I was REALLY looking forward to writing this chapter, and it was A LOT of
fun! Now the whole 'romance' element is really beginning to come through in
this story, (at least, I hope it is) and I have tried to make it so that
not everything goes wrong for Randall. Anyhow, thanks for the reviews, and
onwards with chapter 14!
Chapter 14- The Prom
Mr Stefani sat down, concern etched over his face, the curtains behind him billowing with a swish, letting the early morning sunlight seep through the gaps of its intricate lace patterns, the shade of the light giving the unusually breezy room a touch and feeling of paradise. He swivelled side to side to relax himself, but when he saw that Cyrus, his currently unwelcome company, was staring at him in annoyance, he immediately ceased.
"Sorry. I, er, happen to be a little tense." Cyrus ran a clawed finger along the chair's armrest that he himself was sitting on, fingering the dust with slight revolt.
"Tense, hm?" he said casually. Leaning forward, he dusted his hands off. "And why would that be?" Mr Stefani chuckled uneasily.
"Oh, no, it's nothing to worry about...just, um, your frequent visits-"
"Don't worry about it." Cy smiled, and licked his teeth swiftly with a forked tongue. "I seem to have that effect on most people." Eager to move the conversation on, and to try and make the lizard-monster feel more welcome as his presence obviously wasn't wanted, he reached into a drawer of his desk, revealing a tin of cigars. He opened it fumbling, and offered. Cy gladly excepted and took one, fingering it and inspecting it with utmost caution. Mr Stefani also took one, to prove that they were not poisonous if not to relax his nerves. As he carefully lit the end, taking a quick puff, Cy bit the base of his own cigar off, crunching its contents thoughtfully. A second later, he spat the chewed up remains on the floor in slight disgust and laid the rest of the cigar on the table, Mr Stefani looking on in astonishment and awe. Cy shook his head.
"Not good quality." The Head coughed several times, put his own cigar out to follow suite, nodding, and clasped his hands together.
"So, there was some 'important matter' to talk about?"
"Yes. Very important, even though some might consider it just a minute detail." He unfolded his arms, ready to express his concerns in full. "The Prom is obviously the main distraction for the students tonight, over at North House?"
"Yes, yes."
"But what if there are a few...strays, so to speak?"
"We dispose of them." Cy chuckled.
"You sounded almost like a cold blooded murderer then, Allin." He waited for a remark on the use of his words, but none came so he continued. "But wouldn't some students notice if their friends suddenly went missing? Of course, the answer is yes. And the Prom isn't going to last all night, which, I presume, getting everything on board, packed up and ready to be taken away will."
"Have you looked outside recently? I-I mean, the weather is almost perfect, so getting everything loaded up and the ships to leave the docks shouldn't take too long-"
"Come on, be realistic here. This is a PROM we're talkin' about- teenage girls and teenage boys TOGETHER. You really think they'll be content on the dance floor all night long?"
"True..."
"So we need a better distraction. And I've got just the thing." Mr Stefani's eyebrows rose.
"Oh, yes?"
"Yes. Just when things are dieing down, and everyone's heading off to bed after a long evening, we'll raise the alarm."
-----------------------------
The students certainly were enjoying themselves on this fine day- the Professors had unanimously decided that, after such a tough first few months of the school year, they deserved a day off. But it wasn't just a day to sit back and relax- many activities and outings had been arranged for the students to do a variety of things that they usually wouldn't get the opportunity to do- ice-skating, bowling, climbing- most of which were physically strenuous, but some of which tested your mental capacity.
The day seemed to fly by though, and no sooner had the sun risen, the birds and Mishgulls all singing their sweet tunes or loud roars of the early morning, had the day passed, the sun beginning to set, saying its farewell for the next eight hours, and all of the creatures in the wilderness surrounding the University had gone to sleep, or, in some cases, awoken.
Randall stood in front of the mirror, bopping slightly to the music that was squealing out of a little portable radio, and adjusting his bow tie. It was about an hour and a half till the Prom, and the rest of his roommates hadn't begun to prepare. Randall, on the other hand, was desperate for the evening to be perfect, flawless, everything that his life hadn't been. But what were the odds of that?
Jay burst in the room, singing loudly and making Randall start.
"Hey, Randall! Preparing already? You've got over an hour to go yet!"
"Yeah, well I want this evening to be perfect."
