(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 33
THE SLAYERS
After the van dropped them off, Xelloss did not go up to his place.
"All right, what's up now?" asked Zel who was tired from wandering the mall.
"School. I can't remember the place," Xelloss confessed.
"I wish I couldn't…" Zel began, but noticing how concerned his friend was he changed plans. "Why don't we walk over. You have the keys to the place, on that five pound key ring of yours. I'll walk you through your day, all right?"
That won him a relieved grin, "Okay! Thanks…all these keys are mine?" Xelloss wondered at the vast array.
"No. The ones that are colored are…your place, my room, the main house, and… the car? You have a copy too? Oh, all right… The other keys belong to the school. You helped 'fix' a computer glitch—which you had secretly created and haven't told anyone about, not even me—How do I know? Because I'm smart and you aren't as tricky as you think. Anyway…you were given some keys to get into the building and various rooms over a weekend and…never gave them back…or you had copies made and gave back the originals," Zel replied.
He preferred the one word answers, but with Xelloss, it was never enough. Zel wondered at how easily he fell into conversation with his friend, his best friend. Course Xelloss wasn't at all as annoying as he was at first. That was it. Xelloss was different. It wasn't Zel who'd changed, that was for sure. He was rock solid and fixed in his ways.
When the bell tower rose into view, Xelloss frowned but didn't stop. At the main door, we stopped and he looked around. "There's a side entrance I used before…around this way."
We entered by the gym. Zel showed him the offices and 'their' locker explaining that Xelloss never seemed to use it and why Zel did and … that, no, he had no idea why it was so large. Zel walked to the English class, "…which we have together with Lina and Filia…"
Zel walked his friend to his French, History (which they had with Lina and Filia also), and science (with Lina and him) classes. "Then there's lunch…then you and I go to the computer room this way… see? Looks familiar? Then you and I go to math but you're in this room…yes advanced calculus and I'm down the hall. Over achiever? I wouldn't put it that way, you're just smart. Like I am. Then we have acting… the play…Why's this light on…shhhhh…I hear someone inside….yes, it could be the teacher, but… shhhhh, so I can hear…Yes, I hear better than you…drummers….shhhhh…"
They crept into the room, following the sounds of a large scrabbling rat.
"MARTINA?" Zel shouted as he recognized the green-haired girl and jumped toward her. Xelloss blocked the exit and stood arms crossed and smiling.
"Zelgadiss? Xellossssssssss," she hissed. Martina was caught bundling white sheets (Greek toga costumes) into black garbage bags.
"Well, we suspected it was you sabotaging the play, but this…breaking and entry? What happens to girls who are expelled from private school, Martina? Return to here? Oh, I don't think so…" Zel shook his head. This was bad for her. Course he and Xelloss shouldn't be caught here either…
"What are you guys doing sneaking around the school?" Martina snipped valiantly.
"We have permission to be here," Xelloss lied smoothly, "Since you read, I suppose you've figured out who my mother is…so you see, it won't take much to get you in deep shit trouble. Right?" He smiled and watched her confidence sag.
"So, what are you going to do to me…?" she asked, sinking to the floor. "Don't turn me in! My parents will KILL me! I just wanted to keep, sniff my honey off the stage…where everyone would see him pawing and scraping like a DOG over those other girls!"
'My honey'…that would be…Zangalus? Zel interrupted her, "Why didn't you just ask him to quit? Or did you?"
"He was too honorable… He was the backup for someone else after all! The play would fail without him. He was the cornerstone of…" she began.
"Then why not simply trust him to ACT his part and watch him from the audience with the pride you obviously feel for him? Why mess it up for everyone else?" Zel asked disgustedly.
Xelloss moved close to her and gazed purple and dark. He looked angry, which was unusual. "Answer him, Mar-tiii-na. Why hurt so many others?"
She looked wide-eyed and scared, "None of you ever liked me…that Lina…. You tricked me into thinking you cared…you all deserve to be…"
"Watch what you say, Martina. You may get what you deserve too!" he grinned evilly. Zel watched them both. Xelloss wasn't acting normally and Martina was…unpredictable.
"What are you going to do to me?" she wailed.
"That depends…Start unpacking those costumes while Zel and I discuss your fate…" he snapped.
Zel stepped back and watched the frightened girl follow his orders. "All right. You've got her scared. What next? I don't want to turn her into…your mother…do you? No. Then…what about…"
Xelloss listened and nodded. They had a plan. "Here's what we propose, Martina," Zel began as sternly as possible. "You will help the play during the weekend dress rehearsals and final performances. You will make yourself useful, cleaning, keeping track of props—which includes returning all the missing ones—and supporting…Zangalus." Zel shuddered to think he'd said that! "I assume you've returned all the archery equipment? No, I don't want to know that story either! In return, we won't tell anyone anything. It will be…our secret…"
Martina looked at Zel then Xelloss. "You're not going to…force yourselves upon my poor innocent body???"
