Highschool Drama!
By Rosegirl18
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Summary for this Chappie: It's finally December, the month of Christmas. The Heliopolis High students can't wait to get out, especially because Klueze is their horrid chem. teacher! But what will happen after the break starts? More trouble – or more drama?
A/N: So very sorry to have kept you waiting. My two reasons were this: I got grounded for a week and you guys never bothered to really review. Oh well. At least I've started writing, right? Now, since all of you didn't find the time to think up a present for Kira, I was stuck for at least two weeks on what to write. What a shame. Well, I'm planning a very special chapter for those FllayKiraLacus people, so read on –
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that Fukuda claims to claim.
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Chapter 10: Angst for Christmas
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Lacus walked quickly, trying to ward off the cold that the snow had inflicted. Normally, the family chauffeur would drive her, but he had such a bad cold, she couldn't help but to force him to take a day off. Her light blue pea coat was only moderately warm, but it could not protect her from the wintery weather. It had started snowing only yesterday, December eighth. And with it had come winter.
"Lacus, wait up!"
She turned around to see her old friend Kira run towards her. "Kira! I didn't know you walked." She said happily.
"Well, I do," Kira replied. "Where's Stellar?"
"She's caught the flu," Lacus said, "It's awful, and she can't sleep very well."
"Ah – that's too bad," Kira said. "Mayu is very sick as well, she's often like this in the wintertime. Shinn was so concerned, he took a day off to look after her."
"Shinn has such a good bond with his sister, I wish she'd get over her sickness soon."
"Yeah," Kira replied, concerned for both his cousins. "Cagalli isn't up yet. I think mom is going to give her a ride."
"I see," Lacus giggled, knowing her friend's inability to wake up too early. Then softly, she said, "It's going to be Christmas soon."
"I know," Kira replied, looking up at the gray, cloudy sky, "And we'll get a break very soon."
"We should hang out sometime." Lacus suggested.
"Yeah," said Kira, "we should."
--
"Lunama – ria" Meyrin sang as she jumped down the stairs, "Time to go CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!"
"Oh shut up," Lunamaria grumbled, "It's barely the beginning of December. Besides, the snow is too thick for us to go anywhere anyway."
"But we're not going to school today. It got cancelled."
"Exactly, because of the SNOW!"
Hmm…so no school today. Guess Lacus and Kira were in too much of a hurry to turn on the radio this morning…
--
"No school?" Kira exclaimed.
The guy on the truck nodded. "Yup, I'm in charge of putting all the salt around here, and you guys are about the only people who bothered to show up."
"Oh man," Kira groaned, "What are we gonna do now?"
"Go to the nearest public building and make a call. Someone could come pick you up. Don't go walking back again, though, it's dangerous out there."
"Alright, thank you," Lacus said, and let the guy do his work. "Kira, what's the nearest public building around here?"
"Gee, I'm not sure, Lacus. The last time we went around to find somewhere together, we ended up lost."
Lacus nodded in agreement. "But I think that was kind of fun," she giggled. "Besides, we have no choice."
"Sure," Kira smiled back, "This kind of feels like the good old days…"
Flashback
"My name is Kira Yamato," he said nervously, fidgeting with his uniform. "I like to program things…" He sat back down, relieved that no one was looking at him anymore. First day at Academy of ZAFT…what a burden. The strict teacher made the girl next to him stand up and introduce herself, and so on.
"Hi," said the pink haired girl when she sat down, "I'm Lacus." That first day, they got lost together when they were looking for the science room. Then they became good friends, and met Athrun, too.
End Flashback
"Yeah, we always got lost together, didn't we?" Lacus said fondly. "Well, we'd better get going."
"Lets go."
--
"Damn this," Cagalli said through gritted teeth, "I can't believe you two had to get lost AGAIN! And if you have a cellphone, why didn't you just use it instead of trying to find a public place!"
"I – I don't know…" Kira said through the phone, embarrassed at his own stupidity. "Well, come get us, alright? We really need a ride."
He hung up, afraid Cagalli would say any more. "She's on her way," Kira said cheerfully to the shivering Lacus. "I guess school break starts from here."
"Yeah," Lacus said softly.
"Here," Kira took off his coat and handed it to his friend. "You seem pretty cold."
