(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 56
THE SLAYERS
Thursday evening.
Lina shook her head and said to Xelloss, "Memory loss AGAIN? It'll all come back. I'm not worried."
Xelloss smiled, "I'm glad you're confident, Lina. I was hoping you'd be disturbed enough to promise me anything to ensure my complete recovery." He ducked her punch, hopped out of range of her kick, and dove into the van unscathed and giggling. "I haven't lost my form!"
"Don't start gloating! I'm way outta shape, here. Just give me a few weeks then I'll get you back! And that's a promise!" Lina shouted as Gourry gave her a needed hand up into the van.
"I don't think so, LEE-NA!" he taunted back.
"Give it up, Xelloss," Val warned, taking a seat beside him. "She'll tear you apart one of these days."
"Oh I can't wait!" Xelloss continued to laugh hard enough to start coughing.
"Where'd that gag that I stuffed in your mouth go? Hey, Zel? Gimme a hand here! I wanna get this handkerchief tied in back to shut him up!" Val yelled as Zel pushed him to the back of the van.
"I'll pass," Zel said curtly.
Gourry followed Zel and filled up the back of the van with his legs.
Sylphiel took the seat beside Filia mid-van, and whispered, "Did you see his chest with the tape off? He's so muscular!"
Filia nodded, "Oh yeah, Gourry's strong. Did you get a chance to hold that old sword of his? Weighs a TON!"
"And Xelloss tore it out of thin air," Sylphiel sighed.
"Uh, huh, but did you get a peek at HIS chest? My Gods, as if he needed more scars! I mean, his body's a battleground!" Filia sniffed.
"Filia, that's awful! Not so loud either! He'll hear you."
"Well, it's TRUE. I rubbed that ointment all over him and he's scarred ALL over, though mostly on his back and chest and it nearly made ME faint," Filia insisted.
Sylphiel closed her eyes and thought about what she'd seen, "But he has the nicest smile…"
Filia bumped her friend with her shoulder, "Sylphiel, nice try. He's pretty cute, but he's no Gourry!"
"Or Val?"
"Val? Ha, he's no Gourry either! But…looks aren't everything. Amelia keeps reminding me of that," Filia smiled and looked out the window.
"She still likes 'you-know-who', but I think she's gonna go out with, you know, the one with the glasses," Sylphiel whispered.
"It's about time…" Filia turned around to look back at Amelia sitting beside Lina. "Let's find out. I'll take it from here. Oh, Amelia! You have any plans Friday or Saturday?"
"I…I don't know. I thought I'd help Miss Lina move tomorrow after school and then… aren't we all going to try a little music Saturday?" Amelia answered.
"Yeah, sure. But I was referring to the evening… after all that," she smiled innocently.
Amelia blushed. She had decided to go see Star Wars with Melvin, but preferred not to tell her friends, just yet. "Maybe a movie Saturday night."
Filia nodded with satisfaction.
Sylphiel whispered, "Episode II then. He's been talking about it all week at lunch."
"I've been wanting to see that new Star Wars movie," Filia sighed. "Anyone else?"
"I gotta work. F*#&^^ing inheritance crap is still tied up in paperwork. I've been skippin' hours all week, like right now," Val grumbled.
Xelloss brightened with enlightenment of a sort. "I can take you!"
"Huh?" Filia sputtered Zel-like. Events had suddenly taken an unexpected turn down an uncertain path for an unknown reason.
"Sure, why not?" drawled Lina. "We've been wanting to watch something big-screen too, right Gourry? Yes, you! Any other 'Gourry's' in the van? Pay attention back there you guys. We're making plans for Saturday so listen up. Band practice and lunch…make that lunch then band practice then…dinner, then movie. Amelia, can the van take us all?"
Amelia was aghast! No, no, no way did she want all these friends to see her there. "Oh, Miss Lina, I'm sorry but the van's…not going to be available."
Filia glanced at her younger friend and smiled. "That was almost going to become a lie," she whispered to Sylphiel, who was not smiling at all. Filia replayed the preceding events in her mind. Xelloss, the idiot, had made it sound as if he was asking her, Filia, out—intentionally or not—and that had hurt Sylphiel's feelings. "Sylphie, he meant 'us' not just me. He just likes to tease us, you know. Sylphiel! Stop brooding. He's called Chaos-kid for a reason. Don't fall for him, okay? You can do better."
Sylphiel shook her head, tears filling her eyes, "Every time I like someone…they like someone else more…"
"Oh, Sylphie…he doesn't like me or anyone else more than you. Remember that Valentine's Day card…what he wrote to you? Yes, I'd call that romantic. Gods, I can't really be encouraging her to like that idiot! He's just an inept geek."
Xelloss had lost control of the situation-- if he had had it to begin with. His clumsy attempt to ask Filia out had erupted into another 'Slayers' event. He wasn't the only unenthusiastic one, he noticed, looking around. Amelia looked practically grief-stricken. He wondered about that She was thinking about going to a movie…the van's busy…Oh… She's got a date with some guy, or she'd be telling us more.
He twisted around and caught Zel's eye. Nothing there. She's not going out secretly with him. Zel was patiently explaining the movie's confusing relationships to Gourry.
"But he was just a little kid Joey's age in the last movie and she was…a LOT older," Gourry complained.
"Age is unimportant to them, I guess. Besides, he was probably eleven and she was only thirteen, maybe a mature thirteen in Episode I. Then in this one he's, I don't know, fifteen…" Zel began.
"And she's seventeen, like you and Amelia…but reversed," Gourry pointed out.