Xelloss caught Zel's sinking form. "No, Martina. I am entering the novice program at the shrine and must be…pure as driven snow." He grinned sinisterly. "And Zel here is the gentleman supreme. So you lucked out. Sorry to disappoint! Sooooo, do you agree to the terms? Mine won't be so generous as Zel's…"
In the end she did. The costumes were re-hung, sets cleaned up, and they all left the building together. Xelloss demanded her skeleton keys. That accomplished, they saw to it that Martina got on the bus home before heading back themselves.
"Well, that was fun!" Xelloss smiled.
"More like…opportune. Force ourselves upon her! Gahh! What an imagination! Not only is she not the least bit attractive to me but…What kind of dates did you two go on anyway? NO! Don't tell me. I don't want to know…really…NO!" Zel muttered.
"I remember her quite clearly…a dinner, with all of you…and a movie once. She was a little clingy, but okay. Lina didn't get along with her and so I …broke off our non-relationship and sent her off. What? You knew about that? Clever Zelgadiss! When I am head of my own crime organization, you shall be my right hand man in charge of communications and operations and Val my head thug…Gourry my driver and body guard…Lina…my lawyer…Filia? My arm decoration…Sylphiel my spiritual advisor and Amelia, your confident … oof! … And… main squeeze… oof! Hey! It was a joke! Stop! I'll hurt you! Hey! Stop, I mean it! That reminds me…I'm starting you at the dojo too, right? I remembered! Yay for me! So here's your first lesson… umm… stand still like this and bow before your sensei and say 'I worship the dirt under your feet" oof! NO! Hold your fist like this, under hand and twist over and punch…yeah, that's it! Practice that…keep the elbow bent…better…"
They made it intact and laughing into the kitchen where Zel started directing traffic.
"Beast? Good boy! You didn't try to eat my hand! I have dinner for you, see? But Xelloss loves you, too, and he will open the...open the damn can already! Water? He's good for that too! Move it so I can get the pasta going!"
Zel continued teaching as he cooked. Xelloss was getting the hang of the kitchen and wasn't as worthless as he had been a month ago. "I'm sautéing the garlic with olive oil and a squirt of anchovy sauce…fish…while that's going on I slice the eggplant and …yes, dredge it in those seasoned bread crumbs from… two weeks ago. Yeah, I'll have to make more after this. Is there any old bread around? Moldy will not do, just toss that. I'll need a can of tomatoes and Parmesan cheese and…get salad stuff out. What? Only two hands? Grow another pair! Well, you used to…heh, heh… All right this is layered and put into the oven for about thirty minutes. Yeah, all that pasta…leftovers…Salad. You chop and I'll tear…Why? You need the practice more."
Zelas and Rezo joined them for the Italian dinner. Rezo opened a bottle of red, which the boys declined, and asked about classes for next semester.
"I think I'll do a community service project and drop the French…Take cooking instead of acting…and drop the computer lab for the novice training…" Xelloss began casually.
Rezo flashed an angry closed-eye face at the boy and said in a clearly agitated voice, "Novice? Are you seriously considering becoming a priest, boy?"
"Hmmm? Why, yes I am…part of spiritual development following my latest near-death experience…that's how I've been explaining it… The big shrine in Seyruun…into healing and all…" he smiled, undaunted by the anger brewing at the table.
Rezo bristled at the calmly spoken words. "Zelas? You knew about this?"
"This? Oh, the priest thing…don't worry, he'll lose interest as soon as he discovers he has to give up girls for a few years…great drop off rate among the novices I understand…And if not? Well, a priest in the family wouldn't be new, now would it dear?" Zelas' voice turned a bit harsh at the end.
Xelloss had courage, Zel granted him that…
"I hope the news doesn't distress you too much? Have you a problem with priests, Rezo?" Xelloss smiled innocently.
"Priests? They are a despicable lot. Full of deceit and hypocrisy! The most powerful are the most dangerous. Watch yourself! Young men like you are very easy for them to impress with their grand ways and mysterious arts…to cultivate then…toss away when they are done corrupting their minds…" Rezo trailed off into dark memories of his own.
"Well, now… Nothing impresses me, I have no respect for my elders, and I can't be lead astray by them…" Xelloss smiled confidently again. "I do like the clothes and in particular those jangly staffs. Can't wait to get one of those to…"
"You insolent child!" Rezo roared, rising from his seat. "It's not a costume party or a play. It's a business set on running the lives of the people of this town. The leadership of the past has collaborated with…" He stopped abruptly and turned to Zelas, who set down her fork and sipped her wine.
"This was your idea…" he hissed at his young attractive wife.