"Maybe it might be! But you know what's more likely?" Randall stopped adjusting his rich purple tie and, seeing Jay in the mirror leaning on his shoulder, (and also feeling his heavy head rest on him) glared.
"What?" He was suspicious of Jay, and still unsure whether their friendship had been wholly affected by what Randall had said the previous day.
"She'll probably play some kind of a trick on you. Or not turn up! I guess that would be better, for you, I mean- it would be a lot more fun for the rest of us seeing you getting shown up in front of everyone else!" Jay smiled, if not a little menacingly. "That's what I'm hoping for." He left the room, having retrieved what he needed, starting to sing along to the song that was cackling out of the radio. "Oh, and by the way," Jay said as he poked his head around the door for a second. "That tie doesn't suit you. Clashes with your eyes."
Having heard Jay shut the door, Randall undid his tie, ripped it off without care, and threw it on the floor. Jay was really beginning to annoy him. Then, concentrating with all his might, Randall shifted his scale colours. He changed through every colour of the rainbow, never satisfied until he came back to his usual pale shade of purple. Eventually, toying with the idea of putting his tie back on, he shifted the electric blue stripe down to a darkish tone of red, and left it at that. But the worries in his mind still tormented him.
What if Xenon had been telling the truth? He'd look a fool, especially in front of Jay. And he couldn't let that happen. Randall might've been a lot of things, on of them proud, but he never really had the idealism of being able to put up with extreme embarrassment. It was one of the things that he would do almost anything to avoid, and, if he was going out with someone other than Zephyr, he would've immediately cancelled the date himself, rather than leaving it to Mr Stefani to threaten him.
But this was Zephyr. She was an exception. Finally, Randall had found someone that just might understand him, understand his personality and quirks and annoyances and, what was more, she might even like it all. And that would just be a gift from heaven. But, even though he didn't know how it would be, Randall knew that his relationship with her wouldn't be easy, and that there would be problems along the way.
And what an understatement that was.
------------------------------------------
Randall stepped down the only truly sweeping stairs of South House, the luscious, thick green carpet lining them sinking beneath him. The doors of the Main Hall were shut, but streaks of light flashing in time with the thumping music shone from the slight gap between the wood and the floor, and as Randall passed by a window, glancing at the beautiful but overgrown gardens that Crynferse was known for, he noticed, in the distance, another window flashing red, green, blue, yellow- all the colours of the rainbow- as was another just off to the left. These were South House's neighbours, the West and East, who also had the privilege but annoyance of a start of term Prom.
The blinking lights, resonating music, bowls upon bowls of diluted punch, and hyper yet inwardly nervous students beckoned to Randall, yet even as he thought about how anxious his friends had said they would be, he couldn't help but feel more nervous than he had been for quite a while. But it wasn't the thought of all of the dozens of students ready to prey on the un- cool that worried him. In fact, it was only one person that was causing him such distress and uncertainty- Zephyr.
Randall knew that she would be in there, waiting for him to come so that she could...no, it wasn't possible. She wasn't that cruel. Everything that Xenon had said were just lies- lies of fear for losing a friend to his sister. What Xenon hadn't realised was that was exactly what had happened, because of Randall's ignorance.
But they were all lies. Every word. Zephyr wasn't going to play some kind of trick on him. Randall was certain of that. Almost.
He had reached the doors and, sweeping back his fronds and trying not to fidget, Randall took a deep but racking breath, struggling to clear his clogged mind, and shoved the door open. The sight was somewhat a surprise to Randall- colourful, obviously, but loud and active, the atmosphere seeming to cackle and spark with the energy and electricity that the students were finally letting loose. And no wonder- their personalities had been cooped up for the best part of two months at this point, to concentrate on work, and now, as they were set free, the students couldn't help but get a little over-excited.
Randall scanned the room urgently for a sign of Zephyr, or anyone that he happened to know the name of and, catching sight of Carmen who had been sitting in a corner, accompanied only by a cup of punch, walked over to her and sat down by her side. Randall had been in this situation too many times- the whole 'I'm just gonna sit in this corner and wait the dance out' routine, and was disappointed yet weirdly relieved to find that Carmen had got the same idea as he had concerning events like this. She had been sipping her punch reclusively when Randall had decided to pay a visit.
