Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Past Mistakes ❯ How it all began ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

By: Sery

Past Mistakes

Disclaimer: Don't own Gundam Wing

Chapter two How it all began

She gaped at the man with brown hair. He smiled broadly and stood up.

Wait… she'd seen him somewhere - no, she had met him once. Relena sighed heavily when she remembered who this man with that irritating long braid was.

“Mr Maxwell, what are you doing here?” He kept smiling, but the looks in his eyes were changed.

“Oh, so you do remember me, Miss Relena? I was afraid you'd forgotten me.”

“No, I hadn't.”

“You look surprised to see me. And, I believe, not very happy.”
`Of course I am not happy to see you.'
“Please, have a seat,” she said ignoring his comment and gesturing with her hand. He took the offer willingly and sat back on the sofa. “Now, Mr. Maxwell, could you please tell me why you are here?”
Relena tried not to sound too much irritated, but couldn't help it to look at him with anger in her eyes. She'd made it clear two months ago, if he was here to ask it her again... More important than that was that he was ruining her time with Trowa.
Duo cleared his throat. “Well, actually Miss Relena, I've come to make another, a new proposal.”
Relena sighed; she'd guessed it right. She leaned back in her armchair, casting the man an angry glance. “I thought I had made it clear last time, Max-”
“No, no no,” he interrupted her. “I just said it's another proposal.”
“I have already told this you, I don't want to work with your company.” She saw his heart sinking into his boots. But this time he didn't give up that easily.
“I know, I know, the prices are too high... I'll reduce them,” he offered. Relena rolled her eyes. Why won't he just give up?

“The prices aren't the problem. Not the only problem.”

“What is it then?”

“A lot of things. I don't like your company's lay-out, for example. Nor do I like the people who work there.”

`Like that Brady-'

“I'm sorry?”

Relena heaved a sigh again. “They are… rude.”

“But… but.”

“I don't want to make a new contract. How many times do I have to tell you?” She was near losing her temper. But Duo was trying other ways now to convince her somehow.

“But we've worked for over thirteen years together… even your father was satisfied with our work.”

Relena glanced away when he mentioned her father. Damn, when would she be able to cope with it?

“Mr Maxwell, it's useless to talk further about this now. I won't change my mind. Our contract has expired.” She stood up giving him the sign that the `chat' was over and that he had to leave.

Duo pouted his lips then smiled at her. “OK then.” He stood up and winked at Relena to her surprise. “But you don't know what you are going to lose by this.”

Relena narrowed her eyes. He was quite different than the last time. He wasn't the Duo Maxwell who had walked out her office two months ago with hanging shoulders. He looked confident… a bit too over-confident.

“I don't know about you but I had a great time working with you and your company. I wish you success and happiness in your life. And I mean it from deep down in my heart.”

Relena shook his offered hand. Maybe he wasn't that bad at all. But she'd no regrets about her decision. She'd never had them and hoped she would never have anything about to regret.

“Thanks, I wish you good luck too.”

He grinned. “Oh, and before I forget: Congratulations.”

“For what?” she asked him confused.

“For your engagement yesterday!”

“O, yeah… I mean thanks.”

How did he know so soon about her engagement? It'd happen so suddenly and unexpected. Nobody had known she'd get engaged. Not even she'd known that Trowa would propose her on her 18th birthday party. Relena smiled thinking back at it. Being the richest girl in town wasn't always a good thing.

“So, the news travelled damn fast,” Relena mumbled still drawn in thoughts. Duo smirked.

“You're very famous. Many people look up to you because you're handling your business so well at this age.”

Relena felt her mouth dry. Again. When would he leave?

“Your fiancÃ©… Trowa…”

`When will he just shut up and leave. And where the hell is Trowa?' She glanced around in the big room.

“Trowa Barton… I've heard many things about him. And well, I dun wan to get you worried, but they weren't very positive.”

Duo had just finished his sentence when the two caught eye of someone standing in the doorway. Relena watched Trowa slowly walk towards them with his eyes focused on Duo. He didn't even bother to glance once at his fiancÃ©e. Relena felt surprise to see anger on the faces both men. Especially on Trowa's.

