Athrun had been waiting outside the posh diner for a while now. Meer was nowhere in sight…the three of them aren't in sight, actually… Disregarding what he considered as irrelevant thoughts, Athrun wondered again why he'd accepted the "date".
It had been on an impulse. An impulse. What a wonderful thing you acted upon. You just went blindly plunging into your utterly horrific death and end of dignity. Your emotions took control of you and look where you ended up-
Screw it. I like this plan. Bit of fun and loving never hurt no-one.
Re-checking his watch, Athrun strode backwards and forwards, impatient for his "date" to start. And then, when no-one would have expected…
Cagalli and Yunna suddenly were walking toward him, toward the diner he was going to be having his "date" in. For a brief moment, Cagalli's eyes locked with his. Part business, part personal, part hatred, part love, part…part Cagalli. That's what it is. It's her, everything she feels, I can see it. Even then. The briefest of glances…
Faking surprise, Athrun walked over to the "happy couple". "Oh my God, I didn't know you two were courting each other! Since how long?" Athrun maintained a beaming smile and adopted Yunna's rather posh manner of speech. Pretty stupid way to speak, mind…
"Cagalli asked me out! I can't believe it! Oh my God, I love you Honey!" Yunna's arms wrapped around Cagalli's lithe figure, and she managed a weak smile while glaring at Athrun with a look that said "What did I do to deserve this?"
"Why are you here, Athrun?" Cagalli asked meekly, trying to hide her near obvious discomfort at being hugged by Yunna. Who would ever want to be hugged by a guy like him? "Do you have a date?"
"Why yes, of course I do…as a matter-of-fact, she should be arriving here any minute…"
Meer looked out the window of her cab as the driver turned the clumsy vehicle down another alley. She hummed a weird, unnamed tune to herself, now and again looking at her dress, wondering how her hair was, whether or not he would be impressed.
I asked for so many people's help…I don't even know if he will appreciate what I've done, or how I look tonight…I can only hope that…I've got this one chance, that maybe he'll think I'm beautiful…
Meer thoughtfully considered everything that had happened today. A few weeks before, she was sulking, crying her head off, and now here she was, going out with Athrun Zala, an acknowledged "hunk" of the school. She remembered what the other girls had said.
"He's ripped…oh my God, I'd love to…" the little Year 8 girl squealed, blushing.
"I know how you feel…" murmured a Year 9. "Hey, look at this-they smuggled it out of the change rooms…I mean, how HOT do you get?"
Meer took an innocent glance, and her eyes were glued to the small picture in the girl's hand. Even if he was a year older than her, he was the desire of EVERY girl. He was sexy, elegant, the epitome of the perfect man.
That was when she realised…what she should be doing with him.
Snatches of painful memories caught up in Meer's mind. She tried to turn them aside, and focus on the task at hand, but they inundated her mind, until the dams holding back the tide of memories burst asunder, and she could see the painful forget-me-nots rush back into view.
"You'll always be…my friend." he said.
"What? But…why? I love you…why can I only be your friend? Am I not special enough to be anything more?" Meer replied, shocked.
"You're…you're not what I wanted. I wanted someone hot, someone sexy, someone who I would look good with…I'm sorry…" he murmured. And then, he hung up on her…
Another memory popped into her head.
"Let me die. Let me die. Let me die." The knife was poised above her heart.
"Let me live. I don't want to die." The knife trembled, and she considered throwing it away.
"I have nothing to live for. I don't want to live any longer." The knife slowly made it's way to her throat.
"I love him. I still love him. I'll make him love me." The knife dropped to the ground, clattered.
A near suicide. Meer thought, disgusted at her own weakness. How can I come through for him and prove I'm someone worthy if I crumble so easily?
"Ma'am? I don't mind you sitting in my cab for a li'l longer, but I gotta another pass'n'gr I gotta pick up. So, if you don't mind, would ya pay me and get outta here?"
Hurriedly, she payed the man the due amount, hr thoughts disorganised from him saying something. She looked at the posh diner, straightened her hair, noticed Athrun was already inside, and walked in.