"Hmmm? You might think so, but no. He told me last night of his decision. I told him it was his life, but that I would support him. There are so few good activities for young men theses days," she mused smoothly assuaging Rezo's fears and disarming him with charm. "So, Zelgadiss, will you be continuing with the acting class?"
Zelgadiss had hoped to be allowed a quiet exit. He had done the food, right? Oh well… "No. I will be taking something else…though I'm not sure…"
"You could be the assistant for our cooking class!" suggested Xelloss cheerfully. "You're a good teacher and Lina might hurt someone without your strength…of character…to keep her in line."
Zel gave his friend an odd look. Since when did he have any control over Lina's behavior? "Xelloss," he thought to himself, "You are wrong this time…" Aloud, he said, "Maybe, or maybe ceramics or photography or sewing…" He smiled inwardly at that last one. That was for you, Rezo…
"What? Those can't possibly be your only choices!" Rezo snarled.
"…or wrestling or badminton…badminton…hmmm," Zel smiled very, very slightly.
"How about wood shop? Don't they offer classes to teach you something of use?" Rezo demanded.
"Gourry mentioned woodcraft…I think you learn to make toys…" Zel winked at Xelloss.
"Tops! I remember tops spinning around from the class and clappers and dolls, I think, and…" Xelloss smiled.
Rezo did not need to see to know when he was being kidded. "All right, you boys…I get the point. College next year, no matter what. What kind of a circus are you running over there, Zelas?"
"The best in the state. I have an award on my office wall to prove it. Now eat your dinners…I have a surprise for dessert!" she purred. She would not divulge her secret. At all. "Oh, dear, Zelgadiss. Don't worry yourself sick over this. It really is simply food…that's sweet," she added as she noticed his mood swing to distress. "Oh, Rezo! He has the most attractive way of blushing! My son…never has…"
Zel buried himself in his dinner, attempting to hide behind his bangs. Xelloss kept nudging him and laughing. Zel gave him a hateful look and he stopped, but chuckled to himself from time to time. Zelas left the room, promising to return with the surprise. The lights went out. In came…
"Happy Birthday!" she crooned as she carried a mile-high strawberry trifle, reeking of rum and flaming with candles, probably eighteen. Zelgadiss left and returned with bowls, dessert spoons and a large serving spoon.
Xelloss looked pleased. He stood and blew out the candles. He scooped huge servings, plopping them messily into the bowls, and laughed at his ineptness. No one cared. They all ate the delicious slop. He had two helpings and Rezo had three. Okay, so life at the Graywords house wasn't all bad.
Monday morning:
Lina slammed her notebook onto her desk groaning with distress, "I am sooooo not happy to be here."
Zel was jotting down something in his personal calendar, "Lina? Have a nice holiday vacation? All rested up? What?"
"Lina, that's not a very nice word from a girl…" Xelloss pointed out as he attempted to balance his pen on his nose.
She swatted the pen, and his nose, sending it (the pen) sailing across the room. "Ya want to hear another, choir boy?" she growled.
"That's novice. The choir is an entirely different organization, although, I do have a nice voice, don't you think?" Xelloss replied, magically pulling out a new pen from his coat pocket.
Filia was excited to find out that she'd be leading the cheering squad at the Saturday night basketball games and was telling everyone about it. Lina nearly stuffed her red coat down her throat. Too nice a coat though, she decided.
"We'll be starting a new book this week, Candide by Voltaire…" the teacher began.
Zel smiled smugly. He had finished it already.
Xelloss whispered, "I've read it in the original 18th century French…"
Zel shook his head. "Of course you did…I'm sure that's why you want to be a priest."
The two boys both chuckled, remembering certain passages.
Lina flipped the pages, "It had better be funny…"
"There will be a five page worksheet for each section due at the end of each week…" the teacher droned on. "…and a writing project due in two weeks where you will be writing humor in the style…"
Lina hissed, "Funny doesn't cover it…"
History class was a real dud. Every other kid was an idiot. The few that read the paper believed it! They all nodded and agreed with the teacher's radical commentary as if it was gospel. He was a Shrine follower and knew the popular stands on all the issues. He was also the football coach and was currently teaching the plays his team was going to use in the final play-off games this weekend.
"How much do ya think the opposition would pay for these?" Lina grinned, waving her pages of diagrams and notes.
Zel shrugged. He had never listened once to the material presented in the class. He turned in his own 'special reports' and took the tests but otherwise tuned out. Xelloss sat and smiled. Whether he did anything or not made no difference. Currently he was working out the names in the 'Shabby' hierarchy and fitting them to the diagrams on his pendant. Surely, the circles surrounding the 'eye' stood for R.E. Shabrinigdo (Ruby Eye), with all the other pictures attached below being those of the five families…including his, Zelas…
"Will that work then…Xelloss?" the teacher asked.