"Maybe it's been more like ten years since Episode I," Zel back-peddled quickly. "So they're in their twenties. Yeah, that's more likely. I'll check on the Internet and see if it says…"
So, little Miss Amelia is going out with another guy for sure. If it was a girlfriend she would have said so…Oh…what now? Sylphiel's crying? Why's Filia glaring at me? I'm innocent! Aren't I? All I said was 'I'll take you' to Filia. Oh, my… now they're both looking at me.
Xelloss met Sylphiel's eyes then said aloud, "Would you like to come with me too? If you think your father won't mind, that is. I don't think he trusts me. Oh, and…Zelgadiss? Can I drive your car to the movie? You TOO? Okay, so Sylphiel, you, and Zelgadiss and Filia? You guys come with me and…Gourry? Can you drive Lina in the pickup, your Dad doesn't need it at night, right? Night, right, night, right, night, right…" he repeated incessantly until Val punched him in the ribs.
"OOF! Okay! Well Zelgadiss, if you want, you can go with Gourry and I'll take ALL the girls in your car. I thought so! Good. Then is everything o-kay, do-kay?" Xelloss smiled amiably. I think…
Zelgadiss waited until they were piling out of the van in front of his house to talk to Amelia. He couldn't understand what Xelloss was thinking to leave her out of the plans. His friend normally wasn't so asocial as to leave out one of the group. Could he be doing it for me? So I don't have to be around her? That idiot…that's not what I meant.
Zel shook his head and hurried to catch up with Amelia. "Amelia, wait…please. I, uh, wanted to ask if…um…"
Amelia stopped half-way up the walk to the practice room. They had left their school things on the floor before going to the doctor's office earlier. She was upset about the mess she was in now. She wanted to grab her things and whomever she had to drop off at home, then go think alone. But then again, why should she be upset? She was going to a movie with someone. A friend. Why couldn't she do that without feeling guilty? Filia had gone out with Allen and she had even known that Val cared. Zelgadiss had made his position clear. They were going to be friends and nothing else and the only going out he'd be doing with her would be as a group thing. So…she shouldn't be feeling bad.
"Mr. Zelgadiss? What is it?" she said more sharply than she had intended.
"I'm sure Xelloss meant to have included you too. Just put you and Lina into one thought," Zel said obtusely.
"Mr. Zelgadiss. Are you talking about that movie? Well, I have other plans, thank you."
She turned and left to get her book bag.
Zelgadiss remained standing in the path of everyone else's progress.
Where did I go wrong? he wondered. I hadn't been paying attention to all the chat… Xelloss, that asshole probably was at it again. I will …get him, now that he's 'well'…
~*~
Later that evening…
Zelgadiss planted himself outside on the front porch. He was cold but better off mentally out there where he wasn't likely to run into the purple-haired menace. Val opened the door and looked out, "Zel?"
"That's me."
"Whatssup?"
"…"
"Trouble in par-a-dise?"
Zelgadiss did not want to discuss all his current 'problems' with Val or anyone else, for that matter. The problem with Amelia was difficult to pinpoint, but he could put it aside. Lina's leaving was at the root of the problem, but there was nothing he could do about that except suffer in silence. Xelloss, on the other hand, was aggravating him. Like no other friend, Xelloss could get under his scarred skin and provoke him to the limits of his self-control. Mulling all that over, Zel sank deeper into Zel-land.
"Hey! Okay, dude, must be somethin' ta do with Xelloss, huh? Yeah, just nod vacantly fer the a-fir-ma-tive. Wanna play a trick on him? Ah, come on… Well, I gotta idea. Nah, it won't hurt'im, much," Val grinned evilly.
Zelgadiss shook his head.
"Here's what you do…" Val continued on.
Zelgadiss, who kept shaking his head, said, "I don't think so. I don't do that kind of thing. Val, it's not really my kind of…"
"Ah, come on, dude. Your last joke went over pretty good. Now yer kin add this one to your re-per-toire … "
"All right…what do I do? Just that? Fine." Zel acquiesced. He had never lived in a house with a bunch of rowdy guys or watched scummy teen movies or TV. He had no idea what Val was up to…
~*~
Luna had already moved out by the time the kids had returned, Thursday evening. The washing machine was packed with her used sheets and towels. The closet was bare. The loft was empty. All was ready for Xelloss to return and reclaim. Oh, and she even remembered to leave a thank-you note on the pillowcase.
Lina was stretched out below on a beanbag chair, thinking. She either had to finish reading her book or go see what was 'cooking' next door at the boys' place. No brainer there! She crammed a paper crane-- 'trimmed' from the collection festooning the room—into her book as a page marker and scampered across the grassy way.
Lina could hear an angry shout from within, even before she opened the door…
Apparently, Zelgadiss had set a timer on his computer upstairs, as per Val's instructions. Zel was to flush the toilet in his bathroom at the sound of the buzzer, while Val was in the master bathroom preparing to do the same thing.
Xelloss? Xelloss was taking a shower in the downstairs bathroom, happy at last to do so in private and at his leisure. He had just broken into the second verse from 'Ooooh! What a Beautiful Mooooorning', when all the cold water vanished and only the hot water blasted him on the back.
"Aaaaargh!" he cried out, then turned down the hot and cranked up the cold water. "I can't WAIT to be back in my own place with my own hot water heater and…"
The upstairs toilet tanks refilled completely and icy-cold water returned to the shower in force.
