Chapter Three:
The Shop
"I can't today! I'm helping my mom in the shop," Samantha said down her video link. Kui folded her arms and sent an emoticon. :(. Samantha sent one back ^_^. Kui shook her head and turned up the music in the background.
"Well we'll see ya then. Stop by if you can draw yourself away from stocking shelves and mixing potions and phoenix downs," Kui logged off. She wouldn't be miffed for long, she knew how important it was for Samantha to help at the shop. Since Samantha's father had died, in the second Sorceress War, Samantha had had to help her mother in any way she could, as well as keep up her band rehersals and schooling. She knew how hard it was going to be for her mom to adjust, when she had to leave home. Usually Seifer would come and help, but Samantha had warned him to go into hiding, so everything was left to Samantha.
She walked downstairs and saw a huge box full of miscellaneous potions. She looked at them, well atleast she could label them and put them back on the shelves. Samantha's mom was stirring a giant cauldron full of phoenix down. She imagined her mom as a witch, but then realised that she had work to do. She went out into the shop and started to label things. After an hour or so she was done, and was busy sorting things out. There were only a few antidotes and echo screens, so she'd put those away first. She bustled around.
Finally it came to the potions. There were about thirty of them. She placed them carefully into the box and took it to the potions shelf. She wasn't really thinking about what she looked like. She hadn't bothered to straighten her hair, so she'd just tied it back. Hair was falling out and getting in her face however. She was wearing a long black skirt and a black strap top, but both were old, and slightly faded. She'd only bothered with a little bit of make-up, she had found out long ago that people didn't shop in places where their sons went to goggle at a made-up girl.
"Hi," she heard someone behind her say. She jumped and bottles upon bottles of potions came tumbling to the ground. She tried to catch some, and most didn't smash, but some did. The bright green liquid started to run all over the shop floor.
"I heard that! You better clean it up!" Her mom shouted from the back. Samantha thanked a deity that she hadn't got any on her. She began to gather up the remaining potions and hastily put them back on the shelves. She went for one and she found that the person who had made her jump had gone for it too. They both stopped. Both waiting for the other to pick it up. Then at the same time went for it again. The man laughed.
Oh no! It's him! That cute guy! Look at what I'm wearing! Look at what I'm doing? What have I done? At least if I'd got some on me I'd have an excuse to change and get made-up!
"Here," He said. Samantha took it from him. "You offered me a discount, so I figured that it would be easier to shop here." Samantha realised she was staring and quickly replaced the potion on the shelf and went to get a mop. "And also, I hear that your mom's potions are really good because she occasioanlly mixes things like echo screens and potions to make a new potion. Also you can't get any decent stuff in Balamb. Whoa! That a T-Board?" Samantha didn't trust her tongue so she kept quiet and started mopping up. You have never had a problem talking to guys. Say something!
"I'm mopping up," What? What? That's the best you can do? Oh man, he's just a guy. You can do this, c'mon Sam! She heard him laughing.
"I can see that! So you a T-Boarder?" Say you are Samantha tried to aviod his eyes. Don't say it's your brothers. It's yours, you are a T-boarder.
"It's my brother's," Huh? I give up on you... Samantha gestured to the picture on the wall of Seifer on the T-board, grinning braodly. The cute guy walked towards the picture. He studied it and with a slight gasp he pointed into the background.
"That's Ellone!" He said. Samantha nodded. The cute guy turned to her and shook his head. Samantha finished mopping up and put the bucket away. The cute guy looked around the shop for a while. Samantha pretended to be checking something on a receipt but she was watching him the whole time. Finally he came to the counter.
"Ok, let's see. I can give you half price, any less than that and we won't make any profit. That ok?" Samantha asked him. It was easy to talk to him when she didn't have to look to him. He entered in the code that made things half price and scanned through all the things that he wanted. It still came to a hell of a lot of money.
"That'll be 2500G please," He handed over the money and she gave him the change. She noticed how warm his skin was against her own. And how it made her all tingly. I've never felt like this before. Not about anyone... The thought frightened Samantha and she wanted to go upstairs and hide under her bed.
