"Could we have a moment, please?" Asuka asked the nurse.
"Sure." She closed the door behind her.
"So I got a text at about 5 in the morning saying you were conscious. I came here when I woke up."
"Asuka?? What are you doing here? You're... you're not here to beat on me, are you?"
"Heh. No, Lili, I'm not. As a matter of fact, I wanted to tell you something. I have to give you credit: You're a lot tougher than I thought you were. I figured you would have quit in our fight long before you did. I had to damn near cripple you before you did... to your toughness, I have to give you credit. Your attitude on the other hand..."
"Is changed. I... I've thought constantly about what brought me here since I woke up. And I realize it is all my doing. I mean, you wouldn't have kicked my ass so hard if I didn't bring it on myself... I did sort of spit in your face, and I..." Lili collected her thoughts. "This is new to me... but I am sorry for it."
Asuka studied Lili's face for any trace of deception. She looked in her eyes. She found none. Her body language softened. "I believe you. And thank you... you're forgiven."
Lili extended her hand slowly, grunting softly with the effort. Everything she did hurt. Asuka took it, and they shook hands.
"I've thought a lot about my parents, the way they raised me, how they pretty much drilled it into my head that money equaled status, and those who had money were better than those who didn't. It's been that way all my life. It's... it's hard to realize that you were brought up wrong, but... I came to that conclusion. My whole upbringing was just.... wrong." Tears started to well in her eyes as she poured her heart out. "And then I turn around and do the same thing to everyone else, and it... I just... " she wiped her eyes. "I really do feel badly for it. I started to think about how people feel about me, and I realized that I made them all feel rather justified hate... I did that. It may be too late to try to repair my reputation, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to try. I won't refuse to eat the same food everyone else does at supper. I won't sit apart from everyone... well, I probably will, but because I'm getting shunned instead of feeling everyone else isn't good enough... I won't blame anyone for not wanting to do that. But I won't treat everyone like dirt anymore."
"What prompted this change of heart? I can't imagine I had that effect on you."
"I, ah..." she looked sheepish. "I shot my mouth off again, and Craig Marduk overheard me. I totally deserved it though!"
Asuka raised her eyebrows. "Not exactly your brightest moment... what did you say?"
"I had Fletcher get him to carry my bags since he could do it in one trip and then I slagged him off when he left, but I guess he overheard me... I sort of called him a big smelly ape that was all brawn and no brains. I came out of my room later in my wheelchair and we... had a bit of a conversation about it, then he sort of shoved my wheelchair down the stairs. And I was in it at the time... I apparently got hurt real bad."
"I know you did. I was the one that found you and got you here. You left a huge puddle of blood on that floor. I was amazed you weren't dead."
Lili shifted, and groaned a little. "Ow... everything hurts." She pressed the button on the right side of her bed. A dose of morphine made its way through the tube. A moment after it hit her wrist through her IV, she sighed contendedly and laid back in bed. It had quite a strong effect on her. "Ohhh, yeah, that feels better already. I'm gonna have to cancel breakfast, this stuff makes me so sleepy..." she yawned.
"Alright, in that case, I'll let you get your rest. And hey... thanks for the apology."
"And thank you for accepting it."
____________________
Paul was listening to his music player when Lili made her way slowly through the lounge. She had healed enough to not need the wheelchair anymore, but still had to take things easy. Fletcher was carrying her bags.
Paul sighed. Damn it, it had been so quiet...
"Are there any bags left in the car, Fletcher?"
"Yes, miss Rochefort, I was not able to get them all in one trip. My apologies."
Here comes the harpy explosion, thought Paul.
"Oh, that's alright. Could you please go get them now? My purse has my phone in it."
"I... uh, yes, Miss Rochefort, at once." He seemed surprised to not be getting yelled at.
Paul's eyes darted from side to side. Had he just heard what he thought he heard? He surreptitiously pulled the headphone cord out but pretended to listen to his music so Lili wouldn't suspect he was listening to her.
Fletcher came back with the rest of her bags. "Thank you, Fletcher. I'll take my purse and this handbag. I'd take more if I could, but I just can't right now, sorry."
Fletcher didn't know what to say. "Are you sure, miss Rochefort? After all, it is my job to assist you..."
See, that's the kind of thing that should be setting her off... any minute now...
"That's fine, thanks. If you can get those, I would appreciate that."
Paul raised his eyebrows and started to text Law. You ain't gonna believe this shit, man...
___________
By supper, everyone had heard what had happened. Lili being nice? That qualified as news. And so it was that the usual groups of friends sat together, when Lili gingerly made her way down the stairs unnoticed in the hubbub. She said something to the chef, who reacted with surprise, then handed her a plate with a cheeseburger and fries. Julia, Asuka, Christie and Xiaoyu were chattering away, when Julia noticed. "Oh my God, what the hell." She nodded in Lili's direction. The others were stunned as well except for Asuka. Lili shuffled off to a remote table, knowing full well she wasn't welcome. She hoped that would change over time.
"Hey, guys" Xiaoyu piped up. "Do you notice she's wearing more, uh.. how to put it.. "common" clothes? Like what we wear, and not her fancy expensive stuff?"
"You're right, I hadn't noticed" said Christie. "I was too astounded by the fact that she is down here in the first place eating the same food we are."
Asuka chimed in "I visited her in the hospital, we actually made amends. She wants to try to be a better person."
Christie looked at her.
"What? What are you looking at me like that for?"
"I'm trying to figure out if you're bullshitting us or not... you? And her? Amends? Last I saw you two, you were pounding her into the floor like a tent spike."
"When have I ever lied to any of you?"
".... I can't think of any time..."
"Well there you go then."
Asuka motioned to their trays and then over to Lili with her eyes. The others look at each other, then nodded.
________
Lili savoured her cheeseburger. I can't believe the food I've been missing. If I'd only done this sooner...
"Hey Lili... do you mind if we join you?"
Lili looked behind her. "Oh, hi! Uh... you, uh, you want to sit with me? Even after I did the things I did?"
"Hey, it seems first times are a recurring theme for the day."
Lili was still trying to get over her surprise. "Uh, no, I don't mind... please, have a seat... oh, Xiaoyu, about that fight..."
_______
I had actually always planned to end it with her no longer being a bitch, it's like you read my mind, lol.
