The Destiny

Chapter Two

When they arrived at the library, Annette was excited to get some new history books and Harry was looking forward to getting another fantasy book. The huge library doors lay ahead and Annette smiled to herself. It was ridiculous that she always felt so tiny in comparison to them.

So consumed with her thoughts, Annette did not realize that Harry was four steps ahead and already entering the library. Noticing, she was about to sprint towards him, when a hand grabbed her arm. She spun around in shock.

'Arthur!' She cried, recognizing the face staring intently down at her.

'Sorry Annette, I didn't mean to scare you. May I join you at the library today? I'm new, and I'd like it if you could show me around.'

Annette stared at him in complete and utter disbelief. Only moments earlier she and her brother spoken about him and now here he was standing in front of her like he was called. She blinked a few times, processing what she was seeing.

'Uhm, Annette?' He asked again, a smile tugging on the corner of his mouth as he watched her blank expression

'Oh sorry, uhm, yeah, we can show you around.' Annette awkwardly replied, her words nearly stumbling over one another as she spoke. She felt her cheeks redden and she turned around embarrassed. She could kick herself at that moment. She couldn't believe that she just stood there and stared at him like a complete idiot.

'So, where do you come from Arthur?' She asked, trying to make a feeble come-back while she tried to oppress her obvious curiosity about the boy as they walked up the steps into the library.

'Oh I come from a place very far from here,' he said mysteriously, which made Annette think that perhaps he did not want to discuss his origins, even though he was speaking the full truth, 'and you Annette, where do you come from?' From his expression, Annette could see that he was quite expectant for her to answer. Annette looked up at him questioning this, but within the hazel depths he could see the sorrow in her eyes.

'I don't know Arthur.' She then said as she tore away her gaze and seemed to find something interesting on the ground. It was silent for a moment.

'Harry and I have lived at an orphanage forever.' She bit her lower lip as she tried to hold back the tears that were stinging her eyes.

'Don't you like it there?' Arthur asked.

'No, no one does. I wish I could get out of there, me and Harry both. That place is horrible; it's drab, austere and dull. The Matron dislikes me and I don't like her either. It's an awful place to live at.'

'I'm sorry to hear that, but I'd like it if you'd see me as a friend to you and Harry. Maybe that might ease your load.' He said with a smile, but Annette felt that he was also serious and she nodded flashing him a genuine smile.

'Thank you Arthur.' She said and realised that they had entered the library and had reached Harry, who was already sitting at a desk. He was sitting with his back toward them, and when he heard Arthur's voice he turned around curiously.

'Hi Harry.' Arthur said with a strange smile. Harry nodded with a weird expression on his face, lifting an eyebrow and looked at Annette.

'Harry, Arthur will be joining us today.' She chirped, as she watched Harry's reaction. He seemed stunned at first, but recovered quickly and smiled at Arthur.

'Oh, well that's brilliant.' Harry said and pulled out a chair for Annette. Arthur slid out one himself and sat down. Annette smiled faintly as she watched him and his non-chalant manner as he slid a hand through his hair making a few pesky brown strands of hair fall back into their place. He seemed to be aware of her gaze, but it didn't seem to bother him as his deep brown eyes fell on her and lit up as he smiled, but he then turned his attention towards Harry.