[Fiction][Thallus] Chapter 6: Tellat
This probably would have finished sooner if I didn't decide to totally revamp something, particularly the main character's general attitude. As a result, a lot of things got modified, and an entire scene got replaced 0.o
In any case, I would like to know if the characters are still more or less in character. They might have suddenly gone OOC on me, because of the adjustments I tried to make.
Oh yes, I also changed the chapter title.
Story: Thallus - An Alter Earth
First Chapter: ( Chapter 1: Merashi )
Previous Chapter: ( Chapter 5: Koshaye )
Chapter Title: Tellat
Tags: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Humor
Rating: PG
Leigh turned, scrunching up her nose. She'd had another pleasant dream, and was happy to have found no annoying interruptions, such as her alarm clock, or otherworldly jerks pulling off her blanket. She even felt rather warm, despite the changing seasons. She murmured a little to herself, realizing that the sunlight was in her face. It was much more agreeable being woken up by the gentle touch.
She yawned a little, stretching as she opened her eyes...
...And promptly pushed Allie off her bed again.
"Ow!!"
Apparently, Etienne was still laying directly below her bed, again.
"Could you stop that?!"
"First tell her to stop that."
"Ungh..." Allie mumbled in her sleep as she turned over, "Falcon..."
Leigh choked back the laugh that had formed in her throat. The sight of Etienne, wide-eyed and panicked, was a great enjoyment. After all, Allie had snuggled closer, and had even wrapped an arm around him.
"You two look cute..." Leigh commented, unable to hold back the giggle that came with it.
"This... is... so... GROSS..." Etienne clenched his teeth. "Get... her... OFF... me!!"
"Mmm?" Allie's eyes fluttered open as she yawned.
Then she paused.
Allie and Etienne stared at each other for a few seconds...
...Etienne flew across the room.
"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME??!!!"
"Would you two please refrain from speaking at such high volumes?" Bertram complained from where he was reading.
Allegra returned a loud retort, one that Leigh couldn't make out. Etienne had recovered, defending himself loudly. Bert merely held his head, ignoring them in favor of his book.
Leigh only laughed a little more. She finally sobered up a little, and sat up to retrieve her clothes.
They had been kind enough to follow her rules, but their relationships were still the same. Leigh realized that there was not much she could do about that.
To be honest, she could possibly be getting used to the craziness. Somehow, they even put her in even higher spirits than before, when she woke with only a smile from good dreams about a gang of friends, and a particular dream boyfriend.
Yes, reality really is suddenly more interesting than dreams. And that could even be an understatement.
For now, it was Monday. Her suspension was over and she had to get back to school. And for that, she was grateful. She wasn't sure she could survive another few days alone with them. She did enjoy her time with them, but having no respite was definitely going to send her to the nuthouse. She needed her quiet time (and it was funny to think that she could now consider class as 'quiet time').
"I told you again, there is no way I would do that to a brat like you! Even I have good taste."
"What did you just say?! I dare you to say it again!!"
Even if she had to return to school, just so that she could have some time away, then she would gladly take it...!
-----*-----
The day went by quickly, but still, Leigh was quite satisfied. She actually welcomed the time 'alone' and felt she was ready to return to the insanity at home, stronger than before.
It was finally the last period. Leigh hoped she had taken enough notes to have caught up to all her classes. She was grateful that she hadn't missed any exams, or else she would have had to take the make-up tests... or worse, not be allowed a grade for them at all.
Leigh left her classroom, checking through her bag. She realized she was missing a book for her last class of the day, and decided to pass by her locker to check if it was there.
Then, she remembered that she wasn't really completely alone.
Etienne yawned behind her, "Are you going to take long?"
"No..." she grumbled, her good mood dissipating.
It was strange, really. When she arrived at school, Allie and Bert had separated from them, making their way to the same clearing (Allie promised she'd show Bert the way). She was happy with their choice, except that Etienne still followed her to her classroom. Unfortunately for her. She was grateful at least, that he waited outside her classrooms instead of following her in and distracting her, but still...! He was a bad trail for her as she walked to her classes.
"Why do you still follow me around anyway...?" she mumbled under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear. "You'd rather be with Bert, won't you?"
"Of course. But you are a fascinating subject on the female species. You are under observation."
"Great. So I'm still your science project."
Etienne snickered, "Yeah, much like that."
Leigh rolled her eyes as she opened her locker. Just as she did, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. She glanced in its direction, giving it a surprised look.
Before she could react, Etienne swooped down to pick it up. "What's this?"
Leigh retrieved the book that she needed and closed the locker door, giving Etienne a suspicious look.
He scanned the heading on the fold. Then, he made an over-exaggerated squeal, dramatically putting a hand to his cheek, "Maybe it's a love letter from a girlfriend or something."
"A what??"
"She probably put it in the wrong locker... Or maybe not..."
Leigh reeled a hand back. Etienne nearly flew across the corridor, but he was able to keep his balance, barely. Leigh retrieved the folded note from where it had fallen and realized that her name was indeed written on it.
"What in the world......?" she murmured. She unfolded it slowly, and started to read.
Leigh Ashby,
I had heard that you've come back to school so I thought that this would be the perfect time.
Leigh held in a breath. Her heart skipped a beat. She was unable to believe what she was reading. But it couldn't be! Things like this only happened in stories or movies! She scanned down the note further.
I never had the opportunity to talk to you and tell you how much I admire you. Despite what others say, I know that there is definitely more to you than it seems. And that is why I would like to know you better. Would you care to meet me this evening at the Grind by 7'o clock?
I would understand if you won't be there. But I hope that you will find the chance to come. And at last, we shall meet and perhaps even become friends.
Leigh suddenly felt very dizzy. A mix of thoughts and emotions overwhelmed her. She wasn't sure what she wanted to think, her mind clouded with both elation, for being the subject of such an occurrence, of thinking who it could be, and dread, not quite sure if she should really believe in it.
But as she read it again, she felt that she wanted to give in to the elation, no matter how much her mind told her not to...
A very unwelcome voice cut into her thoughts.
"You've got to be kidding."
Etienne nearly flew across the corridor again.
"Even you are not going to ruin this for me, Etienne." Leigh muttered as she headed toward her next classroom.
Then even her irritation dissipated, as she continued to float through the air.
-----*-----
"Wow!! Really?!"
"YES, really!" Leigh giggled, "It's so cool!!"
Elation had definitely taken over by the time she reached the clearing behind school to meet up with Allie and Bert before heading home. The rush of emotion was much due to Allegra, who was instantly thrilled about the 'secret admirer,' so very cheerful about it, that even Leigh couldn't help bubbling even more over the incident. Allie's energy was just so catching.
Allie bounced up and down, as they walked, higher than a regular bounce, thanks to her powers. Her pigtails even bounced up and down with her. "I'm sooo jealous!! Hey, do you still have the letter? May I see it?!"
"It's a wonder she doesn't get her head caught in the branches of the tree," Etienne muttered.
Leigh shushed him quickly as she took the note from her pocket. Etienne just groaned, lagging behind to walk by the friend that he felt was the sanest at the moment.
Allie sighed dreamily after reading it, "If only I could get something like this from Falcon..."
Etienne scoffed, "Oh right. How could you hold on to that for so long?"
Allie stuck out her tongue and conjured up a wall between them. She eagerly turned back to Leigh, "So, are you gonna meet up with him?"
"I don't know..." Leigh confessed. "I'd really like to though!"
"I do not understand how the female can take pleasure in receiving such an item," Bert mused. "It's quite... oh, I just don't understand..."
Etienne snorted a little, "Guess even you can't get them, eh, Bert? I doubt any guy can."
They both continued to watch aimlessly at the two girls, who continued to gush over the anonymous letter.
"I wonder what he's like..." Leigh thought aloud. "I wonder what he looks like. I hope he's as cute as Conner...!"
"Conner? Who's that?"
"Oh, here... I think I still have a picture of him..." Leigh fished her notebook out of her bag. She was glad to find that she still had the clipping of him from when he appeared in the school paper.
"Wow! He is cute!" Allie giggled again. "Although," she let out an extravagant sigh. "I doubt he could ever take Falcon's place in my heart."
"For all you know, the guy's a joker."
Etienne chose this moment to interrupt. Leigh felt her hair stand on end as he began to voice out the exact worries that she had been hiding beneath her excitement, the ones she had forgotten as she amiably chatted with Allie.
"Are you sure that the letter's real?" Etienne asked, "It could be someone's katoupy."
"Ka-wha?"
"A hoax. A prank. A trick. A joke."
"Oh," Leigh closed her eyes, trying to block out his words. She wanted to enjoy the moment for as long as she could, even if it went against her higher sense. What was wrong with being happy about having a secret admirer anyway? Especially her! Leigh Ashby, the nobody!
The thought made her a little sick to the stomach. That was exactly why she should be worried, wasn't it? But then she shook her head. "Look, what do you know, anyway? It's not like you actually saw the person who put it in there."
