Chapter 3: The offer
It the studio of Xellos Metalium, one of the most famous fashion designers, was unnatural silence. The Xellos himself was looking at the collection of his new photographs with a frown on his face. It would be very wrong to say he was disappointment. Actually, he was disgusted. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't find what he wanted.
The models on his photographs were all beautiful, but for him they could be as good as death. They eyes were already death or covered with unconcern and boredom. He wanted something new and more important – alive. He didn't want any other girls with lack of interest. No more girls with never-ending moaning about every little stupidity. He … he wasn't sure what exactly he wanted. But he was sure that when he will see he will recognize it.
Xellos turned to his new project. He was thinking about this collection for a long time but still didn't find any model, who could possibly wear it. It was useless and unforgivable waste to let it wear some of his current models. Xellos would never allow something like this. He was waiting for his angel. The only one who could wear his dresses and pose on his photographs in them. The only one, he was waiting his whole life. He looked at the dresses and sighed. As the time passed he wasn't sure if he will find such a girl.
"Come on, Amelia! Stop whining already! It could be much worse so stop complaining!"
"But Lina! You will be on a wheelchair for the rest of your life!"
"I could be death as well. I'm glad that I'm alive and that enough for now. There is much more people who were told that they would never walk again and walking. It can be my case!"
"Lina is right, Amelia! As I know her she will be alright soon!"
It took another three months before Lina could return to her old life outside of hospital. The first shock she couldn't use her legs last surprisingly a short time. Lina wouldn't be Lina if she would be sad over it for long. After she heard the news she decided that it really could be worse.
Now she was outside of her home with her friends. Goury pushed her wheelchair along the streets because Lina was still little weaker than before the accident. Filia, Amelia and Goury were all touched by radiance of her undying spirit. They all agreed that there is nothing what can break this girl. Lina was determined to stay alive and live with everything what she could. For her it simply didn't matter if she's living her live on her legs or wheelchair.
The day was too bright and beautiful for any kind of worries anyway. Lina was wearing a short dress in dark red colour with small blue flowers. Her brightly red hair was tied in high ponytail with some locks falling into her face.
"By the way, Lina. Did you talk to Zelgadis-san again?" asked Amelia while she was walking next to her friend. The red-haired girl shook her head.
"No. He was talking with me soon after I wake up from coma, but not anymore."
"That utterly rude! He should properly apologize!"
Lina burst into full laugh.
"He did, Amelia! He apologized and paid all the bills for hospital. I would never be able to pay it just by myself. And he didn't have to do it! What happened were my fault as well as his. Besides, he is too busy to bother with me!"
"But…"
"No, buts, Amelia! I'm glad that it's over. The only thing which bothering me right now is, where are we going to eat? Hey, what's so funny?" she asked when her friends started hysterically laugh. It didn't take them long before they found a small restaurant. After they settled down and ordered they meal the chat turned to Filia.
"So, who is that your new discovery? Come on, Filia, tell us!" teased her Lina. Filia turned bright red and tried to change the conversation to another way. But it didn't help much because the others didn't let her.
"Alright," she gave up, "his name is Valgaav and he asked me out only four days ago! He is so cute! You wouldn't believe it, Lina!" she said excitedly. Lina smirked.
"I think I got the idea! You look like a firefly when you are talking about him! Let me guess, you actually have a date today? Isn't it the really reason why are you so nervous about time?"
Filia's baby blue eyes were now facing Lina from tomato red face. Her mouth was wide open and Lina with others couldn't anything else than laugh. Filia definitely looked shocked and startled like anytime before. More important was that Lina was right about her date.
The tall blonde girl hide her face in her hands to gathered herself. Lina stopped teasing her and smirked.
"Don't be so shy, Filia! You was too busy in the collage last five years to find yourself a guy, so I can say you deserve one!"
Filia finally take her hand from her face and smiled at Lina.
"Thanks Lina. It's really shame that you will repeat the last year. Will you able to handle it?"
"Well, I will need to find a job. But it doesn't matter. I didn't like the previous one anyway."
"They have no right to fire you!" protested Amelia.
"I can understand why did they do it. I was in hospital for five months. And that's a really long time. Besides my boss wasn't sure if I would ever wake up."
"And that's good that you did. I heard Mr. Fujin to complain every lesson that his best student is in such a condition. He was very worried. I think he actually like you!" grinned Goury who was with Lina in the same class but, instead of her, finished the collage this year.
"Yeah, yeah! He really likes me. I should say he is almost in LOVE with me. That why he was scold me every time when I came into his class later."
"You were permanently later!"
"Thanks, Filia, that's exactly what I wanted to hear!" said Lina sourly. The others started to laugh again and soon Lina joined them.
"You need a break, Xellos!" said Valgaav for the sixth times in the hour. Xellos sighed and rubbed the back of his head. He knew that Valgaav was right but he still didn't finish his work. Or maybe he should say his staring at the photos of candidates for his new models.
"This is useless! No one of these girls can wear that new collection!" he cried in utter despair. Valgaav looked at some of those photos and blinked. He was sure that there were the most beautiful girls in the world. But Xellos still wasn't satisfied. Nobody knew what exactly was Xellos looking for.
"Listen, Xellos! If you would not have a break you will break down, so take your ass from the chair and go with me!"
"For the last time, Valgaav, I'm not going with you to meet your girlfriend!"
"You should! I'm sure that she would fit for your collection."
