A Series of Unfortunate Events One Shots

Memory Lane Part 2

Begin!

~Mari's POV

It's nice that Fiona has a new friend, god knows she needs it. But I wasn't expecting the captain to be so ok with it. Quigley is definitely an interesting kid. I've never seen a boy with a bigger ego. And that's saying something. He brags a lot, but I think Fiona can see right through it. Guess that's why she likes him.

They spend time together daily, whether they're doing their jobs or just reading in the library. The captain appears to be oblivious, or maybe he's choosing to ignore it I can't tell. Captain Widdershins is a weird guy, very eccentric; I don't know how Fiona puts up with him.

But as cute as they are together, they do still have to follow the rules. V.F.D. doesn't have any kind of workers handbook or anything of the sort but there are certain regulations that we are taught anyway and are expected to remember. One of which is that flirting with other volunteers while on a mission is frowned upon, but unless there's a volunteer with authority around there's no real way to enforce such a rule. And with these two teenagers: enforcing it was quite hard. They sort of blurred the line between flirting and not flirting. True the captain can't see it to call them out on it, but I can see it clear as day. But I'm also not a snitch.

Quigley is nice to have around though, not just for Fiona's sake, it's because he's a fun guy. He gets along fine with the captain too. I was cleaning up the kitchen when I overheard the two kids arguing about the existence of mermaids.

~Fiona's POV

"So you're telling me that mermaids aren't real?"

"That's right."

"But how would you know for sure?"

"I would have seen one of course."

"But what if they're like invisible to the untrained eye. Like you need to know what to look for! There could be a specific marine oddity you'd have to stumble upon to discover mermaids!"

I laughed at his strange logic. "You're the only oddity here, Quiggles."

He scowled at my choice of nickname for him. "Don't call me that! It's not a cool name!"

"I'll call you whatever I want," I replied.

"Well you could have picked a cool name!"

"Nah, I like Quiggles better."

Quigley grumpily pouted at me and conceded to my decision. I bet it's all an act and he secretly likes it.

"Alright, doll, but I still think you're lying about the mermaids..."

"Oh my god Quigley, I'm not lying." "Did he just call me Doll? I don't mind, but that's new..."

He shrugged, "I just wanted to meet a mermaid that's all! I like to share my awesomeness with all girls."

That comment irritated me. Why does that comment irritate me?

"You certainly talk yourself up a lot..."

He smiled. Damn his smile. "Because I'm awesome that's why." He leaned against the table behind him as he continued. "Quigley Quagmire is a gift to the world, and I like to share that gift."

"You do have an unusual amount of confidence."

He tilted his head in confusion, "So?"

"If you ask me, it seems fake."

"What?"

"Hmm... You have an ego bigger than Jupiter, you're arrogant, and your over confidence has probably gotten you in trouble in the past. It's all a ruse, isn't it? I think you tell everyone you're the greatest thing on earth to hide your very low opinion of yourself."