{Arms Unfolding}~ Q. Quagmire

Ch.6~

Pearla—
    
        For the first time in a long while, it seems as if things are making sense. You're a different breed, a diamond that was cut wrong. An illusion. Lovely.

                                         —Ira.

        ...I marched through the halls, seemingly as if I were on a mission, and I suppose I was. I just wanted to see what was so important that I couldn't know. Ha. You know those people in television programs when the protagonist has a secret and one of the side characters snoops in their business and almost finds out? Yeah, I hate those people, the ironic part is that I've become one of those people. I suppose I'm not truly an important part of the Baudelaires or Quagmires tale, but here I am— snooping about as if I mattered.

        There's no turning back now, I'm already to my destination. The library, I took a deep breath, to kill my thoughts, and pushed the doors open. I would've thought there would be more students here during study hours ,but there never was. The woman I was looking for stood behind her desk oh so innocently even though she would get tried for as well. Tried— like they were on court and I was the judge and jury. Not very blind.

       "Hello, Iridesa." She spoke fondly as she realized I was approaching her. I smiled back at her.

        "How do you do, Miss Caliban?" I greeted her. She responded quick, her mind must always be moving, "Well, thank you, but it's Olivia for you." I nodded, what a kind woman. Maybe I am overreacting, what possibly could a woman like her be hiding?

       "Oh alright, Olivia, uhm, how do you know my name?" I don't think I've ever properly introduced myself to her. She leaned on her elbows closer to me, "I'm a librarian, I know all sorts of things." She said a bit...mysteriously.

"Like where I could find something—a tape, or files— on a Pearla Rose?" I asked in the exact same tone. She walked around her desk and took my hand.

"Perhaps." Then we were off.

I've been reading my ass off to find these things. A family secret, hidden letters. Teams and betrayals all around, what a life she's lived, I was just getting closer, there was mentions of a family tree and love affairs.

"Wow." I whispered to myself. I wasn't even done yet, this seemed like the top of the barrel, too bad a knock at my door interrupted me. I quickly hid the file Olivia had equipped me with under my pillow before taking my book and entered a coughing fit. I took my book out and began reading that, whilst squeaking out a, "come in." To the stranger behind the door.

       In entered a Duncan Quagmire, smoking and happy like most of the time. He strutted in and sat on the bed next to me, "Hey, Desa." I stared at the words on the page, but decided to answer anyways.

"Yup."

       He looked at my with his brow raised, "what are you reading?" He asked, of course he could see it was a book, but this particular book never had a title, just an author on this spine. Pearla Rose.

"A book." I glanced at him, he sighed heavily before asking me again, "about?"

"Secrets." I eyed him.

"The secret book is another secrets?" He asked as if he didn't believe me. Which is why I didn't want to bring it up in the first place, but this was less suspicious that files on a mysterious author. Oddly, she seemed like more than just an author.

I then got angry and tried to shut him out. He then rolled his eyes and began taking off his blazer, that's when I saw his tattoo once again. He noticed it was visible and tried to cover it up, but I had already noticed it. That symbol reminded me of all the lies and secrets I had to keep pretending I hadn't noticed. So...I did what any other Iridesa Timbers would do.

I snapped.

"What's that and how'd you get it?" I asked him tugging at his right arm so I could see it, he tried to pull it back but I kept my grip and pulled up his sleeve. It looked relatively new, not like someone of the old ones my friends from home had. He began stammering and threw together a quick answer, "oh this? Just a-" I hadn't let him finish...I should've let him finish.

"A tattoo, strange for a seventeen year old to have a tattoo if they've been at boarding school 'for forever', right?" I sat up quickly making him stand up. I crossed my arms, subsiding the coughs building in my chest.

"I suppose, but I don't see-"

"Why it's any of my business? I suppose you're right, but I was just curious, Dun..." he tried to think of something to say back, never finding the right words I stood up in front of him. My arms were still crossed and we were dangerously close, "...ya know, then I got to thinking as to why you have the exact same tattoo your sister has behind her ear. Then again, siblings do that all the time, but to share the same one with the librarian, I think not. Are you all hiding something from me?" I accused, now that I was saying these things out loud, the strings are all coming to a common point.

       "I- uh-we are all just ordinary people who happen to have the same tattoo. Remember when Klaus said that the Baudelaires got taken away, well we did too and that's when Olivia came to get us, we all share a common trait that bonded us so we all got tattoos." He tried breathing, but it's Duncan, he's a sweetheart. If there was anything making him uncomfortable—like a friend accusing him— it takes him a minute to compose himself.

       "Seems peculiar," I stepped closer, looking him up and down, "and odd, are you sure that's correct Duncan, what trait do you all share?" I feed back at him.

        "We're orphans, we are all orphans whose parents died in house fires and we are now inheriting their fortunes." He told me whilst looking at me in the eyes. I visibly softened when this pleading look of 'please listen to me' flashed through him. Look at me, I've turned into some insecure, psycho bitch who can't control her temper. My head was pounding and I can tell if it was from my illness or the raised level of my voice.

        "...are you sure?" I wanted to believe him.

       "Positive, look at me ,Desa." He stepped back with his arms held out a bit, "would I ever lie to you?" I suppose he wouldn't. Egh, why am I doing, I must be running a fever to be acting like this.

        I sighed and slouched, "I suppose not, so, yes I believe you." I hung my head and walked into his still open arms. He wrapped them around me and stood still with me in this calm embrace.

        "Thank you." He finally breathed once I stepped away an let out all of the coughs that were building up inside of my chest painfully. He held my shoulders as to calm me and shaking body. "You were awfully close to ruining this friendship, but I'm sorry for your feeling like that. Duncesa can live long and happy in friendship-land." He smiled at me sweetly, to which I returned the gesture.

       "Hey, Des-woah." A startled voice said as they barged into my room. Duncan and I turned our heads simultaneously to see Violet Baudelaire in my doorway shocked as ever.

"Hey, Vi." Duncan and I spoke.

       "Uh-what's going on here?" She asked looking at our current state. I looked between me and the boy. Fuck, this looks terrible. I pushed him away harshly.

       "We got into a little tiff, but everything's okay now." I then sneezed fiercely after my statement. I didn't even let the burning in my nose go down before throwing Duncan's blazer at him and grabbing my book. "Well...later."

      I bolted out of my own room, passed my friend and into the hallways with nothing but my socks on my feet. I was mortified, embarrassed, ashamed. I don't know how I'd live on after today. I do know one thing. If there is a secret going on between the Baudelaires, Quagmires, or whoever else; there needs to be no more confrontations. I'm doing all of this on my own.

Finished: Monday, February 4, 2019. 4:53 pm.

Published: Sunday, March 24, 2019. 11:28 pm.