Idle Chatter

Chapter 8: Quatre POV

Notes: Italics are used to signify "Other Quatre" talking in Quatre's head. I love my schizoid Quat! .

My brain stopped working as soon as the words 'boyfriend,' 'be,' and 'my.' Were arranged in a sentence directed at me. I'd never had a boyfriend, though I'd always wanted one, and very few people were ever bold enough to take the initiative around me.

Without having time to even really digest the question, I hopped out of my bed and onto Trowa's, scaring Charlie half to death. He squeaked at us and shook his little fist at me, (no one asked you, rodent!) but at the moment, I was too far gone to care. I leaned in, pinning Trowa to his pillow and kissed him breathless, mumbling a quiet, "sorry Charlie," between that kiss and the one that came immediately after.

By the time I felt the need to breathe, we were both gasping for breath, but still reluctant to let go of each other. He's MINE! All MINE and you can't have him! other Quatre cackled… though who he was talking to is a mystery.

"Is that a yes?" Trowa asked quietly, his voice wavering only a little. I suppose that meant he was a bit nervous, but at this point in time, I couldn't tell.

DUH! You'd think he'd get the hint with me kissing him stupid… or maybe that's where the question is coming from. Note to self: do not kiss Trowa stupid, he needs a few brain cells now and then.

"It's definitely a yes," I whispered back.

He smiled at me thought the darkness and it wasn't until I heard a chittering in my ear that I even remembered Charlie.

Trowa laughed a little, "He said to get a room… preferably one that he isn't trying to sleep in."

Mind your own damn business, Charlie! You're just jealous that I have Trowa and you don't!

"I suppose we should be more discrete around our dear Charlie," I smiled.

"If we must," Trowa smiled back.

Charlie squeaked. Trowa squeaked back.

"What was that all about?" I asked, interest piqued.

"He said that if we didn't go back to the previous sleeping arrangements, he'd be forced to take drastic measures."

"and what did you respond?"

"I accused him of being a spoil-sport chaperone."

Damn Right!

I laughed lightly, but got off his bed, leaving Charlie to curl up on his pillow again. Getting in my own bed, I snuggled my pillow, and dreamed sweet dreams with Trowa starring in them all night.

The next morning, I got a ride to school with Trowa since we were the only ones up and ready so early.

"What about Charlie?" I asked Trowa as we got into his truck.

"He's coming to school with us, of course," Trowa said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. And it probably was.

I hadn't noticed how many classes I had with Trowa until now. He was always quiet and never really drew any sort of attention to himself. As a matter of fact, Gym was our first class together. I hadn't realized that Trowa had Charlie up his shirt at all until Charlie decided to come out while we were in the middle of a basket ball game.

He just jumped out of his shirt and scampered across the court, nearly getting himself stepped on and flattened by the basket ball when the coach called a time-out.

"BARTON!" Mr. Marty bellowed, stalking over to us, "If I've told you once, I've told you a million times! Keep your animals to yourself! We've talked about this, Barton. You're supposed to keep those animals at HOME or at the very least, outside." Coach took a calming breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as Charlie ran back to Trowa and perched on his shoulder, "Since you're a senior, I'm going to give you a break and not put this on your record… give me five laps."

"But-" Trowa tried.

"Do you want to make that six?" he asked.

"Mr. Marty?" I said, trying to get his attention.

"Get going, Barton!"

Hey moron! I'm talking to you! What? Just because I'm small and blonde, you think I'm a push over? I don't think so, buddy boy…

"Excuse me, Mr. Marty," I said, grabbing onto Trowa's wrist just as he was about to go run those laps, "The squirrel is mine."

Take that, you…

"It's yours?" he asked incredulously, eyeing Charlie, then Trowa, and finally turned his gaze at me.

… You MORON! I didn't stutter. The flying rat is mine! Do I look like a liar to you?

"Yes, he's mine. He was a gift and I didn't want to leave him at home to the mercy of my nieces and nephews." I smiled brilliantly at him, "It won't happen again."

"Well, Mr. Winner… you should know better than that… but it's the first offense, so I'll let it go this time." Coach nodded at Trowa, indicating he go back to the basketball game. Straight-faced, Trowa did, handing me Charlie as he passed me. "By the way, how is your sister?" Coach asked.

Keep your grimy, filthy paws away from my sisters, you overgrown ape!

