Chapter 6: The Play
“And so, we'll be doing the ever so classical, Cinderella!” announced the Miss Simmons, the drama teacher as a lot of us groaned, hearing what play we would be doing.
I rolled my eyes as I stood in the corner. Why cinderella? The play was the same every year! They could at least come up with something more original, couldn't they? “Oh come now, I know you must have seen the play at least once or twice, but hey, now it's your turn!” said Miss Simmons as everyone groaned again.
I turned to look at Kira who stood in the corner of the drama stage and he gave me a goofy grin while Lacus, the angel, gave me a sympathetic smile. “For the roles, we will be drawing them from these two boxes here,” said Miss Simmons as she pointed to 2 boxes at her side. “Now, everyone, girls line up to the left and boys to the right,”
I sighed as we all relunctually lined up according to our gender. I noted as I saw the frowns of the first few girls that picked their roles and the shrugs of a few guys who most likely gotten the part as the stage workers who would be working on the backdrops. I swallowed hard as it was now my turn to pick a role. Oh I pray that I will also get a small part such as a backstage worker! That way, I wouldn't have an enormous role to memorize. My hand reached into the box and felt my way for a paper slip. My fingers gripped the closest slip and I lifted my hand out of the box. As I opened up the tiny paper slip, my face took on the role of horror.Out of all the paper slips that were there, I had to chose the biggest role; Cinderella!
I groaned loudly as Kira's eyes danced mischievously as he knew my expressions and whispered quickly to Lacus, whose eyes also lit up, but in an innocent, excited way. “Now from the left to the right, please call out your roles when it is your turn, starting with you, Sai,” said Miss Simmons.
“Backstage worker,” he called out as many other voices followed right after him going from “Step-sister, step-mother, doubles, fairy-god mother prince's advisor etc”
As it was my turn, I sighed dejectedly as I voiced my as well, “Cinderella,” I said glumly as I heard many voices of surprise.
“Why does she get the biggest role? That's not fair! I'm only a double!” said one girl while another said that I wasn't pretty enough to be Cinderella.
Miss Simmons hushed them all and said, “Well, Miss Athha, that's one of the major roles, I believe that you will done fine for that role. Now, who is the prince that has yet to be named?”
“I am,” said a cool but cocky voice as everyone's heads turned.
I gulped as I saw who the role of the prince belong to. It was none other than that bastard, Yuuna Roma Seiran! (A/N: You thought it was gonna be Athrun right?). I heard a few sighs of relief behind me as a few girls were saying how glad they were that they weren't cinderella. “Ah.. Mr. Seiran and Miss Athha. Now as the lead roles, you must cooperate well together, so I expect you two to get along fine,” said Miss Simmons as she began handing out the scripts.
I sighed dejectedly as I felt the world was against me; first being cinderella and then having Yuuna as the prince was definitely anyone's nightmare. I stood beside Mirillia as I asked, “What role do you have?”
Mirillia shrugged with a small smile. “I'm your step-sister,” she said simply.
I held my head as I turned my face to look at her. “You and I should definitely trade places,” I said.
Mirillia patted my shoulder. “Oh c'mon, being cinderella isn't so bad, and Yuuna.. is er.. not that bad either,” she said.
I eyed Yuuna with distaste as he winked at me. I shivered noticeably as I sighed in defeat before walking over to him to work out our lines. In the corner of the drama stage, a pair of emerald eyes looked on with hatred as he saw an ugly purple-haired boy with a satisfied smirk on his face lock his arms around my waist.
“Oh my dear prince, how dashing you look tonight,” I said trying to maintain the acid in my voice as I recited my lines.
Then as I waited for Yuuna to reply, I raised my eyes to see that he was looking at me hungrily. First Zala the playboy and now this! “Would you please stop looking at me like that!” I nearly yelled as he gave me a sly smile.
“I like how the words came out of your lips like that, my dear,” he said as he took my hands.
As he was about to embrace me (who was trying not to punch the living crap out of him), a voice interrupted us. “I believe that is not the correct action at the moment,” said a cool familiar voice.
I felt my body froze as I reopened my closed eyes. Yuuna narrowed his eyes as soon as he saw who had interrupted him. “What are you doing here?” he sneered.
Athrun gave him a really cold look that would've froze anyone, anyone who was smart, that is. “I am here because I'm the prince's double. So basically I am to take the role of the prince if you happen to well... let's say unable to attend the night of the play,” he said.
