Heart of the Veldt

by Nona Mae King

  ~@~

  When Alice heard the footsteps approach her door, she tucked the blankets tighter over her lap. She sat in her favorite rocking chair staring out the window of her room. Staring at the tree outside her window. Staring at the main road that led to her house. She cleared her throat and rocked once, making her chair creak just as the door did. She heard two steps, and then they stopped. Alice heard him clear his throat, then another couple steps, and a second clearing of the throat.

  Come on, Alice. Geez. She turned her head to face him, immediately noticing that Gau had dressed in a different suit than before. Alice remembered seeing it in the window of Dane's shop. Charcoal gray, like his other one, this one looked even better on him. He actually looked less legend and more seventeen-year-old guy ready to go to a dance. Especially since his arm wasn't in the sling anymore. He also held a bouquet of Veldt wildflowers. When he saw the wilted ones on the floor that Eric brought her the day before, his face yellowed and he looked around for a place to hide them.

  Alice looked down to her hands. “Hi.”

  Staring at the flowers, Gau adjusted them within his fingers before saying, “Gau know Alice angry me. Eric say when take Carol.” He finally lowered the blossoms and looked up, moving to stand in front of her chair to meet her gaze. “Why? What Gau do make angry?” he asked, voice lost and confused. “Alice no like Gau? Because Adamant? Because hurt? Why?”

  Alice lowered her focus to the blanket across her lap and concentrated on adjusting its symmetry. “I’m not mad at you, Gau. I've just not been feeling good.” Seeing Carol with a guy like you does that to person. She’s just hero-happy and will hurt you when she gets tired of it. She should be with a normal guy. One that ‘gets’ her.

  “Then why see Eric and no Gau? Why see Terra and no Gau?” Gau crouched in front of Alice and looked her full in the face. “Why Alice do this thing? If no want be with Gau, say plain.”

  Alice’s throat tightened with guilt. “I never said I didn't want to be your friend, Gau. I just thought . . . .” Alice’s mouth went dry and her stomach crawled. “I just thought you’d want some more time with C-Carol.”

  Gau's golden-green eyes gleamed with confusion. “Gau no want what say. Gau come and Alice say no want see. Why think Gau want be with Carol all time?”

  Alice clasped her hands together. “Don’t worry about it, Gau.”

  Gau released a deep breath, confusion and frustration darkening his eyes. “Alice, I try think why you angry, but what Carol say and what you say much different.”

  Alice's temper redlined. “Of course I'm different,” she snapped. Gau pulled back with a blink. “I'm Alice and not Carol, the featherweight limp-brain who can't recognize long division from fractions. Gigglegus with her blasted melodious laughter that makes me cringe!” She glared into Gau's face. “Well, I hope you'll be happy with her--Miss Open Flirtation who's never happy without a guy as a bracelet! I better be different because I'm going to the Academy! I'm going to make something of myself!”

  Gau's eyes sparked and his brows lowered.

  Alice blinked, immediately lowering her gaze and clearing her throat. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you.” Geez, Alice! You’re mad at Carol for taking advantage, not Gau! He saved your butt--three times!--remember?

  “You say 'cause you think I no make big thing happen? I no good 'cause live on Veldt like animal and not go school 'til now?”

  "No!" Alice blinked at him, eyes wide. “I didn't say that!”

  Gau straightened from his crouch with a sharp motion, arms outstretched. “Then what you say?” He pressed a finger into his palm. “Carol say you like,” and another, “Eric say you like.” He pointed at her. “You say Carol like.” He pointed at himself. “You no ask who I like; you say I like,” he pointed outside, “and be good with Carol.” Gau scooped the flowers up from the floor to drop them into her lap, causing a twitch. “Flowers from Veldt. From heart of both. You go, you lose heart. You lose self. Make sure do thing for Veldt and not for fear of life.”

  Then he turned and strode from the room like a dragon, not even shutting the door behind him. Alice stared down at the carefully picked flowers, now battered and wilted, and buried her face into the softness . . . and sniffled, “Dang it . . . .”