Chemistry

-HUGO'S POV-

As Papa George spoke, I felt my insides bubble up with excitement. Who knew what adventures we'd partake in? When we were alone, something exciting always happened.

Maybe we'd go see a movie, see the Eiffel Tower, explore the new bookstore down the street, hold hands while we walk down the street, cuddle in my apartment- Wait. No, she didn't want to do that stuff. The lovey-dovey stuff, she wasn't up for it. Right?

At least, that's the way she acted… around her godparents. My mind was clouded with confusion as Papa George stepped out of the toy store, bidding us a goodnight as he headed home to prepare for his night out. I felt Isabelle behind me and turned my head, meeting her preoccupied gaze and smiling a little.

She sighed. "Guess we're on our own again."

I grinned. "Guess so. Let's hope the Station Inspector doesn't ruin our.. good time, yeah?"

I wasn't usually this… what would Isabelle say, libertine?, but the restless butterflies in my stomach stirred me. She rolled her eyes, but I could see the outline of a smile on her heart shaped lips.

Oh, how I longed to feel those heart shaped lips. "Whatever, Hugo, just finish up in the shop and I'll meet you at closing time with supper. Okay?"

I nodded, turning back to my work. The store closed early on Thursdays, anyway. Dunno why, but at the moment I didn't care. I got to spend the night with Isabelle. Again. Life couldn't get better.

-ISABELLE'S POV-

Well, there was no going back now. I had suggested it, and I had to live with it. No matter how much I wanted to live by Mama Jeanne and Papa George's wishes, Hugo just lured me in with his eyes and his voice and his everything. Hopefully tonight I could get some of this.. this ardor out of my head.

This is what I thought of as I crossed the station to get to the flower stand. I needed someone to talk to, and Lisette had been like an older sister to me for the past year. I saw her cleaning up a little, obviously getting ready for the next load of passengers from the evening train to unload.

She smiled when I walked up. "Isabelle! How lovely to see you, dear. How are you today?"

I shrugged, biting my lip.

"Well, Lisette, I should be ecstatic, I suppose. Papa George has decided to let me stay here with Hugo again for the night since he and Mama Jeanne will be out all hours today, but.. I can't be around that boy without fighting the urge to.. to osculate him!"

Lisette's eyebrows furrowed at this word, but she quickly came to terms with it and nodded knowingly.

"Isabelle, darling, if you really like this boy, which you obviously do, you can't let your godparents keep you from him.

Besides, I'm sure they know how happy he makes you, they couldn't possibly want to stand in the way of your happiness." She smiled and patted my shoulder.

I sighed, knowing she was right. Hugo and I had this undeniable chemistry, and I couldn't fight it. Mama Jeanne would be understanding, but I wasn't so sure about Papa George. Mama Jeanne would make him see, she'd make him understand.

I thanked Lisette, who gave me a bright purple flower and sent me on my way. I wandered back towards the door we had entered earlier to get to the clocks, sliding down the wall. My mind was filled with a thousand poems, all full of magical words that made this crazy situation seem so normal. I sighed and closed my eyes, my lips forming the words of Ash Bennett that blurred through my mind.

I don't remember, any more,

Your scent, when we lay together

Creating our own

Magic rhythm,

Matching our heartbeats as we

Touched the sky, together.

I don't remember, any more,

The sound of your voice, calling

My name as though

It were a song

Within itself, a precious treasure

You valued with all your being.

And I don't remember, any more,

The color of your eyes, the shape

Of your lips,

Only…

How your eyes crinkled at the corners

And your laugh, as you told me...

My eyes shot open as my lips formed the next three words. I could feel my heart racing wildly as I cleared my head, grabbing the wall to stand up. The sound of a thousand feet stomped through the air as the evening train unloaded.

I stumbled through the crowd, unsure of what was wrong with me. Love? It was such a crazy idea that I only read about. I gulped and tried to calm myself as strangers pushed past me, trying to get a grasp on reality and get back to the toy store.

The crowd was immense and I could barely breathe. They pushed in on me and I wove through quickly, trying to escape. I thought I heard Hugo's voice nearby and searched desperately for his familiar eyes, but couldn't see him.I twisted my neck trying to catch his voice in my ear again, but failed.

Squeezing my fists tighter, I pushed on. My breathing was irregular and I tried to steady it as I grew closer to my destination. The crowd was still rumbling through and I almost lost it before I felt a pair of warm hands pull me out of the sea of people.