AN: Not much to say, other than I threw in a cameo appearance. A rather obvious one. Which may be because I recently finished the game she's from. But enjoy! And read and review, please!
Chapter 73: Revolving Hearts
|October 5th|Meadowbank Inn|18:00 pm|
After what had happened in Inanis, anyone would have thought Amara would have become disheartened. She had to slay her own father, and also a man who was like an uncle to her. The former had fallen victim to his desires, the latter consumed by a zest for power. Not only that, she remembered encountering a young Nihane in her childhood - as Ethan Walters. For most people, all of this would be overwhelming.
Amara may have felt her heart grow heavy with grief, but she knew one thing. Life was still going on, and there was still time to defeat Aeternus. With that day, no matter how far off, in mind, she knew she could bear the pain of losing her father. And thus, tonight she would enjoy an evening, starting at the Meadowbank Inn, a rather distinguished restaurant in Nova Albion.
She could not believe her ears when Nathan suggested it. The original plan was to spend the evening at a bar, then a club. Blaine, however, would not let Serena feel left out in celebrating Amara's birthday, and so Nathan came to the rescue with the prospect of a meal, in one of his favourite restaurants. And thus, he booked a table in a private room. As well as the four of them, Zao and Karl were there. Likewise, so were Lucy, Sheila, Colette, Priscilla, and Juan. Kyle had been asked to come, but apparently he was busy that evening. Oddly, so was Dan.
"Nathan, I still can't believe we're really here! This place..." Amara said, looking around. It was pleasantly decorated, with comfortable artistic wooden chairs, long intricate tables, fine spotless cutlery, chandeliers and sconces, and even leather-bound menus.
"Did you know that 40% of couples who have a meal here break up?" Sheila said, as she read the menu. Priscilla looked at her strangely, and gripped Nathan's hand tightly. "I was kidding, by the way."
"So, your name is Sheila, correct?" Nathan asked. "Amara told me you're some sort of love expert."
"Yup! Well, a relationship columnist, but same thing." Sheila said, looking up from the menu. "I get some strange relationship problems sent in by the readers. The usual love triangles, and in one strange example, a love decagon. It took me a while to figure out what was going on there, but it all seemed to start with a very...exciting night at the ice rink."
Whilst Nathan and Priscilla listened intently to this bizarre tale of passion, romance, jealousy, and one man getting stuck in an air vent, Juan was showing a bored Lucy and an intrigued Blaine his photographs from his worldly travels.
"Holy shit..." Blaine said, staring in awe at the Grand Canyon. "I've never seen anything like that before!"
"You think that's cool? I went over there in a hot air balloon." Juan said, smirking. "Oh, and...let me find it...here's the Trevi Fountain in Rome." As he flicked through the photos, Lucy yawned, but Blaine kept staring, eager to see more.
"Damn, Juan, you're one lucky bastard. Glasswater was my first time travelling out of this city." Blaine said.
"Hey, you're only what, thirty? You've got plenty of time to travel. Glasswater's just one place on this great planet of ours to visit! Heck, there's still plenty of places I haven't been. Oh, and I know you'd be a hit with the ladies in -" Juan was interrupted by Lucy's icy stare, as well as Blaine's awkward laugh. "I meant, a hit with the locals! You're a pretty cool guy, I bet you'd get along with anybody!"
They continued to look through photos...only to discover ones of various women. Mostly posing with Juan. Blaine grinned mischievously, whilst Lucy frowned.
"Juan! Stop showing him those girls!" Lucy said. "Honestly, Blaine, he's always with a new girl. Sort of like what Dan said about you."
"Hey, I'm just a neodymium chick magnet!" Juan said. "Like this guy!" He gave Blaine a high five, and smiled.
"Damn straight. But as you can tell, I've got the strongest pull!" Blaine said, kissing Lucy, who softened a little. Juan groaned, but they continued their talk of travels.
"Hey Stella, you knew Karl's team would win, didn't you?" Amara asked.
"You know I cannot reveal that!" Stella said, flustered. "There were many variables at play. However, Karl's sheer skill certainly elevated their chances. You must have been training hard for this, Karl. Perhaps ever since you could walk..."
"Oh yeah, I forgot! We're sitting here with the supersonic kicking machine!" Juan said, grinning. "I couldn't believe that tackle. You must have been under a lot of pressure, huh?"
"You can certainly say that again." Karl said. Zao opened his mouth to speak, but everyone else drowned out his words, and he kept quiet. "I had to really up my training. Which is already pretty thorough. I work out everything, even my arms with boxing. Blaine showed up at my last class, and he was pretty good for a newcomer - but I still outdid him!"
"Really? From the way Lucy always goes on about him, I didn't think he'd need more exercise." Colette said, confused.
"I keep telling you people! It's about learning the technique! And you can never have enough exercise, trust me. Hey Zao, how come you don't come? With a lot of practice, you can try duking it out with us guys!" Blaine said, grinning.
"Well, fishing all day is always so tiring, and it's hard to find the time for exercise. Oh yeah, speaking of fishing, I -"
"Wow! Serena, where did you get that necklace?" Colette said, stretching over the table to look at it.
"Uh...well, it used to belong to my sister, and she got it from going on holiday..." Serena said, looking sad.
"Oh! So like that thing Amara wears! That used to belong to her mother, right?" Colette asked. "Mementos are amazing. I still have the doll my grandmother made for me, right next to my bed. Even right up until the end, she still loved to knit."
"Yeah, my grandma was the same." Zao said. "She always used to make my grandpa sweaters to keep him cool during the long winter months, when he'd be fishing in the cold. He kept every single one she made, no matter how itchy they were!"
"Why would he need those sweaters? That beard of his looks like it could keep him warmer than any fireplace." Amara said, chuckling. "In fact, he could probably put a fireplace in his."
"Is his facial hair that impressive?" Priscilla asked, stunned. "Nathan's never managed to grow much more than a moustache. And those don't suit him at all."
