Seyruun High Jinx Summer Special
The Slayers: Lina Zelgadiss Xelloss Gourry Amelia Val Filia Sylphiel
~*~ Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special! ~*~
Part Twenty-one
The next afternoon, Val watched as Xelloss and Zel linked up the three new computers to share the Internet over the new broadband cabling. He had tinkered with his computer already so it proudly displayed a dark, menacing screen saver.
"Done!" Zel said with a sigh.
"Now for the true test, Zelgadiss," Xelloss said. He madly typed on the other computer and shouted gleefully, "Mine's up. Try yours!"
Val watched what Zel did then left Xelloss' room to bang away at his own keyboard until he was on the Internet as well. "Yo, Zel! Now, how do I find my mail account?"
Xelloss was busy typing for the next half hour, so when Val was satisfied that his computer and him were in harmony once again, Zel entered the kitchen to throw together some late lunch. He still needed to get that car taken care of somehow…
"Hey guys?" he broached the subject, food in hand. "Xelloss has his eye appointment in a bit and I was wondering…Val? Would you come with me to look over cars?"
"Cars?" Val looked away from his terminal and sandwich long enough to answer. "Yeah, sure. After I eat?"
Zel nodded then checked with Xelloss. "You cool with that? You do your eye thing while we look at cars. Anything interesting and we'll take you back to look too, all right? Good. We leave in…"
"Three minutes and forty-five seconds. Got it!" Xelloss smiled.
"Three minutes and forty-seven seconds," Zel corrected him, and went back to the kitchen to clean up. "Oh, Xelloss? You talk to the Gabriev's about that dinner we're doing for them? Oh? TONIGHT?! Thanks for giving me such a long notice! I certainly have no need of any lead time to plan, shop for, and prepare…"
"Calm down, Zelgadiss. You don't have to do anything. I said I'd take care of everything, and I did…reservations are for 7:30 at Chez Pere…tie and jackets required."
Zel shivered with the rapid release of tension. "Oh…well…good. That's taken care of then…All I have to do is change clothes…ah…thanks…"
"Time to trot!" Xelloss chortled through the house on his way out the door.
"He's in a good mood," Val pointed out unnecessarily. "Which can only mean…"
"…That he's up to something," Zel finished for him. "Let's go. Thinking about it will only make it worse, you know."
"Worse? Worse than what? Worse like…gettin' our house burned down and losin' everythin' we own?"
"Maybe." Zel punched Val in the back to get him to move out the door. "But not worse than losing your head."
"If I lost my head, I wouldn't have to think about it anymore." Val growled a bit then left the house for his car where Xelloss was already climbing into the back.
"Good point. Can you think of anything you'd rather lose and feel better?"
"My temper?"
"Too short term. You have to think…futures and… internationally, these days," Zel smiled and fell into the front passenger seat.
"What? Like foreign money? I've gotta lose somethin' I value, but maybe don't even got yet, somewhere's far off…just to feel good? Yer nuts too, Zel-baby!" Val huffed and started the car. "So, where's the eye doctor?"
"Forth star to the right and straight on till morning!" Xelloss howled from the back.
"Ah, shit…yer full of it, too!"
An hour later, Xelloss flew out of the office breathless, "Val? Zelgadiss? Hey, look…what do you think?"
"Ya still got two of them," Val noted.
"Two? Oh! Eyes! How clever you are!" Xelloss giggled. "No, look closer!"
"I'd rather not…" Zel muttered. Unfortunately, he had no choice. The moment he opened his eyes next, a very strange pair of purple ones were merely inches from his own. "Gaaaaaaaaah! Xelloss back off! Gods! What's with your eyes?"
"Cool huh?"
Val moved in for a closer look. "Yer pupils are slits, not round…no shit…"
"I always wanted these contacts and now, what with countless piles of money wasting away in my parents' coffers…all for me to spend of frivolous trinkets and trendy knick-knacks…" Xelloss left off, distracted by the office staff to sign his credit card statement.
"Well…now we know," Val said in a low voice.
