Say What Sweetie?

Chap 7.

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Last Time: Mz/Chx arrives at work to see the greatness of the DDR machine sent as a gift by her distant parents.

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While I was changing and putting on my black stilletos (it's mandatory that we wear them) I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror. I looked pretty cute in my uniform.

If you've ever been to the Latte, waitresses are required to wear shiny black stilettos, black above-the-knee skirts (or capri pants), white long-sleeved shirts with huge cuffs (like the ones under a suit) and either a burgandy or indigo velvet vest. Yeah I also think Mr. Barten's a pervert but I know a little Apkido (the martial art bent on bone-breaking.

As I was about to leave, I heard a clutter and one of the locker doors swung open and out popped Jarmi.

"Hey...(pant pant)...kid!" She looked a little rough.

"Jarmi! What the hell? What happened?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle. Did a pipsqueak followed by 5 or six Lurch disciples come looking for me."

"Chhhh-ya think! But the locker...I don't understand."

"How else do you think I sneak in and out of work?" She moved out the way and surely enough, the locker door lead to a tunnel.

"Well...Whassit connect to?" I asked.

"You know the 'no-grownups-allowed entrance to the astronomer?" she pointed as she applied some concealer to some obvious scrapes. Maybe from moving down the tunnel?

"Yeah."

As she was about to explain how she built a perfect fire-exit I heard a huge "whoa!" coming from the restaurant.

"What? Did I miss something?" Jamrmi shakes her head in confusion and her cowrie shell hair ornaments rattle against her head.

"Oh, my parents um...sent me a DDR machine." I nod.

"DDR! Kick-ass!" she opened the door but I stopped her with an "ahem."

She turned around to see me dangling the vest of her uniform.

"You promised!" I whined. She rolled her eyes and I playfully tossed her uniform in her face.

"Oh yeah, I got ya a little something." She flips some numbers on her REAL locker and pops it open. Inside, there's a huge gift bag with pink hearts on it.

She hands me the bag.

"This is for me?"

She rolls her eyes.

"Well, I was at the Hyrule Mall (aka Market) and picked up a little something for ya."

I gleefully tear through the mountains of tissue paper and pull out a pink, cute, tu-tu like ensemble. It had poofy pink see-through shoulders with a scoop neck and a sash around the waist. The hem of the dress is lacy and frilly. The part of the dress below the sash was adorned with a pattern of red hearts.

"It's...I don't know what to say..."

"Just say you like it and open this box." She hands me a shoe box.

With great care I open the shoe box and inside are some strappy pink heels with the toes out and cute heart charms that seemed to have been made within the same time as the dress. Also in the shoe box are some white, lacy stocking-socks with pale pink hearts.

I break down and cry.

"What's the matter? You don't like it? Because I can always take the shit back y'know..."

"NO, it's just that...all these years...on this crappy holiday...I've been ignored. Everyone's either gotten kisses, candy or flowers but...not me..."

"Awwwwwww...Well, I've got to get to work. You put on your things and have a good time."

I nod, clean up my tears and she leaves.

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After 20 minutes of fumbling with the damn dress and applying a little lipgloss, eyeshadow and changing my hair some, I come out the lounge and the crowd is no longer hysterical over MY DDR machine.

"Mr. Barten?" I tap him on the shoulder. "Why's everyone...not on the DDR machine?"

"These kids were having a little too much fun so I turned it off. You'd like to play it sometime in the future, right?" and it was true.

"Well, Jarmi's punched in, so I'm gonna go mingle." and he's just staring at me.

"What?"

"You just look very beautiful tonight. In fact, if my wife didn't have private eyes on my ass every day, I'd take a stab at you!"

"Uhhhhhh...thanks?" Jeez, note to self. Buy pepper spray and enroll in advanced Aikido classes.

There's nothing better to do, so I sit by the bar while everyone dances to some crappy Japanese pop song. With my head in my hands, I think about my day.

The Deku Kid...the flowers...the note...my Trading Spaces locker makeover...

Dammit! I hate puzzles! This is more frustrating than all the hours I spent with a 2-way slider puzzle!

Speaking of which...The note. Wasn't some dude supposed to show up here? Maybe he doesn't recognize me as the Sugarplum Fairy.

