Omnixius
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HTN 5-5 Alternate ending
🕑 Added 2020-12-17 04:45:59 +0000 UTCOk, a word before I post this. Read the actual chapter posting first. Then read this or it wont make any sense in context. I also didn't bother to do any editing on this posting so forgive me.
This picks up right after Frank finishes the changes in Heather's garden. It is the original ending as I wrote it and then was afraid to use.
“There,” he said after a period so long her arm was getting tired. She opened her eyes to see what he changed and gasped in shock.
The hedge wall was gone, replaced by a wall of white stone that rose up in the center of the wall forming a second arch that soared over the portal. It was adorned with bands of brightly burnished brass, and carved with defined edges that made it stand out from the rest of the wall. The garden path now went around the steps of the portal so one could reach the space behind it where stone planters lined the walls filled with red and pink flowers. These too were made out of the same white stone with brass lips, but it wasn’t the flowers that caught Heather’s attention. In that space below the arch was a statue of Heather, standing three times her height with one arm curled at her side, the other held out with palm up. A ghostly blue light danced in that palm bathing the area in a magical glow. She had on a sun hat carved with such a thin delicate rim she was sure it would break if so much as a bird landed on it. The floor around the statue was a mosaic of blues, greens, and white tiles, creating a sense of peace and life. A single stone bench rested at the foot of the statue with a blue silk cushion to one side.
“What did you do?” Heather said in equal parts alarm and embarrassment.
Frank shrunk away as her shock startled him. He looked at his work a second time, nails nervously tapped at the stone walkway.
“I wanted it to be special,” he said with a voice that echoed his doubt.
Heather rubbed her arm dismissing the panel and stepped closer. Certainly it was a lovely space and something she would never have dreamed of, but a statue of herself? Why would anybody want to see her? A thought dawned in the back of her mind as Quinny’s teasing of days ago came back. She turned to see Frank who was obviously nervous about her reaction. Had he done this because he cared about her?
“You can get rid of it,” he said when she didn’t say anything for a long moment.
“No, I,” she stammered unsure how to deal with the very sudden display of his affections. She took a deep breath and turned her back to him, walking into the alcove and picking up the cushion. “Frank, this is beautiful, and it frames the gateway perfectly,” she said keeping her back to him.
“Oh, I thought you didn’t like it,” he replied from behind as she smiled softly.
“I do like it, but I am not used to people building statues of me. It took me by surprise is all.” She turned around now and studied his grotesque face. He looked lost, with wide eyes and hunched shoulders, his fingers still nervously tapping where they dangled to the ground. He hadn’t moved from the spot as if afraid to get any closer so she waved him in and sat down, using her cushion for comfort.
“We should talk,” Heather said as Frank shuffled closer.
“What about?” he asked, his voice sounding more nervous with every word.
Heather wondered where to begin. Certainly she was to blame for some of this. She had grown so accustomed to his look that she no longer reacted to it, and began to treat him like a close friend. She came to him with all her problems, and had even begun to touch him playfully. Even know she wondered what her own feelings were, was Quinny right, did she and Frank have a relationship?
“How do you feel about me?” Heather asked directly, not knowing how else to begin such a delicate conversation. The effect was like a wrecking ball, as Frank reacted with a flinch, stepping back in defense.
“You’re my friend,” he said with no conviction in his voice. “And I enjoy spending time with you.”
“You didn’t have many girlfriends did you?” Heather asked as he stepped back again. It was clear he wanted to be away, unsure how to approach this conversation. When he didn’t reply she did so for him, telling him that Quinny shared some of their conversation in the tunnel.
“I don’t know what she told you, but I only want to be your friend.”
With a sigh Heather removed her sun hat and stood up so she could fill in the distance he was now putting between them. “Frank, we both know that isn’t true.” She turned and waved her hand to the statue as proof his words were hollow.
“I just thought it would look nice here,” he said in defense as Heather closed on him.
“Give me your hand,” she said a she held hers out. When he didn’t react she stepped closer taking his hand for him and pulling him back to the bench. She made him sit down, or squat beside it as he was too large and sitting on it looked awkward. She sat beside him, holding his hand so he couldn’t get away as she looked into those dull yellow eyes.
“Now tell me the truth,” she said. “I want to hear it.”
Frank struggled to speak and tried in vain to suggest she was reading to much into his simple gesture. She nodded with every excused and dismissed them all, giving him no where to go.
“Do you want to have a relationship with me?” Heather asked directly. “Do you want to date?”
