Love at First Sight
Wondering about someone every waking moment is tiring. Being constantly ignored by someone is embarrassing. Learning the one you love loves another is heartbreaking. Always losing to others can break you. So why am I going through all this for you?
Chapter 6 – Awkward Situations
Burning. Her cheeks were burning. Meyrin stood there, shocked. Auel pulled back quickly, and looked away from her.
"Umm, did you want to see the rest of the park?" he asked after a pause; a pause though short in reality seemed like a never-ending torturous silence.
"Uh, yeah, sure." Auel started walking and Meyrin hesitantly fell into step with him. They continued down the path in silence. Meyrin didn't notice the colourful wildflowers; nor did she admire the gentle trickle of a stream flowing under a makeshift log bridge. She continued walking alongside Auel in the awkward silence.
Finally, as they neared the end of the path, Auel spoke. "Let's head back. We have ten minutes 'til the bell rings." He turned, and started walking. Meyrin stood still for a minute. She stood there and watched his back retreating. His back; she had seen it so many times but never realized how toned he looked; he had a nice, slim frame, and slightly muscular arms. When had the skinny boy she had met just under a year ago turn into this… young man? And why had she never noticed how he strutted, how his long blue hair fell over his neck and brushed the tip of his shirt. Why had he never seemed to change until right this very moment?
Meyrin then shook herself back to reality. Stop thinking about him. But—Maybe he was right. I've been so obsessed with Athrun this past year I haven't really noticed Auel. And how he's changed. But what am I to do? I don't like Auel at all, but Athrun is with Cagalli. And Auel just kissed me…
"Meyrin?" Auel's voice broke through. "Are you coming?" He had stopped about twenty feet away, looking questioningly at her.
"Uh, yeah! Hold a sec!" Meyrin grabbed her bag which she had somehow dropped, and jogged a few paces to catch up.
The two walked back to school quietly; but not a comfortable silence. Meyrin was suddenly acutely aware of how quiet it was; she could hear Auel's soft grunts as he strained to cross the streams and jump over the rocks; she could embarrassingly hear her stomach making sounds as she digested her lunch; these sounds were probably all here before but she had not cared then; and for some unknown reason, she cared now. Cared very much.
After school
Meyrin shoved her science textbook in her locker and groaned. Her teacher had just assigned a pop quiz and she knew she didn't do well; she couldn't stop thinking about Auel and was thoroughly angry now. Why did he have to do that and change everything? He ruined our friendship; everything feels so awkward now! She thought, irritated.
"Meeeeey-Mey!" A cheerful voice piped up. "How are youuuu?" Stellar inquired, leaning her head over Meyrin's arm and peeing into her locker.
Meyrin groaned again. "Horrible! I just failed my science quiz. I'm already doing pretty bad; now its gonna pull my mark so low… I'm probably not even going to make advanced honour roll!"
Stellar frowned a little. "I'd help, but I only ringed a 79 in science last semester. Ask Auel. He's awesome in science. I think he got a 97, that butt."
Meyrin tried to keep her voice neutral. "Ohh…"
"Hmm, by the way, Mey; did you notice he seems so emo lately? Something's eating at him; even Shinn thinks so. He told me we should find him a girlfriend. It's not really a bad idea, don't you think? We could maybe pair him up with Meer; I hear she just broke up with her boyfriend and in elementary school, she always had a bit of a crush on him."
Meyrin couldn't face Stellar, so she focused on packing her bag instead. "Oh, really?"
"Yep. Hmm, maybe I should talk to her; ask her if she wants to go on a date. Can you ask Auel too?"
Meyrin shut her locker a bit roughly; in fact, it was just an octave below what is considered a slam. "I think that'd be kind of weird. And besides, you don't know if Auel likes her. You can't just randomly pair two people together." She said carefully.
Stellar stared at her. "I'm just trying to make something work. We both have no idea who he likes, if anyone, so we might as well start with someone who actually likes him in return."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't butt into his life; its almost as if you're controlling his life." Meyrin said harshly. She didn't know why she was being so insensitive; something bubbled inside her and made her feel resentful of how casually Stellar was talking about Auel's life; as if she had control. Am I jealous? She wondered. But… there should be no reason for me to be jealous…
Stellar was still staring at Meyrin. "Mey, are you okay? Are you that mad over the quiz? You seem kinda angry right now…"
Meyrin shook her head. "Sorry. I dunno. I feel kinda weird right now. I'm too confused to deal with Auel's problems right now… Can we talk about this some other time?"
Stellar nodded. "Sure."
"So, do you want to do something tonight? Mall, movie, anything?"
"Nahh, I got a test tomorrow, I really should study… and…"
"Going out with Shinn tonight?"
Stellar flushed a little. "Just to the mall… to watch a movie…" She looked away.
