. People do not just do things like that.Let me see if I can get Gina to come down for dinner." Shirley left the kitchen and walked over to Gina's room. She knocked on the door. "Gina?" Shirley asked.
A sob came from within the room. "What?"
"Do you want to come out for dinner?" Shirley asked gently.
"No," Gina replied weakly. "Please, just leave me alone."
"Ya sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll save some food for you, then," Shirley said and walked back down the stairs. "People, people!" She gathered everyone into the dining room. I hope Gina's all right. "Let's eat!"
Shirley and Chibodee both wore masks of happiness and played their roles wonderfully.
**************************************************************************** **********
Chibodee walked up to Gina's door. She seemed like she was enjoying it.God, I've never met a girl who ran away from me when I kissed her! Go figure, though. All the girls I date are idiot blondes. He knocked on the door.
There was no response.
"Gina? Can I come in?" Chibodee asked quietly.
"No! Go away!" Gina replied. Chibodee could hear the pain in her voice.
"Look, I-I'm sorry," Chibodee apologized.
"Go away!" Gina repeated.
The Neo-American sighed. He moved back, ran forward, and kicked down the door.
Gina looked up in surprise. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her eyes red and puffy. Nevertheless, she still looked stunningly beautiful to Chibodee. It was all he could do not to run over to her and hold her in his arms.
"Go away!" Gina repeated, her voice cold. She reached for her CD player that Bunny had gotten her for Christmas and started listening to her music, ignoring Chibodee.
"Gina, please." Chibodee saw that Gina was not paying him the least bit of mind. "Gina Rodriguez, LISTEN TO ME!" he shouted at the Neo-Mexican.
She whimpered and slowly removed the head set from her ears. "Wha-What?" she asked weakly, lying down on her bed and hiding her face in a pillow.
"Please." God, isn't it amazing how a little brown-headed girl like that can have so much power over a guy? Chibodee thought in wonder. If she asked me to do anything, I bet I'd do it. Chibodee sat down on the bed, next to Gina. He rubbed her back gently.
Gina moaned. Why does he have to be so nice? Does he have any clue how hard this is for me?
"I.I'm sorry if I sort of scared you, Gina," Chibodee apologized. He withdrew his hand from her back. "It's just that, well, god, you look so pretty! How can anyone resist?" Chibodee looked down at Gina. He was surprised to see that her face was turned up now, her dark eyes looking deep into his.
"Do you-do you really think I'm beautiful?" she asked softly.
"Do you really think I'd lie?" was Chibodee's only response.
Gina blushed profoundly. I shouldn't be doing this.But he's sooooo cute! The two just stared at each other; it was enough for Gina, but not for Chibodee. The Neo-American suddenly leaned down and was about to kiss Gina when she realized the position they were in and sat bolt upright. "Don't do that, Chibodee!" she wailed. "This is hard enough already." Gina leaned against the headboard of the bed and started crying again.
Chibodee sat, stunned. Why? What's wrong? Have I really been that bad with all my other girls? Wait! She wouldn't even know about any of my other dates! God, I'm confused. "What's wrong?" he asked aloud and moved to sit beside her.
"Go away," Gina replied softly, turning around. God d*** it! Why does he have to be so handsome? Why?.No! It'll just be even more painful if I let him. Gina's mind stopped working as Chibodee wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him.
"Gina, look at me," Chibodee ordered. Reluctantly, Gina turned around to face Chibodee. "I won't do anything to hurt you, I promise," he said softly.
"I-I can't!" Gina sobbed and started crying into Chibodee's shirt.
"What's wrong?" Chibodee asked again, dumbfounded. He had seen desire in Gina's eyes.but even more overpowering was a sense of fear. What the hell could she be so afraid of? Me? he wondered.
"I can't," Gina repeated again into Chibodee's shirt.
I swear, that girl could probably win a prize for being the most complicated human being ever. Well, except Domon, of course. The confused and confounded Neo-American started running his hand through Gina's hair gently. "Hun, I'm not gonna hurt you," he promised.
"Yes, you will," Gina prophesied. "You won't do it out of your own free will, but you'll hurt me."
Now Chibodee was more confused than ever. "That doesn't make any sense," he said.
"Yes it does," Gina replied with a slight smile at Chibodee's stupidity, which she hid in his shirt. "You're going to do something that you won't want to do, but you're gonna do it anyway." Gina looked up at Chibodee. His face showed that he still didn't comprehend anything. "Oh, never mind." the Neo-Mexican said with a sigh.
"Great! Then there's nothing to worry about!" Chibodee said with a smile.
At least that last sentence got across to him, Gina thought. "Haven't we just been through this?" she asked with a sigh.
"Yeah, but you said, 'Never mind'," Chibodee pointed out.
Gina just looked at him. "I can't," she said, the words barely audible.
"Why not?" Chibodee asked again.
"Chibodee, we've been through this before." Gina closed her eyes and pressed her face to Chibodee's shirt. "It'll only make things more complicated than they are already."