"She's got you whipped, buddy." Blaine said, pointing proudly at his own stubble. "Lucy loves the man fuzz. Don'tcha?"
"It's alright." Lucy shrugged. Nathan smirked, whilst Blaine looked dejected. "Anyway, let's see what they've got on the menu. I'm actually really hungry..."
The menu was vast, but eventually, everyone settled on what they wanted to eat. And there was plenty of red wine to drink. Serena tried some, but upon tasting it, she screwed her eyes up, and swallowed it bitterly.
"Eew..." Serena said. "How did you get used to this stuff, Blaine? You said you had your first beer at 15!"
"It wasn't really the taste I liked about it. I just wanted to get drunk and party like everybody else!" Blaine said, looking sheepish - especially after Lucy shook her head. "Looking back, I really was a stupid kid. Kind of wish I could have gone back and done something better with myself. So Serena, you work hard. You did well in your tests, didn't ya?"
"Actually, they went a lot better than I thought. Thanks to some hard studying." Serena said, giggling. "And I sent in my college application forms, so hopefully I'll hear back soon!"
|Mayfair Street|19:14 pm|
Richard, whistling one of his favourite soccer anthems, was walking down the road. Along the way, some fans had asked him to sign autographs, yet those who supported rival clubs glared at him. However, even that didn't bother him. Tonight, he was going to Alastair's house, to enjoy another one of his favourite meals - linguini with clam sauce. And even better, he would get to meet Miranda Noelle, Alastair's new girlfriend.
When he got closer, he saw someone familiar. A girl he recalled seeing here and there. She was still in her office clothes, and she had plain brown hair. Yet Richard felt there was something about her - she had the look of an intellectual. Which Kazuya, Bianca and occasionally Alastair reminded him he was not. Feeling bold, Richard walked over - not noticing her gasp as he did so.
"We've got to stop meeting like this." he said, winking.
"Excuse me, what?" she said, frowning. "Have we ever spoken before?"
"Um, no, actually." Richard said, sweating a little. "But you were looking at me outside the mall that one time!"
The woman shrugged. "You were so exhausted, I could hear you panting a mile away."
"Yeah, I was in training! Then there was that time me and Karl were eating at my folk's restaurant! You were outside, if I recall." Richard said, grinning.
"Oh. That." The woman said. "I wasn't looking at you, specifically. I was just seeing how much it had changed since last time."
"Last time?" Richard asked. "Whatever. I'm Richard Eden!"
"I know. They keep talking about you on the news. You, and everyone else in your team." The woman said. "You did okay in that final match. I'm sure your parents are very lucky, with such a successful athlete for a son. And a restaurant, on top of that. They must have such a privileged life."
"Um..." Richard mumbled. "I wasn't trying to brag, or anything. Sorry. What's your name?"
"Keisha." She looked past Richard, annoyed. "Do you mind? I have to get going."
"Wait, one second!" Richard said, smiling. "How about you and me go out sometime? There's this really cool club in Saragel, with some awesome setlists. I could get us a great deal on some drinks, too!"
"Why would I ever want to do that?" Keisha said. "What would we even have to talk about? You don't seem like the type who would discuss anything but sport."
"But...hey, I'm not just a soccer fanatic! Come on!" Richard said. "Maybe not a club, then. How about a meal?"
"Are you thick or something? The answer, Mr Eden, is no. Stop wasting my time!" She shoved past him, and headed swiftly down the street. Richard stood still for a moment, his mouth wide open. He had been rejected a few times, but usually politely. Yet Keisha was a first. Had he said something wrong? He tried to get it out of his mind, and continued on his way.
|Solar Ray Mall - Burger Chef|19:20 pm|
Kyle waited outside, looking around anxiously. Despite the ton of people walking by, Dan wasn't among them. What was going on?
It had been only yesterday that he had told Serena he might come to this birthday party, for her friend Amara. Then out of the blue, he got a text from Dan, who he hadn't seen since the race. It simply said:
We really need to talk. Meet me at Burger Chef tomorrow at 7:30.
Kyle hadn't been able to figure out what Dan meant at all. But once he came, he could have his answer. He bit his lip, and trembled. Had he done something stupid?
"Hey."
Kyle looked up. Looming over him was Dan. Even if Kyle could stand up, Dan would still tower over him, at a mighty six feet and three inches. Kyle was silent, and whilst he tried to smile, Dan's expression remained still.
"You okay?"
"I'm...fine." Kyle said. "Dan, why are we here?"
"Come on, we'll get something to eat. I'll tell you in a minute." Dan said, wandering into the restaurant. Kyle stood there, nervous. "You're not in trouble, Kyle. There's just something important we need to do."
The two of them ordered their burgers, and once the waitress was gone, neither of them spoke. Kyle briefly thought about getting out his 3DS, but that might be rude. Finally, Dan spoke up.
"I'm sorry about running off like that." Dan said. "I've...not been myself lately."
"Oh...it's fine." Kyle said.
Dan shook his head, and looked straight into Kyle's eyes. "No. It's not fine. Not if I keep going like this. For two years, I've done nothing with my life. It all seems so pointless, trying to get anywhere. I have no career, I haven't had a girlfriend, and I'm stuck in a shitty house in Kanaloa."
"Dan...if you really wanted to change things, you could -"
"Don't you think I know that?" Dan said. "I'm good at my job, and...if I really did want to try a new job, I could probably do it. I always liked the idea of having my own taxi firm, actually. But what it all comes down to is...Matthew."
"Dan..." Kyle said. "I know you loved him -"
"It's more than love, Kyle!" Dan said. "My baby brother...I even held him in my arms, when he was a few hours old! I promised him I'd look after him! And I did...after our parents died, I was his legal guardian! Most of my friends told me I was an idiot, but I said screw them! Matthew was my reason for living...I wouldn't go out with any woman if he hated them. And our house was always fun and loud, especially when he watched those cop shows! He always wanted to be all cool and suave like the detectives...and one day, he told me he wanted to go to New York. So he could learn how to be a real cop!"