"SSSSSSSSShiiiiiit! Yelp!" he screamed and shut off the tap. Outside the bathroom door, he could hear what he thought to be both Val and Zel's laughter. Laughter that stung like salt on his tender skin. The hairs on his arms prickled up -- fighting response. "Zel did that on purpose? Oh…"
He lunged out of the shower, banging open the shower door and then nearly ripped off the bathroom door as he thundered out of the room and down the hallway, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind. He traced Zel's racket near the kitchen.
"You ASSHOLE! That F*&*^ing water could have burned me! It hurt like HELL! IT ISN'T GODDAMNED F^#*&^ING FUNNY! STOP LAUGHING!" he screamed and continued screaming a string of obscenities rarely uttered by either of them.
Lina stood there gaping.
Zelgadiss' eyes swept the room from Val's vivacious visage to Xelloss' furious face to rest at last upon Lina's catatonic countenance. He hadn't been laughing so much as coughing. He regretted taking part in the ill-conceived, infantile prank already.
"Ah, maybe you should go now Lina," Zel said quietly.
"Huh? Wha…aa?" gasped Xelloss, swirling around to see if it was true.
"Oh, my…" It was. Lina was there.
Now, normally he wasn't body-conscious, but standing dripping wet, stark naked no more than ten feet away from a thoroughly appalled and mortified Lina Inverse was even too much for him. He spun on his heel, fled into his room, and slammed his door.
Lina, who appeared to be fixed in place, felt heat burn from her head to her toes, melting her into floor. Then Xelloss disappeared.
She didn't remember leaving the room, when seconds later she found herself back in the practice room, nose buried in her book. Her attention strayed from the words on the page before her, however. She hadn't even thought about what was going on, at first, then…it was too late. She'd looked.
Face, face, face, look at his face, dammit! But she'd looked. She wasn't even cognizant of the scars on his chest either. Lina had never observed the mature male naked before. Oh sure, Gourry's little brothers scampering around the house, but not…an older guy, and certainly not one of her friends and… Why him? Why do my 'firsts' end up being with Xelloss? First guy to kiss ME (I kissed Zel so that doesn't count), first guy to TELL me he liked me and wanted me to be his girlfriend, first guy I see naked…GAH! I've GOT to wipe my mind clean…wipe, wipe, wipe…I am SO glad I'm going home tomorrow.
Val meanwhile thought the entire incident was hysterical. Zel did not. He could not believe that he had participated in something so juvenile as that. But he wouldn't go as far as to admit he was wrong—that would be admitting that he knew what he'd been doing! His face was flushed with enough embarrassment for both Xelloss and Lina, as well as for himself. Zel was also concerned for Lina. "All right, that's enough, Val. We'd better go check on Lina. She wasn't part of the plan and I don't think she appreciated being included in our practical joke."
"Yer kidden'. Ya think she wants ta see more GUYs right now? She's seen enough dude flesh for the night. Just let her be, to…to ponder the en-ter-tain-ment," Val laughed again.
Zel thought about it, "Agreed. I don't know what I could say that wouldn't make matters worse."
"Ya got him, though. Bet he'd like that cold shower now…" Val chuckled, then erupted into laughter at his own joke. He was the only one.
~*~
Friday morning.
Lina did not join the 'boys' for breakfast the next morning. Too soon. Instead, she sorted out her clothes and threw out accumulated garbage. Not usually a tidy person, Lina suddenly felt the need to keep busy. She also didn't want to leave 'Lina reminders' around for Xelloss to find when he moved in later. Xelloss. Gods, how long could she put off dealing with him?
KNOCK, KNOCK
"Just a minute! There! I snagged more detritus to toss. Yeah? OH!" Lina cried out when she opened the door.
"You missed breakfast. Val left a note before going to school. The other ONE…I'm not speaking to," Xelloss paused.
"…"
"I'm hungry and I bet you are too. It's a short walk to the bakery…my treat?" he asked hopefully.
Lina did not want to talk, but she was hungry, "I'm ravenous. Sure, okay…I'll just grab a jacket. Is it raining? No?"
The two friends walked uncomfortably to the shop, the chilly, damp, spring morning air adding curl to Lina's tousled mop. Xelloss held opened the door with a faint smile and followed her in. "Anything, as much as you can hold…" he crammed his hands into his pockets and gazed over the selections himself.
They sat together at a small table near a window where they could watch cars pull in and out of the parking lot. Lina dunked donuts into her glass of milk while Xelloss sipped orange juice and played with a crème-filled eclair. After he'd teased all of the filling out into a soft, sticky blob, he continued to stab at the frosting with his finger.
"Ah, Lina, we've got to talk."
Sigh…
"I know I've offended you. It was unintentional, but still, I just wanted you to know that I'm very sorry about what happened," he began tentatively.
…
"Your friendship means EVERYTHING to me, Lina. I want to know that we can be around one another and be okay. Lina? I'm not a monster."
Lina knew it was her turn to forgive and forget. "I'm making a big deal out of nothing, aren't I? It's just that…gods this is uncomfortable. How can you be so at ease? Ah, of course, all that conditioning probably comes in handy at times like that, this, whatever."
"What do you mean? Conditioning makes me comfortable being naked around my friends? Oh, you mean talking about problems…well, that comes with having a lot of problems to talk about and so many strangers to have to open up to, I guess. Like at the hospital, Lina. Nurses, technicians, shrinks—all require me to drop my 'shielding' and allow them access to me, if I'm to get any better. What I mean is, I'm not bothered that you saw me, I simply don't want it to strain our friendship. Understand?"
