"Hurry up Duo!" Sophie called as she ran down the beach, Nano nipping at her heels.
"How can you run so fast?" Duo complained. It was Thursday night, and Sophie had wanted to explore the beach. She had dragged Duo along with her and so they took Nano as well. They were heading down the less traveled part of the beach because Sophie liked it better. She hadn’t been very far down it, but she knew it had lots of ‘neat rocks’, as she put it, down that way. She picked up seashells as she walked and occasionally splashed Nano with the water.
"Hey look Duo! A cliff!" She cried excitedly. She broke into a flat out run towards it. Sophie stopped at the base of the cliff that marked the end of the stretch of beach. She waited there for Duo to catch up.
"What’s so great about this cliff?" He wondered.
"I love cliffs!" She sighed. She dropped her seashells and started to climb up.
"Are you sure that’s safe?" Duo wondered as he started to follow her.
"Calm down Duo! I’ve been climbing cliffs every day for the last ten years!"
"I guess so." Duo sighed and followed her up. Sophie stopped halfway up on a small outcropping of rock. There was slight overhang, making a perfect spot to stop and sit. Duo joined her after a minute and sat down as well.
"Should we go all the way up?" He asked.
"Sure," She grabbed onto the rock again and climbed all the way up. Duo laughed and then followed her.
The top was covered in grass and dandelions that were turning into balls of white fluff. Further down were a few Palm trees and wildflowers. The wind was only a soft breeze, and the sun was just getting ready to set, turning the sky a fiery yellow. Sophie sat with her legs dangling over the edge of the cliff, and Duo sat next to her. Sophie sighed and lay down, her feet still dangling.
"This place is so cool!" She giggled. "Wow, look at the sunset!"
Duo looked at it with her. "Yeah, earth sure is beautiful."
"Yeah,"
They heard noises behind them, and they looked up. Some happy tourists were coming up the cliff the easy way; they took the trail. Soon the tourists were right behind them and snapping photos and talking loudly.
"Argh!" Duo groaned. "Lets go!"
Sophie nodded and they climbed back the cliff, earning a few gasps of surprise from the old tourists. Once they were halfway down at the outcropping again, they couldn’t really hear the tourists anymore. They stopped and leaned against the rock, watching the sun set.
Finally, after an hour, Duo said, "We should get back before its too dark to see out feet." He laughed and started climbing down again.
"Aw, but Duo. I wanna stay!"
"We can’t stay!" Duo called back. "I’m hungry!"
Sophie laughed but started to follow him anyway. Soon they were wordlessly heading back to the house.
Over the next few days, the cliff became Sophie’s favorite spot, and she happily announced the fact to him. Often if Sophie disappeared, Duo knew where he could find her, at the cliff. She even went as far as to sneak away before sunrise. She said sunrise was just as pretty as sunset was, if not prettier.
Sophie really liked the small outcropping of rock because nobody bothered her there. That was where Duo found her the day of the ball, after he had searched everywhere else he could think of.
"Sophie! Come on! We only have an hour before we have to leave for the Ball and you’re not even dressed yet!"
"It only takes me two minutes to get dressed!" She called back.
Duo sighed; the girl didn’t get it.
"Well, we still have to shower, eat, and you have to do something with that mess you call hair!"
"What’s wrong with it?" Sophie asked.
Duo sighed. "Come on! I know how long you take in the shower!" Duo’s own hair was already washed and braided. All he needed was to get into his suit. But Sophie was another story. He wondered if he should force her into make-up, but then decided against it. They didn’t have time and Sophie wasn’t too fond of anything feminine, except short skirts and cropped off shirts.
"All right! All right!" Sophie moaned as she got down from the cliff.
She followed Duo in a light jog back to the house.
"Shower! Quick!" Duo urged, shoving her towards the bathroom. Sophie sighed but didn’t argue. She waited until Duo had closed the door before fiddling with the shower knobs and stepping in.
Outside, Duo shoved pizza into his mouth, eating as quickly as he could manage. When he heard the shower stop running he quickly got into his white tux and waited for Sophie. Since she wasn’t very good with a hair dryer, he would have to do it for her.
Sophie stepped out in a towel and sighed, "Where’s that thing you got me for tonight?" She asked.
Duo jumped up and got the dress out of his closet and handed it to her. Then Sophie disappeared back into the bathroom. Two minute later she came out fully dressed, except for her shoes and a towel draped around her shoulders.
She was wearing a dark forest green dress. It was a tube top at the top, with a puffy skirt. The skirt was dark green with a green mesh overtop of it. Tiny, embroidered black flowers were stitched into the mesh. The top was the same color as the skirt, with the same black flowers on it.
Her shoes matched the color of the dress, and were platform sandals, with as little weight put on the toes as possible. Sophie had complained in the store that the shoes were hard to walk in, but got better after a few dancing lessons with Duo. She still didn’t like them though, claiming they were uncomfortable. In order for her to wear them, Duo had to wear them for an entire day so that he would know how she was feeling. Sophie and Duo both got a few good laughs out of that.
