Chapter 16- The ball
Lacus shook Cagalli and said, " Cagalli, wake up." Cagalli opened her eyes and blinked a few times, she asked, " What's the time now?"
Lacus said, " It's 5.30 now." Cagalli shouted, " What? It's so late." Lacus said, " Go and have a bath and then proceed to the dining room for dinner. Mir has cooked some noodles."
Cagalli grumbled, " How is some noodles going to satisfy my stomach?" Lacus smiled, " The ball will have food too. If you are too full, you are going to miss the delicacies at the ball."
Cagalli said, " Ok." Lacus said as she left the room, " Remember not to change into your gown first." Cagalli went into the bathroom.
At Kira's house…Shinn, Dearka and Yzak had successfully borrowed three tuxedos from either Athrun or Kira. Shinn was at the living room, " Athrun, please! Please ask your chauffeur to drive us to the ball."
Athrun thought for a while and said, " Ok, ok." Shinn said, " Thanks. I will go and tell Dearka and Yzak." Kira came in from the kitchen and said, " No need. I have already told them. And we are going as a group. We will meet the girls at the ball."
Dearka said, " But we must reach there earlier than the girls." Kira nodded, " I think the girls are reaching there at about 7. So, at about 6.10, we will set off."
Back in the Clyne Mansion…Cagalli was at the dining table with Mir, Luna, Meyrin and Lacus. Cagalli complained, " Why did you cook only 2 packets of instant noodles. There are 4 persons here excluding me." Lacus said, " Cagalli, I have told you the reason."
Cagalli pouted, " But I am really hungry." Mir smiled, " Just bear with it." Meyrin asked, " How are we going to get to the ball?"
Lacus said, " I have engaged a chauffeur to drive us there." Luna asked, " Have you told the boys?" Lacus nodded.
Lacus looked at the clock and said, " It's 6 now. Go and have a bath." Cagalli exclaimed, " What? Again!" Lacus said, " You can don't bath if you want. But surely you want to smell nice?"
Cagalli grumbled and proceeded to have a bath again. Lacus shouted, " Don't change into your gown first. After you have come out from your bath, then you change."
After 10 minutes…Cagalli walked out of the bathroom to find Lacus sitting down on her bed. Cagalli exclaimed, " Wow! You are so beautiful!" Lacus smiled, " Get changed into your gown."
Cagalli said, " Mind if you go out?" Lacus stood up and went out of the room. Cagalli took the apple green gown and mumbled, " Just for Athrun." And, she began changing.
When Cagalli had changed into the gown, she said, " Lacus, you can come in now." Lacus came in the room and looked at Cagalli, stunned.
After a while, Lacus finally said, " Cagalli, you are really beautiful!" Cagalli said, " Don't waste my time. Help me with the hair."
Lacus said, " Luna, come help me." Luna went into the room and said, " Wow, both are you are pretty." Cagalli snapped, " You too. Come help me with the makeup."
Cagalli asked, " Am I the last one?" Luna asked, " What do you mean?" Lacus said, " Yes, we are already done with our makeup and the hair."
Cagalli said, " Oh. Are you done?" Luna said, " Don't talk. It's going to be done soon."
At Kira's house…Kira said, " It's 6.10 now. We should get ready to go. Athrun, is your chauffeur here?" Athrun nodded, " He is waiting for us now."
Kira shouted, " Hey, the three of you! Are you all done?" Dearka came out of his room in a tuxedo. Dearka looked at both Kira and Athrun and said, " Wow, both of you are so handsome!"
Yzak walked out of his room and said, " Don't you know both of them are born handsome?" Kira said, " Where's Shinn? We have to go soon." Shinn said, " Here!"
Kira said, " Ok, let's go." Athrun looked at himself before he went. He mumbled, " Hope Cagalli thinks that I am handsome."
At the Clyne Mansion…Cagalli looked at herself in the mirror. Meyrin wore a blue gown, " Cagalli! You are so pretty!" Cagalli smiled at Meyrin, " Thanks. You are pretty too." Meyrin blushed.
