14. Radio-cassette player

Peppita ran down the street pulling Fayt close behind her. "Come on hurry! I want to show you my new invention!"

Fayt let the young girl pull his arm and lead him to the workshop. She was obviously excited over whatever it was she had made. "Ok just don't yank my arm off."

They rounded the corner and swung the door of the workshop opened. "It's right over here!" Peppita bounded into the room but abruptly stopped dead in her tracks. Fayt who was still being dragged around ran smack dab into her back, almost pushing the younger girl over. He was about to ask why she stopped when he took in the scene before him.

Sophia had her back pressed up against the wall and was staring at him. Albel had his hands pressed against the wall on either side of Sophias head and was glaring menacingly back at him over his shoulder. Fayt knew they had interrupted something. From the position they were in they were either fighting or kissing he really couldn't tell which. If he had to guess he would have said fighting because Sophia looked like she had been crying.

Sophia ducked under Albel's arm and hurried out the door, muttering a quiet "excuse me" as she passed. Albel quickly followed her out not saying a word.

"Fayt?" Peppita asked looking up at him. "What's going on?"

He looked down at her and shook his head. "It's probably nothing."

The young girl looked worriedly past him a pout forming on her innocent face. "They're acting strange."

"Sometimes being in a relationship can make people act different." She didn't look satisfied with his answer and continued to pout. "Hey if it will make you feel better I'll ask her what happened later and make sure she's ok." Peppita nodded and did look a little relived. He didn't want her to worry and quickly changed the topic. "So where is this great invention of yours?"

Her eyes brightened and she was pulling on his hand once again. "It's right over here." she lead him to the workbench. He could tell she had been working because there were materials scattered all over. In the center of the table was a metal box. There was an opening in the center and what looked like two reels on either sided. There were a number of buttons on the top and the reels were slowly turning.

"Its very interesting Peppita, what is it."

The girl hoped up and sat on the workbench. She was smiling again obviously having forgotten her earlier worries about Sophia. "Well you know how on our communicators you can record conversations and voice and then play them back later? Well they have nothing like that here, I thought it would be nice to invent a recorder."

Fayt thought for a moment, looking the little box over. "How does it work? They don't have electricity yet so what are you using as a power source?"

Peppita anxiously swung her legs underneath her and explained. "It runs on the combination of a battery and ruinology. The ruins charge the battery which will last for about two hours or so before it needs to recharge."

Fayt nodded with understanding. It was simple and would work with the technology level of the planet. "Well I think this is a good idea. I'm sure it can be used for all kinds of useful purposes."

She pointed her small finger at him, the polish on her nail catching the light. "And don't forget it can be used for entertainment! Just think people can record songs or poems or even plays!"

Fayt put his hands on his hips and smiled down at her. "I should have known you made this for entertainment purpose." He looked over and noticed that the recorder was still running. "Peppita, is this thing recording now?"

She reached over and picked up the recorder and placed it in her lap. "It is, I must have left it running before I came and got you." She stopped the tape and pressed another button, the reels quickly began turning in the opposite direction as before.

When the tape finally finished rewinding she pressed another button and sound began coming from the speakers. It was Peppita's voice.

"Testing one, two, three! Um..this is the very first recording done on Elicoor III by Peppita Rossetti!" there was a rustling of paper. "So what can I record…hum…oh I know I'll sing you a song!"

Fayt listened as Peppita sung a song he'd heard her perform at one of her shows. "That is really good Peppita, I'm surprised the recording is a clear as it is."

She held her head up proudly "Of course it's a Rossetti product, you should always expect exceptional quality!"

The song ended and there was silence on the tape for a moment before she spoke again. "Oh this is going to be so great! Oh I know, I'll get Fayt and show him."

Peppita ran her hand over the box and was about to stop the tape when Fayt shook his hand motioning for her not to do it. "Wait let's see what else you recorded."

