Chapter 9: A Midnight Interlude

Heliopolis was the high end city where everything ran on the grandiose, the overpriced, and the ridiculously ostentatious. It goes without saying that the residents in the city were multi-billionaires who owned property here and there, had access to all the highlights of a socialite right and left; it was even believed at one point that residents didn’t have grass on the their front laws but strips of hundred dollar bills – a rumor started by some edgy, middle-aged accountant from the neighboring city earning average wage.

Outsiders tend to drive around the area, whether to check if the lawns were indeed green with cash or admire the residences and estates, they were drawn. And who could blame them? Everything in Heliopolis was at its best. All year round, the houses are alive with décor, depending on the season: spring brings out the warm colors, summer the hot, fall the falling leaves that make the streets a picture for a Hallmark card, and winter with the lights and Christmas decorations.

Everything was extreme and never ordinary in Heliopolis. Including the extremely cold weather.

The December breeze was cool and crisp against Flay’s pale skin. At ten o’clock, the neighborhood was still alive with lights and Christmas spirit. She immediately noticed that Mrs. Turner with the adorable looking house on the street corner was very much alive with candy canes and colorful ornaments, and couldn’t help but smile as she passed by.

She must’ve been coated with four layers of wool when she came out that night. The vicious blast of cold warned her to take a scarf and gloves if she wanted to take a late stroll down the block or she’d be the next case of human icicle.

When she sighed, a white, puffy cloud emerged from her outtake of breath. It’s wasn’t that long ago when the weather was still friendly and permissible to short-sleeves and shorts. Now she was forced to bundle up in what feels like blankets of wrapping around her body. And judging by the weather, Flay predicted that snow would be coming soon.

Not surprising if it starts falling tonight, she thought as she looked from left to right before crossing the street. When she spotted the empty playground, she headed for the swings and occupied one of them.

There was something peaceful about the quiet surrounding the park that night. No sounds, no cars passing by, no voices, and no people. It should have been creepy, and Flay imagined that in any other neighborhood such an atmosphere would invoke feelings of caution, fright, and even the need to look over your shoulder from time to time to check for stalkers, muggers, or any assailant under the immoral and corrupt code. But here was different. It was peaceful and she knew for sure that no one would sneak up behind her with a gun on her temple. Such incidents haven’t happened in that area, though not to say it never will. A rich neighborhood is sure to attract negative forces, but right now Flay wasn’t worried about that. No, there were much more paramount things on her mind that being mugged.

Like the emotions that stirred in her belly whenever Riley Carmichael came in arm’s length with her.

She kicked the sand for a hard swing. Those emotions shouldn’t even be there. Any reason to be jumpy and anxious around Riley should have dissipated long ago when their relationship ended. No, Flay thought grimly, when he ended it. But somehow, they were making their way back to her system, making her jittery and nervous and…angry. This time around, the feelings didn’t make her warm and fuzzy inside. She shook her head. They were infused with bitter feelings over their break-up, over the aftermath of their broken relationship and friendship, over what could have been, and the hurt it all caused and still causes.

Flay had been ready to kick the sand a second time, when something caught her eye. A small, pink figure bounded up the sidewalk and into the playground. It was a little girl! A little girl wrapped in a hooded snow jacket and a wooly blanket climbed inside the slide and sat there motionlessly. For a moment Flay made no movement either aside from blinking profusely at the odd scene.

“Okay, that was weird.” She rose and slowly approached the yellow tube where the little girl sat in. When Flay lowered herself for a better view, she saw the little girl’s eyes had glazed up while holding a photograph in her tiny mittened hands.

She must’ve been only ten, Flay judged accurately while sizing up the girl. And very, very lonely.

“Hey there,” she greeted softly. The little girl’s shoulders were shaking. “What are you doing out here so late at night?”

A pair of tear-stained green eyes peered up under the pink hood. At first it didn’t seem as if the girl would say anything, maybe even ignore her, but when she finally did, her voice was soft and it cracked with unshed tears. “Waiting.”

“Waiting? Are you waiting for your parents to come home?”

