Chapter 2: "I Wanna Know You"

Beetle and Septimus were back at the Manuscriptorium. Jenna is at the Palace with her mum, Sarah Heap.

"Sep, why did you do it?" Beetle asked Septimus sadly, "You humiliated me in front of the future queen."

"It wasn't that bad." Septimus said teasingly, "You were after all enjoying the position you were in."

"SEP! I respect the princess, I wouldn't dare do anything to her like that." Beetle said in his defense.

" Yeah I know you wouldn't hurt Jenna and one more thing... you don't just respect her... you fancy her." Septimus said.

"N-no I don't..." Beetle waited a few minutes and gave in "What gave me away?"

"Let's see... you blush when she's around, you're lost for words when you see her and when I say 'Look, it's Jen.' you run and hide."

"It's that obvious?" Beetle sighed and hit his head on the table. "Well then, my secret is out. Jenna thinks I'm an idiot."

Septimus looked at Beetle, he never thought of Beetle to beat himself up like that. He always knew Beetle as the type of guy to fancy a girl like that.

"Beetle, what makes you like Jenna so much?"

"What is there not to like about her... her hair, her eyes, her personality..." Beetle's voice trailed off... Jenna was different from all the other girls he liked in the past.

"Beetle, I'll tell you the truth... a lot of boys have come to court Jenna. And honestly, all of them just wanted the perks that come with dating the princess."

"I knew I wasn't good enough..."

"Let me finish Beetle, Jenna did not like any of them, but when she's with you... it's like a different Jenna. I think she can sense how much you like her."

"So what? I can't give her what those other guys can..."

"No... but you can give her a lot more..."

Beetle became silent he stood up and made Sep some FrizzFroot. He still wasn't that convinced, she was still the princess and he was just Manuscriptorium boy.

"Septimus, thanks for telling me that. But... I don't think she'll ever fancy me back. After all... I'm just a nobody."

Septimus never knew how much Beetle liked Jenna. He then realized that Beetle needed some help. Septimus couldn't do it alone... he needed some extra help.

"Beetle come with me for a moment." Septimus said really fast and excited.

"What?"

"We're going to the Port."

* * *

Meanwhile, Snorri and Nicko were at the Port resting on Alfrun. They were talking about their favorite kinds of boats when Septimus and Beetle arrived.

"Sep, why'd you bring me here?" Beetle asked, "Is there something you need to do?

"Just help me find Nik and Snorri." said Septimus moving along the crowds.

They went through a lot of boats, they stepped on smelly fish and bumped into the grouchy Rupert Gringe. And after minutes of being shouted at Rupert, they found their way to Alfrun.

"Hey Nik. How are you Snorri?" Septimus asked his other friends there.

"Long time, no see Sep." said Nicko, he then saw Beetle behind Septimus and greeted him as well.

"So what brings you here to the Alfrun?" asked Snorri. She was a tad bit annoyed about being interrupted during her time with Nicko.

"Well, you see... Beetle here fancies Jenna and he doesn't know how to impress her, so now he needs your help on how to impress Jen."

"SEP!" said Beetle angrily "Why'd you tell them?"

"Ah... don't worry Beetle, I like ya. No need to get all worried about the family not approving you." said Nicko happily. Inside he was glad that

"That's not the point..." whispered Beetle, "The point is that Jenna doesn't like me..."

Everyone fell silent there and then. They pitied Beetle a lot. Finally after a few minutes of silence, Snorri thought it was about time to tell Beetle what she knows.

"Beetle, she likes you trust me." said Snorri. "Whenever she's around she always says... 'So... have you seen Beetle around?' or 'Beetle is fun to hang out with...' or 'Beetle is a nice boy...'"

"She does?" Beetle's face lit up when Snorri said that "But... I don't know how to impress Jenna."

"Well then, guys, are we going to help Beetle get Jenna?" asked Septimus

Snorri and Nicko huddled together in a corner whispering to each other...

"You bet."

"Definately."

And Beetle stood there smiling at his friends. He was glad to have supportive friends just like them.