I looked up from an examination of my hands and allowed a slight smile as Marshal approached wearing faded denim jeans and a t-shirt with the Galbadia Garden logo. "Marshal."
Marshal came to stand across from me, smiling. "You ready?"
I stood from the bench in the main corridor of Balamb Garden and gave a nod. "Yes."
He offered a hand and I took it. "You know what you want?" he asked as we stepped toward the front gate.
We were shopping for the dress I would wear to Sally Regal's 20th birthday party. "No. I don't wear dresses."
"I know," he said, smiling, "that's the only reason I'm going." He chuckled. "I still don't understand why you didn't just ask Sally to go with you. I thought you squared things."
"I make Sally uncomfortable."
I had made Sally fearful or uncomfortable from the day I had joined Garden's ranks. It had become a game for me to push the right buttons to make it worse. Only, after the tearful exchange in Seifer's office of Sally saying she didn't think I respected her, I had seen how twisted the game had become.
"I know you do, chicklit, but I still think she'd have loved to go. The girl gives everyone a third and fourth chance. Don't know why, especially with pricks like Seifer and me."
"You aren't a prick." I smirked. "An ass...? Maybe."
Marshal laughed. I sent him a sidelong glance. He met it. "What?"
"Why did she invite me?"
"Because I begged her to. I want to see you in a dress."
"Marshal."
Marshal gave my hand a brief squeeze. "Okay, okay." He smiled over at me. "She invited you because she wants you to go. Why's that so hard to believe? She respects you, Ahndra."
"Why?" I motioned to him before he could speak. "You understand me, Marshal. When I see a weakness, I play on that. I made her terrified of me."
He slightly nodded. "I know, but you never once talked down to her. You let her do her job and pushed her to do more than what she probably would have done on her own. Hell. You and Dincht and Seifer all push her to move outside that damn shell of hers. It's been good for her, too."
I changed my focus to the dark brown car parked outside the gate.
"You're damn good at your job, Ahndra, like I've said before. Sally's got every reason to respect you. More now that you've pulled your head out of your ass and told her you respect her."
I frowned and punched his arm. "Don't be an ass."
Marshal chuckled while rubbing at the offended arm. "Can't help it." He opened the door for me. "Don't worry about Sally, chicklit," he said as I climbed in. "I'm sure she's used to being the butt of people's jokes. I mean, have you met her older brother? I bet Zack gives her nothing but grief. Besides, if you really hurt her feelings I think she would have said something before now. Or Dincht would've. Dude. Dincht likely would've taken your ass on."
I scoffed and pulled the door closed.
Marshal laughed and went around to enter on his side. "You know he would. He wouldn't have given a damn if he had a chance in hell of winning. He's in love, and that's what guys do." He leaned over and kissed my cheek. I faced him. "I would've taken on Seifer for you."
I smirked. "Not very bright."
Marshal's lips twitched. He kissed me briefly on the lips. "Yeah, well, I never said I was."
He put the car in gear and pulled away from the gate. I watched him with a slight smile. Then I focused out the window as I rested my hand on his thigh.
"What about this one?"
I looked up from the brown velvet of a shapeless dress hanging on a rack. Marshal held a silver gown up to the light. I blinked. "I can't wear that."
He looked over at me. "Huh? Why not? It'll match your hair and eyes." He pushed it toward me. "Here. Try it."
I took it from him and examined the making of it. "How? There's no sleeves."
I noticed Marshal's lips twitch. "It's not supposed to have sleeves."
I arched an eyebrow and looked down at the dress again. I turned it this way and that. "How does it stay up?"
Marshal chuckled and then took the dress and a gentle grip on my arm as he led me toward a portion of the store that said 'Fitting Rooms'. The sales lady unlocked it and then Marshal ushered me inside and closed the door behind him. He hung the dress up and carefully took it down from the hanger - it hung only by two very thin pieces of ribbon that were affixed within the bodice of the gown.
He unzipped it and then gathered the material of the skirt. "Arms up."
I regarded him with a continued arch of my eyebrow. "With my clothes on?"
Marshal chuckled again. "I wish, but just humor me. I'd rather not get a fist in the mouth."
So I lifted my arms over my head. He directed the dress down over me, freeing catches here and there when the skirt gathered on my shirt or pants. Then he drew the front of it down, turned me around, and zipped the dress up in the back. I blinked at the image in the mirror.
He put his cheek beside mine and smiled at my reflection in the mirror. "That is what keeps it up."
I flushed and slightly smiled as I looked away.
Marshal stepped to the door and opened it. "Miss, we'll take this one in a size 6."
"Shoes?"
Marshal looked up from a pair of silver heels. "Sure. You can't wear your boots with a dress like that." We had already stowed the gown in the back of the car. He held up the silver heels with a smile. "How about these?"
I arched an eyebrow. "You're kidding."
"What's wrong with them?"
