Welcome to chapter four of For My Lover!! Yayy! If you didn't know already, I uploaded the first three chapters to FF before, but then I kind of forgot about it and didn't add any more. So I deleted them off of FF, revised them and reposted them on FF. But this chapter is BRAND NEW, never before seen on FF. So enjoy. Reviews would be lovely.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters from Howl's Moving Castle, though I do own everyone/everything else.
Love ya!
THE BOBBING LOCK
"Please, please, pleaseee." Madison pleaded, clutching her small hands together and shaking them fanatically.
Marcel looked from Madison, to Evelyn, back to Madison, then to the floor. His eyes then scanned the chaotic room, studying every misplaced plate, every dust ball. His cold, dark blue eyes then returned to Evelyn, who was looking back intently. "Are you good at cleaning?"
Evelyn nodded her head a few times, "Oh, yes. Very good. Other than reading, that's what I do at my house. Clean, clean, clean!" The smile on her face grew wide with anticipation. She had no idea what Marcel was going to say.
All he did was tap his chin with his right index finger. Tap his chin and pace, pace and tap his chin. Madison was getting restless and Evelyn thought this was funny. She was amused with the fact that little Madison took quite a liking to her, and so quickly! They had not met more than two hours ago! But the funniest thing about this whole situation was that Evelyn felt the same way. She felt drawn towards Madison and her beautiful brother, Marcel L'Amour. She has never warmed up to someone as quickly as she has with this family. They both seemed so genuine, so pleasant, and to a complete stranger! If she were offered this job, she would most certainly take it. Not for the money, but for the people it included.
"Hmm." That was the first sound that emitted from Marc after nine very slow laps around the room. He stopped near the door where they entered the house; the one that lead out to the back of the creatures tongue. Madison stood there, body quaking slightly, watching him attentively. Marcel's perfect pale lips curved up a bit at the corners. He was obviously also amused at his little sister. Evelyn wondered if he was drawing this out just to torture little Madison. To be honest, it was torturing her too.
"You know what?" Marcel's smooth jazz singer's voice rang sweetly in Evelyn's ears. "I will hire you." He nodded proudly. "Yes, I will. This place is a dump." He gestured around while speaking, pointing out the incredible mess.
"YAY!!" Madison squealed in a high pitched, shrilling voice. It made Evelyn's ears ring a bit, but she didn't really notice. She was too excited about her new job. Being around a handsome wizard and his energetic sister all day while doing something she's disgustingly good at? Best. Job. Ever.
"I do have some money saved up, so your pay will be decent." Marcel noted, trying to be all business-like.
But Evelyn shook her head wildly at this comment, "Oh, don't worry! Please don't worry! Money isn't a problem. Anything will be just fine."
Marc looked confused, "But, isn't that the reason why you want a job in the first place?" His cold blue eyes were placed firmly on her grey ones.
"Well... yes you're right. But I don't want to be rude. I mean, cleaning comes easy for me. It feels weird taking your money for something I enjoy." Evelyn explained, trying to make him understand her point of view.
Marcel just smiled and shook his head, "Oh, no. Trust me; you're not being rude at all. I want to pay you well. Don't worry about it." And with that, he swiped a nonchalant hand at her, like there was no other answer.
A shrug is the only thing Evelyn could think to do. Sure, she wanted the money; she actually needed the money. But it felt so odd to take money from such a beautiful person. Evelyn felt like she should be paying him just to be in his presence!
"Then it's settled. You shall start work tomorrow." He said, pointing a finger to the ceiling. But his proud face then turned unsure, "That is, unless you have school…"
Evelyn flashed a wide smile, being reminded of her freedom, "Nope. Actually, today was my last day of high school. All I have to do is go to graduation in a week."
Marcel looked truly excited for her as his eyes widened and the same wide smile grew on his face, "Well, congratulations! Are you planning on going to college?"
Evelyn nodded her head, "Mhm."
An awkward silence fell over them. Marcel cleared his throat, obviously noticing this silence, "Well…" he began, "Where are you attending college?"
Evelyn rubbed the back of her head, "Eh heh, I was kind of hoping you weren't going to ask…" her words trailed off. Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink and she shuffled her used-to-be-black-now-brown shoes.
Marcel's brows furrowed, confused by this remark. He looked at her intensely, "Why? Did you not get accepted to anywhere? I won't judge you, I promise." His lips turned into that smile that made it hard for Evelyn to concentrate.