“No, waiting.” She shook her head and brought the photograph closer. “I’m waiting for Jake to come back.”

At first glance, Flay only noticed a cute little boy smiling back at her. Automatically she assumed that he was the little girl’s brother or relative, but at a close look, she shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

She recognized the boy. Jake Morris was one of the boys that lived in her neighborhood. He was friendly, helpful and responsible (he delivered the morning paper every morning), and cheerful. And he also died of pneumonia three years ago. Everyone came to his funeral to pay their respects and sentiments to the family. Flay recalled bringing flowers and homemade goods.

And this little girl, crying over her lost friend, was present during the funeral. She was crouched behind her mother’s skirt, unaware and confused of what was going on. She didn’t doubt that the girl didn’t think he was still alive, but…

They were silent for a long time, then the little girl spoke up. “He…isn’t coming back, is he?”

Flay couldn’t find her voice, so she shook her head. “My mom said he was in a happy place.”

“I bet he is,” Flay’s voice came out as barely a whisper.

“I come here a lot. Jake told me that when I’m lonely, I should come here. He told me that before he went away. Do you think…do you think maybe I’ll be able to get over it in time?”

It was such a deep question from a ten-year-old that Flay felt her eyes sting as she sat on the sand. “I don’t think you ever get over these kinds of things. It’s not that simple. But I believe that in time, you learn to live with it and embrace the truth.”

The girl nodded, wiping at her face. “Have you ever lost someone before? Like a really special friend?”

Flay was about to respond with a ‘no’, when her mind flashed back to her and Riley. “I used to have this really close friend when I was little. We played a lot here on the playground,” she gestured with her hand. “Our families knew each other very well, so we saw each other a lot.”

“Did he go away too?”

Flay shook her head. “Not exactly. Over the years, we got separated, and we went on our different ways. He went to college, and I stayed here. You see, we’re three years apart, so we didn’t see each other eye to eye. Eventually our friendship just fell apart.”

After a few moments of silence, the little girl rose and hugged Flay. “I’m going home now.”

She’d risen too and offered her hand to the girl. “Want me to walk you home? I just live nearby, so it’s no big deal.”

It was a short walk home. The little girl, Kiki, she learned, lived in a pretty peach mansion. It was next door to the Morris’ residence.

Just before the girl disappeared inside her house, she turned to Flay and smiled. “You know when Jake and I used to fight, we’d make up by giving each other cookies. It always worked.” Then she was gone.

For a motionless minute, Flay stood outside the house, stunned. Then after a moment, she started her way back home.

X MAS GIG – 09

When Dearka parked his car in front of Yzak’s house, he thought that his worst nightmare – that he never thought of being until today – had come true.

Yzak came out first, huffing angrily at the sudden drop of temperature and glaring at the dark sky. Then the door opened again and out a beautiful brunette in a trench coat and suede boots. He recognized the boots because he bought them for his girlfriend on her birthday, and he recognized the girl because she was his girlfriend.

Dearka sat on the driver’s seat of his sports car, gawking at the two people by the front porch. What the heck…, was all he could process.

“You’re walking home this late?” he heard Yzak grumble – there was no other way to describe it – to Miriallia once he got out of the car.

“Well I would fly if I could Yzak – yes, that would be much more convenient. If only I had wings I could…Oh, Dearka!”

There was genuine surprise in her face when she turned to his direction, but shock soon gave way to joy as a smile slowly formed on her lips. The way her face lit up when she saw him had his pulse doubling, and although he wanted so badly to pull her close, he didn’t want an audience of his best friend either.

So he settled for stuffing his hands in his pockets. Where it was safe to put them. “Hey Mir, need a ride home?”

“Yes, but come over here for a minute.” She leaped into his arms, giddy and giggling. His arms wrapped instantly around her in a tight embrace, and he could have sworn he saw Yzak roll his eyes.

“I’m going back inside.”

Mir turned slightly in his arms to wave at Yzak. “See you tomorrow, Yzak! Oh, and don’t forget to bring the materials for class.”

