Chapter 35: Love is in the air

[scene: Sunday afternoon Zoi's room. Zoi's lying on the bed, catching up on his homework, still basking in the afterglow of the day before. He's looking forward to Monday, just so he can see Kunzite again when he comes to pick him up for school.]

[The phone rings. He hopes it's Kunzite, but he can see it's Usagi.]

Zoi: Hey, Usagi.

Usagi: [giggles] Hi, Zoi it's me.

Zoi: How was the dance?

Usagi: It was so much fun. You should have been there. Everyone was asking about you.

Zoi: Really? Why?

Usagi: Because you weren't there, silly. You missed out! Mamoru wore a suit and everything. He looked so sharp. I didn't realize how handsome he was when he's not dressed like a scarecrow. I didn't think this was going to be a real date, but Mamoru brought me a white rose corsage, and told me how beautiful I looked in my party dress and pink lipstick and everything.

Zoi: [smiles] He did? That's great.

Usagi: That's not even the best part. He kissed me! Can you believe it?

Zoi: [sincerely happy that his friend Usagi is on the same track he is, romance-wise] That's wonderful, Usagi. I'm so happy you're a couple now, you two look like you were meant for each other.

Usagi: Um…yeah, I'm not so sure I'd go as far as to say we're a couple just yet…

Zoi: But he kissed you.

Usagi: Yeah, but we were both pretty drunk at the time. And he called me the wrong name, but he swears he doesn't know anyone named "Selenity" so he doesn't even know why he called me that. I don't know anyone named "Selenity" Do you?

Zoi: No, I think I'd remember a name like that…[stern] But back up a bit. Did you just say you were both pretty drunk?

Usagi: Um, yeah, you big preschooler! What do you think we do at these dances? Dance? We were sitting with Naru and my friends enjoying our complimentary soft drinks, and Neffy came over with a bottle of Malibu Coconut and kept topped off our drinks for us.

Zoi: [uneasy] Neffy O'Sama?

Usagi: Oh, man, that stuff is so good. I think I've found my new drink, Diet Coke and Malibu Coconut. He asked Naru if she wanted to dance with him. Can you believe it? Naru finally got together with Neffy O'Sama. And she didn't even have to do anything. We almost died!

Zoi: I'm surprised Naru didn't die.

Usagi: Yeah, well she got so excited she practically fainted on the dance floor. So he left and moved onto another table while she rested.

Zoi: [concerned] Is she ok now?

Usagi: Sure, she's fine. She sat out the rest of the dances, but now she won't stop talking about how amazing Neffy O'Sama is.

Zoi: I don't like this…. He shouldn't be getting girls drunk and taking advantage of them like that.

Usagi: Oh, for heaven sakes. It's not like he felt her up or anything. Besides, she's been in love with him forever. Does Kunzite have any idea what a prude you are?

Zoi: [blushes] I think he's got a fairly good idea.

Usagi: Yeah, well it's probably for the best, because he strikes me as a bit of a square himself. But Neffy and Naru, they're different, you know. They're a bit more worldly-wise and cosmopolitan than the rest of us.

Zoi: [frowns] I'm just saying, I'd be a lot happier if she were dating Umino. He's so much better for her.

Usagi: What are you talking about? Naru's smart and beautiful and Umino's a dork supreme. He's nowhere near her dating level. That's so gross.

Zoi: Yeah, but I can tell he cares about Naru very deeply, and Neffy O'Sama strikes me as a really bad guy. I really doubt he has her best interests at heart. If she hangs around with him, she's going to get hurt, and she might never get over it. He's much too old for her anyway.

Usagi: [giggle] Oh, that's so funny, because Naru said the exact same stuff about you and Kunzite.

Zoi: [startled] Really?

Usagi: Yeah, she thinks he's really scary. She kept asking Neffy about him. If he's got a violent temper, or a history of domestic abuse, and all that. He assured us his brother likes to take things slow, so he's still days away from slapping you around. Mamoru got really upset and Naru almost cried, so Neffy laughed and told us he was joking and asked Naru to dance with him.

Zoi: Oh….I really don't think Kunzite wants to hit me…

Usagi: [giggles some more] Don't worry, Mamoru wanted to give you a call to make sure you were safe. But I told him it's obvious that Kunzite really loves you. From the sweet and gentle way he looks at you, I can tell he'd probably cut off his arm before he'd start beating on you.

Zoi: [smiles] Really?

Usagi: Ah-huh. He's a completely different person since he's met you, you know. He used to be so dark and angry-looking and didn't want to talk to anyone. Not even his own family. Ever since he met you, he keeps smiling like every day is Christmas.

Zoi: Ah, thanks, Usagi.

Usagi: No problem. Anyway, enough about you. Back to Mamoru and I. We got to talking about his family and how his parents died in a car accident and how it made him want to be a doctor since they had a really crappy HMO. He told me about his volunteer work at the old folk's home and I told him I'd like to go there some time to help him out. You know, he's really not that much of a jerk once you get to know him. We went on a moonlight stroll by the rose bushes. He held my hand the whole time. It was really romantic.

Zoi: [sighs wistful at the parallels between Usagi's day and his own] Was that where you had your first kiss?

Usagi: Nah, we had our first kiss in the back of his aunt's car on the drive back to my place.

Zoi: [still smiling] So what was it like?

Usagi: I'm not sure, to be honest… I missed the first part of it since I had dozed off, but the part I was awake for was very sweet and tender.

Zoi: [smile vanishes and is replaced by a look of fury] He made out with you while you were passed out drunk in the back of his aunt's car?

Usagi: Shut up. It wasn't like that! It started as just a very chaste and gentle goodnight kiss, but when I woke up I wanted more. It was so magical. The most romantic date I've ever been on. So what did you do yesterday?

Zoi: [blushes]

Usagi: Zoi, are you still there?

Zoi: Um… yeah…

Usagi: So what did you do yesterday?

Zoi: [getting flustered] Nothing.

Usagi: You did nothing?

Zoi: I …um… just lazed around outside to enjoy the sun.

Usagi: Did you hear anything more from Kunzite?

Zoi: [beet red] Um…well…

Usagi: You did, didn't you? Did he call to reschedule your trip to Seattle? Are you going to go?

Zoi: I, um…Oh, my dad just came home. We'll talk more tomorrow.

Usagi: Ok, see you tomorrow. We'll talk after class. And Zoi, next time there's a dance. You're going. And you're asking Kunzite. But you're coming with us anyway, even if he says no. Okay?

Zoi: [smiles] We'll see about that.