Okay, here's the fourth chapter. I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed and put this story on their alerts! It maketh me happy! I realize that this seems to be going fairly slow 'cause we're still on Evelyn's first day of being promoted, but after this it will pick up. I just wanted to get some things established before I rushed ahead. The next chapter will take place the day of Judy's wedding. It probably won't be out for a while, because my muse is overloaded my brain with story ideas. I'll try to have it out as soon as I can, though! I hope you enojy this chapter!
Chapter Four: Helping Quintin
Quintin's easy enough to spot. His long braid of flaming red hair is hard to miss. I quickly make my way over to where he's standing by his desk, looking down at something stretched across the surface. There's a frown marring his features, making his brow crease slightly.
"Quintin?" I make his name a question.
He's so absorbed in whatever has him frowning that he jumps at the sound of my voice. Turning wide eyes on me, he places a hand over his heart. "Evelyn, you startled me!"
I'm trying not to laugh, but it doesn't work. "S-sorry," I manage between giggles. He's glaring at me now. "I didn't mean to."
His glare slowly starts to fade into a smile. That escalades into a chuckle and before long we're both laughing so hard tears are streaming down our cheeks. I'm doubled over, one hand clutching my aching stomach while the other grasps the edge of his desk in a firm hold. He's long since collapsed in his chair, his hands gripping the arms tight.
"Larry said you were having issues, Quintin," a partly amused, partly annoyed voice says from behind me. "He didn't mention that you and Evelyn had gone mad."
I suck in a deep breath as I try to speedily compose myself. I calm down enough to wipe my tears away, but a giggle escapes my lips every few seconds. Quintin stands up, still chuckling, and shakes his head. He wipes at his tears, too.
"You should know better than anyone, Bernard, that I've always been a bit mad. And Evelyn," Quintin spares a glance in my direction as I turn to face Bernard, too. "I'm not quite sure what's wrong with her."
"I blame it on the large quantities of time I'm required to spend with you, seeing as you can't draw your own designs," I retort sassily, placing my hands on my hips.
"Touché!" he remarks with a smile.
Bernard raises an eyebrow. "Can we get back to work now?" His tone is more annoyed than amused now.
I feel my cheeks heating up as I start to apologize, but Quintin speaks first. "Oh, lighten up, Bernard. Sometimes, I wish Evelyn were Head Elf. Then we could at least have a little fun while we worked."
My eyes widen as my cheeks become increasingly hot. I'm only half aware of the fact that my hand is covering my mouth in surprise. Looking at Quintin, I see a highly amused smile playing on his lips. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he's looking at Bernard as if daring him to do something about that statement. While I know Quintin is close friends with Bernard, though they don't know I know, I have never seen him challenge Bernard like this during work hours.
I slowly turn to look at Bernard. If he was surprised by the statement, he's not now. In fact, his eyes are narrowed in a glare directed at Quintin. His arms are also crossed, and I suddenly feel like I'm standing in the middle of an ongoing war. Though, I highly doubt Bernard is really as mad at Quintin as he's making it look, I still want out of the cross fire.
My brain works at a frantic pace to figure out how to lighten the mood. And it suddenly comes to me. My hand falls away from my mouth, revealing the teasing smile now donning my lips. My eyes are probably twinkling mischievously as I turn to Quintin.
"By the way, Quintin," I say in a sweet tone. Both of them turn to look at me. "Daniel wanted me to tell you 'Hi'." Quintin's cheeks turn red and he sputters indignantly, making my smile widen. Bernard's glare fades as he shoots Quintin a look saying he clearly thinks he's won. "Don't you go getting all cocky now," I chide as I turn to him. "Daniel thinks you're cute, too."
I have to bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing at the mortified expression on Bernard's face. If Quintin wasn't busy being embarrassed, he probably would have laughed. Or been jealous. I'm not sure. Quintin blushes and sputters around Daniel, but I still don't know if he likes him or not. It may be due to the fact that Daniel's the only other openly gay elf here at the North Pole who's still single. And while it is true that Daniel has remarked on the cuteness of our dear Head Elf, neither Quintin nor Bernard have to know that he usually only does it to tease me.
"So," I begin, clapping my hands together. "What did you need my help with?"
