{Arms Unfolding}~ Q. Quagmire

Ch.2~

Pearla—

          It feels like you've always been here. I can barely remember the old me, what it was like to hate myself. If only I could feel like this forever.
   
                                             —Ira.

       You know the rabbit from "Alice in Wonderland"? That's how I feel right now because well...I'm late. It is way past curfew and I'm running like hell is after me on a motorbike trying to get to my room. Have you ever tried to run and make no noise? It's not easy.

      If I get in trouble the next thing my parents will do is...probably kill me. I could so see that happening 'here lies Iridesa Pearl Timbers— death by quadruple ass-whooping for acting the fuck up too much' that's something my moms would say. I'd be dead, caput, gone, sayonara, adios, and-

     "Oof." I grunted as I was thrown forward from inertia and flipped over my head and onto my back so I was looking at the ceiling. I turned over so that I laid on my stomach but was holding myself up by my elbows. I a figure— who I thought was Duncan but with long hair? I guess we're booth late.

         "Oof," He said getting over his impact I watched as he composed himself and turned to look at me in the moonlight, which didn't do us much help in the seeing department, seeping through the windows, "Hey, watch it!" He said frustrated. I'd be mad too if I were late, about to get my ass kicked, and ran into another human being that knocked the wind out of me. Oh wait, I did and even I wasn't as rude as him.

       "Shhh, or we'll both get caught," I said standing up, making him do the same. We walked closer together before hearing a tipping tap tappity tip tap. Carmelita. I looked around and noticed a sign that said library. Books save the day once again, "c'mon in here." I took his hand and lead him through the doors, hoping they weren't locked.

     I suppose it didn't matter because I still couldn't see him when I walked in yet he still started talking, "Quick thinking, but who are you?"

"Hold on, I can hardly see you," I said reaching for a lamp that was at a reading desk, "Duncan, what happened to your hair?" I asked once I could see his face clearly. His hair was so long that it had curled slightly at the ends and bounced a lot.

He shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets, "No, Quigley, Quigley Quagmire." Wicked cool.

"Woah, uncanny." I said in amazement as I observed his face, Ive been here for about a week and a half and still haven't seen him until now. I've even eaten lunch with his siblings an the Baudelaires everyday since I've come here and he was always just a name and memories until now. I've got to admit, the stories his siblings would tell of him made me laugh, they might've been the highlight of my day.

"I know both your siblings and the Baudelaires, but when I pictured meeting you, I thought it would be under better circumstances." He looked quite serious, maybe it was the shadows the light caused or it could've been his actual face. Nonetheless, he was handsome, like his brother. Cause they have the same face. Those must be some strong genes.

"Wuh-" he started but then got quiet again when we heard a door open and close, "-hide!" He said turning the light off and grabbing me. We hid behind a book shelf as we stayed quiet to listen to where the person was going.

My hand grasped a couple of books for leverage and my thumb stroked the lettering on the spine of the book. The letters were raised so I focused on trying to read the author's name to keep my mind off of how stress I seemed to be on the moment. It felt like a Pearla something. It interested me since my middle name happens to be something similar. I was now focused on reading the rest of the name.

"What are you doing?" Quigley whispered noticing my nervous habit I just started. "Shhh. Did they leave?"

"I don't think so, but there foot steps seem to be getting more quiet so I think we can sne-Ah!" He screamed as a bright light was shown upon us. He curled around my body protectively, Incase something were to happen. What a gentleman. A gentleman that yelled in my face after knocking me to the ground.

"Why hello, Quigley," She said once he looked up at the shadow with a feminine voice. She took the light away and went to cut the lights on. When she came back she noticed my presence, "-and- oh, you must be the new student." She leaned forward for me to shake her hand. So I did.

"How do you do?" I greeted.

"Hi, Miss Caliban," Quigley said nervously, "how do you do?"

"Quite nice, thank you, but I'd get going if I were you, before Miss Spats comes about." She was a polite, young woman, very tall and pleasing to the eye. I looked her up and down— people watching is my favorite hobby— I noticed a tattoo on her inner ankle. She doesn't look the type, but yet again, looks can be deceiving.

She lead us both out the door, we were quiet as church mice. We checked to see if the tipping tap tappity tip taps were gone. We stepped out into the hallway, leaving Miss Caliban in the door of the library.

We thanked her and turned to leave before she stopped us again. "Oh and, Quigley?" She called to him.

"Yes?"

"Getting into trouble isn't very charming on a date." She said smirking to the two of us.

"Oh this isn't a-" she'd close the door before I could finish.

"Some date, huh?" He said sarcastically, with a vibe that he was joking.

"Later." I said walking away.

"Yeah...later."

Finished: Friday, February 1st, 2019. 11:56 pm.

Published: Saturday, March 9, 2019. 3:10 am.