"I mean it," Etienne rolled his eyes, "Do you really think that that kind of letter will not be something that people will use to get a laugh?"
Allie scowled at him, "Hey, Etienne! Stop messing this!"
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he muttered, folding his arms.
Leigh refused to give in, convincing herself he was only saying those things to get to her. She stood up again, taking back her notebook and the letter from Allie. "Come on, Allie, let's just go on ahead."
Etienne sighed and Bert only chuckled a little.
Leigh pouted, deciding that it just wasn't fair. After months of lethargy, then a few weeks of pure insanity, something finally happened... Something that promised good things, if it was right. Etienne didn't have to ruin it!
Or maybe he's right. Maybe I'm just deluding myself.
She continued to shake that thought out of her head, even as she picked up the pace. Pretty soon, she had arrived home, ushering everyone in as soon as the door was open. They disappeared up the steps as Leigh checked to see if either of her parents was home.
She found her mother in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee as something delicious cooked behind her.
"Leigh! How was your day back at school?"
Leigh set down her bags, shooing the others to go ahead of her. She skirted around the question, and decided to get straight to the point, "Um, mom... I'm going to head to the Grind later for dinner. Is that okay?"
"Hm? What for?"
"I'm going to meet someone from school there."
Her mother frowned a little, "Are you sure you don't need to catch up to your assignments?"
"I promise I'll do them. But can I just please go tonight?"
"Well... all right then. If you're sure. Make sure you do well, though."
"Thanks Mom!!" Leigh hugged her. "You're the best!!"
She left the kitchen, definitely in better spirits. However, her path up the stairs was blocked by a large shadow, quickly dampening her good mood.
"Get out of my way, Etienne."
"Use your sense for a minute." It seemed that he completely ignored the order. "Even you can't be as idiotic as Allie."
"What's so idiotic about it?" But even she knew those reasons herself, even as she tried to get past him.
"Well let's think for a moment... There's a huge chance this guy is just someone who wants to laugh at you for believing in something like this."
"And there's also a huge chance that it isn't, and is really sincere!"
"No, really. If the guy's not a jokester, how are you sure it's not someone you hate?"
"Well, it sure can't be you. So that isn't possible!"
"What if he's a jerk?"
"You're the biggest jerk around here so anyone else will be a consolation."
"What if he's not cute like you want?"
"What if he looks like yo-...?"
The sentence trailed off in her mouth. Leigh blinked a little as she stared at the boy in front of her. She only noticed then that Etienne actually didn't look bad. In fact, he actually looked rather......
She quickly shook her head, not finishing the thought, shuddering as she realized in slight loathing what she had just been thinking.
"What if..."
"Look, just give it up, Etienne!"
And she ran up the rest of the stairs, leaving Etienne... and hopefully, her own doubts behind.
When she made it into her room, only Allie was there. She closed the door behind herself and leaned against it with a sigh.
"Etienne?" Allie asked.
Leigh only responded with a groan.
"Is he getting to you?"
"... Well, he's adding onto what's already there."
"Oh... really...?"
She sighed, and finally admitted to her, "Um... I'm happy and all, but I really do have doubts. It doesn't help that Etienne's been voicing them all out."
"Oh, but why...?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you have doubts?"
"Don't you? I mean, I really don't know who did send the letter! It could be anyone! What if it's a dweeb? Or someone I don't like? How could I politely turn them down without making them feel bad? Or worse, what if it really is just a joke? And I'll end up just humiliating myself?"
Allie put a finger to her own cheek, pondering Leigh's words. Finally, she shrugged and said, "Hm, well... I think it'll be all right."
Leigh looked up at Allegra's reassuring smile. She only smiled even more, "I'm pretty sure it will be."
"... How do you know?"
"Hm... Gut feeling!"
Leigh winced. Still, it made her feel a little better. She straightened, nodding, "Well, at the least, I've got to wear something nice."
"Of course you do!!" Allie agreed.
Both of them moved to start rummage through Leigh's clothes when the door opened again. Leigh felt her irritation levels rise again as that annoying voice spoke again.
"Who said I wasn't right and that the writer of the letter is female?"
Leigh stopped ruffling through her closet and turned to face Etienne. She had had it, listening to his skepticism. "You know? You've been bugging me ever since I got that letter!! Do you always have to spoil my fun?!! Are you so depressed with your own life that you want me to be sad too?! I finally get something that I've wanted to happen and I'm not going to let you or anyone mess it up!"
Etienne blinked in shock. He sighed, "All right, I'll shut up."
"Thank you," Leigh gave him a satisfied look before pulling out a blouse and examining it.
"Fortunately, Leigh," Bert cut in. "Observing the populace of your school, I think it would be safe to assume that the probability if that letter being a katoupy is not very high."
"See?" Leigh gave Etienne a triumphant look.
"Unfortunately, there is also a high probability that you shall be encountering a person that you do not desire. Rather, it is highly possible that your encounter will be unsatisfactory to your likes and tastes."
Etienne looked triumphant in return. Leigh faltered a little.
"Oh don't listen to them, Leigh!" Allie countered. "What do they know?!"
Etienne scowled at her, and Bert only sighed, shaking his head in resignation. Leigh gave Allie a weak but appreciative look. Allie's smile brightened. "Here. I think this is good!"
Leigh felt her spirits lift even more, "That one would be great!"
Allie grinned as Leigh took down the dress. She started to take it off its hanger, when she paused and glanced at the two boys. She frowned a little and gave them a stern look.
Neither of them moved.
"I'm going to change!" she finally said. "Do you mind?"
Etienne shook his head, "No! Not at all."
"Get out of the room!"
"Oh!" Bert exclaimed, "That is what you are implying! We'll leave!"
"Out!!"
-----*-----
After Leigh and Allie had thrown them out (almost literally, thanks to Allie's telekinesis), the two boys camped downstairs in the living room, waiting for the 'big moment'. Though neither of them was happy about it. Or one of them wasn't, at least.
"I mean it, Bert!" Etienne grumbled. "What's the big deal?! Both of them are all excited like it's the best thing of Thallus."
Bertram merely shrugged, "Though I also find it hard to see why there is all this commotion about an anonymous letter... I suppose if we cannot understand them, all that we can do is to just let them be."
"Ugh. Women."
His friend gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder but before he could say anything more, they were interrupted. At that moment, Allie flew down the stairs, and conjured up balloons and streamers and flowers around. Only Bert turned his head to look up at her.
"Tada!!" she called out with a flourish. "Presenting!! For your pleasure!! Our lovely Leigh Ashby!!"
"Allie!" Leigh's voice sounded embarrassed from further up the stairs, "You don't have to do that!!"
"But it's more fun!!" Allie grinned.
"It's not that big a deal..."
"That's what I've been saying..." Etienne grumbled.
Leigh came down after much hesitation. She attempted to smooth out her skirt a little more before turning to the guys, "I need an honest opinion from members of the male species. And you are two extremes that I can count on. What do you think?"
"Very nice!" Bert smiled, giving her an okay sign.
"Thanks, Bert!"
Etienne rolled his eyes again, before finally turning to look.
He seemed to start a little, in surprise.
"... What?" Leigh asked, suddenly nervous.
He blinked a few times. He shrugged, "You actually look better than usual."
That was when Leigh stepped back in surprise. Coming from Etienne, that was definitely a compliment.
She finally recovered after a moment, scratching the back of her head. "Um... Th... thanks."
Etienne raised an eyebrow, and turned away again.
Leigh felt herself recover a little more. "Um. I guess this means I'm going."
"Can I come too?" Allie asked.
"I guess so..." Leigh responded after a little thought. "As long as you go when they arrive."
"Of course, I will!"
"I'm coming too..."
Leigh got her second surprise, "Why?"
Etienne shrugged, "I wanna see you fall flat on your face when you see that I'm right."
She groaned, "Right, I should've known."
"Coming, Bert?"
"No, thank you. I have just begun another interesting read."
A read that seemed to be another historical essay, Leigh mused. But she didn't say anything aloud as Allie tugged on her arm.
"Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's get going!"
-----*-----
The trip was quick. Soon, Leigh found herself in the small waiting area of the Grind. She checked the other customers in the café and found noone she recognized. There still weren't too many people, she realized.
Well, at least that means not many people will be here in case I do totally embarrass myself.
She mentally slapped herself, Cool it, Leigh. Don't think like that now. That's exactly what Etienne wants to happen. And you don't want him to have the pleasure of being right.
She sat down and crossed her legs, taking a quick look towards the wall clock. It was close to 7'o clock. He'll be coming soon.
"I'll bet you the guy doesn't come."
"Shut up, Etienne."
"Yeah, Etienne. Stop making it less fun."
"You call this fun?"
"Noone asked you to come, you know," Leigh reminded him, ignoring the nagging feeling in her stomach. She shook her head, and glanced up at the clock again. It had just turned to exactly seven.
She turned, leaning over the window and watched a couple pass them by.
And waited.
"This is really turning out to be a dud after all."