“Mr Maxwell, what a surprise to see you… here.” Her fiancÃ©'s voice sounded cold.

Duo only smiled. “We were just talking about you.”

“Yeah, I heard that.”

Their voices were cold, just like their eyes. Cold and hard.

“Maxwell, would you be so kind to leave now. It's not an office to discuss business. Nor is it the right time.”

Relena frowned her eyebrows. She'd never seen him angry like this before. He was always so calm; never losing his temper. What was wrong with him now?

“Actually I had some important things to discuss with you too, but I'll save them for later. I've to go somewhere, too. So I'll see you tomorrow, Barton,” Duo said, between clenched teeth. Then with a smile he looked at the confused blonde.

Relena felt even more surprised when she saw no coldness in his eyes at all when he looked at her.

“I really hope we'll meet again soon. And please Miss Relena, next time when you'll give a party or something, please invite me too. I'm a bit hurt that you hadn't invited me yesterday. But it's okay. I've known your father for a long time. He has helped me a lot in the past. At least invite me in the future as a friend of your dad.”

His eyes were pleading her. She was trembling, but tried her best to cover it.

“Of course, I'll.” She managed to say in a whisper.

“Goodnight then and sweet dreams,” Duo cheerfully said.

After kissing her right hand, he was gone. Relena plumped in her chair; for a while not aware of Trowa's presence, and thinking about all the things that had went wrong.

First she overslept, then her secretary Dorothy, Brady, late at dinner with Hilde who couldn't stop giggling and now Duo Maxwell… What a day.

She sighed.

“Princess, I…”

“Where were you?” She asked him suddenly and looked up to meet his green eyes. He knelt down for Relena and to her surprise gently took her face in his hands. He brought her tensed face close to his more relaxed, but worried one.

“Relena, what's wrong? Why are you so-”

“Nothing,” Relena lied. “Just answer me Trowa, where were you all the time?” she demanded stubbornly to know. He sighed.

“I'd suddenly some import work to do, I couldn't cancel it. I'd called a few times at house.”

“When?”

“Round eight.”

“Oh… I'm sorry…” Relena tried to avoid his eyes by looking away, but his hands were still cupping her face gently.

“You were again late,” he just said softly.

“Yeah,” she admitted. Trowa slowly retreated his arms to his sides and stood up. When Relena looked up she saw him gazing at her. Thinking.

“Normally you're never late.” She nodded. “It's OK, it can happen, Relena, but why do you look so tensed and anxious? Tell me, what happened? Was it-”

“It's nothing,” Relena answered. She didn't want him to worry about her. He was doing already so much for her.

“OK then, if you don't want to tell me, its okay.”

`Why is it feeling so bad about lying to him?' Relena cast her eyes down again. `Why can't I just tell… No, why can't I forgot that-'

He helped her standing up. Relena tried again to avoid his intense gaze, but he cupped her face in his hands again and forced her to look in his eyes.

“Little princess, it's okay. Really. But please, don't ever lie to me again.”

It was the tone in which he said that made tears come up in her eyes. Again. She hugged him tightly. Don't wanting to let him go. Not him too…

“I'm sorry she sniffed. Relena felt him stroke her blonde hair.

“It doesn't matter, really, but next time-”

“I won't lie. Promise,” Relena said before he could finish his sentence. He pulled back to look at her. Grinning.

“No, no. Next time, don't be late. I know it's hard for you,” his grin slowly faded. “But try to live further. Life can't stop like this. I agree that life is difficult, but we all have to live it.” Relena nodded slowly her head in response that she was listening to him. “And don't be upset now, ok?” Trowa lowered his arms again to his sides and he took a step back giving her some space, still studying her face. And suddenly giving her a reassuring smile.

“Thanks Trowa,” Relena felt a lump in her throat coming up. “I really don't know what I'd done without you. You've helped me always since we met for the first time.”

Relena saw him thinking too about their first meeting. No one, not even they could've guessed then that they would get engaged. Nobody.

TWO YEARS AGO

“You know I hate these parties.”

“I know.”

“…”

“What?”

“Listen, I dun want to come inside.”

“Relena…”

“Hilde…”

“Please,” her friend looked at her with pleading eyes. Relena sighed heavily. She agreed reluctantly.