And it showed as she stumbled for words, "Uhm," she cleared her throat, "N-no that's not it. I was actually accepted to… every college I applied to."
Those dark blue eyes widened as Marcel listened. He clapped his hands together once, "That's great! Where did you apply?" He actually seemed interested, he wasn't just making conversation.
"Well, you know…" Evelyn trailed off again. But when she looked at Marcel's eager face, she decided to spit it out, "Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Harvard, Penn State, Columbia, Dartmouth… the usual…" She gave Marcel a weak smile as his jaw dropped.
"Wait, wait. You're telling me you were accepted to ALL of the eight Ivy League schools?!" He looked to Madison, who looked like she had no idea what he was talking about, so he looked back at Evelyn. He was nearly screaming, "How!?"
Madison covered her ears and Evelyn shushed him, "There's no need to shout." She waved a finger at him and he covered his mouth, still in shock. And Evelyn shrugged, not in a cocky way… but in a way that showed she truly didn't know. Her parents made her apply to every Ivy League college and (not to her parent's surprise) she was accepted to every single one of them. Heck, some of them were even begging her to attend!
Marc seemed to compose himself, looking more collected now, "And which one are you attending?"
Evelyn shrugged again, "Yale, I guess. That's what my mother told me. They were the one that gave us the most money to my fam-"
"Hold on," Marc interrupted her, "not only did you get accepted to each and every Ivy League school, but they are giving you money to go?"
Evelyn let out a weak giggle, "Yeah, I suppose you're right."
Marcel just smiled and shook his head, "How did you get so smart?"
"I told you," Evelyn pointed out, "sheltered." She tapped a finger to her temple and they both laughed.
When their laughing finished, Marcel let out a long sigh, "Well, it's official. I am thoroughly jealous of you."
Evelyn scoffed, "Jealous? Of me? A wizard is jealous of ordinary, boring me?" She chuckled and pointed to him, "Now that is funny."
He just shrugged, "Well to be honest, I don't think you're ordinary or boring." Then he smiled at her, "And I'm jealous because I never got the chance to higher my education. It was always something I wanted to do… but I got pulled into this." He gestured around the room, pointing to his books, then himself. Evelyn returned to the chair she sat in before and Marc followed her example, but slouched in his chair as she sat proper in hers. Madison skipped quietly up the stairs and into Marc's room. He continued, "I was pulled out of everything, my studies, my music, my art. Just to pursue this life." He leaned into Evelyn, his sapphire eyes serious, "The life that has cursed me to live without a heart." He paused, "I used to be such a loving person," he returned to his slouching position, "now it's hard for me to just make friends."
Evelyn reminded herself of her previous thought, "I beg to differ. If you don't mind, that is."
Marc continued slouching as he looked at her with a furrowed brow, "What do you mean?"
"Well," Evelyn began as she gestured to him, then herself, "this… right now. What is this?" She could feel her cheeks flush. She wished she hadn't said these words as soon as they left her lips. He probably didn't feel the same way she did. She felt like a fool.
To Evelyn's dismay, he just shrugged. There was a slight silence before he perked up, "Actually, you're right. It is unusual how I feel. I haven't been this open to anyone in a long time." This pleased Evelyn deeply, and a wide smile grew on her face. Marc noticed this, he chuckled. Her innocence felt refreshing, like opening a window in his stale-aired mind. The breeze felt nice.
For the next hour or so, Marc and Evelyn just sat there, chatting away like friends. They talked about things that regular new friends would talk about. Favorite movies, books (Evelyn had a very long list of those), and family.
"So you're telling me you haven't seen your family in eight years?" Evelyn found this hard to believe, her amazed expression showed this.
Marcel gave her a small nod, "Yes, when Howl came to my home and took me as his apprentice…" he paused to sigh, "that was the last time I saw them."
Evelyn was trying to make sense of this, "So this Howl guy," Marcel nodded, "just took you from your family? Did he not allow you to see them?"
Marcel looked at her with shock in his eyes, "Oh no. No, no, no!" He shook his head wildly and waved his hand at her, "It was nothing like that."
Evelyn's brow line creased, "Then… what was it?"
