Complexity
A/N: Part Two! I don't think you guys care, but I'm bored, so I painted my nails to match my room. Blue! Anyway, enjoy the story.
Soundtrack: Smile- Avril Lavigne
Chapter Seven- I guess that maybe you can
He didn't lie. The breakfast was great, in all perspective. Arthur had taken her to a small café and she'd had croissants, buttered and toasted, with strawberries and some yogurt. Needles to say, she ate herself full. Arthur, she noticed, only had some eggs.
The sun came out after a few minutes, and she liked how it shone on the street. Beautiful. She realizes when she said it out loud when Arthur says, "I know." She looks at him sharply.
Arthur Baskov. It still sounds foreign and beautiful to her. She smiles at him over the rim of her orange juice. No coffee for Ariadne today. She unties her still-wet scarf from around her neck and stuffs it into her bag. She pulls out her sketch pad.
"Want to get to work?" she asks. In the bustling café, where they're most likely not to be disturbed, is an ideal place to work.
"Sure," he says. He gives her a strange look.
"I was thinking. We can use a café like this…small and friendly…"
.later.
Ariadne doesn't watch the TV or news much, or use the computer, lest she sees news about her father, the murderer, or anything else. She understands why Arthur doesn't like to talk about his family. However, Carol does, and she can't ask to mute it. In spite of herself, she listens.
"And we've just gotten some recent news on the Baskov case…"
Ariadne jerks upright and flies over to the TV. The news reporter is a small woman in high heels, sticking her chest out and fluffing up her hair. She's in front a court house. It's swamped with people.
"Marcus Baskov, serial killer and kidnapper, has just been tried and sentenced to death row…"
Out comes a man. He's wearing prison orange and is surrounded by police. Ariadne feels like she can't breathe. "Whoa," Carol says, leaning forward. "That guy looks exactly like Arthur…"It makes sense. Ariadne's father killed her mother and was sentenced to a lifetime of jail, but he died in prison. Arthur's father was a mass murderer…
Which was worse? To know your father didn't give a shit about your mom and killed her just to prove it? Squeezed her neck until her mother couldn't pull in air? And went limp? Or to shoot a gun and see how many people die?
And how did that affect Arthur?
As Ariadne watches, somewhat numbly, as the man starts shouting and is immediately ambushed by the police. They drag him away, while Marcus fights the whole way. Someone knocks on the door.
Ariadne darts forward and jabs the POWER button on the TV. And would you guess, it's Arthur.
Carol glances at Arthur with wide eyes. She suddenly makes a connection. With the grace of a ballerina, she backs into a window and pretends to stare out over the street.
He holds out Ariadne's scarf. "You left this. I think it might've dropped out of your bag." She takes her still damp scarf from him, ignoring the simple brush of their skin. Almost immediately something in her chest moves, like it had claws. She backs away from him. "Thanks," she says, and all but slams the door in his face.
.later.
She works on the café alone that night.
"Wow," comments Carol as she crosses over to where Ariadne is working. "I don't…."
"His last name is Baskov, Carol," Ari snaps. She doesn't know what to think and she gets the feeling that she's spiraling downward. Her mind turning into a dark, soulless cave. She sighs and turns to face her best friend.
"His dad…I mean, I knew he had problems with his family. I did, too, Carol. But he didn't know those people. Dad sure as hell knew Mom. And they're both dead."
She pauses and considers.
"He doesn't like who he is."
Carol leaves the room and comes back with a bag of popcorn. "Here," she says, and Ari takes a big handful. "You don't either," Carol says. "What do you want me to do?" Ari asks.
"Get to know him, Ari."
She laughs at the expression on her face.
"I know. Kyle, the bitch-ass. But Arthur's different…I don't know…"
When Carol says different, a shadow passes over her face. She looks depressed.
"Enough of this," Ariadne announces. "Harry Potter marathon, from year one to year seven part one!"
They go to sleep at four in the morning.
A/N: Ah…drama…wait'll happen in the next chapter! Oh, I am absolutely evil…!Review!