Disclaimer: Don't own Gundam Wing.
Author's note: Sorry for the super late update and thank you to everyone for the messages of encouragement for me to update. My best friend got married recently and as the maid of honor I had to help her out with everything. Then I had to work. But soon I will be in a place where I can type up the chapters and update faster. Thanks so much for being patient with me and please tell me of any suggestions you have for this story since there still isn't a solid plot. Just the idea of 'what if Heero had a glimpse of a normal life.'
Chapter 3: Say a Little Prayer
Erica's side of the story
At Erica's workplace
Erica worked part-time at Nebula's Cave of Books. Nebula was an African American woman who opened her store for the first time sixty years ago. Through recession, war, and fire, she managed to keep her store opened. With such a long history, the store became a part of the town's culture. Everyone stops by to see and be seen. If ever there was a gossip area, this was it. Erica worked there not because she loved books, which she isn't a fan of, but because she loves to eat. Erica especially loved to eat Mrs. Nebula's homecooked pies that she made every morning for the coffee shop portion of the store. So Erica thought why not work at the place she always ended up stopping by to eat just to get an employee discount. Okay so maybe she actually started working there because Mrs. Nebula told her that since she spent so much time at the bookstore eating, she might as well work there. Either way, Erica worked there with Mrs. Nebula's grandson, Chase, hardcore gamer and action movie ethusiast and playboy on the side. Everyday after school, Erica always came to work a couple of hours before going home.
This evening Erica worked on the coffee shop side of the store while Chase was working in the bookstore side, if playing a handheld game was considered working. The only customers in the store at the moment were to elderly ladies who just knitted while gossiping about any and everything. Though the elderly ladies looked innocent, Chase stayed as far from them as possible claiming that they were nothing but 'perverted old bat' who kept winking at him. Since Erica was sure that the ladies wouldn't be doing anything else for a while, she left her post to talk to Chase.
"Psst" Erica was trying to not get the attention of the old ladies.
"Not now Erica" Chase started button mashing.
"Hey can you pause for one minute."
"There's not pausing for a boss battle. Haven't I taught you that at the arcade?" "But I have a question." "I've got a zombie dragon trying to cook…me…..ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG " Chase slammed his handheld game on the desk and sighed, "That's the twentieth time I lost…whatcha need?"
"Well you're a guy right?" Erica looked up trying to seem innocent.
"Is that seriously your question! " Chase glared at Erica about to say more wben he was cut off.
"I know you're a guy! But I need your help! How can I talk to a guy who thinks of working with me is a mission and acts like a robot?" Erica tried and failed to do the puppy dog eyes.
"Well guy's smart. It's a hassle being forced to work with you. What did you do to punish this dude anyways?"
"What? Hey I'm not bad. My English Lit teacher made us partner up."
"Wow guy's definitely a genius. Your teacher can't pair you up with anyone with a lower IQ than you. So tell me more about this dude before I meet him."
Erica thought about it and start to describe Heero to Chase, "His face doesn't move. He never changes expressions. His fashion sense is nonexistent. He's antisocial. I think he's a robot or an alien. No way he's human…MEET HIM? How?"
"HAHAHA" Chase couldn't hold in his laughter, "A robot or alien? HAHAHA what are they teaching you? I'll meet him when you bring him by the bookstore soon. You know Grandma always wants to meet all the new people around. If you don't bring him here then imagine what Grans might do to meet him."
The color left Erica's face. I've gotta lure Heero here or I'm socially dead. Mrs. Nebula will appear at school and use the speakers to call for him just to meet him…or worse make a teacher take sick leave to be a substitute teacher for a day to meet Heero and tell the class stories of when I was a baby….Oh my god she has baby pictures of me!
"From your face, I'm guessing you're imagining what Grans can do. Once there was a new neighbor and Grans was deadset on meeting them but they were always busy. Grans thought that it was rude of them not to introduce themselves. Somehow Grans wired their car not to work one night so she could meet them the next day. She kept smirking saying 'ain't that a shame. Well technology makes it hard to communicate. Come on over let's have a tea. I've got a nephew that can fix that for ya.' She ended later on at night fixing their car so they never knew it was tampered with. Most people don't realize that Grans could be the greatest criminal if she ever used her talents for evil."
"Haha sure I'll bring him over. I'm bring him over!..."Erica shouted praying that she could figure out when before Mrs. Nebula does something crazy.
From behind Erica she heard a voice "Now sugar who are you bring over? Finally got a boyfriend? Oh I hear there's a new boy in town and handsome to boot. Why baby you simply gotta bring him over so that I can give him the local welcome. Right hon?" Mrs. Nebula walked by the counter looking like she found a new game.
"Local welcome?" Erica started to feel a little scared.
"Why sugar, I'm local and I'm welcoming him. Though can't give my secret to ya yet. I wonder if he's strong…Well I'll figure it out. Anyhow, what's this about you failing a test on Shakespeare? I told your parents when you were little that a tv was not a babysitter. I knew eventually reprecaussions would occur. Just gotta teach you the value of books."
Erica slowly backed away from Mrs. Nebula. "Paperbacks are $5 and hardbacks are $12. I think I know the value of a book, ma'am."
"Lord have mercy, I know this child is not serious. I've got my work cut out for ya. But since you have a project to do. I'll be nice. Here's Poe go home and read it. Tell me what it's about tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am" Erica felt like she got away lucky since Mrs. Nebula didn't do anything drastic this time.
"Oh and babydoll, the movie isn't like the book so don't even think about watching that."
She knows me too well. There goes my idea of stopping by the videostore. "Hey Erica." "Huh?" Chase managed to get Erica's attention again.
"About your question earlier. Try knowing the guy. I'm sure he isn't an alien but if he is, smile so he remembered you smile before invading the place." Chase jokingly said.
Try knowing Heero Yuy? But what if he doesn't want anyone knowing him? All I know is I've got to introduce him to Mrs. Nebula or who knews what Mrs. Nebula will do.
Author's note: They changed the format for uploading so hopefully I haven't uploaded this wrong.