Note: Had to change the title. It was cringe-worthy, therefore it went. In other news, wow, six months without an update. Wish I could say that was unusual for me, but I can't. ;) Thank you so much to those of you who left reviews for the last chapter, I hope you'll enjoy this one.
Chapter 6: Domesticity (AERIS)
It hardly even registered with me when the city clock chimed five, I'd been selling flowers since twelve and I was just about ready to flop onto the nearest bench and possibly expire, but I realised that I'd never see Friday if I did that, so I adjusted the basket in my arms, feet aching, and looked to see how many flowers I had left.
None.
The basket was completely empty, not even a stray petal remained in the bottom. Somehow, I'd managed to sell more flowers on auto-pilot than I ever do when I'm really concentrating. Having said that though, knowing me when I'm daydreaming, I probably just gave half of them away. I shook my jacket pocket, listening to the coins jangling, and eventually decided that there was probably enough there for tomorrow's grocery shopping. I'd have to head up to Wall Market early on - all the best food is usually gone by about nine, thanks to the people in sector six who rush there to scavenge all the prizes.
Jessie's the one that usually does all the cooking so the groceries will be for her, she told me that she learned to do it after her parents died, orphaning her and her three younger siblings. She had no choice in the matter, as her sister and brothers were all younger than she was, so she had to step into the role of her mother. She came to Midgar when she was about twenty-one, when her brother took over looking after the family for her. That was when she met me, selling flowers near the train station in Sector Eight, and we've lived together ever since then. I was glad of the company, and Jess was too. Midgar is a frightening place when you're alone with nowhere to go. We're a pretty good team, though, now that I think about it; Jessie does the cooking and fixes faulty appliances (she likes anything like that), I wander around tidying things up and sorting out bills. We both work, Jessie was hired as a waitress in the Sector Seven bar recently, thanks to her boyfriend putting in a good word for her with the owner.
I could hardly believe that five hours had flown by so quickly. After talking to Cloud, I started thinking about all the places he'd told me about; Costa del Sol, Gongaga, Wutai... I'd love to visit them someday. As someone who's never left Midgar, the world outside is so interesting to me. I'd love to visit the Gold Saucer (I saw an advert this morning and it looks like so much fun!) and watch the Chocobo Races, maybe watch a play and then try out those games in the Wonder Square. Or perhaps just stay at Costa del Sol for a night, listening to the waves. I wonder what they sound like?
When I finally arrived home, after walking the long way around by accident because I was too busy thinking to notice where I was going, Jessie flung open the door, a huge smile on her face.
"I didn't make that much money." I joked as she grabbed my arm, dragging me inside.
"I'm getting married!" she crowed, shoving her hand in my face and nearly poking my eye out. I laughed, taking her hand and pushing it back a little to study the jewellery. A chunky band adorned her finger, and as I studied it closer, I noticed that a message had been carved into the metal.
"He made it himself." Jessie informed me happily as I squinted, trying to make out what had been engraved. "Melted down bottle caps from the bar."
I gave up on trying to read it, coming to the conclusion that it was something romantic, even if I wasn't sure what, and smiled at Jessie.
"That's so sweet. Took him long enough, you've been dropping plate-sized hints for...oh, how long now?"
She stuck her tongue out at me, admiring the ring.
"Shut up, Aeris. He got there in the end."
"So, how did he do it?" I asked excitedly.
"Clumsily." she admitted with a smirk. "And he could have picked a more romantic place than outside the clothes store in Wall Market, but hey, it's the thought that counts."
"Exactly." I replied. "And now every time you need a new sweater, you'll smile."
"I will, won't I?" she said giddily. "I can't believe I'm getting married."
"I can." I told her. "I knew he'd ask you soon!"
"Yeah, but..." She suddenly lost her sparkle, lowering her eyes.
"But what, Jess?"
"We'll be moving in together this weekend."
"Ah." I stared past her for a moment, eyes fixed on the refrigerator.
"Will you be okay with that?" she asked, worried.
"Hmm, well..."
"Aeris?"
"Well, I don't know..."
I turned away, smiling inwardly as Jessie tried to get my attention again.
"I...I won't go if you...if you don't want me to." she stammered, and I could hear the disappointment in her voice. "You think it's too soon?"
"You want the truth?" I asked, trying my best to sound serious.
"Yeah."
"Well, the truth is this... You should stop worrying about me, and start packing!" I grinned, turning back to her and grabbing her in a big hug. I could hear her laughing into my shoulder with relief.
"Aeris, you witch, you scared me half to death," she said, scowling. "But seriously, hon. Are you sure you'll be okay if I go? Who'll cook?" I hit her on the arm.
"I will. And I'll get a cat, and learn how to program the video, and all sorts of grown up things. And you," I scolded. "will stop worrying."
"But the last time you tried to cook bacon we almost had to call the fire department." she said doubtfully, and I cringed, remembering that particular incident. I could have sworn I only took my eyes off the grill for a second, but the next thing I knew, the flat was filled with smoke and Jessie was screeching at me to get the fire extinguisher from the cupboard under the sink.
"It was extra-flammable bacon." I said defensively.
"Sure, Aeris, sure."
"Anyway," I said brightly. "You still have until Friday to teach me. Problem solved."
"Problem started." Jessie retorted, rolling her eyes. "Maybe you should stick with microwave meals."