Yzak’s reply was a grunt (as usual) as he turned to go back inside his house. When he was gone, Dearka turned his full attention on Miriallia.

He wanted to know why she was at Yzak’s house. It was no secret that Yzak isn’t very sociable and especially to the female species, so it puzzled him to think…unless it was a school project?

But Mir beat him to the question. “What are you doing here so late?”

That’s my line, he wanted to say. “Well, I thought I…” Crap. He couldn’t say that he wanted to see her because he hadn’t even known that she was there until he saw her come out of the house. He couldn’t fess up the real reason either; he could see now that would cause a disaster.

“I thought I left something at Yzak’s house, and I was thinking about whether I should go in or not. But then I saw you…”

Miriallia looked up at him in question, then her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, I was working on a school project with Yzak. He’s my lab partner in physiology – you remember right? Well, he left all of the materials at his house and the final project and report and model is due tomorrow, so we decided to finish it up after school.”

“You mean you’ve been here since school ended?”

“Supposed to be. I had to help Flay and Mia with some stuff before I got here. I imagine if I had gotten here sooner, we’d have finished sooner.” And he would never have come across Miriallia at all that day, Dearka thought distractedly. He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt her arms tighten around his waist. “What’s the matter?”

He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped himself when he realized they were still standing outside Yzak’s house. It wasn’t exactly the best way to discuss their relationship, and though he was sure Yzak wouldn’t dare or bother spying on them, standing outside his best friend’s house while cuddling with his girlfriend didn’t feel right.

“Let’s get inside the car. It’s cold and it’s too dark out.” He took her hand and guided them both inside his already heated car. After he had Miriallia settled in the passenger seat, he came around to his. “All right,” he said once he was situated inside the car. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Despite the thick coat she wore, Dearka noticed her brace for bad news. He cursed himself for causing her to feel that way, and while he knew it was better to get this out now that hold onto it, no matter how harmless, he didn’t know where to begin.

“Ah, listen…” Oh hell, how was he supposed to do this? “Mir, I–”

Something warm fell on his hands. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was Miriallia’s hands that held his. “Dearka, the past few weeks haven’t exactly been, well, pleasurable and momentous. You’re always going off someplace, busy with something after school, always working. But,” she added immediately before Dearka could interrupt. “I don’t believe that you’re doing anything fishy, so I won’t be mad at you. A little upset and worried, but not cold shoulder mad.”

Dearka felt the tension slide away from his shoulders as he laced his fingers with Miriallia’s. “I’m really sorry, Mir, for making you worry. I just wanted to work as much as I can now so by the time winter break hits, I’d have a bundle of day-offs.” That wasn’t exactly a lie, nor was it the entire truth.

“If that was all, then why didn’t you just say so? You just had to pull the mystery card and have us all gripping our seats in wonder as to what illicit escapade you’re in pursuit of.” But she laughed and smiled her easy smile that melted his insides. Everything was back to normal. And because it was…

“Had you gripping your seat, neh? I never knew just how badly I affected you, or excited you,” he added meaningfully when he tugged her close and aimed for her jaw.

“Dearka!” she reprimanded with sham gravity.

“Hmm…I must be that good if I’ve got you screaming my name only seconds after initial contact.”

After the umpteenth attempt to swat him away failed, Miriallia simply gave in to his cuddling and wrapped her arms around his neck, before their lips met in a tummy-tumbling, toe-curling kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, Dearka rested his forehead against hers, arms still wrapped around her in a secure embrace.

“You know, minus the fact that we’re canoodling outside Yzak’s house in a parked car, and that it may very well be forty degrees outside, this setting might not be so bad.”

Dearka let out a laugh. “Let’s keep this up another half-hour or so, and we’ll have him marching down here tapping on the tinted, might I add, windows.”

She laughed along with him, but the mirth quickly gave way to timid concern. “Are we okay?”

“Hmm?”

“Us. We’re still okay, right? Nothing’s changed between us, right?”

For a moment, he simply gazed into the gorgeous blue pools that smiled even though they were tinted with worry, and brightened even though they’ve been apart for only a week.