"No! You already ran two passing plays, a ground one is expected." Xelloss answered, returning to his drawing. Football, what a waste.
Zelgadiss thought of the perfect line to end his song and wrote it out, "This is the real me, you who snapped me out of it, dear friends... no… my friends forever."
"So then, should we go for the goal or a punt… Zelgadiss?" barked the teacher.
"Goal…forget the punt. Our punter's wrecked his knee in a skiing accident last week…." Zel sighed. Boring…
"What? Where did you hear that?" shouted the teacher alarmed at the news.
"We waved on the way out," Zel answered, hoping that was enough to get by. It wasn't. Zel looked the teacher in the eye and expanded. "Last week when Xelloss and I were spending our holiday in the hospital, Craig stopped by to say hello and we waved goodbye on the way out." There. That should do it. Zel removed his coat revealing his arm in a sling for good measure.
Lina put in the final word, "It was headlines the next day in the paper for Godsakes!"
Okay, now. If it was in the paper then it had to be true…not the Craig part, though…
The science teacher looked liked he was recovering from a night of bingeing. "Genetics…" he droned. "We will be using Drosophola…er fruit flies in a series of experiences…er experiments following the gene patterns and makeup resulting from crossing flies with various mutations…"
Lina slunk back into her seat, "God, fly sex. Where do they come up with this crap for us to study?"
Xelloss smiled, "And you would suggest, what? Rats, dogs… people?"
Lina blushed. Zel glared at both of them to shut up.
"First, you will learn how to raise fruit flies. Today you will be setting up their living environments and preparing food media. The flies arrive later in the week. What? No they don't eat meat. The food media is a sugar/yeast growth. The proportions are important. Too much water and they will drown…"
"End it all before it's too late," Lina muttered.
At lunch, Lina's crowd was happy to share a meal and complain in relative peace. Allen came over and told them how much he had enjoyed the concert at the beach. He also asked if Xelloss was experiencing any fall-out from the news about his mother's identity.
Xelloss smiled, "I've been pushed, had my books knocked out of my hands…that kind of stuff, nothing much. I stay by friends, like Lina here. She always protects me!"
Lina made a face and then returned to swiping Gourry's Jell-O cubes with her pen. Stab, bite…stab, bite.
After Allen left, Gourry said, "I don't look a thing like him, do I?"
"Only the hair color," answered Xelloss. "You look honest. He's…not."
"He's got a kid, too. Didn't know that? Yeah, well the girl he was with at the resort is the mother…nice girl, but married to someone else before she knew about the baby. He visits them and pays her monthly support," Zel said while sipping his tea.
"When did you get to be such a gossip?" asked Filia.
"Hanging around you guys and the Atlantis crowd," muttered Zel in defense. "He used to be the captain of our fencing team but quit when he felt that he didn't live up to our honor code, or some such nonsense. It's no secret, Filia."
"Well I think that he's…awful! I feel so sorry for Mr. Van now…the way Miss Hitomi looks at Mr. Allen…what a lecherous crumb!" Amelia said one foot on her chair, arm holding aloft her fork.
Zel pulled her back into her seat. "He made a mistake. He didn't try to hide anything or deny anything. He's doing what he can. She's happy, the child is…better off than most. So keep your nose out of his business."
Amelia clamped up. Zel had never spoken to her so harshly. Worst of all, he'd been right.
"Sorry…" was all she could muster.
Sylphiel listened quietly, waiting for her chance to talk, "Umm, Xelloss? This is from my father. It has instructions and a form for you to fill out and bring…to whenever the first meeting is, I forget…but it's all written down."
"Why, thank you, Sylphiel. I'm looking forward to the variety. I'll be making a change to my schedule to make time," he smiled and opened the letter and gazed at the forms. "Ah, where do I get the cloak? Do they issue them or do I buy one?"
"Kinda both." Sylphiel answered, "You pay for them and they supply them but… I can sew you one that's nicer and will cost less…with the proper shrine trim and everything! Oh, it's okay! I've made them before."
"What color?" he asked.
"They are all the same for the novices…black with a mustard-gold-like trim that goes like this." She demonstrated with her fingers.
"Yes! I remember seeing those. Yes, please. I'd much rather have one you made. Just name your price." He smiled.
Val jangled up to the table, "Hey!" he greeted everyone. "So…we gonna test all that new stuff today?"
Gourry beamed, "Yeah, I wanna hear that bass with the amp cranked up again! I couldn't believe how fine that was yesterday! And the desk is cool too. Best $6.50 I ever spent. Zel? Would Thursday be okay for you…computer hunting?"
"Yeah, after tutoring, all right?" Zel nodded and wrote on his pocket calendar. "Karate Tuesdays?"
Xelloss nodded, "…and Saturday morning and any other night you can free up."
