Disclaimer: I do not own anything. I wish I did but it all belongs to their original creators, like the great JK Rowling.
A/N: So many new reviews! That made my day so much better. On to chapter seven!
Chapter Seven: Open Book
I am not a child now
I can take care of myself
I mustn't let them down now
Mustn't let them see me cry
I'm fine, I'm fine
I'm too tired to listen
I'm too old to believe
All these childish stories
There is no such thing as faith,
And trust and pixie dust
I try
But it's so hard to believe
I try
But I can't see what you see
I try, I try, I try…
My whole world is changing 'Cause I try
I don't know where to turn
I can't leave you waiting
But I can't stay and watch this city burn,
Watch it burn
But it's so hard to believe
I try
But I can't see what you see
I try, I try-
I try and try to understand
The distance in between
The love I feel and the things
I fear
And every single dream
I can finally see it
Now I have to believe
All those precious stories
All the world is made of
Faith, and trust…and pixie dust
So, I'll try
Because I finally believe
I'll try, cuz I can see what you see
I'll try, I'll try
I will try
I'll try…
To fly…
The rain was coming down in thick, dark sheets. Holly quietly sang to herself as she buttoned the last button on her long brown jacket before gathering her papers into a small brief case. Computer disks, lose papers, and a single notebook was all that could fit. She locked the case, then turned for the door. Something caught her eye. There was a small piece of parchment stuck in between the gap of the door. Holly quickly grabbed it. It was from none other than Charlie.
Holly,
Be careful today. Not only with the fans and press, but with anyone that you might come into contact with. You don't know who is trustworthy. Anyone could be looking for you. Be safe and stay hidden when you can. The Anderson's probably are out searching for you even as you read this. Who knows what the Anderson's are trying to do to get you back into that horrible place they call a home. The world is not safe any more. I hope that today will go as planed for you. Also, try calling Taylor over the next few days. You need to get the rest of your belongings before they fall into the wrong hands. Besides, you are supposed to be getting in some practice before the school year starts. There is less than a month left. Contact me when you get home tonight, okay? Take luck.
Charlie
Holly stuffed the note into her coat pocket, locked the apartment door, and head off into London. She decided to not drive for the simple fact that the Anderson's knew what her car looked like. So instead she walked, in the bitter rain. Not her first choice, but it would have to do. Holly rounded the last corner, and then ran into someone causing her to fall to the ground. The man turned and helped Holly back to her feet. She bent to pick up her brief case, and when she went to thank the man she couldn't find him. Then again he was one of the hundreds standing there in a tan trench coat and hat. Holly gazed at the crowd in confusion. 'What the hell is going on!' Three children were standing close by on a stoop. Each of them had a similar look on their faces as to Holly's. Holly crossed over to them.
"Excuse me, but do you three have any idea as to what's going on here?" Holly asked the oldest boy.
"One of those men claims to be the real Lemony Snicket!" the youngest boy of the three announced.
"She didn't ask you Peter!" the oldest boy shouted at Peter.
"Shut up Jesse!" Peter shouted back.
"Why do you two always have to fight?" the young girl asked the boys. She then turned towards Holly. "I'm sorry about my younger brothers. They are a handful on days."
"I understand. I know how brothers are," replied Holly. "So Peter was saying that Lemony Snicket is one of those men. Are you sure?"
"Yes. Word got out that the real Lemony Snicket would be discovered today. So this morning, that showed up in front of our family's doorstep. All of them dressed the exact same; a hat and a tan trench coat. I don't know which one of them it really is. They all look like how he is described in the books. It's hard to tell," the girl said.
"Well then. Do you know how that rumor got out…umm…"
"Kristine. No I don't know exactly. I think that it might have been word-of-mouth."
"Then isn't it possible to say that none of those men are the real Lemony Snicket? Couldn't it be possible that the truth could have been mixed up in the passing of the truth from one person to another?"
"That could have been what happened," replied Kristine after a moment of thought. "Hey miss, why are you so interested in what is going on there anyway?"
"Well, umm…" Holly was taken by surprise. She hadn't expected to be asked that question. She looked around to make sure that no one was listening in on them. "Can you three keep a secret?"
All three of the kids nodded in agreement.
"Okay. I'm trusting you now. This is a very special secret." She took another quick glance around, then leaned close for them to hear. "I'm the real Lemony Snicket."
"But you're a girl!" all three of them said at the same time.
"So? Do you have a problem with that?" Holly asked.
"No ma'am," all three said in unison.
"And will you keep that our little secret?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you Kristine, Jesse, and Peter. I have to go now. Something needs to be done about that crowd," Holly turned to leave but something held her back. She looked down to find Peter gripping the back of her coat. "What is it Peter? What's wrong?"