Frank’s shoulders sank and a deep sigh escaped his horrible mouth. He looked away as she waited for her answer, his head finally nodding with yes.
“You could have just asked,” Heather said. “But I suppose the statue is more dramatic. I am rather touched you went to such great lengths to impress me.”
“We can’t have a relationship,” Frank sighed. “Look what I am?”
Heather released his hand and reached up to run it across his shoulder. She felt the cold clamminess of rubbery skin, that had an altogether unhealthy coloring. Everything about his was crafted to be horrifying, a movie monster that eats the dead brought to life.
“Breanne said you can change your appearance. Why don’t you?” Heather asked.
Frank shrunk inward, sitting on his heels as she forced him to face the truth. He explained how he was afraid to change because the others would know he was doing it for her.
“Oh, that’s just silly,” Heather laughed. “You do realize they know you have feelings for me anyway?”
“They do?” Frank asked as his head came up. “But I never aid anything.”
Heather laughed and rubbed his shoulder. “Frank, where did you grow up and never learn about body language? You can communicate a whole book of meaning just in the way you look at a person, or stand beside them, or always come running to their rescue. Your body language says all they need to know, you never had to utter a word.”
“Uuggh,” Frank said in a long drawn out groan. “I am so terrible at this.”
“Well good,” Heather remarked. “I am terrible at being a player, and you are terrible at being a boyfriend. You can help me learn how to be a better player, and I will teach you how to be a boyfriend.”
“Wait, what?” Frank gasped turning to look her in the face.
Heather smiled and leaned in close as he trembled before her. “You said you wanted a relationship,” she cooed softly and then kissed his cheek. “Well, now you have one.”
“I do?” he said his voice squeeking.
“Yes, but you have to make some changes. Can you please tone down the gore and do something about those terrible teeth,” Heather said as they protruded from between his lips at odd angles.
“I have some points left, I can change a few things,” he said in earnest.
“Then let’s start there,” she said and latched on to his arm, leaning into his side.
“Are you sure this isn’t like Stockholm syndrome?” Frank asked as she held on and laughed.
“I was definitely in shock, and being a terrible person back then but now things are different. I am starting to really enjoy being here, and I have you to thank for it. But your not getting a proper kiss until those teeth are gone.”
“So, you’re my girlfriend?”
“That’s generally what a girl is to her boyfriend, yes,” Heather replied, enjoying this moment of terrible awkwardness for him.
“I don’t know what to do,” he stammared.
“Yes you do,” Heather replied. “You have been doing exactly the right things all along.”
“So catering to your every need?” he asked.
“Well that’s just how relationships work,” Heather teased and clung tighter.
Frank swallowed and put a hand to his head trying to sort out his thoughts.
“This is so strange,” he said as Heather laughed.
“It’s strange is it?” she asked. “You get to hold on to a girl who looks mostly normal. I am holding on to a creature from a bad horror movie and calling you my boyfriend. Do you know how many bad manga start with this premise?”
Frank finally laughed and set his hand down as he looked up at the statue.
“I will make some changes so I look less horrible.”
“I know you will,” Heather remarked. “You want that kiss.”
“So is this how relationships work? You dangle rewards in front of me to get me to do things?”
Heather had to let go in order to cover her mouth as she laughed. She pushed his shoulder and shook her head as he joined in the laugh a little.
“Listen, Frank. I am a brat, and I admit it. I was even worse when I got trapped in here because my ego wouldn’t allow me to accept something was beyond my control. I was fighting the system and taking it out on you when things went wrong. I have already apologized for that, and please don’t let me do that to you anymore.”
“I like doing things for you,” he replied but Heather stood up and moved to stand before him.
“I like you doing things for me, but make sure I do some things for you. It can’t be one sided like it has been. If one person gives, and all the other does is take it is a very unhealthy relationship. You can be sweet to me, but don’t worship me.”
“I have never had a relationship before,” he admitted. “I am sure I will make mistakes.”
“We are both going to make mistakes,” Heather said. “What matters is can we learn from them and move on together.”
“I won’t ever give up on you,” he said as she stepped closer, standing on her toes to hover just before his face.
“That’s why I want you to be mine,” she replied and kissed his other cheek. “Now ignore everything I just said and let me dangle a carrot before you and abuse our relationship. Get rid of those teeth.”
He nodded and ran off to use his interface and make changes as Heather sat down and let out a deep sigh. A princess yesterday, a girlfriend today, how much more was her life going to change in the next few hours? With a glance across her garden she smiled and put her hat back on, eager to find out.