"Thanks," Lacus accepted, knowing that Kira would not give way for a refusal. "I hope Cagalli gets here soon, you might get a cold."
"HEEEY! ARE YOU TWO OVER THERE!" Cagalli's extremely loud voice rang in the street.
"Yes, we're here!" Lacus called. A very pretty yellow car screeched to a halt right next to them.
"Hop in you two!" Cagalli said in a pinched voice, like everyone had when they had a blocked nose. "I can't believe you guys hauled me out in this state."
"Sorry," Lacus and Kira chirped, and they went back home.
--
It was December 16th, the real date of the break and the only day everyone actually had to come to school. In biology, the upperclassmen studied cow's brains, and in chemistry, Klueze gave the freshmen so much homework, he had to spend the whole block explaining it. At lunch, Lacus, Athrun, and Kira were ambushed by presents from admirers young and old, and during free block everyone went out to have a snow fight.
"Eee!" Stellar shrieked as she was hit on the head by a stray snowball. "Who threw that?"
"Me!" Yzak said proudly. "I finally hit someone!"
Everyone directed their throws at Yzak, and he got really soaked (and pissed.)
"It was such a fun day today," Lacus said, giving some gifts that she had received to Cagalli. "Oh look, a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals…but I already have these. Anyone want…"
"Me! Please pick me!" Meyrin begged, "I've wished for these for a month, but – "
"Okay.," Lacus said, handing the pair to her. "And this sundress is too small…do you want it, Ezra?"
"Thanks," she replied, giving the pink-haired goddess a hug. "It's beautiful."
"I don't really have any gifts to give you guys unless you want colognes and teddy bears…" Athrun said. He took out a bunch of furry things from a bag and tossed one of each to Meyrin, Cagalli, Lacus, Nicol, Lunamaria, Stellar, Ezra, and Mayu.
"Thanks for the gift, Athrun," Nicol said happily, holding an expensive-looking, five foot stuffed bear.
"A big one for a good friend," Athrun replied. Then, raising his voice, he said, "Free colognes for everyone! You know you wa - nt it!"
"Yeaaah!" yelled some guys and crowded near Athrun. Soon, the thick scent of men's cologne filled the air.
"Lets get out of here," Kira coughed, "I can't stand this."
"No kidding," Yzak grumbled, "I'm going home."
"Will someone take us home?" Lunamaria asked, "My parents both go to work, and I hear the buses aren't working."
"I'll take you guys," Kira volunteered. "Anyone else?"
"Could I catch a ride?" Lacus asked.
"Of course – "
"-NOT." Fllay finished, "Kira and I have some catching up to do. We haven't talked to each other in two days! Scram. And you guys too, red hair sisters."
"Fllay – " Kira started, annoyed, but Fllay blocked his mouth. She sat on the passenger seat.
"Come on honey, didn't you miss me?"
"Yeah…" Kira said, and cast an apologetic look to the girls he promised a ride to. "Sorry you guys. Some other time."
Kira didn't see Fllay sneer at his pink-haired friend. He drove off.
"Hey, I'll drive you guys," Shinn appeared with Stellar. "Come on."
"I think I'll just walk," Lacus said, sighing discreetly. "You guys go on ahead."
Shinn knew that Lacus's mansion was more than just an hour's walk away. He also knew that if anything drastic happened, it would be partly his fault. It was going to snow soon again. But he was fourteen. And stupid. So he just nodded and took the three girls to his car.
A few minutes later Cagalli left with Athrun in her car. Mayu had gotten a ride with Yzak, Ezra, and Shiho, probably. Miriallia was long gone with her car. And Lacus was all alone.
She sighed. "I wonder what he sees in her," she wondered out loud, "I wonder if he sees anything at all in me."
She began to walk faster, because it was getting darker and colder. And it was beginning to snow again. Lacus could feel the tiny white snowflakes melting in her clothes and hair.
I bet Fllay and Kira are together right now…It's okay, as long as he's happy, I'm happy too –
--
Cagalli was currently at the Attha mansion with Athrun, sipping hot chocolate. Athrun, like the adult-like gentleman suck up he was, was drinking Earl Grey tea. Earl Grey is actually a less - strong orange pekoe tea. And no matter how much honey you put in it, it's rather bitter.