Lacus asked, " Satisfied?" Cagalli said, " Yes." Lacus looked at Cagalli's alarm clock, " It's 6.20 now. We have to go." All the girls stood up and made their way slowly down, in case they might trip.
When they had reached the living room, they walked out and saw a white limousine. Mir exclaimed, " Wow! A limo!" Lacus smiled, " Get on the car."
Cagalli settled herself comfortably in the car. All she thought of was how Athrun would look like. Luna said, " Cagalli? You there?" Cagalli was snapped out of her thoughts, " Yes?"
Lacus giggled, " Were you thinking about Athrun just now?" Cagalli snapped, " Of course not!" Mir and Meyrin giggled.
Luna said, " Cagalli, tell me why you went to Orb in a hurry." Cagalli said, " Some matters to settle." Luna said, " Oh. Mind explaining it in details?"
Cagalli asked, " Why are you so interested to know?" Luna smiled, " It's fine if you don't want to tell." Nobody spoke for the rest of the ride.
Just then, the limo stopped. Cagalli looked outside and saw that they had reached. The chauffeur went down the car and opened the door of the car for the girls to get off.
Before going to the ball, Lacus said, " Come back at about 12. And, here's your money." Lacus closed the door and said, " It's 6.50 now. Let's get in."
The 5 girls walked up the steps and pushed the main door open. A lot of people had already arrived. When they walked in, everybody was looking at them. Whispers could be heard everywhere.
Cagalli ignored the whispers and proceeded to find Athrun. Cagalli looked around and saw a group of girls surrounding something.
Cagalli mumbled, " Again." Cagalli walked towards the group of girls and said, " Is Athrun there?"
Athrun exclaimed, " Cagalli! I am trapped. Save me please." Cagalli said, " Excuse me, I don't want to be rough today." The girls ignored Cagalli.
Cagalli went on, " I am sure all of you here have partner. Mind if all of you return to your partner?" The girls continued to surround Athrun. Cagalli could hear some of them saying, " Athrun, I love you!"
Cagalli looked around and saw a mike on the stage. She walked quickly towards it and picked up the mike, " Testing."
Cagalli cleared her throat and said, " Attention please! Partners of the group of the girls over there, please bring them away." Cagalli could see angry partners storming towards the group and pulling their partner away.
Soon, the crowd dispersed. Cagalli went back to Athrun and said, " Hi!" Athrun stood up and looked at Cagalli, from top to bottom.
Finally, he said, " Wow! You are ravishing today!" Cagalli blushed and then she looked at Athrun and said, " You are dashing too."
Athrun laughed, " Thanks. Want a drink?" Cagalli nodded her head, "Let's go." They went to take a drink and both of them stood in a corner, sipping their drink.
Athrun said, " Let's get to the center of the hall. Mr Durandal is giving a speech." Both of them moved towards the center.
Mr Durandal walked up the stage and held the mike in his hand, " Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!"
Then, he went on, " Welcome to Destiny High's 80th Anniversary! Before I start my speech, can all you line up according to your class? It's to facilitate us."
Everybody went to find his or her classes. Athrun and Cagalli walked till the end and saw Kira there. They went to line up behind Kira.
Kira turned around and smiled. Mr Durandal continued, " Ok. All of you are settled down now. Today is a special day. It's our school 80th Anniversary." He paused and waited for some response. But, there was none.
He went on, " Destiny High is 80 years old today. Today, Destiny High has produced good students and has won many awards. I am really proud to be the principal. And, we even have some respectable students in our school!"
He cleared his throat, " I am sure you know who the respectable students are. There are currently 3 in our school. I am really happy that their parents would choose this school. And they had chosen the correct choice. Students that are in this school are special to us. We believe that every student has the potential to excel. May we do better every year!"
Everybody clapped. Ms Talia went up the stage and took the mike from Mr Durandal. Ms Talia said, " Everybody, this year we are going to have a contest. It's a contest where we will pick out 2 handsome gentlemen and 2 beautiful ladies."
