Chapter 4: "I Wanna Know You"
Septimus was rushing down the stairs of the Wizard Tower as fast as he could. He was in a hurry to see Beetle, who was waiting for him in the Manuscriptorium, he was almost half way down stairs when he passed through Alther.
"Whoa!" Alther said as Septimus passed through him. "Septimus, where on earth are you going? You said we'll practice your Flyte after you saw Marcia."
Septimus could not believe he forgot his promise with Alther. He was so busy with Beetle's Jenna dilema, that he totally forgot about his other duties. He looked at Alther and smiled weirdly.
Alther saw his expression and sighed. Young children were far too irresponsible now a days. They neglect their duties and responsibilities. He decided to let it slide.
"Oh... you forgot, didn't you?" Alther said.
"Sort off..."
"Okay, we'll reschedule it. But make sure to make that session."
"Thank You, Alther." Septimus said. Then he suddenly remembered something. "Alther?"
"Yes?"
"Let's say your best friend has a crush on another one of your friends and he wants to impress her, but he has no confidence to do it because he thinks that she is higher in rank than him but in reality she likes him back." Septimus said it all in one breath, he was now gasping for more air.
"Oh... I see... Beetle has a crush on Jenna and he wants to impress her, but Beetle has no confidence to do it because he thinks Jenna is higher in rank than him but in reality Jenna likes Beetle back."
"I guess the whole Palace knows about Jenna and Beetle now." Septimus said with a laugh. "Everyone...exept Jen."
"Yes, well... If Beetle has no confidence in himself than give him some."
"But how?"
Alther thought for a while and realized he had no answer to that question he then looked at Septimus with a smile and said....
"You're a smart young lad, you'll figure it out."
Septimus looked disappointed with that answer he nodded and went off. Alther noticed his disappointment and thought why he was asking him when he should be asking Sarah.
* * *
Septimus went straight to the Manuscriptorium. He was running, trying to avoid other people. He didn't want another delay, he needed to help Beetle pronto, if Jenna found out that Beetle likes her, from anybody other than Beetle, he would probably give up on impressing Jenna. When Septimus entered the Manuscriptorium, he was surprised to see Jenna inside, beside an old oak desk covered with table cloth. He didn't see Beetle, though but for some strange reason, he knew he was there.
"Hey Jen!" Septimus said calling out to his sister. "What are you doing?"
"I was looking for another book to read. Also, I was hoping to see Beetle, I never got the chance to talk to him since the-" Jenna suddenly became quiet. Slowly, she bent until she was face to face with the table cloth. She suddenly beckoned to Septimus and whispered to him.
"Someone is under the table... I saw the cloth move."
"Well, let's see who it is" Septimus said quietly, Jenna nodded and moved her hand towards the table cloth and grabbed a hold of it, they heard a hamster-like squeak, from underneath the table and then she pulled of the table cloth. When Septimus saw who it was under the table, he burst into laughter. Jenna was now face-to-face with Beetle who was hiding under the table the whole time. Beetle got up, and tried to regain his composure.
"Beetle? What on earth are you doing under there?" Jenna asked surprisingly. "I've- We've been looking for you everywhere!"
"I- I- I was down there b-b-because... I w-was t-t-t-taking a nap... " Beetle explained stupidly.
"Are they tiring you Beetle? Because if they are, I can request them to give you a break once in a while." Septimus said, trying to play along with Beetle.
"No- it's just... it's just..." Beetle didn't know how to put it in words, he just handed the pendant that he made the night before to Jenna and smiled. "I- was working all night on this... It's f-f-f-f-for you---- Jenna." he was blushing really hard now.
Jenna looked at it and smiled at Beetle, she then hugged him and he grew dark red. Jenna was also turning pink. Septimus raised an eyebrow at Beetle and Jenna and said teasingly...
"Should I leave you two love birds alone?" Jenna then let go of Beetle and looked at Septimus angrily.
"Sep!." Jenna said sternly. "Thank you, Beetle this is lovely. Would you like to come to the Palace with us?"
Beetle was still getting over the hug and couldn't say anything. He was just staring at Jenna and nodded at her.
"Great! Let's go!" Septimus said happily. And of they went, to the Palace- Beetle and Jenna unaware of the surprise Snorri, Septimus and Nicko set up for them.