"Hey, Athrun," Cagalli said, "Did you see Lacus driving back with anyone?"
"I don't know, didn't she drive back with Kira?"
"No, I saw him with Fllay…" she said, disturbed. "What does he see in her?"
Athrun sighed. "I don't know, really. Kira's really dense and likes people who are kind to him, that's all."
"But – but…LACUS is kind to him, she's been nice to him since they met!"
"I guess it's that kind of long-time friendship that caused Kira to ignore his feelings…" Athrun said thoughtfully.
"I suppose…" Cagalli said, "But that's so damn UNFAIR! How come a – a bitch like Fllay gets to have him and Lacus can't?"
"It's up to Kira," Athrun said, "He'll have to figure out his feelings in his heart himself."
Cagalli burst out laughing. "That was so corny."
--
"Hey, Shinn, Stellar," Meyrin said, "Can we go you your house today? It's so boring by ourselves."
"Yeah," Lunamaria enthused. "I hear you guys have an ice skating rink, Stellar. What do you say?"
"Well, it's fine by me," Stellar said. "Will you come too, Shinn?"
"Sure, lets all go to the Clyne mansion!"
"Oh, but first, lets buy some food. I'm hungry."
"Yeah. And then we can have a party."
"Sounds good to me. Freshman Fun, huh?"
--
It was about five o'clock when Ezra picked up the phone. "Oh, Stellar. Hi. Shinn's there? Just a second, I'll call Mayu. What? A party?"
"A party?" Mayu skipped over, "What party?"
"Stellar's Freshman Party!" Lunamaria's voice came over from the phone.
"Yeah!" said Meyrin's voice, "Come over to the Clyne mansion, you guys, okay?"
"Okay!"
What a fun party. Only freshmen, huh?
"Hey hey hey," Yzak said, "What party?"
"You're not invited!" Ezra giggled. "You're too old!
Twitch. Twitch.
Burn.
--
"So Kira," Fllay demanded, "How come you've been avoiding me all summer?"
"I wasn't." Kira stammered, "I was just…hanging…with my friends."
"Friends as in…Lacus Clyne?" Fllay asked. "I have something to tell you Kira, so just listen, okay?"
Kira nodded, glancing at her curiously.
"That time when I went shopping after the camp ended, I met Lacus and her friends." Fllay said, "And I challenged her for a DDR battle."
Kira nodded again, not really knowing where this was all going. And what was a DDR again?
"A DDR is a dancing game that's in most Karaoke places," Fllay answered, knowing Kira didn't have a clue to what she was talking about. "The first time we went against each other, we had a draw…so we went again."
"Yeah…" Kira responded, "But why'd you challenge her to something like that? I know you don't like my friends, but – "
"It's because I love you, Kira," Fllay cut in, "And she does too. You're my boyfriend, and she was hoping too much for her own good."
Kira almost halted to a stop on the snowy street. "What?" he asked, completely perplexed. "what are you talking about?"
Fllay turned her head away from him so that she couldn't maintain eye contact.
"Well," Kira asked, "What happened?"
"We ran out of time before we could finish." Fllay said. "But she…she was winning."
Kira stopped in front of Fllay's house. "We're here."
"Aren't you going to say anything?" She asked, "you love me, right? Don't you?"
Her voice was frantic now, searching his face for any clue of emotion.
"I don't know Fllay," he said finally. "I need to think. Goodbye."
--
"Underclassmen's party?" Yzak snorted, "Don't be ridiculous. What can little people do for a party, huh?"
Ezra shrugged. "We're only two years apart. Besides, you're just jealous you can't come, right?"
Yzak fumed. "Shut up! It's not that, I – "
"When we're gone, you can have fun with Shiho all alone. Won't you like that?"
"Why you little… what the hell are you talking about?"
"Stop being so immature," she said, rolling her eyes, "Well anyway, we're going out now."
"Little ingrate…" Yzak muttered as soon as Ezra and Mayu left. "That – HEY! THAT'S MY CAR!"
--
Cagalli was quiet for a moment, then spoke up with sudden realization. "Lacus must be feeling really lonely right now. Stellar's off at that party with Shinn, and Mr. Clyne is at a business meeting, right?"
"Yeah…but they're having the party at the mansion, so she'll be alright," Athrun reasoned.