Meyrin tried to smile. "Wow, we think alike." She sighed a little, then grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "I guess it's for the best. I can try and study some sci tonight and see if it's any clearer." Meyrin turned and started walking towards the doors. "Are you taking the bus?"
Stellar shook her head. "Nope. Um, I'm gonna walk straight to Shinn's. Uh, I'll call you tonight? Around 10ish?"
Meyrin smiled wanly. "Sure. Have fun tonight." Meyrin shuffled to the bus stop, feeling rather down. Stellar and Shinn are always busy now. They always do things together. And I usually spend time with Auel. But I can't now; he ruined that for us.
Meyrin dropped her bag on her bed and made her way to her desk. Neither Auel nor Athrun were on the bus on the way home. She had had to sit beside a very, err, chubby boy. He took up nearly half her seat as well as his own. She might as well have stood.
I don't want to do homework… She reflected. Maybe I'll go online and see who can help me with science…
Meyrin turned on her computer and then logged on MSN. Almost instantly, a convo popped up.
Zalaman: Hey Meyrin!
It was Athrun.
Mey-Rin: Hi :)
Zalaman: How are you?
Mey-Rin: Not too good.
Zalaman: Really? Why not? :\
Mey-Rin: Never mind, it's not important. Where were you after school? I didn't see you on the bus. :(
Zalaman: Ohh, I had to meet someone and kinda lost track of time.
Mey-Rin: Cagalli?
Zalaman: Uhh, yeah.
Mey-Rin: I see.
Zalaman: So, why aren't you 'too good' today?
Mey-Rin: sigh Well, I just failed my science pop quiz. My mark is already really low. :S
Zalaman: Aww, that sucks! What unit is it?
Mey-Rin: Biology.
Zalaman: Biology? Ohh, I can help if you want. I'm getting a 99 in bio right now.
Mey-Rin: 99? Wow! Smarty pants! :P
Zalaman: XD Nah, I just love bio.
Mey-Rin: So you can tutor me?
Zalaman: Sure, why not? What are friends for, right?
Mey-Rin: Thanks so much! :D I really appreciate it!
Zalaman: No problem. Tomorrow, after school? Library?
Mey-Rin: Sure thing! :)
Meyrin turned away from her computer and grinned. Finally, something good. The first good thing that happened today. Which reminded her again of Auel's kiss.
I can't believe he kissed me. Ugh, I wish he didn't! It's so awkward between us now… He ruined everything...
The door opened. Luna was home. Meyrin got up and went to greet her sister.
"Hey Luna!" she piped up cheerfully. To Meyrin's surprise, Luna's eyes were quite cold when she looked back at Meyrin. "What?" Meyrin asked, bewildered.
Luna shook her head. "Are you close with Athrun Zala?" she asked bluntly.
Meyrin's head shot up, surprised. "Close? Not really, I just met him yesterday. But we're friends."
Luna's brow furrowed even further. "Really? That's weird. The way Cagalli says it, it seems as if you guys are really close."
"Cagalli? What do you mean? What did she say?" Meyrin was even more confused.
"Well, she told me that her friend saw you with him a lot; and that he keeps talking about you. Meyrin, I'd keep away if I were you. Their relationship isn't very stable at the moment, and you're not helping things."
Meyrin glared at her sister now, annoyed. "Stay away? We're just friends! And besides, I told you I've only met him recently and I haven't talked with him that much!"
"Even so, Meyrin; they're having trust issues right now, so it'd be best for their relationship if you didn't talk with Athrun so much. It's fine on MSN and everything, but try not to take too much of his time away from Cagalli. They need this right now."
Meyrin frowned. "No Luna, this isn't my fault. And I'm sorry, but Athrun agreed to tutor me in science, starting tomorrow. He offered not me, and I need the help. I'll try not to take any more of his time, but if their relationship is on the rocks, it isn't my fault since I haven't even known him that long. Besides, maybe sometimes its not meant to be." Meyrin stated, feeling guilty as she said it. Yet she had to say it; something seemed to be speaking for her.
Luna looked a bit baffled. "Meyrin? This isn't just an everyday relationship. They've been going out a full year, and Cagalli is my friend and a good person. So is Athrun and the two of them are good together. I know you have a bit of a crush on him; but the fact is he's taken. Don't get too bigheaded just because he's talking to you. Do you really want to be responsible for breaking them up?" Luna shot at her. Then her sister turned and walked towards the bathroom. "I'm gonna go take a shower. Please Meyrin, think this over before you do something you will regret."
Meyrin was puzzled. Luna's words hit home. Athrun was taken by someone else, and just because they were friends now, didn't mean she should have any more of a chance with him than she had before. And Cagalli; no wonder she seemed quite cold the last time they met; her friend must have told her then.