"I know that part..." Kyle said. "The last time I ever saw him. He told me he was going there, so he could come back and really clean up Kanaloa. That meant a lot to him, making his hometown a place to be proud of. And I really thought he'd make it! And I was sad...I was really sad. He was my only friend! I..." He wiped away some tears, whilst Dan looked at him, listening closely. "He said...he'd be back before I knew it. But he made me promise I'd make other friends. Then I read in the newspaper..."
"...He drowned." Dan said. "He never did learn how to swim. Ironic...we lived right near the beach. But he never got the hang of swimming, the little dork. I used to tease him all the time...with a shark fin." He smiled briefly, then he looked grim, and his eyes were watering too. "When Matthew told me he was moving away...I went berserk. I just couldn't take it...him going away, without me! I never wanted to be apart from him. I just told him there was no way I was gonna let him go...but you know what he said? He said just cause he was the little brother, he didn't need to hold his hand anymore. Then he ran away...bawling his eyes out."
"Dan..." Kyle said, his eyes still tearful. "Are you saying..."
"Yeah...for a long time, I thought it was my fault. That I made him lean against that damn railing, cause he was sad and moping around...and when I got to the hospital, and his heart stopped beating...that was when my world ended." Dan said, wiping away his own tears. "I was supposed to be his big brother, Kyle. The guy that kept him safe from the scum in Kanaloa! If I had just told him good luck, he might be okay."
"...Do you still feel that way?" Kyle asked.
"I did. For two long years. I've tried to get past it. Getting drunk with Blaine took my mind off it. But night after night, I just lie there, waiting to hear Matthew going to bed. I always gave him hell for staying up late, and he always asked me why I was still awake. But I don't hear anything at all. And it hits me, he's gone. So then I just...cry." Dan said.
"I cried a lot too...heck, even now." Kyle said, sniffling. "Meeting Serena helped a lot. I guess I kept my promise to him after all, huh?"
"Sounds like it." Dan said. "But he'd probably like it more if you just admit it. She's a bit more than a friend, ain't she?"
"I...um..." Kyle mumbled, blushing. "That's not what we're talking about! The point is...I know I can survive without Matthew. But...what about you?"
"Well..." Dan said. "It still hurts like hell. I'm probably never gonna be able to go outside without something reminding me of him, no matter where we go. But, you know...talking with you over the last few months has got me thinking. I'm still making a difference, even if it's just a little. And there are people who still need me, no matter how big they get."
"Is that Blaine you're talking about?" Kyle asked, grinning.
"Yup. That little punk told me himself. He still wants me around. He had some hard times as a kid, but I got him through it all. So maybe the two of us will be okay. I don't feel so alone...and neither should you." Dan said, holding Kyle's hand. "I want us to go to Matthew's grave sometime. Then we can say goodbye to him, together."
"What...really?" Kyle said. "I always wanted to go! But I never knew where he was buried..."
"It's in Guildstone Cemetery, just off Kingston Lane." Dan said. "We'll go sometime soon, okay? But there's something I want you to do for me. Go tell Serena what you really think of her."
"What?" Kyle said. "Dan, I...fine, I...really like Serena, okay? But...if she doesn't like me back, what will I say? That I was kidding? I..."
"Kyle. This is all part of growing up. Being honest with your feelings, especially with your friends. Like us just a moment ago." Dan said, with a warm smile. "And if Serena's as great as you say she is, she'd love being your girl."
"My girl..." Kyle said. "I've never had a girlfriend before...you must have gone through tons! What did you do when you asked someone out?"
Dan burst out laughing, and Kyle bit his lip, embarrassed. "Tons? Compared to Blaine, I had a handful! Trust me, you don't want dating tips from either of us. Sure, Blaine's landed himself one pretty young lady, and he won't shut up about how much he loves her. And I've had some pretty serious relationships too. Once with my boss at the bus station...last I heard, she got married. But you've know Serena for a long time now. Just find a way to get the message across. You'll be fine, Kyle."
"Okay, if you say so..." Kyle said. "I'll do it. Matthew told me to make friends, but if me and Serena become more than that...he'll be pretty pleased, won't he? Then I'll ask her tonight!"
"Good man." Dan said. "Okay, time to eat. This is on me, so dig in! You're still growing, kid. Next time I watch you race, I won't be running off!"
|Alastair's House|19:23 pm|
The doorbell rang, and Alastair went to get the door. There were delicious smells coming from the kitchen, as usual, and once he opened the door, his guest could sense them already.
"Good to see you, Richard." Alastair said. "We were wondering what was keeping you." Richard sighed, and walked inside. "Are you alright? What's happened?"
"It's...well, it's nothing really big. I just got turned down by this girl." Richard said, sadly, as they walked into the living room.
"That's unfortunate. These things happen." Bianca said. "At least you'll get to eat Alastair's best dish with us. Right?"
"Yeah, I know. It smells great already." Richard said. "Oh! Hello!" He looked at the woman sitting at the sofa, holding a glass of red wine. She had long, luxurious black hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. She wore a red shirt, a black skirt, and pointed heels.
"How do you do?" She asked, holding out her hand. "I'm Miranda. Alastair's been telling me about you. Well done on your team's victory!"
"Thanks! Good to finally meet you." Richard said, now much cheerier. "You're every bit as sexy as Alastair said you were."
"Richard!" Alastair grumbled. "I didn't say 'sexy', I said 'beautiful'. Or perhaps 'breathtaking'."
Miranda chuckled, and gave Alastair a kiss. "I'm fine with any of your compliments, Ally. It seems Richard is a bit of a charmer, too. I heard you had bad luck with a woman? As Bianca said, it happens. Don't be so discouraged."
