Mel: If you think things are getting better...
Figgy: You'd be wrong.
Mel: Because this chapter is full of DRAMA AND TRAGEDY!
Figgy: Bumbumbuuuuum...
Chapter Five: I Think I HATE You!
I sit there, eyes wide, staring at Freya, who stands above me, her hands on her hips, with a glower on her face that could kill a weak person. But not Irontail Fratley! (heheh)
I gingerly give Freya the perfume bottle and mutter, "I'm-just-going-out-now…" and I sidle out of the room into my own.
I must remember the name ANGEL. Tomorrow I'm going to the ice-rink with Nina. I'll get one then.
The next morning Gus tells me that he is going to an art show in Treno and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon….WHAAAAAT?
"Nooo!" I sob. "Don't leave me with them! I don't know how to cook!"
"I'll cook!" Freya smiles, who has been EAVESDROPPING ON OUR CONVERSATION…
"Thanks, but last time you cooked I felt so bad I couldn't taste anything for four months…" Amarant mutters, a little smile on his face (underneath all that hair). Freya gives him a playful shove, probably insulted.
"Can't eat here anyway," I remember, "I'm going to The Pimento with Nina."
Freya's smile slowly vanishes and turns into a look of a mixture between horror and curiosity.
"…Nina?" she asks, one eyebrow raised. She looks at Amarant and they both smirk. She looks back at me.
"Is she your girlfriend?" she says, but I'M sure that I heard a bit of a sneer with the word "girl".
"No! She's jus my friend." I say. "We're planning on going to the ice-rink…"
All iciness from Freya's face melts away.
"Oh! Let's all go down to the ice-rink!" she says excitingly. Oh, so NIOW you want to know about Nina…
So it's all decided. We meet Nina, who is slightly surprised to see Freya and scared to see Amarant, and I don't blame her (he's taller than me…taller than anyone, actually!).
"Oh my gosh! Star Maiden Nina!" Freya says. "I haven't seen you since the incident in Cleyra! You managed to escape then?"
Nina nods. "Yes, I went back to Lindblum before Brahne used the Eidolon. Hey, that was after meeting…Fratley…"
Freya looks at me sadly I guess she remembers about the day I admitted I couldn't remember her. OH come on! It's not my fault I couldn't remember stuff…it just…happened.
I still have those old memories. They're just too hard to get, at the back of my mind.
I look at the floor, not wanting to see Freya's eyes. I mean, she's got Amarant now, why mope around me?
Freya and Nina go off to the rink. Freya insists, "Oh, but I don't know how to ice-skate! I never learnt…"
"Oh, don't worry! I'll teach you! It's really simple – once you've stopped falling over that is…"
They gossip on while I put my fingers in my ears, obviously not interested in the slightest. The lizard man (Amarant) is with me as he is sighing impatiently and muttering, "Why did we come here?"
A half hour later I am on the balcony, after choosing my usual table that overlooks the whole rink. Freya (surprisingly) has finally learnt how to skate and can do all sorts of tricks.
For reasons unknown I sit transfixed at her grace and elegance and…gaaaaaaaaaah…
What the hell? WHY am I transfixed to her? WHY? Ooh if Amarant sees me staring, he will not be a happy bunny…
I distract myself by eyeing up some girls on the table near me. But they are just not Freya…besides; they don't have the perfume…THE PERUFME! CRAP! THAT'S what I came here for. I jump out of my seat and run into the perfume store. The girl behind the counter snorts when I come up to her with a bottle of ANGEL.
"For your girlfriend, right?" she asks, one eyebrow raised. I blush and nod; it is better than saying NO it is for me, yes I need help.
I hide the bottle in my bag after buying it and find Freya and Nina and Amarant sitting at the table where I was just now.
"Where were you?" Nina asks.
"I-uh-was-uh-in-the-little boy's room?" I suggest, smiling sheepishly. Freya starts laughing hysterically then needs to be hit on the back by Amarant as she is choking on her food. Yes I forgot to mention they are eating doughnuts.
"You're eating doughnuts with me?" I croak. "Noo!"