They entered the big hall. Relena watched the people laughing, chatting, drinking, eating, enjoying.

“Isn't it a nice party?”

“…”

“Relena don't be such a bore!”

“I am not. What do I have to do with all these old, drunken people?”

“Do you mean I am old?”

Relena glanced at her friend. Hilde was staring a bit annoyed back at her with her perfect eyebrows lowered towards her eyes. “Hilde, you're twenty. Four years older than me. You know a lot people, you are outgoing…”

“Do you think no one here knows you?” Hilde interrupted the blond woman.

“It's not that…”

Hilde looked more annoyed by the second. She sighed heavily before she said: “Every one knows you here. Even if you don't know him.”

Relena glanced away, feeling now awkward under her friend's gaze. Softly she answered. “That's only because of-”

“Your dad.” Hilde completed her sentence.

They were both silent for a long time, until someone broke it.

“Ladies, why aren't you enjoying yourself?” suddenly a voice behind them said.

Both girls turned surprised around to the unknown voice. A man around the 25-26 was smiling at the two. Relena noticed how tall he was with broad shoulders and light brown hair that partially covered his eyes. But it were his eyes that caught Relena's attention at first. Beautiful, mysterious twinkling, green eyes.

“Oh, Mr Trowa Barton. How nice to meet you again.” It was Hilde who said something first. When Hilde nudged Relena, she realised that she had been staring all the time at him. Embarrassed Relena quickly looked away, not noting the grin on Trowa's face.

“Yes, it's my pleasure. And stop being so formal Hilde, just call me Trowa.” Hilde smiled and nodded.

So she knew him. With a big question mark on her head Relena at her so-called best friend. Finally Hilde noted her.

“Oh, yes, yes, sorry I forgot.” Hilde was more apologizing to Trowa than to Relena. “This is my friend. Relena Darlian. You must know her. And Relena, this is Trowa Barton. A very big businessman here in England, Spain, France, Holland, Germa-”

“No, no Hilde, that's not true,” Trowa smiled.

“Oh, but it is Trowa. Come on, don't be so…”

The two kept chatting, while Relena was drown again in her own thoughts, not following their conversation. Relena felt surprised and unsure founding herself interested in this handsome man. She'd never met a boy or man she found so attractive. But he was too old for her…

Relena sighed, noting that Trowa was now moving towards other people. And Hilde standing next to her had found someone else to chat with.

“Relena,” Hilde nudged Relena again. Relena looked up from her thoughts. With a questioning face she tilted her head. “Do you know who that is?” Relena looked in the direction where Hilde was staring.

“Do you mean that woman in the green dress and black hair?” Relena saw Hilde nod when she glanced at her back. “I don't know her.”

“She is Trowa's fiancÃ©e. She is beautiful, isn't she? I've talked once to her. Very sweet girl. And-”

`OK, for the first time I was interested in some one and then I realise he's already engaged…” Relena pouted her lips. Why won't she get any luck?

“He is a real gentleman, isn't he?” Hilde's voice pulled her back from the black clouds in her mind.

“Hmm? Who?”

“Trowa.”

“… Do you like him?”

Relena's friend rolled annoyed her eyes... The two were sitting by a small table in a dark corner of the big hall.

“Yes, I do like him, but as a friend. Not by what you mean.” Relena looked away.

“I am bored. I'm going home.”

Hilde took a sip of her glass before she answered. “I'll stay here a bit longer. Do you want to wait or…”

“No, I am going home.”

“Who's going home here?” Surprised Relena looked up at Trowa's smiling face. Always smiling…

“Oh, Relena wants to go home,” Hilde explained quickly.

“What so soon? The party has just begun,” he gazed at Relena what made her feel quite comfortable. He made it even more worse by taking a seat next to her, between the two girls. Relena felt a blush rising to her cheeks when he kept his eyes on her.

`OK Relena, stop behaving like a twelve-year-old girl. He is engaged, after all!'

Relena forced herself to look back in his eyes when she spoke. “Actually, I don't like these kinds of parties.” Was this truly her own voice?

“No? What kind of parties do you like then?” He sounded interested.