"No," Cagalli said, sitting up straighter, "They decided to go to that new restaurant. Lacus will be all alone, especially with Kira out with Fllay."
"Well, what do you suppose we should do, go cheer her up?"
Cagalli snapped her fingers. "Exactly. Lets go."
Ignoring the raging blizzard outside the window, Cagalli took Athrun to the garage to start her car. "You still smell like a thousand colognes."
"Not my fault," he said, "I'll drive."
--
Ding dong.
Athrun rang the doorbell once, turning to the white door. The mansion was definitely the house of the Clynes, white, regal, and calming. A lady opened the door.
"Yes?"
"We'd like to see Lacus Clyne," Cagalli spoke up to the maid.
"She's not home, I'm very sorry," the woman said. "Would you like to give a message?"
Cagalli frowned. "Out? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm very sure. Would you like to leave a message?" she said again,
"No, it's fine," the blond girl said, and turned to Athrun. "Lets go."
When they reached the car, Cagalli was still significantly quiet. Athrun turned on the car. "Where do you think she is?"
"Probably at the party with Stellar…right?" Cagalli said, her voice filled with doubt.
"Yeah…" Athrun answered, his reply also sounding like a question. "I'm sure she's fine."
His statement did not settle neither of the two teens, and the anxiousness got worse when they spotted a mass of pink hair sprawled on a sidewalk.
--
"Emergency. Doctor, we need to see to – "
"Yes, call the…squad…"
"…she's not in serious condition…tests…breathing is normal…"
"What the hell is happening?" Cagalli asked quietly, about to go frantic. "Is she okay or not?"
"We'll just have to leave her to the professionals," Athrun reassured her with all his calmness. "She'll be okay."
"We need to call Kira…" Cagalli voiced suddenly, "He needs to know!" She pulled out her cellphone out of her pocket with a shaky hand. Lacus must have been so sad. Kira, I can't believe you!
Kira answered after three rings. "Yeah?"
"You'd better get down here," said his twin. "Lacus's been hospitalized."
--
Meanwhile, Ezra and Mayu came into the new restaurant, looking as if they had just been shopping. And of course they had, who could come to a party without new clothes? They slipped into the chairs that had been reserved for their bunch.
"Hi guys."
Lunamaria turned around. "Hey you two! You guys are so late!"
"Fashionably late," Mayu said giggling, meaning the phrase literally. "We went shopping with Yzak's car."
"Really?" Meyrin pitched in, "He must be furious! Besides, we're underage."
"In America people are convinced that laws are meant to be broken," Ezra said. "And Yzak is probably writing a depressing poem. He does that a lot nowadays in his journal. They're so sappy!"
"You look in your brother's journal?"
"When I'm bored."
Shinn tapped the table with his hand. "Hey, lets order already!"
"I'll order pizza," Rey said. "Special Italian with black olives, green peppers, parmesan cheese, and pepperoni."
"I want the special house garden salad," Meyrin said. "I'm on a diet."
"You know that salad dressings in restaurants contain as much fat as a pizza slice," Lunamaria scolded, "That foods teacher told us during Nutrition."
"Shaddap. It feels better when you eat greens. Like you're actually losing weight."
Rey snorted.
"Now what are you damn snorting about, hunh?"
--
"Damn this…" Kira said, looking at the mounds of cars ahead of him. "I hate traffic!" He made a move to call Cagalli again, but realized cellphones were not allowed to be on in the hospital. "Please be okay… Lacus."
Meanwhile…
Lacus opened her eyes to a blinding light. Where am I? Am I…!
The light turned off. "You're awake, thank goodness." A nurse in a clean, white uniform bustled over to her bedside. "Your friends were so worried."
Friends…?
"Lacus!" Cagalli flung herself into the room and ran towards her. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"I…" Lacus paused. What had happened again? "I'm feeling fine," she said.
"Kira is just on his way, Lacus. We'll take you home." Athrun said.
"Yeah," Cagalli smiled at her, "Let's go to my house and spend the night, okay?"
"He didn't need to come…" Lacus said, trying to keep steady. Despite what she was saying, she was feeling kind of dizzy. "I'll just… sit down for awhile."
Just then, Kira burst into the waiting room. "Lacus!" he said.
"K-Kira…" she hung her head. "Sorry."
