literature

The World Once Without You 3

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It didn't seem like Arthur wanted to deal with me having another panic attack since after I had finally calmed down enough to move he insisted that we go to the café on this side of the street. I didn't really blame him since I wouldn't want to deal with me either if I was hyperventilating and shaking like a little tree in a storm. But near mental break down aside Arthur watched me carefully as we walked to our new destination, scrutinizing me with those intense green eyes of his. I felt a little self-conscious with the way he staring at me like that. What was he looking at? Did I have something on my face? Was I making a weird expression?
"What's up?" I finally asked; a bit tired of feeling those burning eyes on my skin.  
"Hmm, oh nothing, nothing I… I was just thinking about how your face really hasn't changed all that much…" It didn't take a genius like me to notice the little blush that crept up Arthur's fair cheeks. Was… was he checking me out? I could've nearly danced for joy if he was. But I couldn't help but wonder. I had been out of the picture for eight years now. I had a bare bones plot of what Arthur had been spending his life on, but my real interest was if he was still interested in me. Back in high school I remembered I had felt a spark between us, but back then I was naïve and had no idea what it felt like to love someone… well not in that kind of way. But now that I was new to this time stream in my life without Arthur had he moved on and found someone else to replace me?
Name, agent Alfred F. Jones. Target, Arthur Kirkland. Goal, discover if target has acquired a significant other in the past eight years. Mission status, very dangerous, proceed with caution.
I felt pretty bad ass. Like a secret agent or detective or some shit like that.
Were arrived at the café within the matter of a few minutes and we took a seat at the corner table by the window. It wasn't surprising to me when Arthur ordered a cup of tea and just as little of a surprise to him when I ordered a soda. "I see your dietary habits haven't changed much either." Arthur laughed softly as he looked over the lunch menu.
"Same goes for you. A loyal tea drinker to the end." I grinned.
"And there's nothing wrong with that. Tea is a perfectly wonderful beverage." He replied back smartly, the slightest of smiles playing on his lips. "I remember we used to have arguments over which was better, coffee or tea."
"Well it's obviously coffee. That's what got me through all my all night study sessions and machine building."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course, how could I forget your wonderful procrastination habits? You'd be so hung up over that machine of yours that you'd put all your homework off to the last minute and then you'd come whining to me, asking for help with your English essay."
"Hey, I finished it didn't I? My procrastination paid off in one field at least." I said, reaching to take a sip of my coke.
Arthur hesitated in replying, some kind of feeling I couldn't recognize swirling around in his eyes. "Yes, yes you did. And I remember when you finished it. You were so terribly excited I was afraid you would explode…" He laughed softly, a nostalgic smile curled ever so slightly on the corner of his lips.
"Yeah, well I had been working on the thing for years, not to mention it was something no one had done before." I replied, my own new found reminiscent feelings swirling around. The memory came to me and I recalled it for the first time. As soon as the machine was finished Arthur was the first one I told. I didn't even tell my own parents before him, not even my own brother. Arthur had been there for me a lot when I was building that machine and I felt like the honor or knowing it first should've been his. "… You did a lot for me too Artie, y'know when I was building it."
Arthur blushed softly, "W-Well we were friends, weren't we? I just did what anyone would do…"
I was about to reply with something charming and witty, but unfortunately the universe just loves taking my thunder. The waitress came over, a different one this time, pad and pen in hand. "Good afternoon folks, my name is Jessica and I-! Oh my god!" The girl dropped the pad and pen looking at me with wide brown eyes. I knew where this was going…. "Oh my god! A-are y-you A-Alfred F. J-Jones?" She was practically trembling with excitement. I almost wanted to say no since I was still a secret agent on a mission. But what's a secret mission without a few obstacles?  
"… Yup that's me." I finally sucked up my selfishness and flashed her a charming grin.
She nearly screamed. "Oh my god," Could she say that a few hundred more times? "I'm such a HUGE fan of your work with the time machine. It's so incredible! You're so incredible!" She collapsed onto her knees for a moment and for a split second I thought she passed out, but she merely grabbed her pad and pen and shot back up to shove the objects in my face. "Can I have your autograph?" I couldn't deny a pretty girl with eyes as excited as hers. I nodded and took the paper, writing her name and then quick scrawling down my signature.
"There you go." I grinned, not wanting to be rude to a loyal fan.
"Thank you! Thank you so much sir!" She skipped away, smiling broadly and squealing about how she was now in possession of a piece of paper with my name on it. Everyone in the dining room was staring at me at this point, but with the way she had screamed like that it was a wonder all of New York wasn't pressing their faces to the window to see what was happening.