Lina nodded. "Oh, get over it, Xelloss. It was bad timing on my part… What happened anyway?"
Xelloss explained the prank, to which he added, "I'm so mad at him now that I'll probably just hang around the park all day, grab lunch at the deli, then be back to help get the rental beds out and vacuum and move my computer and my clothes… You know, as much as I am looking forward to getting my room back, I going to miss having you to talk to any time. Well, I can see THAT was a stupid thing to say. You ready to go back?"
"If it makes you feel any better, think of the whole incident like a test you just passed."
Xelloss frowned, "A test."
"Yeah, they're treating you just like one of the guys, you know, like you can take a joke and be part of the guys and not go…"
"Crazy? You mean they think I'm all normal now so they can treat me like shit again?"
"That's right! Join the boy's club. Although it seems more a Val-type thing than Zel, consider yourself initiated into the gross-guy society. Oh, you can stop here, I know the way, for gods'sakes Xelloss. If you're gonna hang in the park, go do it. I'll see ya later! Oh, and thanks for the donuts!" she winked and continued on her way back.
Xelloss found his favorite swing and sank into it, closing his eyes. Now if only he had his 'talk' with Zelgadiss out of the way…
~*~
Zelgadiss was irritated. As always, one of his jokes—well, not HIS joke but one he got sucked into-- had gone awry. He'd only meant to knock Xelloss down a few pegs for interfering in his life, but he'd succeeded in alienating both Xelloss and Lina.
"Damned karma!" he spat as he dug though his clothes looking for something to wear. He'd finished up Luna's stuff late last night and hadn't gotten around to doing up his or those of any other of the roommates in the insane asylum he called home. He finally found one that was clean and that fit, most were too small now. He looked into the mirror.
It was the shirt Xelloss had discarded, the blue shirt, once oversized now a good fit. Zelgadiss smiled. He HAD grown. He thought he was as tall as Xelloss now. He was taller than Inu and Van, too, he was sure of it! The clothes Zelas had bought him in November were snug—to his standards of bagginess-- but were all he had. And shoes! It was a good thing school was almost over, he was going to need a new wardrobe.
Ding, Dong
Zelgadiss ran down the stairs to the front door.
"You're here for the hospital beds, right? Come this way first. While you're taking care of this one, I'll go warn the occupant of the other house that you are on your way over. Yes, that house over there," Zelgadiss said soberly.
Lina was returning to the practice room from her walk as the rental bed and monitors were being wheeled out of her place, her ex-place.
"Zel! They came early, huh?" she called to her somber-faced friend.
"Lina? I knocked first, but you weren't in, so…"
"It's okay, Zel, it's not my place any more. Grrrreat day for a walk!"
"You went for a walk, then."
"Yeah. Xelloss bought me donuts," she caught his expression change to indicate his entering an even darker mood. "He wanted to apologize and you know him, he likes to talk stuff out. He's at the…"
"Fine. Well, I have other things to do right now, like laundry and homework," he said dryly and turned back to the main house.
"Me too!" she shouted to his retreating back. Why was he being rude to her? What had she done in incur his disdain? "And here I thought you'd grown OUT of that immature behavior! Just shut me out then, if that makes you feel good!"
He stopped and turned, "It does. If you want to discuss it, go back and converse with him." That said, he entered the house and disappeared.
~*~
Xelloss returned to the strip mall for lunch at the deli. Mrs. Shearer had owned and ran the deli near Xelloss' home for over 20 years. It's where she had met her late husband, whose parents had owned the business as an old-fashioned corner market. She started working there when she was fifteen and had sold the first handmade sandwiches over the counter. The market business had declined, but the sturdy lunches with all the trimmings had grown in popularity until, finally, after her marriage at eighteen, the couple transformed the shop into the current thriving delicatessen. Five years ago, Mrs. Shearer had lost her husband, and so ran the shop with the help of a niece or nephew or other part-timer.
Xelloss ordered his favorite: pastrami on rye with thick, juicy slices of pickle and a can of vegetable juice.
"Here dear!" the shopkeeper called out to Xelloss, "What are you thinking? That's not enough to put any meat on those bones. You're so thin! Here, now…that's right…it's just a bit of cheesecake to go with…a sample…try it and I'll bring you a nice cup of tea!"
"Thank you Mrs. Shearer. I have been ill, but I'm fine now," he smiled and sat at a corner booth with the morning's paper. He munched and read, passing the time quietly until he heard the sound of a familiar voice. He gave a momentary glance to the counter, only to see Rezo and the owner chatting away like intimate friends. Apparently they were. For some time, Xelloss watched her pat his arm affectionately and lead him to a cozy nook where she could pass him tidbits, wait on the counter, and converse with him at the same time. Very cozy. After his mother, this woman looked plain. Anyone would. But Rezo looked comfortable and nearly cheerful. That was nice.
Xelloss smiled and checked his watch. If he left now he could pick up his new contacts from the pharmacy (if the order had come in on time!) and get back to the house to see Lina off. He cleared his lunch trash and politely thanked the lady by name, "Thank you, Mrs. Shearer. The cheesecake was terrific. I'll buy a whole one from you, if you'll make one sometime?"
"For you, dear, anything. Here, take the rest home. No, don't argue! Just enjoy!"
Xelloss smiled and nodded. He carried out his prize, waving over his shoulder.
"Such a fine young man. He comes here with your son every so often."
Rezo shook his head, "Well, he's my son now that Zelas is dead. Lives in the remodeled garage. I haven't made up my mind what to do about the house and the boys…I can't just take one boy and leave the other."
