Updart.
Chapter Five
~When All Else Fails, Make Sure He's The Last Person To Go To~
No, no, no. Bad idea. Coming here was a terrible idea, but asking... HIM, isn't any better. It's a step down. I might as well have asked Ketso, but he was out with his love interest, who's name I will not disclose. I sat on the leather chair in his office. I've never been in his office before, but... Then again, I've never needed his help for anything before. But I never really needed his help. The girls just thought it'd be funny at my expense. I looked at the dark green carpet and the walls lined with pine. He had a large library that reached to the ceiling. He had a large wooden desk with a computer monitor on top. He had several knickknacks on the wall like a fish that paid a visit to the taxidermist and a wooden lifesaver next to the lamp attatched to the wall. It was oddly chilly too.
Gerard sat at his desk in a leather office chair. He leaned over his desk holding tweezers very gently as he inserted them into the bottle on his desk. He was... He was constructing a small ship in a bottle. I swear, this man was the living, breathing, Rubiks cube. It takes forever to figure him out, and when you do... Somehow, he just gets mixed up again. He had a monocle worn on his right eye to magnify the ship, and a bright light shone on the bottle. "Amy says you need some girl help, kiddo?" he asked. If he ever called me kiddo again, I really was going to kill him. With my bare hands. "What's her name?" he said gently picking at the small ship with his tweezers.
"Why are you building a ship in a bottle?" I asked in curiosity.
"Well, it started about three days ago," he said squinting the eye that held the monocle. "Y'see, I sorta slacked off on the chores and the chores that I DID do were either poorly done or whatever. Rikku got fed up and I spent that night on the couch. I couldn't get to sleep so I just started thinking and stuff. And the thought came to me. What if I built a ship in a bottle? That'd be so bad ass!" he said flipping his hair out of the way. He leaned in closer than ever before and slowed down his breath.
"DAD!" Sanae boomed as she burst through the door. Gerard trembeled over the desk in shock. The bottle crushed under his torso. He let out a yelp of pain as Sanae laid a paper flat on his desk. "Daddy?" she said confused. Gerard sat back in his chair. "Err... Can ya sign this?" she asked. Gerard began to breath heavily as she heaved. It was funny. He didn't see it, but it looked like glass shards got caught in his torso. He deserved it. "Err... Your chest's bleedin' Dad," she said.
"I'm... I'm just going to.." he muttered holding tears back. "Honey?" he asked calling out to Rikku. Rikku answered in the kitchen. She was doing the dishes after dinner. She wasn't half that bad of a cook. I... I really didn't mind eating dinner with them, even with Ketso and Gerard at the table. At least one of us showed manners at the table. Rikku came in with soapy gloves adorned on her hands. She rushed over to Gerard who got up and walked slowly to the door. "Can... Can you help me get the glass out?" he said walking towards his room. I stood up.
"Auntie Rikku... I'll finish the dishes. You help him," I said. She objected, but I insisted. I owe so much to her, so I might as well start by doing this. She kissed me on the cheek as a thank you as she helped Gerard to their room. I slipped on the yellow gloves and Sanae followed me to the kitchen. The counters shone of black marble. Sanae leaned on the counter, letting her brown hair fall onto her shoulders. She put a few strands into her mouth as I began washing off the suds on the pearly white plates. "What do you want?"
"Watcha gonna do about Penny?"
"...Nothing."
"That's really stupid, y'know?"
"Oh." I didn't want to talk really. I was half way done with the dishes, but she just wanted to talk, ever so badly. She'd drive me to my wit's end.
"Well... Dad says you know how to play the Ax well,"
"Ax?"
"Guitbox? Guitar?"
"...And?"
"Well, we're having a dance soon, next Friday. I'm part of the planning committee. Maybe you could play a bit?"
"I don't even go to your school," I said coldly. If Penelope could see me there... She probably wouldn't even go. She doesn't seem like that type.
"Penelope's going to be there. Shinobu and them are tight-knit. She can help ya out y'know,"
"I... I guess... But I don't have any band members,"
"I know a few people willing. Whaddya say, Kanynt?" she smiled. I looked at her and she really was willing to help me out. Gerard's family is definitely screwed up.
"Whatever..." I said. I shut off the water and pulled off the gloves. I flipped my hair out of my eyes and Sanae joined her sisters on the couch. Gerard had just gotten out, but he was pretty cautious of his movements. He took me back into his room and he sat on his desk, cleaning off the debris of what was left of his bottle. He flipped his hair aside and I could see both of his eyes. He stepped off the chair and pulled a book from his library. He blew off the dust, some flying on to the plain black shirt he wore. I would've bet that when Mother took me clothes shopping, she bought extra pairs for him too. Rikku didn't seem like the kind of person to let him dress that way.
"Hmm... Let's see..." he said as he fingered through the pages. What the hell was he looking for? "Here," he said. "When first approaching a girl, always maintain a pleasant disposition,"
"You're an idiot," I murmured as I got up.
"I'm kidding, Kanynt. Don't worry. This book's just for reading. Tell me about Penelope,"
"She... She's beautiful..." I said quietly.
"What?"
"Beautiful..." I said quietly again.
"He has to talk louder, y'know?" I heard Sanae whisper from behind the door.
"What did you say?" Gerard said.
"SHE'S BEAUTIFUL AND HER HAIR HAS THE FRAGRANCE CHERRIES AND HER VOICE FLIES IN THE WIND LIKE A SONG," I yelled. I sat down, breathing heavily. Father chuckled a bit.
"Kanynt. Gee," he chuckled. "Did you talk with her?"
"Yeah, but not much,"
"Well, I guess the first start is to find her again. Don't make it creepy like though. You should make it look like a coincidence!" he smiled. "And then like... Like... talk more!"
"I can't believe Rikku is in love with you, sometimes," I whispered to myself, blowing the hair off of my face.
"And... like... If she leaves, ask if you can meet her again," he said before glancing at the monitor on his desk. He laughed and began typing on the keyboard. "Amme says don't do anything drastic,"
"I have a feeling she's not kidding," I rolled my eyes.
"Maybe if... Hmm... When you talk, try to find as much common ground and build off of that. It's human nature," he said. Suddenly, he was the matchmaker. What was he thinking? None of that would work. I clenched my fist in anger. This was just wasted time. But at least I wouldn't have to be at home with mother...
"I have to go," I said pulling on my jacket. The zipper's clinked with the metal as I swung it on. I opened the door and Sanae, Amy, and Shinobu toppled on top of each other. I looked down as they smiled up. I shook my head at their stupidity and walked over them. Rikku gave me a hug goodbye and an offer to escort me home. I denied her offer. I couldn't pester her anymore. She's done enough for me already... But... I was happy she did. I stepped outside and felt the cold air consume me. I knew I couldn't rely on the advice of father. I was going to wait where I met her. It was a good idea.
She stole my heart... And the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
-End Chapter-
Update. Or I will. o.o; >.>