"Whoops, sorry Fratley but since you were in the (snort) little boy's room (snort) we decided to eat something while we wait." Freya laughs. For (yet again) reasons unknown, I laugh to myself smiling at Freya.
"Come on, let's get back," Nina says.
It's late at night now. I've been sniffing ANGEL all evening (alone). Nina has gone home so I left the couple to go to bed.
Only I can't sleep. I keep thinking about Freya. Which is stupid.
I'm about to fall asleep when I hear a voice from downstairs:
"…It feels as if things are going whirlwind fast." I get up and put my ear to the door. No I am not eavesdropping…ok maybe I am…
Another voice is heard.
"Don't worry."
"I know I mustn't, but…oh Ammy, I can't believe it…soon we'll be married…"
"Mmm…"
"Ammy? What's wrong?" I realize that the person who just spoke is Freya so she must be talking to Amarant. He replies.
"It's just…how long Freya?"
"…What do you mean?"
"How long have you and Fratley been going on behind my back?"
I freeze, eyes wide, mouth gaping. I can't move, can't breathe, and can't think. I just listen to the danger unfold…
"…What? Fratley and me? Oh Ammy! Nothing's going on!"
"Doesn't seem like nothing. I've seen him look at you smiling. Then looking at me, quite the opposite. He's jealous Freya, I can see it in his eyes."
"But…"
"He's not the only one who's jealous."
"What? Are you accusing me?"
"Damn right. This afternoon, when Fratley told you about Nina. You were jealous."
I can't believe a word. What's going on? Why is this perfect relationship crumbling?
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean a thing! Anyway, it doesn't prove I still care for him!"
"Are you sure? Sure you don't wanna confess you still have feelings for him?"
"NO! There must be a mistake…"
"I'M SICK OF YOUR SLEAZY EXCUSES! DAMN IT, I'M SICKOF YOU!"
I hear a clang, but I don't know what it is.
"Amarant don't leave me please! I cant live without you! PLEASE!"
"DAMMIT WOMAN YOU'RE ALWAYS IN MY WAY!" he roars.
I hear a thwack, it sounds like a fist hitting a jaw. I then hear the sound of a body hitting the floor, and the front door slam a few minutes after. Three seconds pass and I hear someone sobbing. I don't care who it is; I just want them to stop. I burst out of my room, race down the stairs and when I get to the kitchen I find Freya sitting up on the floor, her face in her hands. I can hear her strangled sobs.
"Freya?" I ask frantically.
"Fratley…I don't want you to see me like this." she cries. I kneel down beside her and take her hands away from her face. I wish I didn't because as I look at her I see a purple, huge bruise swelling up around her jaw.
Oh my gods. Amarant hit her.
"Fratley…he's not coming back." She sobs. I try to keep her spirits up.
"No, he will Freya, I'm sure he will." I say, giving her a hug. Her tears seep through my (I am embarrassed to say) pajamas…(ahem)
"Why? Why did he leave me?" she sobs again.
"I don't know." I say. It's true, I don't. "These things happen I guess."
I help Freya up then get her an ice pack for her jaw.
"It's hurting quite a bit." She says, putting on the ice pack and a brave face.
I'm not surprised; Amarant could pack quite a punch.
"You'll be fine. I'm just glad he didn't do anything worse." I say.
Freya cries a bit more. "He said you were jealous." She says.
"Jealous? OF course I'm jealous!" I say. Freya looks horrified at me.
"I'm jealous that you have the perfect life and I've got...nothing." I continue. Freya hugs me again.
"Look," I say. "Why don't you go up to bed? I'm sure Amarant will come back, you just wait. And you've got to be ready for him…"
Freya agrees and goes upstairs with the ice pack on her mouth.
I get myself a drink of water, and as I pour the water I notice something on the drain.
I pick it up, hands shaking. It can't be, but it is.
Now know what went CLANG and what Amarant threw at Freya.
His engagement ring.
Figgy: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!
Mel: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Figgy: WHY ARE WE YELLING?
Mel: DO WE CARE?
Both: AAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