“We’re more than okay, Mir. I promise you that.”

X MAS GIG – 09

“Finally, it’s winter again!” Shinn yelled out so loud on the street that Athrun was sure his brother had woken up the sleeping neighborhood.

“Shinn, tone it down a bit, will you? The neighborhood is already half-asleep and you’re disturbing them.” As if on cue, Athrun pointed to a dog that started to bark as they passed by.

“Aw, he was dying to make some noise anyway. The suppression of fenced gates is too much for a fellow free-spirit to handle.”

“So you relate to dogs now?”

Shinn jumped along the sidewalk, bumping his soles as he leapt. “I relate to all bodies of independent and laid back nature,” he replied good-naturedly.

“More like volatile,” Athrun laughed as he watched Shinn take out an orange soda he brought home from the restaurant out of his pocket. He became so obsessed with it that he ended up taking five cans home.

He popped the tab on the can, let it fizz for a second before taking a gulp. “Hey, you never told me who you picked out for the Secret Santa.”

“It slipped my mind earlier.”

“All right then, tell me now.”

Athrun seemed to hesitate. From earlier, Shinn noticed that his brother was reluctant and guarded. He’d asked earlier who he got for Secret Santa, but Athrun merely gave him an answer that would pass off as evasive. Maybe if he hadn’t gotten distracted by the soda earlier he’d have gotten an answer. Who knows?

It wasn’t that Shinn was too interested in his brother’s Secret Santa. No, he could really care less, but it was the fluster that got his attention. His usually calm and cool brother had been antsy since last week. He’d thought about asking him directly, but it seemed too girly to “talk about feelings” with another guy, even if he was your brother.

And from the looks of things, he wasn’t gonna get an answer this time either.

Athrun was staring at something in the distance and when Shinn followed his gaze, he found himself looking at his all too familiar blonde friend.

“Cagalli?”

The blonde senior was walking from the opposite direction and carrying a load of colorful boxes that towered over her. At hearing her name, Cagalli tried to peer from the side, but doing so caused her to lose her balance and trip on the side walk.

Without thinking, Shinn charged forward with the ability of an Olympic runner and saved Cagalli’s fall with his left arm, using his right hand to catch one of the boxes that flew in the air.

“Are you all right?” Sitting down they were the same height, but standing – or at least he was standing as straight as he could with the weight he was balancing – he had a good three, four inches on Cagalli.

It took Cagalli a few seconds to regain composure. “Shinn, hey. What are you doing out here so late?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he said as he helped her to her feet. “Are all these boxes yours or what?”

“They’re Lacus’. I came over to her house to borrow some stuff for a project…only I didn’t think it’d be this heavy and burdensome.”

“Oh, did you need some help? MY brother and I can help you take these boxes home. I mean, you live around here, right?”

“Huh?” Cagalli turned to look at Athrun, who had picked up the rest of the boxes that fell on the ground and was standing next to Shinn. She blinked several times, as if barely realizing there was another person on the side walk. “Oh, hey there. Sorry, I didn’t notice you earlier.”

“It’s no problem. You were carrying boxes after all.”

The interplay was awkward, but then Shinn realized that he never bothered to ask if his brother was okay with the idea.

“Unless you’re too tired from work, big brother, then…”

Athrun shook his head, looking straight at Cagalli. “No, it’s fine. We can help her carry her things home. If that’s okay with you.”

Cagalli seemed hesitant at first, but eventually relented. “All right, if you guys insist. But I’m carrying my share of these three boxes.”

The walk to Cagalli’s house was both strange and a little awkward. Shinn was able to converse well with his friend because they walked side by side, but half-way through the travel he felt guilty for dragging along his older brother who remained silent behind them.

“What do you think, Athrun?” Shinn tried to bring him into the conversation about Cagalli’s project.

“Well, I’m not too big on home economics, but I’d say the idea is a little too impersonalized. If this was a project that reflected the student’s individuality, then it should contain more of those aspects rather than commercialized theme ideas.”

