A/N: I am so sorry that I haven't updated for so long. Shame, shame on me. Well, when we last left off, Allen was preparing to delve into his past and…
*Chibi Allen pops in*
Allen: Hey! Just lemme do the disclaimer so we can get on with it!
o_O
whoa…did you just say you wanted to do work!?
*faints*
Allen: Anyway, midnightoasis does not own Xenosaga or its characters no matter how much she wishes that she did. She doesn't own anything…but she's owes a heck of a lot of money to her college…^_^
On with the fic!
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The Glass is Half Empty: The life of Allen Ridgeley
Chapter Five: Flashback
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More than a memory
A flame that will not die
Let me tell ya'
You wanna know it
Yeah
I'm havin' a flashback
Tonight
I just need to walk about for a while
Cause you're not understanding me
~Tina Arena, "Flashback"
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His first memory on waking up in the hospital was a warm hand, rough and callused, lying on his forehead. Allen opened his left eye and squinted it shut immediately against the harsh fluorescents of the hospital room. He ventured opening that eye again…the right one seemed to be stuck shut.
Allen's grandfather leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God you've finally woken up."
The boy tried to sit, but he was forced back down by the intense pain rippling through his torso. "Unh…Grampa? W-where am I?" One bleary blue eye darted around the little room.
Jonathan Ridgeley put a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "You're in the hospital, Allen." He made a fist with his other hand and brought it down on his knee…hard. "Damn them! Why did they let you come home by yourself? If they'd just taken a little responsibility as your parents—and two whole days you were lying here, and they couldn't be bothered with…" He stopped short, cutting of his words by clamping his jaws shut as Allen's eyes widened.
"What did you say?" His grandfather turned away and remained silent. Allen closed his eye again as painful recognition closed around him. "T-They didn't come to see me…to visit me here…" His eye opened, now with a bitter glint hardening its blue depths. "Did they...have they even asked about me?" Allen's heart wrenched when his grandfather's silence answered his question.
After several long moments, the older man spoke. "You know, Allen…It's not that they don't care…They just don't know how to—"
"Don't make excuses for them!" The young boy bolted upright despite the agony of his battered body, tears coursing down his cheeks in twin liquid streaks. "I'm sick of everyone saying it's okay for them to treat me like this! I'm sick of hearing what they mean and what they don't mean! I-I…" His breath hitched in between sobs as his grandfather took him into his arms.
"Shh, now. They're still your family. And deep down, they do care for you." He let out a weary sigh. "I wasn't going to bring this up until you were well, but I've arranged for you to come and stay with me." The boy looked up with a desperate, pleading hope in his expression. "I have already waited far too long to intervene. I should've taken you out of that home years ago." He rested his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Grampa, I'm…I'm gonna go live with you?"
"Yes. I'm arranging for your things to be sent to my home on Gedalya. You can transfer to the preparatory school in our sector. Some of the finest young men have attended that…why are you still crying, child?"
Allen sunk his face into his grandfather's shoulder.
"I'm just so happy…"
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The joy of beginning a new life with his grandfather was only hampered by the bitter alienation of Allen's immediate family. Although they had readily agreed to the elder Ridgeley taking the boy off of their hands, the boy's parents would make public shows of hostility towards their "ungrateful" son. Thus, Allen was completely turned away from the few friends he had made at his long-time home, forced to completely start anew on Gedalya.
With the new environment, the boy flourished and grew into a young man. Constantly supported by his grandfather's encouragement, Allen thrived in his studies, earning him an invitation to attend the prestigious Bormeo University upon his commencement from preparatory school.
It was a week after graduation, and Allen was out celebrating with several of his friends and former classmates. They were in the middle of a game of billiards in a dark, smoky pub. The five of them crowded around the pool table, laughing over their exploits from the past years.
There was Basil Dhul Fiquar, son of the director of a major water purifier franchise, who once hacked into the school's mainframe to put pictures of the dean wearing nothing but what God gave him on all of the datascreens in the building. There had been a threat of expulsion that was revoked as soon as Basil's father—and his checkbook—intervened.
There was Yujiro Hatakeda, who had spent the better part of his adolescent years pining after a certain Jo'ng-hu'i Han, literally the girl next door. During the past year he had worked up the nerve to ask her out to dinner only to find that she had recently found her soulmate in her best friend and roommate, Alsacia Quinn. Yuji didn't give up hope for all females though, and proceeded through a dozen new crushes over a matter of a few months…and more than a few rejections.
