PL. The inner smile
Chapter 3
Emmy Altava
I woke up and starred at the green ceiling above me. I sighed as I crouched my way outside of the tent. The sun was rising. The hills were silent, the way I liked to wake up the most. Just silence, nothing to wake me up except for the light of the sun and the chirping of the birds. I looked around to see if there was any form of life to find, next to the animals and myself. Thanks god, nobody around. This way I could eat my breakfast in peace. It isn't as if I disliked be around humans, but at the moment, I would really like some silence. I had travelled a lot recently, going everywhere and nowhere. The people I've met, the things I've seen, al so magnificent. A part of me longed for some sort of settlement. A place to stay and live the rest of my life with the people I love. But the other part wants to have more adventures, to see the world. Fly around in my plane and discover new places. The downside to the second part would be that I'm alone. Nobody to share these discoveries with. The joy of flying around thinking what your next meal will be. I sighed while I stuffed my face with some fruit and nuts. It was not much, but it was healthy. I cleaned the place and packed together my things. I put everything in my plane and got ready to fly. Suddenly a thought occurred to me. And it wasn't just a thought, it was more like a memory. A memory of Professor Layton and Luke Triton. Tears developed in my eyes at the warm memory. Luke's precious laugh, the professor's warm hands. Why was I suddenly remembering such events? What made me think of this. I guess I just miss them a bit…or maybe a lot. It's been so many years already. Three? Or maybe four? How could time fly by so fast? I started the plane and took off. I wiped away the tears in my eyes and tried to think of something else. It wasn't working…
Hershel Layton
The last week of school flew by and finally the graduation started. The senior students all received their diplomas and proudly showed them to me. The nagging feeling in my hart had grown only so much stronger, but I had to show these students how proud they made me. They really did. Some had struggled so hard to get here, and they made it. With some help after class of course. They all came by and thanked me for the past years they had been in my classes. Some even cried. All of them are such good students, with proud parents on the background, congratulating them. Some of the parents also came by to give their thanks. I surely hoped they would make something of their future. It reminded me of Luke…he was also in school now, learning every day. He did write me sometimes to tell about what he had learned, and new puzzles he had discovered. He was such a clever boy. One of the smartest I knew of that age. One day he will be all grown up, with some lucky girl by his side. When I thought of things like that, I would always tear up.
After the ceremony, I was caught up in the crowd of the teachers and moved along to one of their favourite bars. They said we had to celebrate the start of the vacation and the graduation of some of the students. A lot of them also complained about the students who didn't graduate and had to retake the year. I didn't really feel like joining them in their drinking, but I was left with little choice.
''Hershel take a drink, it's on the school's account'' one of my female colleagues suggested.
''yeah hersey, it's about time you loosen up'' one of the others said.
I sighed and took the drink they offered me. It was a simple rum and coke, something that I never really liked. It was too sweet for my taste. Nevertheless, it did get me drunk quite fast.
''all right then…here I go'' I said and took my first sip.
I knew that I shouldn't drink too much when I was feeling like this. It would only get me more depressed than I already was. And I never liked hangovers, but…who did anyway? After a couple of drinks, my colleagues really started to get tipsy. It was funny to see some of them doing and saying things they normally wouldn't. But it also scared me. I was afraid I was going to do the same, so I started drinking water. They called me boring, but I didn't care.
The last memory I would give them would be a sober one before the vacation. After a couple of more drinks, some of the colleagues started to get annoying. Asking me all sort of things, personal things, without stopping. I tried to decisively decline them, but the efforts were pointless. Eventually they got on my nerves and I called it a night. To pouted and protested when I left but I couldn't care less. They were the people I worked with, and I had to treat them with respect of course, but it is after all vacation.