The phone rang, and Luna, who was showering, yelled for Meyrin to get it.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Meyrin?" It was Auel. Oh great. She didn't want to deal with this.
"Oh, hi."
"Hi… listen, um, Stellar told me to call you cause she said you weren't very happy?"
"Oh, really?" Stellar… Meyrin grumbled to herself.
"Yeah. Um, is everything okay?"
"Fine. Just fine." Meyrin bit her lip.
"Oh, well, um, Stellar told me it was something about science. Did you have a test?"
"Pop quiz." Meyrin groaned, and forgot for a minute about what had happened at lunch. "Ugh, Auel, it was so bad! I think I might've failed it. And you know I'm already getting pretty bad in science. I really suck in bio!"
"Aww." Auel's voice was truly sympathetic. "Do you want me to help? I didn't do too bad in bio last semester."
Meyrin was about to say yes when she remembered Athrun. "Oh, its okay… I've got a tutor."
"Already?" Auel couldn't hide the surprise in his voice. "But Stellar told me about it just a few minutes ago!"
"Well, if you were on the bus after school, you might've known already." Meyrin's voice was a bit harsh, for she remembered her far from pleasant seating experience on the bus.
"Oh, sorry about that. I had to stay behind and help set up the auditorium. There's a speech contest tonight."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I was going to at lunch, but then—" Auel let his sentence trail off. There was a brief pause, and then Auel spoke again. "About what happened at lunch…"
Just then, Meyrin's computer beeped. Meyrin strode towards her room and clicked on the convo that just popped up. It was Athrun.
"Listen, I've got to go, Auel. Athrun's messaging me."
"Athrun? Zala?"
Meyrin rolled her eyes. "Yes Auel. Do you know another Athrun?" she couldn't keep out the annoyance in her voice.
"Why are you talking to Athrun?" Auel asked, his voice rising. It annoyed Meyrin even further.
"If you really must know, he's my tutor, Auel. And he's very good. He rung a 99 in bio. And that's grade 9, 10, and 11 bio. Two percent and two grades above you." And with that, Meyrin hung up the phone. Auel, you asked for this. She tried to convince herself. If you didn't ruin our friendship with what you did, this might not have happened. Despite all of this Meyrin couldn't help thinking of the strange jealousy that came over her when Stellar told her Meer liked Auel. That can't mean anything, can it?
Meyrin yawned. It was now 10:30. Might as well head to bed. I guess Stellar isn't calling…
As if on cue, the phone rang at that precise moment.
"Hello?"
"Mey-Mey!" Stellar's cheery voice came through.
"Hey Stell. A bit late, isn't it?"
"Hey, I said 10ish, didn't I?" Meyrin could tell Stellar was grinning.
"So, what happened? You sound really happy."
"I am, Mey! You'll never guess!"
"Hmm, you finished all your homework at Shinn's house before you guys went out." Meyrin joked.
"No…" Stellar said soberly. "Which reminds me, can I see your English notes tomorrow before class?"
Meyrin laughed. "Sure. So what's your big news?"
"Well, when me and Shinn went out to-night, after the movie, he pulled out this little box wrapped in gold paper. He told me he was really happy I was his friend and handed me the box. Mey, there was a really pretty necklace inside. I was a heart, and on the front, it has an S, made with these really small red and purple stones! Our favourite colours! Meyrin, it was so sweet. He even remembered it was exactly eight months since we first met! And… we're together now, Mey. I'm so happy."
Meyrin dropped the phone. Together?
"Meyrin?" Stellar's voice came through the blankets that Meyrin had dropped the phone on, muffled. Meyrin bent over and picked up the phone. "Yeah."
"So, what do you think?" Stellar asked a bit anxiously.
"Of what?" Meyrin pretended to be indifferent.
"Of me and Shinn."
"Oh, well, congratulations. You two are good together." Meyrin hung her head a bit. I shouldn't like Shinn anyways. I like Athrun, I shouldn't be too fickle.
"Thanks Mey. So, did Auel call you?"
"Yeah." Oh yeah. Might as well ask now. "Stell?"
"Yeah?"
"Did Auel use to like you?"
And the phone went silent.
--
Author's Notes
Kinda weird. I don't know how I feel about this. :( So review and make me happy and let me see how it made you feel :D I want feedback to see how I'm doing so far. I took a pretty long hiatus and I feel like my literary skills might be taking a turn for the worse… which is especially bad as seeing I have my literary test in three days. Eeep. So help, and click the review button, please. :)
And three things: 1) I know most people don't talk to properly on MSN, but I didn't want to use MSN lingo XD
2) Meyrin might seem a bit iffy; but yeah, bear with mee! :( She went through a lot? X'D
3) Stellar doesn't seem as innocent as she actually is… :\
And yes, written in one sitting :D