Is Love Really Forever?
By: LadyNightSky
A/N: WOW I LOVE YOU GUYS! Thanks for the all reviews: Kira222 a.k.a Celestial 101 (thanks tons extra for being my very first reviewer); PhoebeTheQueenOfDragons; sugarcandy90210; xangelqueenx; Kulia; leoliani; ShOmARUU; Crystal Hauntress; Bloomy; LimeInTheCokeYouNut; scoobysnaxrox; perfect-in-purple; purpleNova823; XOtotheloveOX; and onesmartgoalie. YOU GUYS ALL ROCK MY WORLD! I was having such a bad day till I saw my reviews, and I knew I had to post this ASAP. (
Also thanks to those who reviewed my songfic, YOU GUYS ROCK TOO!
Well, here's Part II, ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I dreamt that I owned Winx Club and lived in Italy and had tons of money. Then I woke up and found that I was three hours late for a doctor's appointment . For real.
Chapter 4: Seeing You Again Part II
January 20, 2006; Still Day of the Gala
Tecna bit her lip as she figured out the seating chart. According to her calculations, Stella of Solaria would be seated next to Bloom of Sparx.
"What's with the tortured face, Tec?" asked Musa, snapping Tecna out of her thoughts.
"Well, I've just noticed that the seating chart is in alphabetical order by realm. As Princess of Solaria, Stella would be seated next to-"
"Bloom." Musa spat, figuring it out herself and interrupting Tecna.
A look of apprehension crossed Flora's face.
"Oh my. Stella, please try to con-"
"Don't tell me to control myself, Flora. I'm sure I won't listen. I'll just ignore her, that's all. Ignore her." Stella said through gritted teeth. It was obvious to the world that she was trying to restrain herself from screaming loud enough to be heard from hell.
Musa was looking murderous.
"Why does she have to be here today? Hasn't she done enough damage to us yet? WHY CAN'T SHE LEAVE US ALONE?" Musa growled, finally letting her indifferent front collapse.
"Well, Bloom actually has as much right to be here as us. Her invitation is just as good as ours, and-" Tecna began, but was cut off by Musa again.
"TECNA! Could you for ONCE not be so rational?"
"I am simply pointing out that Bloom, as a prominent member of the magical community, has every right that we do to be here!" Tecna replied, looking rather hurt.
"You guys-"
"Well, I'm the one who has to deal with her all night, so I don't see what you all are complaining about!" Stella snapped.
"You guys-"
"Oh, so you're so special then? Well, why don't you take that 'tude and-"
"YOU GUYS!"
Musa, Stella, and Tecna all whipped around to glare at Flora.
"Why are you guys fighting? We're supposed to be friends, remember? We're all we have left now." Flora said, half exasperatedly, half pleadingly.
Musa sighed.
"Sorry guys. It's just that I'm so on-edge. It's totally bogus." she apologized.
"Me too." murmured Tecna and Stella.
"I can't wait till tonight is over."
Bloom sat stiffly in her seat. Her hands were fiddling with the fine stain napkin spread on her lap as she waited agitatedly for everyone to be seated.
Slowly, the room began to clear as the socialites took their seats. Bloom could see Musa, Flora, Tecna, and Stella standing with their backs to her, whispering.
She shook her head to clear it, then glanced over to where she knew Ares was seated. He was…Oh Lord.
He was standing near a wall, talking to Sky, Brandon, Riven, Helia, and Timmy; whom he seemed to know well. The sight made her heart beat fast, and her nerves begin to fray. She would have to ask him about that later.
Her scrutiny of Ares's group ended as she heard the scraping sound of a chair being pulled out next to her. Taking a deep (inaudible, she hoped) breath, Bloom turned her head slowly to stare directly ahead, every muscle in her body tensing.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a bit of Stella's silky blonde hair, and a scrap of bright color that Bloom assumed was her dress. She decided to speak.
"Good evening, Stella." Bloom went through the courtesies in a deliberate voice, still not looking directly at Stella.
" 'Evening, Bloom. Long time no see." Stella knew that if she didn't respond, some nosy Lady would notice and tell another nosy Lady and that nosy Lady would tell another nosy Lady and that nosy Lady would tell another…it went on and on.
"So…not gonna look me in the eye, are you?" muttered Stella in a low tone.
"What makes you think that?" asked Bloom, whipping around, a muscle in her jaw twitching.