"Perhaps. It could be just the beginning," warned Zel, who knew Xelloss best of all. "I think more is to come, but that's just me. Mr. Gloom and Doom."
"So? How did you guys fair?" Xelloss asked giddily. "Find yourself a car yet?"
"I think so. Want a look?" Zel offered.
"Yeah, but I don't think a car is for me right now. I can always borrow one of yours, right?"
Val nodded and Zel sighed and they all followed a lady carrying a runny-nosed tot out the door.
Zel, to everyone's utter shock, chose a sleek, silver sports car. A convertible to boot. Nothing practical or modest. Or cheap.
Later that evening, the boys dressed to kill…
"And I bet you expect me to squeeze into that tiny little cramped back seat?" Xelloss whined.
Val was already in the only comfortable passenger seat and Zel was yanking on fingerless driving gloves. "Yes, and be quiet about it!" Zel said to his best friend.
"But I'll wrinkle my best suit!"
"Stretch out your legs along the entire seat. That's right…sit sideways. Such a clever boy, Xelloss!" Zel ribbed him a little.
"Asshole!" Xelloss grumbled. "You got this knowing I can't drive a stick-shift!"
"You can learn."
"Yeah, I learned your nickname!"
Zel shot his hand around and punched his friend, "I'll give you one…" But it was a half-hearted threat. He was in too good a mood right then to care, and he was just kidding around…and he knew Xelloss was too…and he knew Xelloss knew…and Xelloss knew that he knew—like brothers...
The dinner was intended to thank Gourry and his parents for all they'd done for them.
Val made a heart-felt speech pointing out the terrific job they'd done on their house in their absence. "The place is…like new. Perfect. I know my momma woulda liked it and it's like a dream comin' true fer me. Now we wanna put on a deck and hot tub and stuff out back."
Xelloss thanked them from his heart as well for allowing their son to come to his aid. "I don't know from where you draw your strength, but it must have cost a lot you to just let him…help him take off, to face life-threatening danger like you did. If you hadn't… If you'd stopped my friends…I know I wouldn't be here to thank you tonight."
Zelgadiss spoke of his long friendship with Gourry, their combined suffering and of Gourry's valor and steadfastness throughout all their insane adventures. "And through it all you've been my surrogate family. Mrs. Gabriev is like a mother to us all these days. I know you've refused monetary reimbursement from us, but remember…we'll always be grateful."
The rest of the evening was less somber as the food arrived and the conversations picked up. The kids spoke of their plans, short term only. Nothing past the start of school. They had found by past experience that their futures were just too uncertain to set their hearts on a firm plan. Graduation. That was it. Well, sorta…
Gourry mentioned the birthday party coming up, "We gotta get them somethin'. Val? You know Filia better than me. What so you think?"
Val actually blushed at the question, then mumbled, "We'll talk later, dude."
"There's the Battle of the Bands Lina's roped us all into doing," Zel muttered.
"Speaking of bands," Xelloss said. "Nuriko's going to be ready for their next gig, sooooo I'm off the hook!"
"Thank the Gods," Zel chuckled. "Don't get me wrong. You did great, but I don't think I could have sat through another one of their teeny-bopper concerts."
"Tell me about it!" Xelloss gasped. "It was just awful when all those girls came screaming and squealing over for an autograph. I don't know if I could have taken it much longer!" He made a overly dramatic mock faint, then straightened out giggling.
"I was referring to the music," Zel said in a clipped manner.
Xelloss stuck out his tongue. "Kiki's moving back," Xelloss announced, pulling that tidbit out of thin air. "Her parents are going to build on the lot…where the house burned down." He turned to Mr. Gabriev to add, "I gave them your company's number, and a recommendation."
Zel shot him an anxiety-filled look, and then glanced in Val's direction. Val said nothing, but nodded and returned to telling Mrs. Gabriev about his backyard ideas. Maybe it was all in his head. Maybe he should just sit back and relax. Maybe Xelloss could make it on his own. Maybe it was Zelgadiss that needed to see a shrink for his over-active angst!
Mr. Gabriev talked at length about house designs and good planning from the start. He would enjoy meeting Kiki's family, too, should they call him.