"Hey," the lizard-monster greeted her, not bothering to smile. Carmen, coughing, had almost choked on her punch at the surprise of Randall coming to sit next to her, and had spat out a mouthful of pink liquid onto the polished wooden floors. Randall gave her a weird look. "You DO remember who I am, right?" Carmen nodded, still coughing.
"Y-yes, of...of course."
"Good. I was worried there for a second though, when you started to choke on your punch just at the sight of me." Rapidly shaking her head, Carmen carefully put the remainder of her punch down, discouraged.
"No, no, you just...gave me a bit of a fright, that's all. It was merely me not paying attention." Randall gave her a scrutinizing look, then, wanting to change the subject, gave into a slightly depressive state of mind.
"Have...have you seen Zephyr anywhere? I mean, y'know, since I WAS meant to be...well, going with her to the Prom..."
"No, sorry Randall, but I haven't managed to catch sight of her just yet," Carmen replied, sounding quite vague. But, seeing the disappointed look upon his face, she changed the answer to one that might give him a bit more hope. "...actually, I think I caught a fleeting glance of her- she was hanging around the punchbowl in that direction at the time," she said, remembering.
"Thanks." Randall got up, and, making his way around the dozens of bodies wiggling to the N-Mons, tried to hide his excitement. There she was, in all her glory. She was standing by the punchbowl, as Carmen had correctly stated, punch in one hand, napkin in the other. She put her napkin down, barely soiled, having eaten a snack, and then went back to absentmindedly looking around, tapping her tail to the beat of the music.
Randall edged his way to the table that Zephyr was standing by and then, taking his time, went to stand next to her, holding a fresh cup of punch. Pretending not to notice him, Zephyr took a last gulp to finish off her current cup, crumpled it up with a crackle, dropping it in the bin beside her, and gave her date a slightly startling look. Randall froze for a second, suddenly anxious. He'd done something wrong.
A second later, Zephyr smiled.
"Is that for me?"
"Uh...no. I mean, yes!" She smiled even harder and batted her eyelids.
"I'm half drunk as it is, and, by the looks of it, you need a bit of alcohol," she said matter-of-factly, still smiling, even grinning. Randall, at this point, blushed, though he didn't really know why. He took a sip, not daring to say a word in case he would give Zephyr another excuse to laugh at him. The atmosphere between the two stayed tense for a little while, not to mention wordless, even though Zephyr managed to sustain an air of calmness about her. Unfortunately for Randall, she didn't seem to be too worried about this Prom thing, and even looked as though she was enjoying herself for a while.
But, eventually, as more and more students piled in, the numerous sweaty bodies and increasing heat became too much for Zephyr and Randall alike, so Zephyr made a suggestion of going outside to the gardens, where the air was sufficiently cooler and the scenery much more...varied. Randall nodded, having barely touched his punch, and, putting the stuff on the table, gasped silently as his partner intertwined her fingers through his, clutching his hand, and pulled him out of the Hall through a glass, wide open double-door.
She led him through what seemed to be a maze of gardens, and he held on tightly, enjoying this little unexpected surprise more and more every second.
The gardens truly were spectacular. The plants were exotic, to say the least, and even though the end of a tough a cruel year, weather-wise, beckoned, many had only just begun flowering, the pollen scattering about and floating through the air. All of the senses were pleased in this minute Eden, and although everything seemed a little overgrown, the immense feeling of being stuck in the wilderness that would weigh down anyone who entered could actually be quite entertaining.
Zephyr had picked up the pace, Randall smiling in excitement, and, after a few minutes, they stopped. Other couples had had the same idea as them, all finding their own exclusive little area for themselves, but Zephyr and Randall's was by far the most exquisite and unique.
The waning moon was reflected in ripples on the surface of a large pond, which gave the appearance of a miniature lake, the grasses on its bank waving and dancing with the gentle breeze that Randall couldn't have described as anything but the 'Winds of Change', the fishes making the reflected stars wiggle and break, everything seeming so tranquil yet so bursting of life. It was perfect.
They stood, side by side and, for a second or two, remained still and undisturbed to look at the beauty around them. But, soon enough, Zephyr got bored and grasped Randall's hand once more. This time he wasn't surprised, and instead of gripping her hand with urgency, Randall grasped it gently, with welcome. They walked to the bank, standing on the thick grass just before where the ground was soggy and gooey with mud. Zephyr let go.
"I guess we weren't the only couple to have this idea- to get out of that Hall." Randall looked up, trying not to panic.