"Just you wait, Etienne!" Allie said, "The guy's gonna come and he's gonna be way different from what you've been saying!"
"It's okay, Allie," Leigh murmured. She was starting to think that maybe Etienne was right, though she didn't want to admit that just yet.
Allie seemed to disagree with her. She floated around, checking outside every so often to see if anyone from the school was coming up the walk. Etienne was just leaning against the wall near them, tilting his head back and forth to amuse himself. Leigh started playing with a lock of her hair, twirling it around her finger, anxiously watching the door.
And waited.
"Don't you think you've been stood up?"
Leigh tried to laugh. "Maybe he's just running late!"
And waited.
For another thirty minutes.
"I told you so," Etienne muttered as Leigh finally made her way out of the café.
"You don't have to rub it in," she grumbled, fixing her bag.
She had to admit that she wasn't too surprised. That didn't mean, though, that she still wasn't downhearted nor embarrassed about it. She was grateful that noone she recognized from school had ever arrived, or else she might not have been able to live it down!
Even worse was Allie behind her, floating a little lower than usual. The blonde offered a weak smile, "Um, maybe he just had something to do! I'm sure there's a good reason."
"It's really okay, Allie!" Leigh forced a laugh. "I probably just should've known better." After a little thought she sighed, "Well... Actually I did, but... "
"You were caught up in the joy that you were finally noticed after being a nobody forever?"
"Don't start sounding like Bert," Leigh pleaded him. "I'm sure he's going to have a say in this too."
Etienne rolled his eyes for the hundredth time the entire day, "Geez, girl. It isn't the end of everything."
Leigh lifted her head to look at him, then nodded. "Yeah. You're right. Except that I'm still stuck with you guys."
"There you go! ... Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
She attempted a smile again, then moved on ahead to lead them home.
That still didn't mean, though, that she didn't feel that wonderful.
-----*-----
"You're back early," Bert commented as the three returned. He put aside his book and watched them, as if waiting for a report.
It was Etienne who replied before the others, with a matter-of-fact tone, "He didn't show. Like I said."
"I said don't rub it in, Etienne," Leigh murmured. "I already feel stupid."
Etienne seemed to be about to say something else when Bert took his shoulder. He glanced back and Bert only shook his head. Leigh appreciated the gesture, hanging up her coat before leaving to tell her mother that she was home early.
"Do not make it worse for her," Bertram murmured.
"She's a big girl. She can handle it."
"You're just horrible!" Allie cried out before storming off up the stairs.
Bert gave Etienne a questioning glance. The latter groaned, "What?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all," he looked up again to see Leigh pass them, on her way up the stairs. "Leigh?"
"I'm fine," she answered automatically. "I guess this means I get to do that extra homework."
"Perhaps, we were wrong, and there was merely a proper rationale behind the absence of your acquaintance."
"You don't have to say anything, Bert! I'm really fine!" she gave them a large grin. "See? I'm over it!"
Bert sighed, "If you say so. I will take my leave then." He picked up his book and left them, headed to her father's den.
Leigh continued up the stairs, determined to return to her misery in peace.
"... Look, sorry."
The footsteps paused. They slowly returned as Leigh peeked down again to stare at the last occupant of the room in surprise. "... Did you... just......?"
"Don't make me say it again," Etienne muttered.
"... But... what for?"
"...... Dunno. For what happened, I guess."
"It wasn't your fault." Still, Leigh felt appreciative of the statement.
"And... I guess for making it worse."
She shook her head, and finally offered a more sincere smile. "It's okay. You were saying what was true. I... guess I really was thinking the same thing, that it wasn't for real," she confessed. "I just... didn't want to admit it. I really wanted to believe, even for just a moment, that I really wasn't Leigh Ashby, the invisible... the nobody... and that maybe..." She sighed again, "Maybe someone really did notice me."
Etienne was quiet for a while. Leigh lowered her head. She wasn't sure why she'd said that to him. He probably was just going to make fun of her more, or tell her it all was true. She didn't want to hear it, if so.
She was about to head back up the stairs again, when his voice stopped her again.
"... If it means anything, they probably don't think you're a nobody."
She looked up at him.
"... You know," he continued. "Bert and Allie. They probably don't think you're a nobody."
After a moment, she smiled, "Thank you."
Etienne blinked, "... No problem. I guess it's my job to make sure you don't lose all your sense."
"Oh really?" her smile turned up as she let a twinge of amusement touch it.
"Of course. Who else is going to put up with us?"
"Noone, which is why you guys have to put up with me, too."
"Great," Etienne groaned.
Leigh watched his face, then smiled again. "... Thanks. Really."
"Whatever, just don't get too sappy on me."
"I won't," she laughed a little, finally starting up the stairs to her room. Her spirits had indeed lifted, and she was surprised for the reasons why. It seemed even Etienne had moments of kindness, albeit, twisted.
She was certain that she was ready to hit the books now, and that she was ready to leave this entire incident behind her.
-----*-----
"You seem to be taking this rather well, Leigh."
Leigh glanced back at Bert and gave him a light chuckle. "I guess so."
"I'm so glad, Leigh! But still...!"
She took down another book, making sure it was the right one before closing her locker. "It's nothing, Allie. I'm still a little sore, I guess. But," she shrugged. "Whatever, right?"
Etienne snorted behind them. Both Allie and Bert blinked a little at him.
Leigh gave them all an amused smile, "Anyway, I have to get to class now. Free period after this, I can probably hang out with you guys then."
"Can I go with you this time?"
Leigh winced and Allie lightly stamped a foot, dejectedly. Leigh pouted a little herself, "All right, but ask before you touch anything!"
Allie looked aghast, "Of course I will!" and Leigh only laughed at her.
The two girls went off ahead towards Leigh's classroom. Etienne was about to start leaving the school building towards their hideaway when he noticed Bert's questioning glance.
"... What?"
"Do we owe Leigh's better mood to you, my friend?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Bertram shook his head, but still there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Let us make our way outside, shall we?"
"Yeah, just......" Etienne paused as his friend's expression suddenly changed. "... Bert?"
Bert started a little, looking up at Etienne again. After a moment longer, he lifted a hand, and pointed to where the two girls had just been standing. Etienne frowned and followed the gesture.
And was taken aback by what he saw.
"Is that......?"
"I believe it may be."
-----*-----
"I told you, Leigh! I told you!"
Leigh winced, not sure what to say. She wasn't even sure what to think as she glanced again at the folded paper. Apparently, while she was in class, someone had slipped yet another note with her name into her locker. She reluctantly opened it to read its contents.
I apologize for not arriving yesterday. Did you go? If you did, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. But I had something to do last-minute for my parents and by the time I had finished it, it was already too late for me to meet you.
Again, I am terribly sorry for keeping you. I would like to make it up to you by meeting with you tonight instead. At the same time, and the same place. I hope that you will not hold anything against me and find it within yourself to arrive. I understand, if you don't.
Leigh stuffed the letter into her backpack. She shut her locker and confronted her three companions. When none of them said anything, she turned to Etienne. "Well, would you like to say something? Like 'That guy just won't give up! Oh! That's right, it's not a guy, it's a woman! Or if not, he's that geeky toad over there.'"
He still didn't say a word. Leigh tilted her head, curiously at him. But instead, it was Allie who spoke up, "So, are you going, Leigh?" she asked, hopefully.
"I... guess... I don't know, really. I just thought last night I was going to put this behind me. So much for that, huh?"
"Oh, but you have to go! He said he was sorry. It seems he really wants to meet you!"
"Yes, but..."
Leigh said nothing more, about to turn away from them, when she nearly bumped into someone. She looked and when she realized who it was, she felt a smile come to her face, even though she knew that a certain someone must have scowled ten times more than usual.
"Chen, hi..."
Chenoa seemed startled. "Oh, Leigh."
"Wasn't that the late bell? What about class?"
Her friend seemed to glance around at first, a little distractedly. Leigh frowned, tilting her head as she waited. Chenoa eventually replied, "Our teacher's out of town, and there's no substitute. What about you?"
"Free period." Leigh rolled her eyes as Etienne looked as if he were making a face behind Chenoa's back. The other two, on the other hand, seemed to be confused. She remembered just then that neither of them had met Chenoa before. She gave them both apologetic looks, mouthing that she would explain later, and hoping that they would understand.
"So, you pulled that alarm last week?"
Leigh's attention quickly returned to Chenoa. "I didn't!"
Chenoa shrugged. "That's what I heard."
"Doesn't mean it's true," Leigh sulked at her.
"Well, fine, if you say so. People must be picking on you for it."
"Huh...? Oh, no... noone has. Actually, I just got a note in my locker yesterday. Someone wanted to meet me at the Grind."
Chenoa looked genuinely surprised, "Someone left you a note?"
"Yeah, unsigned and everything. I guess a secret admirer type of thing."
"That is so..." Chenoa paused.
"Dumb?" Leigh offered before she could say anything. "I guess it was. I went, against all logic, but noone was there. Thank god. I don't know what I would've done if it really was just a prank."
