Mel: I no get reviews
Figgie: Accept it NO ONE LIKES YOUR FICS!
Mel: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(runs away sobbing)
Figgie: ...Oops. Please, see this poor girl and put her out of her misery by reviewing this chapter (please, no flame)
AJ: WHAT DO YOU MEAN FREYA AND AMARANT SPLIT UP? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(runs away sobbing)
Figgie:...RANDOMNESS!
Chapter Eight: BUSTED! (No, not the band…)
So, Freya has left. Gus and Nina refuse to talk to me, Snoddly just thinks about girls, and Amarant wouldn't come back even if you paid him 1 million Gil.
No one wants me at all. No, I am not counting my mother, she won't understand, she'll just lecture me about being drunk, blah blah blah…
Maybe Freya was right. Maybe it is my entire fault. If I hadn't been drinking the first time, all this probably wouldn't have happened.
I wish I hadn't kissed Nina. I wish I hadn't rejected Freya. I wish she and Amarant never broke up. I wish they never came. I wish hadn't not got a date for the ball. I wish I had never moved in…
I WISH I'D NEVER BEEN BORN.
But what's the point in wishing? The damage has been done. You can't change the past.
I sit at the dinner table, my cheek red, my other cheek is white, and so it looks kinds obvious. I can make out the handprint on the slap.
Gus is clearing up the mess on the carpet where Freya dropped her mug. Nina has gone, disgusted. I blame myself for everything. I feel so down…yet I'm not going to drink, because I have discovered something. You can't drink when you're down. It just makes you feel worse.
"I'm going to bed," I say, even though it's only 4 'o' clock in the afternoon. No reply, so I pad upstairs. I go into Freya's room. It's totally empty, yet the bed isn't made. I go over and make the bed. I look around the room. I feel lonely and desperate.
"I'm sorry Freya," I whisper. But she's long gone.
I walk over to the dressing table. I have no idea why there's one in here! Looking out of the window, I can see the lake, and all those Valentine's couples dotted around it, some holding hands, some hugging, some kissing, and some chatting…
Wake up Fratley! Valentine's Day is OVER. So why are you pining for a loved one?
I sit down on the dressing table, looking at myself in the mirror. The table is with a gold finish, so it looks elegant and royal.
Being nosy, I open the doors one by one. And when I get to the last one, I open it and find Freya's perfume bottle. The ANGEL one. I bet she left it on purpose. I bet it reminds her too much of me, and how much I loved it. I bet she's with Amarant right now, and they're getting married right this moment. Yeah. They wouldn't wait, not after what happened.
I bring the perfume bottle to my nose and sniff the scent. Closing my eyes, I can see her…Freya.
A puff of smoke arises in my mind and I can see images from it. The first one is of two young lovers, in an embrace. Then the man suddenly lets the girl go and walks away. As the girl falls to her knees in despair...
Why did you do it?
What was that? I am snapped back to reality. I think I can hear my conscience. I reply.
"Do what?"
Kiss Nina. Reject Freya.
"I don't know. I was drunk, and didn't know what I was doing."
You know how I feel about Nina Frats…
Ok it is NOT my conscience but Gus, standing in the doorway. I turn to face him.
"I'm sorry Gus. Truly I am. It won't happen again, I swear." I plead. Gus is about to reply when the doorbell rings. He goes down to open the front door while I stare in the mirror. I look pretty much the same from before Freya came, black circles around my eyes, red cheek, and droopy ears. But when I met Freya again…she turned my life upside down.
I hate myself. If it weren't for me Freya would still be here and I wouldn't be so lonely.
Suddenly Gus calls in a strangled voice, "Fratley – someone to see you." I jump up. Freya? I run downstairs. Please let it be Freya, please, please, please. But it isn't.
It's a policeman. He holds a notebook in his left hand and a pen in the right.
"Ah, Sir Enrite." He says solemnly.
"What's up?" I ask slightly worried.
"Take a seat," he replies gruffly. I obey him. What's going on? I haven't done any-hang on! Maybe someone saw me drunk!
"I have some grave news to tell you," the policeman continues. "It is about Lord Cumbington."
