Hey, check it out, I'm actually updating! -dies of shock- I know, it's been forever. School took over my life with a ton of homework every night, and all sorts of projects and tests and exams. But you don't want to hear about that. So without further rambling from me, here's the next chapter. :D
Holly awoke to the sound of a something shattering, closely followed by a curse just loud enough to be distinguishable. She tossed the covers aside and was just about to go and investigate when she remembered who was probably responsible for the noises, what she was wearing, and his reaction the previous morning. She quickly threw on her oversized sweatshirt that fell nearly to her knees, walked down the hall and peeked around the corner.
"What was that noise?" She asked Root who was bent over picking something up.
"I dropped a coffee cup."
"Need any help cleaning it up?"
"Nope, I got it."
"Ok, just don't cut yourself too bad."
Root just grunted in reply. Wow, I just sounded like a mother scolding a child "don't cut yourself". Holly thought to herself as she headed back to her room to take a shower.
Root gingerly finished picking up the shards of the coffee mug. Stupid klutz, you just had to wake her up by dropping something.
After cleaning up, Root poured himself another cup of coffee and sat down to read the morning paper.
A short time later, Holly emerged with her short hair still slightly wet.
"What, you don't trust my cleaning skills?" Root snorted when he noticed she was wearing fuzzy slippers that probably went with her pajama set. Up until now, she had gone barefoot inside.
"Honestly, no. You can't expect to get every single piece of glass."
Root was about to reply when the communicator he had picked up the previous day rang.
"What?" he answered
"Is that the way you greet the person you owe your life to?" Foaly pouted
"I didn't realize I owe my life to a donkey" Root said skeptically, "What do you want? Today's Sunday."
Foaly sighed heavily, "Julius, Julius, we do need to work on your manners."
"Call me Julius one more time, and I'll teach you what happens when you don't treat your superiors with respect. And you're the one lecturing me on my manners."
"Oh do stop bickering you two." Vinyaya stepped into view, "Commander Root, please report to LEP headquarters so we may tell the press about your current status."
"Great, I get to spend my Sunday morning answering stupid questions from the press." Root muttered under his breath. He heard Holly chuckle at his comment.
"What was that Commander?" Vinyaya asked
"I'll be there in about twenty minutes." Root shut off the communicator and turned to Holly. "Eavesdropper" he accused her
Holly feigned a wide-eyed look of innocence, "You're the one answering calls right in front of me."
"What, you've never heard of privacy? Such a wonderful hostess you are."
"You make an excellent guest, questioning you're gracious hostess' qualities."
"Well-"
"Better not keep the press waiting Julius." Holly winked at him, taking away his retort of her abusing her privileges. That one little gesture made him feel elated. Stop that! She's your... ex-employee. He knew nothing intelligent would come out of his mouth if he opened it, so he just pretended to glare at her.
Why did I just wink at him? Holly wondered Could he have taken offense to that? Oh stop it, you can't take it back now. She covered up her embarrassment by turning around and getting a nettle smoothie out of the fridge. I really need to eat something other than nettle smoothies all the time.
She glanced back at Root, who was staring at the table with a strange look on his face. "W-well then, I guess I should be going..."he got up and walked toward the door. He turned around and opened his mouth, paused and said, "Bye."
"Bye." she replied as he shut the door. What was that about... It seemed like he was going to say something else. I wonder what he was going to say. Probably nothing important.
Holly took the seat Root had previously occupied. It was still warm. She picked up the paper he had been reading before she had come in.
Holly plopped down on the sofa and turned on the TV to the news channel that the LEP's press conference was supposed to be on. She was just in time, Vinyaya was up at the podium saying, "...lost an important member of the LEP trying to stop Opal Koboi's plot to reveal the People to the humans. However, we have just discovered that this member is still alive. I would like to welcome Commander Julius Root back to the force." Vinyaya gestured to someone standing behind the stage just out of view. A red-faced Root stepped up to the podium, as reporters began shouting questions at him.
"Commander Root, Commander Root! How did you survive?"
"Ms. Koboi made a miscalculation that just barely allowed me to live through the explosion."
"Commander Root, did ex-Captain Holly Short play any part in your supposed death as was initially believed?"