"Charmayn!" I hear a melodic voice call my name. The source of the voice sits at the stool next to me.

"Hiya Mikau! Aren't we looking suave?"

He has on an ivory-colored tuxedo with a pink shirt and red tie on. I never thought a Zora could actually rock a suit but it made his extremities seem more human...Without the protruding fins and all.

"Having fun?" he asks.

"Ehhhh..." I do the universal "so-so" wave with my hand.

"I um...like your outfit. It's different." he says.

"Oh this thing? It was a gift. Wait, you mean different as in 'ugh' or different as in 'ooh!' "

He chuckles. He looks very nice in that tux.

"Waiting for someone?" he asks

"Yeah, some fool stuck a note card in my locker saying 'have in your heart, trust' or some crappe' like that."

Just then, another fool approaches me in blue jeans and a nice green shirt. I knew who it was from the telltale bangs.

"Hey baby. You're looking nice tonight. I like your...sexy ballerina look."

"Put an egg in your shoe and beat it, Rinku."

He cringes. If he hates anything, it's definitely his REAL name.

"Sorry, I just think you look really beautiful. I'd bet you'd look better with it off." he completely blocks the space between me and Mikau's stools.

"I'm sorry, I don't know how you've mistaken me for some cheap 2-ruppee ho'. You may've gotten me with your cheap 2-ruppee lines but not this time! Now if you excuse me, I'm trying to spend a little evening talking to my friend." I point to Mikau.

"Pffft...painted blue bitch..." He mutters under his breath as he walks away defeated. Like a dog with his tail between his legs, and moves on to the next female.

"OH! So who's the lucky lady you're supposed to meet?"

he goes into salmon-mode again.

"Hey, do you know what time it is?'' he changes the subject.

I take a glance at the huge clock hanging above the bar.

"Yeah, it's nine-forty fi-"

My words are replaced by a slippery thing sparring with my tongue, tonsils, and insides of my cheeks. I close my eyes and embrace the fiery sensation of Mikau's kiss.

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He let's go for air. And turns pink.

"Uhmmm...nine-forty...seven?" I also feel the heat rising to my face.

"Charmayn..." he takes my hands. "You're the girl I told you about. I'm the one who decorated and left the note in your locker."

"But...why Mikau...I mean..." I look down.

"Because I, I love you. I love your smile, the softness and sheen of your hair, your laugh, even your witty sarcasm I can never get enough of. Sometimes I can't sleep at night arguing with myself over what to say and how to tell you. I've even made up songs about you. I love you."

"Uh...I...um..." I stammer.

"Charmayn, would you do me the honor, of being my girlfriend?" He reaches behind his back and pulls out a bouquet of beautiful red, white, and pink roses.

"These...these are beautiful...I don't know what to say."

"Then say, say you'll be my girlfriend." and what do you know it, there's a Zora Sapphire ring gleaming from the center of the bouquet like the moon at night.

"I...I do..."

"Don't say it if you don't mean it. I know you don't like me as much as I you, but I can change that. I'm not in the 'Slap-a-ho' tribe and I'm into all that romantic shit too..."

"Mikau...Mikau...I do mean it. I've never noticed how much you've cared for me. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Would you like me to buy you a drink? Sweet-cheeks?" He smiles from ear-to-ear and I can see in his ebony eyes that he's happy for the first time in a while.

I also grin.

"Better yet..." I take his hand. "Let's dance."

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Conclusion? The point of this story? Well, I guess as long as you be yourself, there's bound to be some hot-stuff bag waiting on the sidelines for you enjoying every minute of your genuinity (if thats a word).

And if you are single, and a strong believe in karma, pass out candy to those who are under-appreciated on this poseur holiday.

Hey, don't take my word for it. Even though I've been doing both for most of my life and ended up nabbing a sexy Zora at the end.

And by the way...

The Deku Kid...Luckily the Deku Princess was there from the Southern Swamp.

And let's just say...

That's one helluva happy Deku Scrub!

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the end.

what'd you think? This has to be the first story I've finished in a while.

I know I've left open some loopholes but maybe I'll write an epilouge to patch those up.

And yes, Rinku is Link's japanese name. Okay?