There's always time-PEREKOO

Chapter 2

''I'M FINE! EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT, WILL YOU?'' then I quickly walked away with hands covering my face.

''Alma? Alma are you alright?'' said Isabel while knocking at the bathroom door. I almost immediately answered ''Yeah, I'm fine, just not feeling well.''

''Oh my Bird! Did I push you?! JE SUIS VRAIMENT DÉSOLÉ! I MEAN SORRY!'' said Isabel, panick in her voice.

''Oh no, it isn't because of you. Never you. It came all of a sudden. Give me a minute, please,'' said Alma trying to calm Isabel down. ''Sûre...''

I turned to the mirror staring at my reflection. 'Pull yourself together, woman. She is just Isabel. Nothing more.' I splashed cold water on my face. Then opened the door.

And there she was. When she noticed me she swiftly ran her hand through her hair and smiled. An awkward silence filled the space in between us.

''Let's greet the kids.''

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We were walking down the stairs when we met Emma.

''Oh, Miss Cuckoo, how delightful.'' She held out her hand. Isabel happily shook it while greeting her. ''Hello, Miss Bloom. How nice to see yo...'' I didn't hear the rest of the sentence because I focused on Isabel's beautiful hair. How it shinned in the rays of the sun that was getting in through the stained window by the door. How she laughed and smiled. It was so sweet. She was so perfect. The flow of my thoughts was interrupted by Emma.

''Miss Peregrine?'' said Emma.

''Huh?'' I had no idea what she said but before I could ask I heard Isabel chuckling. I looked down on my shoes smiling like an idiot.

''Sorry, dear,'' said Isabel putting a hand on my shoulder. ''Sorry, Emma was just asking you about supper, Alma. Because it's already...'' She took out her silver watch and locked at it...''4:52''

''Oh, huh, yeah...Please set the table, Miss Bloom, I'll prepare the dinner.'' Then I nervously smiled.

We walked down the stairs, I made my way into the kitchen but then I noticed Isabel wasn't behind me. She was standing by the front door, taking her coat and reaching the handle.

''Isabel? Where are you going? Aren't you going to eat with us?'' said Alma, trying to stop Miss Cuckoo from leaving. She paused of a moment turning around.

''I really don't want to interrupt your plans. I- No, please stay...'' cut off her sentence Alma.

Isabel looked in my eyes ''Are you certain, chérie?'' asked hopefully the smaller ymbryne.

''Yes.'' When Miss Cuckoo heard those words, her face lit up. It made my heart skip a beat.

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I was just preparing each of the dished when I heard her voice beside me.

''Can I help you with something, Alma?'' asked Isabel. I just continued while answering ''You don't have to, you're our gest.''

''No, I insist, I want to help you. I am already extra, dear.'' I turned around to face her. She had a beautiful smile on her face.

''Fine, thank you,'' said Alma and returned her smile. Isabel walked over to me and started putting out the silverware, cups, plates and handing them to Emma who was waiting at the door. Miss Cuckoo was moving around the kitchen as if she were living here. It wasn't the first time she was here, Isabel visited Alma's loop multiple times, but it somehow still surprised the ymbryne that her friend knew the ropes. Alma lived here more than 50 years and still didn't remember where were some of the things she needed.

''Will you please hand me the glasses, Alma?'' asked after a few minutes Isabel.

''Certainly,'' said Alma. I reached for the glasses. They were on the highest shelf. ''You can't reach it, huh?''

''Sorry?'' fuck I said it out loud. Play along. So, I turned around and said ''You can't reach it, can you? You are so adorably tiny.'' Her face's gone red. Bird, why did I say that?

''What? No am not.'' She was flustered, her cheeks burning. For a second our eyes locked, then she looked away.

''Maybe you're just too attractively tall,'' said Isabel, looked up and smirked. The game's afoot.

''Well, darling,-I just called her DARLING-then get the glasses yourself,'' said Alma. She looked me dead in the eye and smiled. Why is it so...arousing? Oh woman, what do you do to me?

''Fine,'' said Isabel. She walked over to me. Too close. I could feel her breath on my neck. Too close. She put her hands on my shoulders. What, what is she doing? A grin appeared on her face. I blushed. She jumped... and sat on the counter...

Then Isabel stood up, still on the counter, opened the shelf and got the glasses. then she jumped of and kissed me on the cheek.

''Thank you, ma chérie,'' said Isabel walking away to set the table. I just looked after her.

1:0

When I came into the dining room everyone was already waiting for me. Wow, this was the first time in years I was actually late to something. You know when you're an ymbryne you don't get to be late, you aren't supposed to be late. Holy Bird, we manipulate time!

Isabel was also there sitting on the seat right next to mine. When she noticed me, she just smiled and turned away. So, I sat down. We began to eat. The kids were asking Isabel all sorts of questions since she was from a loop in future, but Isabel fired every one of them back with elegance and charm. I didn't listen to most of it because all I could think of was her pretty face and smile, the way she waving with her hands when explaining something she was passioned about, the way she laughed and made sarcastic comments. Witty, smart and stunning.

''You know it's quite rude to stare, Miss Peregrine. You always tell us,'' called out Millard. Damn it.

''Padon me, Mr Nullings. I didn't stare.'' Play. It. Cool. Alma. Suddenly Bronwin spoke out.

''We saw you, Miss P. It was so sweet.'' She slightly tilted her head and clapped her hands. Be. Cool.

''And on whom was I supposed to be starring at?'' asked Alma.

''Yeah, Alma, who were you starring at?'' Oh, no! Isabel. I didn't even look around. I just blushed, trying to pull myself together again, looking at the table.

''Now, that's enough children. Let's stop teasing Miss Peregrine,'' said Isabel, laying her hand at my shoulder. Then she leaned in and whispered into my ear. ''You'll thank me later.''

She is just so perfect.