"Hair," Duo ordered. Sophie sat in front of him and let Duo dry her hair with the blow dryer. It took nearly half an hour to dry Sophie’s thick hair, and even then it was still damp. Afterwards, Duo pulled her hair into a half-ponytail and then secured it with the green and gold hair clip.
Nano looked at the rushing people curiously from where he was sleeping on Duo’s bed which Sophie had been using since she had come to stay with him. He yawned lazily and buried his head in his little paws and fell back asleep, apparently not sensing how late they were going to be.
Finally, Duo turned her around to get a good look at her. He smiled at his work; she looked great! Even without make-up, her face was flawless, and luckily all her bruises and cuts had healed. The only visible mark on her was a small scar half under her hairline, which could barely be seen anyway. Sophie had once told him she got it in the crash.
Duo whistled, which made Sophie blush. "Wow Sophie, you’ll be the best lookin’ girl there!"
Sophie blushed even deeper. There was a honk from outside, and Duo knew the Limo had arrived.
"Let’s go! Get you shoes!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the door. Sophie grabbed her shoes as they ran out and followed him.
"Wow!" She gasped, "That is the biggest car I’ve ever seen!"
"It’s a Limo!" Duo laughed, "People use them for big events to look important."
Sophie giggled and got into the Limo next to him. She struggled into her shoes in the car, while Duo watched with badly hidden amusement.
Lucky for them, the Ball wasn’t far, and the drive was only an hour long. The ball would take place in a hall in Orlando.
"Wait ‘till you meet my friends." Duo told Sophie. "You’ll love them."
"Really?" Sophie asked, turning her sparkling ocean colored eyes towards him. "You think I’ll do OK?"
"Of course you will," Duo assured her. "Just remember those dance steps I taught you."
Sophie took a deep breath and said, "OK,"
It seemed like only a few minutes before they were there.
The Limousine pulled up to the entrance, where a red carpet was set up to welcome the guests. A doorman stood at the door, taking the invitations, and two bouncers were behind him, ready to scare off anyone trying to sneak in.
Duo got out first and then took Sophie’s hand and helped her out.
"I can get out myself you know," She sighed.
"Not in those shoes," Duo joked, "And besides, it makes me look better."
Sophie laughed and let Duo help her out of the car. She nearly tripped when she saw how many people were milling around inside and out. When Duo hooked onto her arm, she clenched it tightly because she was suddenly nervous.
Duo looked over and grinned at her. "Relax," he said, "You’re making me nervous."
"Sorry," Sophie mumbled, but soon she had a death grip on his arm again.
Duo sighed as he handed the invitation to the doorman and they went inside.
The hall was absolutely beautiful. A live band played near one end, where there was a stage set up for speeches. Waiters in monkey suits milled around with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. People in fancy clothes had grouped themselves with their friends and were either talking or dancing. Everything was done in gold, from the pillars near the sides of the room, to the tables with food and refreshments to the ceiling and the decorations. The Preventors had spared no expense. Who was in charge of that anyway? The Ball looked like it would be great.
Sophie gasped when she saw the enormous hall and the hoards of people. Duo immediately started looking for his best friend. He spotted him not far from the front door; his eyes fixed on someone near the center of the room. Duo didn’t even have to look to know that it was Relena.
"Come on," He whispered to Sophie. He pulled her over to a young man with messy, chocolate brown hair and scolding blue eyes.
"Hey Heero buddy! Long time no see!" Duo said as he smacked his friend on the back.
Heero turned and glared at his friend.
"Nice to see you too." Duo laughed.
Heero shifted his gaze to Sophie, who squirmed nervously, trying in vain to hide behind Duo.
"Who is she?" Heero asked, never taking his eyes off Sophie.
"You don’t have to be so rude, Heero." Duo scolded playfully. "This is a friend of mine. Her name’s Sophie."
"Hn, Sophie what?"
"Uh…" Sophie didn’t know how to answer that. Duo, however, didn’t falter.
"Does it really matter, Heero? Sheesh, are you this suspicious of everyone?"
"No, just people who show up with someone who just broke up with his girlfriend not even a week ago."
"Hn," Duo snorted, "Hilde doesn’t know what she’s missing out on. Besides, Sophie is just a friend, not a date."
"Sure she is,"
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Duo cried.
"Nothing, Duo."
Sophie watched the two friends with curiosity Duo acted a lot differently around Heero than he did round her. Around her, he seemed gentler, and more concerned about her.
"Heero is just cranky," Duo explained to her as they watched him leave. Sophie nodded and then allowed Duo to pull her off to find some more of his friends. She suddenly regretted that her only friend in the world was Duo, and maybe Nano, if he counted.
"Hey Quatre!" Duo stopped suddenly and called to a blonde boy. Sophie looked up and saw the boy heading for them.
"Hello Duo." Quatre said politely. "Glad to see you could make. I almost thought you wouldn’t come." He smiled and then looked at Sophie.
"Hello," He greeted her as well.