"I'm sorry, sir… I have twenty-nine of them. Which do you mean?" I asked, in all politeness.

"Miss Adella," he said, blushing.

Disgusting PIG! She's just peachy, and she's staying that way… with you nowhere in sight.

"She's doing well. She's teaching at the university and her boyfriend just proposed to her last week. She's so happy because he was elected into a city council position," I smiled.

Ha! Take that!

"Oh, is that so?" he asked a little crest-fallen.

"Yes, well…" I cleared my throat, "Do you want me to run those laps now?"

"What? Laps? No, don't worry about that. Actually, you can go dress out. I'm sure you'll need that extra time with that squirrel."

Spineless jellyfish! I want my just deserts!

Feeling disappointed, I made my way to the locker room with Charlie. "Can you believe that man?" I said to Charlie, knowing full well that he might not understand me since I wasn't talking Squrrelese. "He goes and tries to punish Trowa for bringing you, but he lets me off the hook. What kind of a man is he? That is completely unfair and I won't stand for it!" We were alone in the locker room so that I knew no one would be listening in, and had no problem letting Mean Quatre out. "And can you believe he practically asked me to set him up with my sister? The NERVE of that man!"

I finished getting dressed and waited as the class let out.

When Trowa came out of class, he found me immediately and began walking with me to our next class.

"Thanks for getting me out of running," he said quietly. "Although, it was my idea to bring Charlie to school."

"He's my squirrel, he's my responsibility," I said.

Getting to our next class, my other self wouldn't ease up.

Are all the teachers like that? Will they all let you get away with anything you want? Put it to the test, Kitty Quat. You know you want to. You can even have some fun with Trowa while you're at it.

I smirked, maybe that wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Once we got to class I looked around. Health. Perfect.

I watched Trowa come in and sit down in the back, I hadn't even noticed I had him for this class. Smirking, I made my way to his table, and straddled him as he sat in one of those ugly yellow chairs.

"What are you doing?" He whispered, looking around nervously.

I smirked, "I'm having fun." With that, I leaned in and began making out with my new boyfriend, out in the open, for everyone to see. It wasn't until our health teacher, Ms. Mello tapped me on the shoulder.

"I've been calling your names for some time now. Do you mind?" She said, her arms crossed.

"Oh, no… go right ahead with your lesson," I said, going back to kissing Trowa senseless.

Go Quat! You'll definitely get in trouble for this one!

"Trowa, Mr. Winner, Please step outside," she said crossly.

I got off Trowa and smirking, led him out of the classroom where we waited until Ms. Mello came out with two long, pink, multi-copy forms. "I want you to take these and go to the Discipline Office," she said.

She's a keeper, all right. She actually gave you a pink slip! You need to frame that when you get home.

"No, problem," I smiled. Ms Mello was a new teacher in the district… actually, she was a registered nurse who took the job of a health teacher because she was pregnant and couldn't be working in the hospital's ICU floor. In fact, they didn't want her in the hospital at all because she could catch an illness and risk losing her baby. I liked her… and this just earned her a nice Christmas bonus and a baby basket when we gave her a baby shower.

"What is your problem?" Trowa whispered as he walked with me through the empty halls of the school.

"I want to get in trouble." I answered.

What does it look like I'm doing?

"Why?"

"I want to know what teachers actually follow the rules. If I break them, I need to get in trouble. I shouldn't be allowed to just go with a slap on the wrist."

Trowa looked at me funny, but didn't say anything. By now, Charlie had fallen asleep in the inside pocket of my jacket and wouldn't come out.

When we reached the Disciplinary Office, we took a seat after giving the secretary our forms. She began typing some things into her computer and then buzzed the corrections administrator. A few minutes later, a man stepped out of his office and scolded the secretary for filing my pink slip. He took the form I had given her, and ripped it up, and made her clear my file. He then apologized profusely and sent me on my merry way.

What was that all about! He didn't even see what I was in for!

I would have stuck around but the security officer on duty made me go back to class. I didn't even see Trowa until the last class of the day, and even then, he didn't even look at me. In all the classes I had him for, there were teachers set on giving him detention for not showing up on a day when we had a test or quiz or something due. In fact, I noticed the teachers finding any excuse for giving Trowa a hard time.

"He missed the review, he's not taking the test tomorrow," one teacher had said.

"Trowa missed the day he knew the PowerPoint project was due… He gets a zero. If anyone sees him, let him know he's failing my class."

