Chapter Five

Tally power-walked into the museum and prepared to do her first rounds at an almost record-breaking speed. Finally, she reached the lobby, as the late crowd had barely begun to disperse, to catch her breath.

"Woke up late?" Larry asked.

"Alarm snoozed three times before I finally woke up. Did I miss anything?" Tally replied.

"Nothing important."

" 'Kay, good."

Tally scanned the lobby but quickly found herself staring at Ahkmenrah. The young pharaoh seemed to have invaded her thoughts, though if that were true, her ability to stay focused on the task at hand must've been superhuman. She chewed her lip and forced herself to continue scanning the lobby. She finished her scan with what she was absolutely certain was a superhuman effort.

"You like him, don't you?" Larry asked, a little slyly.

"Who? Ahk? He's okay."

"Just okay, huh?"

"I don't see why you're asking."

"Oh, I'm just curious. I heard talking about your feelings relieved the conscience."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Television."

"You know pretty much all of television is a fake, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So don't believe everything you hear."

"I've heard. So..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Tally looked around the lobby again, seeking something to do more than anything else. The sounds of everyone talking around her began to blend together in an unintelligible humming sound. A small plane zipped by, accompanied by Jedediah's distinctive "Yee-haw!" and Octavius shouting something about slowing down and crashing. Some things never change, she mused.

Ahkmenrah found himself glancing at Tally every chance he could get, especially between tour groups. His mind drifted back to his brother's words; perhaps he should just tell her, but what would he say? Was there some series of words that was universally used to talk about feelings for and with a girl? He was in a more complicated age now, but did some of the old rules of engagement apply?

"Hey, Ahk, whatcha thinking about that's so important?" Jedediah asked, jarring Ahkmenrah out of his musings. The miniature had landed the small plane on the table next to the tablet, and it looked an awful lot like his Roman companion was catching his breath and trying not to have a seizure.

"Nothing. I was...nothing."

"It don't look like nothing."

"Jedediah's right," Octavius added once he recovered himself.

Ahkmenrah leaned down to face the two miniatures. "Let's say for a moment there's a girl I like, but I haven't the slightest idea how to tell her so."

"Oooo-ee! That's a problem."

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Actually, I dunno how to help you."

"So why did you bother to stop by?"

"Felt like asking."

Ahkmenrah sighed and turned to the next group of kids, preparing his speech and hoping it was almost over.

Jedediah started the plane and began to fly around the lobby again, just as Octavius was recovering from Jed's skills as a pilot, or lack thereof, depending on perspective. Octavius struggled to keep his wits about him and just relax. After all, Jedediah hadn't killed them yet.

Tally leaned against the wall and watched the crowd slowly trickle out of the museum, leaving only her, Larry, and the exhibits, who erupted into their usual post-Friday late show party. After a moment, she stood up and walked over to Ahkmenrah. "What's up?" she asked.

"Um, the ceiling?" he replied.

"No, I mean how are things?"

"Oh. Things are good, things are good. How are things with you?"

"They're good." Tally chewed her lip, struggling to think up a segway. "It's Friday."

"I know."

"So, uh...maybe we should spend our time...talking?"

"Talking? About what?"

Tally looked around for a moment and found herself wondering something. "Talking about why Mrs. Tinsley's still here."

"She is?"

"Yeah, don't you see?" Tally gestured to where Mrs. Tinsley stood, her nose in the air and a clipboard in hand.

"Ah, of course. Is she waiting for a train?"

"She doesn't do that. If not a train, then a taxi, but she always leaves right when the museum closes down for the night."

"Really?"

"She's that OCD."

"OCD?"

"Obsessive compulsive, really obsessive compulsive disorder when not used as a verb."

"Well, then."

"So why is she still here?"

Mrs. Tinsley glared at Ahkmenrah and Tally before turning on her heel and vanishing down the corridor to the Egyptian wing.