Marcel looked to the floor where his shiny black shoes scuffled in the dirt. Evelyn wondered why his shoes weren't brown like hers have become. His silky voice invaded her inner-questions, "My parents didn't want to see me. They thought it would interrupt my studies." His hand ran through his slicked back hair, messing it up a bit. A stray piece of hair stuck up from the back. It bobbed when he talked, "Howl wanted me to see them. He could tell what their absence did to me." He shrugged, the lock bobbed again. "But they wanted nothing to do with that..." His voice trailed off.
Evelyn fought the urge to lick her hand and smooth out the stray hairs, "I'm guessing today was the first time you saw your sister?"
Marc nodded and the strand of bleach blond hair followed, "Since she was four. It hurt me the most to leave her. She needed me then. She needs me now…" He looked behind him, up toward the stairs.
"I noticed she cries when she is reminded of her parents." Evelyn could see her tears, the way Marc was wrapped around her before Evelyn even knew what was happening, "Are they mean to her?"
Marcel looked back at Evelyn and sighed, a look of pain flashed on his face, "It's complicated. I'm not sure if Madison even wants me to tell you." His eyes, those azure eyes, made it hard for Evelyn to think. And that strand of hair didn't help either.
Evelyn noticed a clock hanging on the wall. It was covered in cobwebs and was difficult to read, but she was pretty sure it was late. She stood up and stretched out. Sitting in the same chair for a long time reminded her achy back of school, "I should get going. It's getting late."
Marcel stood up with her, "Sure, that's fine. I shouldn't have kept you for so long." He flashed a smile at Evelyn that made her consider staying. He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, "It's just so easy talking to you. It's very strange."
Evelyn chuckled, "Yeah, I know how you feel."
"So…" Marcel began awkwardly, "I'll see you tomorrow? Do you mind coming in the morning?"
"Hmm," Evelyn acted like she was thinking, "I'm going to have to check my busy schedule." She smiled at him and rolled her eyes.
Marcel played along, "Yes, please, don't let me interfere with your other appointments."
The both laughed. Evelyn shoved him playfully but he didn't move an inch. This made them laugh harder.
"Well," Evelyn started, the humor still filling her voice, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow it is." Marcel nodded and that stray strand of hair swayed.
The torment finally got to Evelyn, so she reached behind Marc's head to fix the annoying lock of hair that has been bothering her.
But before she could fix the irritating strand, strong arms wrapped around her waist. Evelyn stiffened up; she was caught off guard. She sucked in a cold breath.
Marc realized what was happening and awkwardly dropped his arms. He looked down at her in shock and she returned the same gaze. He staggered for words, "I, um…" He cleared his throat, trying to compose himself, "I thought…"
Evelyn blushed deeply and reached behind his head again (quickly this time) and flattened down the piece of hair.
Marcel let out a forced laugh, "Sorry." His usual confident smile was weak and unsure.
"Yeah, me too." She was lucky he didn't catch the double meaning as she turned for the door, "Bye then."
Marc was at the door before Evelyn was even done turning around. He held it open kindly and gave her a nod, "Goodbye, Evelyn."
Evelyn stopped in her tracks. She didn't know why. It might have been because her name sounded so beautiful coming off his lips. Or the way it made her heart flutter. Or maybe because it was pitch black outside.
"Aw, crap." Evelyn knew it was late, but she didn't expect it to be this dark!
Marcel looked out the door and frowned at the night, "Are you able to make it home in this darkness? Do you want me to walk you home?"
Walk her home? After the most uncomfortable moment of her life? No thank you! "No thank you." She said sweetly, "Madison is here and I don't want you to leave her. I'll be fine." Even though she was afraid of the dark, she didn't want any more awkward episodes with Marc.
"Hang on, let me get you a light." He said as he bolted up the stairs in three strides. Evelyn heard loud bangs and crashes, then Madison yelling at Marc to be quiet. Evelyn giggled as Marc quietly apologized to her sleeping sister.
He returned with a large flashlight in hand. He beamed at her as he placed it in her waiting hands.
Evelyn opened the door and turned on the flashlight. It made the night look like day, "Thank you. This is perfect." She gave him a smile as she headed out the door.
Evelyn stood at the top of the creature's metal tongue, looking down. It looked pretty steep, but she could handle it. She began climbing down very carefully. But when Marc's voice filled the air, yelling at her to be cautious, Evelyn lost her train of thought and her footing.
The last thing she head was Marc's beautiful, strained voice screaming her name.