"Oh, Quatre, this is Sophie."
"Nice to meet you, Sophie." Quatre said, shaking her hand.
"Hi" Sophie said shyly.
"Hilde’s been looking for you." Quatre said, turning to Duo.
"She has? Why?"
Quatre shrugged. "She hasn’t really said she’s looking for you but her eyes have been fixed on the door since she got here."
Duo sighed, "Oh well,"
"Hey guys!" A woman’s voice said from behind them. The three of them turned around to see a cheerful blonde woman.
"Hi Sally!" Duo said equally as cheerfully. Sally said nothing back to him as she inspected the group. "I see…" she muttered.
"Hun? See what?" Duo asked.
"I was just trying to talk to Hilde," Sally replied, "But I left when she mentioned ‘Duo and his little slut’. I guess it as safe to say that she’s exaggerating…right?"
"Of course it is," Duo answered casually. "She’s just mad at me, that’s all."
"Funny," Sally grumbled, "I would have thought it would be the other way around."
"It was, for a while. But I’m almost over her. Did she tell you that she tried to come back?"
"REALLY?" Sally choked. Duo nodded,
"So that’s why she’s mad…" Sally suddenly understood. "Well then, just try not to let her glares scare ya. Have a good time Duo, Quatre."
"Bye Sally."
"Quatre…" Dorothy snuck up behind them, grabbing Quatre’s arm. "You’re going to dance with me." She said, pulling him away.
"Bye," Duo laughed. Quatre blushed as he followed Dorothy onto the dance floor.
Duo turned and looked around, he spotted Relena heading for them and he grinned.
"Hey Relena," Duo smirked, "Nice to see ya again."
"Hi Duo," Relena smiled cheerfully. "Oh, hello, I’m Relena." Relena looked at Sophie standing behind Duo nervously. Sophie looked at Relena’s outstretched hand and took it gently. "Hi," She said softly.
"Relena, this is Sophie," Duo introduced them, Relena smiled brilliantly at Sophie.
"Its very nice to meet you, Sophie." She smiled, apparently not bothered about Duo being there with a girl other than Hilde just a short while after they broke up. Duo watched as Relena expertly drew Sophie into a conversation. Soon Sophie opened up a bit and was talking quite a bit to Relena. When Sophie broke into her story about being stranded on an island for ten years, Relena was interested and appalled.
"And you survived?" Relena gasped.
Sophie nodded, "But I wouldn’t have if my mother hadn’t taught me how to survive."
"Your mother was there as well?"
"For a little while, she died a year after the crash."
"Oh, that must have been so terrible for you. But you’re lucky you wound up with Duo. He’s one of the nicest guys out there." Relena winked at Duo, who just smiled knowingly. But inside, Duo winced at her words. Hilde had dumped him, saying almost exactly the same thing. But it didn’t matter; he had Sophie now. After another few minutes, Relena spotted Heero and excused herself and went to con Heero into dancing with her.
"What do you say we follow their example?" Duo suggested with a smirk, turning to Sophie.
"Hun?"
"Come on! Let’s dance!"
"A-are you sure?" Sophie stuttered. "I’m not very good…"
"Oh BS, everyone can dance. Just follow my lead."
"Ok…" Sophie said uncertainly.
"YAY!" Duo pulled her out onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms.
"Your hands go here," He instructed, taking her hands and putting them where they were supposed to go. "You remember what to do?"
"Sort of…" Sophie confessed.
"It’s easy, just follow me."
They started to move, and at first Sophie was clumsy.
"You’re trying to lead Sophie, let me." Duo laughed. Sophie blushed and tried again. It took her a maximum of two minutes to get it. She was a natural dancer!
The band started playing a waltz and the steps changed slightly.
"How am I doing, Duo?" Sophie asked, looking down at her feet.
"Great," Duo answered, "Don’t look at you feet." He touched her chin and led her face back up. Sophie blushed and Duo discretely moved towards her. Near the end of the waltz, a man came up to Duo and Sophie and tapped Duo on the shoulder. They stopped and looked at the man.
He was a tall, handsome man with dark brown hair and striking features.
"Excuse me, Sir. I was wondering if I might steal your partner for a dance?" He asked.
Sophie looked up at Duo questioningly.
"Go ahead," Duo smiled. "I don’t mind."
Sophie slowly let go of Duo and let the other man take her hand.
"Good evening, what’s your name?" The man asked Sophie as he pulled her away from Duo.
"Sophie," She said quietly.
"Ah Sophie, a lovely name."
"Thank you."
He pulled Sophie into him and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her body against his.
"My name is Gregory," He said in her ear. Sophie shuddered at his breath running across her neck, but was too shy to do anything about it.
They danced for a while before Gregory decided to pull her off the dance floor.
"Its pretty stuffy in here," He said to. "Why don’t we get out of here?"
"I-I don’t know…"
"Come on, we’ll just go out to the gardens."
Sophie was going to protest but he was already moving towards the door.
Sophie reluctantly followed him.