"Yeah, but it's not just that. She was really angry at me, and I don't know why. Especially when I mentioned my parent's restaurant." Richard said, pondering.
"Oh, your parents are restaurateurs?" Miranda said curiously. "Is that how you and Ally met?"
"Correct. I was reviewing the Garden of Eden, and I had low expectations due to the somewhat cliché name. Then I ordered the prawn cocktail, which had a magnificent sauce. I still can't figure out what made it taste so wonderfully. Then for my main, it was a well done sirloin steak in teriyaki sauce. That, too, was a delight. Richard was my waiter that evening...and we just hit it off right away." Alastair said. "It seems my job lets me meet a lot of wonderful people, doesn't it?"
"I'll drink to that!" Kazuya said. "My parents own a sushi restaurant, so naturally Alastair came there. He didn't really expect to like it, but one bite and he was hooked."
"Interesting." Miranda said. "You four all seem rather close. I have a feeling we'll get along just fine. Ally was so cute when he tried to ask me out to lunch. His face was a bright red, like beetroot, and he kept looking away, scratching his head...it was adorable. I just had to say yes!" She laughed, whilst Alastair's face went just as red as she had described.
"Well..." Alastair said, flustered. "I wasn't sure if you'd accept. I mean, you are my senior at the office!"
"I am experienced, yes. But you already are quite proficient, Ally. Especially at making pasta. That smell...it's enticing. Is dinner ready soon?" Miranda asked.
"Ally, I think this girl's the one!" Richard said, giving a thumbs up.
|Meadowbank Inn|19:25 pm|
The meal had been wonderful, and so had the company. It felt strange, having both sets of friends along for today, even if Colette had spent a while raving about Serena's "cool, understated, kind-of French style". Now, after enjoying some raspberry pavlova, Amara was finished.
"So, you guys are off to Steinbeck's next?" Serena asked, sadly.
"Yup. Sorry you can't come." Amara said. "But when you're eighteen, we'll make up for it! Right, guys?"
"As long as we're careful." Nathan said, apprehensively. "Will you be okay getting home from here, Serena?"
"I'll be fine. Besides, Kyle said he wanted to meet me. He sounded serious..." Serena said.
Sheila had a delighted smile, but quickly composed herself. "I see. Well, I hope you two are very happy together!"
"What the -"
"Also, Zao, why do you seem so quiet? Are we boring you?" Sheila asked.
Zao gulped. "No, it's nothing like that. I'm fine, honestly! I'm just stuffed. That trout was fantastic."
"Zao, buddy, that's all you've talked about since you got here!" Juan said, amused. "I'm surprised you're not flipping around on the ground! What else do you get up to?"
"Um..." Zao said, biting his lips. "Well, I kinda like dancing. When we're at Cabaret Voltaire, I'll show you some of my moves!"
"Bring it on, pal!" Karl said, clenching his fists. "Tonight's going to be fun. I haven't been to Cab Vol for a long time. Who's idea was it to go there?"
"Mine, actually." Stella said. "It's quite a sophisticated nightclub. And I managed to reserve us a private area."
"How did you pull that off?" Colette asked. "You didn't make them cry again, did you?"
"Not at all." Stella said, with a slight smile. "I took better care in my word choice, Colette. Instead of tears, I instilled...fear. You'd be surprised what kind of secrets I can find out."
"Actually, I know exactly what you mean." Priscilla said. "So, my friend Eugene is trying to complete his stamp collection, and wants to know where to find the following."
Stella repressed the urge to scream, beg for help, and cower behind Amara as Priscilla droned on and on, undeterred even by Stella's whimpering. Serena, during her mirth, noticed a message on her phone - it was from Kyle. Surprised, she opened it.
Can you come round to my house tonight? There's something I want to talk to you about.
|Steinbeck's|19:50 pm|
"Oh, so you work at the Motus Lounge now?" Colette asked Blaine. "Lucy said you had to wear really sexy uniforms there..."
"Colette!" Lucy shouted, blushing. "I said he wore smart clothes. Right, Sheila?"
"Yes. Smart. Totally not 'sexy', 'hot', or 'gorgeous' at all." Sheila said, looking at her phone.
Blaine laughed, and wrapped his arm around Lucy. "Why do you get so embarrassed? I'm just glad people still call me all of that. Come on, loosen up a little."
"I did some bar work myself, actually." Juan said. "In Mexico. Some wild parties go on there! Especially when tequila's involved!"
"I hate that stuff..." Amara said, bitterly. "But if you guys want some, go ahead. It's my party, after all!"
"That's a good birthday girl." Stella said. "I feel this place will be rather nice, even after Nathan spits out a rather sweet cocktail."
The group all ordered some drinks, and thus, everyone got talking some more. The bar was filling up, and Colette seemed to look at each newcomer's clothing intently. Sometimes, she shook her head, or she nodded with approval. Even when she's on a night out, she's working...
"Hey, Amara, how about you and I spend the day at Clairdol Village sometime?" Zao asked. "It won't be like last time - uh, I mean, it'll be fun!"
"What do you mean, last time?" Karl asked, suspicious. "You two didn't do anything stupid, did you?"
"No!" Amara said, offended. "And Zao, I'd love to. Especially if I get to walk down that beach with you!"
"Yeah! It's the perfect romantic scene. Sunset, a pretty girl, a suave, handsome guy..." Zao said, imagining this moment.
"Well, two out of three isn't bad." Sheila said, with a coy smirk. "Good to see you know your romantic settings. You're lucky you can pull off the sunset beach in this city easily. Otherwise, you might have to resort to the snow romance version."
"I can't see that working for them. I mean, Amara is weak to ice, so -" Nathan quickly stopped, when he realised what he just said. Luckily, most of the others ignored it or laughed it off. Priscilla seemed perplexed by this comment, however.