Cagalli’s eyes narrowed, but Shinn mistook this for deep thought. “Any suggestions?”

“How about some–”

“Here we are!” Cagalli suddenly burst out. She stopped in front of a sizable house in a middle-class neighborhood next door to the high ends. The light was still on in some areas of the household, but the neighborhood was already asleep. Cagalli turned to face them then, smiling brightly.

“Thanks again for the help. I can take it from here.” She told Shin and Athrun when they dropped off the boxes at her front porch.

“You sure you don’t want these boxes inside?” Shinn eyed the little tower sitting on a porch bench.

“I think I’m gonna leave them out here for now. Besides, I managed to carry them by myself for a while after all.”

“All right, if you insist. Good night then, I guess.”

“Good night! And thanks for the help.” But before Shinn could turn around and descend the porch steps, Cagalli threw her arms around him in a friendly hug, surprising him and Athrun.

When she pulled away, Shinn glanced at his brother and noticed that he had a gleam in his eyes that were alien and unfamiliar. But they were gone before he could take a closer look. It was probably just the lamp post.

X MAS GIG – 09

He drove down there for a reason; with every intention of knocking on the door and smoothing out the matters with his girlfriend. He never liked leaving problems unsettled. Kira took care of those problems as soon as they presented themselves – no room for expansion. That’s why he drove out to Flay’s house even this late hour. To do exactly that.

And yet he can’t bring himself to take the step forward. After almost thirty minutes of trying to muster the courage while trying to avoid looking like a stalker awaiting for its prey to emerge. The weather was showing signs of snowfall and it was ridiculously cold. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to the door. What was wrong with him?

The light in Flay’s room was dim, so either her night lamp was on or she’s sitting behind her desk doing homework. Some of the students at Archangel would probably find the prospect of Flay studying surprising, maybe even shocking. It wouldn’t startle him if they thought that she pays someone else to do the work for her, only because that is a misconception brought on by her slightly haughty behavior. But he knew better. He’s known Flay for a long time and in levels that others don’t.

So he knew better…what was he doing here? Why did that little episode at the cafeteria even occur? Flay always gets moody from time to time and today could have just been one of those days. What difference does it make that she was hanging out with Carmichael the day before?

Then it occurred to him: he was the one irritated that they hung out, because he was jealous. For the first time in their relationship he was feeling/felt jealous. Although it was his fault to begin with, Kira still didn’t like the idea of his girlfriend hanging out with another guy. Just like how any guy sees red when another guy checks out his girl…

So he was a normal boyfriend after all.

Torn between exasperation and amusement, Kira was just mulling over how his friends would get a kick out of this revelation when a car pulls on the driveway. Next door.

His lavender eyes scanned the vehicle: a sleek silver BMW that had a spotless exterior. The owner took care of his car, all right, because it gleamed under the moonlight like brand new. Kira scrutinized the car a moment longer, then turned to the owner.

“Nice ride. Engine’s sounds nice too from what I heard.”

“It runs pretty good. Though I could say the same for yours,” Riley Carmichael nodded to Kira’s sports car. “That one’s a beaut.”

“Thanks.”

Riley started to turn, but changed is mind. “It’s pretty cold out, and it’s getting a little late. Shouldn’t you be inside or something?”

Kira was always considered himself kind, sincere, and humble. But at the moment, he felt irritated by the older guy’s comment.

“I just came by to see Flay. Just checking to make sure she’s turned in,” Kira nodded to Flay’s window. The room was still the same as it was before, but the light dimmed a notch.

Riley was silent for a moment, then shook it off and locked his car. “I see. Well, good night then.”

Kira watched him walk away. Flay’s next door neighbor and ex-boyfriend.

“See you around.”

X MAS GIG – 09

Author’s Note: See? I am still alive (after a decade long absence)! Another chapter of this extremely prolonged holiday seasons’ fanfic is finally posted! I got a PM a few weeks back asking me when I was gonna update this story. I’d been so busy that at the time I hadn’t thought of my unfinished chapter sitting in my hard drive. Goes without saying that I didn’t reply either. Well, here’s your answer ;P