I know it's short but I'm really busy! College started and I'm working two part time jobs. All I want to do is sleep.

Sammy

Disclaimer: Don't own it, much to my regret.

Dance Of The Dead

Chapter Three

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

"I'll see you tomorrow afternoon." Lina said as she stuck her car key into the lock on her truck door.

Zel shook his head. "Eight a.m."

"No way!" Lina exclaimed as she opened the door. "The gallery doesn't open till ten a.m."

Zel shrugged. "That's a good time."

"Well it's not for me." Lina huffed. "I don't get there till eleven and I have meetings tomorrow. It has to be early afternoon."

Zel caught the door as she tried to shut it. "Eleven then or I call your sister."

"Noon or I sic Amelia on you when you get there." Lina threatened him in return. "I'll tell her you want to see her vacation photos. She has days worth of them."

Zel shuddered. "Fine. Noon."

"Knew you'd see it my way." Lina's voice oozed triumph. "Now let go of my door."

Zel stepped back as she slammed the door. He couldn't help the sarcasm. "Such a pleasure to meet you."

His satisfaction in getting the last word didn't last long. Lina peeled out of the parking lot in her shiny black truck. She grinned as she left a coughing Zel in a cloud of dust and dirt behind her.

"Zel's coming tomorrow with the painting." Lina dropped her purse onto her chair.

Lina noticed the vase of flowers on her desk. Twelve budding ivory roses and a single red one. Intrigued she moved closer and inhaled their fragrance then smiled. Roses were so cliched and yet brought such vanity to a female's soul.

"Great!" Amelia clapped her hands. "So he agreed."

Lina shrugged. "Sort of. I'm going to evaluate it tomorrow and tell him if it's a fake or not. What happens after that is up for grabs."

"I'm so happy!" Amelia cried out. "I won't have to go to prison."

Lina sweat dropped. "Uh yeah."

"Is there anything else I can do?" Amelia clearly was back to her old self.

Lina got an evil idea in her head. She turned away from Amelia and grinned her pirate grin. "Nothing for the gallery, no." She paused for effect then said slowly. "But didn't Zel seem a bit lonely to you?"

She composed her expression to seem concerned before she turned around. "I thought that maybe you could...never mind. I'm sure you already have your hands full."

Amelia's reaction was instantly sympathetic. "You're right, Lina! Zel looked like he needed someone to talk to. And I'm never too busy to make a new friend."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate it, Amelia." Inside Lina was laughing.

What she was really sure of was that Zel was going to hate it. Amelia was a sweet girl but fanatical about making friends. And once you were considered a 'friend' of Amelia's, she was sure to spend a lot of time with you in order to keep that bond.

It was a little too much in retaliation, Lina thought. But it would be so much fun to watch!

'Did anyone come by while I was gone?" Lina asked her assistant.

"Yes, but I told them we were closing early for the day." Amelia said. "Was that okay?"

Lina shrugged. "An acceptable excuse."

"They'll be back tomorrow." Amelia offered. "Oh and Xellos dropped by."

Lina made a face. "Oh. Well, what did he want?"

"Lina!" Amelia admonished. "He came by with that bouquet." She nodded at the one Lina had been sniffing earlier.

Lina looked at the bouquet thoughtfully. "I should have known. That message is just like Xellos."

"What message?" Amelia came over and looked at the roses dreamily.

"The roses." Lina said impatiently. "Pure love with a little passion. It's too romantic for an ordinary girl to resist. Good thing I'm no ordinary girl.."

Lina looked at Amelia for an answer then sighed. Amelia was too busy dreaming of romantic things judging by the stars in her eyes. Lina just shook her head. She was just glad that she never let romantic fantasies rule her life like that.