Lockwood and Co. The see-through girl.

Chapter 20

My small suitcase thudded gently on the stairs. As I reached the first floor landing, I glanced at the forbidden door. The door that had caused so much trouble. The ghost inside which was the reason I was leaving. I glared at the plain wood.
George ran to me in the kitchen. He hugged me and cried.
"I'm so sorry, Lucy. If it was down to me-"
"But it's not." I patted his back in reassurance. "I'll find somewhere else. It's obviously not going to be as good as here but..."
George sniffed and pulled away.
"I guess I'll see you round." He said quietly, looking at the floor. I shrugged.
"I guess."
I looked around for Lockwood. He wasn't even here to say goodbye.

I silently prayed that it was all a dream. That I'll wake up and we'll get ready for another case. George'll rush off to the dusty archives while Lockwood and I will practice rapier moves on the straw dummies. Lockwood laughing and teaching me when I got it wrong. Me blushing deeply.
Obviously none of this happened. I brushed a fond hand over the thinking cloth and made for the door.
"You ready?" I asked the bulging mass in my bag.
FREEDOM!! The skull shouted.
Lockwood had willingly given me the skull since I was the only one who could speak to it. I could tell George would miss it though.
"I bet the skull won't miss me though." George had said. He had no idea.
I'm finally getting away from my torturer! From horrid, secretive Lockwood. I guess I'm still stuck with you but one's better than three!
I sighed deeply, irritably brushing a tear from my cheek.
"Let's go then."
Only I heard the faint sound of crying coming from the basement.

***

"Hey Lucy Carlyle!"
I breathed deeply, trying to control my anger. I turned slowly around.
"What do you want Kipps?" I glowed at him. He smiled, genuinely sorry for me.
"I heard you had been kicked out of Lockwood and Co.?" I sighed.
"That's right. Come to taunt?"
He shifted his weight uncomfortably.
"Actually, I came to ask if-" he cut off. "If you wanted to join my team?"
I stopped.
Lucy Carlyle! Why are you even thinking about this!!?
I'm not...
Bloody hell. I am.
I'm thinking about joining Quill Kipps.