Chapter 9 Nearly Too Late
A/N This chappie is going to be a little mushy, but for those Athrun&Cagalli fans out there, I think you're going to lurve it!
Cagalli couldn't help but watch the clock tick by like a snail, as she waited for the company's closing time. She had already called her mother to tell her that she would be back late as she was going out for dinner with a friend, as she didn't want her mother asking her about it when she got back.
To keep herself busy, she began clearing up her office, which looked as if it had just been hit by a tsunami. There were pens lying around on her desk, and paper strewn around on the floor, most of them, which had missed the bin when Cagalli tried aiming them into it.
After what seemed like an entire day of spring cleaning, the blonde girl finally slumped back down into her swivel chair and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. Hoping that at least an hour would've gone past, Cagalli looked hesitantly at the clock.
However, the time was jaw dropping. It was 20 minutes past 6.30 p.m! She was late! Panic flooded her entire body, as she wondered if Athrun had already left, thinking that she wouldn't turn up!
Cagalli catapulted to her feet, grabbed her knapsack and darted out of her office door. The elevator was taking way too long, and she didn't give a damn if she had to run down 7 storeys to the ground floor.
"Please, be there Athrun," the honey-brown eyed girl prayed, as she sprinted down flights of stairs, sometimes missing a few steps and nearly toppling over.
Cagalli darted out of the company doors, nearly knocking over a flower pot, in the midst of doing so. But the girl's heart sank into the depths of her soul, when she realised she was standing alone at the entrance of the company, feeling a strong gust of cold run through her blonde locks.
The blonde girl bit her lip, and sank down against the wall, letting her tears run freely. She'd ruined her last chance, she might never get such an oppurtunity again. Cagalli tugged at her hair, as she let all her anxiety and frustration sink into her.
"Why am I such a blockhead?" Cagalli whispered to herself, crying silently and shivering every time a gust of wind blew past.
"I suppose ya need some super glue again, eh mate?" came a nasal voice from beside Cagalli.
Cagalli wasn't in the mood to listen to the jackass ramble away about his view of "broken hearts", all she wanted was for Athrun to come back.
"Leave me alone," sobbed Cagalli, sniffling as her entire frame shook when she took in jerking breaths of air.
"Anything ya say, ma'am, but even if I leave ya, ya won't be alone." replied the former doctor, before trudging off in a weird manner.
Cagalli didn't understand what he said, in fact, she never understood anything he said! If he left, there would be no one else there, so why the heck did he say she wouldn't be alone? Goodness gracious, that guy never said anything that made sense.
"He's right you know," came a warm and soothing voice from behind Cagalli.
Cagalli felt her hard skip a beat. She had to be dreaming, it was too good to be true! "A-Athrun?" she muttered, before slowly turning aorund to confirm if her ears were lying to her or not.
Sure enough, her ears were telling the truth, behind her stood the charming blue-haired co-ordintor, smiling warmly down at her. "Athrun!" exclaimed Cagalli, jumping up and throwing her arms around him before breaking down into tears once more.
"I thought you'd left already! I'm sorry I was late, I was trying to pass time by tidying up my office since you didn't give any work to do, and there weren't any incoming calls!" wailed Cagalli pitifully, burying her face into his shoulder.
"Hush, everything's alright, I'm still here," reassured Athrun, stroking Cagalli's head while his other arm was wrapped around her.
"Are you sure you won't get into trouble by doing this? I saw Miss Campbell pop by to see you earlier." said Cagalli, her eyes still shining with tears.
"Stop calling people "Miss"! And no, I won't get into trouble, Mia's gone to PLANTs with my father to settle some things, they'll be back in two days." explained Athrun, tuckng a strand of blonde hair behind Cagalli's ear and wiping away her fresh tears with his hand.