Suddenly several people came up to me, asking for autographs and pictures and I couldn't help, but comply. I didn't want to come off as a mean, anti-social science freak; it would ruin my image. After several minutes of scrawling my name and having cameras flashing in my face the people subsided and crawled back to their tables finally leaving Arthur and I in peace. I was relived at first, but when I saw the look on Arthur's face I wished I had another camera flash momentarily blinding me. His lips were pulled down into a small frown, his arms folded stiffly over his slender chest. I swallowed thickly, "I uh… I'm sorry about that… it happens sometimes…."
"Of course, it's perfectly fine." That's what he said, but his eyes said something else. Look at how successful I had become without him. Look at the fame I had gathered without hearing a word from him. Look at the people who all knew my name, but didn't know the name of the man who stuck by me through the tougher times. Arthur wasn't jealous of me because of what I became, that much I was sure of, but what I could see was that he felt left behind, abandoned, and forgotten.
"Arthur I…" I started, but I trailed off as I heard one very familiar song waft from the speakers above my head making my heart flutter and my head feel light.
Boredom's in the bathroom shakin' out the loose teeth…. Sally's in the stirrups claimin' her own destiny…  
I knew this song. I knew this song inside and out, backwards and forwards, up and down and whatever other ways you could think of. It was Stumbleine by The Smashing Pumpkins. Arthur's stern face seemed to soften if only by a little, but little was better than nothing at all. He knew this song too just as well as I did. I know he did no matter what time stream we roamed in.  
Thank you Universe for restoring some of my thunder. "Hey… you remember this song right?" I asked, leaning forward on the table a bit to be closer.
And nobody nowhere understands anything about me and all my dreams, lost at sea…
He glanced at me for a second before he nervously averted his eyes once more, "… sounds familiar…" Just as stubborn as ever with the way he puffed his ivory cheeks out and glances away from me. But I always thought his stubborn mule attitude only added to his unique brand of charm.
Jack it up Judy, set your heart alight. Mayfair mistress of the satellites…
"You can't look me in the eye and tell me that you don't remember this song Artie." I said, inching ever so closer; wanting to be much closer than Arthur wanted me to be. Arthur seemed flustered for a few seconds, cheeks blossoming a vivid shade of pink, unsure of how to reply to that. His green eyes nervously darted back and forth like a rabbits as he assessed the situation.
"Well… I suppose I remember it a little bit." Still stubborn as a jackass but also managing to remain adorable in the process.
"C'mon Artie, don't break my heart here." I said; giving him the best 'kicked puppy' look I could manage. In the time stream when we had dated Arthur always melted into a puddle of mush every single time I made my eyes wide and begging made my lower lips quiver.  
Misspent youth faking up a rampage to hold off the real slaves, paid off and staid.  
He looked away from me for a few moments before he finally sighed. "Yes… yes I remember insufferable git, now stop looking at me like that." He huffed softly as he shifted in his seat. Oh yes, of course he did because he could never forget. Both of us couldn't no matter how many times time was altered. Back in high school Arthur had spent many a day at my house, sitting in the lab with me while he did his homework and I worked on the machine. Though one particular day I had been hung up over a formula, the very one that had saved Arthur in this time stream, and being alone was the last thing I had wanted.
As Arthur was leaving the lab I clung to him, arms securely wrapped around his waist as held onto him like a life preserver. I couldn't be alone with my thoughts. Not like this and Arthur understood. When I couldn't think Arthur would grab out his guitar and play me this song and suddenly my thoughts of the unknown would melt away with the stress like snow during spring and I would feel at ease. It was his song, it was our song and it was still number one in my mind even after all these years.
"And what you never knew can never get to you, so fake it…" I sang along with the words softly, gazing into the glorious green eyes that I had longed to once again stare into.
It felt so ironic. That one line of the song I mean. Arthur didn't know what happened to him in the time stream we were originally from. He never would know either. I would put on an act and go to every which length to make sure he never found out what I had done to save him. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right? Besides, how many couples got the chance to fall in love all over again?
I'll be your stumbleine; I'll be your super queen and make you….
Yeaaahhh…. To be honest I really don’t like the way this chapter turned out. I’m kind of having a bit of writer’s block plus I’m really stressed with applying to colleges and waiting eagerly for acceptance letters. It’s driving me nuts @_@ But please forgive me. The next chapter will be longer I promise.

Credit for the doujin of "Stumbeline" goes to :iconhakuku:
© 2011 - 2024 jay1892
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DarkmoonSigel's avatar
Loving this story line! Can't wait to see where it goes.