My Tourniquet

|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|CHAPTER 15|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|

Capital City, Orb, Fall CE 73:

Lacus wasn't often one of those who rejoiced when the final bell of the day released her from classes. Today was just one of those days where she couldn't wait for classes to end.

"Why so antsy?" She didn't turn her gaze to Cagalli as she kept repacking her messenger bag for the afternoon. Her friend leaned against the locker, waiting for an answer.

Lacus smiled. "Kira promised to pick me up and bring me to the studio today," she spilled, absolutely giddy with excitement.

Cagalli blinked. "Oh. How's that going?"

Just before school started Evanescence signed on with the Orb Trax Music Company. Amy indicated that they finally flipped a coin between their top two choices and settled. Now they spent most weekends working on the album while attending their final year of school during the week. Therefore it was taking them a little longer than they'd care for to create it. This Friday afternoon, Kira invited her to hang out with the band.

"He said it's been going great. They're making a lot of progress with the album," she relayed.

"Well have fun," Cagalli said, leaving Lacus to hurry out to the front of the school.

She spotted Kira's car the second it pulled up to the curb. It wasn't the first time he had picked her up from school this semester. Usually it was only reserved for Fridays, but there were occasional weekdays that had been seized by holidays when he picked her up. The excessive traveling by ferry was a strain but one the group agreed to tolerate one last year. By next summer they'd be moved to the Capital.

"Hi," Lacus smiled as she shut the door. Her boyfriend returned the warmth with a soft smile of his own. "Amy giving you a hard time again?"

Kira merely shook his head. "No more than usual, the perfectionist. I'm just tired. Long week."

To her knowledge, he didn't have a full schedule: school, a few hours of a part-time job, then practice on weekends. Maybe it was just adding up after the last few months of working.

"Anyways," Kira continued, "we have about half of the album finished already. Mostly we're playing with some songs we're not satisfied with."

Lacus was looking forward to the session. So far she had heard several of their songs and they kept surprising her with impromptu creations that morphed into a melodic refrain that lingered in her mind. Kira confessed only recently where some of that inspiration comes from, and though it pained her to hear it, it served to help her understand them better.

"You there?"

She blinked. "Huh?"

The young man chuckled, eyes never leaving the crossroad he was driving through. "Audition? Results?"

"Oh!" She had forgotten. "It went all right."

"But?"

"They liked how I sang, but it's hard to look past the karaoke," she explained. "I've decided to ask a friend in the music department to help me create something to work with. Auditioning with my own talent would get me further."

"Probably," Kira agreed.

The studio the band was recording at was only twenty minutes from her school and not a busy one at that. It was the smaller one the company owned but it had everything the band needed. She knew the layout of the simple building by now as she followed Kira into it. Evanescence had been camping out in the furthest box from the entrance.

And like every other time she visited, the sound of bickering never failed to echo through the halls.

"For all I know this could be an utter waste of time!" Amy wasn't pleased again. "Time we don't have!"

With Paul, she acted like she never was. "Come on! You're exaggerating. Pretty please? Just a little more time? I, among many things, am an artist. Let me artist out already."

Kira, a bit louder than usual, called out to them as they walked in. "What's up?"

"Talking…" Amy stated and Paul finished, "about the album. Some oddball details, ya know?" His eyes darted over Lacus briefly but didn't linger. "Hey, Princess."

"Hello, everyone," Lacus said. "I heard you're halfway there?"

"Just about," the raven-haired singer shrugged. "Needs some work yet. Care to listen and critique?"

By that she simply meant to let them play and notice any inconsistencies that bothered her as a listener. Amy once again opened their song with piano and the soft trill of the violin riding her notes before the guys butted in, taking over intro. Seconds later they eased up to let Amy and Kara play in again.

She remained sitting at her piano, pecking the white keys slowly, her lips parting to sing. "You don't remember me, but I remember you. I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you. But who can decide what they dream? And dream I do..."
The guitars picked up their beat gently as her voice kept singing into the microphone, pushing her voice.

"I believe in you. I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you to live to breathe you're taking over me. Have you forgotten all I know, and all we had? You saw me mourning my love for you, and touched my hand." She paused ever so briefly, "I knew you loved me then."

"I believe in you. I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you to live, to breathe
you're taking over me. I look in the mirror and see your face. If I look deep enough, so many things inside that are just like you are taking over."

What she loved most about watching them was the intense concentration, and passion they put into their music as it grew. The lyrics felt more real and held more meaning than hers did for certain.

