The History of Irma and Phobos.
Phobos was horrified to hear that the only person he ever truly loved was telling him goodbye. He didn't notice the pain on her face or the tears in her eyes. All he saw was his own grief--he didn't see that Irma was crying because he was so hurt.
Chapter 4: What next?
Cedric threw down his books impatiently. "Okay, Irma. What's wrong?" He demanded.
"Huh?" Irma uttered. She glanced at the book in her hands, which clearly read The History of Toothbrushes, and then the shelf she was about to stow it in. Children's books. Oops. Irma thought guiltily. She slid down the ladder and smiled up at Cedric. "I guess I'm just distracted today. I'm sorry." She murmured sheepishly.
Cedric sat down on a new crate of books. "Well, what's bothering you?" He asked. "We can take a break and talk." He added at the uneasy look on her face.
Irma sank down on the floor beside him. "You know I haven't been going to school since I started to work here a week ago, right?" She began. Cedric nodded. "Well, I've been thinking. Maybe I should drop out--for now, anyway."
Cedric rested his chin on his hands. "Neither Lord Phobos nor I attended high school." He pointed out. "And you do have a steady job, and even a man willing to marry you if you would just ask."
Irma looked up. "Marry me? Cedric, in case you forgot, I'm 16 years old! Right now I don't even have life figured out yet!" She objected.
Cedric shrugged. "Do as you please, Irma. But remember, Phobos cannot and will not wait forever." He said casually. He stood up and checked his watch. "Well, look at this. Irma, it's already 8. You can go home now." He said in a surprised tone of voice.
Irma nodded and pulled off her nametag, then jerked on her jacket. Then she stopped and looked outside the front window at the black street. Several people were running around, but they looked a bit odd and kept shooting her eery looks through the window.
She turned and looked at Cedric. "I think I'll wait." She said uneasily.
Cedric was locking up the cash register. "Wait for what?" He asked. Then his gaze fell out the window and onto the people. "Ah. Well, come on. I'll walk you home." He pulled on his own jacket and walked with Irma down the street. "Has your mother called, Irma?" He asked suddenly.
"No. She probably disowned me." Irma replied. She looked at the post office. "Mind if I check my mail?" She added.
Cedric smiled. "By all means." He watched as Irma pulled out her mail, thumbed through it, and slipped it into her purse. "You are an independant girl now aren't you?" He asked softly.
Irma smiled weakly. "If you want to call it that. I call it lonely." She looked at the motel that she lived in, bit her lower lip, and reluctantly reached into her purse again. "Um, do you ever talk to Phobos?" She blurted.
Cedric fidgetted casually. "Yes, in fact. Why?"
"Could...could you give this to him?" Irma handed him a plain envelope. "I was going to mail it to you when we first broke up, but, well, as you know--I was grounded."
Cedric gave a nice, wide grin. "It would be my pleasure." He watched Irma walk into her room, then shut the door behind her. His grin became a look of odd eagerness.
"Lord Phobos." Cedric said as he walked in. "I've found the lady Irma's dwelling."
Phobos looked up from a picture of Irma and grinned. "Excellent. Our plan begins tonight."