"Couple?" Zephyr did not reply- instead, she seemed to be panicking quite a bit herself. What if Cy had followed them? She had seen the determined lizard-monster just behind the open glass doors as she and Randall had gone outside, and Cy was almost ALWAYS suspicious. He knew that if Zephyr and Randall were left alone for long enough, something would happen because, surprisingly, Cy had a very clear and accurate definition of love, and therefore could spot it from a mile away. And then there was the matter of her friends, and the little surprise that they had stashed away for Randall for later. Zephyr knew that, at some point, she would have to get Randall back to the Hall, but how?
An idea struck her. It was cruel, it was hurtful, but it just might work...
"Couple?" Randall repeated, determined to get an answer. Zephyr smiled.
"Maybe." Suddenly, Zephyr felt woefully guilty. "I'm...sorry, for the way I've treated you and...oh, everything..." Randall nodded. "I'm sorry for the way I blocked you when we first met," she continued. "You must've been pretty freaked..."
"Yeah, I was," Randall agreed intently. "But the whole 'mystery girl' thing just made me wanna find out more...about you, that is."
"And you forgive me?" Now THAT was a question worth asking. And Randall had no idea of what the answer was to be. But if he was to be truthful...
"No."
"The type to hold a grudge, huh?"
"You could say that."
"I just did- without your consent." Randall chuckled.
"Ooh, now you want my consent for everything, huh? Well, I give you it. Though I do have my doubts..."
"Actually, the point I was making is that I DON'T need your consent. But since you've given me it..." Randall smiled- something that he seemed to do more of when he was around Zephyr. Finally, he was getting in his stride, the nervousness blown away, all fears reduced to pure exhilaration. There was what you could call a little platform that led onto the pond, atop the water, like a little bridge that led to nowhere. Without warning, Zephyr turned around and went onto it, and leant over one side to see the fish scatter at a looming shadow.
Just then, Randall realised how beautiful he thought Zephyr to be. The 'beauty count' was pushed up mainly because of her lavender eyes- something that was considered to be quite rare- and the way her irises were so huge, giving her a slightly puppy dog look. But the eyes that Randall was getting to know so well showed that they held many deep, dark secrets and, what's more, Randall knew it. But the bright light of the moon that was reflected on Zephyr's face, making her patterned skin seem even whiter than usual, illuminated some terrible scars and cuts that Randall had never really noticed before. She hadn't had them when they first met, did she? One or two of the cuts still looked quite raw and red, and most definitely weren't caused by an accident. Something had happened, but Randall just didn't want to spoil the evening by asking awkward questions.
He followed after Zephyr, leaning over the banisters of the walkway side. Then, after a few moments of complete silence, Randall gently brought Zephyr's face back up to face him.
"Zephyr...you, er, you really are..." They were standing near the edge of the walkway, on the only side where there were no banisters or fences. Zephyr put a dexterously clawed finger on Randall's lips, stopping his stuttering and then, with the same hand, motioned for him to look around with a sweep of an arm.
"The delicate flowers, the waving leaves, the brilliant moon...what a sight. Mother Nature really has outdone herself. The things surrounding us never cease to amaze me, anywhere in the world, year after year...my whole life is filled with looking at the details and NEVER forgetting them." She shook her head. "I can't afford to forget. And yet, this is the first time in the whole of my life- well, the parts which I know of- that I have been amazed more so by a monster. Something that can speak, that can think for itself, which is a 'higher intelligence'. And even though I've always thought that the natural beauty around us, the 'primitive' life forms, are so much more valuable than us, just because of what some monsters can be like...well, you've proved me wrong. You really are something...just...wow, and yet I hardly know the first thing about you." She took Randall's hand once more and held it close to his own heart, whilst Randall listened on, entranced by Zephyr's words. "But I know that your heart beats with goodness, with righteousness, though many would say pretty much the opposite of that. But that's just because of the things that YOU'VE been put through, not what you've put through OTHERS. And it's the same with me. Neither of us are perfect, and yet that is the one thing that makes us so perfect for each other."
The leaves rustled and shook, the air grew cooler, yet Randall and Zephyr were unperturbed. This was THEIR time.
Randall grew nervous once more as he leant in, but that was nothing compared to how Zephyr was feeling. She couldn't do this. She knew she couldn't, not with Cy watching. He would kill her and Randall most definitely- the scars and cuts on her face proved it. But she couldn't let Randall down.
