Author: (that's me)
Pairing: Susan/Caspian
Characters: Susan, Caspian, Lucy, Edmund, Peter, Eustace, Jill, Sebastian, Viktor
Story Type: Romance, Drama, Angst (movieverse)
Author's Note: THIS IS NOT FOR THE WEEKLY DRABBLE CHALLENGE. For personal enjoyment only. I received a compliment from my Chapter 2 of this fic in my blogspot and that quickly led me to make this one. I'm not a very good writer, but my idea of Susan and Caspian is still stuck in my head, and I'd really like it to have it written down. Please bear with my strange syntax formations, goofy grammar checks, horrible paragraphing and weird punctuation uses.
Disclaimer: Characters mentioned here are simply borrowed for a work of a fan. Not mine at all! That's why it's called fan fiction, duh!
Previous chapters:
Chapter 1: The Invitation
Chapter 2: The Party
~~~~~
Chapter 3: The Ride
Time passed by quickly as visitors started to leave one at a time in a courteous manner. Susan knew it was getting late but it seems the lights from the chandelier, the vibrance of the drapes by the windows and the music of strings in the atmosphere still give life to the occasion.
She had taken Viktor’s invitation for a dance earlier which led her to steal moments of stares and glances at Sebastian while he danced and talked to Kathryn. The dance floor was easy for her to make an excuse of each gesture she made.
She tilted her head up and looked at the chandelier hanging from the majestic ceiling of the Valmont mansion. She recalled his eyes and his smile. Joy and strangeness filled her.
She sighed. The vision remained vivid in her head.
“What are you looking at?” Viktor asked, noticing Susan’s blue eyes locked on the lights above.
“Oh, nothing,” she said and smiled at him. “The lights are just so amazing.”
He looked up as well and sighed, “Yes, they are.”
She kept on looking at him and felt warmth rushing throughout her frame. “Thank you—for tonight.”
He looked at her in an instant. He gave her a content look and replied, “As I’ve said before, your company warms me. No need to thank me.”
Suddenly, Mr. Valmont climbed up to the center of the stairwell and faced the crowd before him. The music has stopped and everyone turned their attention to him.
“Everyone,” started Mr. Valmont, “In behalf of my family, I would like to express my grandest gratitude to all of you for coming to my daughter’s birthday.”
The crowd clapped and he continued, “I wish you all a good night and a safe journey home—and happy birthday to Kathryn!”
He raised his hand to Kathryn’s spot and everyone looked at her with great smiles and greetings. She smiled back at them and held on to Sebastian ever so tightly. Sebastian felt his muscles twitched a bit from Kathryn’s grip but remained calm. He gave the crowd his bright smile and accidentally turned to Susan’s spot. He remained his eyes on her. For a moment, he was breathless.
Susan glanced at him and completely froze. His eyes were the darkest in brown she has ever seen. She became afraid. She doesn’t know Sebastian’s intentions. She doesn’t know Sebastian’s thoughts. She doesn’t know Sebastian at all.
I’m sure, she thought, that I don’t know him. And yet deep in her heart, she had the most ironic feeling as if she does.
She quickly turned to Viktor and said, “Will you give me a ride home?”
He stopped his clapping and almost couldn’t speak when he heard her. “I—I don’t think I can. I—I—I d-don’t have my own—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she interrupted him.
Viktor looked at her intently and a smile escaped from his lips. “My pleasure.”
~~~~~
“Thank you for the most delicious dinner, cousins,” said Eustace as he grabbed his coat from the closet and handed Jill hers.
“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it,” Peter replied and patted him on the back.
Jill slid into her coat and stretched out her arms into the sleeves. “I sure do hope that we can plan another dinner like this soon enough.”
“Oh, Jill,” Lucy sighed. “Why don’t you and Eustace just stay the night over? It would just be so grand—and we’ll talk and chat more about—”
“Lu,” Peter said as he interrupted her. She gazed at him with almost a frown.
