A/N: Well, many people have demanded more, so here's chapter three! Also, I've decided to show Vanessa's take on things. Thanks to Frankie for giving me the title for this story. Thank you, Frankie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter Three: Vanessa St. Clair
My name is Vanessa St. Clair. I have a fiancé named Archibald Gladstone. He's a lawyer. We're getting married next month, and I'll be Mrs. Gladstone. My best friend is Melissa Hunter. We've been friends since we started school. Melissa, I think, will grow up to be an old maid. She's never been courted, or engaged, and has no plans to, either. She's too much in love with that detective, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
I've told her, 'Melissa, you've felt this way about him since you were a girl. If he hasn't done something by now, it means that he doesn't feel the same way, so you need to find a man who will love you back. Like my fiancé, for example.'
Melissa said, 'Well, I know Mr. Holmes doesn't love me, but I haven't felt the same way about anyone else, so how could I marry someone else?'
'I don't know! I marry for love, too, you know,' I answered.
'Yes, I know,' she sighed.
Sometimes I feel sorry for Melissa, for not being able to move on, but it's none of my business, so I don't play matchmaker. Anyway, not too long ago, I almost played matchmaker. I'll tell you how.
I went over to Melissa's house to ask her to go to luncheon with me at Simpson's, my favorite London restaurant. Well, Melissa agreed to go, so I wanted to fix up her hair, since it was just a braid. It was because I occasionally saw Mr. Holmes there, and wanted Melissa to look nice, if she ran into him there.
Melissa was slightly suspicious.
"Why are you so concerned about my hair today," she asked.
"I just wanted you to look nice, that's all," I said in a voice as sweet as sugar.
Melissa seemed satisfied. I kept looking to see if Holmes was going to come today. I didn't see him come in, and Melissa was getting suspicious again. I waved her comment away airily with my hand, and we continued to have a fine luncheon. As we were leaving, I heard Holmes say," Miss Melissa Hunter?"
I turned to look at Melissa, who seemed frozen for a few seconds, then said, "Hello, Mr. Holmes. How are things going? I read about the Surrey burglaries in the paper."
Holmes said that all was well, and how were things going for her, blah, blah, blah, polite conversational things that bored me to death. After Melissa's short response, we went back to her house.
"Did you know he was going to be there," Melissa asked when we arrived at her house.
"Well, I knew he sometimes came there, but I didn't know for sure that he'd be there," I said.
"Oh," replied Melissa.
Silence fell for a few moments, and Melissa gazed at her newspaper that mentioned Holmes's name.
"Since you're such an expert on all things concerning Mr. Holmes, perhaps you could tell me who his friend was," I asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm not an expert. That would be Dr. Watson," Melissa informed me.
"Oh. Doesn't he write the stories that come out in The Strand," I inquired.
"Yes," said Melissa, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Melissa then found a pair of scissors, and cut out the article, and pasted it in a book filled with similar articles.
"You're obsessed," I joked.
"No I'm not," she said with a laugh.
"I know," I said with a smile.
Melissa went to put the scrapbook away, and then brought in a copy of The Strand.
"This is my favorite, so far," she said, pointing to "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches."
I read that one. It was about some governess named Violet something or other (I forgot her last name.) [A/N: I know Violet's last name is Hunter, but Vanessa doesn't, just in case anyone was confused.]
"Well, I've got to get back home. Archibald is expecting me in an hour," I said, leaving.
"Oh, goodbye, Vanessa. I had a fine time," said Melissa.
A/N: Okay, maybe this will be the last chapter. I'll still write more if enough people ask!
