Back to Serge's POV...
Chapter 11: One Month
The sun reflected off the mirror on the dresser and into my eyes, penetrating the lids. I decided to open them up and just lie there. Gilbert was still asleep, clinging onto my neck and his head on my bare chest, his golden locks covering his eyes. Looking around the room was utterly quiet, except for us breathing. I shook my angel awake.
"Gilbert," I whispered, gently shaking his shoulders, "wake up. We did it. We have made it." Gilbert finally woke up and rubbed his eyes.
"What did we do?" he yawned.
"We have survived one month since we left the school," I answered him. His eyes stopped drooping and snapped awake. He looked up at me and then at the door, muttering "We made it, we made it" under his breath. For it is true. Last month we left Lacombrade Academy to live here. Now we have survived.
Gilbert jumped out of bed to make breakfast. Although I taught him how to cook, he was doing pretty well. I glanced at the clock. It is 9 o'clock in the morning, and Carol's next music lesson was to be in two hours; her birthday was today and her party was at three in the afternoon. I, too, hopped out of the bed to help Gilbert, but he was already finished.
On a plate were two muffins made with the batter we prepared the night before and stored in the fridge. Next to it was a small plate of sliced apples and two glasses of water. I picked at my muffin bit by bit, not once actually taking a bite. Gilbert on the other hand bit into his and glugged down his drink.
"Carol's mother wants to pay us to perform at her daughter's birthday party this afternoon," I told him. "Do you want to take it?"
He just nodded, his eyes expressionless. It pained me to see him like this. I asked him what was wrong. Gilbert claimed to have found a letter from his uncle at the doorstep, along with one from Karl, Pascal, and from Sebastien. He gave me the letters, and I read out loud Auguste's first.
Dear Serge and Gilbert,
I still do not know where you two are hiding, but your friends agreed to send this message as well as theirs. The young boy Sebastien and his two friends tried to hurt me again like they did the last time, but his brother held them back. Yes, they did truly give me injuries.
Enough of Lacombrade Academy, I have some news for you. Serge, your aunts have found out of your little escape and are now determined to search for you as well. Gilbert, I am begging you to please come back to the school so I may see you again. Please forgive me for any of the abuse I have put upon you. I guess that I am was suited to care for you at all, but I know that now and I promise to change my ways.
Now, I want you two to meet me at a cafe on North Street and Rivers Drive in Paris tomorrow at six in the evening. I wish to talk to you personally. Come alone.
-Auguste Beau
Looks like we have plans tomorrow. I put down Auguste's letter and opened up the one from our friends.
Dear Serge and Gilbert,
Please do not read Auguste's letter before ours. It is a trick. He is planning on meeting you two there with some of the authorities so they can arrest you and bring you back to the school. If you want to know how we know this, it is because Sebastien was spying on him when he arrived back at the school yesterday to write the letter. Although, if you do still want to go, secretly stop by here and take us, including my brother and his friends, with you. We will wait in the shadows during your meeting.
Also, Pascal has found a cure for Gilbert's mental breakdowns. I am going to turn the pen to him now...
The next paragraph or so was now in Pascal's handwriting.
Hello, Serge and Gilbert! This is the Blue Rose with some scientific news! After reading a few psycology books two days ago, I believe I have something for Gilbert's mental breakdowns. Make sure he doesn't make contact with Auguste in any way. If you two are planning to meet him tomorrow, then cover Gilbert with his hair or something. Plus, try to stay around him as much as possible, not like you will leave him in any way though. Another solution is to provide something that will distract his thoughts if he is on the verge to another mental breakdown.
I have to turn the pen to Sebastien now. For if I don't he will not stop tapping me and looking over my shoulder asking me when I'll stop writing...
The final paragraph was now in Karl's brother's handwriting.
Bonjour, you love birds! Yes, it is me Sebastien Meiser. Earlier in the letter my brother should have mentioned me spying on Auguste. That's right! I am officially a spy for them. They said I would be perfect for the job since I intimidate Gilbert's uncle. I am planning on writing my own letters so that I won't be a burden and make this letter so freakishly long. Oops... too late! Write soon!
- Karl, Pascal, and Sebastien
I set down the letter after reading it out loud and gazed up at Gilbert. He crushed his muffin and looked as if he were struggling. He stood up and cried against the wall behind him. "Gilbert!" I exclaimed, and tried to make him face me.
"Serge, I don't know what to believe anymore!" he said. "Augu says he's sorry, but our friends say it's a trick. What do I believe in, Serge? What?"
He looked up and then ran towards the door shouting "Augu! Augu!" the entire way. Here we go again. I grabbed his left arm as he twisted it so I would let go. I pulled him with as much strength as I could and embraced him so hard that he couldn't escape my grasp. Yet still he tried to escape. What were I to do? Still holding his arms rather tightly, I pulled his lips to mine. Gilbert began to relax and kissed me back, his muscles becoming loose. We broke apart to catch our breath.
This was what might keep him under control if he has another mental breakdown.
