What's The News? • Lemoxie

Chapter Two

"Snicket..." I said finally, "Come inside, I guess." I looked outside and saw a black motorcycle parked in the lighthouse driveway. That must be his, I thought, Pretty nice, Snicket.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You're not welcome by our most volatile associate, thus, you aren't welcome."
Lemony smirked at me. "Dear old Ellington wants me off the face of the earth. How precious." He said fondly.

I scowled at his choice of words. "Dear old Ellington. ", "How precious. " Get real. She wants you dead and I'm supposed to be jealous? Fine it worked...

"It'd do you nicely not to talk about Ellington in such a manner." I replied bitterly, making his smirk grow. "Now what are you doing here, Snicket?"

I knew exactly what he was going to say. "Can't a volunteer just visit his prime associate?" He asked smugly. I rolled my eyes as my face turned a wee bit red and was about to say something before I was interrupted.

"Who's at the door, Moxie?" Kellar called.

Lemony's expression grew sour. Does he think... Yes he does! Oh my goodness he's jealous of Kellar! Wait gross. He's practically my brother!

"Nobody, Kel! Just a tourist that likes lighthouses." I lied, using the lie that got him into the lighthouse in the first place four years ago. "C'mon, we can talk at the top." I said to Lemony and pulled him up the stairs quickly along with my typewriter.

We finally reached the beacon room which doubled as The Stain'd Lighthouse's operations center. "So tell me the actual reason you're here, and I'll consider letting you crash in the old Sallis Mansion." I said, already setting up my typewriter with keys at the ready.

" Firstly, I booked a room at The Lost Arms, so no thank you. Second, have you heard of the fungus... The Medusoid Mycelium?"

I shook my head as I typed. "Nope. What is it?"
" Man-made. Highly volatile. Can kill you within an hour of being exposed to so much as one spore. " Lemony summarized.
"Sounds unpleasant, but what's it got to do with Staind-by-the-Sea?" I replied, typing up the details of the Medusoid Mycelium.

Lemony took a deep breath. "I have heard talk amongst my organization of a sample stolen by a young man who can do a good siren impression." He explained.

My heart dropped into my stomach. "Stewart Mitchum has a sample of the Medusoid Mycelium here in Stain'd-by-the-Sea? Please tell me there's a cure! An antidote of some sort!"

"Is the dilution simple? But of course!/ Just one small dose of root of horse." Lemony said. "Dilution is a word which here means-"

"We don't have time for your vocabulary games, you walking dictionary!" I snapped. "If this is true, there are lives at stake and everyone needs to be prepared for a worst case scenario, Snicket."

"Antidote. A word which here means antidote. The cure is horseradish and other culinary substitutes, such as wasabi or wormwood." He mumbled the first part but spoke the second louder. I gave him a satisfied nod as I typed that out.
"And was the couplet necessary?"
"I found it delightful." He responded.

I playfully rolled my eyes. "Yeah maybe this time, you'll stay." I joked, but that made some awkward silence. "Sorry," I mumbled. I kind of zoned out at the table and was pulled out of my thoughts by the feeling of his rough hand settled on mine. I blushed as we made silent eye contact.

Lemony was the first to speak. "I will... If you want me to." He gave me a small smile, which I sheepishly returned. Goodness his smile is so charming and perfect. I wanna make him smile more.
"That sounds wonderful." I grinned. "Well, I'll see you around. Want me to walk you to your motorcycle?"
" I'm not staying for lunch? "
"Ellington is coming over, unfortunately. Kellar and her are inseparable."

Lemony gave me a confused look. "Kellar and Ellington are together! No reason to be jealous of Kellar, Snicket." I explained.

He blushed. "I am not jealous of Kellar Haines." Lemony mumbled. I smirked at him and shrugged.
"If you insist." I replied, not wanting to push him.

I walked him up to his bike and he started up the engine.

"I noticed Stain'd-by-the-Sea got a drive-in built. Maybe the two of us could go see a movie." He said, winking at me before driving towards, I assume, the Lost Arms. I turned around to head back inside but I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw Kellar Haines standing in the doorway of the lighthouse.

"Snicket's back?" He asked in astonishment.