(((.-) Zel ||^.^|| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina ||{{.^}|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia

Seyruun High Jinx

Chapter 6

The next couple of weeks passed uneventfully.  In advanced composition, for instance, they continued with their essays and began to study Steinbeck.  Science was a bunch of tedious bookwork.  History was boring as usual, their variety of language classes dragged on in a wet cement of tests and memorization, and math was a combination of all of that.  The only spots of interest were computer lab, in which Zel shone as he played with the new programs and put off working on an I-movie with Xelloss, and acting, which wound its weird way through more improv games and introductory activities.  That, and there was the Halloween dance, to be viewed as either the light at the end of the tunnel, or execution day, depending on weather you were in the Amelia or Zelgadiss camp.

Lunchtime on Thursday was Amelia's territory.  She was chatting about that dance endlessly, and since no one had the heart to move away from her prattling, she had a captive audience.

"...and you have to come in costume!" she announced.

There was a contest of groans.  Everyone tried to explain to her that they didn't HAVE a costume, Zel loudest of all, of course.

"I KNEW you'd all have excuses, and so I prepared for it!" said Amelia with a strange and daunting look in her eye.

"Everyone is to come to my house after school before the dance, and don't say you have something else to do either because we've been planning this for a LONG time. Anyway, the van will be here 5 minutes after school is dismissed and will leave 10 minutes later.  And what if I don't go? - you ask? Well...you get to wear the picked-over dregs that the others reject.  Is that clear enough?"

Silence.

"Good.  It's a plan.  I have school council business to attend to."  And with that, Amelia proudly stood ready to march out.

"But...but Amelia, if there are costumes then it's a Halloween dance.  And if it's a Halloween dance then...I can't go," said Filia sadly.

"W-Why not, Miss Filia?" asked Amelia

"We're not allowed to celebrate Halloween at the settlement," said Filia.

"Well...then come over anyway.  It will be fun trying on the costumes and THERE WILL BE REFRESHMENTS.  Even if we don't go to the dance..." said Amelia, her voice wavering a little.

"WE?  Y-You mean you'd give up going to the dance to stay with me?  Oh, Amelia that's so sweet but I can't let you do that!"

"That's right!" said Lina the mediator, "Just because you go to a school dance in a costume doesn't mean you're celebrating anything! You have to wear something to a dance, right? Tell your parents that you'll just bring something with you to school and change at Amelia's. We'll all grab a bite--you did mention food, right Amelia? And go to the school dance and listen to the Suzaku Seven. Did I say HALLOWEEN? No! So you okay with that?"

Gulp! "Ah, yes Lina. I think that will do just fine, thanks!" smiled Filia.

"Now that that's all settled, Amelia is banned from talking about the dance for the rest of the period!" Lina proclaimed among cheers, and she went back to her meal.

"I was leaving anyway," Amelia sniffed and exited stage right.

"As if I didn't have enough to dread," Zel moaned.

"Speaking of that, do you have any ideas for our I-Movie?" Xelloss piped up.

"Nnn..."

"I-Movie? What I-Movie? You didn't say anything about an I-Movie, Zel," Lina accused. "Since when are you guys working on a project together, and why do you get such a fun project when all I get is to do is a collage on the Great Depression!"

"Well...that is...I..." Zel sighed as Lina ranted. "Since we got assigned it in Computer Lab, and it's not a 'fun' project, it's a stress creator."

"I don't care what you call it, it's better than the collage. And the Great Depression! Gaaah! I hate school..."

"I hate life..."

"I think it's a fun idea, a collage," Xelloss said.

"You would," Zel shuddered, and looked darkly upon Xelloss.

"Lina. You do the Xelloss thing and I'll do the depression project. I do depression well, you know..."

Xelloss looked enlightened. "I know, maybe we could record our acting class. Famous moments in history: And here we have a very early recording of the finest actor of all time," began Xelloss in a melodramatic voice and pretending to hold a camera panning the room, "...in his most memorable role of the dark and somewhat mysterious mad scientist from The Lunch Room of the Living Dead."

Here Xelloss zoomed in for a close up: "And now a personal statement from the man himself...Mr. Zelgadiss, have you a word of encouragement for those young actors watching out there?"

"F*** you, Xelloss!" yelled Zel, knocking over his chair while escaping the other kid's reach. In one graceful leap, he cleared the chair and then practically ran from the cafeteria.

"Not so very encouraging, that word, Zel-gaaaa-diss!" Xelloss cackled like a crazed man.

Filia tapped Sylphiel on the shoulder, "Have you checked the choir tour schedule? It's supposed to be posted by lunch."

"Oh, no… I forgot all about it. Do you want to like go now?" Sylphiel answered.

"Sure, before Xelloss targets us for an interview with the outcast from the loony bin." Filia sniffed and left with the other girl.

