Please forgive me for the loooooooooooong wait, but it couldn't be helped. Over the summer, files on my flashdrive were destroyed by my computer, thinking they were broken, and sadly, those files were all my stories and character references. My amazing Daddy was able to retrieve most of the doc files, but I still had to reorganize them. Took F-O-R-E-V-E-R and a day, but a few of them are back in order with only a few parts missing! Great way to spend the summer, huh?
Btw, go back to chapter 3! If you cried at the dream scene before, you'll go Niagara Falls now! I wasn't feeling it as I reread it, so I completely rewrote it! I had sad and angry music playing, so it's much better I think!
Quite honestly, I think I should work on rewriting the whole thing. You know, go back and fix it chapter by chapter. If I hit writers block, I think that's what I'll do! Good idea?
Down town London was crowded. At least to Clive. In reality, there weren't really that many people. The professor noted that Clive tensed every time someone passed. Didn't matter if the other person was a child or adult, male or female, he was afraid of them all.
Flora was the complete opposite; she jumped in peoples way and smiled cheerily as she said 'hello'. Luke chuckled slightly, because he knew why she was doing it. He looked to the Professor, to see if he noticed Flora's objective. But the Professor's eyes hardly left Clive. Luke could understand.
When Flora wasn't greeting every stranger on the street, she'd bounce over to the shop windows and peek inside. Most were accessory shops and home décor, and a few dress shops, but they had yet to get a male clothing store.
"Oh! Oh!" Flora jumped up excitedly, and then went running down the walk.
"Flora! Where are you going!" The Professor called after her, with a slight laugh woven into his words.
Flora skidded to a stop in front of a shop, and pressed her face and hands against the window.
"What did you find, Flora?" Luke asked as the three males approached.
"This is it!" Flora cheered in absolute glee. "Oh, Professor, couldn't you see me in that one day!" She began to twirl around with her eyes closed in daydreaming.
All three looked into the shop window and immediately knew what Flora was talking about. There were two mannequins in the window; a male and a female. A cotton candy pink dress barley hung off the shoulders of the female mannequin's shoulders, and flowed down like a river of silk, with no definition of shape. Clive shook his head in bewilderment. I'll never understand girls I suppose.
The male mannequin on the other hand, looked the part of a true, London, Gentleman. Perhaps French would match better. Clive thought to himself as he examined the outfit. The shirt was white button-up with French cuffs on the wrists, and over it was a royal blue vest. You'd think the brown trousers wouldn't go with it, but when together, they seemed a perfect match.
Clive grabbed the professor's coat sleeve and tugged gently. When the professor turned to him, Clive nodded towards the male mannequin.
"You want to try that on?" The Professor asked. Clive nodded, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "Well then, shall we go in?" He stepped forward and opened the shop door. A tall, skinny man walked out of the store, and scoffed when he saw Clive. He then proceeded to stick his nose in the air and walk away, without a 'thank you' to Layton.
"Well the nerve of him!" Flora stuck he little fists on her hips, glaring after the rude man. Humphing, she walked through the door, and said a polite little thank you. The two boys following suit.
There was a ting of a bell somewhere, and then a skittering of feet. From out of the racks came a plump old woman. Her white hair didn't even reach the top of the racks. "Hello!" She said kindly. "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything I can help you find?"
"Yes, Madam. You wouldn't happen to have the male outfit in the window available for sale, would you?" The Professor replied politely.
"Oh, yes! It's right over there! Though, if you can't find it in your size, I could always check the back!" The offered excitedly.
"Actually, it's for this fine young man." Layton slowly and gently placed his hand on Clive's shoulder, hoping he wouldn't jump. He flinched a bit, but it wasn't as bad as before.
The woman's smile dropped into a cold frown. "Him? Isn't that Clive Dove?" She made his name sound as though it were a curse. Clive looked to his feet, swallowing a hard lump in his throat while trying to keep the floodgates behind his eyes from opening.
"We're customers, what does it matter who we are?" Luke demanded agitatedly.
Huffing angrily, she said, "Fine. What you're looking for is over there!" She forcefully pointed over to the far wall, and walked behind the desk into the back room.
Professor Layton wrapped his arm around the quivering boys shoulders, and led him over to the designated place. Luke looked from the racks of cloths, to Clive, wondering what size would actually fit him.
"Clive," The professor said quietly, "Don't listen to her. You're just fine. Don't let what others think about you change your perspective of yourself."
Clive's voice was hardly a whisper when he replied. "But everyone is like her. When they recognize me, it's... I'll never live it down..." A single tear made its way down his already somber face.
"Don't cry, Clive, it's going to be okay." Flora said, taking hold of one of his hands with both of her little ones.
"When?" He breathed.
"When people aren't so judgmental." Flora stated.
"Would a puzzle help take your mind off all of this?" Professor Layton asked.
"Actually, Professor, it would." Clive muttered.
"What walks all day on its head?" The Professor asked.
"Far too simple, Professor. A Nail in a Horseshoe." Clive answered.
"'Simple'? I didn't think you wanted a difficult one." The Professor hinted.
Clive's lips twitched up, giving the professor his answer without words.
"A smooth dance, a ball sport, a place to stay, an Asian country, and a girl's name. What's her name?"
Yes! I did it! I remembered most of what I wanted to write! I know it was different (what I had written before my computer destroyed the file), but I can't remember exactly how. *shrug* Oh well.