"Ah, have you ever built a production studio…for music?" Xelloss asked him, changing the subject on him for the fifteenth time.
Zel heard that and turned to listen. What now?
"Well, no, but it's not difficult. Why?" the older man asked.
"I'm scouting around for a location to build one and when I do, I have some ideas for what I'd like. Our last visit to Macross Studios in Atlas City taught me one thing: I can do better!" Xelloss smiled.
"Oh, joy…" Zel had tried to suppress that, but it had simply escaped, probably with his will to live and Xelloss' mind… At least now he had a better idea what Xelloss had flying and banging around inside that messed-up head of his. Not bad things, thankfully. So why did Zel feel like he had been through hell and back already that evening? Oh, yeah…he was having dinner out with Xelloss. Of course…and everything was just getting back on course…what course was that, though?
"It's the dessert course!" Xelloss chortled with glee. "Of course!"
Zel stared at him. He hadn't said anything aloud. Maybe he does read minds?
Mrs. Gabriev looked over the boys at the table and smiled. Such good boys they were after all. Her son had good judgment in friends. "So…Xelloss. Tell me. Are you going back to work at the shrine?"
"Ah…yes…but I haven't called to tell them my plans. I know the first thing I'll be asked about is my schedule. Which…Zelgadiss?"
"Yes?"
"Do we start on Monday…at the university?"
"Yes. Summer vacation is over tomorrow for us, I'm afraid."
"That's too bad," Mrs. Gabriev commiserated. "But it will only be in the mornings, correct? So you can still have fun after lunch together next week."
"Fun. What's that?" Zel whispered.
"Zelgadiss Greywords!" Gourry's mother snapped. "You can't begin to tell me you don't have fun with your friends!"
He smiled a bit embarrassed, "I do…I bought a car today…"
Gourry perked up, "Yeah? Is it outside? Ya gotta show me!"
Zel had already collected the bill and paid it, so they could go anytime. Gourry's father stood and pulled out the chair for his wife. "Well, thank you boys for the nice dinner. Gourry, go on out and look, then meet us back at our car, all right son?"
"Yeah, thanks!" Gourry loped up to Zelgadiss and said, "Is it out front or in the back?"
Val chuckled, "Don't get too excited, dude. You won't even be able to fit in it!"
"He's going to teach me to drive it," Xelloss smiled. He watched Zel shyly open up his new car and show Gourry the inside.
"I-I don't know why," Zel was explaining. "I've never spent money on anything so…"
"It's okay, Zel," Gourry said to reassure him. He eased first one, then the other long leg into the confined space, and then settled into the soft, subtle leather seat. "You've the right to have whatever ya want, and not haveta justify it ta me or anyone. Ya know, I wouldn't trade my life fer yers even for this car…but I'd think about it!" Gourry let out a small laugh.
Zel relaxed. "No, even I wouldn't if I was given the choice."
"You can go fer those treatments now…for the scars? If you wanna…" Gourry said softly.
"I know. I'm just not sure I want my cure anymore. I'm getting used to this being me. Does that make sense to you?" Zel asked.
"Sure does! Ya got that 'elf' thing goin' fer ya now," Gourry chuckled.
"Hey! Are you going to sit there all night?" Val asked. "I have things to do!"
"Oh, well, bye. See ya later…practice!" Gourry unfolded himself from the car, waved, and moved off to find his folks.
Zel started the car and rubbed his hands over the steering wheel in a caress.
"So, where're we goin'?" Val grinned.
"Yeah! Let's go for a drive!" Xelloss agreed.
"All right, but…after that…it's… grocery shopping!" Zel shouted.
"Noooooooooooo!"
~*~
"Do you see that cute chick?" Xelloss whispered to Zel as they pushed into the classroom.
Zelgadiss dumped his heavy backpack onto the floor and glanced around the room quickly. "No."
"Up by the desk!"
Zel took his seat and looked again. "You mean the grad student teaching our class? Her name is Eris."
"You know her?" Xelloss panted. "Why don't I know her if you know her?"