Yuuna's cold glare matched Athrun's as he replied icily, “I don't think that is going to happen, since I can look after myself,”
Athrun dropped the cold look and merely shrugged. “Whatever floats your boat. But still, I am to be practicing with the two of you,” he said as I met his eyes.
Yuuna said nothing as he ignored Athrun and resumed his position. “I have never seen a lady such as you before, will you dance with me?” he asked as he held out his hand to me.
As I was relunctually about to accept, Athrun interrupted him again. “That is so boring. It should be like this; I've never seen a lady as enchanting as you in these parts, may I grant you a dance?” he said with the air of a real prince as he bowed while keeping his eyes on me the whole time.
As I was about to accept, there was another interruption: this time, it was Yuuna, who waved the script in front of Athrun's face with fury. “That is not in the script! If it had been so, I would have no doubtedly done so much a better job than you,” he protested.
Athrun gave a small smirk. “Yes, but Miss Simmons never said that we had to follow the script exactly. I believe that this play should be a little more dramatic, while the audience could feel the emotion between the prince and cinderella, am I not correct?” he said quite smugly.
Yuuna scowled but said nothing. “My princess?” Athrun resumed with a small smug smile, knowing that he had won at the moment.
I blinked, realising he was waiting for a response. “H-huh? Uh ..y-yes, I'd be delighted to,” I recited as I took his hand.
-----
We skipped the dancing part since the area was too small and secondly, I didn't feel like dancing at the moment. As the bell signaled the end of the day, I sighed in relief; I wouldn't have to see Yuuna anymore today. I parted ways with Kira because he said that he didn't want to spend his entire afternoon at the restaurant and preferred to talk to Lacus. Then I headed over to the restaurant and noticed that it was quite busy afterschool. “Hello there, Miss Athha, please change quickly; we're in need of a hand today,” greeted Mr. Todaka as he looked up from the counter.
I nodded and changed quickly in the changerooms, but not before complaining on the shortness of the skirt that I had to wear. “Mck, I don't like this skirt” I grumbled as I quickly tied up my hair into a ponytail before heading out.
“Why not?” demanded a younger female voice as she overheard me grumbling to myself.
I looked up in surprise to seeing Meyrin with a raised eyebrow. “Because it's too short,” I replied simply as I wriggled my foot so that they went into the shoe completely.
Meyrin gave me a you're-so-inferior look before saying, “Well I think they're cute. But the likes of you wouldn't understand that,” she said. “What would Mr. Todaka say if he knew you were talking instead of helping? I suggest you start moving right about now,” she added smugly.
I narrowed my eyes in distaste of this girl but said nothing as I walked quickly to start serving food. “Rice Noodles with beef for Table 11!” I heard someone shout from the kitchen.
I took the tray with the bowl and I complained slightly of the weight but carried it out nevertheless to the assigned table. As I backed away to clear a table, my eyes met with Athrun's for a moment, but there was another table with 3 girls that asked for their orders to be fulfilled, so he left to do that. I quickly cleared a table with the cart and then started wiping down the table with a small rag, making it proper for the next customers. I laid down a few napkins and a few teacups. As I looked up, I saw that there were more people at the door, a few girls waiting to be seated. “I'll be right with you,” I called out as I quickly pushed the cart away and greeted them.
I recognised one of the girls as I approched them. “Hey aren't you from yesterday?” I questionned a margenta-haired girl.
She gave me a wierd look. “So? I like coming here and my sister Mey, works here as well,” she said.
I made a small 'o' with my mouth before saying, “Table for 4? Um... right this way,” after searching for a clear table and leading them there.
“So, what would you like to drink?” I asked after they seated and looked at their menus.
The girls looked at each other and then gave me their orders. Before I left, I heard one of the girls chatter excitedly, “So Luna! Are you going to ask that really hot waiter out?”
The girl, Luna, shrugged. “I'd really like to, but I don't think that this is the place to do it. I'll ask him when I get the chance,” she said.
By this point, I lost my patience and stormed away as I dropped the order off at the kitchen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luna leaving her table and took Athrun with her to away from the public eye and I knew what he was in store for. Why should I care whether that girl asks Athrun out or not? He'd probably be delighted to be asked out. Though... I'm starting to wonder why he doesn't have a girlfriend, considering his popularity with girls... who knows? I thought furiously to myself. But a voice interrupted my thoughts as I saw the blunette came back into my view. “Earth to Cagalli... you in there?” I felt him tap my head and looked up to meet emerald orbs looking down on me.