"You are an evil, evil elf," Quintin tells me when he can finally form coherent sentences again.
I just grin at him. "I know. It just comes naturally," I tell him with an air of nonchalance.
He just stares at me for a minute or two before grinning and shaking his head. He turns give Bernard a sympathetic expression. "You sealed your fate when you made her Head of Design, I hope you know."
"I'm highly aware that she's probably going to drive me insane," Bernard says after recovering from my earlier statement.
"There are no probablies when it comes to me," I tell him. "Just certainties." I turn back to Quintin. "Why am I here?" I ask, flourishing my arms about to emphasize my words. I'm starting to get slightly annoyed, and I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe Bernard's attitude is contagious?
Quintin motions to the paper stretched across his desk. "I can't seem to get this design right."
"Because you can't draw," I say in a sing-song voice.
I walk over to the other side of the desk and look over the drawing. Bernard moves to stand beside Quintin, and I can feel them watching me. If I weren't distracted by the fact that Quintin really can't draw and all the problems I've already noticed, I definitely would be blushing. But I'm in my element, so instead I grab a pencil and get to work, mumbling as I go.
"God, Quintin, did you let a child draw this?" I mutter, more to myself than him. Vaguely, my brain registers that someone chuckles at that comment.
"Do you have to be so mean, Evy?" Quintin whines, and I think he stomped his foot.
"There!" I exclaim as I lift the pencil away from the paper, finished with fixing the drawing.
Quintin studies it for a moment before nodding, "Yes, it should work now." He gives me a relieved smile. "I knew you could fix it."
I sit the pencil down on the table and give him a pointed look. "Just send for me next time before you try to draw it yourself. Okay?"
He chuckles and I see a grin curve Bernard's lips. "Okay, I promise."
"Good," I tell him matter-of-factly. That teasing smile crosses my features again. "Want me to tell Daniel you said 'Hi' back?" I ask sweetly.
Bernard smirks as Quintin's cheeks turn red again and he stutters, "I don't… I mean… You… I…"
I laugh at his obvious discomfort. "I'll tell him anyway." I start to turn and walk away when Quintin calls after me.
"Evelyn!" I turn to give him a quizzical look. He shifts from one foot to the other. Bernard's watching him with a raised eyebrow. "Do you know if he's doing anything for lunch?"
The question surprises me, but I recover quickly. A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I reply, "Actually, he usually eats lunch with me, but Jeremiah wants me to eat with him today. So Daniel's going to be free." I can tell he's fighting the urge to grin like an idiot. "I'll tell him not to make any plans, just to be on the safe side." I narrow my eyes. I place one hand on my hip and point at him with the other. "If I find out that he ate lunch all by himself today, Bernard will be looking for a new Head for this department. Got it?"
Quintin's eyes grow wide and he nods furiously. Bernard's looking at me with one eyebrow raised in question. Pleased with the results, I turn and head for the door. It only takes me a few minutes for me to get back to my department. I smile when I walk though the door. Everyone's bent over their desks, working furiously. I notice that Judy and Matthew have gone back to work, considering the room is lacking their presence.
"You don't have plan for lunch, do you?" I ask Daniel as I approach his desk.
He looks up at me in confusion. "Not currently. Why?"
"Keep it that way," I tell him as I turn to head to my own desk.
"What's going on, Evy?" Both his tone and his eyes hold a world of suspicion.
"Trust me when I say it's a very good surprise," I reply with a grin.
He watches me closely as I sit down behind my desk. As I pull a folder out from under the one Judy's wedding plans are in, he decides to get back to work. It's not long before lunch hour is upon us. I'm the first one in line to clock out. Daniel's right behind me. The door opens and Quintin steps in. I grin as I pass him, stepping out to go meet Jeremiah. I hear him ask Daniel if he wants to join him for lunch, but I don't hear Daniel's response. I've already shut the door and started down the hall. I know Daniel will tell me everything in great detail when lunch hour is over.
The end of this chapter may seem kind of rushed, but I needed it to end this way or we'd be stuck on Evelyn's first day as Head forever. Again, I hope you enjoyed it and it wasn't too crappy. Please tell me what you think, even if it's that you thought this chapter was sucktastic!