She leant in also, the couple closing their eyes and, awkwardly putting their arms around each other, they kissed...
Chapter 14- The Prom
Mr Stefani sat down, concern etched over his face, the curtains behind him billowing with a swish, letting the early morning sunlight seep through the gaps of its intricate lace patterns, the shade of the light giving the unusually breezy room a touch and feeling of paradise. He swivelled side to side to relax himself, but when he saw that Cyrus, his currently unwelcome company, was staring at him in annoyance, he immediately ceased.
"Sorry. I, er, happen to be a little tense." Cyrus ran a clawed finger along the chair's armrest that he himself was sitting on, fingering the dust with slight revolt.
"Tense, hm?" he said casually. Leaning forward, he dusted his hands off. "And why would that be?" Mr Stefani chuckled uneasily.
"Oh, no, it's nothing to worry about...just, um, your frequent visits-"
"Don't worry about it." Cy smiled, and licked his teeth swiftly with a forked tongue. "I seem to have that effect on most people." Eager to move the conversation on, and to try and make the lizard-monster feel more welcome as his presence obviously wasn't wanted, he reached into a drawer of his desk, revealing a tin of cigars. He opened it fumbling, and offered. Cy gladly excepted and took one, fingering it and inspecting it with utmost caution. Mr Stefani also took one, to prove that they were not poisonous if not to relax his nerves. As he carefully lit the end, taking a quick puff, Cy bit the base of his own cigar off, crunching its contents thoughtfully. A second later, he spat the chewed up remains on the floor in slight disgust and laid the rest of the cigar on the table, Mr Stefani looking on in astonishment and awe. Cy shook his head.
"Not good quality." The Head coughed several times, put his own cigar out to follow suite, nodding, and clasped his hands together.
"So, there was some 'important matter' to talk about?"
"Yes. Very important, even though some might consider it just a minute detail." He unfolded his arms, ready to express his concerns in full. "The Prom is obviously the main distraction for the students tonight, over at North House?"
"Yes, yes."
"But what if there are a few...strays, so to speak?"
"We dispose of them." Cy chuckled.
"You sounded almost like a cold blooded murderer then, Allin." He waited for a remark on the use of his words, but none came so he continued. "But wouldn't some students notice if their friends suddenly went missing? Of course, the answer is yes. And the Prom isn't going to last all night, which, I presume, getting everything on board, packed up and ready to be taken away will."
"Have you looked outside recently? I-I mean, the weather is almost perfect, so getting everything loaded up and the ships to leave the docks shouldn't take too long-"
"Come on, be realistic here. This is a PROM we're talkin' about- teenage girls and teenage boys TOGETHER. You really think they'll be content on the dance floor all night long?"
"True..."
"So we need a better distraction. And I've got just the thing." Mr Stefani's eyebrows rose.
"Oh, yes?"
"Yes. Just when things are dieing down, and everyone's heading off to bed after a long evening, we'll raise the alarm."
-----------------------------
The students certainly were enjoying themselves on this fine day- the Professors had unanimously decided that, after such a tough first few months of the school year, they deserved a day off. But it wasn't just a day to sit back and relax- many activities and outings had been arranged for the students to do a variety of things that they usually wouldn't get the opportunity to do- ice-skating, bowling, climbing- most of which were physically strenuous, but some of which tested your mental capacity.
The day seemed to fly by though, and no sooner had the sun risen, the birds and Mishgulls all singing their sweet tunes or loud roars of the early morning, had the day passed, the sun beginning to set, saying its farewell for the next eight hours, and all of the creatures in the wilderness surrounding the University had gone to sleep, or, in some cases, awoken.
Randall stood in front of the mirror, bopping slightly to the music that was squealing out of a little portable radio, and adjusting his bow tie. It was about an hour and a half till the Prom, and the rest of his roommates hadn't begun to prepare. Randall, on the other hand, was desperate for the evening to be perfect, flawless, everything that his life hadn't been. But what were the odds of that?
Jay burst in the room, singing loudly and making Randall start.
"Hey, Randall! Preparing already? You've got over an hour to go yet!"
"Yeah, well I want this evening to be perfect."
"Maybe it might be! But you know what's more likely?" Randall stopped adjusting his rich purple tie and, seeing Jay in the mirror leaning on his shoulder, (and also feeling his heavy head rest on him) glared.
