POPFLY

It was snowing.

Vivienne Vertigo grimaced.

"I think I'll cancel my orthodontist appointment," she muttered. "It's not fit to go out."

"You don't need to see an orthodontist, Mum," Olivia said plaintively. "Your teeth look as good as any."

"That's hardly a compliment." Vivienne made a face. "But I'll be going outdoors anyhow."

"What's that, Mum?"

"It's a tradition. It's healthy for plants if you water them with melted snow. And it's always best to use the first snow of the season. You've learned about the water cycle, right?"

Olivia nodded.

"After the first snow, all the following precipitation is purely dirty and … well, I suppose you could call it recycled weather. I'll fetch the snow right now, so by teatime it'll be completely melted."

She opened the door, stepped outside with a bowl in her gloved hands, and hurriedly scooped a heap of snow before her nose froze.

A gust flew into the house through the open door.

Vivienne returned to the house, slamming the door shut behind her.

Olivia tucked her feet underneath her, wrapping her arms tightly around her legs and settling her chin snugly on her knees. (LOL, how many hers did you find in that sentence?)

"It is cold outside," she commented, glancing out the frosty windowpane.

"Too cold," Vivienne agreed. "I don't think you should leave the house anytime today."

"Actually, I was thinking I might visit Gunn House," Olivia smiled. "I've nothing else to do."

"It looks bleak," Vivienne remarked anxiously. Her forehead creased with worry. "You'll freeze your acting talents off, Liv."

"My acting talents are under lock, key, and a winter hat," Olivia grinned, indicating her head. "I'm off, Mum!"

After bundling herself up in various water-and-weather-proof outerwear, Olivia staggered blearily outdoors. Snow fell in soft, powdery flakes.

She sprinted the half-mile to Gunn House, chattering all the way. When she arrived at the door, she was little less than absolutely frozen.

Chloe Gunn answered the door. "Goodness gracious, Olivia Vertigo! You're no more than a solid chunk of ice! Come in, come in!"

Chloe ushered Olivia indoors, where she insisted on a bowl of hot stew. "Enjoy yourself, dearie. Fidelio is upstairs, giving Pudding a bath."

Pudding was the deaf cat that aimlessly roamed about the Gunn House.

"I think I'll go help him," Olivia murmured, allowing her spoon to fall into her empty bowl with a clatter. "Thanks or the stew, Mrs Gunn."

She mounted the two flights of stairs to the first bathroom she encountered. She knocked tentatively on the door, only to receive a shocking response.

"Can't you tell I'm still showering, Dad? Unless you want to see me naked in a shower cap and my legs covered in shaving cream with a purple razor in my hand, DON'T INTERRUPT!"

She recognized the voice as Felix's.

"I'm not your father," Olivia loudly replied, taken aback.

Felix uttered a shrill shriek of surprise. There was a much louder, painful shriek that followed as he accidentally cut himself with his razor.

Olivia giggled as she continued up the stairs, until she finally found Fidelio scrubbing a viciously restless tabby.

"Hi, Fido!" She bounded into the bathroom, only to slip and fall on her bottom as her socks drenched themselves in the puddles of water on the tiled floor. "Ooooooooops!"

"Sorry," Fidelio apologized, "Pudding is unbelievably angry today."

"Did you know Felix shaves his legs? With a purple razor?" Olivia giggled again.

Fidelio chuckled. "It's a habit. He says all the other boys in his band does the same, and that he doesn't want to endure life with cactus legs. So why're you here?"

"I was bored," Olivia said simply. "I mean, now that Emma's gone…"

"You could have visited Charlie. His house is only a quarter-mile from yours. You must have endured hell to get here."

"If Hell means icy roads and snowstorms, then yes, I did," Olivia shuddered. "But I didn't want to see Charlie. I wanted to see you."

"You could have asked for a ride," Fidelio smirked. "It's probably a gale out there."

"Fidelio Gunn!" Olivia pouted, placing her hands on her hips. "I just threw you a popfly line. Why didn't you catch it?"

"Maybe because I'd rather give you a home run," Fidelio grinned.

Olivia laughed. She tossed her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. Their kiss didn't last two seconds before Pudding angrily rolled over in the tub, causing water to soak the two of them to the skin.