"He's dead!" I ask. He shakes his head.
"No, but nearly. He was brutally attacked by an unidentified stranger. However, by his body, when someone found him, was this." and he showed me a slither of yellow fabric. Yellow fabric that came off my jacket. The policeman continues.
"When Cumbington awoke, he muttered two words, 'Irontail Fratley'. I'm sorry, sir, but all the clues point to you. I have to arrest you."
"WHAT?" I cry. I haven't done anything! Someone has framed me, I'm sure of it.
The policeman snaps those cuff things on my wrists. I am forced to be dragged out over to the police station. Oh gods, I am in so much of a boo-boo…
I sit in my cell watching the water leak from the ceiling. It's dark and the window is very small so not much light comes through. It smells of sewage and rotten food.
It's not my jail cell, though. The trial is tomorrow. This is just so people can keep an eye on my before the trial, in case I flee the country or some other crap.
I feel scared. I know deep down I didn't' attack Snottly, but I just can't get anyone to believe me. Gus, I was surprised at, did not defend me at all…
A policewoman opens my door. "You've got visitors." She smiles. I am leaded to a small room, which is guarded by to members of the police.
Gus and Nina sit anxiously when I go in.
"Guys! Oh, am I glad to see you!" I cry and hug them both. They pull back quickly.
"Why so hesitant?" I ask puzzled. "Oh, hang on…you don't believe me do you, when I say it wasn't me!" I am shocked at their disloyalty.
"It's not that we don't believe you, Fratley." Nina squeaks. "It's just, well, all the signs point to you." I suddenly jump up, anger flaring.
"Anyone could have cut off a piece of my jacket!" I argue.
"But Frats," Gus croaks. "You could have attacked him when you were drunk."
"No way! I'd remember something like that!"
"I'm sorry Fratley," Gus says, getting up with Nina. "But we believe you did it. Goodbye."
"NOOO!" I yell, falling to my knees. Gus and Nina look down at me.
Something wells in my eyes. Tears…
"Please," I sob. "You've gotta help me! It wasn't me, I swear, I swear by the name of the Sacred Dragoon Elaris and the Crystal it wasn't me, please Gus, please Nina, say you'll believe me…"
Nina tales a step forward. "I'm sorry…"
"YOU see these tears in my eyes, don't you?" I cry, standing up. "They're real, like everything else. You know what this means? That's right, a grown-up man is crying because he's actually scared for his life here! I've had a harsh sense of reality." I sob into my hands, letting my dignity slip away like butter. Nina mutters, "Poor thing." And lets me sob on her shirt as she hugs me. Gus pats my back.
"I don't wanna die a framed criminal!" I wail.
"You won't, Frats," Gus says encouragingly. "We believe in you!"
I stop crying and sniff. "Thanks guys," I whisper hoarsely as I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
They leave after a while and I return to my cell, happy that I have my best friend's trust again. There's only one thing I want now. I take out the ANGEL bottle and sniff. The certain thing must be substituted…
It's the day of the trial. I dress in a suit instead of my usual gear. This time it's business and personal. A couple of minutes later two policemen take me to the court building. It is very high – tech, with about 30 floors and cool discrete lifts and escalators. My trial is, predictably, on floor 30. We go up the lift and enter the court. I sit on the right table with my lawyer, fellow Dragoon knight Trotsworthy.
After a short while the people, jury, and Snottly's lawyer come in. Soon after Snottly comes in, with a plaster cast on his leg, and many cuts and bruises. Yup, I definitely didn't do that. If I did, it would only be one cut with y spear!
While we wait for the judge I look out of the tall glass windows that show Burmecia. It is raining (overstatement of the century) and the sun is also shining through clouds so it looks quite pretty. Some birds fly through the air, and it makes me wish I was going in the air with them, free, without a care in the world. I wouldn't be accused of anything, and we'd fly wherever we chose. We could even visit Freya and Amarant, and promise that we'd look out for them. WE could live with them, and I'd look after their kids, and they'd call me Uncle Frats, and we'd go for walks in parks and if Amarant ever lost his minds again, it would be ok because Freya wouldn't be alone because I would be there to look after her and her kids as if she were my own little sister…
I snap back into reality when everyone stands up. The judge is here, and strides over to his box at the end of the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he announces. "May the case begin."