The band repeated the chorus, short but so pleasant to the ears, a few times before tapering off into silence with only Amy's voicing finishing last, "You're taking over me."
Dave set his bass guitar down and moved towards a computer where he could review the rough recording they made.

"It's missing something," Amy decided.

"You should do a small piano solo with the chorus before finishing?" Lacus suggested first. The first time she made a suggestion, the five hard stares and one curious one made her red hot with apprehension. Over the last few months Amy was more and more interested in what she had to say about their music as a healthy fan. "Just to break up the guitars a bit?"

"Got a point," Paul nodded. The writer swung the guitar he still had behind him and started rummaging through a stack of paper on the chair next to him.

The last hour they were in session was spent revising a part of the song to their satisfaction. As Kira had little else to do in the revisions to the score, he helped her study for a class while they waited.

Finished for the day, Kira offered to drive her back home before it was yet six. Alone again with him Lacus took the opportunity to finally ask him something that had been on her mind for the last few weeks.

"Kira?"

"Yeah?"

She forced herself not to wring her hands like a nervous wreck on her first date. "The Winter Ball for the Academy is coming up, and…I wondered if you wouldn't mind going with me?"

He knew plenty about the Winter and Spring dances her school hosted, and who all attended them. For his part he hadn't attended such a formal affair since Artemis with his disastrous ex. "No, I don't mind at all, if you're sure. I know it'll be awkward."

"But worth it," she smiled.

"Seeing my dear sister in a dress and playing lady, of course." The young woman laughed.

It was the following weekend and it was easily on her list of the worse days of the semester. Instead of playing the odd wheel with Amy and Kira, or on a date with her boyfriend, or even shopping with Kara, she was resigned to playing guest at a party she tried to avoid. DeAnderick's birthday party was a yearly habit, as were many others granted, but the one she loathed to attend. So far she had managed to avoid the persistent man but that didn't stop his attempts.

The invitation was sent to and received by her father and step-mother and wasn't to be ignored. Birthday parties were half that, half social slash political gossip sessions. Lacus pleaded to be left out but her father couldn't. Her boyfriend simply told her to tough it out and try to make the best of the event. Curse his understanding nature.

Lacus came down from her room dressed in a simple but most lovely dress. It was white with swirling pink floral embroidery along the hemline. The neckline was wide and squared with the sleeves going only to the elbows. A pink sash tied around her waist and plain white one inch heels finished the look. She had worn it twice before while out with Kira so she was satisfied about wearing it for DeAnderick's party. It was the first time her friends and family would see it…and it wasn't even the best of her new wardrobe.

"How lovely, Lacus!" Lorene gushed. "When did you buy that?"

"A month ago, I think," Lacus replied with a dusting of a blush.

"That does it," Lorene declared. "I'm checking out your wardrobe after this. I have to see what all you bought recently. I'm just oblivious."

"First, let's get through dinner," Siegel interrupted his ladies.

Lacus's smiled faded away slowly as they left their home for the party. Lorene noticed this and spoke, "This is probably awkward, going to a dinner party for some other guy?"

"I guess," Lacus replied, "but it can't be helped really. It's just that DeAnderick won't stop asking me out."

Siegel nodded, looking at his only child carefully. She had changed, for the better he supposed. She held a newfound sense of responsibility and maturity that others in her class lacked still. Apparently, her time with that group has taught her some things about that world. He was impressed at her efforts with a local orphanage, which was described as a nightmare for children. And her relationship with Kira was serious and mature, something that isn't found in often young adults. He knew they had slept together but at the same time, he felt they considered it a serious step.

"Don't worry," he said. "When we've had enough, I always have my emergency excuses."

His wife and child giggled.

Upon exiting their car, the Clynes met up with the Cagalli and Athrun, along with other classmates. Some of their parents were all there as well, enjoying the party from a short distance. It was mostly for the younger crowd.

Lacus stuck close to her friends originally. The last time she was in a dance/ballroom situation as DeAnderick's date, he wouldn't let her near her friends. She looked around at the lavish and bright decorations. A small band of musicians were settled down in the corner, playing wonderful classical ballroom music. The center of the floor was for the dancers. Athrun and Cagalli found themselves on the floor once or twice along with Dearka and Mir. One miraculous moment saw Yzak and the rebellious Shiho together but only for half the song. Lacus enjoyed it but not as thoroughly as the dance night at NPA. The upbeat music, the real laughter, the joy in life, being friends…that's what Lacus found she loved most. Being in Kira's arms, dancing without caring who cared.

