Tina [Terra] Branford (branford) wrote in returners, @ 2009-02-15 19:15:00 |
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For the last three days Tina had been hard at work preparing for a Very Special Day. It wasn’t Valentine’s Day that had been circled with a red marker on her calendar, no, it was one that was much more significant than that and one that, for the life of her, she couldn’t remember doing anything special for in the past. Though it might not be much of a surprise given the strange happenstances they were prone to – there were more than a couple hazy Hanukah’s in her past – Tina really couldn’t recall why she never did anything special like this before. Well, there was a part of her that was positive that Setzer really didn’t want to have his age rubbed in his face, and maybe he was against being the belle of the ball, but this was different! Maybe tonight she would tell him that she loved him, too, because that was another thing she was hazy on. Why had they never said it before, after nearly three years?
All morning she spent making arrangements for the cake, and afterwards went to the nicest (affordable) boutiques she knew to buy flowers and decorations, positive that this was going to be an unforgettable evening. The only trick was having Edgar help her get Setzer out of the house for a few hours to decorate: something that was going to be a task in itself because she was also sure that she had yet to tell either Edgar or Locke of her relationship with him. Sometimes it made her head spin, but like so many things in the past, she had a little faith that things would work out the way they were meant to.
In just a few seconds, the green-haired girl had discovered her cell phone in her purse, and dialed the familiar song that would connect her to Edgar’s home, waiting eagerly for him to pick up, until five rings passed by and her brow began to furrow. No answer. “What?” With so many people in the apartment it was pretty rare for no one to be around to answer the phone, and the thought to call Locke was pushed back by the knowledge that things weren’t okay between him and Edgar yet. Of course he wouldn’t know where they were.
Adjusting the bag on her shoulder, Tina dialed the number once more, four rings passing before finally she heard a click on the other side of the line. “Hello?” The voice was familiar and she smiled wide before answering. “Hi, Edgar!”
After she heard him smile on the other end, they talked for nearly ten minutes about the weather and school and when they were going to hang out together again, before she was able to get to asking her question, Is Setzer there? It was then Edgar paused, as though in thought, before he shrugged. “I think him and Faris went out for the day. He was talking about buying some parts to rebuild a ships engine the other night, so I think Setzer might be going along to help.” There was only a little bitterness in Edgar’s voice at that, wondering why he hadn’t received an invitation to go as well, but then Setzer was probably giving him an opportunity for…something. To see Lenna, or to reconcile with Locke, not that the gambler really cared which it was.
“Oh, I see. Well, I’ll call back in a little while, then! Bye Edgar!”
After nearly the entire afternoon passed, the young girl realized that decorating at Edgar’s home was going to be out of the question, her own apartment being the new destination. Even Celes had helped a little, though she was definitely skeptical about the whole thing. Why so much effort for such a sleazebag? But when it got even later and the sun began to set, Tina felt herself growing increasingly …upset. Jealous. It might not have been so bad if he would have answered his phone once out of the twenty times she called him that night – it wasn’t like she was ever this persistent in the past! This was important!
It wasn’t until 11 o’clock that she finally slipped out of her apartment to walk to Edgar’s apartment and find out for herself. As mad as she was, it was quickly becoming worry, and she hated feeling so helpless. This was just a misunderstanding, after all, it had to be, because not even Setzer would be this out of touch – not that either had the other on a leash, but it’s just how they were.
Stopping on one of the streets, Tina dialed Edgar’s number one more time, frowning when he told her that they still weren’t back, and that if they decided to go out after working, that they shouldn’t be expected until early in the morning. “So frustrating,” she mumbled after they had hung up, sighing deeply as she brought her hand to face. Right now, crying seemed like the best option, but it was exhausting and he was exhausting and she really wanted tonight to be special and he was off playing mechanic with another guy!
She had really wanted to do something special for his birthday, too.
Turning away from the Park Avenue apartments, Tina sniffed quietly as she began to walk home, only making it about one block before she heard several male voices come from behind her. “Hey there little lady! Why are you crying? Boyfriend just break up with you?” There was something in their voices that made her stop cold, her back straightening before she turned to face them, her eyes burning both from anger and tears. “What do you creeps want?” A hand went to her hip this time, her nose crinkling as she stared them down, clearly unamused by their antics this evening.
“Aw, honey, don’t be so feisty! We just want to help a little cutie like yourself out. Come on, we’ll walk you home.”
“I can get home just fine by myself.” She replied coldly, though she spared them a second glance as she looked to the apartment building in front of her. Now might be a good time to just cut her loses and visit with Edgar…
“That’s awfully rude, don’t you think? We were being nice and now you’re just going to leave? You should…” One of the men grinned as he put a hand forcefully on her arm to stop her, before continuing. “Give us a little something for our trouble.”
“I…” Tina started, feeling her body grow hotter by the second, until the fire was concentrated in her palms. “DON’T WANT TO!!” With that she turned with her body to slap the man in the face, fire heating up her hands as she lurched a fireball at them both. “NO WAY IN HECK!”
With the men startled – who wouldn’t be after seeing a girl throw fireballs like a superhero – Tina took off running for Edgar’s apartment.