Olivia, flushing, brushed his hair away from his face, unable to stop giggling. Before long, her smile had vanished, and her mouth was back where it belonged: connected to Fidelio's.

"Score," Olivia murmured lightly. "I win the game."

Charlie and Naren sat outside the Cathedral, moping by the pavement.

At least, at a distant glance you would think they were moping. But contrary to assumptions, the two of them were sharing a conversation.

"The Scarlet Cotillion was a very nice affair," Naren commented, wistfully gazing toward the sky.

"You looked really nice," Charlie remarked offhandedly. The topic was one he would not like to linger on, but it was the only topic Naren was set on.

He could still recall Naren as she looked the eve of the ball. She had worn a pristine white blouse, with short puffed sleeves and a knot by the collar atop a dull yellow skirt with a lacy hem and flowery designs. She wore a sunflower behind her ear, her black hair pulled back.

"And you looked very uncomfortable in your tuxedo," Naren giggled.

True, he had. It had been stifling in the ballroom at Bloor's, and he simply hadn't been able to loosen the tie around his neck.

Charlie chuckled reminiscently, forcing himself not to flush with embarrassment.

"I wonder how Emma is doing up by the Institute," Naren worried.

Charlie raised his eyebrows. "Emma can take care of herself. It's Billy I'm worried about. He's so gullible."

"Gullible." Naren furrowed her brow in an expression of perplexity. "As in vulnerable? Do the children play pranks on Billy?"

Charlie shook his head. "No, that's not it. Billy can be manipulated easily. In our first year, he sold all of us out because the Bloors promised him new parents to be their spy."

"Everyone is a pushover for what they really want," Naren reasoned. "It's really not Billy's fault."

"I guess." Charlie was still unsure.

"I can see you're unconvinced. Three years ago, if the Bloors promised you that they would tell you where your father was—and you were uncertain about their reliability—wouldn't you have done nearly anything?"

Charlie was caught. "I—Yes."

"See?"

Charlie saw. When events involved the ones you loved, there were no circumstances that could hold you back. Unless Billy was tempted again, Charlie doubted he would find trouble at the Institute. He felt much better, and reassured.

"You're right. I bet Billy will be fine at the Institute."

Naren smiled. "Me, too."

"You've been a really great friend, Naren," Charlie began hesitantly. "I hope this won't ruin our friendship, because I wouldn't want to lose you."

Naren waited, sensing something was coming.

"But I'll take my chances."

He grinned, leaning in. Naren followed suit, her eyes closed in bliss.

The moment Charlie's mouth met hers, Naren's eyes shot open.

Had her mouth not been preoccupied, she most certainly would have gasped aloud. His tongue was in hers, and she could feel her own lifting to meet his.

Once the kiss was over, Naren found she had been holding her breath. She exhaled, still slightly breathless. Was it possible Charlie Bone had just kissed her?

Charlie's beeper began to sound, and he scrambled hurriedly to his feet.

"I've got to run, Naren," he muttered, turning away with a reddened face and a guilty smile. "Bye!"

"Bye." Naren felt her own smile returning as she watched Charlie leave, sprinting off toward Filbert Street at an alarming pace.

Sometimes, Naren got the feeling Charlie set the beeper to interrupt at awkward moments.

*

Olivia and Fidelio were still soaking wet, and still lost in a kiss.

Pudding had begun to calm down, licking herself clean without Fidelio's help.

Olivia broke away, completely out of breath.

"Wasn't that something?" she murmured, giggling.

Fidelio nodded vigorously. "I think my parents are going to worry. We'd better dry off."

"Not yet," Olivia paused. "I've still got one last turn at the bat."

"And it's another popfly," Fidelio grinned, rolling his eyes. But his eyes widened as Olivia flung herself toward him for another deep kiss.

Somewhat ten minutes after, Fidelio and Olivia were dismounting the staircase with Pudding at their heels. Mr Gunn popped his head from the broom closet.

"And what've you two been up to?" he asked, smirking as he scrutinized their wet clothes and hair.

Fidelio and Olivia exchanged nods.

"Baseball," they answered together.

Jacky: Sorry if you don't like gushy scenes.

You: OliviaxFidelio and CharliexNaren are the coolest pairings.

Jacky: I agree. I know it's short.