"Well, dear. You know we've talked about this before, and the offer's still open," the woman said as she set a cup of tea down in front of him. "You think about it, will you?"
"Of course. I will. Thank you."
~*~
Saturday.
After the effort of moving out on Friday, Lina had cancelled band practice for the next day in favor of sleeping in and enjoying her privacy. Gourry would be by to pick her up to meet the others for dinner and the movie. She was looking forward to some of his laid-back company after the last few intense days with Zel and Xelloss.
She'd seen Val for a few minutes before he left to the settlement for the weekend. She thought he was nuts having to get into work the next day and go back again that night, but he seemed to enjoy his time with the Cephied Believers. Val didn't push her to her limits anymore. He'd mellowed out a lot lately. Must be those wholesome weekends with the clan, she thought.
Filia caught a ride in from the settlement and met the others at the Chinese restaurant. From there she would accept a ride with Xelloss to the movie and then, after the show, she would ride home with Val in another car he had arranged for them. She was hoping Val's first big purchase would be a car.
Xelloss had chosen the Chinese restaurant for his own party, of sorts. Zelgadiss observed, to himself, that it was the same restaurant where Rezo and Zelas had taken them to announce their upcoming nuptials, months (it seemed like years) ago. He hoped that Xelloss wasn't planning to pull a nasty rabbit out of a hat, but wouldn't put it past him. The more Xelloss changed, the more he remained the same. Predictably unpredictable, calmly restless, cheerfully despondent—a warm-fleshed, self-contradiction and walking, talking oxymoron aptly nick-named Chaos-kid.
The two friends had not spoken since the distressing prank-gone-bad. When it was time to leave for the restaurant, Xelloss had appeared at the car door, driver's side. Zel said nothing. He climbed into the passenger seat, his mood blacker than his T-shirt.
When Xelloss picked up Sylphiel at the shrine, Zel took the opportunity to migrate to the back seat, giving her the front seat and the benefit of Xelloss' company. She chattered about the shrine while Xelloss drove the three blocks to the restaurant, and parked. Zel was out of the car and seated inside before Xelloss had the doors locked.
Xelloss had pre-ordered a mini-banquet to save time. He had something to say and he didn't want them to be late for the movie. Zelgadiss decided to forego the meal sipping his tea, instead, and waited for the proverbial shoe to drop.
"Ahem…guys?" Xelloss began.
Lina stopped mid bite, "What?"
Zel sighed, "And here it begins again…"
"No big thing, but I thought since we're here mostly…I was going to do this at the practice but…anyway. Zelgadiss and I…"
Leave me out of it!
"…thought we should all have a cell phone to keep in touch, so…" Xelloss passed out everyone's new phone. Zel's too. "This is for Amelia, when we see her next. If you don't like the color, just trade. I picked out all different ones so that you could tell them apart."
Zel looked down at his. He'd been last. It was purple. "Sylphiel, would you like to trade with me?"
She was delighted. Now his was pink. "Where's Amelia's? I'll trade with her since she's not here to argue," he said to no one in particular. Now he held a blue one and a pink one.
Xelloss was explaining that they were all pre-programmed with each of their numbers. Next, he instructed them how to re-order the number priorities and shuffle the owner's number to another location.
Lina stared at hers after making a few changes and helping Gourry with his. "So, I can call people and give them this number… How does the phone bill get to me?"
He grinned, "That's a secret!"
Zel and Filia piled into the backseat. Zel figured he could tolerate her best of any of them for the short trip to the downtown theater. Filia and he rode in silence by mutual agreement. Everyone had noticed Zel's mood, but said nothing. It had been long overdue, Lina had warned, when she called everybody to cancel the practice.
Hindsight being 20/20, Filia doubted her entire plan now that it was too late to change anything. Amelia would most likely wait until the lights darkened before entering the theater, and then she and Melvin would leave before the lights came up again. Zel would miss them, would not see what he was missing out on, and would miss the point entirely. Filia looked askance at her silent friend. Not that he'd notice anything, tonight.
She was wrong.
Amelia and Melvin had already taken their seats inside and were nibbling on popcorn, when the other kids noisily blundered in.
"Hey, Lina!" Gourry said, poking her shoulder. "There's Amelia already. I didn't know she was coming? Who's that she's with?"
Zelgadiss' eye riveted on the back of Melvin's head. He found a seat beside Gourry and settled in for the show. If anyone had answered Gourry's question, Zel hadn't heard. He cut off communication with everyone and focused on the screen. Why had he let them all get to him? Why couldn't he have stayed a rock? What was wrong with being an island anyway? Lina had gone. Val was gone for the weekend. Xelloss was as good as gone. He could have all day Sunday to himself. Just like he liked it. Quiet. No demands. Just him. Oh, joy.
The previews roared onto the screen with earsplitting, attention-getting volume. Zel winced. He hated going to the movies for many reasons, but the loud noise cranked up to ever-deafening levels in order to drown out the chattering audience was a primary one. Ten seconds into the movie soundtrack, just as the words 'Star Wars' popped onto the screen, Zel felt an intense pain shoot through his head. His ears started ringing. Oh, no! No one noticed his anguished expression as he stood up and crossed the aisle to the exit. They did notice his leaving.
"Good gods, Zel…" Lina murmured.
"His heart's broken!" Sylphiel sighed to Xelloss.
Feeling guilty, Filia sighed and looked over at Amelia. Amelia had noticed the Slayers arrive and take their seats, and had considered saying hello. However, she felt that she owed something to Melvin for inviting her out, and if she joined her friends, she'd be leaving him off by himself or dragging him along. So, she engaged him in an intense conversation debating the pro and cons of nihilistic behavior in government decisions and avoided her friends' stares.