"Me and Seifer, we never got on. He always called me chi- nevermind. We basically despised each other, seems strage to think that we need to find him to help us. I mean, I'm not supposed to say anything to you, but without him we won't be able to seal time compression. Crazy huh?" The cute guy leaned on the counter as Samantha packed the potions into bubble wrap and placed them into a brown paper bag.
"Yeah. You ain't gonna get me to tell you where he is. No matter what charm you use, won't work. If you wanna find him, ask Laguna, he knows where they are, and then you can talk to Seifer in a safe enviroment, infront of the President of Esthar. Ok?" Samantha handed him the paper bag. Drat! He was just here on a mission... Damn! He's so cute, I guess I wanted him to be here to see me. Well at least he's here. But I'm all frozen now. Dammit! He'll have to make a move... But what if he doesn't? Stop it brain, you're not good for me.
"I'm not here on a mission. I'm an Instructor, I don't do missions any more. I just came for some potions," He grinned a cheeky grin. How sweet is he? He then put the paper bag on the counter.
"How 'bout we go and have a lunch at the Galbadia Hotel? My treat? To make up for freakin' you out about your bro?" He was still grinning. Samantha wanted to go so much, but she knew that, even if her mom said she could, that she wouldn't. Her mom needed her. But lunch in the Galbadia Hotel? She'd dreamed of eating there. Her dad had once taken them out there to celebrate his 40th birthday. But she'd never eaten there for lunch. In fact, she'd only ever eaten there once.
"I can't," Samantha found herself saying. The cute guy's smile faded. Samantha looked at her 'To Do' List. it was full. "I've gotta help my mom. And I've got lots to do," Samantha knew her bottom lip was sticking out a little. She tried to smile, but she knew it was a weak one.
"Maybe some other time," She said. Are you completely crazy? Yes I am, you're right! Now stop talking to me, you're getting in the way of normal civilized conversation. She got up and began going through the receipts. The cute guy was standing at the counter.
"Oh, you don't even know my name yet! Is that it? I'm Zell Dincht. Now will you have lunch with me?" Samantha had to have a little breathy giggle. She turned to see his cute grin, she noticed his tatoo and saw the way it complimented his face. So what at first you hated, you now like? You're strange girl! Oh shut up!
"No, I really have to help my mom. Hey, if you go to this address," She picked a piece of paper off the pinboard, "And say that I sent you, you can hang around with the girls until your train comes in," Samantha wished that she could go with him. Again the cheeky grin returned. Does he practise being cute? Please I think I'm going to spew! Shut it!
"I know, I'll help you here and then we can go together. How's that?" Zell asked. Samantha felt the corner of her mouth twitch, and soon she was smiling. She felt a wave of nausea. Not now! Please not now!
"Mom! Mom!" Samantha managed to called before she blacked out.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"Is she ok?"
"Who are you?"
"A friend from Balamb Garden."
"She doesn't have any friends there."
"Didn't."
"No, you guys are after my son, and you're trying to get to him through my daughter!"
"No! I'd never do anything like that!"
"If you were ordered would you?"
"I-If I was ordered? I dunno... I wouldn't do anything to hurt her though. But I can't guarantee about Seifer."
"Don't say anything more, please leave."
. . . . . . . . . . .
"Mom? Mom? Where's Zell?" Samantha asked when she woke up. Her mom looked at her in a strange way. "Well?"
"I told ya she knew me!" Zell was sitting on the counter. Samantha realised that she was on the floor. Her cheeks burnt with embarrassment. Zell was on the counter with a look of worry on his face. " What's wrong?"
"I have seizures sometimes. Usually when I'm under great amounts of stress or pressure. I just black out, sometimes I get different types and my body just freezes, but they don't happen very often," Samantha stood up, her legs were a little shaky but she wasn't sure if that was the black out.
"Even so, you should have the rest of the day away from work. You two go out and get to your band practise or whatever. I'll manage the store," Samantha looked up at her mother but still she wouldn't leave until her jobs were complete. She heard the shop bell tinkle. Then a shout.
