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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 11, 2010 14:25:06 GMT -5
Jerome gasped, though not loudly enough for anyone but himself and possibly Marty to hear. Pivoting his attention to Esmé, Jerome saw that his friend had spoken the truth; for, if one looked closely enough, they would see that the young woman's eyes were red and her mascara slightly smudged from what could only be tears. In fact, she looked so honestly worried and frightened that Jerome wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and assure her that he was perfectly O.K. But he didn't. Instead, he gave her the biggest smile he could manage and squeezed her hand in order to reassure her.
Now, it was she who leaned over and whispered in his other ear - and what she said confirmed Marty's previous words: "I wanna kiss you, but there's so many people around I feel it would take away from what it would be if it was just the two of us."
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 11, 2010 18:25:58 GMT -5
"Do you want me to put a song on?" asked Marty. "I was thinking that a romantic song might help."
"I did notice them first starting to... Well, you know..." Artie explained, "when Over the Hills and Far Away was playing."
"Uh, yeah, I guess so," replied Marty, as he was now the one who sounded uneasy.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 12, 2010 9:32:08 GMT -5
"Come on, Jerome," Esmé said, as she and Marty each took Jerome by one arm and helped him to his feet. "Let us help you back over to the booth."
Embarrassed about having not only fainted before his friends but in front of a crowd of strangers, Jerome kept his eyes glued to the floor as Marty and Esmé guided him back across the parlor.
Sensing Jerome's uneasiness, Esmé draped her arm around him. "You shouldn't be embarrassed," she said. "We all do humiliating things sometimes. Even I have."
Jerome found this hard to believe. How could someone as beautiful and kind as Esmé be anything less than perfect? "Oh?" He glanced up. "What did you do?"
"I once spilled an entire tray of wine on my guardian's associate. I could have handled her yelling at me - after all, she had a right, as I'd ruined her dress - but then my guardian started yelling at me, too. It was horrible."
"I guess I should be grateful that I didn't cause any damage when my head hit the floor," Jerome said.
Esmé smiled, before her eyes shifted over to Artie and the jukebox. "Oh - Artie's just about to put on a song. Do you have have any requests, Jerome?"
"Well, he did recommend something romantic. Why don't you go over there and help him choose something?"
"O.K." Esmé started to slide out of the booth, but then paused and leaned back over to kiss Jerome on the cheek. "Be right back," she said, and left him and Marty to join Artie at the jukebox.
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 13, 2010 4:01:04 GMT -5
"Hey, Esme," greeted Artie, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "You here to recommend a song for Jerome?" With a smirk, he asked, "How about Crazy Love by Poco?"
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 13, 2010 14:10:58 GMT -5
"You guessed right, Art," Esmé replied. "And sure, that sounds like a great choice." She giggled. "I just hope Jerome won't take it as an indication that I think he's crazy."
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 13, 2010 19:09:22 GMT -5
"Crazy Love I guess it is, then," Artie replied, smiling. "I hope it'll play right after this song." Then realizing something, he added, "I just noticed that Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne is on. Well, I guess it doesn't really mean anything." With that, Artie stepped back to the table with his twin and Esme.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 14, 2010 12:53:23 GMT -5
"I'm sure it's just a coincidence," Esmé agreed, as she and Artie slid back into their respective seats.
Jerome - who was now holding a plastic bag full of ice given to him by one of the employees against the back of his sore head - smiled at them both.
"How's your head?"
"It's fine," Jerome replied. "After all, it's not like I haven't been through similar instances before."
"What do you mean?"
He blushed. "Well, I have been hit in the head with a volleyball in gym class on a few occasions."
Esmé raised her delicate hand and pressed it to her rosebud mouth in horror. "Goodness! Did you ever receive a concussion?"
Jerome shook his head. "No - just humiliation."
"You did hit that floor pretty hard...are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"
"I really don't think that's necessary," he said. "I'm not dizzy or anything like that."