Shit, she felt her cheeks glowing. Her face surely would've a bright red colour. She had to get away from him - especially his eyes…

Suddenly she stood up. Surprised he looked up.

“Well, not this kind of formal parties. And Hilde I'm going. Are you coming or not?”

“No.” Relena stared for a moment astonished at the other woman.

“Okay, give me the car keys then.”

“No.”

“What!” Amazed Relena stared at her `best' friend.

“It's my car. Go find a lift.” Hilde winked. Relena couldn't understand her wink then, but she was too angry to see it. But moreover uncomfortable to think clearly by his Trowa's presence. How could she be influenced by someone with just one meeting?

“Ok, I'll see you tomorrow then.”

“I'll drop you,” Trowa suddenly said. Astonished Relena stared for a moment at the man sitting next to her before she recovered.

“No, no need for that,” she mumbled.

But he stood up and smiled. “Come.”

He didn't wait for her and began to walk towards the exit. Relena glanced for the last time at her friend, who was still grinning, then she hurried to the exit. Outside she found him standing near his BMW.

During the ride he was talking all the time, while she listened to him and stared out of the window at the bright stars in the dark sky. She had to admit that he was a good company. You'd never be bored with him around you.

Suddenly he stopped. Relena realised then when the vehicle stopped that they had already arrived at her home.

“Thanks for the lift,” she said turning towards him and immediately feeling the blush cover her cheeks again.

`Shit.'

“It's my pleasure, Miss Relena. And… will we meet again?”

For a moment Relena couldn't utter a word, and just stared at him. She cast her eyes down quickly when she realised he was staring back at her. Her cheeks felt like they were burning. He had such an uncertain look in his eyes when he asked it her… and that voice, manner that like a boy of 16 asking someone for the first time out.

`Or am I imagining everything.'

It hadto be her imagination. But what to say now? She hadn't expected this to hear from him. The fact: he was already engaged.

“If it is in our destiny, we'll surely meet.” His smile didn't waver of her answer.

After thanking him again and wishing him a good night, she stepped out of his BMW. She shivered feeling a cold breeze. Why was she feeling so weird? Why…?

She turned to wave him a good bye again. He smiled once back at her, that induced even more shivers to run down her spine. He rode slowly away as she watched him go away.

Would they meet again?

Relena shook her head with a small, sad smile on her lips. She was thinking like a 13-year-old girl who was in love. She had to stop thinking about him. He was just a man, engaged, who she had met on a party once. That was it. Nothing more.

From where that pain in her stomach, then?

No, it was not pain, it were butterflies. For the first time feeling them. It felt so strange… Relena leaned back at her door to close it and then stared at the white ceiling of her room. All the way to her room she had only been thinking about him. She closed her eyes. Why was she feeling so attracted to him? Why was she blushing all the time by his proximity? Why?

She knew all the answers to these questions, and that was the problem.

Relena heaved a sigh. Her dad hadn't arrived at home yet. A look o the clock told her it was already past midnight. Where was he? He had said he would be at home till ten, where was he now?

Relena decided to wait for her dad. She finally got her back of the door and turned the lights on. It had been much better if she never gone to this party. Never met him, never felt like this… O, it had been so much better.

Actually, it had been much better if she had been four or six years older, and had met him two-three years ago.

Relena stopped her train of thought again. No, no. She was thinking again in the wrong direction. What had he done to her? Quickly, forcing her to stop thinking, she began to change her clothes. When she had just put her light blue dress off, and grabbed to her nightgown, she heard the bell of the front door rang.

Relena frowned her eye brows. Who could it be now? Or was it her father who had forgotten his keys again? He forgot them often, it could be possible that it was him. She heard the one at the front door ring impatiently again. Had to be her dad, he had never patience.

She hurried to the front door only in her little nightgown, thinking that her father would be waiting outside. But it wasn't him.

Relena gasped surprised. Trowa was standing there with her small, black bag in his hand. He was looking even more dashing in the dim light of the lamp at the front door. She didn't like the look in his eyes when he saw her in the little, sheer dress. Shit, why hadn't she pulled something else over it?

She felt herself shiver again when his eyes gradually glided up and down over her body. The look on his face didn't change, much his eyes did. Finally after a long uncomfortable silence he spoke.