Later, they continued to drink, and enjoyed each other's company. Juan was trying his luck with the two single women in the party - Colette and Sheila. The latter was swift with her rejection, as ever, but Colette just let Juan flirt, as long as he complimented her clothes.
"And the shoes? Do you think they're nice too?" Colette asked.
"Totally." Juan said. "How many pairs do you have, though?"
"More than the amount this group collectively are wearing right now." Colette said, giggling. "It's just a dream come true, being able to create any wardrobe I want! I couldn't do it when I was at school, and...oh..."
"Oh...what?" Amara asked. "Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine! I just...I was a little...uh...plump at school!" Colette said, nervously. "So it wasn't so easy to find stuff that fit me. It wasn't exactly the popular girl, with my looks..."
"So you tried your hardest to slim down, so you could reinvent yourself with a wardrobe that would let you fit in?" Stella asked.
"Figures...you of all people can see right through me." Colette said. "But that doesn't really matter! Now, everything is on the up. My fashion segment in the magazine is a huge hit. So many girls are telling me that I make them feel good about themselves."
"Exactly. People can always reinvent themselves." Sheila said. "So good for you. Although it would help if you didn't criticise my clothes at work - I'm not always going to feel awake enough to put lipstick on."
Nathan smiled, then he noticed something in the distance. He smiled, and nudged Blaine in the rib. "Blaine, you like pool, don't you?"
"Heck yeah! It's been a while." Blaine said. "Priscilla, did this guy really win the uni club championship?"
"Yes! Although he had some very tough competition...and Nathan can get very competitive." Priscilla said.
"So how about it, Blaine?" Nathan said, looking ready to go.
"Sure! They don't come much tougher than me!" Blaine said, confident. "The loser has to buy the next round! Let's get started, partner!"
The two of them went over, followed by Priscilla and Lucy. Stella smiled innocently, but she kept quiet and drank her red wine. The match lasted a while, and while Nathan wasn't quite as good as he had remembered, he still had Blaine on his toes. Eventually, however, Nathan got the upper hand, and with great exuberance, defeated his rival.
"Yes!" Nathan cheered. He hugged Priscilla, whilst Lucy jokingly snarled at them. Blaine shrugged, but he looked disappointed. "Cheer up, Blaine. You did well. Maybe I'll go easier next time."
"No way." Blaine said, shaking his head. "It's either all out or nothing. You're not holding back on me!"
"Oh? Glad to hear it." Nathan said. "Seriously, that was good fun."
"I knew you'd win! Make mine a large, Blaine." Priscilla said, mischievously. "Nathan, you'll give him a hand, won't you?"
"Of course." Nathan said. The two of them went to the bar, whilst Priscilla and Lucy chuckled. Zao's face lit up, and he got up, and posed.
"My turn next!" He said. "Who wants a go?" No one really seemed as enthusiastic, until finally Karl got up. "Oh, you play pool too?"
"When you're celebrating match wins with the team, you pick up a few bar games." Karl said. "You played before?"
"Um...yeah!" Zao said, with an awkward smile. "I'm totally a pro!" However, the way he held the cue in his hands showed otherwise. Karl got into position, and waited for Zao to go. "Um...I can do this!"
Zao finally made his cue touch the white ball - only for it to move a few inches forward. Despite Zao's best effort, it barely touched the other balls.
"Yup, Zao. A pro...found loser." Karl said, laughing. The match continued in a similar vein, and whilst Zao did manage to get the hang of using the cue, it was too late to make any difference. Karl had utterly thrashed him.
"Shit...why did I even bother?" Zao said, stomping off to the table. With his embarassing defeat, any joy had been knocked out of him. He sat down, sighing, and everyone else was too busy chatting with each other to notice.
"Zao, are you alright?" Amara asked.
"I'm fine..." Zao said. "I should be used to that by now, anyway." What does he mean by that?
His move improved slightly, after Nathan spat out some Sex On The Beach after one sip. Stella grinned - her abilities had never failed.
|Kyle's House|20:20 pm|
"Hey!" Serena said, walking into Kyle's bedroom. He was sitting by the desk, and Serena sat next to him. "You wanted to see me, right? What's going on?"
"I'm sorry I didn't come with you tonight. But Dan wanted to talk to me." Kyle said, solemnly. "About Matthew. It's the first time we've really talked about him. Before, he used to shy away from discussing his little brother, but tonight he didn't hold anything back."
"Kyle...are you okay?" Serena asked.
"I don't know." Kyle said. "It's just...it made me think all about him. For so long, I've tried not to think back on those days, when he was the only friend I had. And it all come back to me. Like the day me and him went to the theme park, about a year after we first met."
|7th July 2009|Theme Park|11:00 am|
"So what do you wanna do?" Matthew asked, grinning. He had his eye on the Thrill Ride X1000 - a futuristic roller coaster, with lots of twists and turns.
"Um..." Kyle gazed at the X1000, and gulped. "Can we save that for later?"
"What? But I already told you, right now is when it's the least busy! Do you want to wait for ages in a line? We've got to seize the moment!" Matthew said. "Don't look so scared...you won't fall out. I think you're tall enough. Listen, when my brother took me there, I was screaming the whole time. But he didn't let me back down. He wanted me to face it head on!"
"But it's just a ride..." Kyle mumbled.
"It doesn't matter." Matthew said. "I'll never understand what it's like to be in a wheelchair. But even so, I know you can do a lot more if you put your mind to it! Do you want to always shy away from challenges, never knowing what you could have achieved?"
"...Okay. I'll go." Kyle said. "You'll be right beside me, right?"
"Of course! It wouldn't be any fun if I was next to a total stranger! Well, maybe if it was a cute girl..." Matthew said, laughing. "Onward!"
With a bit of difficultly, Matthew got Kyle onto the seat, and they were strapped in and ready to go. Kyle bit his lip, gazing at the giant loop up ahead.
