Chapter 1
Amelia Bennet led a very ordinary life. She had a job, an apartment, even fish. She took the bus like normal people; she went to work like normal people. But, on a run of the mill, normal day, Amelia couldn't help but notice the man who was not so normal. She was sitting on the bus, like any other day, when she noticed a man in all black. He was tall and slim. Amelia couldn't help but look at him. He was memorising. Until he lost his balance and went flying half way down the bus, and slammed straight into her. They went crashing to the ground. The man was surprisingly heavy.
"I am very sorry." The man said. Amelia half smiled.
"That's fine." She said. The man stood up and offered Amelia his hand. She took it and he pulled her up. His hand was thin and cold, even with a glove on.
"That doesn't usually happen to me." The man said, adjusting his hat.
"You mean falling over?" Amelia asked. The man looked at her.
"Yes. That." He said. Amelia smiled. She jumped when her phone went off. She took it out of her back pocket.
"Hello? I'm on my way now; the bus was a bit late. Ok, I'll sort it out when I get there. Thanks." Amelia hung up put her phone in her bag.
"So, what do you do?" The man asked. Amelia looked at him a little surprized. Why was he still talking to her? Most people didn't talk to Amelia. She was pretty shy. But, this man was a bit different.
"Oh, I, um, work at a funeral home." Amelia said quietly.
"That must be fun." The man said. Amelia was surprized he could hear her tiny voice.
"Um, well, not really. Dead people aren't very exciting." Amelia said.
"I would imagine not." The man said. Amelia smiled.
"And, uh, what do you do?" She asked. The man perked up a little.
"I'm a detective, and a very important one at that. Whenever they need something solved, they call me." He said proudly.
"That must be very exciting. And dangerous."
"It's actually not as exciting as everyone thinks. Sure, I get into a few gun fights, rescue people and have a great car, but the paperwork kills you."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Amelia said. The man laughed.
"I was joking. I don't do paperwork." Amelia laughed and pressed the 'stop' button.
"This is my stop." She said. The man cocked his head.
"That's a shame." He said. Amelia blushed a little.
"Um, well it was nice talking to you." She said.
"You too." Amelia could feel the man smile. She walked to the front of the bus and walked off the bus into the rain. She heard a shout come from behind her. Amelia turned to see the man running up behind her, holding her phone.
"This must have fallen out of your pocket." Amelia checked her pocket.
"Thank you so much. Most people would have kept it." She said.
"Well, I'm certainly not 'most people'," He said. "I didn't catch your name, by the way."
"Oh, um, it's Amelia." She said quietly. The man held out his hand.
"Skulduggery. Skulduggery Pleasant."
"That's an unusual name." Amelia said. She stopped and rubbed her eye. "I'm sorry, that was rude."
"No, no. It is a weird name. My parents were hippies, you see." The man said. Amelia laughed a little. Her phone bleeped.
"I'm really sorry, but I have to go."
"Yes, of course. The dead people must be getting impatient." He said.
"Thank you again." Amelia said before walking down the street. Amelia smiled to herself as she walked. Did she just make a new friend? She certainly hoped so. This would have been her first friend since grade 3. Her parents would be proud. Not that she cared what her parents thought. Amelia could feel that this day was going to be a bit better.