When Zelgadiss stood abruptly and edged out to the aisle, Amelia felt a little pang deep inside. He had a hand over one ear.
"Excuse me, Melvin. I need to…go the ladies' room. I'll be right back," she whispered and quickly left the theater.
Once outside the darkened room, Amelia searched for Zel, and found him hunched over in a corner of the lobby.
"Mr. Zelgadiss, can you hear me?" Amelia cried. She resorted to tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.
His tortured expression said it all. No, he couldn't hear her. She nodded and rummaged through her purse for a paper and pen.
# I'm calling a ride for you. Stay here. #
He shook his head violently, then pulled a pink cell phone out of his pocket, saying, "It's yours. A gift from Xelloss. Good timing, isn't it?"
Zel smiled faintly as Amelia nodded and stared at the phone. Punching out a number took at matter of seconds. Zelgadiss watched her fervent expression as she dictated directions to the person on the other end of the conversation then closed his eyes and waited.
A tug at his sleeve revived him. Stuffing a note into his hand, Amelia rushed back into the theater to inform her friends that Zel was on his way home. When she had done that, she told Melvin that there was an emergency requiring her to leave at once. He offered to leave as well, but she insisted that he stay and watch the movie. With a little nudging, Xelloss agreed to drop Melvin off on his way home in Zel's car.
Zelgadiss had not moved. The ringing had not abated and now his stomach was churning from the stress, lack of food, and emotional turmoil of late.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and opened an eye. Time to go.
Amelia led him out to the waiting van.
"Amelia, thank you for all this, but you don't need to take me home. Go back and watch the movie."
Amelia shook her head, "I want to be sure that you don't need to see a doctor."
Of course, he didn't hear that, but he knew what she meant. He simply sighed and settled into a seat. He was in no mood to fight tonight. When they were nearly home he pulled out the blue cell phone and asked, "If you don't like that color, there's this one, too."
Taking the blue phone in her hands she smiled, "Oh, Mr. Zelgadiss! It's just the color of your eyes! Yes, I like this one a lot more!"
Again, he didn't hear her, but he understood that he was now the proud owner of a powder-pink cell phone.
After leaving Zelgadiss to rest on his bed with a cold compress, Amelia closed the door to his room and crept down the stairs. She found Rezo listening to 11 o'clock news. "Professor Greywords?"
"Amelia? I thought I heard someone come in. Back early?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Zelgadiss is lying down. His ears…the sound in the movie theater must have triggered another buzz-attack. I don't know whether or not to notify his doctor."
"Hmmm. That's too bad. I'll go check on him in a few minutes and if he seems to be getting worse, I'll put in call. How does that sound to you?"
"Fine, I think."
"Do you need a ride home?"
"No thank you. The van's out front waiting. I'll just go on then, unless you'd like me to stay?"
His response was cut off by the sound of footsteps and the crash of the front door.
"Is he okay?" Xelloss gasped breathlessly.
Melvin caught Amelia's eye, "We left as soon as we could. Why didn't you tell me it was one of your friends, Amelia?"
"I…I didn't want to ruin our…good time," she said softly, then to Xelloss she said, "His ears are ringing and his head hurts. That's all I know for sure. The music was too loud…" Then a realization occurred to her.
"Oh!" she cried out in anguish. "Oh, Xelloss, what if the BAND'S music is too loud? The same thought must have occurred to him by now, too!"
"Amelia, I'd better go up and talk to him now. Thank you for bringing him home. What's that? You got a cell phone?"
"Mr. Zelgadiss said you got one for everyone…it came in handy already. Thank you."
Xelloss smiled. "That's right. You're welcome. I wasn't sure which color would be yours, that's all. Melvin? Can you get a ride home from here?"
"He'll come with me, Xelloss. Good night. See you later. Call me in the morning and let me know…anything," she reminded him.
"Okay, do-kay!"
~*~
Monday.
Lina had agreed to get a ride to school with Gourry's mother. It would be her first day back in the grind, and her strength was far from top form. But at the last moment she called and said she'd have to opt out that day. She just didn't feel ready. Lina slunk deep into the pillows of her bed, her own bed. There IS no place like home.
For those less fortunate, there was first-period 'Advanced English Composition' class. Martina was there, sitting at the far side of the room, thankfully. Zel noticed Lina was missing and so, he was doubly not ready for a Martina moment. He and Xelloss took their customary seats near Lina's still unoccupied seat and Filia.
To Filia, they both appeared pale and wan. I hope I don't look as bad. Okay, now why is Xelloss smiling that way?
Zelgadiss had whispered to Xelloss upon entering the classroom together, "See? I was afraid she wouldn't make it to school. At least our seats are still open, good!"
"How thoughtful. Filia's wearing her hair up. Did you notice? Makes her look older, but we shouldn't tell her, right?" Xelloss looked to Zel for confirmation.
"That's right, don't. You'll face HER wrath then. Smile if you feel that you have to do something," Zelgadiss advised.
"Okay, dokay!" Xelloss smiled as he started to sit down.
Well, I can take care of that smile! Filia returned his smile and casually knocked his notebook off the edge of his desk.
Xelloss frowned but said nothing. He flung his jacket over the back of his chair and walked around the desk for the notebook.
"What's this?" Filia asked innocently after picking up a paper off the floor, which had fallen out of Xelloss' jacket pocket.