"This is the 13th biggest roller coaster in the world! Or something like that!" Matthew said. "Doesn't really matter how big it is, as long as it's -"
Immediately, the coaster went whooshing up the loop, and the wind went rushing past them.
"FAAAAAAAAAAAST!"
The Thrill Ride lived up to that name. It went through many tunnels, loops, etc. It was almost like a labyrinth in style, at insane speeds. At every turn, it seemed to defy gravity, and Kyle was just glad to have a harness. Yet there was definitely something exciting about doing this - like he was breaking free from reality. That he could go anywhere. Suddenly, he felt Matthew hold his hand, as they went down the final loop. When they came to a stop, both of them were dazed, and it took a few minutes to get Kyle back onto his wheelchair.
"Hey, where you scared?" Kyle asked, chuckling.
"Uh...no, not at all!" Matthew said, face red. "But you were having fun, I knew you would! See what I mean? You might not be able to do everything, but you might as well have one hell of a time trying! So what next? We've got the whole park left to try out -"
"So let's do it!" Kyle shouted. "Come on, we'll go down the Rapid Rambo ride!"
"Whoa...really?" Matthew asked. "That's pretty rough, but if you're sure..."
The two of them set out for an afternoon they would never forget, and they succeeded.
|Kyle's House|20:26 pm|
"After he died...my old ways kind of came back." Kyle said. "Without him cheering me on, I couldn't find the courage to do much of anything. Until I met you."
"Me?" Serena asked. "With you, I never think of you as disabled. I just think of Kyle, my best friend, and my eternal gaming rival."
Kyle perked up a little. Smiling, he turned to a picture on the desk, and turned it around. There was Matthew, who looked almost exactly like the one she knew from the Other World. That same playful, loving smile. Next to him was Kyle, who looked even smaller.
"I couldn't bear to look at this." Kyle said. "If I did, I'd just end up crying again. And Mom would ask what's wrong, and I'd have to make something up about being teased online, or not having many friends..."
"Kyle, I'm the same. I always put my sister aside, just to make it easier to get on with my life." Serena said frankly. "But it doesn't do you any good. I had some wonderful times with Nina, and now I can't forget her. Especially after...no, never mind."
Kyle looked at the photo, and a big grin appeared on his face. "Hanging out with Matthew really got me to try out more and more things. He was pretty carefree, most of the time, and he always had an eye out for girls. But he worried about me. And he's probably still doing that...so I want to make him know I'm okay. That's why me and Dan are going to go see his grave."
"What?" Serena couldn't believe this. "Are you sure you can handle that? You've never been there before!"
"I know. But I've got to do it. I want to tell him how much he means to me!" Kyle said. "He'll be expecting me, too. It's been two years too late."
"Okay...then good luck." Serena said, putting her hand on Kyle's shoulder. He smiled briefly, then he looked straight into her eyes, and got serious. "What?"
"There's something else, too." Kyle said, blushing. "You see...it's obvious, isn't it? Everyone can see it. Probably you too. But Dan told me to just come out and say it. So..."
"So...?" Serena asked. Yet somehow, she had a feeling she knew what it was. It was just the same for her. To all her friends in the Other World, it was clear as crystal. Kyle was very important to her.
"I...well, you're my best friend no matter what happens, and I don't want you to get mad or upset or anything, and...um...um..." Kyle stammered, coughing a little. "Serena, I...um...I really like...you."
"Same!" Serena suddenly said. Kyle's eyes widened, and he looked up, surprised. "What? You thought it was just you?"
"I...um..." Kyle said, scratching his head. "I was too busy trying to hide it...cause...I didn't want to ruin everything..."
"You dork. You didn't ruin anything at all." Serena said, holding Kyle's hand. "It's made everything better. So come on, let's go for it!"
"Really?" Kyle said. Grinning, he turned on his PS3. "Well, let's make it official. A duel to the death!"
"You're on!" Serena cheered. She grabbed her controller, and smiled. No matter what, Kyle was her rival at any game.
|Electro Revolution|22:00 pm|
The party continued in yet another of Saragel's clubs. This one was known for live shows - and tonight , the band playing was D-Va, a popular Japanese band from Tokyo. Their lead vocalist was called Haru, a red haired woman in a white dress. Amara couldn't help but look at her - the dress was almost hanging off, but it managed to stay upright. She showed off her shoulder's red flower tattoo, which put Amara in mind of Bianca.
"Welcome, everybody!" Haru said, raising up her microphone. "This is one calm, quiet island. But tonight, peaceful days end! Let's Survive! Inside of the darkness of the heart..."
The crowd went while as they began playing their hit song 'Reset', a rather moody yet still upbeat pop rock song. Before long, everybody was dancing to the beat. Granted, Haru had a heavy accent when singing in English, but no one seemed to care at all. This was just the right sort of club for foreign bands to play. Zao, feeling plucky, started doing some Egyptian-style dancing, whilst Amara joined in - and showing him how to do it correctly.
"Not bad!" Amara said. She twirled, but stopped when Sheila gave her a Cosmopolitan. "Man, I can't believe I never came here before! This is the best!"
"I knew you'd like it!" Zao said, drinking his Mojito. "Karl and I have been here quite a bit since we got back in touch. But they go through so many bands, it's never quite the same each time!"
"Delete all of the world to do over again!" Haru finished the song, and they went straight into the next song - Soul Survive.
"I wish I could wear her dress..." Colette said. "With me, I'd fall out of it."
"She must have gravity defying demonic powers." Sheila said, amused. "There's something fierce about her. I've never seen someone so into a performance before. I wonder, what inspired such songs?"
After D-Va were done for the night, another band arrived on stage. They were called the Mask Q-Raid, and true to their name, every single member was wearing a multicoloured mask. They began their next song with a rather epic electric guitar solo, so loud it made the entire club vibrate.
"Oh, hell fucking YEAH!" Blaine screamed. "Now that's awesome!"