I took one from him and motioned to the heel. "Three inch heels? How can I walk in that without toppling over forwards?"
Marshal laughed. "Okay, okay." He put them away and then reached up for another pair of shoes. "What about these?"
"They look like something I would wear to bed."
Marshal smirked. "They're called slippers." He motioned to the bench behind me. "Here. Let's try them on."
I sat and unlaced my right boot to pull it off and set it aside. Marshal slipped the 'slipper' onto my foot and then took both my hands in his.
"Come on. Stand up. See how it feels."
I stood-- I blinked down at my foot in surprise. I looked at Marshal. "It doesn't feel like I have anything on."
He smiled and gave my hands a squeeze. Then he focused on the sales clerk. "Sir, we'll take these."
"What? Why?"
Marshal accepted the earrings from the salesman and faced me. "Ahndra, you can't wear a hot dress like the one you got without getting earrings." He offered forward a pair that looked to be nothing but twinkles falling from an initial stud. "Come on. These will go with the necklace I got you. Try them on."
"I don't have pierced ears," I protested, taking a step back.
Marshal smiled. "I know that. These aren't pierced. See? You screw this down in the back until they don't fall off." He gestured me forward. "Come on, Ahndra. It'll be fun. Relax."
I took in a deep breath and released it slowly. Then I stepped forward and accepted Marshal's offer to put the earrings on me.
I stared at my reflection in the small mirror and saw the twinkle of the earrings match the glimmer of my eyes. Mom... Mom, I wish you could see me now...
"Ooo. I like this one. Here. Try it."
I focused on Marshal as he held out a small bottle of perfume. "Why? If you like it, why not get it?"
Marshal's smile faded. "I..." He set the perfume bottle down and stepped toward me, lowering his voice. "Are you mad at me?"
I blinked at him. "No."
"Then why did you say that?" he asked as he motioned over his shoulder.
I frowned in confusion. "Say what? To get it?"
"That's not exactly what I got from it."
I studied Marshal's face. Then I gestured to the bottles of perfumes and cremes and lotions. "Marshal, I don't understand about all these things. I wouldn't know what to get or why to get it." I pointed at the bottle on the counter. "If you like it, shouldn't I get it?"
"You should get it if you like it, chicklit."
"But I don't know what I like or don't like."
"Okay." He stepped back to the counter and opened the bottle. "Hold out your forearm."
I did, and he sprayed a small amount on a card presented to him before rubbing that card onto the skin of the inside of my wrist.
He motioned to my nose. "Tell me what you think."
I raised my arm hesitantly to my nose and breathed in slightl-- I blinked and looked down at my arm with wide eyes before changing my focus to Marshal. "I like it."
He smiled and turned to the salesman. "We'll take this. Lotion, too. Body spray... Hell. Give us the whole gift box."
I sniffed again and released a slight smile. I looked up at Marshal when he stepped close to me. He lifted my arm to his lips and kissed it twice, holding my gaze. I felt my cheeks flush.
"You up for dinner?"
I looked down at my watch. We headed to the car, Marshal's hands full of two hanging bags full of accessories, perfumes, and gods knew what else. "It's late." I met his gaze. "I don't think we have time."
"Damn. Oh well. It's all good." He looked over at me with a slight smile. "This was fun. Haven't done it since Katie dragged my ass here to shop for her prom."
I looked away. "Yes. It was fun." But I wished Marshal could have had his sister back.
Marshal nudged my arm with his shoulder. "Katie would've like you, chicklit. I'm sorry you never got to meet her."
I took one of the hanging bags from him and enfolded his hand in mine. "I'm sorry you lost her."
Marshal kissed my hand before stroking it with his thumb. "Yeah, well, at least she can rest in peace now."
I smiled slightly, my hand increasing its pressure against his. It felt good to know I'd taken the horror of the revenge from him while giving him what he'd wanted for three years. 'Peace...'
"NO." I stared at myself in the mirror, eyes wide.
"Ahndra, come on," Marshal urged from outside my dorm room. "Everyone's going to be wearing dresses almost exactly like yours."
I tugged up on the bodice, but there was still so much skin showing... And the slit on the side? My stomach slithered to my heels. It was way too high.
"Marshal... Marshal, I can't go out in this!"
"Ahndra." He tried the door. It was locked. "Ahndra, open the door."
"Marshal, I won't go in this," I protested. "I feel... naked!"
"Ahndra..." Marshal released a breath so deep I heard it through the door. "Okay. I guess we won't go then. I'll just tell Sally... I'll just tell her something came up. Why don't you get changed and we'll go to dinner?"
But I remembered all-too-clearly the expression on Sally's face when I had said Marshal and I would be coming. I balled my hands into fists and turned to the door to unlock it and step out.
Marshal turned from his examination of the far wall. He had dressed in a white tuxedo with a black bow-tie and cumberbun. He had a silver handkerchief in his breast pocket. He looked incredible.