Xelloss blanched.
She smiled evilly and waved the folded piece of lavender-scented paper. Heh, heh…wiped it riiiight off his face.
Filia smiled cutely again, "Love notes, to you? What could the note say?" Filia asked aloud.
"You really want to know? Really? You want me to say it aloud…here…now?" he whispered as the teacher entered the room.
He made a lunge for the note. To his chagrin, Filia was quicker and whipped it out of his reach.
"Filia!" he hissed. "Give it back. It's not for you. It's private."
"Oh, ho!" Filia grinned. "It IS a love note!"
Zel had had enough of the teasing. He saw his chance and grabbed at the note. "I'll take that," Zel sighed in an exasperated way. Why everyone had to act out in such stupid ways, he couldn't hazard a guess. Just return the note to Xelloss and end this idiotic situation before someone gets embarrassed. Zelgadiss didn't feel his karma kick in until he'd already made his move.
"No, I'll take the note, young man," the teacher intoned from above. She removed the note linking Filia and Zel's hands.
"Shit!" Xelloss hissed under his breath.
The teacher walked back to her desk, reading the note on the way, then turned and said, "Filia, Zelgadiss? I'd like to see the two of you for a moment after class. Now, back to our discussion of George Orwell…"
Zelgadiss felt his heart race. Now what? When the teacher was busy with another student, he turned back to Xelloss and whispered, "So, what does she think Filia wrote to me?"
Xelloss leaned forward, eyes on the teacher, and whispered, "Um…Your waterbed was lovely. Thank you for sharing it with me. I dreamed of you and me on a raft lost at sea each night. What did you dream about? Er…something close to that…Luna, the dear, left it on my bed…where I should have left it, I KNOW, but I was going to show it to Lina, for laughs… Ha. Ha. Eyes front and center now."
Oh, joy.
Whatever was said in class sailed right by Zel on his raft of stress floating in a sea of anxiety. As the others shuffled out on their way to their next class, Zel remained, head on desk. Filia dutifully marched up to the teacher's desk, "Yes? I don't want to be late for my next class."
The teacher smiled wisely, "No one could be happier for you two than me. You are two of my favorite students in class. And, as unlikely a match as some would think, I believe you are truly meant for one another, but…"
Filia stared at the teacher blankly. What was this old bag ranting on about? 'Match', 'couple'? She couldn't mean Zel and ME could she? What…was in that note…I will kill Xelloss, so help me…What's she saying now?
Barely able to support his own weight, his legs moved into position and straightened; Zelgadiss stood up. Now the teacher wanted HIS attention. Gods, help me…
"I just don't want to see the two of you do something rash and ruin the beautiful future I know is waiting out there for you. You DO know what I'm saying here, don't you?" the teacher asked a little louder.
Filia shook her head, "No, actually I have NO idea what you could possibly be thinking…"
Zelgadiss did and tried to intercede on her behalf, "It's not how it sounds, you see that was a note from…" Zel hesitated, No, don't say from HIM and involve another party in this mess. "We're not really a…"
"Men never have the whole story, dear," the teacher interrupted and looked motherly at Filia. "What my point is if you keep fooling around together…"
Filia's eyes grew wide with understanding, "Oh, no…we're just friends. Nothing like that's going on. That note was…just a joke, that's all. I have got to run…" And she did.
Zel picked up his books and started to leave as well.
"Zelgadiss? I'm glad you're back at school again, dear. Just try and watch the extracurricular activities, will you?"
He nodded mutely and suffered through her romantic sigh.
The three kids next met up in history class.
"I was late to my French class!" Filia yelled in Xelloss' face the moment he appeared.
"My, my, Filia," he backed away, holding his hands up defensively. "I believe that it was YOU who stole MY property."
"Why would you be carrying a note like that anyway? I didn't even get to see it, but now that teacher thinks Zelgadiss and I are a veeeeery close couple!" Filia cried.
A couple of grubby kids sitting close snickered.
"Shuttup!" she turned and snapped at them.
"Well, actually, Filia," Xelloss continued. "It was written TO ME from…that's a secret. Grin You stole it and Zelgadiss…"
"Is right here, so stop talking about me and sit down," Zel said.
"Okay," Xelloss smirked at Filia and settled into his chair.
Filia continued to whisper to poor Zel this time, "So what could Xelloss possibly write on that note that could have implied that you and I were…together somehow?"
Zel gave her a deadly glare.
"Oh, yeah…It is great having you all back to screw up my reputation!" Filia snorted.
Zel looked down at his hands and sighed.
Xelloss felt his friend's hurt and lashed back, "Being linked up with Zelgadiss may disgust YOU, but it could only help YOUR re-pu-taaa-tion!"
Filia did not miss the Val imitation and allusion to his 'bad boy' image.
Zel sank lower into his seat.
Filia kicked Xelloss, "Only you disgust me! Now shut up before THIS teacher gets ticked off!"
Yes, it was good to be back where everybody knows your name, your friends' names, and is more interested in your love life than you are...
"Listen up now class!" the history teacher shouted for attention. "This is new material and IT WILL BE ON THE FINAL EXAM so pay attention!"
Xelloss stood up and marched out of the room for a drink of water, a long drink. Zel closed his eyes for a short nap. Filia discussed T-shirt selling strategies with Ryoga, who claimed to know the market well.
Soon, the torture was over and it was on to the third class of the day!
Lina, Zel, and Xelloss had missed so many labs that the teacher was considering giving them all 'incompletes', except that they were his top students.
Xelloss didn't care. He could fail him, if he wanted to, he didn't care at all.