Until dinner was announced she successfully avoided the birthday man. It was buffet style, with smaller tables set around the room. Lacus thought vaguely that there were too many guests for anyone to really celebrate with. It was probably a popularity push.

Halfway through a sentence about the internship she had found, Cagalli suddenly trailed off, her eyes narrowing just enough to be regarded as annoyed.

Resisting the urge to groan at the persistence before her, Lacus kept her eyes forward, hoping Cagalli would continue fast. Blunt ignoring never worked either with DeAnderick. If he presented one more rose to her the poor bloom would no longer be on her vast list of favored flowers. He turned the romantic notion in the red petals into that of obsessive lunacy.

"Ms. Clyne," DeAnderick spoke as if she was paying attention and not talking with a friend. "You look lovely as always."

The roll of Cagalli's amber eyes and frown indicated what she thought of such a tacky cliché.

"Thank you," she replied in an even tone of voice. At least there wasn't a rose in his hand this time.

"I don't mean to interrupt," he began, "but I wanted to ask if I may accompany you to the Winter Ball?"

Whether she had a date already or not, her answer was the same. "Thank you, but I'm afraid I have to decline. I already have a date for the Ball."

His pleasant face faltered with her reply, and she spared him further. "If you'll excuse us."

Cagalli and she stood and walked away to join their parents who finally met up to chat. Siegel noticed the huff Cagalli was in on behalf of his angelic daughter, and the frown on Lacus's features. "Ready to call it quits?"

"Please."

And to her misfortune, seeing Kira the rest of the weekend was out.

Lacus arrived a little after three like she anticipated. Amy was the one who answered the door of the inexpensive hotel they were staying in for the week. The dark-haired woman was in a rare mood, even smiling. When she asked about it, Amy only grinned and said that life was just great. When she stepped inside, she found out why. Paul and Dave were out for the day along with Deanna and some other friends, so she was blissfully trouble-free.

Olivia was there as well, fitting some new dresses for the girls and doing some concert designs for Amy. Em was lounging in the girls' room with Kira and Kara. When Lacus walked in, Kira was up in an instant and pecking her on the lips.

"Get a room!" Amy teased, giving the pink-haired girl a push into her boyfriend. "Wait…"

Lacus blushed and Kira chuckled. "Keep thinking like that, Ames, and you'll be as bad as Paul."

"Ick!" Amy shuddered. Turning the conversation around, she asked about Lacus's dress for the ball. She pulled it out to show them. It was a floor length white-pink gown with off shoulder straps of sheer fabric. There was an overlay of sparkling sheer fabric running from top to bottom, giving the gown a flowing feel.

Amy shrugged. "Not bad?" She preferred darker colors and just avoided dresses as a whole. Olivia looked it over with a critical eye, plump lips pursed. She was frowning, then scowling. Someone laughed.

Em flashed one of his huge cheeky grins. At Lacus's questioning glance, he explained, "Hand over the dress and you won't get hurt. Apparently, Olivia doesn't approve. And don't whine about it be designer or anything like that."

Reluctantly, Lacus offered the dress to the seamstress who snatched it and began looking closely at it. "What's to be done on it? The ball's in a few hours."

"Plenty of time for that plus your hair and make-up," Kara replied. "I so call make-up."

"Have fun," Kira announced. Amy smirked as the boys escaped the room.

"Strange how girly stuff makes a male flee the premises," she remarked wryly, closing the door. "Too bad Paul takes it as an invitation to get popcorn. Let's get to work."

Olivia retreated with the dress to her table she'd set up with her sewing stuff while Amy and Kara pulled Lacus to Amy's room and began sorting through the make-up and accessories. After debating and sampling dozens of colors for half an hour, they moved to messing with hair ideas. An hour before the dance Olivia came in with the revamped dress in a bundle. With Kara, the red-headed seamstress began applying make-up while Amy migrated to the living room to play some music and mess with dinner for the group.

Light pink shadow with a hint of glitter, a touch of foundation and blush, and luscious pink lip stick later, they finished make-up. For her hair next, they wove in small white roses in two side braids tied back and curled her hair into wavy ringlets. Simple, but beautiful. Lacus clasped a matching set of petite diamonds in her ears and around her neck and wrist. With only ten minutes before her ride appeared and Kira, they helped Lacus slip into the dress. Olivia was right on the dot, measurements and design both. The sheer straps were gone, the sides taken in to cling better to her figure, and a broad bank of rosy pink satin was added to the top hem, giving the dress a more elegant look. The modifications were simple but impacting. White heels, satin purse, and white shawl completed her look for the evening.