"What?" He was suspicious of Jay, and still unsure whether their friendship had been wholly affected by what Randall had said the previous day.
"She'll probably play some kind of a trick on you. Or not turn up! I guess that would be better, for you, I mean- it would be a lot more fun for the rest of us seeing you getting shown up in front of everyone else!" Jay smiled, if not a little menacingly. "That's what I'm hoping for." He left the room, having retrieved what he needed, starting to sing along to the song that was cackling out of the radio. "Oh, and by the way," Jay said as he poked his head around the door for a second. "That tie doesn't suit you. Clashes with your eyes."
Having heard Jay shut the door, Randall undid his tie, ripped it off without care, and threw it on the floor. Jay was really beginning to annoy him. Then, concentrating with all his might, Randall shifted his scale colours. He changed through every colour of the rainbow, never satisfied until he came back to his usual pale shade of purple. Eventually, toying with the idea of putting his tie back on, he shifted the electric blue stripe down to a darkish tone of red, and left it at that. But the worries in his mind still tormented him.
What if Xenon had been telling the truth? He'd look a fool, especially in front of Jay. And he couldn't let that happen. Randall might've been a lot of things, on of them proud, but he never really had the idealism of being able to put up with extreme embarrassment. It was one of the things that he would do almost anything to avoid, and, if he was going out with someone other than Zephyr, he would've immediately cancelled the date himself, rather than leaving it to Mr Stefani to threaten him.
But this was Zephyr. She was an exception. Finally, Randall had found someone that just might understand him, understand his personality and quirks and annoyances and, what was more, she might even like it all. And that would just be a gift from heaven. But, even though he didn't know how it would be, Randall knew that his relationship with her wouldn't be easy, and that there would be problems along the way.
And what an understatement that was.
------------------------------------------
Randall stepped down the only truly sweeping stairs of South House, the luscious, thick green carpet lining them sinking beneath him. The doors of the Main Hall were shut, but streaks of light flashing in time with the thumping music shone from the slight gap between the wood and the floor, and as Randall passed by a window, glancing at the beautiful but overgrown gardens that Crynferse was known for, he noticed, in the distance, another window flashing red, green, blue, yellow- all the colours of the rainbow- as was another just off to the left. These were South House's neighbours, the West and East, who also had the privilege but annoyance of a start of term Prom.
The blinking lights, resonating music, bowls upon bowls of diluted punch, and hyper yet inwardly nervous students beckoned to Randall, yet even as he thought about how anxious his friends had said they would be, he couldn't help but feel more nervous than he had been for quite a while. But it wasn't the thought of all of the dozens of students ready to prey on the un- cool that worried him. In fact, it was only one person that was causing him such distress and uncertainty- Zephyr.
Randall knew that she would be in there, waiting for him to come so that she could...no, it wasn't possible. She wasn't that cruel. Everything that Xenon had said were just lies- lies of fear for losing a friend to his sister. What Xenon hadn't realised was that was exactly what had happened, because of Randall's ignorance.
But they were all lies. Every word. Zephyr wasn't going to play some kind of trick on him. Randall was certain of that. Almost.
He had reached the doors and, sweeping back his fronds and trying not to fidget, Randall took a deep but racking breath, struggling to clear his clogged mind, and shoved the door open. The sight was somewhat a surprise to Randall- colourful, obviously, but loud and active, the atmosphere seeming to cackle and spark with the energy and electricity that the students were finally letting loose. And no wonder- their personalities had been cooped up for the best part of two months at this point, to concentrate on work, and now, as they were set free, the students couldn't help but get a little over-excited.
Randall scanned the room urgently for a sign of Zephyr, or anyone that he happened to know the name of and, catching sight of Carmen who had been sitting in a corner, accompanied only by a cup of punch, walked over to her and sat down by her side. Randall had been in this situation too many times- the whole 'I'm just gonna sit in this corner and wait the dance out' routine, and was disappointed yet weirdly relieved to find that Carmen had got the same idea as he had concerning events like this. She had been sipping her punch reclusively when Randall had decided to pay a visit.
"Hey," the lizard-monster greeted her, not bothering to smile. Carmen, coughing, had almost choked on her punch at the surprise of Randall coming to sit next to her, and had spat out a mouthful of pink liquid onto the polished wooden floors. Randall gave her a weird look. "You DO remember who I am, right?" Carmen nodded, still coughing.
