Hellooooo eveeryyyboodddyyyyy! ARE YOU READY TO RAWWWKK?!
Sorry.
Went a little Sammy Thunder there :P (FlyLikeAJabberjay, formally known as daninikki, ask me about it at school, I'll fill you in)
Anyway, again, another late update. I feel horrible for not having regular updates like so many other amazing Layton-FanFic authors on here! But, I'm not going to go on making any excuses! I was just babysitting yesterday for like 5 hours, and I figured that I would try my hardest to get this chapter done while the kids I was watching played Wii. And then this chapter happened. WARNING I was even fangirl-squealing while writing the end of this chapter (now you have to read it!), so look out! It's not much, but I thought it would be a cute thing to include! Well, it seems that it is time to post this little chappy, finish listening to ABBA, go get in my pajamas and play a few hours of Miracle Mask! (someone tell me that I'm not the only one who is falling for Henry Ledore... like not weirdly, I just think he's freaking awesome)
Without further ado, Enjoy! -Erin
Chapter 7:
I closed my eyes briefly and laughed under my breath. I stood up from my crouched position by the fire, and strut towards the chair that matched the one Sophia was in. Her eyes followed me as I turned 180 degrees, and fell back into the stiff chair. I looked at her, both of us wearing sarcastic grins.
"Couldn't have done it better myself, Miss Sophia."
"Why thank you!" Her expression grew to a wide smile as she absentmindedly smoothed out her dress, her eyes following her hands. "I am not an extreme feminist like my mother, but I do believe that women are capable of much more than we are made out to be." She said.
We both paused to think.
"Well I think that is a very special trait that not many women have the courage to possess." I mentioned quietly.
Before she could look at me again, I quickly averted my eyes, suddenly finding interest in a loose thread hanging from my shirt sleeve. Damn these nerves. I wasn't sure what to say next. Sophia must have been feeling the same, because she never made a sound with the exception of clearing her throat. Pops surfaced from the fire; the quiet ticks of the wall clock sounded over the echo of the previous. Then I smelt strawberries. Strange...My eyes rose from my hands to meet the tray of strawberry turnovers that was still sitting on the table between Sophia and I. My right hand shook nervously as I reached for the tray and picked it up.
"..Strawberry Turnover..?" I casually offered.
Before Sophia could answer, the clock made a hollow sound, followed by a series of low bell tolls; 11 to be exact. Sophia's eyes shot towards the clock, then gasped in fright.
"Wha-what is it?" I asked worriedly. We stood from our chairs in unison.
"The train!" She exclaimed, hands on the sides of her face, "The Molentary Express! It is my only transportation home, and it leaves in twenty minutes! I won't make it in time!"
Luckily, I was thinking on my feet.
"Don't worry, Sophia. I have an idea!" I grabbed her hand, or rather the sleeve of my jacket she was still wearing, and lightly tugged her along as we raced through the room and out the oak doors. As soon as we came into the hallway, our feet skidded to a stop on the maroon carpet that ran along the floor. I could hear the familiar 'final dance' song father always commissioned the musicians to play when the ball was over. God knows I wasn't going through that ballroom again.
"This way!" I said, fleeing in the opposite direction of the music.
"But I thought the front door was that way?" Sophia questioned. One of her hands was in mine, and the other was holding up the skirt of her dress as she ran alongside me.
"We're heading for the alternate door, where we should find my butler, Nigel. He will surely give you a ride down to the station!" I answered, glancing back at her occasionally.
Sophia had no response, so we continued to run down the golden corridors. We reached the end of the hallway, then turned left towards the west of the castle. Even on the night of a ball, Nigel would be in the stables, tending to our few horses before bed. I was sure he would be there now. We passed the library, father's office, and a few guest rooms before finally reaching the less-formal side door, located adjacent to the stables. I opened the door quickly and forcefully with the momentum gained while running, but then slowed, let go of Sophia's hand and led her through. After assuring no one inside the castle saw us, I closed the door, and then turned to be met by a rather surprised Nigel. He stood just under the overhang of the stable's roof, a hefty-looking horse brush in his hand. Sophia was leaning against the castle wall to catch her breath; me, leaning forward with my hands on my knees. I hadn't realized how far our destination was from our starting point before running as fast as we did.
"Master Anton? I do not mean to impose, but shouldn't you be in the ballroom?" Nigel asked politely yet suspiciously.
"Yes, in fact we just came from there." I lied, still breathing heavily, "Miss Sophia here shall be late for her train if she does not get there within the next fifteen minutes. I trust that you would be able to take her to the Folsense Station by carriage?" I kept my pleading eyes on Nigel.
He nodded and set the brush down on one of the wooden posts next to him.
"Why yes, of course. If the master wishes so, it shall be done." Nigel clasped his hands together. "This way please, Mistress Sophia." gesturing her to follow.
I looked back up at Sophia, who had seemed to have caught her breath and was now wearing a small smile. Still in silence, we both followed Nigel around to the side of the building. He had reigns attached to a brown spotted horse in hand. When we reached the navy-blue carriage, he began to tie up the horse to the front while I helped Sophia inside. She was in mid-step to get up into the carriage, before she stopped and put her foot back onto the ground.
"Oh, before I forget..." She wiggled her arms free from my jacket, folded it vertically, then returned it to me with a sweet smile. I draped the jacket over my left forearm. I felt too warm to bother putting it back on. Sophia took both of my hands as I helped her back up into the carriage. She sat down into the stitched suede seats and sighed.
"I am extremely grateful for tonight, Anton. I am very glad that we had the chance to meet." Sophia continued to hold both of my hands.
I felt something in my chest flutter for a few moments.
"As am I, Sophia." I said back, the volume hardly above a whisper, "For now... I wait until the day that we meet again." I dropped her one hand, and then took the other with both of mine. I leaned down slightly, and slowly kissed the back of her hand.
"Until we meet again." She repeated quietly, a small glimmer rising in her sad, green eyes.
I caught sight of Nigel in my peripheral vision.
"The carriage is ready to leave, Master Anton." He notified me.
Mine and Sophia's eyes still locked, I nodded, and then set Sophia's hands back down on her lap. Our gazes were only broken by the ornate carriage door closing between us. Within moments, Nigel snapped the reigns and the horse clopped forward; the carriage trailing slowly behind it. I stood back a bit, while I watched them pull around the circular middle garden, and then turn into the forest. After passing some rosebushes, they were out of sight.
So... you like? :D hehehe I love making younger Anton the King of Awkward! It's so perfect for him; I think!
One last thing to ask you fantastic readers...
...
...
..
.
Strawberry Turnover? ;)
R&R please! Love you all! -Erin