Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Girls ❯ Interlude 1: Meet the Dean ( Chapter 2 )

Gundam Girls

Interlude 1: Meet the Dean

Sunday, 3:15 pm

Dean's quarters . . .

A pile of papers littered the dinning table as Vince tried to sort out the new students who will be arriving at the start of the new semester. Sighing, he tossed down the papers he had been scrutinizing and removed his glasses, rubbing at his tired eyes.

"Tired, Daddy?" Karen Marie walked up behind him, rubbing his shoulders like she has so many times before. Vince only grunted in response. Karen giggled, "Maybe you should take a break for a while."

"I'd love to, Sweets, but school starts tomorrow and I need to get this taken care of."

"I know, I know. But you won't any good to anyone if you burn yourself out before then, now will you?" she chided gently. She hated to nag him, but someone had to give him a kick in the rear when he needed it, and she was the only one left to do so.

"You're right, as always. What do you suggest I do, hmm?" Vince leaned back, letting his daughter's near-expert hands work their magic. She was nearly as good as her mother in almost every aspect. If only her hands were bigger . . . she got that from Marie, too . . . Despite her petite hands, Marie certainly made up for it with speed and vigor in her massages . . . something Karen had yet to master.

"A walk. Take a stroll around campus and look at things not three inches from your face. The fresh air and sunshine will do you good." Just then, Karen hit a particularly sore knot in Vince's shoulder.

"Ah! Right there, right there! Oooooh, yeah . . . that's it . . ." Vince cooed.

Karen giggled and worked on the knot as best she could. "It's a good thing we don't have neighbors, or people would talk!"

"Hush, you. And people already talk, though I can't imagine why. You're such a tom-boy - Ouch! Not so rough!"

"Talk like that won't win you any favors! Besides, make me mad and you won't have anyone to massage your shoulders for you!" She made her point further by digging her knuckles under his shoulder blade.

"Is that a threat?" He smiled back at her, playing along.

"Not a threat, per se. More like incentive to keep in my good graces!" She hugged him from behind, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck.

"No problem! All I have to do is buy you chocolate!"

Karen feigned shock, gasping loudly. "Dear sir, are you attempting to BRIBE me?!?"

"Yup!"

" . . . I can live with that! Just keep the chocolate flowing and no harm should come to you."

"Wait . . . did you say 'should'?" Vince turned to look at her, eyebrow quirked.

"Hey, I'm not offering protection ya know! Just my good graces!"

"Awww! Alright, I guess that will have to do." he sighed melodramatically.

"Hey! Don't make me sound so cheap!"

"Hardly! Do you know expensive it is raising a teenage girl?!? The cost of chocolate alone . . ."

"Alright, alright, I get it! Sheesh! So are ya going to take that walk or what?" She pokeed him in the ribs.

"Yeah, in a little bit. I want to get a few more of these taken care of first."

"Just don't wait too long, 'kay?" Karen kissed his forehead and let him go.

"I won't, Precious. I would have been done by now if the computers weren't down for maintenance. I'll leave in thirty minutes at the latest. I promise."

"Alright. I'll be in my room if you need anything." Vince watched her leave, wondering if she would do it again . . . Sure enough, Karen left her door open a crack in case he called her. He chuckled softly over her over-protectiveness. Her protective tendencies had lessened over the years, certainly, but a few quirks still remained. After Marie died, Karen was so afraid of losing Vince that she insisted on watching him every waking moment. The only time she relented is when either of them was bathing or relieving themselves. Even then she needed to hear his voice to keep from going into hysterics. It was a slow had painful process for her to regain her independence, little by little. Puberty helped quite a bit.

Shaking himself out of his revery, Vince picked up the next stack of papers.

Name: Chan, Wanda

Age: 17

DOB: December 12th . . .

Vince read through Wanda Chan's papers. Every thing appeared to be in order. From her records, she was a very intelligent young woman, capable of handling herself. Her extra curricular activities were quite impressive.

She might just be the one . . . I have to pick someone to stay with us anyway, since there's one too many students this year, so it might as well be her. Though I should probably wait on deciding on that until I meet her. Or at least until after I've reviewed the others.

A photograph slipped from the stack of papers he was holding, falling to the floor. Vince picked it up and took a look.

**flashback

"Tell me again why you are taking our picture?" Wufei demanded, sitting in front of the window, his hair down and wearing a white blouse, trying to look "pretty" .

"I told you. A photograph must be sent with each application. Now hold still." Heero replied, not moving from the camera.

"Do try to smile, Wanda. We want to give a good impression." Quatre implored.

"I thought you already sent in the applications!" Wufei nearly toppled off the stool he's perched on.

"Only temporary on-line applications. Those only secures placement until a hard copy can be sent with a photo. They have to be in by the end of the week, so please sit still and smile." Heero explained, adjusting the camera. Wufei reluctantly sat, legs and arms crossed, but with a scowl and not a smile.

"Wanda, please . . ." Quatre stopped when he saw Duo holding up a hand and heading for Wufei.

"I know what will get her to smile . . ." A mischievous grin crossed Duo's face.

"Hmph. I sincerely doubt that." Wufei didn't even bother to look up. That was his mistake. Duo walked behind the obstinate boy, then with hands extended and fingers flexed . . . promptly began tickling him.

