Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil. It all belongs to CAPCOM.
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Chapter 2
The Call from …
Claire leaned on the back of the wooden chair and sighed deeply. She glanced at the pieces of paper she scribbled on and pushed them away.
Calling Leon out for a date was more difficult than Claire expected.
But Claire could not regret about it, since she had promised Angela to help her. Besides, she wasn't the one to present on the date. She just needed to have a phone call to Leon, than her part was over. After all the main stage was for Angela.
Claire fetched her little address book and turned it open. She gazed at the page containing Leon's phone number and touched the hand writings with her slender fingers gently. She remembered the day they gathered in the cafe and Leon asked for her address book. " Call me if you need me," he said as he returned her the notebook and recapped his steel pen.
Claire had not followed his instructions in fact. Claire often thought of Leon, wondering how was his work. Sometimes she was down in mood or feeling frustrated by the work and the sad news, that struck her the urge to meet Leon. But Claire would put down the phone before she really dialed to Leon. She knew Leon was the Government Agent, who would be too busy to answer her and listen to her trivial things. She would not like to interrupt Leon's important work for her own good. She'd usually waited until Leon had free time to call her out for a brief afternoon tea. For that she would never refuse even if she needed to file to her boss for a leave . After all, Leon didn't call her out many times, just about once per month or even less. Claire treasured every gathering they had. Although the time was short, seeing Leon in the flesh and knowing he was well were already good enough for Claire. She knew she couldn't ask for more, for she was only Leon's friend.
But all these are for Angela and Leon. Just don't think too much and go ahead, Claire Redfield!!!Claire encouraged herself, nooding firmly. She took a deep breath and rose to her feet, walking to the living room straight away. She picked up the telephone and entered the number she had thought for numerous times. Holding the receiver to her ear, she heard her heartbeat thumping. drowning the deadly waiting sound. She inhaled fresh air deeply, trying to calm herself.
At the time Claire decided to give up and call later, the waiting sound was cut abruptly, and a husky male voice spoke from the other end, " ... Kennedy speaking."
" Oh Leon! Good afternoon, um, this is Claire..." Claire gasped out rather nervously. She had run many possible ways to begin the conversation in her mind minutes ago but they all became useless when the real time came.
" Hi, Red," greeted Leon concisely.
" Hi... Are you free now? I hope I have not disturbed you..." jittered Claire.
" Literally...you have," said the Agent inexorably. Claire chewed her bottom lips anxiously before she heard him added," I've just sit down to start my lunch and then you call."
Claire sighed lightly and asked mischievously, " Then shall I call you after you've enjoyed your lunch, Mr Kennedy?"
" No, it's my pleasure to have Miss Redfield phoning to me. There's nothing more important then your call," replied Leon in a make-believe gentleman tone. Seemingly Leon was in a good mood who played along with Claire rarely. Claire heard a crispy clung and Leon continued, back in his usual tone," I've put down my sandwich. I shall have a great bite of it later. So now, what brings you to call me, Red?"
" Leon, you told me last time you'll have some free days next week, right?"
" Ahah."
" Do you think if you could spare one night to have a dinner together?"
" Sure. I was thinking to ask you out later."
" Really?" whispered Claire doubtingly.
" Yeah," Leon outspoken," Of course it's much better if you invite me. You know, I'm often not so sure if you're free."
" ..." Claire was a bit surprised by Leon's words. She was not expecting Leon would do like her, too thoughtful about each other. Claire wondered if she had been a bit more zealous to step out further, their relationships could be better than now, perhaps more than friends... But there should be no if-questions in this cruel world of reality. Her mission was to help Angela, and that was all. " Um, Leon, are you available on next Wednesday?" Angela had her holidays starting from Wednesday. She probably couldn't wait to meet Leon earlier and spend the holidays with him afterward.
" Wednesday..." repeated Leon, considering carefully. " Right, I'm okay with it."
" Good," said Claire with a sigh of relief. She must call Angela later to report her perfectly completed mission. She had been a bit worried that Leon couldn't squeeze his free time and that would definitely disappoint Angela a lot. And now, phew. Nothing could be better than now, well, for Angela. " Thanks a lot, Leon."
" Well, I suppose we'll check out at the old place?" asked Leon causally.
" Oh, that..." Claire thought for a moment. She should have thought about the location first before dialing to Leon but all she had been worrying was how to ask Leon out for a date. She and Leon usually met in the cafe at the street corner or the fast food restaurant a street away. She couldn't let Angela to come such a long way to meet Leon and have a talk over burgers and fries, could she? Claire fumbled for suitable words in her brain and started hastily," Leon, do you think we can go to a more... different place this time?"
" Okay, for your will. We may try out other food than fries and hamburgers. So, where would you like to go then?"
" Um... I don't know... " admitted Claire rather embarrassingly. Although she had lived in this town for a long time (at least much longer than Leon did), she didn't know any famous shops and restaurants in the town. You could probably find Claire easily without turning over the whole town, if you knew those several spots Claire liked to hang around.
" Then, what kind of cuisine would you like? Tell me and I could arrange for you?"
" Yes, please, " said Claire gratefully. She revised the conversation with Angela and mulled upon the dinner Angela would like to have. She caught the word in her mind and said quickly, " Ah, I know it! Leon, I'd like the candle light dinner!"
" ... Candle light dinner?" repeated Leon awkwardly.
" Well yes, you know, dinner with glowing candle light, soothing violin music, and scrumptious food of course..." explained Claire thoughtfully to Leon. She assumed this kind of classical romance would be of Angela's favour. All women want to have such kind of dinner with their loved ones, don't they?
" ... Wait, have I heard it wrong? Candle light dinner... you and me?"
" Well, in fact I'm not-" Claire paused as she remembered the promise to Angela not to spill the beans to Leon. She chewed her bottom lip again and said, " Listen, Leon. I know it sounds quite weird but... just you'll know when that day comes. Leon, I hope you may listen to my request this time, please?"
Claire waited for a few seconds of dead silence. Then she heard Leon inhaled deeply and spoke in a disguised causal tone, " So um, Claire. Wait for my call, okay? I'll contact you if I've booked a table. Leave it to me, uh?"
" Okay. Leon, thanks a lot."
" My pleasure."
" And sorry for interrupting your lunch."
" No problem. I'll call you later."
" Um. Goodbye."
" 'Bye, Claire."
Claire hastily placed back the receiver and sighed deeply. Their conversation ended in the usual friendly way, but she sensed the subtle change in Leon's voice. She hoped this call would not change their good relationship... And when the day came, Leon would know what Claire had done to hook him up to Angela... Claire would receive a genuine ' Thank you' from both of them... But would this be what Claire wanted?
A/N:
Thank you for my lovely reviewers: SPEEDIE22, Crimzon-Girl, Darkpuppy99, Matt, Fire Kitsune and Nekomi Tsuyo Takeishi !!!
Your reviews mean a lot to me! I apologize sincerely if this chapter has been a bit lame so far... I have a small problem on the way to write Leon's character... Do you think Leon in this chapter is okay or not? Advises and comments are appreciated! I promise I'll show improvement next chapter! Thank you for reading.