Edmund chuckled and turned to her. “Don’t worry, Lu. They’ll be back for another dinner next time—and I’ll cook.”
She brightened up while Eustace and Jill laughed.
“We’ll take your word for it,” Eustace said after sliding into his coat.
“I’m going to need your meat though,” Edmund replied, “for my special Dragon Broth.”
They all laughed. And in moments, Eustace and Jill bade their farewells and left. Peter and Edmund chatted their way to the kitchen when they noticed Lucy still standing at the door.
“Lu?” Peter called out to her.
She turned around and replied, “What about Susan?”
The boys looked at each other and grasped the problem back at hand. They walked towards her with comfort eyes.
“She’ll be home soon,” Peter replied.
“Peter,” she said, “That’s not what I mean.”
He looked at Edmund hoping for some back up. Somehow, Peter’s words got stuck in his throat.
“Would you like to wait for her?” Edmund asked after realizing Peter’s motion and looked at Lucy. “I am still going to wash the dishes and I’d like some company before Su comes.”
Lucy smiled and said, “I’d like that.”
The boys smiled and they all went to the kitchen.
~~~~~
“Where’s your coat?” Viktor asked Susan. They were just outside the door while the guests were leaving the party.
“I don’t have one,” she replied. “I didn’t know that it would get this cold.”
She rubbed her arms and looked at the people passing by them. Steams of breath escaped from her mouth and for a moment, Viktor caught himself staring at her lips.
“You can wear my coat,” he said as he immediately removed it. “I’m already wearing layers of clothes.”
Susan smiled and she let him place the heavy fabric over her shoulders. “Thanks.”
He smiled and continued, “You just stay here while I go back inside and ask permission from Mr. Valmont to let me borrow his car.”
“Would that be alright?”
“Certainly,” he replied. “I don’t see why not.” He smiled at her and turned for the door when someone bumped into him.
“Viktor!”
“Sebastian!”
Susan’s smile disappeared and immediately felt a rush of blood to her head while her knees started to tremble.
“Where are you going?” Sebastian asked.
Viktor looked at Susan and then he looked back at him. “I’m going to borrow Mr. Valmont’s car.”
“What for?”
“He’s giving me a ride home,” Susan finally blurted. She wanted to stay away from him at that instant.
Sebastian looked at her and she felt uncomfortable.
“Miss Pevensie,” he said, “will you give me the honor of giving you a ride home instead?”
Susan was shocked. She couldn’t find the right words to say to him. The courtesy he displayed and his offer seemed too much for her. His mere existence seems to crush her and bring her life at the same time.
Viktor was shocked too. “Sebastian, I—”
“Viktor,” he put his hands over Viktor’s shoulders and continued, “I insist.” He then looked at Susan, waiting for her reply.
“I’m not sure if she will agree to it,” Viktor replied and looked at Susan. “It’s all up to the lady.”
She couldn’t speak. She didn’t want to leave Viktor, but she didn’t want to turn down Sebastian’s invitation. A fine young man like Viktor makes her feel warm and secure, but she couldn’t understand how suddenly a boy like Sebastian can be so frank with her and be completely amazed with him at the same time.
He, she thought, he makes me feel like—home, but different. At last, she had found the word she was looking for.
“Susan?” Viktor interrupted her thoughts. Sebastian stared at her anxiously waiting for her answer.
She still couldn’t speak. She was afraid that her words might not come out right. So she nodded and gave Sebastian a small smile.
Sebastian grinned widely. “Thank you.”
She immediately moved her shoulders so she can remove the coat and give it back to Viktor when he stopped her. “No. It’s cold.”
She smiled at him and gave him a hug. “Thank you.”
Sebastian held his breath at the sight of them in each other’s arms.
“Take good care of her,” Viktor said to him after Susan’s embrace.
“That’s no problem,” Sebastian replied and smiled. He then turned to Susan while Viktor walked away. “This way to my car.”
