Chapter 3: Colorful

Marie's eyes fluttered open. She got well more than eight hours of sleep. The digital clock of her night stand said it was twelve thirty-five. She dragged herself out of bed, and she walked into the kitchen.

Tape to the toaster, was Sophie's note. Whenever they had to tell each other something, they usually did that. It was odd, but it was special to them.

She fought with the toaster (or maybe the tape...) for the note, and won. She unfolded it, and read 'Annabelle said he's cute.' At the bottom, she drew a winky face, ;-).

Marie smiled. This meant she could do whatever she wanted, but, of all things, to be careful.

She cooked a breafast of toast, Nutella, and orange juice. She went back to her room to chane out of the dress she slept in. Marie pulled a plain white long-sleeve shirt over her head. She picked out her green, black, and white check dress that came down to her knees, and a pair of black leather cowboy boots. She tied her hair up into pig tails, giving her a childish look. Marie grabbed her hot pink messanger bag, and her wallet, and started on her way.

She took the bus to Volante City's neighbor, Jatia. I hope this doesn't get them hurt... or worst... Marie could tell Kapp'n was looking at her, but she sat in the back, as usual. His star-gazing at her made him a horrible driver (at least, more than usual.) and nearly got the people and animals on the bus killed. Twice. She got off at the 5th Street stop fasting . She pulled out her smart phone. One oh three... They'll be home. She thought confidently to herself. She was glad she only had to work from eight to eleven at night.

She walked down the street, smiling. She turned east past the ice cream shop. Even from the end of the street, she already spotted the house she wanted to visit. She quickened her pace. It was the forth house from the end. As always, it was a pure bright white, not a speck of dust on the snowy exterior.

She walked up the steps to the front porch. She held up her hand, but hesitated. I haven't seen him in so long... She gulped, hesitation looming over her. Before she could object to herself any more, she knocked.

Marie whated for a moment. The moment became a minute. A minute become a few. Her smile soon faded away. Maybe I was wrong... Maybe they aren't here... She turned to leave, already down the steps, when she heard him say, "Hello?"

Marie turned around. She smiled again. "Do you remember me? Malachi?" A breeze sent her hair swaying.

"Umm..." He replied, looking at her dumbfounded.

An old lady walked up to the door. "Who's there, Malachi?" She asked.

"Hello, Delilah," Marie greeted.

Delilah squinted her eyes. "Is... Is that really you?" She asked.

Marie giggled. "At least someone remembers me."

"Marie?" She said.

She walked up to them. "Sure been a long time, hasn't it?"

Malachi blinked. "Oh," He said, "Oh! Marie?" He shook his head as if he couldn't believe it himself. "It has been a long time," He chuckled.

"Come in! Come in!" Delilah ushered her inside. She shut the door behind them. "How have you been?"

"Not so great," Marie sighed, "I have the worst job now."

"Really? What's the job?" Malachi showed the mild curiosity that she's always had known.

Marie admitted, "I am now working as a... maid." She cringed and blush.

Malachi put his hand over his mouth as a half-hearted attempt to hide his chuckling. Delilah eyes widened. "You aren't being touched, are you?" She shouted.

"N-no," Marie answered. Malachi broke out in a laughin fit, making no attempt to hide it. Delilah relaxed a little. "S-stop..."

Malachi calmed down. "Sorry," He apologized, "It's not every day you hear something as crazy as that."

Marie shook her head. "How are you guys?" She asked.

"Oh, I'm fine," Delilah answered, "Haven't gotten bedridden yet!" The strong willed old woman took a little too much pride in that.

Marie laughed. "How about you, Mali?"

"My work's been doing well," He said, "I can show you some if you'd like."

"Sure," Marie stood up. Malachi lead her upstairs towards his room. Delilah smirked, and stayed downstairs.

Malachi's room was small, a bed in the corner, and a desk pushed up against the wall. There was a window above his bed. He had two wooden easels folded up, leaning against the wall oppisite of the bed. He had several canvases next to the easels. The walls were more decorated with cool designs from when Malachi must've painted them.

Same as always. When they were kids, it'd had been stacks of Scooby Doo memorabelia instead of art supplies. He shut the door behind them, and started searching through some paintings, searching for a certain one.

"Here we go," He picked up a small rectangular canvas. He held it out to her. "I hope you like it..." He said sheepishly.

She took it, holding it gently. It read 'Marie', in all capital letters. The letter weere twirly, a bright aqua blue. The background was a garden, much resembling Delilah's garden in the backyard. Marie was speechless. "It took me a while to finish it," He commented, "I think it's my best work."

"It is... my name, right?" She asked. Marie wasn't an uncommon name.

"Yeah," He replied.

"Thanks," Marie smiled. I guess he does remember me... She tried to hand it back to him.

"Oh! You can have it, you know," He said.

"Really?" She was surprised. Malachi nodded. "Th-thank you." She carefully placed it into her messanger bag.

"No problem." Malachi sat on the bed next to her. He smirked. "I wonder what you look like in a maid's outfit," He commented.

Marie rolled her eyes. "That's work only," She replied, "I doubt I'd even wear anything maid related after this finishes."

"You like pretty in anything," He complimented, "You've always had."

Marie felt the blood rush to her cheeks. "Hey, let's go get some ice cream. It'll be on me," He suggested, and they both left his room.

Downstairs, Malachi shouted, "Delilah! We're going out!"

"Good!" Delilah shouted. "'Bout time you got a girlfriend!"

Malachi cringed and Marie laughed. They walked down the street, back to the corner shop. It was run by a family of squirrels, but they had the best ice cream in all of Jatia. The place was nearly empty, except for a small family of bunnies.

They walked up to the cashier. "Hey ya', hey ya', hey ya'!" A teal squirrel with yellow stripes greeted, "How can I, like, take your order?"

"A small chocolate shake," Marie said.

"I'll take a small vanilla shake," Malachi replied. He pulled out his wallet.

"That'll be three fifty-two!" The cheery squirrel said. Malachi paid, and the squirrel procceeded to make them. They thanked her for the shakes, and they sat at a table.

"Speaking of your lovelife," Marie commented, "How's yours? Got a girl yet?"

"No," Malachi responded, "I had a girl, but she got away." Marie nodded. She wanted to know more, but didn't want to pry. "What about you?"

"My gosh, it's complicated," Marie put her head in her hands. Malachi chuckled.

A silence passed over them. "Marie," Malachi said, "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Yeah? What is it?" Marie asked.

"I-"

And that was when she got that eventful phone call.