"Trowa missed today's exam, too bad there's no make-up, even if he is a senior."

Who the hell do these people think they are? Why didn't I notice it sooner? These people are SO going to pay.

When I finally did see Trowa again, I was so upset that he was in trouble because of me.

"Mr. Barton, nice of you to join us. Care to explain why you're late?" Ms Simpson asked.

"I-"

"Never mind, I don't want to hear your excuses. Stay behind after school for detention." She said, then went back to her lecture.

"Yes, Ma'am."

You can't let her talk to him like that!

I couldn't help but agree. Angry, I got up and made my way to Trowa's desk. He looked up at me curiously, only to receive a kiss. He was startled, but didn't resist my kiss. We then broke apart and I gave Ms Simpson a look before leaving the class, only to hear her say, "That'll be another day in detention, Mr. Barton."

I made my way to the Dean's office and just stormed in. He was reading over some forms and signing them, pausing when his door slammed shut.

"Is there anything wrong, Quatre?"

"Yes, Bri. Something is very wrong."

I wanted to meet Trowa after school, but he didn't show up. His truck was still there, but he was nowhere to be found. Belatedly, I remembered he was probably in Ms Simpson's class serving his detention.

I made my way there and found her grading papers while Trowa sat there doing lines. I rolled my eyes.

How infantile. You'd think that she'd at least be a little more imaginative.

Walking in, I ignored her and went to sit in Trowa's lap.

"What are you doing now?" he whispered.

"I missed you, that's all."

I leaned in and began kissing his neck, making him sigh, and wrap his arms around me. Charlie, oddly enough was still asleep -he must be nocturnal… or really lazy- and was careful not to squish him.

"Boys! Stop that immediately!" Came our teacher's soft voice.

I broke away from him and glared at her, "I'll do as I please. Besides, if YOU hadn't kept my boyfriend for detention, YOU wouldn't have to be sitting there watching us."

"Your boyfriend?" The petite lady asked.

What's the problem? Does everyone need a hearing aid or have I developed a speech impediment?

"Yes, my boyfriend." I snapped. "I've had enough of him being picked on all day, so if you'll just mind your own business, we'll mind ours." When did Mean Quat make an appearance? It must have been when I was ranting to Brian about the blatant favoritism in our school. He told me he'd take care of Trowa's offenses for the day. I suppose he was afraid I'd tell his wife, my sister Iria, about it if he didn't get to work fixing the problem. I also told him that Ms. Mello deserved a bonus come review time, and he quickly agreed.

Ms. Simpson excused us from detention and told Trowa that he didn't have to stay tomorrow either. She then apologized to him, which made Trowa's impassive mask drop for a moment to show confusion, before shuttering closed again.

Out in the car, Trowa was anything but happy.

"What the hell were you thinking today!" he snapped as he started his truck.

"I was mad that you were going to get in trouble for Charlie, so I figured I'd get myself in trouble for something else, since I did deserve it."

"Oh, so you decide to do that by making out with me in class and getting us both pink slips?" he spat. "And then what happened? Yours got thrown away while I get in trouble. Do you know that I am now ONE infraction away from being expelled? As it is, I'm suspended for two days. The only reason they let me into last period is because the paperwork was taking so damn long and they needed to close the disciplinary office! Thanks, Quat. Thanks a whole lot!"

"But I-"

"I don't want to listen to you right now, I have enough to deal with. I don't even want to know what Jonathan is going to say when I get home… or Cathy for that matter."

"You're not going to get in trouble," I offered, "I went to Brian and told him what happened. He's going to have anything they placed on your record today removed."

"Brian?" Trowa asked, "You mean, Dean Howell? Do me a favor and don't do me any favors."

"I was only trying to help…" I said, rather pathetically.

Way to go, Quat. You get a boyfriend and you get him suspended and almost expelled.

"Don't." he said. "As a matter of fact, I don't want to see you in the near future."

We rode in silence until he dropped me off at home. Before getting off, I reached into my inside jacket pocket and pulled out Charlie, who blinked and yawned sleepily.

"I guess I should give this back," I said as I put him on the seat an closed the door behind me.

I stared at the retreating form of his truck, tears forming in my eyes as he peeled out of my estate. This was really not a good day… and I blamed Mean Quat for making me behave the way I did today, but it didn't matter. I had a sinking feeling that I'd lost Trowa…for good.