“You'd forgotten your bag in my car. I just saw it and decided to bring it back,” he explained.

With trembling hands she took the bag from his outstretched arm, hoping he wouldn't notice her trembling. He stood there in the doorway a few seconds, saying nothing. Probably waiting for her to invite him in for a coffee. But she'd no plans to invite him in. She was now alone at home and Pagan was sleeping. It was just too risky. And the look in his eyes weren't telling her any goods. She wouldn't take that risk.

Trowa probably got the hint. After a saying good bye and thanking again, he turned back to walk back to his car. Relena closed her eyes at his back. Damn, he smelled so good…it was provoking her to lean even closer to him to catch the smell even better.

She shook her head, trying the get the thought out of her head and smiled weakly, feeling now really like a 13-years foolish girl.

Her smile disappeared when she suddenly felt a warm breath tickling her face. Shocked she opened her eyes and looked straight back in his dark, green eyes. First she thought he was going to kiss her and closed her eyes again. But she felt his breath near her ear. She felt her stomach turn when he whispered next to her ear.

“You are a very beautiful girl, Relena.”

She was too stunned to move or to say something. She swallowed with great difficulty and opened her eyes. He looked her again deep in the eyes before he bent his head again and placed his lips on hers.

When he gently pushed his tongue against her lips, she opened her mouth without thinking, in a reflex. She began to kiss him back.

She'd never felt so attractive like to a boy or man as like him. And that had been the reason for not inviting him in. She had not idea how the deal with this problem. The problem that he was engaged.

When he broke away Relena gulped down the much needed air she had been missing for more than 15 minutes. She was about to open her eyes and smile when he said something that hit her heart.

“I… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have done this.”

His voice sounded regretful. Not the unexpected kiss, but his words made her angry. Relena slowly opened her eyes, feeling anger rising in her up. But what else had she expected him to say. He was after all engaged, but still

Relena glared at him and tried to keep her temper. But she had to say something to make clear she didn't appreciate this behaviour of him.

“Bastard,” she said between gritted teeth before she slammed the door shut in his face.

“Actually I had already expected him to do something like this.”

Eyes full with disbelief Relena stared at her friend.

“Why didn't you tell it me, then Hilde? How did you know?”

“Well, the way he was just looking at you…” she winked. Relena looked away.

“I don't want to meet that bastard again. First kissing me and then telling me I'm sorry? What had he in mind when he was kissing me? And soon he's going to marry, isn't he?”

“Relena… he is a real gentleman and cares a lot about other people - and their feelings. And this act…” Hilde frowned her eye brows staring seriously at Relena. “He must really like you; else he wouldn't have kissed you and then said sorry. He must've said sorry coz he didn't knew how you felt. And well, maybe too because he's already engaged.”

Relena was a bit unnerved of this now, though she didn't change her point of view on him.

“I don't care what reason he had, but I'm not going to meet him again. No Hilde, you can't make me change my mind. I hate him, that third-class bastard.”

END OF FLASHBACK

“Nooo!”

Relena sat up in her bed. Her body was full of sweat. She tried to get her heartbeat back to normal again.

“No… no, not again…” she whispered in the dark. Relena closed her eyes only to open them immediately again. That image again. She knew she wouldn't get sleep any more. Slowly Relena pulled the covers back. Though she was covered with sweat - she even tasted it in her mouth - she was trembling.

She stepped out of the bed and opened the window. The fresh cool outside air made her feel a lot better. After standing there near the window for a long time she glanced at her clock.

Five A.M in the morning. Great.

Trowa had left a half hour after Duo's departure. He'd still been upset about something; but hadn't told her anything. On the contrary, he'd told her he was worried about her. Worried about that… about this…

Relena sighed and decided to call Hilde. There was not much chance she would get the luck to speak her at this time, yet Relena went to the small side table next to her bed to phone the dark haired woman.

After that her cell phone must've rung at least twenty-two times, Hilde picked up her mobile.

“Relena are you mad…! It is-”

“Hilde…” Relena had no idea how Hilde knew what was wrong, maybe it was her voice that had been sounding so weak while saying Hilde's name.

“You - you'd a nightmare again… about - about you mother…”