"Karate, Zel?" asked Lina.
"Thought I'd try something new…" he muttered. He could feel Amelia's hurt and her eyes drilling into him. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of a thing. "Ah…have you heard from Kiki, Amelia?" There, that was something.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Zelgadiss! She's so happy in her own house again and is looking forward to school in French again, but she misses everyone and says hi. She says hi to you too, Mr. Xelloss."
"Really? That's nice," he said, but he didn't smile. He shared no feelings on the matter with his friends. He did miss her. He hurt. He hurt from Lina and from her. He liked girls. He thought that they were beautiful creatures and that some were fascinating, but he would wait and watch, until one was ready for him. He smiled, "I'm glad she's happy. I have her e-mail address if anyone wants it as well."
The bell, and lunch was over.
Zel explained to Xelloss that the final stage of their video taping project was due in a couple weeks and included a 'How to' booklet and a classroom demonstration. Xelloss agreed to prepare the demo, if Zel would finish the booklet. Fine. Independent work. Zel looked over his notes and set to it. After a few minutes, he checked on Xelloss' progress.
"What are you doing?" Zel asked, perturbed by his friend's lack of initiative.
"I have no idea. I can't for the life of me remember how to use this video software. I'm pretty shaky with the computer as well, but…" he looked up at Zel's frowning countenance, "…I'm working on it…I'll get it…it can't be that hard…Would you mind showing me what to do?"
Xelloss' lack of confidence shattered Zel's angry shield. That had to have hurt. Asking me for help! I wonder how much he actually remembers and how much is good acting on his part. Zel sighed and pulled up a chair.
"Sure, no trouble. You showed me how to do this part once, you know. No? Well you did. So here goes…" Zel smiled and deftly typed away. Xelloss nodded and exited the product. Then, on his own, he repeated the steps and proceeded. "Yeah, that's it. Just play around with it today and we'll talk about how a demo might look tomorrow, all right?"
Xelloss nodded. His eyes said thanks.
Acting. Now there was a class to look forward to! Xelloss had read over the play before bed, concentrating on re-learning his lines. Lots of lines. He hoped that he could pull it off. He was walking and reading the script when five guys intercepted him. Two pushed him up against the wall, causing him to drop his books and another tore the script out of his hands. Xelloss looked around for a friend, but Zel had had to go back to his locker for his script and he must have taken a wrong turn because the locker room was at his left, not the theater.
"Look'in fer yer momma?" hissed one big kid.
"She's not here…just you an' us!" chuckled another without humor.
Xelloss didn't answer. There was no answer. He would wait to see how it would play out.
"Whatcher grinn' fer? Think this is funny? I'll make yer beg fer mercy…" growled the first as he brought up a fist to Xelloss' face.
Not his face. That wouldn't do. Where his memory failed, his body did not. He blocked the blow with his left arm, freed from the grasp of the second bully by a kick to his stomach. In less than a minute, the five hulking brutes were moaning and Xelloss was standing in the center looking a bit sheepish.
"You!" he shouted to one guy further away, "Pick up my stuff…and you!" he pointed to his darker twin, "Give me back my script. And you…help that guy get to the nurses office, his knee's broken. And you all…go to class or you'll be late."
Gourry loped up to him, "Ah…let's get outta here…Ya wanna stop by the office? Someone's gonna report this…"
Xelloss smiled, "Okay. I choose…you!" he said pointing to the first bully who was struggling back tears and holding his arm close to his chest. "You can do allll the explaining."
Gourry and Xelloss were late to acting. Zel and Lina were practicing together. He had secretly told her about the 'Martina' incident and that she should expect to see her around helping.
"Thanks for the warning!" Lina smirked. "Oh there they are! Yo, Gourry whatsup? Xelloss? We need you for this act!"
"Gourry found me lost in the jock hall!" Xelloss laughed fiddling with his script. "Where do you want me to start?"
Gourry looked at him hard and then at Zel and Lina. "He broke a guy's kneecap and another guy's wrist…five on one wasn't fair…but…he coulda killed em all. And I wouldn'ta blamed him."
Lina patted Xelloss on the back, "Way to go, slugger!"
"What? He could get expelled for fighting!" snapped Zel.
"But not self defense!" Lina reminded him. "Okay so …here…I've got this little kid and Oberon here wants it and I say no and stomp off…Xelloss? You're on line number…yeah…"
Zel folded his arms and looked all together like the overbearing King of the Fairies. Xelloss flitted around, dropping lines but in control. Lina and Gourry whispered together, preparing for their part.
Sylphiel had a bad case of the giggles. Val was arrogant and snappish and looked 'so cute'. She couldn't keep a straight face when Amelia grabbed hold of his leg, begging him to stay by her side. He tried to stomp off, Amelia slid to the floor crying and nearly pulled off his loose-fitting cargo pants in the process.