"... Of course," Chenoa nodded. Leigh glanced at her, and realized that Chenoa seemed to be preoccupied by something, or else, completely uninterested. She supposed she didn't blame her. The story must have sounded so lame, especially to someone like Chenoa.
"Well, I thought I'd just forget all about it," she continued.
"You probably should," her friend agreed.
Leigh ignored the way Allie stamped her foot and the way Etienne smirked at them. "I wanted to, but I got another letter today."
Chenoa visibly wrinkled her nose, "Another one? But why?"
"Whoever it was said that they were going to try to show up tonight instead."
"So you're not going, of course?"
"Yeah... after a while, I thought it must have been a joke after all."
"Probably..."
Leigh nodded at her, about to make her way to their hideaway when she heard Chenoa speak again.
"Besides... Who in their right mind would be interested in you, anyway?"
Leigh froze. It was such a quiet murmur, so low that Leigh almost didn't hear. Somehow, she felt that it was something she was not meant to hear at all. Her fingers turned a little numb. She turned to look more properly at Chenoa, but her friend wasn't looking at her, trying to pick things out of her bag.
...... Friend...?
"Is there anything else, Leigh?" Chenoa asked. "I need to get going."
"... No... Nothing else. Thanks for... the advice."
"Of course, what would you do without it?"
Leigh felt herself numb even more, even as Chenoa waved absentmindedly and walked away. She shook her head, trying to figure out if she really had heard the words. But the pain was still there, and she struggled to fight back tears.
Etienne was looking at her, and she did not even need him to speak to know what he was thinking. She just held up a hand to silence him before he could say anything. Thankfully, Etienne decided to comply, for once. She wasn't too lucky with the others.
"Leigh, who was that...... that..." Allie trailed off.
"A... a friend..."
Bert frowned at her response. "What she said was not very friendly, was it?"
"... No," she said quietly. "No, it wasn't."
And she thought, as she walked down out of the hall, what if there was really some truth to what Etienne had first said to her about Chenoa?
-----*-----
"What are you going to do?"
"I already warned her about that little friend of hers."
"Not about that," Bertram shook his head. "What of the meeting this evening? What shall you do?"
"Oh, that? Nothing, of course," Etienne said bluntly.
"You must do something."
"Hey! It's not my business!"
"Perhaps you should at least tell her."
"Why do I have to do it? Why can't you?"
"Because... Oh I don't know. It will be better if she hears it from you. Do you believe that Allegra would be capable if convincing her?"
Etienne shrugged, "Probably not. She doesn't know who the person is."
"But, you do."
"Why don't you say something?"
"She will believe you more."
"Why?!"
"Because you are blunt, frank and rather outspoken. You say what is on your mind and therefore, most of the time it is either the truth or your own honest opinion."
Etienne's eyes perked up, "So you mean when I say that Leigh is ugly and Allie is a brat, it's true?"
"I said could also be your honest opinion."
"Damn."
Neither boy said anything more, as Bert threw his arms in the air, exasperated. Etienne folded his arms across his chest, leaning back further into the couch.
Soon enough, someone came down the stairs to join them. It was Leigh.
"Leigh? You are not dressed?" Bertram observed.
"Hm? Oh, of course not. I'm not going..."
As she said the words, Allegra stormed down the steps, a trail of dead flowers following her. Leigh tried to laugh, "Allie, don't be so mad."
"Why don't you want to go?!" Allie exclaimed, more flowers wilting around her. "You still have about ten minutes to change your mind and change into something nice!!"
"Well..."
"Yeah, why don't you?"
Leigh jumped at the sound of Etienne's voice. She shook her head, "We both agreed that it was useless, right?"
Etienne scoffed, "Well, you should go..."
"Wh-why?!"
"Because you are interested in short ugly toads with warts and pimples all over their faces. With big hideous glasses and overly combed hair," he smirked, "Which is why I don't see any good reason why you shouldn't go."
Allie cut in, her voice a light growl, "Shut up, Etienne!"
"Yeah," Leigh glowered at him, "I already said I wasn't going! There's really no point!"
"Or are you afraid that maybe it's that Conner guy and he's stuck-up and rude, unlike what you've always been thinking of him."
"Don't you say that about Conner! I know for a fact that he's a really nice guy, unlike you! And besides, I told you, I don't want to go!"
"But don't you want to meet the one of your dreams? Oh I'm sure she'll be pretty with a slender figure and a... Oh wait!" he put a hand to his mouth in mock surprise, "That's my taste..."
"Why do you still have to make fun of me?!" Leigh snapped at him. "I'M NOT GOING!!"
She promptly turned around and started making her way back up to her room and away from Etienne and his horrid accusations. Allie started hurrying after her.
"So is that it? You're not going to go, and just wonder what would have happened if you'd gone? That it would just haunt you, not knowing who the little gnome was?"
She stopped. Allie nearly bumped into her but managed to stay upright. Leigh murmured a quiet apology before turning back to Etienne as he continued.
"And thus, prove to yourself, and to that brat that she was right, and that there was no way anyone, not even they, would be crazy enough to like you."
The words ignited a small fire. Leigh clenched and unclenched her fists, remembering her own skepticism, Etienne's insults, and most of all, the quiet murmur, the statement that she was not meant to hear.
She straightened, her hands on her hips as she declared. "You know what? I don't care. I don't care what you say, I don't care what anyone else says, I don't even care whoever it is that's going to show up! I'll go... Not so that you or anyone can make fun of me, but so I can see for myself what this is all about."
"So can we go back upstairs?!"
"Yes, Allie, we can go back."
Allie let out a whoop as she took Leigh's arm and proceeded to drag her back up to the room to find a new outfit.
Etienne sighed and plopped down beside Bert. "Happy?"
"Well, you did not exactly inform her. But I believe that was adequate."
"Like you said, it's for her own good, too. Then we can get on with this life of her trying to figure us out, and getting us a way back home."
Bertram quieted. His stern face watched his friend, as Etienne folded his arms and sank further into the sofa chair. "A way back home, you say?"
"Of course. Isn't it logical? Do you want to be stuck here forever?"
After another short silence, Bert shook his head, his voice a quiet murmur, "Admit it, Etienne. You do not wish to return to Thallus. Not now."
Etienne turned his head away, remaining silent.
"They may find you as soon as you return, and you know that. It was a miracle that they even..."
Etienne suddenly stood, cutting him off, "I'm going with Leigh, tonight. I want to see the expression on her face exactly when she comes face to face with her 'admirer'."
"Etienne..."
But Bert found himself ignored as Etienne left his side to join the two girls who were just coming down the stairs again. With a sigh, he returned to the pad in front of him, taking down a few more notes as the three others argued on their way out of the house.
------*-----
Leigh bit her lip as she looked up at the clock. In retrospect, she wasn't sure anymore why she had agreed again. She had been caught up the moment, by Etienne's accusations, and the words that her so-called friend had said earlier that day. Now that the time had come, she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to happen. She waited by the entrance into the café, as Allie floated about to investigate, and Etienne leaned by the door near them. She wished that the latter wouldn't have come along. Even if it had been through his twisted encouragement that she arrived, she was sure he only wanted to make fun of her.
She was prepared for it being a joke, she supposed. Maybe, she just didn't want to regret it if it were otherwise. Just like Bertram had said, she knew that, if it wasn't just a prank, the person would most likely be someone she just couldn't see herself with. And if that happened, she would feel too guilty trying to turn him down after he had gone through all the effort.
Then, there was the off-chance she'd be lucky and it was someone she could like, even if it was someone she didn't know.
She looked around again as she added quietly to herself, As long as it's not a girl...
"I don't see anyone yet, Leigh," Allie's voice sounded anxious. Leigh supposed she couldn't blame her. If she was wrong twice in a row, it might be Allie who would need comforting and not Leigh herself.
"Maybe this was a bad idea after all," she murmured quietly, hopefully so that Allie could not hear.
But Etienne seemed to have straightened, unfolding his arms. Leigh was about to give him a quizzical look when she heard a soft voice near her.
"Leigh Ashby?"
Leigh froze. This was it. It had to be! Or else it was someone who somehow recognized her from school, and she'd be making a fool out of herself. But the possibility was just as unlikely as her having a secret admirer to begin with.
After a moment, she realized the voice had sounded familiar. A few insane notions made her quietly grateful that it indeed was male. Though then, that only left a million other possibilities.
She barely noticed Allie's gasp of surprise, as she looked up to confront her 'secret admirer' face to face.
She took a deep breath and turned, "Yes?"
And froze again.
Her eyes widened.
Her breath caught in her throat
She couldn't finish... Suddenly, everything spun around her. She was dizzy and almost held onto something to steady herself.
It couldn't be. She must have fallen asleep waiting... She must be dreaming...!
She stared in utter disbelief at the figure in front of her...
At his dark brown hair...
His blue-green eyes...
His pleasant smile...
"Hi, um... I don't know if you know me. My name's Conner. Conner Russo..."