I got home and threw my keys on the stand next to the door. I placed my jacked roughly on the hanger and stomped inside. For some reason, I was mad. Maybe it was the small amount of alcohol running through my vines, or maybe the annoying comments of my colleagues still lingering in my head, but something ticked me off real good. I walked to the bathroom and plashed some water in my face. I only got madder. I crouched down on the floor and screamed in my arms. Thank god, Flora wasn't home. I wouldn't be able to handle her right know, or even explain what was going on with me. I can't even explain what's going on with me to myself. After a while I stood up and walked to the kitchen. The anger still ran through my body like wild fire. I had a feeling I could strangle someone. Not that I would want to, I would never hurt somebody in that way. That's not very gentlemanly after all. But so wasn't drinking, and so wasn't getting mad at nothing. And so wasn't taking a knife out of the silverware drawer and looking at it, resisting to stab yourself with it….what was I thinking…
I threw the knife away and ran to my room. I closed the door shut and sat down on the ground. The only thing I could do now…was cry. I cried and cried until I couldn't cry no more. My head pounded so hard I thought it was going to burst open. My eyes were heavier then my whole being. I, kind of, stood up and crawled to my bed. I put my hat on my nightstand and didn't bother to take off my clothes. I'll just do that later, I thought. I half-wrapped my blanket around me and fell asleep soon after.
Luke Triton
I thought a lot about the time I had to say goodbye to the professor. It still pains me sometimes. I made a lot of progress at the school I attended, but I never really fit in with the normal kids. The first thing I noticed, when I first entered the class, was that I understood everything faster than all the other children did. They also spoke very differently, and they said I was the one with an accent. I didn't really care if they had an accent or if I was the one with an accent, we all speak English, so what's the big deal? Eventually they started calling me names, just because I could learn better than they could. I just wanted to make some friends…well, I do have friends. I have one friend that's two grades above me and of course, there is chunky. Chunky is the principals cat, and she sure is something. She is always gossiping about other cats and the schoolchildren. Hehe…I really like her. I tell the professor almost everything that happens here at school, except for the fact that they bully me sometimes…I don't want to make him worried over nothing.
It sure has been a while since I last heard from the professor. I hope he is doing oke. Tomorrow the summer vacation begins and I made it to the next grade! I'm so happy, and my mother and father are taking me to the zoo as a present. There's no place where I'd rather go. Well…maybe to London, to visit the professor. But I could never ask that of my parents. It's expensive, or at least I think it is. Maybe if I save all of my allowance I can go to visit him. I have to check! I'm dying to see him again.
Flora Reinhold
The trip to St. Mystere was a long one, but I was already used to it. I was sitting in the backseat of the bus that crossed St. Mystere on its way, hand in hand with my newfound love. I looked at him as he tried to peal an apple with just one hand and giggled.
''I don't think that's gonna work.''
He looked at me with a smirk and let go of my hand.
''yeah…should have tried this sooner, don't wanna cut myself.'' He said smiling.
I nodded and waited patiently for him to finish pealing the apple. He looked at me slightly confused and asked.
''what's wrong, why are you looking at me like that?''.
I giggled and took a hold of his arm.
''well first of all I'm waiting to get your hand back, and second, I want a bite.''
He blushed and presented the apple in front of my face, as if to say ''here''. I took a bite and smiled at the cute boy next to me. He also took a bite and stared out the window.
''will it be long before we arrive there?'' he asked while taking another bite of the apple.
''no it won't be long now, just another half hour or so.''
''ah..oke.'' he said and presented the apple in front of my face once more.
I took a bite and stared in front of me, wondering how the professor was doing. He had been a little off these past couple of weeks. Like something was wrong. But I knew he would never tell me, so I wouldn't get worried. I always did notice…but he tried to hide it anyway.
''I sure hope he can figure it out on it's own'' I murmured.
''what's that apple cheek?'' clive said mockingly.
I laughed and softly punched him in his stomach. He also laughed and looked at me smiling and blushing. I also blushed and put my head against his chest. It was so nice to just listen to his heartbeat. I felt a soft kiss on the top of my head, knowing it was him.
''hmm….you smell so good.'' He whispered.
I looked up to him and kissed him softly on the lips. It's a good thing we were the only ones on the bus, except for the driver of course. We stayed like that for a couple more seconds but eventually parted. The warmth of his lips lingered for just a few more seconds, and I didn't dare to open my eyes yet. Once I did, I saw two half closed eyes and a big grin. It was good that he could make me laugh. That's all I ever wanted. Just moments later, the bus driver said to us that we had arrived. Clive sighed and stretched his legs when we walked outside. He took a good look at the wall surrounding St. Mystere and nodded.
''seems like a cute little village.''
''it sure is.'' I said.
We retrieved our bags and entered St. Mystere's gate.