Holly rolled her eyes at the reporter's question and was tempted to change the channel, but she wanted to hear how Root would respond.
His face turned such a dark shade of red, it almost looked purple. "Holly Short was as much a victim of Opal Koboi as I was. Koboi intended for me to die, and for Holly to be blamed for my death. Holly tried to save me, and people are still suspicious of her! I demand that you apologize this instant." He was glaring at the gnome that had asked the question.
"S-sorry" the gnome stuttered, slowly backing away from the podium.
Wow, he got that angry about for my sake... I wonder why. I guess that means he don't think of me as just an ex-employee.
"Have you been in touch with Ms. Short since your return?" Holly's attention returned to the press conference at that question.
"Yes."
"What was her reaction to seeing you still alive?" Holly felt her face warm, and she fervently hoped that Root wouldn't tell them that she had fainted.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"We are curious to know."
"Well, it's none of your business." Holly breathed a sigh of relief
"You wouldn't be hiding something, would you Commander?"
"I thought this was press conference was supposed to be about my still being alive, not for gossip."
"Commander, we've heard that your home has been sold; where will you be staying?"
"I'm staying with a good friend of mine" Holly couldn't help smiling broadly at that. Why do I feel so happy about something so simple? Oh well, who cares, he said I'm a good friend of his!
"What are you going to do about Commander Sool?"
Vinyaya stepped forward, "He will be returning to the job he had before Commander Root's supposed death. Thank you for your time." Vinyaya and Root walked back into the building behind the podium, ignoring the reporters' frenzied attempts to get their attention again.
An hour later, Root was walking up to Holly's apartment. I guess that wasn't too bad. Though I wonder why the reporters were so interested in Holly's reaction... Oh gods, I hope one of them wasn't a gossip columnist.
Root reached Holly's apartment and opened the door. Holly was sitting on the couch watching the news.
"Hi." she greeted him
"Hey." he sat down on the couch within an inch of her. What's wrong with you Julius, sitting so close to her? There's still at least a third of the couch left that you could've sat down on. I really hope this doesn't make her uncomfortable. And hopefully I won't get uncomfortable either. Maybe I should say something to cover it up."So, did you watch the press conference?" Great, now I sound conceited. You idiot.
"Yeah, thanks for defending me, my good friend." She smiled. I love her smile. Gah! Stop thinking about your employee, no ex-employee... well, ex-but-still-potentially-could-be-your-future-employee, like that!
"Y-you're welcome... I hope you don't mind me calling you that." He finally stammered out.
"Not at all." Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she was still grinning to herself as she returned her attention to the TV.
Root realized that he was staring at her, so he quickly forced himself to look at the TV as well. Something is wrong with me for sure.
Holly was staring at the TV, but not paying attention to what the reporter was talking about at all. She was still smiling. Stop it! You probably look like a fool, watching the TV with that silly grin on your face. She took a deep breath for composure and finally stopped smiling. That's much better.
"Oh, have I given you a key yet?" Holly suddenly said
"Huh? Oh... no you haven't."
"Let me get you the spare." Holly got up and walked to the kitchen. She had to search through a couple of drawers before she finally found it. She walked back into the living room and held the key out to Root.
"Here you go." He took hold of the other end.
"Thanks."
She plopped back down next to him, so close their arms were almost touching. Talk about invading personal space! Why did I do that?
"Holly, thanks again for letting me stay with you."
"Of course. I couldn't let a good friend live on the streets." She could feel herself start to grin idiotically again.
To her suprise, Root smiled back at her. She examined his face. He looks really nice when he smiles. I hope he never stops... What am I thinking
Holly found herself looking into Root's eyes. She felt like she was frozen to her seat. Quit staring at him! Holly jumped up suddenly. "Th-there's some, uh, paper work that I need to finish... Uh, I'm going to go, uh, work on that.." How stupid did that sound. Her face had heated up so much, it felt like her cheeks could have been on fire. She feld into the kitchen, grabbing the file she had brought home with her, and sat facing away from the living room and worked on her paper work for the rest of the day.
Yay! I finally finished chapter ten! -dances around excitedly- Hopefully I'll be able to post the next chapter soon. Until then, could you click that little button down there and tell me what you thought? Pretty please? With extra cookies on top?