There was more silence for a few moments before the sound of the door slamming was heard. There were noises that sounded like boxes or other heavy objects being moved and then slammed down on a table. Then the door slammed again and Albel's voice could be heard. "Hey! You don't get to just walk away from me when were talking!"

Sophia was heard next. "You weren't talking you were yelling and I have no intention of being yelled at. Besides I really don't want to talk to you now, not when you're being so rude!"

There was a thump that sounded like a fist hitting a table. "Oh and I suppose I should just let any man who wants to flirt with you."

"He wasn't flirting with me you're just being jealous and overbearing!"

"No, you're being naive, he knew you were with me and he still insisted on hitting on you. I should have done more than just threaten him."

"And you'd do what? Beat him up just for talking to me? You know what this is about, you're insecure. Don't you trust me?

"I trust you! I don't trust any pompous ass that thinks he can hit on you knowing you're with me. He knows who I am, he never should have attempted such a thing."

"Well you know after that display back there I'm sure everyone in town will know that they better not talk to me or else they'll face the wrath of big bad Albel. I'll be lucky if anyone ever talks to me again."

There was a noise that sounded like metal hitting wood. Sophia's voice was heard again, she sounded very sarcastic. "Hey there goes Albel Nox's girlfriend, better stay away from her or he'll cut your head off."

For awhile there was only the sound of various objects being moved around. It seemed the two had stopped their banter and Sophia had been working on whatever it was she was doing in the workshop.

"So that's it than? I get into one little fight with someone you don't even know and now you hate me?"

There was another loud slam and Sophia spoke up again sounding very agitated. "I do not hate you! I'm angry with you! Not just because what happened today but because you refuse to see my side of this. Why does everything have to be your way? I've given in plenty to you, why can't you do the same for me?" At this point Fayt could hear the unmistakable waver in her voice that meant she was on the brink of tears.

Apparently Albel had pick up on that too because the next time Fayt heard him on the tape his voice was much softer. Actually he'd never heard Albel speak in any tone but harsh, angry, or sarcastic. "Oh please, don't start crying."

"Why not? You get to yell and I get to cry, that's how this works."

"Then I'll stop yelling ok, just don't cry"

The sounds coming from the tape were Sophia's quite sobbing and what must have been Albel's footsteps on the wooden floor. They were talking again but this time it was either too quietly or they were to far away for the tape to pick it up. All Fayt could hear were mumbled words and whispers.

The door slammed opened again and he heard Peppita speak. "It's right over here!"

Peppita stopped the tape. "Fayt I don't think we should have listened to that."

Fayt shrugged his shoulder and looked around the workshop. "Well at least now we know what they were fighting about. At least it was nothing to important."

Peppita hoped down from the bench. "What do you mean not important! He yelled at her and made her cry! I don't think she should hang around him if he treats her like that."

Fayt put his hand on her shoulder. "Not everyone sees eye to eye on everything Peppita. People fight all the time but that doesn't mean they don't like each other or are really trying to hurt the other person. When two people are in a relationship it's expected that they have a few fights. They'll make up soon enough, don't worry about it. You'll understand when…"

She suddenly pulled away from him, the anger apparent on her face. "Don't say when I'm older! I hate when grownups say that!" she crossed her arms and looked away. "I hate being treated like a little kid."

Fayt knelt down so he was at eye lever with her. "Ok I won't say that. But someday when you have your very first boyfriend and you get into your very first fight you'll understand what I'm talking about." He stood up and held his hand out to her. "We should get back to the inn, it's almost time for dinner."

Peppita nodded and took his hand. They walked out of the workshop and started back towards the inn. When they arrived Peppita ran inside and announced to everyone that they were back.

Fayt paused just outside and looked over at the small garden on the side of the inn. Albel and Sophia were sitting on a small stone bench facing away from him. They were sitting close together and Sophia had her head on his shoulder.

Fayt smiled and went inside the inn to join the others. He was glad that what he told Peppita was true.