Iam here. You Know.
Written By Hanashika
krystal@gundamwing.org

Char climbed up into the living room, the dark coolness refreshing after the bright sunshine outside. Peeking over the sofa, he looked down the length of the room, waiting a moment as his eyes adjusted to the dim light.

Along the back of the room was a pulled out bed which Garma used when he stayed here. Char squinted into the darkness but couldn't see that far. Cautiously, he called out, "Garma?"

He heard a sniffle from the back of the bus. "Yeah?" came the thick reply.

Char leaned on the cool metal in front of him. "You okay?" he asked.

Another sniffle. Just when he thought he wouldn't get an answer, Char heard a small voice say, "Just peachy."

Sighing, Char went over the pull out bed and seat besides Garma. Earlier he had gotten the mail -- mostly from their families, a few bills, some ads, nothing much. But Garma had gotten a small, pink envelope that set him smiling, and Char wondered who it was from. After reading it, the smile had fallen from his face and Garma retreated to the safety of his bed, not saying a word.

He's so nice to everyone, Char thought, making his way down the aisle. If anyone hurt him -- He left the thought unfinished, afraid of where it would take him. Lately when he thought of Garma, he found himself pushing those thoughts away. But they had known each other for so long ...

Reaching the bed, Char looked down at Garma, sitting on the edge of bed. He held the pink envelope and one single sheet of stationary in his hand. With the other hand he wiped at his eyes. "Garma?" Char asked softly, fighting the urge to run his fingers through his friend's short purple hair to straighten it. "You okay, man?"

Garma looked up, his eyes teary. Seeing Char standing above him, Garma sniffed loudly and wiped the sleeve of his shirt across his eyes roughly. "I'm fine," he said, his voice husky with emotion.

Char bit the inside of his cheek thoughtfully. Pointing to the bed, he asked, "Mind if I sit down?"

"Go ahead." Garma scooted over slightly and Char sat down beside him. There wasn't much room, and Char was uncomfortably aware of the warmth of Garma's leg where it was pressed against his own.

Nodding at the letter in Garma's hand, Char asked, "Wanna tell me about it?"

For a long moment, he thought Garma wouldn't answer. Then he sniffed again and sighed. "It's from Icelina ," he said. Char remembered Garma mentioning her -- a girl from back home, whom Garma had been seeing when time permitted. Unfortunately, that wasn't often enough, and Char knew that the long time spent in space or in school discouraged relationships. Garma scrunched the letter up in one hand tightly, the thin paper ripping easily. "She's ... she been asked not to see me anymore..."

Oh no, Char thought. Unconsciously he put an arm around Garma's shoulders. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Garma leaned into him, putting his head on Char's shoulders, and began crying again. Char hugged him close. "Sshh," Char crooned, rubbing Garma's shoulder and rocking slightly to comfort him. "It's alright. It's okay."

Garma clutched at Char, his hands grabbing fistfuls of his sweater, hugging him tightly. When the tears tapered off, Garma sighed deeply but didn't let go. His face was buried in Char's chest, and Char could feel his breath through the thin sweater he wore. It was a warm, pleasant sensation, and Char tried to ignore it. Garma laughed bitterly. Speaking into Char's shirt, he admitted, "I didn't even like her all that much. It's just the fact that she ... well, it was nice to think that someone somewhere was thinking about me." He looked up at Char, his eyes red but dry. "You know what I mean?"

Quietly, Char said, "I think about you all the time."

Garma studied him, looking for ... something. Char met his gaze steadily, afraid to blink or smile or do anything to frighten him. "Do you?" Garma asked softly.

Char found himself staring at Garma's full lips, his upturned face, his light eyes. Against his will, he leaned forward, lips parted slightly. Garma closed his eyes, and Char pulled him closer.

A loud ringing of the telephone of startled them. Abruptly, Garma pulled away and Char stood up, looking around. Even though there was no one else, no prying eyes, Char couldn't stop the pounding of his heart. Garma crumpled up the letter and shoved it under the mattress, and then he looked up at Char, a guilty expression on his face. "You feeling better?" Char asked gruffly.

Garma nodded. "Fine," he said, straightening his shirt. Char hurried to the front of the house to answer the phone, but glanced back at his friend. Garma was watching him with a strange look on his face. Running a hand nervously through his blonde hair, Char answered the phone.

He wasn't about to tell Garma it was Icelina on the phone. So he hung up.

Wrong Number.