"What do you think of this one, Ame-chan?" Lina asked as she held the yellow dress in front of the mirror to inspect it. Then she turned to let her younger sister see.
Amelia sighed. Ever since her sister met that stuck-up rich kid, she seemed more and more self-conscious. "It looks fantastic. Just like that last time you wore it and the time before that."
Lina threw the dress onto the chair and glared at her sister. "You know, I was just asking for your honest opinion. And besides that, I think I gained a couple pounds over the holidays," Lina said as she examined her figure in the mirror.
Amelia threw a pillow at her. "Fine! I give up! Nothing looks good on you! Nothing ever will! Why don't you admit defeat and go naked to your work!" Amelia huffed as she stalked out of her sisters' room.
"Fine! See if I ask for your help ever again!" She called after she sister, and then slammed the door behind her.
She turned back to the dress and sighed. "I guess this'll have to do..."
Next Day
"Lina, you do wonderful work. You really have an artistic mind," Ms. Metallium praised as she looked over the new design for the company web page. "I esp. like the user interface you added. Crisp and clear. Just the way I like it."
Lina lowered her head a bit and blushed. She was still getting used to being complimented. "Thanks," she murmured happily. Lina worked for a small business of arts and crafts stuff. Ms. Metallium was considered a genius in her field, so good that she was said to rival Martha Steward so it was a great honor to be complimented by someone such as her.
Metallium was about to continue but was interrupted by Xellos bursting into the room.
"Mom I need some money. I - "
Ms. Metallium's glare cut him short. "Can't you see I'm in an meeting?"
Xellos glanced briefly at the blushing girl behind him before shrugging. "I really need some money Mom!"
Metallium sighed. "Fine, fine. Talk to my secretary." She knew it was best to give up the battle before it begun. She had raised a spoiled brat.
"Thanks Mom!" Xellos said as he kissed his moms cheek.
"Oh and bye, Lina-chan," he said with a wink as he left the room.
Lina turned a nice shade of red.
"Anyways, about the page." Metallium continued.
I think he liked my dress, Lina thought happily.
"Are you listening, Ms. Lina?" Metallium asked.
Lina snapped out of her daydreaming. "Of course!"
That night
"Oh Ame-chan! You should've seen it! He said 'bye' in that cool way and then he winked at me! He winked!" Lina exclaimed to her sister.
Amelia snorted to herself while Lina gushed on about her "experience". She couldn't see what her sister saw in that man. He was a dead-beat! Well, except for the fact that he had some three different college degrees and was considered a genius because of his IQ. Oh and he was said to be handsome by sum. Then there was the fact that his only parent is a millionaire.
But those things alone couldn't allow her forgive him for making her sister into such a zombie whenever he came around. She had never seen her sister act like such an idiot except around him. She remembered the office picnic where Lina would hide behind anything she could find while Xellos was around.
And besides that, she just didn't see it. It sickened her. But then, what did she know? She was only seventeen, hardly a mature adult like her sister. If she were in Lina's shoes, she'd forget all about Xellos and go steady with Zelgadis!
Zelgadis was the perfect man in her eyes. Smart, kind, handsome. Everything a woman would want! Plus he has been hopelessly in love with Lina since Elementary school. Amelia wished she could punch some sense into her sister.
Which reminded her... "What time is Zelgadis coming over tonight?" Amelia interrupted Lina.
Lina stopped and blinked before sending her sister a sly grin. "Why? All we're doing is studying math. Do you have a crush on him that I should know about?"
Amelia rolled her eyes. "Which one of us is the older sister? Obviously not a certain other person in the room."
Lina laughed before grasping Amelia in a chock hold. "Ah! It's so cute! My baby sis has a crush!"
"Lina. I. Can't. Breath." Amelia gasped.
Lina released her. "Sorry," Lina said grinning. "You know it's my job to know these things. I'm support to give you pieces of old sister wisdom. But you should forget about him. He's too old for you."
"Why do you care? Huh? Not that you like him! You have your hands filled with your Xellos!" Amelia shot back crossly.
Lina glared at her sister for a few long minutes before looking at the clock. "Anyway, he should be here anytime soon. Care to stay with us and learn Math 105 while you're at it?"
"Well, thank God! It'll be nice to have a bit of adult company for a change!"
Lina threw the pillow at her.
Meanwhile
Xellos sighed. Life was so boring now days. He wished something challenging would happen or even remotely different then his normal routine. Even this club, Club Ravenous, was boring.
"So, I take it nothing interesting has happened for you lately?" Val asked his companion. He enjoyed these outings with Xellos. Xellos seemed to be a magnet for girls but they seemed to be put off by his cool attitude. Naturally, they would flock to him instead. It was a win-win situation for Val.
Xellos sighed again. "There is this weird office girl who has this strange crush on me. Her name is Lina... but other then that, you're right on the nail."
"Then I'm sorry for you," Val murmured over his drink. Then an idea hit him.
"Hey, you say your life is so boring now?"
Xellos nodded.
"Well, I think I can make it more.. ahh... interesting with a little wager I've just thought of.." Val grinned.
Xellos's demeanor brightened and leaned closer to Val. The two friends had a long history of wagers and they never were anything "out of the ordinary".
Val's grin deepened. "Well, you know that office girl - Lina was it? - well..."