"Yeah, this group's the bomb!" Karl said. He soon began to dance, and as he did, various partygoers began to notice him. One by one, they crowded around him, watching his slightly drunken dance moves.
"What the -" Zao uttered. "Man, this is just like at school! He always got the attention!"
"Come on, Zao. He's famous now." Juan said. "Let him have his glory, eh?"
"Besides, Zao, that's the nature of his job. Soccer players tend to have hundreds of fans, whilst fisherman are lucky to have one. And I'd say you have the best fan you could want." Sheila said.
Zao looked at Amara, and blushed a little. He held her hand, and smiled.
"Amara...sorry. I know I've always got your back." Zao said. "It's just, Karl always beats me at everything, and I...just wish there was more I could do than fishing."
"You idiot. There is!" Amara said. "Haven't you noticed? You make me smile, more than I thought possible. I never thought I could love someone more than Karl. But you proved me wrong. I can't thank you enough! Zao, I love having you here. Don't ever feel that you're unwanted, okay?"
Zao was silent. Then, he took Amara's hands, and held them tight. "I'm sorry. I hate it when I get like this. But maybe Karl being so popular's not so bad. Look! The club's a little more spacious, now everyone's freaking out over that muscle head over there. Let's have some fun!"
Without warning, he grabbed Amara and kissed her tightly.
"Woo!" Blaine cheered. "You smooth talkin' bastard, Zao!" Lucy gave him a small kick in the shins, and he doubled over in pain. "I'm...kidding..."
They held that kiss for the last chorus of the song. The minute they were done, they broke out into laughter. It was uncontrollable glee, to just be around him. This handsome, carefree man who talked of few things other than fish and the sea.
Amara and friends had already gone through quite a lot of drinks and already a few of them were tipsy. Blaine seemed to keep laughing and kissing Lucy, who whilst she relented, she looked a bit annoyed.
"Isn't this the best? An awesome club, some rocking sets, and one hell of a party! Lucy, check out that drum solo!" Blaine said, hiccupping.
"Blaine, you really do drink too much!" Lucy said, frowning. In response, she got another three kisses. "Fine. That solo is pretty good. Although that ear piercing looks painful."
"Lucy, that's one of her headphones." Priscilla said. "Are you sure you haven't had enough to drink?"
"No way! I'm partying with Blaine all night! ...Maybe." Lucy said, yawning.
"Well, me and Nathan are going home. I think we've had enough dancing for one evening!" Priscilla said. "Amara, thank you for having me! This was a wonderful night. We should do this again soon."
"You bet! With you and Nathan, this night out had some real class! Are you sure I can't pay for the meal at all?" Amara said.
"It's been settled, Amara." Nathan said, bemused. "Tonight is your birthday party! Let us treat you."
"Ah, you lightweight!" Blaine said, playfully punching Nathan. "We'll get that rematch soon, buddy. Right?"
"Absolutely." Nathan said. "And Zao, don't get so down. We can practice sometime, so you can play a bit better. How does that sound?"
"Sure...thanks." Zao uttered. After saying goodbye to everyone, Nathan left the club with Priscilla. Stella breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps it would be some time until she was asked to perform more inane readings.
The third band played their first song, a rather epic rock song, as the party continued.
|Motus Lounge|23:40 pm|
Kaman was whistling away, as he served another happy customer. Today had been a successful night for the bar, with an ever increasing stream of patrons. Now it was coming up to midnight, and once he was done, he could spend the weekend with Maria.
"You're lookin' happy, boss!" One of the bar staff, Justine, said. "Got a weekend planned with the missus?"
"Yup! I'm taking her out to Mother India tomorrow." Kaman said, grinning. "Hey, maybe you should take your fella there. It'd make a change from just having carry out!"
"Well, you do seem to be the expert when it comes to that sort of food." Justine said. "But he wants me to meet his parents for the first time. You said you don't get on with your in-laws, didn't you?"
"That's an understatement. I got a smack in the face when I asked for Maria's hand in marriage!" Kaman said, laughing. "And they always forget to invite me to family outings, not that I particularly want to go to most of them."
He, Justine, and the rest of the staff continued to serve drinks, and finally, the clock read 11. Kaman was about to grab his jacket, when he saw his wife at the bar, looking rather annoyed.
"Hey, honey...what's wrong?" Kaman asked. "I thought I told you I was working late tonight?"
"Yes, but not this late!" Maria snapped. "What happened to our plans? You know...?"
"What? Oh! Crap!" Kaman said, panicking "Don't get upset...I'll make it up to you. We've got Mother Indian tomorrow, right? I'm taking the whole weekend off. So we can do whatever you want."
"Fine..." Maria said, sighing. "At least you know the best restaurants in Takanawa. But Kaman, we have to be serious about this, even after what happened -"
"I know." Kaman said, looking around anxiously. "Come on, let's go home. You guys can lock up without me, right?"
Justine and Logan nodded. Thus, a henpecked Kaman left the bar with his wife. The sky was mostly clear, and the moon was shining brightly.
"You still mad?" Kaman asked. He lightly gripped Maria's shoulders, and gazed into her eyes.
"A little. But you know, you look even more handsome in the moonlight." Maria said. "And when you look at me with those puppy-dog eyes, I can't stay angry. So come here!" She held Kaman tight, and soon, he received another of his favourite kisses.
"Maria...I'm sorry about working so much." Kaman said. "It's just...I really need to make this place a hit. So we can try it again."
"I understand. Just...let me see you more." Maria said. "It's no fun, marking at home without you around to cook me one of your traditional meals."
"Ah! Now I know what to do for Sunday!" Kaman said, beaming. "Let's go!"
He held her hand tightly, as they walked down the lit street. Their marriage had been under quite a bit of stress in the last year, but perhaps that was over. Someday, their family could grow. However, lately Kaman had been feeling even more protective of his wife. He had brief dreams, where he believed Maria to be deceased. During those dreams, he felt utterly empty. And while others tried to help, he just wished to be alone. Waking up, to see her sound asleep, was such a relief.