"For what?" Lacus peered into the three perplexed and worried faces.
"Nothing."
Lacus was allowed to leave the hospital after another final checkup. The two cars then headed towards the Attha Mansion.
--
The days of December quickly passed by. Throughout the month, Kira was extremely troubled by what Fllay had revealed to him, but was unable to ponder his thoughts freely, afraid of what they would lead to. Lacus and Stellar stayed at his house until her father came back from his trip, which was the 23rd. He didn't see much of her though, as she and Cagalli kept hiding in their rooms and talked constantly in low whispers.
Soon, Lacus and Stellar went back home to their father, and he and Athrun were called by Yzak to help him put up the decorations for the Joules' annual Christmas Party.
"Mother insists on putting up mistletoe," Yzak grumbled on top of the 10 foot ladder. "She should do it herself, it's damn scary to hang it on this ridiculously high ceiling."
Athrun and Kira laughed while hanging on the ladder, and it shook.
"Stop that, dammit! You want me to die?" he came off the ladder. "I'm going."
"Where?"
"To write a poem," Yzak brushed off. "See ya."
--
Christmas came and went as quickly as ever. Kira received a lot of things he liked, such as a stereo sound system, a new torii (from Athrun), and some clothes.
Fllay gave him a Rolex watch.
Lacus gave him a green knitted scarf.
And the holidays passed by as weirdly as ever. Kira felt himself float with the swirling lights, parties, and formal affairs. Without school or anything else to distract him, Kira was just…blank. And at the same time, overflowing with thoughts. And most of them were about his current youth angst problem:
Lacus and Fllay.
He knew what Fllay had said might not be true. But what if it was? Why were his feelings toward Lacus so much like the feelings toward Fllay, he didn't know. It wasn't as if anyone else was of any help, they whispered around him nowadays, knowing something he didn't.
He couldn't take it anymore. So one day, he called Shinn to his room.
"What's up, bro? You don't seem like yourself nowadays."
Kira sat still, uncomfortably thinking about what he would have to confirm. "Shinn, does Lacus like me?"
"Well, of course she does. She's your frie – "
"No, not like that," Kira said, trying again, "Does she have feelings for me? Like attraction?"
Shinn got up from his chair and patted Kira on the shoulder, turning to leave. "If you call the passion and unrequited love she holds for you attraction, I guess so."
He left.
And Kira got even more confused.
--
"Ah ha ha ha," Cagalli laughed abnormally loudly. It was kind of obvious she was drunk. "Hah, that's funny!"
"Cagalli, I'm not doing anything," Athrun said worriedly.
"No… you're dancing! Moving in all different directions…" her voice slightly faded. "Ah… my stomach. Uh – I'm gonna hurl – "
"Cagalli! What – eaahh!"
It was New Year's Eve, approx. 11 pm at the Atthas' basement. His parents had gone to a New Year's dinner at a restaurant. Kira, Cagalli, Mayu, and Shinn were allowed to invite friends over.
Shinn, Rey, Lunamaria, Meyrin, Shiho, and Stellar were just starting to play Soul Calibur III when Yzak walked right in front of the TV.
"Hey, what's the deal?" Shinn asked. "Could you move?"
"No," Yzak replied stubbornly. "I'm going to read you guys a poem…"
--
Lacus was helping Athrun set up Cagalli on the bed. She was still coughing up vomit, so they had to give her a bag.
"Call Kira," Athrun said to her, "I think this is kind of serious."
"Yeah," Lacus agreed, and promptly went to Kira's room. In it, she found two people kissing. One was Kira, and the other was Fllay. "S-sorry to bother you… Athrun said – Cagalli was sick and…" She couldn't help it. She burst out the door.
Fllay…Kira…so she will be the one he will always choose… Tears seeped out from her eyes. She ran into Cagalli's bathroom, past the curious expressions on Athrun and Cagalli's faces. I just want to disappear.
Kira abruptly broke away from Fllay. "Lacus… Lacus!"
He started running to wherever she had ran off, but soon heard Fllay breaking down. He stopped, torn between the two places he needed to be. Oh great, he thought, I ended up breaking both their hearts…
--
End of Chappie! My friend said that it was already past Christmas and New Year's, but who cares! You'd rather have a late chapter than a missing one, right?
