Ohhh I just have to start with the next chapter or else I burst!! At least I have to make some notes of some ideas that had come to my mind just now when finishing the last one -
Wow, that sure was a good night! I think I haven't slept so well for years. Maybe I should ask Zero to bring me to bed every night…
I grin to myself. I have this feeling there's a little chance he could like me just the same way I do like him. All this stuff he was talking about yesterday, asking me if I really not wanted him to go out with Iris. And especially pointing out he doesn't like her!
Although I could have sworn he does. He's been out with her so often, and due to all those rumours… Wait! Didn't Zero say it's simply not true? That they're together I mean? What if those other rumours weren't true as well.. But hey, why should Iris lie to her friends? At last the girls I overheard said Iris herself told them that she and Zero had kissed and stuff…
Maybe it's just like that. But this would mean that… a kiss doesn't mean anything to Zero when he claims not to be her boyfriend although they have kissed. Is Zero able to really love someone at all? I wonder… This thought somehow makes me sad.
Wah, don't think about it too much, X! Just get up, you had a wonderful night, the last one you saw before getting to sleep was Zero and he's definitely not Iris' boyfriend! What else could I want?
I jump out of my bed. It's at least comforting to know he's not having a girl friend either. If I can't be with him that way, no one else should! I even think I could stand it through this way… If he only would stop dating so many girls! I wouldn't really have to be in a love-relationship with him as long as he's just always around me and no one else… Yes, I think I could go for that. As being in another relationship than friendship with him seems impossible anyway…
I get dressed and leave my room looking for Zero. That's not too difficult as he already runs into me.
"Woah! X! Up so early? Hope you slept better than yesterday! You look a lot better today after all!" he smiles.
"Yeah, thanks to you!" I return his smile. He looks confused.
"Why me? What did I do?"
Whooops!
"Oh, nothing really. Just made sure that…. I really go to bed and stay there! Haha…"
Man I hope I'm not blushing right now! But he seems to take it. I gotta stop that stupid 'Haha'-laughs after trying to distract from something somehow!
"Oh. Okay. It seems you're much more relaxed than the last days. Might that be because of what I've told you last night?"
Gosh he's direct isn't he? I can't even think so fast to make something up to say that won't make the situation worse again. We've just gotten back to our normal behaviour!
"Noooo, Zero! What do you think of anyway?"
"Well, you looked very pissed the last days everytime the topic went to me and Iris. Now you know we're not together and stuff."
"Ohhh, that was just… I mean… " Damn!!! Think think think…. "You know, maybe I'm more relaxed now because… ehm… before I thought you really liked her and I was all confused when you told me you don't and now… ehm… I won't…eeeerrr…"
Damn damn damn!!! I had hoped something really good would come to my mind just while talking, or at least Zero interrupting me so I won't have to. But all he's doing is watching me curiously, waiting for me to continue…
"So, you won't what?"
He smiles. Bastard! Whoops swearing again! Who cares? He's gotta know pretty well that I never knew how to end that sentence… He just knows me too well. I sigh.
"Let's just forget about that okay? Imagine I was a girl – which I am OF COURSE not, and had my period okay? I just don't know what's gotten into me but it's over now and I don't want to think about it any more."
For a few seconds Zero just stares at me.
"What kind of speech was that?? Period?! X, you're sure you don't need a vacation??" He puts his hand on my forehead to feel if I have a fever. I shove it away, blushing again. Jeez gotta get that blushing under control sometime soon!
"I always need vacation! Who doesn't? Now stop it already!"
"As you wish." He shrugs, then grins. "I think I DO know what's up with you…"
I gulp. No, he can't! Can he…?
"What do you mean?" Do I sound unconcerned enough?
"Oh, you'll see!"
And with this he leaves me standing in the hallway. Whatever he's up to, this can't be good! Or maybe… I already thought about the possibilty he could feel that way for me because of what I've heard the last night. Hm… Since I decided that I can perfectly live with the fact that I can't have him, but as well nobody else can, I just wait for things to happen. It can't get any worse right? Whistling I leave for the head office.
…
"Good morning X!"
"Hey X!"
"Morning Signas, Alia."
Seems like there's nothing up today. Signas looks relaxed which he never does when Mavericks are about to attack. So I don't have to ask if there's something to do for me at all. But taking a second look at Alia, I knew that she's got something on her mind. She gives me that 'We have to talk'-look.
Normally I try to avoid such conversations, but as I'm in a real good mood today, I take the hint.
"Alia, I've got something I need to talk to you about. Ehm, about those new.. hum… armors!"
Alia looks astonished. As I expected, she didn't see this one coming.
"Oh, okay X! Let's go somewhere we can talk unhurriedly."
With this she escorts me out of the office. Signas seems quiet confused. I know why. There is no such thing as new armors… I bet anything he's checking on that right now believing he's going senile after all. I chuckle.
"X, I wonder. Normally you try to avoid talking to me. I mean, this way… You know what I mean."
"Yeah. This talking into my mind stuff." I grin. "I just happen to be in a good mood, so what's up? Something important?"
"Well, kinda… It's about Zero and Iris…"
For a second I almost skip a pace and trip, but I manage to avoid it. What is she talking about? Maybe I should have avoided her as I usually do…
"So, what's with them?" We reach her room and she opens it to enter. "Here?"
"Yes. If we're talking in you're room Zero might burst in. You know he's not exactly the polite one who knocks and waits for permission to enter when he visits you."