"Good kids! Exxxxcellent! Just remember to wear tighter pants for the show," crooned the teacher to Val, who was actually blushing.
Sylphiel had tears running down her face, which impressed the teacher by mistake, for her fight with Amelia. She was reduced to hiccups, and had to leave the room for a drink of water.
Xelloss was laughing, squeezing 'love potion' into everyone's eyes, including Filia's, arguing, "…Couldn't hoit!" Amelia held her back from trashing Xelloss and everything within smashing distance.
"Temper, temper!" Xelloss taunted.
In the end, Lina and Zel tied him to a chair. Zel spoke to the teacher, explaining that a good friend of Zangalus' and gulp! theirs, would be helping out at the performances. The teacher had noticed the returned items and understood, in part, what Zel was trying to tell him.
"You want me to look the other way on the matter, yes? Well, since it all seems to have been worked out…very well," and the odd man swept away to help the 'rustic's play'.
"Now then…dress rehearsals, two this Friday after school and Saturday from 11:00 to 4:00! Performances are the following Friday and Saturday! That leaves you the last week off to prepare for finals in your other classes and we will be reviewing the play and cleaning up, putting away!"
"Well that takes care of Friday band practices for awhile and Saturday evening Filia will be cheerleading, Sylphiel too probably," groaned Lina on her way to her locker. "Homework, rain, play…two weeks…finals…I need something to look forward to!"
Amelia hopped to Lina's side, "There is! The VALENTINE DANCE!"
"What?" choked Zel from behind.
"The Valentine's Day Dance. The student counsel is looking for a band. The sniff! Suzaku Seven is already booked! The teacher's meeting is discussing that today, in fact, with a list of possibilities." Amelia looked at her friends, "The principal suggested OUR band, but…we'll have to wait and find out."
Zel smiled. If I am playing, I do not have to dance.
Lina smiled. My band playing at my school's dance, cool!
Amelia smiled. Mr. Zelgadiss is happy.
Xelloss smiled. I found all my classes and broke some bones, heh, heh.
Filia smiled. Head basketball cheerleader! Next year, football too! Yes!
Val smiled. Filia's so violent, but then so am I!
Gourry smiled. Lina looks happy and it's Monday. I wonder what she's planning this time? What the hell's Sylphiel got on her face?
Sylphiel smiled. Gourry's smiling at me. I bet he's noticing my new sparkle cheek gloss!
"Okay gang," said Lina. "Time's short an' we got lots to do. Thanks Amelia, for the new calendar. See? I'm marking our new schedule. Okay, Tuesdays and Thursdays are out still, right, Val, Xelloss, Zel? Friday's are out for the next two weeks for the play, Saturday's too, right? The play and basketball games and whatever, right Filia, Sylphiel? Right. That leaves Monday and Wednesday and Sunday afternoons for band. Xelloss? How about you and your new activities?"
"No affect on band yet. I'm dropping French and substituting the novice work and community service. I'll figure out how, but I won't let it interfere with band unless there's some ceremony," he smiled.
"Oh…kay. Zel? How about you adding Karate?" Lina tapped the calendar.
"My problem. Won't affect band," he replied tersely.
"Filia? Covered? Good. Sylphiel? Good. Val? Good. Amelia, if you have no changes, why not tell everyone the news," Lina fell into a beanbag chair and Amelia popped up.
"Okay, Miss Lina! It's a little premature since the teachers won't make their decision until this evening but…the principal proposed our band to play at the Valentine dance in February. There are others in the running too, but I know we've got the best chance of getting it cause we're so good!" Amelia cheered.
"Yeah, an' we got the principal's kid in the band!" chuckled Val.
Xelloss glanced at Val to discern his intention. Gourry followed the glances, prepared to stave off any fighting.
"Hey, that's a good thing, right?" Val asked. He hadn't heard about the fight at school. Well, he had heard that there had been a fight, but no one had told him that Xelloss was involved. Most kids didn't even know he existed. "What? Am I missing somethin here?"
Lina clued him and anyone else who had missed the story. "Xelloss got pushed around about that today. For some reason he was wanderin' jock lane and those guys were out for some blood. How many Gourry? Five? Five attacked him and he cleaned their clocks, broken bones...so then what?" Lina asked Xelloss who was busying himself with arranging his new cymbal.
"Huh? Oh, ah…Gourry walked me to the office, where the oafish guy told his side and another spectator corrected him, and then I got to have my say then we left. Nothing much. Maybe it's all over now. It wasn't as bad a day as I had thought, because actually I'd forgotten all about it! So… we have to play for two hours, Amelia? We'll need more material, right?"
Sylphiel, Filia, Amelia and Val were still assimilating the story. Gourry, Zel and Lina were figuring out what stuff they had that could be turned into a new song.