Val loped up. This was remarkable in that he'd managed to make it to school every day that week. "Really driv-ing them away today aren't you, pretty-boy?"

Xelloss zoomed his 'camera' in on his next target, "And now, another sensitive performance by our favorite punk to be captured on film...Say hello to your fans Vally-boy..."

"Get outta my face, Xelloss, before I mess you up," Val growled.

"Ooh, I'm so afraid!" giggled Xelloss backing away.

"By the way , Val, don't make any plans after school the day of the dance, okay?" asked Lina, trying to cut the rising tension.

"You want me to do something with you?" Val asked hopefully.

"Ahhh, yeah. I'll tell you about it later, okay?" said Lina tip-toeing cautiously about the topic. She didn't want to lead him on, but she wasn't sure he'd come play dress-up otherwise. Actually, she was pretty sure he wouldn't...

"Ah, Lina, I see Sano walking over...you wanted to meet him, right?" asked Val.

Lina nodded and turned to see a tall muscular boy with dark brown spiky hair stride up to her chair.

"Hey, Val my man, is this that cute red headed chick you've been telling me about?" asked Sano, grinning fetchingly.

Val blushed and folded his arms. Lina looked up into the biggest deep brown eyes ever. "Lady-killer..." she thought, then answered, "Yeah, you got it. Lina's my name."  Looking around at the ever decreasing  group at her table, Lina added for their benefit, "Hey listen up guys, this one knows how to call 'em as he sees 'em."

Sano rested a hand on the table and leaned in closer to Lina. She could see white tape wrapped around the hand and thought to herself, Guy's gotta be a fighter with hands that bandaged up..

"So you know that punk long, Lina?" asked Sano eyes twinkling as they danced from Lina to Val and back.

"We met at the skater's park in summer, but I'd seen him around last year at school. So tell me, Sano, Val's staying with you for a while? she asked.

"Yeah...until his…ah ...Gaav drags him back," answered Sano.

"That's good..." Lina mused, "Are you near the CrestView apartments then?"

"Kinda. The trailer park behind it, #7, if you' re planning on stopping by?" Sano said suggestively.

Lina's eyes narrowed, "We might need to get a hold of Val, that's all, buster."

Sano jumped back both hands raised protectively, "Only joking, only joking...You know I have my eye on a very special lady now, so I gotta watch myself," he laughed.

"Yeah, Megumi I-forget-her-last-name, but she's in a bunch of your classes, Lina," sneered Val.

"Wow, Sano, aiming pretty high, huh?" snickered Lina, "No, seriously, she's really smart and beautiful. She wants to get into medical school, right?"

"Hmm, that's right. She works at the clinic part-time in summer and only every other weekend during school. She has to save a lot of money," began Sano but Val jumped in.

"Yeah, she really keeps him in line. He can't miss any school and hasta hold down that job at the video store. What a slaaaave driver," said Val, teasing the big kid a little.

"She's that! And I'll do the same to you while you're staying with me! Well, gotta move on...nice meeting you Red!" And with a good-natured laugh and a wave, Sano stood up.

He looked around at the others at the table. Then he noticed Xelloss, froze, gave a small nod -- or was it a bow? Lina wondered-- and then moved off.

"Hey, Xelloss, you know Sano?" asked Lina.

"Yes. Time for your moment on camera. Tell the world the secret to your success. Is it your sparkling smile, or your secret life as a pirate princess?" asked the purple-haired kid shoving an invisible mic up to Lina's lips.

Lina slapped his hand away disgustedly, "Aren't you tired of that game by now? If you don't want to give me an answer, just say so."

"Okaaaay, Lina...then I'll say...that's a secret!" he giggled then stood and left the table, too.

"So Lina, you going to the skate park tonight?" asked Val.

"Ah, Gourry, are you?" she asked casually.

"Yeah, I saw a new move where you grab the board on the sides like his on a jump, then..." he began.

"Yeah, yeah, that's okay. You can show me tonight, all right?" interrupted Lina, then turning to Val said, "Sure. My sister brought home a whole pie last night. If there's anything left, I'll bring it."

Val gave a thumb's up sign and moved on to greet his other gang in black and chains.

Lina began chatting with Gourry again, "So...pretty quiet, eh?"

"Yup, just you and me."

"So...um...fencing again this Friday?"

"Yup...I should practice tomorrow too."

"Yeah, guess so...Do you and Zel practice much together?"

"Not much. We did last year but now we can anticipate each other's moves pretty well. Mostly I just need to keep limber, ya know?"

"Yup...Math going okay?"

"Yeah...mostly review up to now and I know the stuff okay. I sure hope Zel signs up for tutoring next week, though, cause history is going to be tough."

"Did you ask him to? He might not if he's in one of those 'I'm not good enough' moods."