I whacked his hand away and looked at him coldly. “Yeah, what do you want?” I demanded as I picked up a dish full of string beans.
“It's not good to day dream while you're on the job, y'know?” he said with a smirk across that smug face of his.
I narrowed eyes. Considering his attitude, he must have said 'yes'... that bastard... “I know that! And if you'll excuse me, I have to deliver this,” I said as I stepped away from him and delivered the dish to the correct table.
Athrun, with a smirk still on his face, only shrugged as he continued to greet people that were coming at the entrance.
Sometime near closing time, I heard the bell jingle as I heard the door open, so I greeted them without noticing them first, “Welcome!” I called out.
I heard a familar smug chuckle that said, “Well well well... so the rumors are true... you do work here, my dear Cagalli,”
My eyes looked on in shock as I saw the very face of Yuuna Roma Seiran, the man I wished I would not have to see for the rest of the day. I gulped, as I knew I had to serve him, considering that he had to walk into this particular restaurant. “Yuuna...” I said, trying to keep my cool. “A table for one?”
He nodded before smirking, “Or, two, if you'd like to join me,” he said.
I ignored that comment as I brought him over to his table. “Here's your menu... what would you like to drink?” I said as I tried to calm myself down.
I noticed that he gave me a 'dreamy' look and began to snap. “I said, what would you like to drink!” I repeated as I clenched my teeth in annoyance.
“Oh, well a glass of icy water would be nice,” he simply said as he gave me another look.
I gave a nod before stomping off. With no one noticing, a killing aura could be felt around a certain someone as he witnessed the person who stared at me with a hungry look in his eyes. “Cagalli, could you please take those orders over there?” a masculine voice asked.
I spun around in surprise as I took an empty glass. “Huh?” I said.
“In exchange, I'll take that glass of water,” said Athrun.
I shrugged. It seemed like a rather wierd request to do, but then again, I would love to get away from Yuuna even if it was just for a moment. “Sure, Table 13,” I said as I tilted my head in the direction of the table.
“I know,” said Athrun as he filled the glass with more ice than water before I left.
-----
Without my knowing...(Normal POV). “A glass of ice water,” said Athrun as he approched the unsuspecting Yuuna.
“Zala! Why are you doing here? Nevertheless serving me!” Yuuna whined like a young immature child as he refused the glass.
“I am here because I work here as my part time job with Cagalli who's busy serving other people. The world doesn't revolve around you as the sun, and thank god for that,” Athrun murmured the last part so low that Yuuna didn't hear him clearly.
“I want Cagalli, not some dimwit like you! Go get her now so that I can take my chances with her!” Yuuna ordered as if he was some superior person.
Inoticeable by others, Athrun's emerald eyes became like slits as he heard the words escape from this bastard's mouth. He lifted the glass of water and a scream could then be heard throughout the restaurant.
-----
Back with me!: I turned my head as well as the few people who remained who heard that shriek and thought it was a girl, but who happened to be Yuuna... who was extremely soaked through the core. He had icecubes every where on him and was shivering madly. “Sir! What just happened?” demanded Mr. Todaka who marched directly to Yuuna after hearing that scream.
Yuuna, bug-eyed, pointed an accusing finger at Athrun while whimpering in a shocked voice, “H-h-he s-spilled w-w-wa-t-ter on m-me on p-p-pur-p-pose!”
Mr. Todaka narrowed his eyes at Athrun and I swallowed hard, knowing that Athrun was in trouble. But then he looked back at the pitiful Yuuna who was shivering like mad. “I am so sorry for my employee's actions. He shall be punished severly. But in the meantime, please take this 50 off coupon for the next time you come,” he said.
Yuuna, who ceased shivering a little nodded as he took the coupon with a small smirk then directed at me when Mr Todaka told the customers that we would be closing very soon and that they should finish eating as soon as possible and then directed his gaze back to Athrun. “And you will come with me to my office, now,” he said, but to me, it sounded more of a direct order, but nevertheless Athrun didn't even wince.
My eyes followed after the retreating bodies until Meyrin's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “I wonder why Athrun did that... he isn't the sort to to do something bad on purpose,” she said outloud in sheer wonder.