"I have one in the works, but I don't know who it's for. Sad one, I think," offered Lina.
"I have a country-like one that could work, I think…" Gourry said, not sure if it would be accepted.
"I'm working on one, but it isn't close. Xelloss has one…I could work with you for the bass line and ...Val? You want to be a part of this?" shouted Zel.
"Three songs is about all the new material we could handle plus a few instrumentals…Zel you had that acoustic number…solo… Oh yes you do! Can you make mushy stuff out of a couple…slow numbers for dancing… then some standards. Amelia? Make a list for me!" Lina ordered. They had work to do and little time to do it!
They pushed on and created music like magicians. A little of this, some of that and say the magic words…presto, a song bubbling forth, ready for some spit and …polish!
They all loved Gourry's song from his past. His warm gentle voice carried the languid verses smoothly. Val could do country, Zel too. It was fun. It would take more practicing, but it would work. There was even a 'la la la' part that everyone could join in on. The new amps sounded great. They'd fill a larger gym with sound. Xelloss' kit would make it through more take-downs and put-ups now that the hardware upgrade was done. The new cymbals and amps filled the tiny space with deafening noises. They were silenced after that, when Amelia and Sylphiel pulled the plugs and Filia tossed her sweater over the shining metal crash head.
The girls focused again on the vocals to Lina's new song. Until Lina assigned it, it was hers to sing-- Far Away From Rain, she called it. "Until that day, I believed that the days when you loved me uncontrollably would last forever. Who was the person you were with, your arms around each other, under one umbrella?" Lina sang it mournfully. Amelia started to cry.
"Hey, it's just a song, okay? So I was in a mood at the time…We need slow songs to dance to as well as fast! Aw, you guys are so sentimental! Let's take a break…"
While they drank some juice, the singers listened in on the instrumental development for Gourry's tune. "Sounds like you guys gotta handle on that one. How about the one I started singin' over there? Gonna need lotsa synthesizer schmaltzy crap I think." Lina chuckled at her own attitude.
"Yeah, okay Lina, we'll get to you. Xelloss' song is going to take a lotta work for us, but not much vocals from you girls. Why? How can I explain this…because his songs are all odd crosses between show tunes and…What? They are! I can see dancing girls and men in spats and tails again!" Zel joked and dodged a flying beanbag chair. "All right, so I have a good imagination. I see cactus and setting suns with Gourry's song. What, Lina? I wasn't listening to yours, but if it's a tear-jerker, I don't want to! Eep! " He squeaked as Lina sent a chair flying this time.
Zel returned his attention to Val as they argued about the introduction to Xelloss' number. Filia watched the exchange then whispered to Lina, "Zel's changed. Haven't you noticed how talkative he's been ever since that…tower thing."
Lina nodded but said nothing.
"That's right! And he was talking at lunch too! Lina?" Sylphiel seemed mystified as well.
Amelia gazed upon Lina with adoration, perhaps the answers to her questions would be forthcoming.
"Well, think of him as a manic-depressive type personality. Currently he's in his relatively open 'manic' stage. Before the road trip, he was closed up and in his 'depressed' state. He swings like a pendulum… But, you're right. He's chattier than ever," Lina waved her hand and dismissed the topic.
"I think it's because he's spending so much time around Mr. Xelloss, who has been less talkative lately. They kinda balance one another out," suggested Amelia. "They don't fight as much either. They're more like real friends, don't you think? Mr. Zelgadiss teased him, but he wasn't mad, neither was mad. And that's good, right? For them both to be friends…and brothers kind of…"
"I think you are right!" said Filia, pointing her now-empty Snapple bottle at the younger girl. "Xelloss wasn't remembering well, so Zel had to tell him about us and all. Look, he's even smiling. I think Zel just needed a friend to talk to and who needed him as well… Oh, not that you haven't been the best friend ever to Zel for ages, Lina…but, you know, I meant a guy friend…That's different," Filia added quickly. Lina appeared a bit sad for a moment, then hopped up and bounced over to the guys to listen in on their discussion.
"Oh, oh… You don't think Lina…LIKE-likes Zel do you? That look she gave you, Filia, like she'd just lost her best friend!" Sylphiel whispered suddenly filled with excitement at the prospect. "That would explain why she turned down Xelloss… Maybe that's why Zel was all mad, because he was jealous?"
Amelia's eye grew wide. Could that be true? Miss Lina likes MY Zel? Could he like HER?
Filia nearly smacked Sylphiel, "Shhhhh, you're upsetting Amelia! And, no, I don't think they are anything but friends, Sylphiel. If anything, I think Lina likes Gourry. He certainly is nuts about her, that's obvious! Yeah, and so are you. Well that's the way it goes. Why don't you shower attention on Xelloss. He's appreciative and as needy as they come. Novice, bah! I didn't say sleep with him!"