"I will," said Gourry looking at the pretty redhead, "He's a real good friend of yours, isn't he?"

"Who, Zel? Yeah. Like the evil twin brother I never had. Why?"

"And Val?" Gourry asked, still watching for her reaction.

"Not a REAL good friend. Just a friend, that's all. Gourry?"

"And Xelloss?" He could tell she was reaching her patience limit.

"Who? Xelloss? Why'd you bring that lunatic up for?"

Gourry closed his eyes and smiled, "Lina, you're not dumb or blind. They're not all hanging around here to see me."

Lina gulped. She definitely did not like where the conversation was headed.

The gods smiled on Lina, though, because at that moment, the bell rang.

"Whup, that's the bell. See ya later, Gourry!" Lina cried, and looked at him as she leapt up and away. He had that same sunny smile, with those big sky-blue eyes, but there was a slight cloud of sadness hanging over them. She gave him a wink and a smile, and the cloud passed, leaving him to sparkle.

"Okay, Lina!" he called back.

Lina felt a little weak as she made her way to PE, and realized that her heart had been pounding. Why's that? What's with me today? Did I just get all weak-kneed about GOURRY? I must've gotten food poisoning or...maybe my sister is conspiring to punish me by putting love potion in my food...Lina shuddered at the thought. What was that that Gourry had been getting at, anyway? 'They're not hanging around here to see me,'... Well, what about the other girls? Amelia was pretty, and Sylphiel and Filia were perennial boy-pleasers. She was the least likely of the bunch...Besides, Zel and Val and Xelloss were friends, like Gourry was. She could always have guy friends before without being accused. Why were things different now? Maybe this dance thing wasn't so good an idea...But she wasn't about to cancel and break Amelia's heart.

Amelia. Speaking of siblings she never had, Amelia filled out the little sister position. Lina had actually known her for ages, but mostly because she'd been best of friends with Amelia's older sister for many years. But that was a long time ago. Amelia and Lina had at least one thing in common: they both had a scary big sister.




Amelia had seen to it to advertise well. The Dance and The Band were on posters and banners everywhere. The lunchroom was closed for decorating, so after buying food, or not, the students strung out along the bleacher seating of the gymnasium or hid out in selected classrooms to eat and talk. Lina, Zel, and Xelloss ate in relative comfort in the science room. Amelia, Filia, and Sylphiel ate while decorating. Gourry wandered around looking for the others while eating a sandwich. Val ate with Sano outside, toughing it with other gritty kids.

Lina would have felt bad that the troupe wasn't eating together, but she knew that the dance was that night, and the less they saw each other during the day, the less likely they would be to have a monumental falling-out. In fact, she was sure that if she had to deal with another gush-fest from the choirgirls, she'd have a puke-fest. So instead, she happily relaxed with her intellectual friends, blithely dancing around the topic of that night's diversion. They seemed perfectly happy to oblige, especially Zel. He sat nibbling on a bagel, pretending to read a book. Lina knew he was pretending because he'd only turned the page once in the last fifteen minutes.

Xelloss sat on a 'unit' box at the other end of the room, spinning a petri dish on the end of his pencil.

"Argh!!" Lina cried and jumped up. "I'm sick of this! Zel, if you scan that page one more time, I'll rip it out and make you eat it!"

"Eep!" The book slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor, CRASH!!, along with the petri dish at the other end of the room.

"Okay, what the hell is wrong with you guys?" Lina growled. "Is it the costume part? Can't be that! Zel, I know you dress up for Halloween every year..."

"But that's when I was little..." Zel squeaked.

"...and Xelloss, you have no shame, so it can't possibly bother you!"

"I have SOME shame..." he muttered.

"Well not that I can tell. You don't even blush. Anyway, you've both been to a dance befo-Ah HA!" From the looks on their faces, Lina knew she'd hit the nail on the head. "I can't believe this!"

"Lina, you know I've never been to a dance before," Zel hissed though gritted teeth. "You tried to make me go last year, but I was always 'sick', remember?"

"Do you think I get asked to a lot of dances, Lina?" Xelloss asked.

Lina laughed. "I can't believe this!"

Zel did not take it so lightly. Lina didn't understand. Dances were completely out of Zel's ken. Not the dancing part, so much, but pretty much every other part of the dreadful ritual. Who would-or could-he dance with? How could he ask a girl to dance? As he thought about it, he probably wouldn't even be able to bring himself to ask Lina, and she was his best friend. And what if-against all probability--some girl asked HIM to dance? The thought of it sent his nerves twisting themselves into knots. He'd probably just spend the entire night a wallflower and Lina would never let him live it down.

Xelloss bowed his head so that Lina couldn't see his eyes.  How can you laugh, Lina? You don't understand at all, he thought. His concerns were similar to Zel's, but with an added problem. Filia wasn't the only one who teased him. She was but an emissary of the school's general belief about him being gay.