She then followed him silently as Sebastian led the way.
The cold air rushed through her calves and her face. She was grateful for Viktor’s coat and now she felt guilty of letting Sebastian give her a ride home. She hardly knew him, but she still felt she did.
“Are you always this silent?” Sebastian suddenly spoke.
“No.”
“Are you just shy?”
“No.”
Sebastian drew a deep breath and said, “Is it me then?”
Yes, she thought. She badly wanted to say this but opted for another. “No.”
“Do you have a problem? Because you can share it with me if you want,” he said and smiled at her. “I don’t bite, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Susan pressed her lips and smiled back. Then, he suddenly stopped and reached for his pocket. He turned to her and smiled.
“This is my car,” he said. Susan saw a white shiny vehicle right in front of them with huge headlights and slick silver sidings.
“It’s from America. They call it the Packard Caribbean,” he continued and opened the door to the front seat.
“I see,” she replied and climbed inside. Sebastian softly closed the door and ran hurriedly at the other side to the driver’s seat.
“Finchley, right?” He said as he started the engine.
“Yes.”
And Sebastian stepped on the gas.
On the road, they didn’t speak which was really odd for Susan because she find Sebastian a talker in the party.
“Are you always this silent too?” She said finally.
Sebastian chuckled. “No, not really. I thought that you just wanted some peace and quiet.”
“No, not really,” she repeated after him, almost mocking him with a smile.
Sebastian smiled. “Would you like some music then?” he said and turned on the radio.
“No.”
“Oh,” he sighed and switched it off.
Silence. Sebastian wasn’t comfortable with it, but remained cool on his seat. He didn’t want Susan to think that he’s trying too hard to impress her which is true.
“May I be blunt?” she finally spoke.
“Yes, please.”
“Are you…. Do I know you from somewhere?” Susan stared at him as she said this. She needed to be sure that Sebastian is indeed a stranger and she has never met him before.
Sebastian chuckled. “No, I don’t believe I have met you anywhere other than the party earlier.”
I knew it, she thought. There’s no way that I could know him.
“Why do you ask?” Sebastian suddenly asked.
“I thought I know you from somewhere,” she replied. “You seem so familiar.”
“Is that the reason why you seem distant to me?”
She didn’t want to answer his question. Instead she answered him differently, “In the depths of my mind, I have the strangest feeling ever that I’ve known you real enough. Yet I know, and I’m sure I haven’t.”
“Have you had any dreams of me before we have met?” he asked jokingly with a half smile.
Susan raised her brow and replied, “A little too overconfident?”
“I’m just making you laugh,” he said and chuckled.
“Well, it’s not funny,” she said and turned to the window.
He stopped and straightened his sight on the road. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“You can pull over here now,” she immediately interrupted. “Thank you.”
Sebastian parked the car and looked at the house they stopped to through the windshield. He stopped the engine and turned to Susan, “Slap me.”
“What?” She turned to him and looked at his serious dark brown eyes.
“Slap me,” he repeated.
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because I feel like a prick,” he continued. “I didn’t mean what I said and I’m sorry. But if that doesn’t make you feel better, you can slap me.”
Susan reached for the lever and replied, “You’re impossibly ridiculous, Sebastian.” She hurriedly climbed out of the car, leaving the coat and walked briskly to their house.
“Susan!” Sebastian called out to her. “Wait, please!” He quickly got out of the car and ran after her. He caught up with her and grabbed her elbow softly and they stopped by the doorstep.
“I’m—” he started when Susan turned and interrupted him again.
“You were so blunt at the party and in front of important people on a very glorious occasion. You were very much persistent to give me a ride home when I had already arranged Viktor to do that for me. And yes, I was so stupid to have let you, because now I had to put up with your conceitedness and you want me to slap you for it?” She finally expressed her annoyance with him and panted with waiting eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“What do you want, Sebastian?” she asked with eyes still beaming at him, waiting for a valid intention.