"Because…I met her last summer when I worked for the chemistry department. Computer work dealing with…"
"I don't want to hear about your work," Xelloss hissed. "Tell me about…Eris!"
"She's one of my father's minions. This will be her second year."
"She's…twenty-five?" Xelloss gasped.
Now Zel should have just let his friend think that and settle down, but Zel wasn't awake enough to think that all through. "Younger. She was a kid genius, qualified for early admissions to the university, whizzed through undergrad work. Rezo spotted her and shoved her into his graduate program." Zel took a breath and dug into his backpack for something to write on…and…with…
" * * R*e*a*l*l*y * * ?" Xelloss smiled. Zel didn't look at him or he would have noticed the stars in his friend's cat-like eyes.
"I can introduce you, if you want," Zel was saying as he reached for his planner to check the day's date.
"Now…"
"Hmm?" Zel looked up to find Xelloss already on his way to the front of the room. "Oh…" He sighed and followed his friend.
"Zelgadiss? You're in this class?" the pretty young woman asked as he stood at her side.
"Ah, yes…we ran out of things to take at school. If the paperwork goes through we'll be in the same early admissions program you went through by winter or…at worst next fall," Zelgadiss explained.
"We?" Eris shot a questioning look over to Xelloss.
"Hi!" he smiled. "He's including me in those schemes. I'm Xelloss."
Xelloss held out his hand and took hers, intending to shake it, but he just stood there, held it, and stared.
"X-Xelloss, well…it's nice to meet you," she smiled back.
Zel noticed that she hadn't tried to pry her hand loose either. "Oh, joy…" he sighed. "Well, um, I suppose you have to start class so we'll be getting back to our seats…Xelloss…"
A punch to his arm, and Xelloss relinquished Eris' hand and returned to the back of the room. The rest of the class was still filing in.
"Stop grinning," Zel snapped at his friend.
"Wow…" Xelloss replied.
"Oh dear gods…please…it's only the first day here, Xelloss. Xelloss? Xelloss! I hate to burst your dream bubble, but I think she's got a boyfriend already." Xelloss shot him a deadly glare. "Vurumagen."
"Who?" Xelloss asked.
"Vurumagen. You met him. He's another of Rezo's slaves…he drove the Volphied Clan elder around…" Zel said with a flip of his hand.
Xelloss regained his smiling countenance, "I see. A little healthy competition, eh?"
But before Zel had a chance to retort, Eris began passing out the class syllabus and explaining the course structure and grading.
"This is Chemistry 110," she began. "It's been combined with the 101 class due to shortcuts, for those of you wondering why you're in here. I'll grade and adjust the material accordingly." She lectured a short time, answered questions, and then ended the class five minutes early.
"Wait for me," Xelloss whispered to Zel. He instantly disappeared and reappeared at Eris' side.
Zel decided that if his friend was determined to get disappointed, there was nothing he could do. He stuffed his things into his binder and looked up. He was curious how different this class would be from the one he and Xelloss thought they would be taking and hoping that they wouldn't have to purchase a different book. Although, he wouldn't mind returning to the university bookstore sometime soon to check out the art supplies. He musing was cut off when Xelloss' hovering shape bobbed nearby. What was it that Lina had said about Xelloss? 'Geeking around like a moth?' "Yes?"
Xelloss was smiling…still. "Can I borrow your car?"
"When?"
"Tonight?"
"Tonight?"
"To-night. Please?"
"All right. If you pass your test with me driving home from here now. Deal?"
"Okay-dokay!" Xelloss skipped off to have another word with Eris, and then joined Zel on his walk out to his car.
"Well?"
"I've got a date…with her!" Xelloss giggled and danced at the same time.
Zel blinked, "That's…great…." Zel hoped that he would leave Lina alone and then Gourry could lead a stress-free existence. "Where are you going?"
"Dinner and…I haven't thought past dinner."
"Dinner's probably enough for the first date. Check out the school weekly though for films and shows. There's usually something happening on campus and it doesn't cost much." Zel picked up a copy of the paper from the top of the stack and handed it over to Xelloss.