"If you really are Lemony Snicket," he said, "then do you have the tattoo? You know, the one of the eye on your ankle?"
Holly smiled. 'He's good'. She bent down, placed her brief case on the sidewalk, then lifted the hem of her pants. The children's eyes widened at the sight they saw. Indeed there was a tattoo of an eye on her ankle. Not only that, but it matched the descriptions that they had read in the famous books. The letters V.F.D. were shaped in such a way to create an eye like shape. Holly picked up her brief case once again, and left. The children watched Holly disappear into the crowd and fight her way to the building's front doors.
Once inside, Holly made her way to the front desk. She asked the secretary what floor she was supposed to go to, then she made her way towards the elevators. The doors opened on the thirteenth floor. Several more trench-coated men were waiting there. Holly pushed her way past them to the office door. Her hand barely reached the door because of all the people, but she was finally able to knock once. After a few minutes, the door flew open. A short man with long blond hair that was put back into a single braid stood looking out into the crowd. His amber eyes fell upon Holly instantly, then again she did stand out among the trench-coated men.
"Morgan! Morgan Anderson!" he said excitedly as he pulled her into the office. He quickly closed the door. Holly brushed herself off, took off her jacket, and then gave the short blond man a hug. "It's so good to finally meet you in person, Miss Anderson. Welcome to HarperCollins. I'm Edward Harper, but you may call me Ed. Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee?"
"Tea would be wonderful. And it's so nice to finally meet you to Ed," Holly said as she sat down at the table that was in the room. Ed went over to his desk and paged his secretary. A minute later she pushed her way into the room. Ed asked her to page two other people as well as bring in tea and coffee. The secretary nodded then left. Ed sat down across from Holly. "I still can't believe that you are the real Lemony Snicket. I must be dreaming or something! I can't believe that we haven't met you until now, Miss Anderson."
"Umm, Ed. There is no need for calling me 'Miss Anderson'. I would feel more comfortable if you just called me Holly," she said.
"Holly? Isn't your name Morgan?"
"T-that was a name that I made up incase our emails were being watched, you know?"
"That makes sense…I won't call you that. I'm sorry Holly."
"It's fine."
The secretary pushed her way back into the office. She carried a try of cookies and crackers, as well as a pot of tea, a pot of coffee, and four mugs. Two others followed her, two men. The taller of the two had short neatly kept black hair with brown eyes, and the other had light brown hair that was slightly shaggy with light brown eyes to match. Holly stood to shake each other their hands before sitting again.
"This is Roy Hughes," Ed said indicating to the man with the black hair. "And this is Al Collins," indicating to the man with the brown shaggy hair.
"So you're the one behind those books," Roy said to Holly.
"I always thought that you were going to be a man. I never dreamed that you were going to be a young woman," stated Al. "How old are you Miss?"
"I just turned 16 a few weeks ago. And you can call me Holly."
Everyone in the room went into a state of shock. They couldn't believe that she was only 16. After a few minutes, the conversation turned to business. They discussed the publication of the next book. A date was set and the papers were signed. Holly gave Ed, Al, and Roy a copy of the next book before she left. The crowd was mostly gone when she stepped off the elevator. She walked out the main door only to be blinded by lights from camera flashes.
"That must be Lemony Snicket!" someone shouted from the crowd.
"That can't be him! That's only some girl!" someone else cried.
Holly ran from the crowd of the press. 'That was so close. Good thing everyone believes that Lemony is a grown man.' She began to walk home. The lyrics of a song drifted into her thoughts. 'That is really my life…'
Wonder what it's like to be the rainmaker
I wonder what it's like to know that I made the rain
I'd store it in boxes with little yellow tags on everyone
And you can come and see them when I'm...done, when I'm done
I wonder what it's like to be a super hero
I wonder where I'd go if I could fly around downtown
From some other planet, I get this funky high on yellow sun
Boy I bet my friends will be...stunned, they're stunned
Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here
If I were someone else, would this all fall apart
Strange, where were you, when we started this gig,
I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me
I wonder what it's like to be the head honcho
I wonder what I'd do if they all did just what I said
I'd shout out an order, I think we're out of this man get me some
Boy don't make me wanna change my...tone, my tone
Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here
If I were someone else, would this all fall apart
Strange, where were you, when we started this gig,
I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me
Please don't change, please don't break
The only thing that seems to work at all is you
Please don't change, at all from me
To you, and you to me
Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here
If I were someone else, would this all fall apart
Strange, where were you, when we started this gig,
I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me
I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me
I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me