-----*-----
Tellat = Letter
Start: (officially) 07/07/28
End: 07/08/27
Length: 11 pages TNR 10
In any case, I would like to know if the characters are still more or less in character. They might have suddenly gone OOC on me, because of the adjustments I tried to make.
Oh yes, I also changed the chapter title.
Story: Thallus - An Alter Earth
First Chapter: ( Chapter 1: Merashi )
Previous Chapter: ( Chapter 5: Koshaye )
Chapter Title: Tellat
Tags: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Humor
Rating: PG
Leigh turned, scrunching up her nose. She'd had another pleasant dream, and was happy to have found no annoying interruptions, such as her alarm clock, or otherworldly jerks pulling off her blanket. She even felt rather warm, despite the changing seasons. She murmured a little to herself, realizing that the sunlight was in her face. It was much more agreeable being woken up by the gentle touch.
She yawned a little, stretching as she opened her eyes...
...And promptly pushed Allie off her bed again.
"Ow!!"
Apparently, Etienne was still laying directly below her bed, again.
"Could you stop that?!"
"First tell her to stop that."
"Ungh..." Allie mumbled in her sleep as she turned over, "Falcon..."
Leigh choked back the laugh that had formed in her throat. The sight of Etienne, wide-eyed and panicked, was a great enjoyment. After all, Allie had snuggled closer, and had even wrapped an arm around him.
"You two look cute..." Leigh commented, unable to hold back the giggle that came with it.
"This... is... so... GROSS..." Etienne clenched his teeth. "Get... her... OFF... me!!"
"Mmm?" Allie's eyes fluttered open as she yawned.
Then she paused.
Allie and Etienne stared at each other for a few seconds...
...Etienne flew across the room.
"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME??!!!"
"Would you two please refrain from speaking at such high volumes?" Bertram complained from where he was reading.
Allegra returned a loud retort, one that Leigh couldn't make out. Etienne had recovered, defending himself loudly. Bert merely held his head, ignoring them in favor of his book.
Leigh only laughed a little more. She finally sobered up a little, and sat up to retrieve her clothes.
They had been kind enough to follow her rules, but their relationships were still the same. Leigh realized that there was not much she could do about that.
To be honest, she could possibly be getting used to the craziness. Somehow, they even put her in even higher spirits than before, when she woke with only a smile from good dreams about a gang of friends, and a particular dream boyfriend.
Yes, reality really is suddenly more interesting than dreams. And that could even be an understatement.
For now, it was Monday. Her suspension was over and she had to get back to school. And for that, she was grateful. She wasn't sure she could survive another few days alone with them. She did enjoy her time with them, but having no respite was definitely going to send her to the nuthouse. She needed her quiet time (and it was funny to think that she could now consider class as 'quiet time').
"I told you again, there is no way I would do that to a brat like you! Even I have good taste."
"What did you just say?! I dare you to say it again!!"
Even if she had to return to school, just so that she could have some time away, then she would gladly take it...!
-----*-----
The day went by quickly, but still, Leigh was quite satisfied. She actually welcomed the time 'alone' and felt she was ready to return to the insanity at home, stronger than before.
It was finally the last period. Leigh hoped she had taken enough notes to have caught up to all her classes. She was grateful that she hadn't missed any exams, or else she would have had to take the make-up tests... or worse, not be allowed a grade for them at all.
Leigh left her classroom, checking through her bag. She realized she was missing a book for her last class of the day, and decided to pass by her locker to check if it was there.
Then, she remembered that she wasn't really completely alone.
Etienne yawned behind her, "Are you going to take long?"
"No..." she grumbled, her good mood dissipating.
It was strange, really. When she arrived at school, Allie and Bert had separated from them, making their way to the same clearing (Allie promised she'd show Bert the way). She was happy with their choice, except that Etienne still followed her to her classroom. Unfortunately for her. She was grateful at least, that he waited outside her classrooms instead of following her in and distracting her, but still...! He was a bad trail for her as she walked to her classes.
"Why do you still follow me around anyway...?" she mumbled under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear. "You'd rather be with Bert, won't you?"
"Of course. But you are a fascinating subject on the female species. You are under observation."
"Great. So I'm still your science project."
Etienne snickered, "Yeah, much like that."
Leigh rolled her eyes as she opened her locker. Just as she did, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. She glanced in its direction, giving it a surprised look.
Before she could react, Etienne swooped down to pick it up. "What's this?"
Leigh retrieved the book that she needed and closed the locker door, giving Etienne a suspicious look.
He scanned the heading on the fold. Then, he made an over-exaggerated squeal, dramatically putting a hand to his cheek, "Maybe it's a love letter from a girlfriend or something."
"A what??"
"She probably put it in the wrong locker... Or maybe not..."
Leigh reeled a hand back. Etienne nearly flew across the corridor, but he was able to keep his balance, barely. Leigh retrieved the folded note from where it had fallen and realized that her name was indeed written on it.
"What in the world......?" she murmured. She unfolded it slowly, and started to read.
Leigh Ashby,
I had heard that you've come back to school so I thought that this would be the perfect time.
Leigh held in a breath. Her heart skipped a beat. She was unable to believe what she was reading. But it couldn't be! Things like this only happened in stories or movies! She scanned down the note further.
I never had the opportunity to talk to you and tell you how much I admire you. Despite what others say, I know that there is definitely more to you than it seems. And that is why I would like to know you better. Would you care to meet me this evening at the Grind by 7'o clock?
I would understand if you won't be there. But I hope that you will find the chance to come. And at last, we shall meet and perhaps even become friends.
Leigh suddenly felt very dizzy. A mix of thoughts and emotions overwhelmed her. She wasn't sure what she wanted to think, her mind clouded with both elation, for being the subject of such an occurrence, of thinking who it could be, and dread, not quite sure if she should really believe in it.
But as she read it again, she felt that she wanted to give in to the elation, no matter how much her mind told her not to...
A very unwelcome voice cut into her thoughts.
"You've got to be kidding."
Etienne nearly flew across the corridor again.
"Even you are not going to ruin this for me, Etienne." Leigh muttered as she headed toward her next classroom.
Then even her irritation dissipated, as she continued to float through the air.
-----*-----
"Wow!! Really?!"
"YES, really!" Leigh giggled, "It's so cool!!"
Elation had definitely taken over by the time she reached the clearing behind school to meet up with Allie and Bert before heading home. The rush of emotion was much due to Allegra, who was instantly thrilled about the 'secret admirer,' so very cheerful about it, that even Leigh couldn't help bubbling even more over the incident. Allie's energy was just so catching.
Allie bounced up and down, as they walked, higher than a regular bounce, thanks to her powers. Her pigtails even bounced up and down with her. "I'm sooo jealous!! Hey, do you still have the letter? May I see it?!"
"It's a wonder she doesn't get her head caught in the branches of the tree," Etienne muttered.
Leigh shushed him quickly as she took the note from her pocket. Etienne just groaned, lagging behind to walk by the friend that he felt was the sanest at the moment.
Allie sighed dreamily after reading it, "If only I could get something like this from Falcon..."
Etienne scoffed, "Oh right. How could you hold on to that for so long?"
Allie stuck out her tongue and conjured up a wall between them. She eagerly turned back to Leigh, "So, are you gonna meet up with him?"
"I don't know..." Leigh confessed. "I'd really like to though!"
"I do not understand how the female can take pleasure in receiving such an item," Bert mused. "It's quite... oh, I just don't understand..."
Etienne snorted a little, "Guess even you can't get them, eh, Bert? I doubt any guy can."
They both continued to watch aimlessly at the two girls, who continued to gush over the anonymous letter.
"I wonder what he's like..." Leigh thought aloud. "I wonder what he looks like. I hope he's as cute as Conner...!"
"Conner? Who's that?"
"Oh, here... I think I still have a picture of him..." Leigh fished her notebook out of her bag. She was glad to find that she still had the clipping of him from when he appeared in the school paper.
"Wow! He is cute!" Allie giggled again. "Although," she let out an extravagant sigh. "I doubt he could ever take Falcon's place in my heart."
"For all you know, the guy's a joker."
Etienne chose this moment to interrupt. Leigh felt her hair stand on end as he began to voice out the exact worries that she had been hiding beneath her excitement, the ones she had forgotten as she amiably chatted with Allie.
"Are you sure that the letter's real?" Etienne asked, "It could be someone's katoupy."
"Ka-wha?"
"A hoax. A prank. A trick. A joke."
"Oh," Leigh closed her eyes, trying to block out his words. She wanted to enjoy the moment for as long as she could, even if it went against her higher sense. What was wrong with being happy about having a secret admirer anyway? Especially her! Leigh Ashby, the nobody!
The thought made her a little sick to the stomach. That was exactly why she should be worried, wasn't it? But then she shook her head. "Look, what do you know, anyway? It's not like you actually saw the person who put it in there."
"I mean it," Etienne rolled his eyes, "Do you really think that that kind of letter will not be something that people will use to get a laugh?"