Cagalli sniffed before leaning her head on Athrun's shoulder, and letting him lead her off to the carpark so he could drive them to dinner.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"My father wants me to marry Mia, but I haven't accepted, however, he seems to be going on with the preparations already." explained Athrun uneasily, knowing that it wasn't a very good thing to bring up when he was supposed to be on a date with Cagalli.
"If you want to marry her, I won't stop you," said Cagalli, stopping her dinner and and folding her hands on her lap before staring down at her plate.
"Problem is, my father's forcing me to marry her, and it seems like I don't have a choice. But I love you too much to give you up, and I know you must probably be doubting my words after evrything that's happened." sighed Athrun, placing his fork and spoon neatly side by side before looking up at Cagalli.
"It's not that I doubt your words, I just don't what or what not to believe in anymore. Before I left the hospital, one of the doctor's told me that I couldn't afford to have another setback, or it would mean the end of me. However, I don't want to hold you back from what you want to do because of me, just go ahead and do whatever you want. It won't please me either knowing you're unhappy," said Cagalli so softly, it was almost inaudible to Athrun, if not for his enhanced hearing.
"Don't say that Cagalli, what makes me unhappy is knowing that I'm sandwiched between you and Mia. Although my heart lies with you, physically I'm forced to be with Mia." replied Athrun, signaling to the waiter to get the bill.
"I'm aware," squeaked Cagalli, her voice going away as she felt fresh tears threaten to pour down her cheeks once more.
Athrun wasn't feeling any better either, he was supposed to make it a slow and enjoyable occassion for Cagalli, not a pitiful one. He stood up and led her out of her chair, and leaing her out of the restaurant.
There were tears falling from her eyes once more, and she shook slightly when the wind blew past her.
Cagalli had certainly changed a lot since last time. She was no more the hotheaded girl, the one whose eyes were always ablaze with determination and life. Now, it seemed as though she had become awfully weak and the fire once burning in her eyes, had been extinguished.
"Come on, let's take a walk in the park, I hope I'll be able to make up for what I have just doen to you, by telling you my situation." said Athrun soothingly, kissing her on the head and hugging her close to his body to keep her warm with his body heat.
The couple settled themselves on a park bench overlooking the seashore of the beach, and the sea.
Athrun wiped away her tears and propped her chin up with his hand so she faced him.
I'm standing on the bridge
I'm waiting in the dark
I thought that you'd be here
By now
"Cagalli, I want you to know, that no matter where I am, I will always be with you," whispered Athrun, leaning a bit closer to her.
There's nothing but the rain
No footsetps on the ground
I'm listening but there's
No sound
"I know, but I just want you to be there. I want to be able to see you, it really break my heart every time I think back about that day when you..." said Cagalli, tears welling up in her eyes once more, however, Athrun cut her off.
Isn't anyone tryin' to find me
Won't somebody
Come take me home
"Don't think about it then, just remember, I love you." whispered Athrun, as their lips met and he pulled her in closer, cuddling her tight.
It's a damn cold night
Tryin' to figure out
This life
Won't you
Take my by the hand
Take my somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I
I'm with you
I'm with you
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As Athrun drove them back to his home, he realised that Cagalli had fallen asleep. He smiled as he gazed at her, before returning his attention to the road.
When he reached their destination, he carried her bridal style into the gargantuan mansion. Cagalli was so light to him, so young and so innocent.
Athrun lay her gently on the bed, but the feel of his arms pulling away from her, awakened the blonde girl. She grabbed his arm, and looked up at him, as though telling him not to leave her.
Athrun gazed deep into her eyes, he saw fear, hurt, innocence, confusion and love. Cagalli pulled him down into a deep kiss, and somehow, he couldn't pull away from her.
Athrun didn't want to pull away from her. He just wanted to stay there with her, feel the feel of her being beside him. He just wanted it to remain that way...
A/N Ok, now that was one chapter I couldn't wait to upload! I'm sure most of you know what Athrun and Cagalli did after this. Though I'm not going to write it out, because I'm bad at it. And in case you didn't know, the song is "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne, and pls review!