"Thanks," Xelloss said. "For being such a great friend to me…Oh, Zelgadiss! I'm taking a girl I just met out and…a year ago I didn't even have a friend!"
His excitement was spreading over to Zelgadiss. "Hey, well…you're welcome…So, what are you going to wear? Want to go get something new?"
A year ago the thought of buying new clothes wouldn't have even occurred to him, so Zel wouldn't have dreamed of asking a friend such a question. Now, he was suggesting it and offering to go with Xelloss!
"Should I drive to the mall?" Xelloss asked. "You don't mind?"
"I have nothing better to do. Here!" Zel said and tossed the keys to the sports car to his thrilled friend. "You can get me a cup of coffee. Then we have to get home before Gourry has to wait. Remember? He's picking up your old drum set from Amelia's and you're supposed to help him set it up for Joey. Ah…now you remember. And you can tell him about your date. Should we look for something for the birthday girls while were at it? Good, then it will have been worth our going there."
~*~
Gourry was sipping iced tea and cramming sugar cookies into his mouth with Amelia when Xelloss and Zel drove up.
"Waiting long?" Zel asked.
"Nah, had to get away or I'd be put ta work," Gourry said with a smile. "I've been cleanin' out the basement for days as it is. Oh, and remind me ta thank you for that one, Xelloss."
"I didn't know," Xelloss assured his friend. "When I suggested to your mom that the basement could be turned into a practice room for Joey, I figured it was already…a room."
Zelgadiss was showing Amelia what he and Xelloss had bought for Filia and Sylphiel. "Hey, Gourry! Want to go in on this with us?" Zel asked.
"No thanks. I'm lettin' Lina get somethin' for Sylphiel and Val's got somethin' in mind fer Filia. His was too…well, he wants it to look like it's not just from him, I guess."
"I think these chains are really nice, Mr. Xelloss. You two have good taste in jewelry," Amelia commented.
"Actually, Zelgadiss picked them out. He had the eye for all kinds of adornments," Xelloss said, winking at Zel. He liked to tease his friend about his secret earring fetish whenever he could. "It was my idea, however. I'm just full of good ideas these days. Oh, I haven't told you my good news! I made a date…with a really cute girl…"
"Who also happens to be teaching our chemistry class," Zel pointed out. "So don't screw things up until the class is over, all right?" He smirked at Xelloss, who just laughed in return.
"Eris," Zel continued for Amelia's benefit mostly, although he couldn't miss Gourry's sudden interest in the conversation. "You met her last summer, or at least you might remember her as one of the only female grad students of Rezo's. She has short spiky black hair."
"And she has brown eyes and is almost at tall as Filia," Xelloss added.
"That's wonderful, Mr. Xelloss!" Amelia said with a bubbly hug to match her mood. "Where are you taking her?"
"I…don't know," he shrugged.
Gourry ran hand through his bangs, pushing them out of his eyes, "Well, we ought get started if ya want lunch thrown in. Ah, thanks Amelia, for the drink and stuff." As he and the other two boys lugged the drum parts out to his pickup, he told them about his morning. "Going up an down the stairs from the basement will be good exercise fer Joey. My legs sure are hurtin'. It stays pretty cool down there, but come winter I may haveta hook up a heater for him. I finished insulatin' the ceiling so no one should hear him."
"He's excited, I take it?" Zel asked. This time he didn't mind so much being the 'meat' in the middle of the bench seat, since Xelloss wasn't large and was scrunching up to the door to give him 'breathing' room.
"Joey? Oh, yeah…Better watch out, Xelloss. He's…pretty intense about this and…ah…Hey…" Gourry rolled down the window all the way and leaned out to shout,"Lina! We're droppin' off the kit fer Joey. Wanna help? There's lunch?" he added, just in case. Lina may have been leaving her house to walk over to his place, but she might have been on her way someplace else. No reason leaving that last possibility open!
"Hey! Yeah…sure. Go on, I can walk a coupla blocks. I ain't cramming' myself in front with those bums!" she laughed and waved them away. She needed the exercise and the day was fine, especially if there was lunch at the end of it!