The girls high fived each other as they approved their work. Amy snidely commented all that lovely work free and better than most beauty shops. Lacus could only agree her friends made it worthwhile. At 6:30, Kira was waiting for her in his black tux by her father's car. Kara snapped a photo or two of them before they left.

"Save it for prom," Kira moaned. Left alone, the chauffer opened the door for them. Kira let Lacus in first then slid into the seat next to her. The man closed the door and they were off.

"You look beautiful," he smiled, taking her hand.

"And you look handsome," she replied, smiling. "Who knew Amy knew anything about make-up?"

He smirked slightly. "You'd be surprised at what she knows. I suppose she was like you at some point. Sweet and innocent."

She laughed. "So…prom, huh?" Lacus asked. "Yours or mine?"

He shrugged. "Either or both. Ours is nothing like yours. It's just the Crow's Nest multiplied and formal."

"Sounds like fun," she said. "I'm in."

"Hope so," Kira replied. "I think Olivia's making your dress."

"Really?"

"You know her. She's relentless and loves testing her designs." Kira looked at her again, making her blush a little when his eyes roamed up and down the length of her body. "Turned out pretty good for a sudden job."

She nodded. "Not sure what Lorene will say. She bought the dress for me. It is…was…a French design." A glance at his 'but' expression, she added, "I prefer Olivia's work."

"I know I do," Kira replied softly, leaning over to brush his lips again her temple. For the rest of the ride to the rented hall she sat comfortably next to him, almost wishing they were cuddled on a couch and not about to spend hours at a dance. Lacus was minutes from dozing off when the driver was pulling the car up in line to the World Santrix Hotel.

Kira stepped out of the car and Lacus followed. Arm in arm, they joined her classmates as they entered the lavish hall. Inside the grand hall, the orchestra was playing a few classical tunes while the students mingled.

Cagalli kept her eyes on the entrance to see who waltzed in. Dances were not her favorite activity, but if it included Athrun and her best friends, she'd play along. Her amber eyes finally caught sight of Lacus and Kira entering the hall behind a couple she didn't know. She waved to catch their attention, marveling at the same time how good looking her twin had become. Athrun was right behind her.

"Kira, Lacus," Cagalli greeted them. "You two look great."

Kira took in his blonde sister in a dark blue dress and upswept hair and bit back a laugh. "You, too. So…how many got hurt getting you to wear that?"

Cagalli flushed red, half in embarrassment and half in anger while her boyfriend and friends snickered. Years apart and he still knew her! "Get real. I can get dressed without killing someone."

"I said hurt, not kill," Kira reiterated.

"Brat," she muttered under her breath. "Come on. Everyone's waiting to see you again!"

Kira's presence after these past few years startled people who remembered him as the popular smart guy. Their close knit group of friends already knew and it took the edge off the awkward entrance. People asked questions and tried to swarm around one of their old favorites. Lacus giggled at her rock star boyfriend's struggle to handle the attention.

Kira otherwise seemed to have a good time despite the various attentions. His ex was in the room but they deftly avoided her like the plague twice returned. By the end of the evening they were all laughing and talking as if no time had passed between them like it did. Surrounded by old friends and pleasant company, Lacus was happy that Fllay and DeAnderick were deterred away. Finally a dance she could enjoy completely and utterly without disruption.

On the following school day, Cagalli laughed at her friend's absolute unabashed look of contentment. It was probably the first high school dance that Lacus came away from smiling like that. Not even a pouting Fllay ruined her mood. Cagalli turned to Athrun who sat next to her.

"Is it just me," Cagalli questioned quietly, "or is Fllay being unusually quiet?"

Her boyfriend raised an eyebrow at the observation. "Maybe too quiet," he agreed. "I don't think everyone noticed, but she didn't look too thrilled at the Dance last week." Most her time was spent glaring at Kira and Lacus.

"I'm worried," Cagalli said. "Fllay isn't capable of quiet unless something else is occupying her devious mind."

"You're worrying too much." At her glare, he added, "But we'll keep an eye out just in case. I just don't see why Fllay would still have an interest in Kira. I mean, you know her shallow standards. He's not from a rich family, goes to a public high school, and is practically a street kid. DeAnderick is more her speed."

Cagalli smirked suddenly. "A match made in hell."

And his girlfriend was the Devil's personal secretary, Athrun shuddered.