All the students whispered among themselves. Ms Talia continued, " All of you, Mr Durandal and me will be the judges. You have to vote for them. You have to vote based on their attire and not on their popularity. I am sure everybody is clear about this. Let the ball start now!"
Music blasted from the speakers. Athrun knelt down and said, " Would I have the privilege to dance with you?" Cagalli blushed and took hold of Athrun's hands.
The both of them moved to the center of the hall and began dancing. As they danced, Cagalli whispered, " Who do you think will win the contest?"
Athrun thought for a while and said, " Maybe me?" Cagalli laughed. Athrun smiled, " Do you know you are really ravishing today?" Cagalli blushed and said, " Thanks."
Cagalli asked, " Do you know what's the time now?" Athrun looked up at the clock and replied, " It's 8.30 now." Cagalli said, " So fast?" Athrun nodded his head. Cagalli asked, " You know what time does the ball ends?"
Athrun said, " At about 12. You can go home early if you wish to." Cagalli said, " I see. Thanks." Athrun smiled.
They danced in silence. Just then, Cagalli asked, " Did you see Meer?" Athrun said, " Meer? I didn't see her." Cagalli suggested, " Maybe she's sick?"
Athrun laughed, " That's good. Maybe she's got frightened and decided to hide." Cagalli laughed, " You mean last time in Orb?" Athrun nodded. Athrun laughed.
Cagalli suggested, " Let's go for a drink? I am feeling very tired." Athrun said, " You go sit down there. I will go and take the drinks."
Cagalli nodded her head and proceeded to sit down on a chair. She looked up at the clock and saw that it was 9pm now. Cagalli mumbled, " Time flies so fast."
Just then, somebody sat down beside her. Cagalli turned her head around, thinking it was Athrun. But, it was…
Cagalli shouted, " Yuuna? What are you doing here?" Yuuna smiled, " Hello, dear." Cagalli said, " I am not your dear. Who let you in?" Yuuna said, " The security guard. I bribed him."
Cagalli shouted, " Get lost now! I can ask the security to throw you out!" Yuuna wrapped his arms around Cagalli's waist. Cagalli shouted, " Kira! Athrun! Dearka! Shinn! Yzak!"
Kira, Athrun, Dearka, Shinn and Yzak rushed to Cagalli, all of them shouting, " What's wrong?" Yuuna laughed, " Are those your bodyguards?" Athrun looked at Yuuna, " Oh. You again."
Kira said as he glanced at Yuuna's hand, " Who are you? I am Cagalli's twin brother. Don't ever think of hugging my sister."
Dearka immediately went forward and took hold of Yuuna's hand and tried to drag him away. Dearka shouted, " Come help me!" Athrun, Kira, Shinn and Yzak took hold of Yuuna's hands and legs and carried him out of the hall.
Cagalli laughed as she watch Yuuna struggled. After a while, the guys returned. Kira asked, " Who's that guy?" Cagalli said, " He is Yuuna. My father wants me to marry him. Well, anyway thanks for your help. You should return back to your partner now."
Dearka said, " What? Marry him? Your father must be mad. I am much more handsome than that purple hair freak is!" Cagalli laughed. Kira said, " Let's get back to our partners. They are waiting for us. See you later."
When the boys had left, Athrun said, " When you shouted for me, I immediately dropped the drinks and rushed here. So, no drinks." Cagalli laughed, " It's alright. Thanks for your help."
Athrun said, " I can't believe that Yuuna is here. I thought only students from Destiny High could attend this ball?" Cagalli replied, " He bribed the security guard!"
Athrun said, " Let's report this to the principal?" Cagalli laughed, " No need. I don't want the guards to lose their jobs because of this." Athrun said, " You are really kind-hearted."
Cagalli whispered, " It's my job as a princess." Athrun laughed, Well, I guess so." Cagalli asked, " By the way, you have so many fan-girls. Why did you invite me to this ball?"
Athrun blushed, " Well, because you are my best friend's sister and I know you better. If I invite the one of the fan-girls, she would not let go of me." Cagalli laughed at the last sentence, " I see." Athrun mumbled to himself, " And besides, I like you."