Xellos doubted about it but didn't say anything aloud. After today he wanted to tear his new clothes and forget about it. Why to design a new dresses which nobody can wear. After a few moments of Valgaav's inducing he gave up and went out of his studio with him.
"Where are we going anyway?"
"Filia said she need to return back at the collage because of her friend who need to fix something with her professors."
"Oh my! It's pretty a long time when I was for the last time at collage." Said Xellos while they were walking through the street. Valgaav grinned at his friend.
"Of course! How long you were there anyway? Three months before you run to designing and making photos?"
"How are you doing it?"
"Doing what?"
"Make me feel like a little brat who is for the first time behind school!"
"I think it's a natural ability! Hey, there is she!"
Xellos looked up only to see his angel, which he was waiting for.
"Wonderful!"
Valgaav looked at him with a huge smile on his lips, while he was waving to Filia.
"I told you so! I have never seen such beautiful golden hair as she has…"
"Golden? So the tall one is your girlfriend? I was thinking about that girl on the wheelchair." Xellos eyes couldn't go away from her. The way her locks were falling around her face to her pale shoulders was absolutely fascinating for him. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not.
The angel, he was waiting for so long time, was now right before him. His heart started beat faster when Filia and Lina came closer.
It's her! She is the only one for my collection!
"Valgaav! It so nice to see you! This my friend Lina Inverse!"
So her name is Lina. Perfect!
"Nice to meet you, Lina-san! This is my boss and friend Xellos Metalium!" introduced Valgaav Xellos to the girls. Filia open her mouth.
"That fashion designer?" she asked. "Oh, where are my manners. I shouldn't so stare. Sorry for that." Filia was so confused for such a meeting and was more embarrassed when Lina started laugh. Her nice and melodic laugh sound like collection of small silver bells. Xellos couldn't believe that such a wonderful sound could even exist.
"Come on, Filia. You are acting like fourteen years old. I'm sure he has enough such women in his life. So give him some space." Said still laughing Lina. Xellos smiled at her and took his sunglasses from eyes so he could better looked at Lina. She looked even more beautiful. Her red hair was brighter than he thought at the first.
"Valgaav, why don't you take you girl for the promised date and I will walked miss Inverse home? If she doesn't mind!" Xellos smiled at her surprise expression. Lina was startled for a moment and than shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, I've never been walked home by a fashion designer before. So I think it will be nice change. Don't give me that look, Filia, and go to have some fun. I'm not a toddler."
When Filia and Valgaav were finally gone, Lina turned to Xellos with amused look in her deep ruby eyes.
"Hmm, don't take it personally but somehow I doubt that you usually walk a strange people home. So may I ask you what wake up your interest in me?"
Xellos couldn't help but started to laugh. Naturally, he walked behind her wheelchair. While he was pushing her along through the park he answered her question.
"That's true, but I normally don't meeting such a beautiful girl." He complimented her and Lina blushed.
"The fashion designer and photograph and doesn't meet a pretty girl? You don't expecting me to buy this one?"
"You said it. I'm meeting many PRETTY girls but not beautiful!" Lina was now blushing furiously, her face matching her hair.
"Oh, come on! Why are these compliments for?"
"Ah, you got me! I'm actually trying to convince you to be my model!" he told her cheerfully and Lina stayed utterly speechless.
"You have to be kidding me! If you didn't notice it; I'm on a wheelchair. There is no chance for me to be a model!"
"Well, it really shame that you can't go on a fashion show, but it doesn't mean that you wouldn't look great on photos!"
Lina was silent for a moment and then she sighed. Xellos watched her carefully when she spoke again.
"Alright, I admit, it's a interesting offer, but I have to repeat a grade on the collage and I really haven't time for such hobby. Besides I don't think I would look good on photos."
"To be clear, I didn't mean it like a hobby! I meant it like a job and don't worry I pay good money to my models. And second thing is the fact that I'm sure you would look great on photos. But if you don't believe me I can take you to my studio and make some photos just to make you sure that you can be the best model ever."
"Hmm, you almost convinced me, Mr. Metalium."
"Please only Xellos, miss Inverse!"
"Lina!"
"Excuse me?"
"I don't like when somebody's calling me miss Inverse. I feel weird. Lina is enough, Xellos."
Xellos laughed but he had to be sure that Lina will accept his offer.
"So, would you be my model?"
"Still not sure!"
"Well, in that case, I would take you to my studio and make the photos as I offered you before. It's really important for me to have you as a model."
"Why?"
"Because it's my personal opinion that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met and I would be dammed if I let such opportunity go away from me!"
Lina didn't know what to say. This wasn't for the first time when some handsome guy made her a compliment but definitely not in such a way. She took a deep breath before she nodded.
"OK, you won! But it have to be a really good photo to convinced me to be a model!"
Xellos smiled and turned the wheelchair to his studio. He was sure that he can change Lina's mind and win her as a model.
Well, another chapter done. I hope I didn't disappoint you! I really thanks for all these reviews, which you sent to me. Also I owe you my apologize for my poor grammar and I hope that it didn't affected the story too much. About the story I must to warn you! I'm not planning to finish it soon. This story will be quite longer than my previous one. So don't be worry if there are some information missing! You will know everything somewhere in the later chapters. I hope it's alright with you.
The current state of your votes is:
Lina x Xellos – 4
Lina x Zelgadis – 6
Lina x both of them – 2
