Generation 02, Chapter 11: The Nerve of Some People

Friday comes sooner than I realize and fortunately this week has gone by pretty well.  I've only spent about §200 on a vase that I crack while dusting and a toilet seat I somehow managed to break.  Also, there was an incident this morning...

Fir had a bunch of lawyers over and they were going over some contracts of some sort.  I had to serve the men coffee and while doing so, I casually caught a glimpse at the documents. They weren't good.  I knew that if Fir agreed to them, he'd gain nothing.  Acting quickly, I accidentally-on-purpose spilled the coffee I was serving all over the table.

It was worth the scolding I received from Myrtle.

"I know you don't understand but a lot of money was being exchanged there, Calla.  You have such a simple life.  So carefree...," Myrtle carried on for a full twenty minutes.  I wanted to retort, "I'm a lawyer! I understand that stuff better than you or any of those 'lawyers' do!" but I managed to restrain myself.

Fortunately, she's in a much better mood now.  I'm waiting by the front door for Champ to arrive to take us on our date.

"So... you're going out with Champagne?" Myrtle asks me.

"Mmmmhmm," I say.

"Is that what you're wearing?  I have a lovely piece of jewelry that would look great with that."

To my utter horror, she pulls out this jade snake arm band thingy from a drawer in the dining room and puts it on me.

"Thank you, Mrs. Dhaval.  Er... you're too kind," I managed to say.  I have to find a way to get this thing off without her noticing.

Mr. Dhaval comes walking in, mindlessly asking, "What's 17.5% of 7000?"

Before I can think, I reply, "1225."

Oh shit.

"By golly, she's right.  How did you do that?" Mr. Dhaval asks in astonishment.

"Uh.. I've always been... good with numbers.  It's really no big deal," I attempt to dismiss the topic.

"No big deal?  Calla, do you realize you could strive for something higher?  You can become more than just a housekeeper if you keep your head at it and throw in some hard work."

"Um, right," I say.  If only they knew.

Fortunately, Champ walks in looking smartly dressed.  His usual disheveled hair is slicked down and parted.

"What's this about being a mathematical genius?" He asks quizzically.

"Never mind, let's go," I say hurriedly and quickly drop the snake arm band into the drawer it came from (luckily Myrtle doesn't see me) and pull Champ outside.

"So what was that about?" Champ asks again once we're outside.  The air is fresh and I can see the stars start to come out, a rare sight in the city.

"It was nothing.  I'm just good at solving large mathematical equations in my head.  It's not big deal."

"Ah, it must be very convenient though, no?"

"I suppose.  But I'd much rather be able to work magic in the kitchen like your mom.  You sound like you had a really happy childhood."

"It was pretty happy.  Dad was actually alive then and there was rarely any fighting.  How about your parents?"

"They were pretty happy too," I reply.  Changing the topic I ask where we're going.

"To a local bar," is Champ's reply.

"Cool, I haven't been to a bar for a really long time."  Actually never.  But I don't say that.

"So, are you going to tell me your story?" Champ asks.

"I'm sorry?  My story?"

"Your life.  Before you came here."

"Okay, well, it's kind of boring.  And it's... it's hard to talk about.  Not to mention very long and did I say it was boring?"

"We have all the time in the world," Champ replies, waving his arm in a long gesture.

"Well, okay.  I left from my relationship, hopped on a train, and ended up here, I guess."

"That's it?"

"Pretty much."

"Oh," he looks down.  I can tell he's contemplating on what to say next.

"Is that the bar?" I ask, looking down at a small little stone building, relieved to change the subject.

"Yep."

"Why are all the people standing out there?"

"The owner is late."

"That's okay, I don't mind waiting."

I stop walking but Champ continues to walk around to the back of the building and produces a pair of keys.  Either he's breaking in or....

"Oh my God, you own a bar?"

"It's a family business," he explains casually.

"You never mentioned that!  That's so cool!" I exclaim.

We walk in and I have a great time meeting up with Champ's friends who help him run the bar.  We sing karaoke, play pool, talk, and drink.

When I think the night can't possibly get any better, I noticed a sign on the wall.

"No Lawyers."

"Uh, what's that?" I ask Champ.

"I don't serve lawyers."

He what?!  Hmmm, I suppose now would a be a horribly awkward time to tell him I'm a lawyer.

I finally persuade Champ that it's okay if he leaves my side to go play pool with his friends.  It gives me a changes to investigate this interesting sign.  I sit down next to one of his best friends, Antares Aven, whom I've gotten to know most throughout the night, and politely ask him about the sign.

"He's kidding right?" I ask jokingly.

Antares shakes his head.  "No, I believe he's serious about it.  He ha-strongly dislikes lawyers.  They're the ones that he believe caused his father's heart attack.  At least, indirectly."

"What happened?" I ask incredulously.

"Well, his father started dealing with these lawyers for this land deal and it apparently caused him extreme stress so much so that he had a heart attack shortly before the deal could be done.  Then, on the day of Champ's father's funeral, one of the lawyers came into the bar and Champ punched him."

My eyes widen.  "That's dreadful!"

I'm completely shocked.  If I told him I was a lawyer, would he punch me?  No, he wouldn't do that.  But he could break up us.

"I'm back," Champ announces, his hand gently resting on my shoulder.  I cover up the fact that I'm panicking about this whole lawyer-hating business.

"Ready to go?" he asks me.

"Sure!"

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We walk out into the night and I look up and gaze at the stars again.  I was never able to see them in the city very well and I cannot believe what I was missing out on.

"I love this place.  Everyone is so kind to each other.  No one in the city is like that.  It's horrible.  They'd rather rob you of your possessions than play a game of darts with you," I explain.  "This place reminds me a lot of the town where I grew up."

"Well, we did win the most heartwarming village award last year," Champ laughs.
We continue to walk quietly along the road to, presumably, the Dhaval's house.

Champ's hand gently brushes against mine.  I flinch and my heart jumps.  He waits a few seconds before grabbing it again, and this time he doesn't let go.  His firm grasp tells me that his hands are rough and calloused.  They've endured so much more than my own soft hands.

"C'mon, I want to show you something," Champ leads.  He pulls me over to a large hill and we climb up it.  We stand hand in hand at the very top and I gasp at the view of the beautiful town.  I turn to Champ who turns his head towards me.

We stand there in silence for a good ten minutes before turning back down and walking to the Dhaval's drive.

Champ let's go of my hand.  It's really dark outside but I can see him smiling at me as he slowly wraps his arms around my waist.

I hold onto him as well and we pull closer to each other.

He bends his head down and I gaze up at him.

We both start to lean in....

"Just kiss her already!" Myrtle's high-pitched voice screeches and causes both Champ and I to jump apart.

"Dont stop!  Just pretend like I'm not here, ya know?"

That woman!  I do not want to have my first kiss with Champ in front of her!

Champ and I both stand there with our arms at our sides.

"Should we give her what she wants or let her stand there in frustration?" Champ finally speaks.

"I thin she deserves a bit of frustration, I saw coyly.

"Me too."

"I had a really nice though.  Thank you, Champ."

"No problem.  I had a nice night too."

"So, uh, see you tomorrow.  At your mom's house, I mean."

"Okay, awesome.  See you at nine, Calla."

He touches my hand briefly and then we part.  I'm still furious with Myrtle for ruining my romantic evening. But at least I'll be able to see Champ tomorrow.

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NOTE

Okay, so I'm elated that I was able to get this post out.  It's been so long and I really apologize for that.  I took these pictures way back in March (as well as the pictures for the next two and a half posts.  O_O

I hope you enjoyed it!  Thank you for being so patient with me.