Emma & Malcom Peabody

Chapter 18: Elizabeth's song part 2

-Oh, boy! I can't believe I'm finally free!-screamed Malcom. Although he spent good times with his twin, he wanted to spend some time without her, more in that moment, that he finally liked a girl. He knew Emma was too feminist and too serious. She would never let him fall for a girl from the past.

-Don't be so happy, she'd find us-remained Elizabeth

-When have you become as party pooper as my sister?-asked the red-haired without giving her time to ask what he meant with his sister.-So, what should we do now? What do you do for having fun?-

-Well... I read books; there is a good library over there-she pointed

-Books?-he asked. "The books existed in this time?" he thought to himself "Humanity has always been bored".

-Yeah, I can read, can't you?-

-Of course I can! But that doesn't mean that I want to do it...-he looked at the sides.-Is that really the funniest thing you do?-

Liz folded her arms.-What were you expecting? I don't have any friends or an upright family!-she protested starting to regret accepting his deal

Malcom stared at her. Perhaps she had never had fun before... And that wasn't her fault, taking in account all the stuff she has gone through her short life. The red-headed remembered Lucius and started to think about the hard life some people used to have in the past. But the worst of all was that some people had those kinds of lives in the present.

Elizabeth couldn't trust Malcom very much, and she still wasn't sure about him... but it was weird to see Malcom in completely silence. In some way, that was worrying her.

-So... how are your parents like?-asked the girl trying to start a conversation to break that awkward silence between them

-Well... they are fine, I guess-

-You guess?-

He didn't want to talk about his family, he hated to do that. But he decided to answer her with the truth this time.

-Yeah, I mean I have never had a really good relationship with any of them. Of course they are my parents but I never got to understand them... maybe because they never had the time to understand me-

-That sounds like you've had many familiar problems-

-In some ways I had them... and I still have them. Mostly with my father-

-Why's that?-she said with a really soft voice

-I-I know he expects a lot from me!-he exclaimed pointing to himself.-And I-I know I won't be able to do it... I would never be a genius like him, I'm just another normal spoiled child...-he admitted with a thread of voice, on the border of tears.-And you know what's worse of all?-Liz just said no with her head.-That I know he won't give up... and I know that everyone expects me to be like him, but that won't happen and I always let him down-

-Have you ever talked to him about this?-

-Talk? What should I ever win from that? He never understands me!-

-You don't seem to give him the chance!-

-I have given it to him many times!-

-I'm not so sure-

-You don't understand...-

-Are you serious? At least you have a father! Do you know how it feels to be rejected for a reason you don't really know?-asked the girl

-Everyone deals with its problem-he explained

-You should talk to your father and explain him how you feel-

-You don't know how he is-

-I don't even know you... but I bet he will hear-

He looked down. Even though he spoke to him, he wouldn't understand! Sure, his father was able to understand mathematical and physicals stuff... but he wasn't able to understand his own son!

Malcom took a deep breath and smiled at Liz, remembering that she wasn't the one to blame about his familiar problems. She calmed down too and smiled back at him. Perhaps he wasn't as bad or as idiot as she thought. In fact, he was being kind of cute... but no! She didn't have time for any friend, less if that friend was a boy. So, the girl just looked to another side.

The young boy didn't understand what was wrong with her, but he looked to another side too and he found something that caught his attention.

Malcom stopped all of a sudden and got closer to a guitar that was leaned on the streets. Well, it wasn't a guitar; it was a kind of "old guitar". Its case was oval and its headstock had the shape of a sickle. He picked it up and inspected it.

-Do you know how to play the Moorish Guitar?-asked Elizabeth folding her arms, looking not interested at all

-Moorish? Uh, that's how this thing is called, right?-he thought out loud

-Uh?-asked the girl confused at his question: everyone knew that was a Moorish

-Oh, never mind-he played some basic guitar tones and it didn't sound like the normal guitar he was accustomed to play, but he was still able to play that instrument.

-What are you doing now?-asked the girl.-Let it where you found it-she said pointing the street

-Mmm... Sure I will, but not yet-he said smiling preparing himself to play a song

-Excuse me, Sir-said Emma stopping a man walking on the street.-Have you seen two red-haired children from my same age?-she asked nervously

-Oh, I think yes... They went over there-he said pointing to the left

-Thank you-she said doing a reverence and walking to the place he pointed.-I'm gonna kill him!-she muttered to herself angrily.-How come he did me that?-She thought out loud as her frown started to grow.-What was he thinking? Leaving his twin alone as he flirts with a... a... an anti-social, bad-tempered girl? That's it! I'm sick of him!-she continued screaming. She was really made at him, and she had a good reason: he left her alone in a completely new time! What if something happens to her? What if something happens to him? What if he tells Elizabeth that he is from the future?! What if...

She stopped as soon as she saw her brother playing a Moorish guitar. She didn't even know he knew how to play the guitar! Well, perhaps he didn't... perhaps he was trying to impress the poor Elizabeth and he was playing something nonsense.