Esmé nodded thoughtfully. "I hate to say it-" Here she paused, and looked around to smile at the three new friends she'd made that day. "-But it's nearly time for me to board the bus, which will be leaving in about ten minutes. However, before I do..." She trailed off, and reached into her purse from which she retrieved a small notebook and a pen. Opening the notebook, she wrote down her address and phone number, then tore out the paper and handed it to Jerome. "My guardian likes to keep the phone lines free during the day, but call me any time after eight."
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 15, 2010 9:04:50 GMT -5
"It was nice to meet you, Esme," Artie replied, smiling. "I hope to see you around, soon."
"Same here," added Marty. "I guess you don't like loud music, very much - but, maybe someday, I could play a few songs for you. I play lead guitar in a rock band, called The Pinheads."
"Maybe you could play Over the Hills and Far Away," Artie suggested, smirking.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 15, 2010 14:21:10 GMT -5
Esmé smiled. "That sounds wonderful, and it was very nice to meet all of you as well. I've never been acquainted with any twins before - well, I do know the Snicket siblings, but they're triplets. Anyway, feel free to ask Jerome for my phone number." Turning to him, she asked, "You wouldn't mind, would you?"
"Of course not."
Esmé smiled, and then leaned over to place a kiss on his cheek. "Call me tonight about that date. Though I guess you know by now what my answer will be."
Touching the spot where Esmé's lips had touched, Jerome blushed and nodded simultaneously.
"See you," Esmé said, waving to the three boys as she slid out of the booth. They waved back, watching her disappear through the two front doors where the bus was waiting for her on the other side.
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 15, 2010 20:37:14 GMT -5
"I think she really like you, Jerome," Marty commented, smiling. Then, turning to Artie, he added, "I'm not sure if I can perform Over the Hills and Far Away. You know how the song makes me cry. Although, maybe playing it would..."
Just then, the group's number was called.
"I'll get it, guys," Artie announced. "You two stay here."
"Got it," Marty replied, smiling.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 16, 2010 8:24:14 GMT -5
After Artie had gone to get their pizza, Jerome turned his full attention to Marty. "My grandfather always used to say that the fear of doing what we want merely increases the fear itself," Jerome explained, and smiled rather embarrassedly. "I know what you're thinking - that I should follow my own advice, right? But I guess in many ways, it's easier to give others advice than it is to give it to yourself." He paused, considering more thoroughly what he planned to say. It took only a moment before he found the proper words, and when he did he looked at Marty with a gleam of hope in his eyes. "What if I was there when you give your performance? Do you think that would help you not to be so worried about crying in the middle of it?"
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 16, 2010 12:58:49 GMT -5
"That might help," Marty suggested, softly. "We could help each other out."
"Here's the pizza!" Artie called out, returning to the table. "And Pepsis for everyone."
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 16, 2010 15:17:39 GMT -5
"Great!" Jerome smiled, before considering giving Artie the good news. Then Jerome thought better of this, deciding that since Marty and Artie were brothers, that perhaps it was Marty who'd prefer to give his sibling the good news. Giving Marty a gentle nudge underneath the table with his foot, Jerome motioned with his head to the other twin.
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 16, 2010 19:18:45 GMT -5
"Oh, uh, Artie," Marty began to say, feeling clearly nervous. "Jerome and I were just talking, and he told me that... Well, he suggested showing up for my performance. I do trust him one hundred percent - and, with him there, I probably would feel less nervous about crying in the middle of performing Over the Hills."
"Oh, good for you," Artie replied, with a warm smile. "Of course, I'll definitely also be there."
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 17, 2010 10:02:25 GMT -5
"See?" said Jerome, hardly noticing that he was, for the first time, taking steps to make someone else feel better, as opposed to the other way around. "With Artie and me by your side the entire time, I'm sure things won't be as bad as you think. And you know what they say about guys who cry," he added, remembering something one of his female acquaintances at Blue Melody had told him once. He made sure not to add the part about her being interested in him only as a friend.
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