"So Lina, as the experienced woman," Xelloss began, "Why don't you fill us in on what to expect." He attempted a smile, but it wavered at the corners a bit.

Zel said nothing, so Lina nodded, "Well, here goes. It's mostly poorly lit and noisy. The gym has the band and dancing. The lunchroom serves snacks and drinks, for a charge-so bring some money, guys--and has tables. Mostly people hang around listening to the music and scream to be heard at first. When it comes to dancing, anything goes; couples, lots of singles, and various groups. So...does that help?"

Xelloss laughed nervously, "So you expect to dance?"

"Who, me?" asked Lina, "I suppose so...if the band rocks you can't help it really. Don't worry, it's crowded and everyone will be excited and goofy..."

"So I'll feel right at home, hmm?" snickered Xelloss.

"So you'll hardly be noticed, either of you!" Lina said sharply. "Now I will be dancing by myself in the center of the room on a table in the nude..."

The shocked look on both boy's faces was worth summoning the courage to say it.  Have to get them to stop focusing on bad stuff they are imagining, she thought. "COME ON! That was a joke!" she shouted.

Zel smiled, obviously embarrassed, but managed to say, "Yeah, but now I have something even funnier to imagine while being brain-fried by the dancing-boy band."

Lina growled, "What!"

"He didn't mean funnier, he meant to say funner, isn't that right Zelgadiss?" giggled Xelloss.

Lina turned to Xelloss, "What?""

Zel sputtered out a "Noo...no... none of that...", and blushed some more.

The bell rang. Zel moved at hyper-speed out the door and onto the computer lab. Xelloss followed at a leisurely pace, whistling a tune. Lina sighed and walked to her next class. "That was strange..." she thought smiling. "I think I shall be a pirate...or a vampire..."



Lina still hadn't decided when they all met outside after school. Strangely enough, everyone made it to Amelia's van on time. Val was dragging his feet, but made it just the same. Whether some of Amelia's excitement was rubbing off or it was the promise of food (this had progressed from 'snacks' to a full-blown dinner) didn't matter, they were all rolling along the road to the Mayor's mansion.

"Everything is setup in the old coach house..." began Amelia.

"You keep old geezer football coaches too?" joked Val.

Amelia ignored the good-natured jab, "There are a couple of rooms for changing clothes, a bathroom, lots of mirrors, make-up supplies, the costumes (some antiques!)...but we'll picnic outside...the weather is perfect...Little lanterns are hung around the veranda with tables and..."

"Are you talking about your place or the dance?" asked Gourry.

"The coach house at my house, of course! Wait until you see the gymnasium and lunchroom decorations...black-lights...disco ball...smoke machine...oops! I've told too much already!" Amelia giggled, "Here we are!"

'Daddy' was there to meet Amelia's new friends. Some he knew, but others were surprises.  "First, Daddy, I'd like you to meet Miss Lina Inverse."

"Nice to meet you, Sir, er Mr. Mayor, officially like.  Actually, I feel like I've known you awhile…through Nahga…and all."

"Just call me Phil, please kids!" laughed the jovial man, "Lina I've heard good things about you. Good to finally meet you face-to-face."

"And this is Miss Sylphiel and Miss Filia, you know them Daddy...and Mr. Gourry..."

"Good to meet such fine tall boy!"

"And this is…Mr. Zelgadiss, he's on the fencing team with Mr. Gourry!"

"Please, just call me Zel, Sir er...Phil."

"Zel, yes we met at the Chemistry Award Banquet last summer...your Father .."

"Grandfather," corrected Zel.

"Really? He looks so young...well...and you work there too?"

"Only during the summer. I'm trying for something during the holiday breaks this year as well, like computer support for the chemistry department," added Zel matter-of-factly.

"And this is Mr. Val, whose a friend of Mr. Gourry's and Miss Lina's," Amelia added hopefully.

"Yes, I know you too...I want no trouble from you, understand?"

Val started to say something inappropriate, but Lina stepped on his instep and distracted him.

"And last but not least, this is Mr. Xelloss"

"Ah yes, I hear you are the student who fixed the glitch in the student records at the school," the Mayor recited from memory one of Amelia's school stories.

Xelloss nodded.

"Well, I won't keep you from your fun any longer. Nice to meet you all, and have a good time tonight...Oh Filia, you're staying over right?"

"Yes, and thank you for the invitation."

"No trouble!" chuckled the big man with wild black hair as he left.

"Well, that's over with," sighed Zel to Lina.

Val exploded, "Why does everyone think I'm going to get into trouble!"

Xelloss answered dryly, "For the same reason they think I'm gay. Appearances can be so misleading, right Vally-boy?"



**** (^.^) ****

End  Seyruun High Jinx Chapter 6