Allie scowled at him, "Hey, Etienne! Stop messing this!"
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he muttered, folding his arms.
Leigh refused to give in, convincing herself he was only saying those things to get to her. She stood up again, taking back her notebook and the letter from Allie. "Come on, Allie, let's just go on ahead."
Etienne sighed and Bert only chuckled a little.
Leigh pouted, deciding that it just wasn't fair. After months of lethargy, then a few weeks of pure insanity, something finally happened... Something that promised good things, if it was right. Etienne didn't have to ruin it!
Or maybe he's right. Maybe I'm just deluding myself.
She continued to shake that thought out of her head, even as she picked up the pace. Pretty soon, she had arrived home, ushering everyone in as soon as the door was open. They disappeared up the steps as Leigh checked to see if either of her parents was home.
She found her mother in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee as something delicious cooked behind her.
"Leigh! How was your day back at school?"
Leigh set down her bags, shooing the others to go ahead of her. She skirted around the question, and decided to get straight to the point, "Um, mom... I'm going to head to the Grind later for dinner. Is that okay?"
"Hm? What for?"
"I'm going to meet someone from school there."
Her mother frowned a little, "Are you sure you don't need to catch up to your assignments?"
"I promise I'll do them. But can I just please go tonight?"
"Well... all right then. If you're sure. Make sure you do well, though."
"Thanks Mom!!" Leigh hugged her. "You're the best!!"
She left the kitchen, definitely in better spirits. However, her path up the stairs was blocked by a large shadow, quickly dampening her good mood.
"Get out of my way, Etienne."
"Use your sense for a minute." It seemed that he completely ignored the order. "Even you can't be as idiotic as Allie."
"What's so idiotic about it?" But even she knew those reasons herself, even as she tried to get past him.
"Well let's think for a moment... There's a huge chance this guy is just someone who wants to laugh at you for believing in something like this."
"And there's also a huge chance that it isn't, and is really sincere!"
"No, really. If the guy's not a jokester, how are you sure it's not someone you hate?"
"Well, it sure can't be you. So that isn't possible!"
"What if he's a jerk?"
"You're the biggest jerk around here so anyone else will be a consolation."
"What if he's not cute like you want?"
"What if he looks like yo-...?"
The sentence trailed off in her mouth. Leigh blinked a little as she stared at the boy in front of her. She only noticed then that Etienne actually didn't look bad. In fact, he actually looked rather......
She quickly shook her head, not finishing the thought, shuddering as she realized in slight loathing what she had just been thinking.
"What if..."
"Look, just give it up, Etienne!"
And she ran up the rest of the stairs, leaving Etienne... and hopefully, her own doubts behind.
When she made it into her room, only Allie was there. She closed the door behind herself and leaned against it with a sigh.
"Etienne?" Allie asked.
Leigh only responded with a groan.
"Is he getting to you?"
"... Well, he's adding onto what's already there."
"Oh... really...?"
She sighed, and finally admitted to her, "Um... I'm happy and all, but I really do have doubts. It doesn't help that Etienne's been voicing them all out."
"Oh, but why...?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you have doubts?"
"Don't you? I mean, I really don't know who did send the letter! It could be anyone! What if it's a dweeb? Or someone I don't like? How could I politely turn them down without making them feel bad? Or worse, what if it really is just a joke? And I'll end up just humiliating myself?"
Allie put a finger to her own cheek, pondering Leigh's words. Finally, she shrugged and said, "Hm, well... I think it'll be all right."
Leigh looked up at Allegra's reassuring smile. She only smiled even more, "I'm pretty sure it will be."
"... How do you know?"
"Hm... Gut feeling!"
Leigh winced. Still, it made her feel a little better. She straightened, nodding, "Well, at the least, I've got to wear something nice."
"Of course you do!!" Allie agreed.
Both of them moved to start rummage through Leigh's clothes when the door opened again. Leigh felt her irritation levels rise again as that annoying voice spoke again.
"Who said I wasn't right and that the writer of the letter is female?"
Leigh stopped ruffling through her closet and turned to face Etienne. She had had it, listening to his skepticism. "You know? You've been bugging me ever since I got that letter!! Do you always have to spoil my fun?!! Are you so depressed with your own life that you want me to be sad too?! I finally get something that I've wanted to happen and I'm not going to let you or anyone mess it up!"
Etienne blinked in shock. He sighed, "All right, I'll shut up."
"Thank you," Leigh gave him a satisfied look before pulling out a blouse and examining it.
"Fortunately, Leigh," Bert cut in. "Observing the populace of your school, I think it would be safe to assume that the probability if that letter being a katoupy is not very high."
"See?" Leigh gave Etienne a triumphant look.
"Unfortunately, there is also a high probability that you shall be encountering a person that you do not desire. Rather, it is highly possible that your encounter will be unsatisfactory to your likes and tastes."
Etienne looked triumphant in return. Leigh faltered a little.
"Oh don't listen to them, Leigh!" Allie countered. "What do they know?!"
Etienne scowled at her, and Bert only sighed, shaking his head in resignation. Leigh gave Allie a weak but appreciative look. Allie's smile brightened. "Here. I think this is good!"
Leigh felt her spirits lift even more, "That one would be great!"
Allie grinned as Leigh took down the dress. She started to take it off its hanger, when she paused and glanced at the two boys. She frowned a little and gave them a stern look.
Neither of them moved.
"I'm going to change!" she finally said. "Do you mind?"
Etienne shook his head, "No! Not at all."
"Get out of the room!"
"Oh!" Bert exclaimed, "That is what you are implying! We'll leave!"
"Out!!"
-----*-----
After Leigh and Allie had thrown them out (almost literally, thanks to Allie's telekinesis), the two boys camped downstairs in the living room, waiting for the 'big moment'. Though neither of them was happy about it. Or one of them wasn't, at least.
"I mean it, Bert!" Etienne grumbled. "What's the big deal?! Both of them are all excited like it's the best thing of Thallus."
Bertram merely shrugged, "Though I also find it hard to see why there is all this commotion about an anonymous letter... I suppose if we cannot understand them, all that we can do is to just let them be."
"Ugh. Women."
His friend gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder but before he could say anything more, they were interrupted. At that moment, Allie flew down the stairs, and conjured up balloons and streamers and flowers around. Only Bert turned his head to look up at her.
"Tada!!" she called out with a flourish. "Presenting!! For your pleasure!! Our lovely Leigh Ashby!!"
"Allie!" Leigh's voice sounded embarrassed from further up the stairs, "You don't have to do that!!"
"But it's more fun!!" Allie grinned.
"It's not that big a deal..."
"That's what I've been saying..." Etienne grumbled.
Leigh came down after much hesitation. She attempted to smooth out her skirt a little more before turning to the guys, "I need an honest opinion from members of the male species. And you are two extremes that I can count on. What do you think?"
"Very nice!" Bert smiled, giving her an okay sign.
"Thanks, Bert!"
Etienne rolled his eyes again, before finally turning to look.
He seemed to start a little, in surprise.
"... What?" Leigh asked, suddenly nervous.
He blinked a few times. He shrugged, "You actually look better than usual."
That was when Leigh stepped back in surprise. Coming from Etienne, that was definitely a compliment.
She finally recovered after a moment, scratching the back of her head. "Um... Th... thanks."
Etienne raised an eyebrow, and turned away again.
Leigh felt herself recover a little more. "Um. I guess this means I'm going."
"Can I come too?" Allie asked.
"I guess so..." Leigh responded after a little thought. "As long as you go when they arrive."
"Of course, I will!"
"I'm coming too..."
Leigh got her second surprise, "Why?"
Etienne shrugged, "I wanna see you fall flat on your face when you see that I'm right."
She groaned, "Right, I should've known."
"Coming, Bert?"
"No, thank you. I have just begun another interesting read."
A read that seemed to be another historical essay, Leigh mused. But she didn't say anything aloud as Allie tugged on her arm.
"Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's get going!"
-----*-----
The trip was quick. Soon, Leigh found herself in the small waiting area of the Grind. She checked the other customers in the café and found noone she recognized. There still weren't too many people, she realized.
Well, at least that means not many people will be here in case I do totally embarrass myself.
She mentally slapped herself, Cool it, Leigh. Don't think like that now. That's exactly what Etienne wants to happen. And you don't want him to have the pleasure of being right.
She sat down and crossed her legs, taking a quick look towards the wall clock. It was close to 7'o clock. He'll be coming soon.
"I'll bet you the guy doesn't come."
"Shut up, Etienne."
"Yeah, Etienne. Stop making it less fun."
"You call this fun?"
"Noone asked you to come, you know," Leigh reminded him, ignoring the nagging feeling in her stomach. She shook her head, and glanced up at the clock again. It had just turned to exactly seven.
She turned, leaning over the window and watched a couple pass them by.
And waited.
"This is really turning out to be a dud after all."
"Just you wait, Etienne!" Allie said, "The guy's gonna come and he's gonna be way different from what you've been saying!"