First up is Snottly with his pathetic description of how he was attacked, boo hoo. Trotsworthy actually asked some clever questions to him that confused Snottly totally.
After a few more people, the judge calls for a break. I try to find Gus and Nina, but can't find them anywhere. I ask Trotsworthy and he replies that they were walking off in the direction of the other courtroom.
I know there's not much time left in the break, but I go off and find the other courtroom. I open to door and see it's empty except for Gus and Nina in the middle.
Gus has his arms round Nina, his head is bent, hers is tilted upwards.
They're kissing!
Unable to contain myself any longer, I burst out laughing and because it's empty my laughter echoes round the room, startling the couple. They turn round and face me as I roll about laughing and clapping my hands.
"Fratley!" they chorus.
I calm down and we have to go back to the court to finish the trial. Suddenly I ma not laughing anymore and I'm scared.
Trotsworthy taps his nose. "I have a surprise for you," he says.
"Oh goodie…fun." I reply unenthusiastically.
"ORDER!" yells the judge. The trial continues with rubbish political stuff that nearly everyone falls asleep when they hear it…snore…
The judge is about to ask the jury to go and make their verdict when Trotsworthy stands up.
" Your honor," he remarks. "I have one last witness I would like to put forward."
The judge allows it.
"Come in, last witness," Trotsworthy calls. The doors open and everyone turns to see this witness…
"FREYA?" I gasp.
Freya is in a smart suit with an orange shirt and a ponytail and she walks over to the witness box.
Something inside me churns as I stare at her, she still has the bruise on her jaw where Amarant hit her but it's barely visible now. Not unlike my slap, which I spent hours trying to conceal.
"Now," Trotsworthy says, after Freya has done the old 'truth' thingie, "Were you in Burmecia at the time of the attack?"
"Yes." Freya replies, nodding. Eh? I don't remember that…maybe the attack was before she left then
"And did Fratley go out at any time, suspicious?"
"Yes." Freya says. Oh, thanks a lot. I don't think.
"But he didn't do it!" she continues. The jury looks at her puzzled. Freya faces the judge.
"Your honor, I can state the name of the real attacker because I saw them!" she states. Everyone gasps.
Go Freya! The judge nods and Freya puts her finger up, ready to point. Don't point at me please, please, please, please…
"The real attacker is…" she breathes.
Everyone holds their breath.
"…Me."
Everyone gasps and someone faints.
The judge nearly chokes. "Miss Crescent you are responsible for the damage done to Lord Cumbington?" he splutters.
Freya stands fast. "Yes," she calls out. "And I have a good reason. Because Snoddly has committed a crime himself."
"Oh bugger she's going to tell," Snottly mutters.
"Your honor, on the night of the Valentine's Ball, I drank a bit too much. But what's disgraceful is that when I refused to spend the night with him he resorted to…" she starts crying in her hands. Trotsworthy walks up to her and asks quietly (yet we can all hear),
"Miss Crescent…Freya…did he rape you?"
There is a short pause.
"…Yes." Freya replies.
There is a huge gasp and more people faint. There are a thousand thoughts running through my head.
She told me only slept with him, eh didn't RAPE her. Gods, that's WORSE!
The judge splutters for some more. "We will not take a short break for the jury to decide the verdict." He chokes off out of the room as everyone starts to chatter endlessly. Freya is led off so I follow her.
There are some things I need to know…
Figgie: Dun-dun-duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! Mel? Mel? MEL? Looks like she ain't coming back
Lotti: Hawwo
Figgie: The only way to make her come back is to review this STORY NOW! SEE SUBMIT REVIEW? PRESS IT OR I WILL SEND VIVI TO SEND FIRE DOWN YOUR PANTS!
Vivi: No you won't! POLICE!
Figgie: What? NO YOU CAN'T ARREST ME! (gets carried away) R&R BEFORE I GO TO JAIL!