"…and of course you know that my father…" Yunna's voice trailed off. He was staring at the entrance to the diner, and lo and behold-there be a girl standing at the entrance looking for her date. Meer Campbell. Her straight black hair had a glow to it, and a tight white dress clung to her figure, seemingly innocent enough, but emphasising the girl's slim body and rather large bust. Yunna's jaw dropped-literally. In fact, it resulted in he having a jaw cramp, and it took him five minutes to get over the "excruciating pain".
Athrun walked over, just as surprised himself. With the pink dye in her hair washed out, and the school uniform replaced by my dress…wow…
"You look…uhh…I mean…you look absolutely stunning tonight…" Athrun gaped, trying to properly say what he thought. This girl is sure damn committed…
"Do you think it'll work?" she asked timidly, glancing around in Cagalli's direction.
"I hope so…good luck." He smiled at her, and for once, what she returned wasn't a cheesy grin that she usually gave to most people-it was a true smile, and her face radiated with that kind of happy inner energy that seemed to have disappeared from most people.
Cagalli watched Athrun and Meer for a minute. Then, noticing that they were done, Cagalli turned to Yunna and said "I'm going outside to get a bit of air; this place is a bit stuffy. You don't mind dear?" Yunna, whose jaw was still in "excruciating pain" managed a "Yeaarsgh dearrr…"
Good luck, Meer.
Meer tentatively approached Yunna's table. Athrun had said he was going to wait outside for her. The Seylan was trying to deal with his jaw, which he appeared to be having some trouble with. Tenderly stroking his chin, she eased the pain, until the jaw was no longer cramped and Yunna could speak normally again. It's been so long…I've felt so lonely…
"You look…I don't know what to say, Meer, but I think that you look beautiful tonight…" Yunna murmured quietly. He'd ordered a dinner for two, and the two of them were eating their posh meal like a pair of posh people who were there for a posh occasion. Obviously the latter wasn't true, but the other parts were definitely confirmed. I wonder-am I the only one who knows of our secret watchers? I wonder what they're doing right now?
Outside, Cagalli and Athrun munched silently on fish and chips. Athrun suddenly grabbed Cagalli's hand. Instead of trying to force her way out of it, she didn't try to resist, surprising both of them.
"I still love you, you know?" Athrun asked.
"I know. I think I sorta understand why you told me to break it off…you didn't feel ready yet, did you?"
Athrun shook his head. Cagalli turned her big, amber eyes on him.
"Are you ready yet?"
Another shake of head. And then silence.
"Yunna…" Meer said suddenly, her shaky tone catching his attention. He and Meer had been friends since they'd been little kids, and that friendship had blossomed into a love of sorts. But…he refuses to admit it…
"I still…I still love you, Yunna." Meer's voice trembled as she admitted her feelings a second time to the boy that had left her heartbroken and sad. But I still love him. I still do. No matter what he says.
Yunna looked up at her, face disarrayed and a mixture of surprise and pleasure in his face. But he tried to cover it up, and his face hardened again as he tried to deny his feelings. "I can't stay with you Meer. I need a girl who is good looking, who is beautiful-"
"Didn't you say I was beautiful?" Meer asked, trembling. Oh please, God, not again…not again…
"Meer, I got asked out by a Goddess, and you expect me to deny her?" Yunna's voice tried to employ a pleading tone, and Meer finally broke. She began to sob uncontrollably.
"I did everything I could to show you I loved you! I dressed as a Goddess; I tried to sing as well as one, all so I could impress you because I loved you. And every time I did, you just pushed me further and further away. Why, Yunna? Why?" Meer sobbed again.
Yunna opened his mouth, but he couldn't' say anything. Ashamed, he looked down at his shoes, trying to think up some kind of excuse. But he couldn't.
Damn him. Damn all men.
And with that, Meer ran out of the posh diner, skirt askew, tears staining her face. And the onlookers watched in horror. What could have gone wrong?
"Cagalli…follow her. Tell me if something happens…" Athrun murmured to Cagalli. The blonde-haired girl nodded, and ran after Meer.
Oh my God...one day to write this whole chappie! I feel so proude...but again, I'm not sure how well written it was so I want a lot of feedback on this one, plllleaaase? I hoep it clarified the issues in chapter 10 for you guys. And, one more thing! Can everyone who reads this go to my profile and review the songfic "the One for me"? 'Cause it's really good, apparently, but it has only ONE review! Do you know how sad I am? ( so yeah...DiRTy HarrY signing off!