"It's okay, Allie," Leigh murmured. She was starting to think that maybe Etienne was right, though she didn't want to admit that just yet.
Allie seemed to disagree with her. She floated around, checking outside every so often to see if anyone from the school was coming up the walk. Etienne was just leaning against the wall near them, tilting his head back and forth to amuse himself. Leigh started playing with a lock of her hair, twirling it around her finger, anxiously watching the door.
And waited.
"Don't you think you've been stood up?"
Leigh tried to laugh. "Maybe he's just running late!"
And waited.
For another thirty minutes.
"I told you so," Etienne muttered as Leigh finally made her way out of the café.
"You don't have to rub it in," she grumbled, fixing her bag.
She had to admit that she wasn't too surprised. That didn't mean, though, that she still wasn't downhearted nor embarrassed about it. She was grateful that noone she recognized from school had ever arrived, or else she might not have been able to live it down!
Even worse was Allie behind her, floating a little lower than usual. The blonde offered a weak smile, "Um, maybe he just had something to do! I'm sure there's a good reason."
"It's really okay, Allie!" Leigh forced a laugh. "I probably just should've known better." After a little thought she sighed, "Well... Actually I did, but... "
"You were caught up in the joy that you were finally noticed after being a nobody forever?"
"Don't start sounding like Bert," Leigh pleaded him. "I'm sure he's going to have a say in this too."
Etienne rolled his eyes for the hundredth time the entire day, "Geez, girl. It isn't the end of everything."
Leigh lifted her head to look at him, then nodded. "Yeah. You're right. Except that I'm still stuck with you guys."
"There you go! ... Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
She attempted a smile again, then moved on ahead to lead them home.
That still didn't mean, though, that she didn't feel that wonderful.
-----*-----
"You're back early," Bert commented as the three returned. He put aside his book and watched them, as if waiting for a report.
It was Etienne who replied before the others, with a matter-of-fact tone, "He didn't show. Like I said."
"I said don't rub it in, Etienne," Leigh murmured. "I already feel stupid."
Etienne seemed to be about to say something else when Bert took his shoulder. He glanced back and Bert only shook his head. Leigh appreciated the gesture, hanging up her coat before leaving to tell her mother that she was home early.
"Do not make it worse for her," Bertram murmured.
"She's a big girl. She can handle it."
"You're just horrible!" Allie cried out before storming off up the stairs.
Bert gave Etienne a questioning glance. The latter groaned, "What?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all," he looked up again to see Leigh pass them, on her way up the stairs. "Leigh?"
"I'm fine," she answered automatically. "I guess this means I get to do that extra homework."
"Perhaps, we were wrong, and there was merely a proper rationale behind the absence of your acquaintance."
"You don't have to say anything, Bert! I'm really fine!" she gave them a large grin. "See? I'm over it!"
Bert sighed, "If you say so. I will take my leave then." He picked up his book and left them, headed to her father's den.
Leigh continued up the stairs, determined to return to her misery in peace.
"... Look, sorry."
The footsteps paused. They slowly returned as Leigh peeked down again to stare at the last occupant of the room in surprise. "... Did you... just......?"
"Don't make me say it again," Etienne muttered.
"... But... what for?"
"...... Dunno. For what happened, I guess."
"It wasn't your fault." Still, Leigh felt appreciative of the statement.
"And... I guess for making it worse."
She shook her head, and finally offered a more sincere smile. "It's okay. You were saying what was true. I... guess I really was thinking the same thing, that it wasn't for real," she confessed. "I just... didn't want to admit it. I really wanted to believe, even for just a moment, that I really wasn't Leigh Ashby, the invisible... the nobody... and that maybe..." She sighed again, "Maybe someone really did notice me."
Etienne was quiet for a while. Leigh lowered her head. She wasn't sure why she'd said that to him. He probably was just going to make fun of her more, or tell her it all was true. She didn't want to hear it, if so.
She was about to head back up the stairs again, when his voice stopped her again.
"... If it means anything, they probably don't think you're a nobody."
She looked up at him.
"... You know," he continued. "Bert and Allie. They probably don't think you're a nobody."
After a moment, she smiled, "Thank you."
Etienne blinked, "... No problem. I guess it's my job to make sure you don't lose all your sense."
"Oh really?" her smile turned up as she let a twinge of amusement touch it.
"Of course. Who else is going to put up with us?"
"Noone, which is why you guys have to put up with me, too."
"Great," Etienne groaned.
Leigh watched his face, then smiled again. "... Thanks. Really."
"Whatever, just don't get too sappy on me."
"I won't," she laughed a little, finally starting up the stairs to her room. Her spirits had indeed lifted, and she was surprised for the reasons why. It seemed even Etienne had moments of kindness, albeit, twisted.
She was certain that she was ready to hit the books now, and that she was ready to leave this entire incident behind her.
-----*-----
"You seem to be taking this rather well, Leigh."
Leigh glanced back at Bert and gave him a light chuckle. "I guess so."
"I'm so glad, Leigh! But still...!"
She took down another book, making sure it was the right one before closing her locker. "It's nothing, Allie. I'm still a little sore, I guess. But," she shrugged. "Whatever, right?"
Etienne snorted behind them. Both Allie and Bert blinked a little at him.
Leigh gave them all an amused smile, "Anyway, I have to get to class now. Free period after this, I can probably hang out with you guys then."
"Can I go with you this time?"
Leigh winced and Allie lightly stamped a foot, dejectedly. Leigh pouted a little herself, "All right, but ask before you touch anything!"
Allie looked aghast, "Of course I will!" and Leigh only laughed at her.
The two girls went off ahead towards Leigh's classroom. Etienne was about to start leaving the school building towards their hideaway when he noticed Bert's questioning glance.
"... What?"
"Do we owe Leigh's better mood to you, my friend?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Bertram shook his head, but still there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Let us make our way outside, shall we?"
"Yeah, just......" Etienne paused as his friend's expression suddenly changed. "... Bert?"
Bert started a little, looking up at Etienne again. After a moment longer, he lifted a hand, and pointed to where the two girls had just been standing. Etienne frowned and followed the gesture.
And was taken aback by what he saw.
"Is that......?"
"I believe it may be."
-----*-----
"I told you, Leigh! I told you!"
Leigh winced, not sure what to say. She wasn't even sure what to think as she glanced again at the folded paper. Apparently, while she was in class, someone had slipped yet another note with her name into her locker. She reluctantly opened it to read its contents.
I apologize for not arriving yesterday. Did you go? If you did, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. But I had something to do last-minute for my parents and by the time I had finished it, it was already too late for me to meet you.
Again, I am terribly sorry for keeping you. I would like to make it up to you by meeting with you tonight instead. At the same time, and the same place. I hope that you will not hold anything against me and find it within yourself to arrive. I understand, if you don't.
Leigh stuffed the letter into her backpack. She shut her locker and confronted her three companions. When none of them said anything, she turned to Etienne. "Well, would you like to say something? Like 'That guy just won't give up! Oh! That's right, it's not a guy, it's a woman! Or if not, he's that geeky toad over there.'"
He still didn't say a word. Leigh tilted her head, curiously at him. But instead, it was Allie who spoke up, "So, are you going, Leigh?" she asked, hopefully.
"I... guess... I don't know, really. I just thought last night I was going to put this behind me. So much for that, huh?"
"Oh, but you have to go! He said he was sorry. It seems he really wants to meet you!"
"Yes, but..."
Leigh said nothing more, about to turn away from them, when she nearly bumped into someone. She looked and when she realized who it was, she felt a smile come to her face, even though she knew that a certain someone must have scowled ten times more than usual.
"Chen, hi..."
Chenoa seemed startled. "Oh, Leigh."
"Wasn't that the late bell? What about class?"
Her friend seemed to glance around at first, a little distractedly. Leigh frowned, tilting her head as she waited. Chenoa eventually replied, "Our teacher's out of town, and there's no substitute. What about you?"
"Free period." Leigh rolled her eyes as Etienne looked as if he were making a face behind Chenoa's back. The other two, on the other hand, seemed to be confused. She remembered just then that neither of them had met Chenoa before. She gave them both apologetic looks, mouthing that she would explain later, and hoping that they would understand.
"So, you pulled that alarm last week?"
Leigh's attention quickly returned to Chenoa. "I didn't!"
Chenoa shrugged. "That's what I heard."
"Doesn't mean it's true," Leigh sulked at her.
"Well, fine, if you say so. People must be picking on you for it."
"Huh...? Oh, no... noone has. Actually, I just got a note in my locker yesterday. Someone wanted to meet me at the Grind."
Chenoa looked genuinely surprised, "Someone left you a note?"
"Yeah, unsigned and everything. I guess a secret admirer type of thing."
"That is so..." Chenoa paused.
"Dumb?" Leigh offered before she could say anything. "I guess it was. I went, against all logic, but noone was there. Thank god. I don't know what I would've done if it really was just a prank."
