Luna leaned on the door frame and glared at the sleeping figure. "Lina, get up. You're going to be late for school."
The red head forced herself to groan. "I have a headache nee-chan. I don't feel well..."
Her sister paused before sighing. "Do you want me to cast a healing spell?"
Lina shook her head 'weakly'. "No, no. I don't think I'll go to school today. I don't think I'll live through it."
"Have you finished your exams?"
"Last week. Please, nee-chan."
"Alright, alright. I'll call up the school and tell them." She glanced at the alarm clock on Lina's desk. "I'm leaving for the cafe as soon as I do, ok? You can cook breakfast for yourself because I don't have time. See you."
Lina pulled the sheets over her head and sighed. She felt so...
So tired.
She closed her eyes and fell soundly asleep again.
"Zel!! Do you have your passport?"
"Don't forget to bring your confirmation letter and the reccomendation letters."
"You must have enough clothes to last you a year!!"
"Do you have your text books?"
"Underwear?"
"Pillow?!"
"Grandfather. No."
"But..."
Zel put down his suitcase. "I can pack myself. Now can everyone please get out of my room?"
...
"Don't forget your stationary, Zel..."
"And your laptop!!"
god, this was frustrating. Zelgadiss glanced at his watch. School would have just finished. Too late to go meet her at the gate today.
"Lina, don't tell me you're not going to school today again," Luna sighed.
"But nee-chan..." she moaned. "I feel so sick..."
"Then cast a healing spell!!"
"Nee-chan...."
"...Alright. But today is it. Tomorrow you're going to school. It's the last day before the vacation anyways."
"Thank you," she mumbled. Lina plopped back down into her pillow.
"And Lina, what is that ball of wool doing on the floor?"
"N-nothing."
"Make sure you pick it up later," she called as she hurried away.
A flash caught her eye and she turned her head to look at it. The sun had caught a reflection of her martial arts trophy. She smiled, and then frowned again. She had come first in that competition... in a tie with Zelgadiss. But there was only one trophy -- meaning only one person could take it.
She asked if he wanted to fight again for it.
He told her to just take it.
Sometimes I feel like such an idiot... she groaned silently as she stared at the ceiling. I wish that every single time that we had argued could be taken back...
She stared at the yellow pile of string still sitting on the floor.
Maybe... she thought, I should get something to eat.
The bell had rung 20 minutes ago. Most of the crowd of students were gone. They had waved good-bye, not knowing it would be their last words to Zelgadiss for a long time...
He turned to leave, hands stuffed annoyedly in his pockets. He must've missed her coming out earlier. Served him right for not being punctual...
"Sempai...?"
Zelgadiss' head turned at the familiar voice. It was the blonde that was always trying to interfere in their fights, telling them to stop fighting. The school grounds were empty save the both of them.
"Is your name... Sylphiel?" he asked hesitantly, turning completely to face her..
"No," she smiled. "it's Filia."
He recognized the name. The one who was dating Valgaav.
"Why weren't you at school these two days?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Had some things to do."
"Oh."
A moment of silence passed before Filia spoke again.
"Lina wasn't here either."
"Must be sick," he suggested in an uninterested manner.
Filia paused a moment before shrugging. "Yeah well. I guess you would know."
"Is that supposed to mean something?"
"No." And then with a smile, "Of course not. But I have to go now. See you!"
"Hey Filia?"
She looked over her shoulder. "Yes?"
He stared at the ground and shuffled his feet. "... You wouldn't happen to have her cell number, would you?"
"I would... if she had one."
He sweat dropped. "...then... her home phone number?"
She smiled with slight amusement on her lips then. "I do. But I wouldn't call her if I were you."
"Why not?" he frowned. does she not want me to?...
"Her sister doesn't approve of boyfriends."
"Are you suggesting that I am her boyfriend? Because I'm honestly not, Filia."
"I know. But her sister doesn't know that. Gourry nearly died the last time he walked Lina home."
"...are you serious?"
"If you don't believe me," she said thoughtfully, "you can always try. Oh, and by the way, her sister is the knight of Cephied."
"Hey."
Filia nearly jumped in surprise, and reflexively whipped her head back. "Val? Don't creep up on me like that," she scolded gently.
She put down the book she had been flipping through, and followed Valgarv out of the bookstore. White and red deocorations colored the street lights and store windows. She glanced up at him and stretched her arms. "It's almost Christmas," she commented innocently.
"I know."
Somehow, she liked his 'cool' attitude. But then his answer probably meant not to expect anything this time either. If he didn't give her anything for White Day or her birthday, Christmas wouldn't be an exception either.
"And," she started again, "I have done my good deed for the day. Lina and your friend Zelgadiss will be an item soon."
He smiled. "Really? How's that?"
"I told Zelgadiss that Lina's sister disapproves of boys, and what happened with Gourry last time."
He raised his eyebrow. "You mean how he commented on the differences in chest size and then Lina fireballing him?"
"...with a few differences and abstractions of course... why are you giving me that strange look?"
He put one hand in his pocket and the other around Filia's shoulder. "I don't think you helped them too much," he said exasperatedly.
"Why not? It would be more romantic if Zelgadiss found some other creative way of meeting Lina instead of just simply phoning her..."
"Such as?"
"Romeo and Juliet balcony scene?" she suggested.
"That's romantic?"
"Yes!"
"Hmm...." He suddenly noticed he was being dragged into a flashy pink store. The place was filled with all sort of large machines.
"Filia, where are we?" he asked. He sweatdropped as a group of loud, bubbly girls in uniform laughed hysterically as they walked by.
She smiled widely at him then. "Isn't this our first christamas together??"
"Yeah, so?"
"I want to remember it."
"...Are you hungry?"
"Are you changing the subject on purpose?"
"No, but I really am hungry."
Filia sighed. "This won't take more than five minutes."
She pulled his arm again and entered one of the 'machines'.
"What is this, Filia?" he asked exasperatedly. He tapped the screen in front of him uninterestedly. "Am I supposed to do something or what?"
"Well... You can lend me your wallet for a second..." Without his consent, she pulled it out of his school uniform pocket, and took out a few coins to pop in the machine.
"Is this a game...?"
"Not really..." she said as she 'analytically' pushed several buttons. "Okay!! Now just stand here, and look at the camera."
"Camera? You're making me take a photo?"
"Yes," she laughed. She put down her bag and climbed onto Val's back with her arms slinging over his shoulders.
"Oof... you're one heavy dragon..." he groaned as he balanced himself with her weight.
"Shuttup."
"I think I can see your tail."
She pinched him just as the camera light flashed.
Part 3 | Fanfiction