"Shhh!" Amelia commanded. "Val heard that! See his right eye wink! Who knows what he's thinking now. Good show, Filia!"
Filia made the mistake of catching Val's eye, and blushed furiously. "Great. There's one who doesn't need any encouragement," she muttered.
"So how did he work out at the settlement, hmmm?" smiled Sylphiel.
"Fine, I think. He's like a totally different guy around polite people. He's shy and quiet. I think he didn't want them to think he was…whatever. I don't know what he thought. I know that he worked hard and never complained, like he does around us. He knows he's good looking and can't help being an arrogant asshole around us, but there…he was practically meek!" answered Filia.
"And good-looking…" Sylphiel filled in. "That must have been a killer combination for you to have to hang around with and to look cool and uninterested… At the same time!" Sylphiel giggled.
"What!" shouted Filia, then lowering her voice to a near whisper, "I do not! I AM not interested in that loser! There's lots of better guys to pick from…like this one basketball …forward…shoulders, tall, no hardware, and no police record!"
"Or Xelloss…" Sylphiel snickered. "You sure couldn't wait to get you fingers in his hair…bet it's soft too…"
Amelia joined in the laughter this time. Filia was blushing and playing angry.
"Yes, it is! But that doesn't mean ANYTHING! " Filia insisted.
That gave Amelia lots to ponder. Her friends had very active imaginations. Now hers was stirred up. She smiled slyly, "Well you know…He kissed her!"
"Who?" chorused Sylphiel and Filia.
"Mr. Xelloss and Lina!" Amelia hissed in a near whisper.
"Boy, he's got guts!" laughed Filia. "And he seems so …shy…How did you get Lina to tell you that?"
"Well…I told her that…Mr. Zelgadiss kissed me! Twice! Well, the second time I started it…but… He's barely even looked at me since…" Amelia settled into her beanbag chair with a dramatic sigh.
"Zelgadiss? That one?" Filia pointed again with her bottle. "That's a surprise…He was probably so embarrassed he'll take a month to recover. Don't worry. He's a guy. He hasn't stopped thinking about it…or you. Heads up, now here comes Lina. We're probably needed to sing…" Filia warned the other two.
"So are you guys done gossiping over here yet?" Lina grinned.
"Almost. You have any juicy tidbits to share?" Filia smirked.
"Yeah…I do. Remember Tasuki from the Suzaku Seven? He called me last night…" Lina began.
"HE CALLED YOU?" squealed Sylphiel so that the guys looked over at her.
"Yeah…" said Lina, not bothered by the attention. "He wants to do a couple of our songs…you know, their group singing them."
"Really?" Zel scowled. "And what did you tell him?"
"I told him…only if our band is playing the music behind them and even so we'd all have to agree to the sound. That stuff's ours, with our sound, not stuff for them to churn out…however, if they sing it and promote it--that's good for our exposure too," Lina explained.
"Good point, but unless we do a concert together, I don't see how it would work," Zel mused.
"Do we really need them?" Gourry asked. "We're busy enough, ahhh, aren't we?"
"Nah, we don't need nobody. We sound good. We could get gigs all over, if we wanted 'em," Val pointed out.
"We could do a concert!" Xelloss spoke up. "Suzaku Seven and the Slayers. They sing a bit, we do some together, we play alone…We could cover hours of time and share the take?"
"Could be…fun…" Zel smiled faintly.
"You're not kidding, are you?" Lina looked curiously at Zel.
"No. I'm not kidding, Lina," Zel looked her in the eye.
"Well? Is that an idea we want to think about, or what?" Lina prompted everyone else to share his or her opinions. "Of course, they may not be interested…but…is there some kind of spring fling, or festival or something we could shoot for?" Here Lina was looking at Filia, Sylphiel, and Amelia for the shrine schedule.
"Yes…but…I'll look into it, Miss Lina!" smiled Amelia, glad to have an assignment.
"There's always something, but I don't know if a concert is part of it. I'll check too!" smiled Sylphiel.
"All right. Let's all think about how we feel about this concert idea and gather some info then talk about it again on Wednesday, okay? Fine. Now time for another song…" Lina guided them back on task.
Val muttered over to Gourry, "So what are they whispering about?"
Gourry looked at Lina, who was smiling, "Don't look at 'em. Lina's happy. Leave 'em be."
Zel nodded, "Wise man."
Val agreed, "Just checkin'. I thought I heard somethin' 'bout us."
Zel shook his head, "Couldn't be good then. Stay out of it."
Gourry nodded, "Just keep on playing."
Val shrugged, "Right."
Zel sighed, "Damn right."
"Hey you guys are smokin'! Keep it up!" Lina shouted encouragingly.
"Right, Lina!" Gourry shouted back then smiled.
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.^((| Val