If those dreams were real, then I'd never smile ever again.
|Electro Revolution|2:48 am|
It was nearly three in the morning, and Blaine was slumped at a table half-asleep, whilst Lucy tried to get him to stand up.
"Hey Lu...why are you on the ceiling?" He mumbled, looking up at her. "I can't kiss you from there..."
"What the hell?" Lucy said. "Oh, great! What am I supposed to do? Call Dan?"
"Dan's the man..." Blaine said, hiccupping. "Get a new plan...Stan..."
"Oh god. You're quoting that song, of all things?!" Lucy moaned. "...Fine. You look kind of cute when you're talking nonsense anyway." She sat next to him, and started stroking his hair. He seemed happier, and rested his head on her shoulder.
Juan looked at them, and laughed. "Hey Sheila, can I -"
"No." Sheila replied, and walked off to get another drink.
"Aww...hey, where did Colette go?" Juan asked.
"She's attempting to bring Karl back to planet Earth. Unfortunately, there's an entire army stopping her." Stella said, calmly finishing a vodka & tonic.
Karl was still getting harassed by ogling fan girls. Some of them were completely clueless about the sport, with only licentious desires in mind.
"Hey, back away!" Colette said, finally barging in front of a rather dim blonde. "I need to talk to him! You've had enough anyway!"
"What the - Colette?" Karl said, stunned. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to get you back to us!" Colette said. "You idiot! You missed Nathan and Priscilla leaving! And Amara and Zao are just about to head home!"
"What, really?" Karl said, stunned. "Damn! Sorry guys, I'll be back in a bit!" He made a huge dash to the entrance of the club, where Zao and Amara were just about to head out. "Wait! Guys, I'm sorry -"
"Don't worry about it." Zao said. "You're famous now. This happens."
"But..." Karl said. "I didn't mean to ignore you, but those fans were relentless..."
"We get it." Amara said. "Karl, thank you for coming. It was a really amazing night."
"Amara!" Karl said. "Can I make it up to you? I'll pay for your taxi home!"
"Must be nice, having money to burn." Zao said, bitterly. "And legions of fans everywhere you go. You always win, don't you? Not just that game of pool. I hardly ever managed to beat you at anything worth doing!"
"Zao, what are you saying?" Karl asked. "Are you still jealous? You're sounding like a kid! Things have changed. We're grown ups now. No one lets everyone have their fair shot. God, are you fucking stupid? Life isn't about beating people at silly games."
"Karl, stop -"
"No! Zao needs to hear this. You know, I was really excited when you got back in touch. I was hoping you'd turn out really awesome, but no! You're still fishing, as if it's the greatest thing in the world! Who gives a shit, really? Even Amara gets bored. I can tell! At least I'm doing something worthwhile! You're just a childish hanger-on...I never should have replied to your message!"
"Oi!" Lucy said, walking over. "What the hell are you two shouting about?!"
Amara had heard enough. She clenched her fist, and stepped right in front of Karl. He trembled a little, at the sight of her fury.
"Zao is NOT boring! Do you hear me? He's given me the most fun I've had in ages. While you were busy signing autographs, me and him were having the time of our lives. So if I hear you badmouth him one more time, just once...you'll regret it!"
Karl was quiet. Then, he turned round, and left the club. Immediately, the fan girls pushed Colette to the ground - although she was lifted up by Juan - and chased after Karl. The singer on stage blinked in confusion, but continued the last song of his set.
"Are you alright, Colette?!" Juan said. She nodded, but she had scraped her knee. "Oh, no..."
"I'll be okay..." Colette said. "Those girls...they're animals!"
"My apologies. I should have foreseen that." Stella said. "Don't worry. Once we're out of here, we'll make sure you're home safe."
"What's everyone fighting about...?" Blaine said, stumbling to his feet. "You and Karl were louder than that girl's voice."
"Karl...said some terrible things about Zao." Amara said, shuddering. "That idiot! Who does he think he is?"
"He was right, though. I really am childish." Zao said, downcast. "He's going places, but..."
"Zao, come on! It'll be okay." Amara said. "Next time we meet up, we'll sort this out. I think it was the beer talking, anyway!"
"I dunno..." Zao said, despondent. "Can we just go home?"
Amara nodded, and gave him a little hug. They left for Amara's apartment, with Karl's hurtful words still ringing through their ears.
|Other World - Aeternus HQ - Tomas' Office|11:20 pm|
Pierre had been asked to clean out Tomas' office. With nothing else to do, other than spar with Carlos, he went inside, and sighed. There was no chance that Weiken would leave any important documents lying around. And even if he had, there would be no point in holding on to them now.
"This is merde. What else could that megalomaniac have stashed away? Curse you, Archie..." Pierre grumbled. He switched on the PC, and without looking at the piece of paper Archibald had given him, he skilfully hacked into the system and bypassed the password. "Kid's play. I guess he had all the good stuff in that lab he blew up. What a killjoy." He drank some coffee, and got to work.
He glanced through all the different files, each one boring him more and more. However, he noticed something. A folder that required a password to access. Curious, Pierre tried out the same method to bypass it, but this failed. "Shit! Come on, I'm not about to rely on Archie's help!"
A whole hour had passed, and finally, Pierre had cracked it. Tomas had went all out on keeping that folder safe - but he underestimated the potential of the Ater Vox. Gleefully, Pierre finally opened the folder, and opened the first document. The very first line caught his attention.
INTERITUS LEGION NOTES
"Now this is a real find. And I didn't even need Archie's help!" Pierre said, taking out the sheet of paper. He made Loki appear, and it burned the paper with Agidyne. "I didn't get hired by Aeternus to follow instructions. So, Tomas. What secrets did you try to take to the grave?"