Joey had just turned thirteen and was all of 5 feet 8 inches tall-- towering over most of his classmates much like his older brother. When he met them at the door, Zel and Xelloss had to remind themselves that he was just a kid. Gangly and goofy. He still wore his hair in a straw-blonde imitation of Xelloss' and was trying desperately not to look too excited.
"Can I see one?" he begged Gourry who was carrying the bass drum.
"When it's set up. Now get out to the truck and find something to carry," his older brother instructed him.
"Ze-el? Can I see one?"
"Certainly, but you have to carry your share first. Take these cymbals," Zel told him.
"Xel-loss? Can I seeeee one? Just one?"
"Yeah!" Xelloss said with a smile.
Xelloss was the easy one to distract, Joey found out. The older boy unsnapped a case and pulled out a sparkly purple snare drum. It made a sizzling sound as he shook it. "These are the snares, with the coiled wires that make that rattling sound," Xelloss explained. "That other side of the drum is the 'batter' side. There was a time when the skin was not plastic, but real cow skin or veal-skin for the thinner snare side. The drum makers would hang out around the stockyards where the cows were slaughtered to…"
"If you two don't mind?" Zel stood over them arms crossed and glaring from his one visible eye (the other being hidden by a fall of wiry hair). "It's hot and getting hotter and I for one will not schlep alone."
"Sorry," Xelloss smiled up at his friend. He stuffed the drum back into its case and pushed it on Joey. "It's all yours!" He then skipped off to see what remained to be unloaded.
By this time Lina reached her goal. "Hey! You guys about done?"
"Almost!" Xelloss smiled. "Here's the hardware bag. Come on and see the basement!"
"How come you're coming downstairs empty-handed?" Zel asked as Lina and Xelloss joined him in the basement.
Gourry was setting down his case and turned to look who was there. "Lina! I'll go check on lunch. Wanna come?"
"Sure. Hey, the place looks…great, Joey. I'll tell ya what. After lunch these guys can come over to my place and bring over some beanbag chairs. How about that?" Lina beamed.
"Wow, Lina! Yeah!" Joey beamed.
"I'm not carrying any more until he does something," Zel announced, pointing at Xelloss.
"I'm showing Joey how to set it up!" Xelloss retorted.
"Fine. Then you'll be two drums short."
Xelloss met Zel's determined stare. Zel was not budging. "Okay, do-kay…little brother!" Xelloss grinned and ruffled Zel's hair on his way back up the stairs.
Joey ended up carrying the pedal and throne, while the other two boys lugged the last of the drum cases down into the basement.
Gourry and Zelgadiss brought down lunch, while Lina watched Xelloss and Joey. Xelloss patiently took the younger boy step-by-step through the setup process, explaining how to make adjustments as he went along.
"You sure know a lot about this stuff," Joey said with admiration.
"I do because Val taught me and I listened. If you ever have a question about equipment and can't reach me, try Val. He doesn't bite and he's full of information." Xelloss stopped to eat a few bites of his sandwich. "Before the others interrupt us, I want to show you some things. Oh, first…show me what you've been practicing."
They had been so intent on their business, Xelloss and Joey hadn't noticed the others leave. Or return…
"Geesh!" Lina yelled down to the basement. "We've already been to my house and back and you're still poundin' away? Hey! Heads up! We're throwin' these bags down so get ready!"
Xelloss stood up and used his body to shield the drums from any possible collisions with the oncoming beanbag chairs. "Stop! How many do you have there?"
"Just one more!" Lina said with a laugh. "Luna and I cleaned out the dorms earlier in summer and came up with a dozen of these. Zel said there wasn't room for any at your new place, so looks like Joey here gets them all! Hey, that's a pretty good pile. Don't move!" Lina took a flying leap from the middle of the staircase and landed squarely in the middle of the soft cushions with a yelp of delight.
Joey joined her for a few jumps himself, while Gourry and Zel returned to the kitchen for a can of pop.
"Bring me somethin'!" she shouted after their receding forms.
