There's always time-PEREKOO

Chapter 3

She is just so perfect.

Alma didn't want her to go. It was so nice having her around, just her presence made Miss Peregrine happy and safe. Alma's little embarrassment was soon forgotten and after the older kids prepared for bed and Emma read them stories, Isabel and Alma had time to catch up. They sat in the living room, talked, drank tea, and laughed.

"It's so nice being here with you, Alma." Said Isabel smiling at her friend. She likes to spend her time with me. I just smiled like an idiot.

''Yeah, I like spending time with you too. I finally have someone to...talk to....'' Alma whispered the last words, embarrassed looking at the floor. Isabel slightly blushed. ''Yeah.''

So they just sat there, in a comfortable silence until they heard someone at the door.

''Miss the kids are sleeping and I came to say good night,'' said Emma and smiled.

''Thank you, Miss Bloom,'' said Alma and smiled. Then Emma walked over to the room and hugged her. That caught her off the guard but she hugged her back.

''Good night, Miss Peregrine,'' whispered Emma.

''Good night, Emma.''

Isabel saw this all. She just quietly sat there watching the warm scene before her.

''Good night, Miss Cuckoo,'' said Emma when she pulled away and walked over to the entrance.

''Sweet dreams, Miss Bloom.'' said smiling Isabel. Then she turned to Alma silently watching her.

''What? Why are you looking at me like this?'' said the grinning peregrine.

''No reason,'' answered Miss Cuckoo.

''No really, why?'' Isabel slowly looked at the floor and chuckled to herself. ''They love you very much, it's-it's just beautiful.'' That made Alma blush and smile. Oh, Isabel,  I love you too, just in a different way. You could be a part of our family too if you wanted to. I want you to. I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep, holding you in my arms. I want to hold you close, make you smile and feel safe. I want to give you my world. My everything. If you just asked.

Suddenly Isabel put down the cup she was holding and stood up. ''I should be going, I really don't want to be in the way of things anymore.'' I quickly stood up too, unsure of what I should do to make her stay. Does she want to go? So soon?

''It's not soon, chérie, it's almost 10 pm.'' I said it out loud?! Miss Cuckoo silently laughed. ''Yes, Alma, you did.''

''Wait I said that out loud too?!'' Asked Alma. Isabel turned around smirking. ''No dear, but it wasn't difficult to figure out.'' My cheeks changed colour, now matching Fiona's roses in the garden.

''S-stay,'' blurted suddenly out Miss Peregrine. Isabel froze at the door. Then she met Alma's gaze, her deep eyes somehow seeing through her. That made the higher ymbryne look away.

''It-it's...huh, It's too late, too dark, something could happen to you,'' tried to explain the headmistress. She was met with silence. Alma, after some time, still without an answer, grew more frustrated. I shouldn't have said anything. Of course, she doesn't want to stay, now you just made it awkward.

''You love me very much, don't you?'' said Isabel pulling off her coat.

''Yes...'' whispered Alma so Isabel wouldn't hear her.

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Knock! Knock!

''Right out!''

When Isabel opened the bathroom door a hot vapour filled the hall carrying the sweet smell of strawberries and mint. I reminded Alma of the early days of their childhood, in the academy.

When Alma first came in she was a little girl, scared but determined. It couldn't be worse than with her parents after all. Even though she deeply loved them, they didn't try and couldn't understand her or her siblings. They called them strange, broken, haunting, so they were left alone. So when an old woman found them sitting on the pavement, starving and cold, she took them in. Miss Avocet became her mother or the closes thing she had to one and when she said she could teach her, Alma was more than excited.

''This is going to be your flatmate. Isabel Cuckoo. I think you'll get along just fine.''

''Tu es belle comme cette,'' said out of nowhere Isabel.

''Sorry? I'm afraid I didn't catch that,'' asked Alma

''Heavy thoughts, huh?'' asked Miss Cuckoo while leaning on the frame. Mine french might not be perfect, but I'm certain that that's not what I heard. I took a moment before answering.

''Just memories.''

''About?'' I looked at the floor. ''You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. You were just acting nervous so I thought that that might be the reason. Sorry if my questions are making you uncomfortable.''

She is truly an angel.

''No, I'm fine Isabel. It's just that I'm so happy that you're here...It's been a long time.'' Her face bloomed like a flower. I noticed little sparks in her eyes reminding me of the midnight sky. Then she opened her arms.

''Viens ici chérie,'' said Isabel and pulled me into a warm tight hug.

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As I woke up I already heard someone in the kitchen. Kids are still sleeping at this hour, which meant that there was only one person who it could be. I quickly jumped out of my bed and ran down the stairs like an excited child on Christmas.

''Good morning, ma chérie. Are you in a hurry?'' Oh, that lovely accent. Isabel was standing by the window looking outside. Little tiny snowflakes, like small light feathers, were falling from the sky. The cold winter was playing with them, pulling them up and down, sometimes just giving them a swing or a ride. When she finally turned away from the winter paradise, the sight sent shivers down Alma's spine.

Her friend's hair was down, her chocolate curls perfectly framing her face. A small smile playing on her small cherry lips. She was wearing my forest green gown I borrowed her. It was too long for her, almost reaching the floor. It felt good seeing Isabel wearing her clothes like they were connected, like one family.