There were the twins, Michael and Miles Calhoun. They were the two non-academics of the group. Standing at 5'2" apiece, they weren't very intimidating physically…especially with their pale skin, white-blond hair, and translucent gray eyes. However, they made quite the impression afterwards. They threw all of the best parties and subsequently slacked off in all of their classes, relying on one person after the next to help them just enough to skate by with passing grades. They always had money, and it always burned right through their pockets on gifts for various girls and frequents of the city's night life. The envy of their friend Yuji, both brothers would be hounded by a slew of girls who wanted to be a part of the hype that surrounded these two odd boys. And they went through them like used tissues…because there would always be another one lined up to get pulled out.
And then there was Allen, who was one of the more reserved members of this circle of friends. He was the scholar of the group, always getting a friendly ribbing about his acceptance to Bormeo. He wasn't quite as overly-sensitive as his friend Yuji, so Allen was better suited to actually maintaining a relationship with a girl…his Kate. Katerina Alexsandrovna Baltzarin. He had met the small-statured young woman in an ancient history class and had been enthralled by her passion for uncovering the past…not to mention her curly chestnut hair and bright green eyes.
At first, they had become fast friends, doubling up on whatever community project Kate was supporting at the moment. He asked her to be his girlfriend one night over milkshakes and calculus, and she said yes. They were together for three years, up until a week prior to graduation. They would be going to different universities the next year, and had agreed to end as friends. Long distance relationships are one thing, but cross-galaxy? Regretfully, Allen had to be realistic and agree with Kate's reasoning.
The night at the pool parlor was partially to celebrate their new freedom, but it was also the young men's attempt at reintroducing Allen to the world of dating…
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"C'mon, man. Look at that girl over there! I'm tellin' you, she keeps checking you out." Miles slapped a hand down on Allen's shoulder. He rolled his eyes and pushed it off.
"Well, I think Yuji should take a go at her instead. He's the one who's always cruising for a date."
Yuji punched him playfully in the shoulder. "Eh, you know blondes aren't my type. I'd rather go for that brunette by the jukebox." He handed his cue stick to Basil, who lifted an eyebrow in return. "If you'll excuse me gentlemen…" He walked over to the petite woman playing music, as his four friends shook their heads after him.
Michael removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose in a pained manner. "Doesn't he ever learn?"
Miles chuckled. "No, and that's why he'll keep on makin' us laugh for a long, long time."
Allen grinned. "And to think you guys were trying to turn me into another Yuji."
"You can never have too many people to laugh at, my friend." Allen gave him a shove.
"Yeah, whatever Miles."
Basil lined up a shot. "Well, no sense in wasting his turn while he's…occupied." A quick slide of the stick, and the cue ball sent two others into the corner pocket.
Allen looked over. "And to think Yuji was losing before…" He turned towards the jukebox as Yuji's pleading got louder.
"But all I'm asking for is one date! You know what? Forget about the date, which I have to say would've been unforgettable and incredibly romantic. Just give me your phone number. Please?"
The girl gave him a disgusted look. "Ew, get away from me! Desperation isn't the most attractive thing in a man…" She flipped her hair and walked to the exit.
The twins began to cackle and slapped each other a high five as Yuji walked dejectedly back to the group. "Busted! She totally blew you off, man!"
"Shove it, Mike."
"Oh, Yuji! Forgot to tell ya…I saw Jo and Alsacia the other day, and they said to tell you hi from them…Say, do you think you would've been more Jo's type if you dressed up in drag?"
The now irate young man moved to strangle him. "Miles, I swear to God if you don't stop with this bull—"
"Eight ball, side pocket." Basil finished the game and moved to put an arm on Yuji's shoulder. "Come now children, don't fight." He smirked.
"Besides, Yuji, there's a bright side to the situation. I just won you your first game of pool. Let's go to Myra's and grab something to eat. What do you guys think?"
Yuji rubbed his stomach and winked. "Yeah, I gotta admit I'm pretty starved. It's hungry work being a ladies' man. I could probably even eat a horse right now."
The twins snickered and said in unison, "That'd be your only chance of getting a date…Pity for the horse."
Allen grabbed his furious friend after he turned several shades of red and purple and launched himself at the brothers. "Aaaargh!! Lemme go, man! I'm really gonna kill em this time. I'll make you two scream for mercy!"
"Oh, like your mother did last night?"
"Gyyyyaaaaaa!!!"
Allen somehow managed to keep a grip on the seething Yuji. "Okay, give it a rest for a bit, Miles. Just cut him a little slack. You already wounded his pride…do you have to completely pulverize it?"
