Chapter 13: Lacus Clyne
Cagalli's Contemporary Literature class was silent as the teacher introduced them to their new classmate. Some were quiet out of respect, some were awestruck, and very few were disinterested. No matter the reason, all eyes were on the radiant girl standing by the teacher's desk. The girl carried a beautiful, kind smile. Her hair and white dressed flowed as she swayed gently. The girl was Lacus Clyne.
It was almost hard for Cagalli to believe that Lacus Clyne, the new pop star and daughter to the Northern Region's governor,was at her school. Almost hard because, when she really thought about it, a lot of the students come from similar backgrounds and importance. Flay, was a previous governor's daughter, Athrun's father's a mayor, and few other people she knew had family members in government. But none of them recently released a debut album and music video. Cagalli didn't have Lacus on her playlist (her music was too romantic and slow for Cagalli's taste. Cagalli liked songs with more of a beat—fast paced or edgy), but she knew of/heard her music.
Lacus lifted her manicured hand and waved.
"Hello, everyone!" she said, her voice sweet and melodic.
Most of the class greeted her back. With a bow, and a grin, Lacus made her way to the empty seat in the front.
…
It was the end of the school day and Cagalli was at her locker filling her backpack with her textbooks and notebooks. Her stomach rumbled as she did so.
Snacks, no-dinner thenstudying, she thought. Then hopefully I get to bed early. She yawned.
As she continued to pack up, she could hear Lacus' distinguishable voice from not too far away. Cagalli peered from behind her locker door and could see Lacus standing down the hall with Athrun in front of her, standing face to face. Even from the distance, Cagalli noticed the serene look that they both carried. Both looked very comfortable in each other's presence. That fact made Cagalli more curious (she didn't know that they were acquainted), so she continued to observe them.
Lacus had said something, and though Cagalli could not make out what it was, it had made Athrun smile. The next thing Lacus did made Cagalli gasp. On the tip of her toes, Lacus leaned forward with closed eyes and slightly puckered her lips. Cagalli was frozen in place. Athrun leaned forward and Cagalli felt her heart drop to her stomach. Her initial hunger was replaced with aggravating nausea.
Before his lips reached Lacus', Athrun paused. He placed a kiss on her cheek.
"They're engaged you know."
Cagalli nearly jumped out of her skin. She had let out a breath she didn't know she was holding until then. She turned to see Ahmed watching Athrun and Lacus as well, and wondered how long he had been standing there.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"They're engaged."
Cagalli didn't think her heart could drop any lower, or that she could feel sicker, but both occurred upon hearing Ahmed words. She turned to look at them again, they were walking away—the opposite way.
"They aren't the only ones," Ahmed continued. "I come to realize that a lot of the 'elite,' or whatever you want to call them, have marriages arranged for them." He shrugged. "Makes me happy I'm not apart of that crowd. At least I get to choose who I'll be with when I'm older. Those two looked happy though."
Cagalli said nothing. Ahmed gave her a goofy smile, but she held no expression. She shut her locker, threw her backpack over her shoulder and brushed past him, leaving him to stand there alone and confused.
Happy New Year :)