I shook my head. "No way, missy. You're the one going all domestic and getting married. Therefore, you're the perfect teacher. Now..." I trailed off, looking around the shelves for something that would be easy. "Teach me how to make something edible."
It hardly even registered with me when the city clock chimed five, I'd been selling flowers since twelve and I was just about ready to flop onto the nearest bench and possibly expire, but I realised that I'd never see Friday if I did that, so I adjusted the basket in my arms, feet aching, and looked to see how many flowers I had left.
None.
The basket was completely empty, not even a stray petal remained in the bottom. Somehow, I'd managed to sell more flowers on auto-pilot than I ever do when I'm really concentrating. Having said that though, knowing me when I'm daydreaming, I probably just gave half of them away. I shook my jacket pocket, listening to the coins jangling, and eventually decided that there was probably enough there for tomorrow's grocery shopping. I'd have to head up to Wall Market early on - all the best food is usually gone by about nine, thanks to the people in sector six who rush there to scavenge all the prizes.
Jessie's the one that usually does all the cooking so the groceries will be for her, she told me that she learned to do it after her parents died, orphaning her and her three younger siblings. She had no choice in the matter, as her sister and brothers were all younger than she was, so she had to step into the role of her mother. She came to Midgar when she was about twenty-one, when her brother took over looking after the family for her. That was when she met me, selling flowers near the train station in Sector Eight, and we've lived together ever since then. I was glad of the company, and Jess was too. Midgar is a frightening place when you're alone with nowhere to go. We're a pretty good team, though, now that I think about it; Jessie does the cooking and fixes faulty appliances (she likes anything like that), I wander around tidying things up and sorting out bills. We both work, Jessie was hired as a waitress in the Sector Seven bar recently, thanks to her boyfriend putting in a good word for her with the owner.
I could hardly believe that five hours had flown by so quickly. After talking to Cloud, I started thinking about all the places he'd told me about; Costa del Sol, Gongaga, Wutai... I'd love to visit them someday. As someone who's never left Midgar, the world outside is so interesting to me. I'd love to visit the Gold Saucer (I saw an advert this morning and it looks like so much fun!) and watch the Chocobo Races, maybe watch a play and then try out those games in the Wonder Square. Or perhaps just stay at Costa del Sol for a night, listening to the waves. I wonder what they sound like?
When I finally arrived home, after walking the long way around by accident because I was too busy thinking to notice where I was going, Jessie flung open the door, a huge smile on her face.
"I didn't make that much money." I joked as she grabbed my arm, dragging me inside.
"I'm getting married!" she crowed, shoving her hand in my face and nearly poking my eye out. I laughed, taking her hand and pushing it back a little to study the jewellery. A chunky band adorned her finger, and as I studied it closer, I noticed that a message had been carved into the metal.
"He made it himself." Jessie informed me happily as I squinted, trying to make out what had been engraved. "Melted down bottle caps from the bar."
I gave up on trying to read it, coming to the conclusion that it was something romantic, even if I wasn't sure what, and smiled at Jessie.
"That's so sweet. Took him long enough, you've been dropping plate-sized hints for...oh, how long now?"
She stuck her tongue out at me, admiring the ring.
"Shut up, Aeris. He got there in the end."
"So, how did he do it?" I asked excitedly.
"Clumsily." she admitted with a smirk. "And he could have picked a more romantic place than outside the clothes store in Wall Market, but hey, it's the thought that counts."
"Exactly." I replied. "And now every time you need a new sweater, you'll smile."
"I will, won't I?" she said giddily. "I can't believe I'm getting married."
"I can." I told her. "I knew he'd ask you soon!"
"Yeah, but..." She suddenly lost her sparkle, lowering her eyes.
"But what, Jess?"
"We'll be moving in together this weekend."
"Ah." I stared past her for a moment, eyes fixed on the refrigerator.
"Will you be okay with that?" she asked, worried.
"Hmm, well..."
"Aeris?"
"Well, I don't know..."
I turned away, smiling inwardly as Jessie tried to get my attention again.
"I...I won't go if you...if you don't want me to." she stammered, and I could hear the disappointment in her voice. "You think it's too soon?"
"You want the truth?" I asked, trying my best to sound serious.
"Yeah."
"Well, the truth is this... You should stop worrying about me, and start packing!" I grinned, turning back to her and grabbing her in a big hug. I could hear her laughing into my shoulder with relief.
"Aeris, you witch, you scared me half to death," she said, scowling. "But seriously, hon. Are you sure you'll be okay if I go? Who'll cook?" I hit her on the arm.
"I will. And I'll get a cat, and learn how to program the video, and all sorts of grown up things. And you," I scolded. "will stop worrying."
"But the last time you tried to cook bacon we almost had to call the fire department." she said doubtfully, and I cringed, remembering that particular incident. I could have sworn I only took my eyes off the grill for a second, but the next thing I knew, the flat was filled with smoke and Jessie was screeching at me to get the fire extinguisher from the cupboard under the sink.
"It was extra-flammable bacon." I said defensively.
"Sure, Aeris, sure."
"Anyway," I said brightly. "You still have until Friday to teach me. Problem solved."
"Problem started." Jessie retorted, rolling her eyes. "Maybe you should stick with microwave meals."
I shook my head. "No way, missy. You're the one going all domestic and getting married. Therefore, you're the perfect teacher. Now..." I trailed off, looking around the shelves for something that would be easy. "Teach me how to make something edible."