The blonde girl hid behind a fountain to hear him.

Malcom started to play some tones as Liz stared at him, half of her completely surprised and another side completely on denial. And he started to sing:

I, I'm good at wasting time

I'll try to find a way to make this rhyme,

And you're not watching

But I'm good at guessing what yam' think (he said as Liz rolled her eyes)

I hate wearing this (he pointed his shoes)

I'd rather be shoeless before being someone rich

If they dress on these, where is freedom here?

I need to be on an outside place, please

And I, I really like it

When a storm's coming over

And I love every single lock of your ha-a-a-air

If you wanna know, here it goes, gonna confess this

A part of me that shows,

If we're close gonna let you see,

Everything

But remember that you asked for it

I'm tryna' do my best to impress

But it's easier to let you

Take a guess at the rest

But you wanna hear what is in my brain,

And my heart,

Well you asked for it

For your perusing,

At times confusing,

Really amusing,

Introducing Me

Liz still couldn't believe what he was doing, but she was starting to think that it was rather cute.

Malcom noticed that at least Elizabeth was smiling a bit, and even though he wasn't sure about what was she smiling at (his cuteness and talent or his desperation and clumsiness), he continued.

I never eat sophisticated and complicated food

I'd rather eat pizza or anything with a lot

Of chocolate but I still have to eat vegetables

And I always need time to think something through

I like really cool cars and coke, and superheroes

And I always mess up and I don't even try

I love going into the past and adventures that'll make

My name la-a-a-a-ast

Well, you probably know more that you'll ever need to

But I bet at least I made you smi-i-i-ile (he made a little pause and Liz made a little smile)

So, if you wanna know, here it goes, gonna confess this

A part of me that shows,

If we're close gonna let you see,

Everything

But remember that you asked for it

I'm tryna' do my best to impress

But it's easier to let you

Take a guess at the rest

But you wanna hear what is in my brain,

And my heart,

Well you asked for it

For your perusing,

At times confusing,

Really amusing,

Introducing Me

He started to walk closer to her:

Introducing Me...

He waited for any kind of reaction, but Liz seemed to be both speechless and surprised, but in a good way, because she was still smiling.

-So, what do you think?-Malcom asked

Elizabeth looked down, trying to find a good insult as an answer, but then looked up. It was the first time someone did something like that for her, and he deserved a good answer. Although she wasn't going to tell him what she really thought, because she absolutely loved it, and she didn't like to seem like a stupid girl that with only a little song will fall for him.

-Well...-she started.-It was...-

-It was really impressive-completed someone else behind them

-Oh, boy-whispered Malcom biting his lip, looking for a way out

Emma went closer to him and pointed him with her finger, as if she could kill him using it.-Malcom James Peabody! Do you have any idea of what you've done?-she shouted

-Mmm... Well, you'll se... I...-he started to babble, not really sure about what to say on his defense.-It's like... You know... I...-

-He escaped from you-explained Liz.-He doesn't want to marry you-

-He doesn't want to do what?-

-Wow, wow! Hold on, girls!-said Malcom interfering between them two.-This is a misunderstanding and...-

-You do want to marry her?-asked Liz

-What? Of course not!-he answered

-Marry me?-asked Emma completely shocked.-What is she talking about, Malcom?-

-She... she... she is...-

-I'm telling the truth, you can't make him marry you! No matter who you think you are!-completed the red-haired girl again

-What? I don't want to marry him!-

-So, call the wedding off!-

-We're not engaged! What on Earth are you...-Emma looked at Malcom, who was rubbing his hands nervously and sighed.-What have you said to this poor girl?-

-Mmm... Perhaps I exaggerated this bit...-he turned to Liz who was completely confused.-And with that I mean... we're not engaged-

She stared at him completely shocked. They weren't engaged! But, why has he lain to her? Oh, who cares, the thing was that he lay to her! And with not reason!

Liz frowned and started to walk away.

-No! Wait!-Malcom screamed

-Wait for what?-Liz shouted turning around.-You're a liar!-

-Wait, I've lay only about that! But all the rest I told you is true, I'm not liar-

-Oh, I see, you only lie about the most important things then-she said disappointed as she walked away

-Why have you told her that?-asked Malcom to Emma

-Are you serious? You lay; and if she gets angry about it, it's my fault?-The girl sighed.-Why have you lain?-

-Do you really wanna know?-he screamed frustrated

-Yes!-

-Well, I lay because he knew that if he didn't have anything in common with Liz, she would never try to spend more time beside me-he confessed sadly.-But now, she will never forgive me...-

-Mal, I'm sorry, but you can't start any kind of relation with someone basing on lies...-she said trying to be as sensitive as she could.-Now... Let's go back home-

He nodded his head and followed her to the WABAC.

Ok, things didn't end up the way Malcom expected... but will Liz forget him?

And what will happen with Emma and her "secret admirer"?

Find it out on the next chapter!

Thanks for reading! :D