They returned-- Gourry with a can of cherry soda for Joey and a couple root beers for Lina and himself. Zel handed Xelloss a lemon-lime soda. He had a canned iced tea. They each found a beanbag and sank it to watch the dust settle.
"Ya know what this place reminds me of?" Lina mused to no one in particular.
"Those caves we were lookin' fer Val in?" Gourry submitted for her approval.
"No, idiot!" she dashed his hopes of approval instantly. "Look around! Purple drum set…beanbag chairs…"
"Xelloss' practice room?!" Joey tossed out carelessly.
"Right!" Lina rewarded him with a smile and a wink.
"It's a great deal darker," Zel noted.
"No kitchen or loft," added Gourry. Zel saw it his way, he knew.
"The carpeting's different 'cause this came from a job Dad finished and had left over," Joey shrugged.
Xelloss said nothing, lost in his own memories for a moment. "Well, I gotta get home and take a shower. Do I get a ride or shall I walk?"
Gourry was about to offer to drive him and Zel back, but he didn't want to leave Lina and risk the likelihood of her leaving before he got back. Zel glanced up at him, enabling their mental telepathy.
"Ah, since you have the time, why don't you walk, Xelloss. Gourry, you stay here and entertain, I'll walk too. I could use the exercise anyway." Zel finished his drink with one last swig then stood up in time to catch both Gourry and Xelloss' eyes.
Gourry's said, "Thanks, man," in silent gratitude.
Xelloss' said, "Huh? That's a long walk!" in silent disappointment, then added aloud: "Sure…okay…well…see ya later…" Xelloss waved and carried his soda can upstairs to the kitchen garbage. "Oh, and Joey? You need to get a garbage can down there!"
Joey turned on the CD player Xelloss had left him, selected one of the disks he had encouraged him to practice with, then snapped the lid shut.
"We'd better go upstairs," Gourry suggested to Lina. "It's gonna get real loud soon."
"Yeah, sure," she agreed. She accepted his hand to pull her out of her soft pit chair, and hopped up the stairs two at a time. "Your other brothers at home?"
"Nope. They're out buyin' soccer clothes with mom…then some other stuff."
"So…your place in empty for the time being?"
"Yeah…" His smile widened. "I'll get some stuff ta eat and we can listen to some music?" he asked in his low, gentle voice.
"Great! I'll go meet ya there!"
"Um…it's kinda a mess…" he was mentally grappling with the images of the rooms above the garage as he'd last remembered them. Satisfied that there wasn't anything out that might gross out Lina, he added, "But that's nothing' new."
"'Course not!" Lina laughed quietly. "Like my place is spotless. As long as there's a place to shove into, I'm fine. Oh, make that water or milk to drink, 'kay? I'm tired of the sweet stuff right now."
"Uh, huh," Gourry nodded. "There's plenty of milk. Oh, and some left over pie."
"Yeah, bring that too!"
Gourry scooped up the milk, glasses, pie box, chips and forks and then transferred them to an empty carton holding newspapers for recycling. He lugged the carton out to the garage and up the stairs to his room where strains of music could already be heard. Lina was dancing!
Carefully, he set the carton of food-stuffs onto his bed. Join her? Watch her? He decided to join her bouncing around to the rhythm of the song. The dancing didn't last too long, though.
"Whoa! It's getting hot in here!" Lina fell breathless to the floor.
"Yeah, with the shades open it heats up pretty fast when the sun hits this side of the house." Gourry reached into the carton and removed first the milk then the pie. He poured and passed then handed Lina a fork. "Forgot plates so we'll haveta share, 'kay?"
"Sure, but ya better be quick and keep yer hand outta my spearing range," she smiled crookedly. "This is good pie. Who made it?"
"My sisters are learnin'. Tough, huh?" he grinned.
"Yeah, you gotta be the tester? Yer mom's a good teacher. Think she could show me some stuff?"
"Yeah. When she gets home we can ask. Chips?"