"Huh…I thought I already did…"
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The quintet made their way to Myra's, a tiny little restaurant in the industrial sector whose owner and namesake was actually a squat, bald short-order cook named Myron—but they still had the best burgers on this hemisphere of Gedalya. The young men settled around a greasy table to eat their equally greasy food, occasionally chucking various fried things at each other across the table.
"Gosh…I have to leave for Bormeo in a month. I can't believe it's come so quickly…"
Mike pounced on the opportunity for a joke. "Funny. That chick Sara said the same thing about our pal Yuji." He laughed and raised his napkin to deflect a flying fry.
Miles looked at Allen. "See, that's what happens when you try and rub in how much smarter you are than us."
"Hey, now. I'm really not all that much—"
Yuji grinned. "And he's oh-so modest, too!" He clasped his hands and comically batted his eyelashes.
"Uh oh, Allen. I think he's getting a crush on you now…must be that superior intellect drawing people like flies to a dead cow."
"Nice visual, Mike…But like I said, if you guys really wanted to go there…"
"Shucks, Allen." Miles scratched his head. "But we ain't got the smarts like you do. Ain't got no need for that high-palootin' schoolin'…Besides, most of us are ending up in the family companies anyway."
Basil stroked his chin. "Well, Allen's still got a good point. Our summer's going to come rapidly to a close. Geez man, that means you're gonna miss our annual fishing trip."
Allen sighed. "I know, I know. But I can't help it. Bormeo's trimester starts then."
Yuji clapped him on the back. "Don't worry. You can just make it up to us with your crazy smartness somewhere down the line. Hmm…maybe we could throw a party at your place before your granddad gets back from that business trip…"
"Yeah right. Look, while I have the chance…I just wanted to tell you guys that I've spent some of my happiest moments with you and—"
"Uh oh. Looks like brainiac here is getting all mushy." Miles handed him his napkin. "Here ya go. Gotta be prepared for those waterworks."
Allen chuckled. "Shut up, Miles. I just want to say that you guys have been like brothers to me, and…well, I'm going to miss you."
Basil looked up. "Aw, hey it's alright. You know we feel the same way. Which is why we'll be hanging out with you every free moment we can all spare."
"Thanks. That really means a lot to me, and—" A low beeping came from Allen's pocket. "Uh, hold on. Somebody's on the com…Hello…yeah, this is him. Yes, I'm his—okay, what's going on? What do you mean there was a…" His expression froze, blank and staring straight ahead of him. "I…no…" The voice that came out of him was small, and Allen didn't recognize it. He felt oddly detached, like he was listening to himself from across the room. "Well, how is he?!...you can't…alright…I…I'll come back right now." He switched the com off and let his arm fall limply to his side. The com clattered noisily to the floor in the sudden silence at the table.
The four guys looked at him worriedly. Miles leaned forward. "Hey, man. Are you alright? You look real pale…"
"I…just…oh my God, this can't be happening!" Allen buried his face in his hands and began to tremble violently.
Yuji put his arm around his shoulders. "What's going on? Come on, tell us what happened, man."
When Allen looked up, his eyes were glassy, though no tears had fallen yet.
"It's my Grampa. There was an accident…his VP called, and he wouldn't tell me how he was…if he was still alive or not…"
"Don't worry. I'm sure he's just fine. That guy's probably overreacting. Let's get you home, though."
Mike stayed to pay the bill as they left, and he followed right after them.
The next time that all five friends would be in the same place would be at Jonathan Ridgeley's wake.
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The next two weeks went by in a blur for Allen. The day before the wake, his parents and siblings came, wailing and mourning loudly all over the place. He stayed quiet. No tears had come yet, and he doubted they would for a while. He just felt…numb.
The wake, the funeral…it seemed like a dream. How could it really be his granddad lying up in that coffin? They were supposed to go fishing next weekend…But there had been an accident.
Allen remembered sitting in his grandfather's office as the words droned past him.
Just sitting out in the café…transport driver…lost control…died immediately…no suffering…sorry…so sorry…for your loss…
And still, he was numb.
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Okey dokey! I'll continue this next chapter!! Just wanted to give all y'all something to, erm, whet your appetites.
I hope you enjoyed reading this! And don't forget, nobody else can put the "you" in "review."
*POOF!!*
Allen: Uh, that doesn't make any sense…
Just think phonetics, my friend…Besides, I'm doing my author's notes at 2 in the morning…I'm probably not even really writing this right now…o_O
There's only one way to find out for sure…Leave me reviews!! ^_^