Zelgadiss negotiated a workable solution for Lina (when she returned) and him, and Xelloss too. Half of each class period and into part of lunch each day, the three students would meet and complete the lab work. The teacher computed that it would take them about two weeks to finish. As it turned out, it took them less than a week. Each of the kids set up and completed one lab each, compared notes, and wrote up separate reports, but with three working in parallel on three different projects the work got done in record time.
Hurray for Zel!
With that settled, they would still had time for social interaction at the lunch table; that is, whenever Lina returned.
At lunch that Monday, Zelgadiss was explaining his medical situation, "I'm wearing noise filters in both ears. Hopefully, anything too loud will be muffled enough so that I don't return to the land of giant bees and cotton balls."
He looked up when three guys he recognized loomed over him.
"I wanted to find out how you were," Melvin spoke to him earnestly.
"I'm going to fine, ah…thanks. Just trouble with my hearing," Zel muttered.
"That's too bad. But I guess that's common for you rock band people, huh? Well, Amelia? See you in the next class, okay?"
"I was just going," Zel said standing to leave. "You can have my seat."
"Hey, thanks!" Melvin smiled and plopped down next to Amelia while Tombo and Hojo found places at the table. "He doesn't talk much, does he?"
Amelia's eyes followed the somber boy's figure as Zel joined his other friends at Van's table. "Not unless he has something to say."
Zelgadiss smirked to himself, Yes, Melvin, I damaged my hearing by playing my guitar too loudly…while blowing up a couple shrines.
~*~
At home Monday evening…
Bored out of her wits and yearning for some news, Lina decided to call Amelia…
"Hello?"
"Lina, here."
"Hi, it's so neat having this cell phone. Every time it rings I know it's one of my friends and NOT for Daddy. What are you calling about, Miss Lina?"
"Hey, just wanted to know how things were, and you're the best one to call since you don't mutter or giggle like some OTHER people I know," Lina chuckled. "So, were the three stooges at our table still? Oh, are they going to be at our table from now on? It's okay, kinda, but I bet Zel's not taking it well-- you know how he is about changes and new people…"
"I know. I don't know what to do! I think Melvin…likes me and he's nice and all, too nice to just tell him to go find another place to eat after letting him join us. But…I wish Mr. Zelgadiss would just…maybe I should find another place to sit so he can sit next to Mr. Xelloss like he used to."
"Yeah, that might work, but try giving it a little time first. So what else…" and Lina listened to Amelia's day at Seyruun High.
~*~
Monday evening…at another house in town…
That night for dinner Xelloss ordered pizza to be delivered. He was exhausted and he knew Zel was tired out from his first full day back at school. While Val helped clean up the table, Xelloss decided now was the best time to get through another of his 'mental' obstacles.
"Zelgadiss?"
"What? I was about to go up to my room and do homework until I dropped… or simply drop, then do my homework."
"Can I come up for a couple minutes?"
"Why?"
"Well not to talk to you, if that's the problem!" Xelloss said with some irritation.
"Fine."
Once Zel entered his room, Xelloss followed and stood in front of the bathroom door. He had not entered that bathroom alone since the day Dubois, his stepfather, had attacked him, beginning in that room.
"You want to use it? Go ahead. I'm just going to crash on my beanbag chair and read," Zel said with a sigh.
"Ah, thanks…I just need to go in…alone…for once," Xelloss said in a low voice.
Zelgadiss understood now, "Ah…right. I'll be right here, if you need me."
Xelloss shook his head, then grinned, "I know…I'll just imagine you in the bathtub glaring at me. That's gotta be at least as scary as anything else I've experienced in there!"
Zel was about to say something harsh, then thought about how really awful Xelloss' memories of that place actually were, and grinned instead, "That'll do it all right!"
Xelloss opened the door and…just stood there. Zel tapped at the keyboard, turning on it's CD-player. Xelloss could hear the theme to 'Lodoss Wars' begin and smiled, He's been busy downloading music lately… Zel checked the play list, stuck in a CD and…Slayers tunes filled the air.
"Lousy recording," Xelloss called out.
"That's us. Joey taped us and got it on a CD. Recognize this song?" Zel asked.
"Ah…catchy tune…" Xelloss smiled and turned back to face the open doorway. "Well, here goes nothing…"
Zelgadiss tensed, not knowing what to expect. It was quiet, though. After what seemed to be a few minutes, he rose and peeked in. Xelloss was standing in front of the mirror staring at his reflection, a single tear running down his cheek. As soon as Zel entered, he quickly wiped it off with his sleeve.
"I'm all right. I'll be all right, too. This room doesn't bring back the memories like it did," he smiled a little.
"Do you want to talk about it? It must have been more and worse than you told me in October," Zel said in a low voice.
Shaking his head, Xelloss said, "Thanks, but no. It was sick and perverted and…I can't even say the words to describe it…I don't want you to think about that kinda stuff either. But, I think I've eliminated another cause of my nightmares tonight."
"How about the master bedroom?"
"I'm fine with that, actually. I never spent time in there and I can associate it with Rezo now. This room…is yours, the house… is ours. I think I'm fine now, about the house. Dubois is really dead and gone," he sighed with relief washing over his features.
"Good. Now I've got homework to do, and so have you…want to bring it over and do it here? Fine then hurry up and…Xelloss, don't worry. I don't think any worse of you for what happened in your past. It's what you make of the future that counts now," Zelgadiss said meaningfully.
Xelloss nodded and left smiling back to his place to find his notebook.
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val