"You…are asking…me?!" Lina chuckled. "Barbecue? Weird. Chuckie's choice, huh? See? I know your little brothers. Alfie's the 'ranch' guy and Joey's the…"
"Health food. Yeah, he's into that now. I think he's met a girl and her brother from the Cepheid Believers, like Filia, ya know, at summer camp. They'll be goin' to his middle school this year and I think he's doin' it at be like them. He's in that stage, I guess. He's tryin' ta be like everyone else."
"Must be hard for you…him imitating Xelloss so much," Lina said, testing the waters. She could tell that Gourry had an undercurrent of disturbance going on, submerged beneath his outwardly placid appearance. It had been going on since the 'shower incident' at the beach house and intensified when Xelloss was around. It had to have something to do with Xelloss.
"Huh? Oh…uh…yeah…some," Gourry looked askance, avoiding Lina's penetrating stare.
She waited. She would wait him out. Lina wasn't especially good at 'bringing out' her friends' deepest, darkest secrets. In fact, she mostly wished they'd keep them to themselves most of the time, but somehow, with Gourry, she felt differently. His feelings might be in turmoil, but they were never dark and disturbing. She would wait and see what he had to say.
"I mean…he's a friend and all…you know…" Gourry painfully extracted from his throat.
"Xelloss, you mean? Not your brother," Lina said. She would remain patient…patient…
"Uh, yeah. It's just…" Gourry sighed and started scraping the crumbs off the pie plate.
Lina needed to get things moving along, so she inserted words of her own. "He's got a penchant for trouble; he's a practical joker, and he professes his adoration of my person. Yeah, so what's new?"
Gourry turned suddenly and met her eyes at last. "He's not the only one." His voice was low and cautious, but he held her scorching, crimson eyes with his cool blues.
She blushed, broke the eye contact, and clenched her empty glass. "I know that, too." Then, looking back with a cute impish expression, she added, "You can be a lot of trouble, too."
His eyes widened. That's not what he meant! "You're the most beautiful girl…ever…" he blurted out.
"Oh? Yeah, I AM pretty cute, huh?" she laughed nervously. Oh, boy, Gourry was looking pretty intense now…
"To me…you are really special too. There is no one else. I haven't gone out with anyone else, and don't wanna. I don't expect nothin' from you, Lina. I just wanted you ta know. I mean, if ya like him…lots, that's…well…that's just somethin' I can't deal with, though."
His anguished expression caught her off-guard. What did he expect her to say to that? How did she feel about Xelloss? Relationships weren't her strong point, but she knew that they were becoming increasingly more important to her friends. All her friends!
Just not her.
Or was that the truth anymore? She couldn't deny that she felt something for Xelloss. Some reoccurring connection, but…what? There was no ignoring his passion, and perseverance. But then, how could she forget that life-altering event when Gourry brought her back from the dead by the strength of his will alone--well, that and a well-timed, meaningful kiss? There was no denying the fact that they too had a deep connection. And what about Zelgadiss? There was no one she could to test wits with better than him, was there? They could talk about anything…and their history! That counted for something, too!
Gourry understood now, or thought he did. Lina's non-answer was as good as a 'yes'. She did return Xelloss' feelings after all! It wasn't all one-sided anymore. Just before he was swallowed up by his self-inflicted despair, Lina spoke.
"I'm not ready for a boyfriend, I guess. I need all kinds of friends now and my feelings…well, I can't sort them out. But, Gourry, you outta know that that special bond of ours is…unique, 'kay?" She looked up with a smile and gave him a wink.
Whew! What a relief! Gourry's smile widened, "Yeah, Lina. We make a special team. Um…did he tell ya he's got a date with…ah…I fergit her name…'Heiress?' No…well, um…his teacher, Zel said. Can I talk ya into somethin' more to eat?"
"No, I gotta go home and do some chores," she shrugged her shoulders and hopped to her feet. "So, Zel's got a date?"
"Um…no, Xelloss…"
"Him? Well, that makes more sense, doesn't it? Heh, heh…Zel...Ya know…mebbe I'll take something with me! C'mon! Let's check out the 'fridge!"
~*~ End, Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special, Part Twenty-one. ~*~
