Title: Battling Anorexia – Chapter Three: "The Election."
Disclaimer: No, I do not on Gundam Wing…
Author's Notes: Ok, I know I haven't been a really good author in ignoring this fic, blame it all on my HeeroMuse, he's not talking to me at the moment… Anywayz, here's the next part, no Anorexia issues yet, but I promise they're coming up… as always, read and review…
Chapter Three: "The Election."
Monday, 12th of July.
5:00am, still dark outside…
Relena stared at the alarm clock, as the red numbers informed her that it was five in the morning. Her nerves had been running haywire since the night before, as the day for the first round judging finally came about. Relena sighed and tried to go back to sleep, closing her eyes tightly.
A few seconds later, while sighing in frustration, she yanked off her covers and slid out of bed. Switching on her bedside lamp, she paused and stared at her reflection in the full length mirror. Turning this way and that, Relena closely scrutinised her appearance and form.
Words of self-doubt lingered and the edges of her mind, before Relena repressed it completely. Sighing to herself, she strode to her walk-in closet and yanked the door open.
She might as well get ready.
10:15am, the same day…
"Hey, why aren't you at school?"
Relena looked up as her brother, Miliardo, strode into the room. Turning back to her cereal, she shook her head.
"No, I have a modelling competition in fourty-five minutes."
Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Miliardo leant against the kitchen counter, his coffee poised at his lips. "Don't know why you would want to waste your time. There are other things that you could waste your time with."
Relena sighed, dropping her spoon back into her cereal bowl in distaste, her appetite gone. "That maybe so, but I happen to want to waste my time modelling."
"Well, as long as this modelling thing doesn't interrupt with your school work, Relena. You do know that your final senior year is important, don't you?"
"Yes, big brother, I do. Anyway, can you give me a ride to the institute? I think its on the way to Noin's apartment, and don't bother denying the fact that you're going to visit."
Miliardo's open mouth snapped shut. He grinned.
"You know me too well."
12:59pm, same day…
Relena stood very still for the panel of judges as they conversed with each other, their stares feeling like bullet holes in her body. Heart hammering a mile a minute, Relena tried to keep a carefree smile pasted on her face.
After what seemed to be an eternity of whispering between the judges, Treize Kushrenada finally cleared his throat and made his announcement. "We will have number 1132, 1135 and 1139. Those whose numbers were just called out, please make your way to Betty, who is waving to you right now, so that she make take a few of your details. As to the other girls not chosen, thankyou for your time."
In shock, Relena numbly made her way off the walk way and followed the girls towards the exit doors. As she was passing through the doors, a hand suddenly yanked her backwards. Stumbling, Relena was caught in the arms of a tall, blue-eyed man. Relena stared mesmerised as the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly and his lips pulled back to show white teeth.
The man's mouth moved. Blinking, Relena snapped out of her daze.
"Pardon?"
Treize Kushrenada grinned, "I said, where are you going? Weren't you one of the girls chosen?"
Looking down at her entry number, Relena noted that she had the numbers: '1139' printed on her paper. A look of incredulity came over her face. Her lips trembled. "Y-you mean, I was chosen?"
A look of both amusement and exasperation filled the man's face. "Well, normally when they call out a number, it usually signifies that the person who's holding the number has indeed been elected to attend the next round."
Still in shock, Relena stood and stared dumbly at Treize, her mind still trying to comprehend the facts that was being layed in front of her. Sighing in amusement and exasperation, Treize tucked her arm into his, and gently led her over to where Betty was situated behind a table. Looking up from the paper she was writing on, she raised an eyebrow at the two.
"Was there something you wanted Mr Kushrenada?"
Smiling, the man in question nudged Relena forward. "I believe she was one of the entrants who made it into the next round. See that she gets all the relevant information as she seems to be too shocked to ask for it herself." Chuckling to himself, he lifted Relena's limp hand to his lips and pressed a kiss into it before releasing it. "I will see you later."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Relena alone with Betty, a dark haired lady, who seemed friendly enough. After Mr Kushrenada's departure, everything went in a blur, and the next thing Relena knew, she was being picked up by her brother and driven home.
Still unsure of what was happening, she made her way automatically into her room, much to the puzzlement of her brother, who still was wondering what had gone on at the place. Not knowing what to do, Miliardo opted to give her til tomorrow before confronting her on what had happened.
Meanwhile, Relena lay on her bed, and perused over the little booklet that Betty had given her. It stated all the rules and regulations in the competition and informed Relena consequences if those rules were broken. A feeling of joy started to overcome her, and Relena finally recognised her accomplishment in making it in.
Tears came into her eyes and she turn to her side, hugging one of her pillows, all the while gazing at the photo of both her and Heero on her bedside. While wishing that he was here to celebrate her success with her, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep, hugging her pillow closer…
TBC…
As always, RR…
Codegal