"Oh…nothing actually. You see, I knew that if I said that, that little temper of yours would flare and you'd finally look at me."
"Oh my god, you thought! That's a new one."
"Spiteful tonight, aren't we?"
"Every right to be. I know I never accused you of murdering anyone."
"Dragging that up again so soon, huh?"
"Wow, look at you, actually realizing the obvious? What happened to bump your IQ up so much?"
"Your constant sniveling in the back dorm certainly was nice music to study by."
"Study what? Your hidden stash of 'How to Make a Man Want You' tips? Yeah, I know you have them stuffed in your closet"
"At least I have a man!"
"What, so you're saying I don't?"
"I try to never lie."
"Ha. I'll believe that when I see it. You know Prince Ares of Asphodel? Yeah, he's a really good kisser."
"Prince Ares, huh? I never labeled him as the type to pay whores."
"That's the thing with you, Stella. Labels. You jump to conclusions about everyone, judging them before even understanding their situation. It's just like how you only wear clothes with a designer label on them, and won't give anything that doesn't cost over a thousand dollars a second glance."
"I jump to conclusions? How bout you? You immediately blamed Layla when she and Sky got together. Why didn't you even talk to her, get to know what happened? Huh? WHY?"
Stella's voice was rising shrilly, and Bloom knew their petty catfight would soon be broadcast to the magical dimension. Her own temper was raring painfully to be freed. She inhaled sharply, then turned her back to Stella, determined not to let the Sun Princess ruin her entire evening.
Luckily, the room was quieting down as dinner was starting to be served, and both Bloom and Stella needed to get back to being smiling, cheerful Princesses with no bigger worries than mixing up soup and coffee spoons.
Bloom plastered a big smile on her face as she talked with a regally gray-haired elderly woman that stank of too much Aphrodeete perfume.
Stella chattered animatedly with Princes Romulus of Emor, all the while planning another tongue lashing in her mind.
Dinner was five courses; salad and soup, followed with other dishes that Sky lost track of after a while. The food wasn't spectacular to his taste, and he was much too preoccupied to concentrate on eating.
He hadn't counted on seeing Bloom ever again, and her familiar face was bringing up a mix of emotions that he couldn't name.
He remembered Layla's death with a pang of sadness. She had always understood what he was feeling, and had left him alone when she sensed he needed it. He'd loved that quality in her.
When she died, he'd felt horribly lost, like all the purpose in his life had vanished. He'd never admit it to anyone, but she'd made him feel like he was the most important person in the world, like he was a what the Earth people called superheroes.
Despite her tough exterior, she really had needed him to lean on. Bloom, on the other hand, had always made him feel like he wasn't particularly useful to have around, like some toy you haven't played with in ages and just keep around for memory's sake. That she loved him seemed, to him, like a cold, hard fact, not an emotion; just something their relationship was expected to contain.
Looking back, he realized that he hadn't known her well at all. Their whole period of togetherness had seemed to her like a brief fling in sunshine as far as he could see.
Sky never knew how much Bloom was hurt by their break up. When the eleven of them hung out together, Bloom was strangely quiet, but answered cheerfully enough when asked a question. Stella, Musa, Flora, Tecna, and Layla never told him how depressed she was, not wanting him to feel guilty.
Then.
Then Layla was murdered. Then Bloom was accused. Then his world had changed. His father had died the year he was a senior, and though he'd never been particularly loving to his son, Sky still mourned.
His mother ruled in the King's absence, with Prince Skyro-Bryen at her side. He had to grow up, fast. And in the process he'd become more and more withdrawn from the world.
Not even his best buddies, not even Brandon, could make him laugh or crack a smile anymore.
And somehow, he blamed all this on Bloom. He knew deep down that he couldn't blame everything bad that had ever happened to him on her, but he needed to blame someone to keep himself sane. And in this case, the most convenient person was her.
A/N: So…what didya think? I've been trying to present each person's viewpoint, trying to express everyone's separate feelings. Should I write a Part III, or should I continue on with the next phrase of the story? The catfight thing between Stella and Bloom might be kinda weird, cause I had no idea what might offend either of them deeply, so I settled for some shallow things. REVIEW PLEASE! OH AND HAPPY BELATED FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL MY FELLOW AMERICANS OUT THERE!
P.S: Prince Romulus of Emor..who gets it? If you do, leave me a review saying so and I'll give you virtual cotton candy!(