He breathed deeply and replied, “I just wanted to ask you out for lunch tomorrow.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “That’s it?”
He nodded.
“All that trouble just for that?”
He nodded again.
“What about Kathryn?” she asked again, more anxious to whatever he will have to say.
“Kathryn?” he said, “What about her?”
“Aren’t you two…,” she lost her words which made Sebastian thought for a while.
He couldn’t understand what she meant. For a while, he thought of why she had asked about him and Kathryn. Then, he got it.
“Oh,” he said, thinking that she meant Kathryn and him are dating. “No! She is the daughter of my father’s friend. That’s just about how far it is with her to me.”
“But she was so—”
“I’m just doing her a favor to be her escort for her birthday party. That’s just practically the story there is,” he replied. “You thought that she and I have something together?”
She nodded.
He suddenly laughed and said, “She’s the last person I’d even think of coming near her just for that.”
Susan raised her brow and said, “Are you always a little too overconfident?”
Sebastian stopped his smile and replied, “No. I’m sorry.”
“You apologize too much,” she said as she crossed her arms.
“Is it a sin to be?” he asked while still remaining apologetic.
Her eyes blinked a couple of times and stared at the door step. “No.”
Their eyes didn’t meet and felt more guilty and contrite with each other.
Suddenly, Susan spoke, “I’m sorry I—”
“I—It doesn’t matter,” Sebastian halted her and continued, “May I ask you something?”
She looked up to him and replied, “Yes.”
He cleared his throat and said, “Will you go out with me then, tomorrow for lunch?”
She stared at him for a long time. She didn’t know what to say. She cleared her throat while she watched him breathless.
“I…,” she started to speak but nothing came out more of it.
He still stared at her and waited for her reply. She doesn’t know what to say. Part of her wants to accept it but another part of her doesn’t want to. Who does he think he is? She started to wonder if he is just another toy that Kathryn would like to play with and even include her. But he said that he was just an escort for her birthday, nothing more. She thought her mind is playing tricks on her again.
“Susan?”
She looked at him. I guess I will never know till I—I dare a move. And just before she could give him an answer, she heard footsteps on the other side of the main door. She looked at the door instantly and felt her heart racing.
“Peter,” she whispered under her breath. She was afraid of how Peter will react. She doesn’t want any of her siblings to know of her business. She wanted to prove that she can handle everything without their help, eventhough she felt scared most of the time. Sometimes she wondered where her courage comes from, or was it just stupidity in action.
“What?” Sebastian asked wondering what she said.
Susan looked back at him and replied, “Yes.”
Sebastian’s face brightened. “Thank you. I’ll wait for you here at 11 o’clock tomorrow then?”
Susan nodded and quickly gave him a smack on his cheek. She rushed to the door before somebody opens it.
Sebastian’s eyes grew wide of joy. He touched his cheek and felt the warmth tingle slowly fading on his skin. He turned and started walking to his car with a light feeling on his feet.
Susan stopped at the door step and smiled. And before she could turn the knob open, she peeked on to her shoulder and watched as Sebastian was walking in a very slow pace with his hand touching his cheek. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then. She then thinks that he wasn’t as bad as she thought after all. She looked back to the door knob still wearing a smile.
Sebastian stopped at his tracks and turned. He looked back at Susan who was at the doorstep. He returned to his walk to his car and thought, I can’t wait till tomorrow, my queen.
~~~~~
“Susan,” Peter said as he opened the door and found her on the door step with a smile.
Susan’s smile faded. “Peter.”
He stared at her with strict eyes. Then he noticed a figure walking on their pathway towards the street. His brows met and wondered who he was.
Susan noticed his gaze on Sebastian. She got nervous and quickly said, “I told you not to wait up for me.” She bumped him and made a small push towards inside. She doesn’t want Peter to know Sebastian just yet.
“Who was that?” Peter asked as he slowly walked out of the door.
