The Sweet Shop Next Door
pass the broccollini
Author's Note: Thank you (once again) for all the reviews! This chapter was a bit rushed, but I want to get to the action before I lose the interest of all my wonderful reviewers!
Chapter Ten:
"Hello, is Miss Eliza around?"
D smiled politely at Laura, the girl at the cashier of his favorite sweet shop. Laura was the type of girl Leon would ogle. She was unrealistically proportioned and didn't mind showing it. Her shirt, if it could be called that, barely went past her midriff and was extremely tight-fitting. For some reason, she looked familiar. He tried to place the face, but the best he could think of was that she was on one of Leon's disgusting posters. Was being the key word. Imagine! Exposing Chris to that type of filth! Even though most human men would consider her gorgeous, D found her lack of modesty and self-respect repelling. Still, she was Eliza's co-worker. He had to be polite.
She popped a piece of white gum she was chewing on, showing off her perfectly aligned white teeth. "Why do you ask, cutie?"
"Well, I—"
D paused for a moment. Cutie?
"I would like to speak with her. Would you please let her know of my presence? She and I are quite good friends."
A small, devilish smile crossed Laura's face. This guy, even if he was wearing a dress, was way out of Eliza's league. He was obviously affluent and sophisticated, judging by his proper etiquette and way of speaking. It would be a snap stealing him from Eliza.
"Good friends, eh? How about us being good friends?"
A sultry smile crossed her face as she stepped from behind the counter and took a few steps toward him until their bodies were practically touching. She raised a perfectly-manicured hand and placed it on his chest. Horror-struck, D took a step back.
A loud, cheerful voice could be heard from the kitchens. "I just finished the—"
Eliza paused as she saw D and Laura. Laura's hand on D's chest. But…D looked bewildered and surprised. He wouldn't…not with her…not weeks before their wedding…
Her voice cracked as she spoke. Was she that foolish to think D cared? This had to be some kind of mistake…"D?"
"Eliza!"
D pushed Laura aside and walked towards her, embracing the confused and hurt Eliza in his arms in an unusual act of public affection. Laura frowned and moved past the couple into the backroom.
Wrapped in D's arms, Eliza was shocked…but happy. D never hugged anyone.
"Eliza, I apologize for what you may have seen. I would never do anything to hurt you. She just started—"
"I know. I was just…shocked, that's all."
Eliza rested her head against D's chest. She could hear the steady beat of his heart. It was a strange, slow thump-thumping sound. It was slower than the heartbeats of most humans. Maybe D exercised a lot. She envisioned D benchpressing weights at the gym with all the body-builders and let out a small chuckle.
D pulled back and looked at the face of his fiancé. "What?"
She grinned. "Nothing. Let's have tea."
After a few hours of drinking tea, D noticed the time and realized that he had to get back to his shop. A wannabe rock star was coming by, and D needed time to pick out the perfect pet.
D waved as he exited the shop with a small parcel of sweets, specially made by Eliza, of course. Their wedding was only a few weeks away, but they each had work to occupy their time. And when D worked, he needed sweets. She watched the tall, slender man pass by the shop window and back into his store. A small sigh passed through her lips. She couldn't imagine living with D for…the rest of her life. The store was empty today, and so Eliza was prone to musings.
--
Days passed, and Eliza and D realized that they were now faced with the difficult task of wedding invitations. They were in D's shop, in the main parlor where they usually had tea. This time, however, forms and stray papers were scattered across the table.
"How many do you want to invite?"
D paused. Well, there was no way he was going to invite his father, and his grandfather was traveling the world. Plus, it would be difficult to explain the similarities to Eliza.
"…I'm not very close with my family. I think I'll only need two invites."
Jill and Leon.
"Really? What about your kids?"
Oops.
"They're not feeling well." A lame alibi, but it would have to do.
"But the wedding isn't for two more weeks."
Oops.
"They're in an exchange program. Visiting the country. They're sick from the food, but they're having a great time. They won't mind."
It hurt him to have to lie to Eliza, but he didn't want to face the fact that eventually, he'd have to tell Eliza the truth.
"Oh, ok. Most of my family can't come, anyway. It'll be a small wedding."
P-Chan pushed open the backroom door and came scurrying into the parlor. Eliza was here! All the pets were talking…D getting married!
D! D!
The little raccoon-girl jumped into D's lap, smothering D in a large hug. Eliza giggled. D's raccoon was so cute.
"Your pets seem to like you a lot."
D smiled and calmed P down until she sat by his side. "We're very close."
"Would…Would you like them to come to the wedding?"
Eliza noticed that D treated his pets like family. And families were what made weddings so much fun.
D looked up, surprised. "You wouldn't mind?" Eliza shook her head.
"Thank you."
P-Chan started getting excited again. We're going to the wedding! We're going to the wedding!
D and Eliza chuckled at the excitement of the little raccoon until Eliza's watch-alarm beeped.
"Sorry, I have to get home. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."
They exchanged awkward pecks on the cheek, leaving both of them flushed with embarrassment and affection. As calm and collected as D appeared, he was really just a neophyte when it came to relationships. Eliza picked up her bags and turned to him before she left.
"Oh! Don't forget to pick your best man!"
A best man? Q-Chan! No, the Church usually was obnoxious about letting pets participate as members of the wedding ceremony. Who else was there? Q-Chan was out. Pon-Chan was out. As he realized the only option available, D's face paled and Pon-Chan burst into hysterical laughter.
Well, one thing was for certain, it would be quite a wedding.
Ack—I know it's short and rushed, but the next chapter is the wedding and the excitement, but I felt that an in-between chapter was necessary! Please review and give constructive criticism! I want to make this story the best it can be! (…Even if it means doing a lot of editing.)