The Neo-American blinked. Finally, he understood.and, as a result, exploded. "You're telling me all these things at a distance of two millimeters!" Chibodee got up from the bed and started pacing the room. "God, Gina, you can't expect someone to take 'no' for an answer when you're that close! This is painful enough for me already-actually, I've been livin' with it for the past year now! I'm surprised I'm not dead yet from all the pain! And then you have to reject me like that! Don't you care about how I feel, too? Sometimes you can be really selfish, ya know that? And the worst part is, you act like you want to be near me! So it's like I'm clinging to this little bit of hope-prayin' that someday you'll say, 'I love you, too'-but every time I'm this close to telling you that I love you- have been lovin' you for the past year-you run away! And just now.that's the final blow! What-" Chibodee was cut off by the soft voice of Gina.
"Do you really love me?" she asked quietly. Please say, 'No', please say, 'No', half of her wished. Please say, 'Yes', please say, 'Yes', the other half prayed.
Chibodee stood there, breathing heavily. "And now you ask me if I love you! That's just it, Gina. I can't take this anymore. Being around you is a million times more painful than any Gundam fight I've ever been in! You don't want to have anything ta do with me, and then you just go and ask me how I feel! You shouldn't care about how I feel, 'cause what I think and what I feel don't seem to have a large affect on you-"
"Please, tell me," Gina whispered, hugging her knees to her chest as she watched Chibodee. "I'll die if I don't know," she added in an even softer tone.
"Ya really want to know how I feel?" Chibodee asked, almost challengingly. His voice was still full of anger. "I think you're the most wonderful person ever! I think everything you do-except this-is right! I think if you asked me to, I'd give up everything I had to be with you! You're the prettiest girl I ever laid eyes on-even if you are crying hysterically. I can't stop thinking about you! Everything about your little b****y self is perfect!"
This time it was Gina's turn to stare at him. God, if only he knew.
A voice came unbidden into her mind. 'Everything about you is perfect!' The voice echoed what Chibodee had just said. Gina's eyes widened.
You-you want me to? she asked the voice inside her head. But.but it'll be even more painful for him.
'.that I love you', the voice repeated Chibodee's earlier words.
It's supposed to happen? Gina asked the voice.
'Yeah'. With that the voice was gone.
Gina looked up at Chibodee, who was still pacing back and forth, muttering and shouting. He finally noticed that there had been no whimpering or moaning or crying in the last minute and stopped lecturing. ".Gina, are you okay?" Chibodee asked, his voice full of concern.
The girl laughed. It was more of a "humans-are-so-pathetic" laugh-a laugh at her own weakness, her own stupidity, and her own self-imposed torture. No! she wanted to scream out. I'm far from fine. I'm far from being anywhere remotely near to fine. I'm living a nightmare that's turned into a dream.and soon it'll be a nightmare again. It'll just hurt more.This'll just make it worse. "As good as I'm gonna get anytime soon," Gina said aloud in response to Chibodee's question.
Chibodee looked at her. His heart melted. God is she beautiful.stunning, gorgeous.Don't think like that! he told himself. She's a little conniving brat.But she looks so pretty, even like that.Stop it! the excessively small smart side of his brain ordered. I can't help it, the impulsive part of Chibodee muttered. I.I.The Neo-American shook his head slightly. He remembered something Bunny had told him earlier that day. "Once you say it, Boss, you're condemned forever. A girl never forgets once she's heard those three words.Go for it, though! I mean, if you really think she's that important to you, you should tell her. I think-I know she'd love you back."
Gina waited for a response from Chibodee. She could see that he was struggling with it. You have no idea. God, Chibodee! I-I do, but I can't!
Chibodee knelt down beside her. His eyes were no longer angry or sad or confused; they were full of love-love for that skimpy brown-haired girl with tear stained cheeks who was scared out her mind and shaking more from excitement than cold. Why do people have to be so god d*** soft? Chibodee wondered. Gina followed Chibodee's every move with her eyes. She didn't make a single sound when Chibodee sat down beside her and enfolded her in his arms. She just sighed deeply and leaned back against the Neo-American.
Soft and warm and safe.For the eighteenth time that day, Gina's eyes widened. Soft and warm and safe. 'No! I mean-you look nice in that. I think you should wear it.'.'You're afraid of a clown?'.'Hey! What are you doing? Stop it!'.'Get away from me! Can't you see I'm cooking? Do you want dinner or not? I can always feed yours to-Mmmmm'. Soft and warm and safe.Oh my god! That-that dream. It's my future.Gina's past.God, he's gonna destroy me! A quiet sob escaped Gina's lips as she realized the truth of the matter.
"What's wrong, Gina?" Chibodee asked into Gina's hair.
"Everything," the Neo-Mexican said softly. Chibodee didn't hear. Is this supposed to happen? she asked the voice that had talked to her a few times before. There was no reply, but Gina already knew the answer. Yes.
She whimpered softly as Chibodee turned her around gently and kissed her. There was no rejection-no defense-this time from Gina. She submitted fully to the will of Chibodee's mouth and even wrapped her arms around his neck. They eventually parted, more for breath than anything else.
Chibodee's old cocky smile was back. "Now that's more like it, girl!" he said happily and kissed Gina again. Neither of them noticed the crowd of six people that were watching from the door. Rye and Jacque stood, mouths gaping. Bunny smiled smugly.
"Told ya guys," she whispered to the others. "Pay up."
Okay! Yeah! Done with that nine page chapter. Ughhhh.Hand hurts.gotta go write next chapter. T-t-f-n! ~* ShadowTide *~