"Wah! Wh-ha-at are you-hoo-hoo doing?!? Ahahahahahaha! Stop th-haha-at!" Try as he might, Wufei could not get Duo to stop tickling him. He could barely breath from all the laughing, let alone fight back.

"Promise to smile the camera?"

"Ye-es, just sto-haha-op!" Wufei's eyes were watering and threatened to spill. Duo stopped, but stayed just off camera to make sure Wufei stayed good to his word. Not that he could have taken it back, Wufei couldn't seem to stop smiling at this point. Not one to waste an opportunity, Heero quickly took a shot as soon as Wufei settled enough. The end result was . . .

**

" . . . beautiful . . ."

"Did you say something, Dad?" Karen called out.

"Uh, no! I-it's nothing! Just muttering again." Vince breathed a sigh of relief as she took it at that and left him alone.

Maybe . . . maybe I should just go ahead and take that walk . . .

He looksed at the photo again. It showed Wufei from the shoulders up, in front of a blue curtain background. His hair was slightly tousled, cheeks flushed, eyes bright from unshed tears, and smile bright and cheerful. He had been sitting sideways and turned to look at the camera, head slightly tilted, causing some of his hair to fall forward.

Her hair . . . so black and shiny . . . like a raven's wing . . . So beautiful . . . Dammit! What am I thinking?!? She's only 17 and a student besides! I need to get out more . . .

"Karen? I'm taking my walk now. I have my cell phone if you need me." Standing up, he placed the photo back on the table with the rest of the papers.

"Okay, Dad! Be careful!"

15 minutes later

On the path circling the campus

Vince walked slowly down the path with no real destination in mind. He let his feet wander as his mind ran in circles.

I don't understand it . . . hundreds, even thousands of pretty girls pass through this school and I've never reacted this way before. What is it about her that makes me want to . . . Ugh! I don't even want to *think* about that! She's just a child (young woman)! Dammit!

Vince growled at his warring emotions and started jogging to clear his mind. It didn't work. He tried running.

He ran faster and faster, until all he could think about was running, making sure he didn't trip and keep his footing.

He ran, his hair flapping in the breeze he created, his heart pounding, sweat running down his face and back. His bones jar with every step, his shoes offering no comfort as they were not designed for this kind of torture. His breathing, once controlled, became ragged and harsh.

Still, he ran.

Ran from his demons and the ache of longing. Longing he thought would wan with time. Longing that grew with each passing day. The longing to be held and loved again, as his wife had before her passing.

The bitter sting from her memory no longer haunted him. It had faded as the longing grew. One pain for another.

Karen tried to get him to start dating again. Still did. Each attempt met with utter failure, but still she tried. He didn't have the heart to tell her he just wasn't interested dating again. Even with the longing, he didn't think he could handle the pressure of dating. A long time ago he decided he'd rather stay single and live with the longing than risk further pain. He never told Karen this, he didn't think she would understand. Besides, no woman had stirred even a little bit of interest in him before. If one had . . . But no, none had. Till now, till Wanda Chan, and only a photo at that.

Wanda Chan . . . Little Wanda . . . Augh!

Vince pressed harder, despite his burning lungs and aching muscles. The sun was getting low in the horizon. The dormitory loomed in the distance, a dark shadow against the setting sun. Vince headed for it, deciding to call it quits before his lungs burst.

6:45 pm

Dean's quarters

Vince opened the door and hobbled inside, his muscles, screaming in agony, already stiffening. He let out a pain-filled groan and instantly regrets doing so.

"Where have you been?!? I've been calling and calling! Why haven't you answer your phone?!? Why are you cringing like that?!? Did you hurt yourself?!? Why didn't you say something! Here, let me help you!" Karen said all this in a flurry in the time it took for her to traverse the space between her room and the front door.

"Karen, Sweets, I'm alright! I'm just a little sore from running, that's all. I'm okay, really."

"You went running like that?!?"

"Well, it wasn't planned. I just needed to blow off some steam."

"Why didn't you answer the phone, then?" Karen crossed her arms, demanding a logical answer for ignoring the one thing that was suppose to keep them in contact when apart. Vince dug the phone out of his pocket and checked the settings.

"It's still set on vibrate. I guess with all the running, I didn't notice it had gone off. I'm sorry Sweets. I didn't mean to make you worry."

"Well, alright then, I forgive you. Now go take a shower. You reek!" She pinched her nose for emphasis.

"I was just going to do that. Now, you're not going to sit outside the bathroom door and demand that I sing to you, are you?" he teased.

"Oh come on! I grew out of that ages ago!"

"I could have sworn you did that just last week . . ."

"Oh, hush you! You'd better hurry or you wont finish your paperwork in time!" Karen shoo-ed him towards his bedroom.

"Aw, do I hav'ta?" he mock pouted.

"Yes!" Karen watched him leave as he played the petulant child who doesn't want to take a bath.

"My father the clown . . ." she muttered, shaking her head and returned to her own room.

15 minutes later, Vince is suffering another problem, one he can't run from.

A/N: I had planned on this little development before others became available to torment Wu. Guess he'll just have to suffer! ^_~ (Me? Sadistic? Never! ^_~) Oh, and I do plan to do an Interlude between each chapter, and they may not always be in chronological order, either. This one would take place a bit before the boys get to the school. (whenever that will be! ^^;;) The Interludes will center mainly on other characters and even show some scenes that won't be shown in regular chapters. Just like this one does. ^^