"Mom? I'm home! And what the hell is he doing here? Has Garden sent the chicken wuss to take me down?" She heard laughter. Samantha walked into the shop where Zell was standing up and holding his fists in front of his face. Samantha smiled as a heavily pregnant Ellone waddled into the shop.
"I'm here to take your sister to lunch, scar face," Zell said. Ellone walked passed them and embraced Samantha, with difficulty. Zell was hopping from foot to foot.
"How long is it until your time, Ellone?" Samantha asked. Ellone was watching as Seifer began to laugh at Zell who was getting more and more worked up.
"A few weeks. We're gonna call it Leon if it's a boy and Raine if it's a girl. Seifer's bet me 1000G that it's a gonna be a boy. I dunno what it's gonna be, but I hope that it's healthy and happy," Ellone said sheepishly. Samantha grinned. Leon or Raine, either way they were to do with Ellone's past rather than Seifer's. Naming your child after your brother, who didn't even know it existed was a little strange, but Samantha didn't say anything.
"I'm rather insulted, actually. I thought they'd at least send Squall, since we're at least equals on the battle field," Zell was about to hit Seifer, Samantha could see it coming.
"Zell, he's teasing you. Don't rise to it, then he'll stop. And Seifer, I'd really get in touch with Fujin and Raijin, they were here yesterday asking where you were. I didn't know, I think they're at the hotel. Er, I know this is a big favour, but could you run the shop for me?" Samantha asked him. Seifer drew his attention from the angry Zell to the 'To-Do' list. He raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, ok. As long as he stays here. I don't like you hanging around with him. He's trouble, for all of us," Seifer nodded to Zell. Samantha understood, but didn't want to have to pass up the friendship. He's a danger to Seifer. I don't want risk my brother's life, have that baby grow up without a father or have Ellone husbandless. I understand, if only...
"But I offered her dinner!" Zell protested. "C'mon, I just wanna be friends with her. Geez, I won't hand you in, even though I hate your guts. They just need you for some kinda sorceress thing. Squall didn't tell me much. Somat to do with time compression..." Zell punched the floor, and a few bottles of potion fell to the floor. She winced as they smashed. Zell grinned in an uneasy way.
"I'm off then. I know we don't get on, Seifer, but- well I guess we did beat you up alot... And blow you up come to think of it... And then we kinda turned your best friends against you... And Squall took your girlfriend... Ok you have plenty of reasons to hate us. I want you to know that I still owe your sister a lunch, even if she's ninety before she can actually have it with me," And with that he walked out of the shop. Samantha sighed.
"He was taking me to the Galbadia Hotel. Nice one hot shot. Man, my life sucks!" Samantha knew that her anger was unjustified, but she didn't care. She ran upstairs into her room. She heard her moblie go off. It was a text message. She didn't know the number.
"sam, i got ur no off dat piece of paper u gav me. luk outside ur window. luv u no"
It says "luv"! It says the four letter word. Well three but- Whoohoo. I'm looking too much into this. It probably isn't anything to do with the four letter word at all. It's just a way of saying bye.
"You've cheered up," came a voice from the door way. She saw Ellone standing there. Samantha knew that lying to Ellone was damn near impossible, because she could go back in time if she hand to and project herself into your body and tell what you were doing.
"I have," Samantha said. She went to the window and saw Zell standing with his pager in his hand and in the other a brown bag. She wondered if she should wave.
"Would you put your brother in that much danger?" Ellone asked. Samantha turned to her. She knew Ellone was right. But it still hurt a little. She wanted to be his friend!
"No."
"We've decided that your friendship with Zell is alright, as long as you refuse to talk about where Seifer is. Fair?" Samantha hugged Ellone and rushed downstairs, quickly grabbing her jacket. She kissed her brother on the cheek and ran out. She heard him ask Ellone what was going on. Samantha realised that when Ellone said we, she had meant her and the bump... Oh well...
Goodbye Samantha, spinster. Hello Sam, fun lovin' sex goddess! Hang on, I need to get changed if I'm going to Galbadia Hotel!