"... Of course," Chenoa nodded. Leigh glanced at her, and realized that Chenoa seemed to be preoccupied by something, or else, completely uninterested. She supposed she didn't blame her. The story must have sounded so lame, especially to someone like Chenoa.
"Well, I thought I'd just forget all about it," she continued.
"You probably should," her friend agreed.
Leigh ignored the way Allie stamped her foot and the way Etienne smirked at them. "I wanted to, but I got another letter today."
Chenoa visibly wrinkled her nose, "Another one? But why?"
"Whoever it was said that they were going to try to show up tonight instead."
"So you're not going, of course?"
"Yeah... after a while, I thought it must have been a joke after all."
"Probably..."
Leigh nodded at her, about to make her way to their hideaway when she heard Chenoa speak again.
"Besides... Who in their right mind would be interested in you, anyway?"
Leigh froze. It was such a quiet murmur, so low that Leigh almost didn't hear. Somehow, she felt that it was something she was not meant to hear at all. Her fingers turned a little numb. She turned to look more properly at Chenoa, but her friend wasn't looking at her, trying to pick things out of her bag.
...... Friend...?
"Is there anything else, Leigh?" Chenoa asked. "I need to get going."
"... No... Nothing else. Thanks for... the advice."
"Of course, what would you do without it?"
Leigh felt herself numb even more, even as Chenoa waved absentmindedly and walked away. She shook her head, trying to figure out if she really had heard the words. But the pain was still there, and she struggled to fight back tears.
Etienne was looking at her, and she did not even need him to speak to know what he was thinking. She just held up a hand to silence him before he could say anything. Thankfully, Etienne decided to comply, for once. She wasn't too lucky with the others.
"Leigh, who was that...... that..." Allie trailed off.
"A... a friend..."
Bert frowned at her response. "What she said was not very friendly, was it?"
"... No," she said quietly. "No, it wasn't."
And she thought, as she walked down out of the hall, what if there was really some truth to what Etienne had first said to her about Chenoa?
-----*-----
"What are you going to do?"
"I already warned her about that little friend of hers."
"Not about that," Bertram shook his head. "What of the meeting this evening? What shall you do?"
"Oh, that? Nothing, of course," Etienne said bluntly.
"You must do something."
"Hey! It's not my business!"
"Perhaps you should at least tell her."
"Why do I have to do it? Why can't you?"
"Because... Oh I don't know. It will be better if she hears it from you. Do you believe that Allegra would be capable if convincing her?"
Etienne shrugged, "Probably not. She doesn't know who the person is."
"But, you do."
"Why don't you say something?"
"She will believe you more."
"Why?!"
"Because you are blunt, frank and rather outspoken. You say what is on your mind and therefore, most of the time it is either the truth or your own honest opinion."
Etienne's eyes perked up, "So you mean when I say that Leigh is ugly and Allie is a brat, it's true?"
"I said could also be your honest opinion."
"Damn."
Neither boy said anything more, as Bert threw his arms in the air, exasperated. Etienne folded his arms across his chest, leaning back further into the couch.
Soon enough, someone came down the stairs to join them. It was Leigh.
"Leigh? You are not dressed?" Bertram observed.
"Hm? Oh, of course not. I'm not going..."
As she said the words, Allegra stormed down the steps, a trail of dead flowers following her. Leigh tried to laugh, "Allie, don't be so mad."
"Why don't you want to go?!" Allie exclaimed, more flowers wilting around her. "You still have about ten minutes to change your mind and change into something nice!!"
"Well..."
"Yeah, why don't you?"
Leigh jumped at the sound of Etienne's voice. She shook her head, "We both agreed that it was useless, right?"
Etienne scoffed, "Well, you should go..."
"Wh-why?!"
"Because you are interested in short ugly toads with warts and pimples all over their faces. With big hideous glasses and overly combed hair," he smirked, "Which is why I don't see any good reason why you shouldn't go."
Allie cut in, her voice a light growl, "Shut up, Etienne!"
"Yeah," Leigh glowered at him, "I already said I wasn't going! There's really no point!"
"Or are you afraid that maybe it's that Conner guy and he's stuck-up and rude, unlike what you've always been thinking of him."
"Don't you say that about Conner! I know for a fact that he's a really nice guy, unlike you! And besides, I told you, I don't want to go!"
"But don't you want to meet the one of your dreams? Oh I'm sure she'll be pretty with a slender figure and a... Oh wait!" he put a hand to his mouth in mock surprise, "That's my taste..."
"Why do you still have to make fun of me?!" Leigh snapped at him. "I'M NOT GOING!!"
She promptly turned around and started making her way back up to her room and away from Etienne and his horrid accusations. Allie started hurrying after her.
"So is that it? You're not going to go, and just wonder what would have happened if you'd gone? That it would just haunt you, not knowing who the little gnome was?"
She stopped. Allie nearly bumped into her but managed to stay upright. Leigh murmured a quiet apology before turning back to Etienne as he continued.
"And thus, prove to yourself, and to that brat that she was right, and that there was no way anyone, not even they, would be crazy enough to like you."
The words ignited a small fire. Leigh clenched and unclenched her fists, remembering her own skepticism, Etienne's insults, and most of all, the quiet murmur, the statement that she was not meant to hear.
She straightened, her hands on her hips as she declared. "You know what? I don't care. I don't care what you say, I don't care what anyone else says, I don't even care whoever it is that's going to show up! I'll go... Not so that you or anyone can make fun of me, but so I can see for myself what this is all about."
"So can we go back upstairs?!"
"Yes, Allie, we can go back."
Allie let out a whoop as she took Leigh's arm and proceeded to drag her back up to the room to find a new outfit.
Etienne sighed and plopped down beside Bert. "Happy?"
"Well, you did not exactly inform her. But I believe that was adequate."
"Like you said, it's for her own good, too. Then we can get on with this life of her trying to figure us out, and getting us a way back home."
Bertram quieted. His stern face watched his friend, as Etienne folded his arms and sank further into the sofa chair. "A way back home, you say?"
"Of course. Isn't it logical? Do you want to be stuck here forever?"
After another short silence, Bert shook his head, his voice a quiet murmur, "Admit it, Etienne. You do not wish to return to Thallus. Not now."
Etienne turned his head away, remaining silent.
"They may find you as soon as you return, and you know that. It was a miracle that they even..."
Etienne suddenly stood, cutting him off, "I'm going with Leigh, tonight. I want to see the expression on her face exactly when she comes face to face with her 'admirer'."
"Etienne..."
But Bert found himself ignored as Etienne left his side to join the two girls who were just coming down the stairs again. With a sigh, he returned to the pad in front of him, taking down a few more notes as the three others argued on their way out of the house.
------*-----
Leigh bit her lip as she looked up at the clock. In retrospect, she wasn't sure anymore why she had agreed again. She had been caught up the moment, by Etienne's accusations, and the words that her so-called friend had said earlier that day. Now that the time had come, she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to happen. She waited by the entrance into the café, as Allie floated about to investigate, and Etienne leaned by the door near them. She wished that the latter wouldn't have come along. Even if it had been through his twisted encouragement that she arrived, she was sure he only wanted to make fun of her.
She was prepared for it being a joke, she supposed. Maybe, she just didn't want to regret it if it were otherwise. Just like Bertram had said, she knew that, if it wasn't just a prank, the person would most likely be someone she just couldn't see herself with. And if that happened, she would feel too guilty trying to turn him down after he had gone through all the effort.
Then, there was the off-chance she'd be lucky and it was someone she could like, even if it was someone she didn't know.
She looked around again as she added quietly to herself, As long as it's not a girl...
"I don't see anyone yet, Leigh," Allie's voice sounded anxious. Leigh supposed she couldn't blame her. If she was wrong twice in a row, it might be Allie who would need comforting and not Leigh herself.
"Maybe this was a bad idea after all," she murmured quietly, hopefully so that Allie could not hear.
But Etienne seemed to have straightened, unfolding his arms. Leigh was about to give him a quizzical look when she heard a soft voice near her.
"Leigh Ashby?"
Leigh froze. This was it. It had to be! Or else it was someone who somehow recognized her from school, and she'd be making a fool out of herself. But the possibility was just as unlikely as her having a secret admirer to begin with.
After a moment, she realized the voice had sounded familiar. A few insane notions made her quietly grateful that it indeed was male. Though then, that only left a million other possibilities.
She barely noticed Allie's gasp of surprise, as she looked up to confront her 'secret admirer' face to face.
She took a deep breath and turned, "Yes?"
And froze again.
Her eyes widened.
Her breath caught in her throat
She couldn't finish... Suddenly, everything spun around her. She was dizzy and almost held onto something to steady herself.
It couldn't be. She must have fallen asleep waiting... She must be dreaming...!
She stared in utter disbelief at the figure in front of her...
At his dark brown hair...
His blue-green eyes...
His pleasant smile...
"Hi, um... I don't know if you know me. My name's Conner. Conner Russo..."
-----*-----
Tellat = Letter
Start: (officially) 07/07/28
End: 07/08/27
Length: 11 pages TNR 10