"Y-yes, of...of course."
"Good. I was worried there for a second though, when you started to choke on your punch just at the sight of me." Rapidly shaking her head, Carmen carefully put the remainder of her punch down, discouraged.
"No, no, you just...gave me a bit of a fright, that's all. It was merely me not paying attention." Randall gave her a scrutinizing look, then, wanting to change the subject, gave into a slightly depressive state of mind.
"Have...have you seen Zephyr anywhere? I mean, y'know, since I WAS meant to be...well, going with her to the Prom..."
"No, sorry Randall, but I haven't managed to catch sight of her just yet," Carmen replied, sounding quite vague. But, seeing the disappointed look upon his face, she changed the answer to one that might give him a bit more hope. "...actually, I think I caught a fleeting glance of her- she was hanging around the punchbowl in that direction at the time," she said, remembering.
"Thanks." Randall got up, and, making his way around the dozens of bodies wiggling to the N-Mons, tried to hide his excitement. There she was, in all her glory. She was standing by the punchbowl, as Carmen had correctly stated, punch in one hand, napkin in the other. She put her napkin down, barely soiled, having eaten a snack, and then went back to absentmindedly looking around, tapping her tail to the beat of the music.
Randall edged his way to the table that Zephyr was standing by and then, taking his time, went to stand next to her, holding a fresh cup of punch. Pretending not to notice him, Zephyr took a last gulp to finish off her current cup, crumpled it up with a crackle, dropping it in the bin beside her, and gave her date a slightly startling look. Randall froze for a second, suddenly anxious. He'd done something wrong.
A second later, Zephyr smiled.
"Is that for me?"
"Uh...no. I mean, yes!" She smiled even harder and batted her eyelids.
"I'm half drunk as it is, and, by the looks of it, you need a bit of alcohol," she said matter-of-factly, still smiling, even grinning. Randall, at this point, blushed, though he didn't really know why. He took a sip, not daring to say a word in case he would give Zephyr another excuse to laugh at him. The atmosphere between the two stayed tense for a little while, not to mention wordless, even though Zephyr managed to sustain an air of calmness about her. Unfortunately for Randall, she didn't seem to be too worried about this Prom thing, and even looked as though she was enjoying herself for a while.
But, eventually, as more and more students piled in, the numerous sweaty bodies and increasing heat became too much for Zephyr and Randall alike, so Zephyr made a suggestion of going outside to the gardens, where the air was sufficiently cooler and the scenery much more...varied. Randall nodded, having barely touched his punch, and, putting the stuff on the table, gasped silently as his partner intertwined her fingers through his, clutching his hand, and pulled him out of the Hall through a glass, wide open double-door.
She led him through what seemed to be a maze of gardens, and he held on tightly, enjoying this little unexpected surprise more and more every second.
The gardens truly were spectacular. The plants were exotic, to say the least, and even though the end of a tough a cruel year, weather-wise, beckoned, many had only just begun flowering, the pollen scattering about and floating through the air. All of the senses were pleased in this minute Eden, and although everything seemed a little overgrown, the immense feeling of being stuck in the wilderness that would weigh down anyone who entered could actually be quite entertaining.
Zephyr had picked up the pace, Randall smiling in excitement, and, after a few minutes, they stopped. Other couples had had the same idea as them, all finding their own exclusive little area for themselves, but Zephyr and Randall's was by far the most exquisite and unique.
The waning moon was reflected in ripples on the surface of a large pond, which gave the appearance of a miniature lake, the grasses on its bank waving and dancing with the gentle breeze that Randall couldn't have described as anything but the 'Winds of Change', the fishes making the reflected stars wiggle and break, everything seeming so tranquil yet so bursting of life. It was perfect.
They stood, side by side and, for a second or two, remained still and undisturbed to look at the beauty around them. But, soon enough, Zephyr got bored and grasped Randall's hand once more. This time he wasn't surprised, and instead of gripping her hand with urgency, Randall grasped it gently, with welcome. They walked to the bank, standing on the thick grass just before where the ground was soggy and gooey with mud. Zephyr let go.
"I guess we weren't the only couple to have this idea- to get out of that Hall." Randall looked up, trying not to panic.