Susan turned to him and replied, “No one.” She saw him outside and her heart went racing fast.
Peter stopped by their door step and stared hard at a man walking towards the car. The sways of his hair and his tall frame made Peter think hard. He figured that the man gave Susan a ride home, but that wasn’t really what he was wondering. The man seemed so familiar to him.
He turned around and, at that instant Sebastian peeked over his shoulder and saw a figure of a man walking inside the house. He saw Susan looking at him. Then, the door was closed.
“Must be her brother,” he said under his breath and finally arrived at his car. But before he could walk around to the driver’s seat, he saw the coat inside.
~~~~~
“Why are you still up?” Susan asked as Peter closed the door behind him.
“We waited for you,” he replied.
“Susan!” Susan turned around and saw Lucy running towards her with a smile. Behind her was Edmund following slowly.
“Lucy,” she said and received her hand with a smile.
“How was the party?” Lucy asked.
“It was fine,” she replied and felt Lucy’s small arms wrap around her waist.
“You look so beautiful,” Lucy said and buried her cheek to her dress.
“Thank you,” she said and looked down on her. Lucy somehow never fails to brighten her up. She then looked at Edmund who was staring at her.
“We need to talk,” Peter said.
Susan turned around and looked at him. “About what?”
“About Narnia,” Edmund replied as she looked at him as well. Lucy loosened her grip and turned to face her.
“What about it?” She didn’t quite understand why her siblings still push their idea of Narnia as real.
“You can’t go on pretending, Su,” Peter said.
“Pretending?” she chuckled. “I have grown out of pretending in that game of yours. Aren’t you too old to still play that?”
She walked towards the kitchen but Edmund halted her. “Su, it’s not a game.”
“As I recall correctly, you were the star of it,” she said and tried to evade him when they heard a knock on the door.
Sebastian, Susan thought and hurried back to the door but Peter had already opened it.
~~~~~
A rush of cold air breezed through the open door as Peter’s eyes grew wide at the sight of a man right in front of him.
“Caspian,” he said and froze.
“What?” said the person outside, “I’m sorry but you must have mistaken me for somebody else. I’m Sebastian.” He held out his hand for a shake but it wasn’t returned.
“Right,” he continued. “May I speak with Susan, please?”
Peter, who was still stunned, pushed the door and revealed Susan behind it. Behind her, two more figures stared at him.
“Good evening,” he greeted to the two people behind Susan and waved a little. He then turned to Susan and said, “I believe you left this in the car.” He held out the coat to her.
“Oh,” Susan sighed and received the coat. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, the two figures behind her walked towards the door and looked at Sebastian intently.
Susan noticed the looks of her siblings at him. “Sebastian, they are my brothers and sister. Peter, Edmund, Lucy, this is Sebastian,” she said as she introduced him to them.
Then, Lucy said, “Cas—” but her mouth was immediately covered by Edmund.
“Pleased to meet you,” Edmund said to him and acted normal.
Sebastian smiled and nodded.
“Are you from here?” Edmund asked.
“Oh, yes,” he replied, “But I live in downtown.”
“Ah,” Edmund said and continued, “What school are you attending?”
Sebastian looked at him for a while. He just arrived from America and going to school for the semester hasn’t crossed his mind before. He just thought of visiting his family and then leaves London again.
“I—uh…,” he really didn’t know what to say. Susan, who had been looking at Edmund, suddenly looked at him.
He looked at her and he knew that he can’t just leave London again just like before. He looked back at Edmund and continued, “What school is near St. Finbars?”
“Uh, that’ll be Hendon House?” Edmund replied with a confused look.
“Yes,” Sebastian said,” Yes, Hendon House.” He felt funny at that moment. He knew that Hendon House was not the best school in London, and his father would certainly disagree of him being enrolled there. Even him too, but the thought of being near Susan meant more to him than being in any reputable school.
“Really?” Edmund exclaimed, “Peter and I are from there too! Are you new?”