And he smiled at me. "Hey beautiful."
I forced my hands away from my bodice and held his gaze. "I really don't like this," I told him.
He took my hands in his and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I know, chicklit. Just don't think about it."
"Don't think about it?" I lowered my gaze to my chest. "My breasts are practically hanging out!"
Marshal laughed. "No they're not, Ahndra. Calm down." He tucked my arm around his. "Come on. I want to be there before Sally and Zell show up."
"Wow. Look at 'em."
Marshal's hand tightened on mine. I smiled and slightly shook my head. We watched Sally and Zell's progression into the birthday party. It was quite a spectacle. Zell didn't have a chance to speak because of Sally's obvious excitement, and it looked as if she spoke in run on sentences with barely a pause between subjects. Zell didn't mind her excitement; in fact, he seemed to feed off of it.
"Damn. I never thought Dincht would fall head-over-heels in love, but... Damn." Marshal glanced at me. "You've got the present, right?"
I nodded slightly.
"You sure you want to do this?"
I planned on giving Sally something very... special. I nodded again. "Yes."
"Okay then." He gave my hand another squeeze and then pushed forward through the crowd, guiding me along behind him. "Hey, Meg!"
Sally looked up, narrowing her eyes as she tried to find Marshal through the sea of faces. Then she squealed his name and looked over at Zell with an excited exclamation of "Marshal's here!"
I smirked.
Zell laughed. "Of course he's here. He's the guy who helped me set all this craziness up!"
"Really?" Sally asked, wide-eyed. She turned and stepped forward to give Marshal a hug once he had finally emerged from the crowd. "Marshal... Thanks so much!"
Marshal chuckled and pushed back. "Hey now. I'm here with Ahndra, so don't get any ideas."
My smirk twitched as Marshal's hand tightened on mine, his thumb caressing my skin.
Sally giggled and then looked over at me, wide-eyed. "Oh my gosh," she whispered.
I flushed, especially when Marshal mumbled "Damn straight," under his breath.
Sally stepped over and hugged me. My eyes widened and I released Marshal's hand in surprise, my hands moving to hover a few inches from Sally's back.
"Oh my gosh Ahndra you look gorgeous And I love the way the dress brings out your eyes" and "It's so pretty and soft" and "Wow you look really pretty Marshal's really lucky to be here with you Don't you think so Zell?"
Marshal and Zell howled with laughter.
Sally pulled back and blinked at them. "What?" she asked innocently.
I had been that innocent once. Naive. Shy, but not really. "Regal."
She faced me and smiled. Yeah. I'd been Sally Regal once, and that was why I had to do what I planned to do.
"Calm down," I told her.
Sally giggled and lowered her hands from my arms. "Sorry. I've never had a birthday party before and I'm just really glad everyone could come and it's so pretty--"
"Regal."
Sally halted mid-sentence and flushed. Then she lifted her shoulders with a whispered "Sorry."
One side of my lips twitched, and then I handed forward a small box wrapped with pink paper. Sally took it, eyes wide as she stared down at it.
"Happy Birthday," I said.
Zell stepped close and put his arm around Sally's waist. "Sweet," he exclaimed. "They got you a present. Way to go, Dawg." Zell kissed Sally's hair. "Open it up."
Shaky fingers unwrapped the pink paper and then lifted the lid-- Sally gasped and very gently lifted the china angel from the box. The china angel my mom had bought me for a childhood birthday I no longer remembered. The china angel my father had broken. The china angel I knew would be safer in Sally's care than mine, remembered for the beauty instead of the crack.
Sally looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Oh my gosh. It's so pretty!" She stepped forward and gave me another hug. This time I lightly rested my hands on her back. "Thank you thank you," she whispered in a choked voice.
Zell gently stroked Sally's back as he whispered "That rocks, guys. Thanks."
I took in and released a deep breath of the ocean air as I continued to rest my arms against the railing on the back deck of the hotel. Marshal stood beside me, close enough to keep me warm just by standing there. He took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. I lowered my gaze to his hand holding mine and then softly smiled over at him.
He returned my smile. "That was a great thing you did, Ahndra. And you know what? I think you've made a friend for life."
I looked out to the reflection of the moon on the water and released another breath. "Maybe."
Marshal kissed the top of my head, and his hand released mine to embrace my shoulders and caress my upper arm. I closed my eyes at the sudden body-shiver and then the continued prickle... I straightened and turned, stepping within his arms to rest my cheek against his chest as my arms wrapped themselves around him.
He adjusted his arms around me and placed another kiss on my head. "I've missed you, Ahndra Kelley."
I sighed and tried to pull myself closer, remembering the hands held and the shy kiss and the giggles shared... I liked that boy, and I liked this man. "I've missed you, too, Marshal Beita."
The End
*
Chapter Fourteen / Chapter Index