"Couple?" Zephyr did not reply- instead, she seemed to be panicking quite a bit herself. What if Cy had followed them? She had seen the determined lizard-monster just behind the open glass doors as she and Randall had gone outside, and Cy was almost ALWAYS suspicious. He knew that if Zephyr and Randall were left alone for long enough, something would happen because, surprisingly, Cy had a very clear and accurate definition of love, and therefore could spot it from a mile away. And then there was the matter of her friends, and the little surprise that they had stashed away for Randall for later. Zephyr knew that, at some point, she would have to get Randall back to the Hall, but how?
An idea struck her. It was cruel, it was hurtful, but it just might work...
"Couple?" Randall repeated, determined to get an answer. Zephyr smiled.
"Maybe." Suddenly, Zephyr felt woefully guilty. "I'm...sorry, for the way I've treated you and...oh, everything..." Randall nodded. "I'm sorry for the way I blocked you when we first met," she continued. "You must've been pretty freaked..."
"Yeah, I was," Randall agreed intently. "But the whole 'mystery girl' thing just made me wanna find out more...about you, that is."
"And you forgive me?" Now THAT was a question worth asking. And Randall had no idea of what the answer was to be. But if he was to be truthful...
"No."
"The type to hold a grudge, huh?"
"You could say that."
"I just did- without your consent." Randall chuckled.
"Ooh, now you want my consent for everything, huh? Well, I give you it. Though I do have my doubts..."
"Actually, the point I was making is that I DON'T need your consent. But since you've given me it..." Randall smiled- something that he seemed to do more of when he was around Zephyr. Finally, he was getting in his stride, the nervousness blown away, all fears reduced to pure exhilaration. There was what you could call a little platform that led onto the pond, atop the water, like a little bridge that led to nowhere. Without warning, Zephyr turned around and went onto it, and leant over one side to see the fish scatter at a looming shadow.
Just then, Randall realised how beautiful he thought Zephyr to be. The 'beauty count' was pushed up mainly because of her lavender eyes- something that was considered to be quite rare- and the way her irises were so huge, giving her a slightly puppy dog look. But the eyes that Randall was getting to know so well showed that they held many deep, dark secrets and, what's more, Randall knew it. But the bright light of the moon that was reflected on Zephyr's face, making her patterned skin seem even whiter than usual, illuminated some terrible scars and cuts that Randall had never really noticed before. She hadn't had them when they first met, did she? One or two of the cuts still looked quite raw and red, and most definitely weren't caused by an accident. Something had happened, but Randall just didn't want to spoil the evening by asking awkward questions.
He followed after Zephyr, leaning over the banisters of the walkway side. Then, after a few moments of complete silence, Randall gently brought Zephyr's face back up to face him.
"Zephyr...you, er, you really are..." They were standing near the edge of the walkway, on the only side where there were no banisters or fences. Zephyr put a dexterously clawed finger on Randall's lips, stopping his stuttering and then, with the same hand, motioned for him to look around with a sweep of an arm.
"The delicate flowers, the waving leaves, the brilliant moon...what a sight. Mother Nature really has outdone herself. The things surrounding us never cease to amaze me, anywhere in the world, year after year...my whole life is filled with looking at the details and NEVER forgetting them." She shook her head. "I can't afford to forget. And yet, this is the first time in the whole of my life- well, the parts which I know of- that I have been amazed more so by a monster. Something that can speak, that can think for itself, which is a 'higher intelligence'. And even though I've always thought that the natural beauty around us, the 'primitive' life forms, are so much more valuable than us, just because of what some monsters can be like...well, you've proved me wrong. You really are something...just...wow, and yet I hardly know the first thing about you." She took Randall's hand once more and held it close to his own heart, whilst Randall listened on, entranced by Zephyr's words. "But I know that your heart beats with goodness, with righteousness, though many would say pretty much the opposite of that. But that's just because of the things that YOU'VE been put through, not what you've put through OTHERS. And it's the same with me. Neither of us are perfect, and yet that is the one thing that makes us so perfect for each other."
The leaves rustled and shook, the air grew cooler, yet Randall and Zephyr were unperturbed. This was THEIR time.
Randall grew nervous once more as he leant in, but that was nothing compared to how Zephyr was feeling. She couldn't do this. She knew she couldn't, not with Cy watching. He would kill her and Randall most definitely- the scars and cuts on her face proved it. But she couldn't let Randall down.
She leant in also, the couple closing their eyes and, awkwardly putting their arms around each other, they kissed...