He looked at Susan and replied, “Yes.”
“Thank you for the coat,” she said again.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said and reached for her hand and brushed a kiss on her knuckles. He looked up to her and continued, “My queen.” He returned her hand and bowed to her. He then looked at her siblings and bowed ever so slightly to them.
“Good night,” he turned around and walked towards his car.
Peter, Edmund and Lucy were shocked at Sebastian’s display, and one by one they looked at Susan.
Queen? Susan reflected on Sebastian’s words as she raised her hand and looked at her knuckles. She knows that she must be flattered and feel all glittery inside for having shown with a very proper affection and be complimented as such, but her heart felt different. Queen? She repeated in her mind and the thought of it makes it stranger and even more familiar to her.
“Su,” Edmund called and she turned to look at him. “Are you remembering something?”
She looked at him as if she wanted to say yes, but no words fell onto her tongue. She wanted to say it, but she wasn’t sure if she remembered anything. In fact, she doesn’t remembering anything. She found it odd that Edmund asked him that. Then, she noticed Lucy and Peter looking at each other and then they looked at her. At that moment, she knew that her siblings are trying to make her silly again by making her remember a fantasy game they played when they were still children.
Her angry eyes locked at Peter’s for a moment to make him notice how angry she was. Peter loosened himself, but before he could reach out to her, Susan dashed her way to the stairs and up to her room.
~~~~~
“Good night,” Lucy closed the door and turned to her brothers.
“Not just yet,” Edmund said and his siblings looked at him.
“Edmund, what is it now?” Peter asked.
“Did you see him?”
“Yes,” Lucy replied, “He looks exactly like—”
“Caspian,” Peter interrupted. They all looked at each other.
“How odd it is to have someone who looks exactly like him right in our door step?” Lucy said, “Is it possible that Caspian was reincarnated of some sort?”
“Lucy, stop talking gibberish,” Peter said and rolled his eyes at her.
But Lucy continued, “What? The more I think of it, the more possible it becomes. Must have been Aslan’s doing.”
“Aslan would never do that,” Peter said and continued, “unless he has a very important plan for—”
“Well, however it is, I just got us a plan,” Edmund said and smiled at them.
“You got a plan?” Peter echoed.
Edmund grinned and replied, “Yes, a plan. Maybe Sebastian can help us make Susan remember Narnia.”
Then Peter chuckled, “Have you gone mad? Sebastian obviously doesn’t know anything about Narnia.”
“But we don’t have to make him know—yet”
“But nobody can know about Narnia except for those who have gone there—like us and Eustace and Jill,” Peter said mockingly at Edmund.
“And if ever that’ll work,” Lucy said, “how will she accept it again—especially him?”
“What do you mean, Lu?” Peter asked.
“Have you forgotten how she forgot Narnia?” she paused, waiting for them to answer but none of them spoke. “It’s because she wanted to forget Caspian.”
They were silent for a while. This never occurred immediately to them.
“This is going to be harder than I thought,” Edmund said under his breath and both of his siblings wore weary eyes at him. “But it’s a risk worthy to take.”
“Ed!” Peter exclaimed. “Moving on was the best choice for Susan.”
“Yes, but,” Edmund continued, “But forgetting was the worst for her—and so it is for the rest of us. Look how we are all affected by her change.”
Peter looked down at Lucy who looked at him back. They have been indeed affected by Susan’s gradual change just over a couple of years. It only took a toll when suitors and parties and fashion had invaded her spirit after her trip to America, and the gentleness that which she was renowned of faded over through the course of invitations and presents. Her siblings never took this seriously, but when they asked her about Narnia tonight, it was time for them to act.
“Alright,” Lucy said, “I’m game if you are.” She looked at Peter who had been sighing under his breath.
“Fine,” he said and rolled his eyes. He certainly didn’t want to be forced into this but seeing he was the only one left being skeptical over Edmund’s plan, he continued, “I’m in, but you have to promise me that we are going to keep a very watchful eye over her. We don’t want her to get hurt again.”