My mind was unable to focus as I wiped down the tables. I also pondered Meyrin's words about Athrun. Why did he do that? Did Yuuna really infuriate him or something? What happened.. I wonder? I thought as the corner of my eye, I noticed Mr Todaka and Athrun come back. “That's it everyone... good work today! You're dismissed,” he called out as soon as the jobs were done.
We bowed to Mr Todaka and got changed. As I saw Athrun's retreating figure going out the door, I ran up to him and called out his name, “Hey Athrun! Wait up!”
He turned his head in surprise but gave me an indifferent look as he said, “What do you want?”
My gaze shifted uncomfortably to the floor. “I ..uh.. wanted to talk,” I admitted truthfully as my eyes sneaked a look at him.
His face surprised me for a moment, because it had become shadowy and dark. This wasn't the usual face that I was used to seeing. “We can talk tomorrow,” he said simply as he headed towards the door.
This got me a little infuriated. I grabbed his arm and yanked him away from the restaurant, much to his surprise. “Come with me!” I ordered as he gave a surprised yell, “HEY!”
I ran quickly, dragging the athletic Athrun, who had no trouble keeping up, but was at an awkward angle because I grabbed his arm while running. I stopped running as we entered the town park which was quite silent, due to the darkness. “What do you want?” Athrun repeated his earlier question, but now with less ice in his tone.
I took a deep breath before facing him. “Why did you do that to Yuuna?” I asked as I glanced deep into his emerald orbs.
Athrun gave a small chuckle as I looked at him in surprise. “I wonder... how long will you be holding my hand?” he said with a small smirk on his face. “Not that I mind of course,”
“Oh!” I said as I realised that I still held onto his hand and immediately released him.
Then my eyes looked at him again, but in a peeved form. “Now answer my question!” I repeated.
Athrun's smirk faded immediately and his face darkened slightly. “He said somethings that I don't approve of,” he said as he said no more.
My mouth took on an 'o' look as we stood there in silence. But then Athrun was also the one to break it. “He cares for you a lot; to come to see you during work,” he said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
“I don't like men like him, whose arrogance blinds themselves. So, I don't care for him one bit. I'm only with him at the moment because we're unfortunately partnered up for the play, so there isn't much I can do about it since I don't have a double to take my place,” I answered truthfully.
“Ah, I see,” said Athrun, but I could just barely hear a tint of happiness in his voice after hearing my answer.
“So, what about Luna?” I spoke as I kicked a pebble as far as it would go and directing my gaze to the floor.
Athrun blinked. “What about her?” he asked, dumbfolded.
“She asked you out, am I correct? I heard her saying that she would,” I said quickly as I sneaked a quick look at his handsome face in the moonlight shining upon him.
Athrun shrugged. “I refused her,” he said simply as he directed his full attention towards my surprised face.
“What? W-why? I mean she's really pretty...” I said as I looked downwards again to avoid meeting those gazes of his.
“I don't care whether she's pretty or not... I may be a bit of a play boy, but truthfully, I was born for the love of just one girl out there and I don't think she is her,” Athrun spoke with honesty in his voice completely as he stunned me for a moment.
“I-i see...” I said. “Well, it's begining to be late and Kira will wonder where I am, so I guess I'll see you later,”
Athrun gave me a nod. “Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then,” he said.
As I took a step, I remembered that I still had Athrun's jacket, so I called out his name, “Athrun! I forgot to return this to you,”
Athrun spun around at the mention of his name as a familar jacket fell into his arms. He gave me a rare smile. “Thanks, Cagalli,” he said.
I nodded. “See ya!” I said as I ran towards home with a tint of blush evident on my face.
While I was on my way, I couldn't help thinking how much more handsomer Athrun would be if he smiled more instead of that smirk, but still, he's a good person..
-----
Next day... “Everyone, I suspect you've all practised your lines for the play?” Miss Simmons asked.
We all nodded. “Very good, now I suggest you get along with the people that you will be working with,” she said as she mainly directed this to Yuuna and I.
“Hold on, Miss Simmons, I would like to modify some of the roles,” said a familiar masculine voice.
Miss Simmons looked surprised but nodded nevertheless. “What is it, Mr. Zala?” she asked.
Athrun gave a bold face and his face shone within the whole drama stage. “Instead of Yuuna Roma being the prince, may I, his double take his place instead, for Cagalli, the princess is playing,” he said nobly. (A/N: I took that line from Kamichama karin! That line was also said by Akira Ishida, Athrun's voice actor, though it was through Michiru's mouth)