"He's my best friend, that's okay… I guess. And he sometimes does knock!"
"Yeah, whatever…" she closes the door behind us and offers me a seat. She prefers standing or walking around while talking. I feel like a criminal in an interrogation…
"What I want to talk to you about is… What happened yesterday?"
"What do you mean?" I'm shifting uncomfortably on my seat. How much does she know? Anyway, nothing bad happened, right?
"Hm… where to start? Well, I don't know what Zero and you talked about yesterday, but I'm pretty sure you DID talk. There must be a reason for Zero's behaviour this morning."
"What are you talking about Alia?!"
Confusion is my new favourite word I just decided! Now I'm really clueless what's up. Zero was the same happy nature as he usually is. He might be rough to almost anybody except me, but he's always still happy, making jokes – often at other's costs – and the only times I saw him really furious was when some maverick hurt me in battle. Maybe sometimes with Signas when he's annoying Zero. Thinking about it, I haven't even seen him sad ever before. I guess he's just good at hiding such feelings.
"X? Hello?" Oh shoot, am I daydreaming again?? I gotta stop that stuff!
"Yeah yeah, I'm listening! I just don't think Zero acted weird today…"
"So you already met him? I wonder what he's up to… But the problem is not only concerning him, as I told you, it's about him AND Iris."
"Will you eventually tell me what you mean?" I'm getting impatient.
"Alright. I have a slight idea of what you've been talking about with Zero yesterday. And I think that's the reason for what Zero did today. He… broke up with Iris."
That's all?
"You know Alia, breaking up a never existing relationship doesn't seem too sensational to me."
Now it's her turn to be confused. Got her! Haha!
"What was that?"
"Yesterday Zero told me they're no couple as some people seemed to think. So did I. He told me he doesn't even like her very much. I admit, that was a surprise to me as we-"
"He did WHAT???"
"Ehm… What's wrong?"
"So what's about all that dating stuff??"
"That's what I asked him. But he refused to answer. Maybe he just wanted to have some fun or show off?" What am I talking about here?!
"Oh poor Iris… Okay, this way, it looks a bit different…" Alia seems to think hard about something. I can't wait to hear it.
"What are you thinking about Alia?"
"X, the way they broke up – ah, you know what I mean, don't look at me like that! It's not like Zero just said he doesn't want to date her anymore… it was more like… running her down."
"How do you know?"
I can't really imagine Zero shouting at Iris like that. I know what he's like when he freaks out. But normally that only happens in battle or with Signas as I already said… But Iris? I don't know yet what exactly happened, but imagining Zero shouting at Iris like that… Iris must be devastated. Even I wouldn't want Zero shouting at me like that.
"I couldn't ignore it. He shouted so loud I could hear him perfectly well in the hallway… He was in her room, shouting stuff at her like she's talking nonsense, spreading rumours, and he definitely not wanting to be her boyfriend or anything near that."
That's not true is it?
"I… Are you sure?"
"See? I thought you would wonder as well. But I hoped that you at least had a possible explination for that. As I said before, I think it has something to do with whatever you talked about yesterday."
"All important stuff we talked about I told you already."
"Yeah… And it seems to me like Zero freaked out because you thought he and Iris were a couple."
I blush, and Alia grins. What the…
"You're really cute X! You blush quite a lot the last days don't you?"
"I – I don't know what you're talking about!" Quickly I look to the floor. Hm. I never realized the interesting pattern of Alias carpet…
"X, don't try to hide it! Not from me. I'm not as blind as others might be!"
"Still, I don't know what you're talking about!" Now I'm examining her desk. Pretty one…
"You can try but it won't help anyway. I know what's up with you. You like Zero… a lot!"
Can you blush even more?
"Really Alia, what's up with you??? Leave me alone! Zero's my best friend, of course I like him! That's all?"
I stand up. I don't want to discuss THIS.
"Calm down X, I won't tell anybody. But.. haven't you thought about that Zero might have acted like he did this morning because he likes you A LOT as well?"
She's grinning again. I don't intend on playing her game.
"Alia, you're a nice girl and all, but you really don't know me concerning this. I AM NOT in love with Zero, alright??"
"Did I say that? I just stated you like him A LOT … I didn't mention love…"
"But you were talking about that!!" Now I'm pissed. Alia finally seems to notice as her smile slightly fades.
"Okay okay big boy, you go! You don't like Zero A LOT, not to mention love, you're just friends. And Zero's behaviour has nothing to do with what you talked about. Thanks anyway! You may go!"
"Oh Alia, you're not my mother! Stop talking like that!" I head for the door and open it. "And once again, I think you're last statement was just a LITTLE ironic… I assure you there's completely nothing like that as you think of me okay?"
I managed to look very serious when saying that. No wonder considering how pissed I am. She finally seems to realize she's wrong.
"See X, whatever you might feel, I don't think it's fair to have Iris pay for all that. As far as I know, she really loves Zero… I don't want to blame you of course, but… just try to leave her out of that somehow."
"It's not my fault that Zero shouted at her or that she loves him… Are you finished now? No more talking about nonsense like I'm having a crush on Zero?"
But somehow I feel sorry for Iris… Anyway, I hope Alia's done now…
"Alright X. I believe you." She doesn't smile any more. Yeah, guess I managed to get out of it! So I smile and turn to leave.
"Bye Alia."
"Bye X!"
I close the door and hesitate for a moment. I might be mistaken, but I could have sworn she chuckled when saying bye…