Edmund grinned widely. “I promise by the Lion’s Mane.”
Lucy raised her right hand and put her left to her chest, “Me too.”
“So how is this going to work?” Peter asked.
“Simple,” Edmund answered with a quirky smile, “We just let her date Sebastian.”
“Don’t we have to do something?”
“Why?”
Peter sighed and replied, “She has no idea who Caspian is.”
“Do you think we should talk to Sebastian about this?” Lucy asked.
“No!” The boys replied.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Peter,” Edmund continued, “we don’t have to do something. Sebastian is the living replica of our Caspian. His looks obviously are like Caspian, his American accent which is Telmarine’s for Caspian, his American car which is Destrier for Caspian—and how he talks to Susan. And Susan already is feeling something, I know it. We just have to let this happen again and again till she will wake up one day and remember her crown.”
“And on that day,” Lucy added, “we will have to make sure that we’re there.”
“You have a point,” Peter said, “but we will have to make sure that there is progress.”
Edmund’s forehead wrinkled. “What?”
“Does that mean you are going to follow her around?” Lucy said in confusion.
“No,” Peter replied, “we are going to follow her around.”
“Really now, Peter,” Lucy sighed.
He started walking towards the kitchen and replied, “You have no choice, or else I’m out of it.”
“What?” Lucy and Edmund exclaimed as they followed him.
~~~~~
Susan sat before the mirror and removed her jewelry delicately. She let her hair fall from her do and the shiny brown curves touched her back. She then changed to her robe and sat back before the mirror. She quickly put some cream on her face and gently swabbed the make up off with a cotton ball. She did this a couple of times, and then she heard a scold from Peter downstairs.
What now, she thought. She was very tired and hearing her siblings argue is the last thing she wanted, but she didn’t want to interfere on whatever they were discussing.
I bet they’re talking about that silly game again, she thought again. She didn’t understand how her siblings are forcing her to believe it’s real. Obviously it’s not.
Just then, the face of Sebastian with a small smile flashed in her mind on a split second. It blinded her for a moment and a terrible headache rushed through her skull instantly. She groaned in pain and fell off her chair. She rubbed her eyes and massaged her temples trying to ease from the moment.
“What was that?” she whispered to herself. She remembers the flash now as a picture in her head. She saw Sebastian, but different, she thought. She knew she saw Sebastian, but an awkward feeling of disbelief overpowered her. That smile… Was it really him? But—he wasn’t like Sebastian all over, just his face. Where did that come from?
She stared down on the floor with a hand supporting her weight and another hand massaging her temples. When the pain had already settled down, she tilted her head a little and spotted Viktor’s coat placed by the edge of her bed.
She quickly stood up and sat on the bed near where the coat was placed. I’m so sorry, Viktor. Maybe I should’ve just disagreed when Sebastian asked me for a ride home. I bet you’re laughing at me if you saw me there earlier all in pain—and…
Sebastian’s face was on her mind again. I don’t understand it at all, she thought. She then took the coat in her arms and carried it to the closet. There, she hung the coat inside on a hanger when she found herself staring at the darkness inside.
I wonder, she thought. Her face became curious while her hand slowly reached out inside.
“What?” A faint voice in unison from downstairs startled her. She quickly shook her head and clutched her hand back. What was I doing?
Pairing: Susan/Caspian
Characters: Susan, Caspian, Lucy, Edmund, Peter, Eustace, Jill, Sebastian, Viktor
Story Type: Romance, Drama, Angst (movieverse)
Author's Note: THIS IS NOT FOR THE WEEKLY DRABBLE CHALLENGE. For personal enjoyment only. I received a compliment from my Chapter 2 of this fic in my blogspot and that quickly led me to make this one. I'm not a very good writer, but my idea of Susan and Caspian is still stuck in my head, and I'd really like it to have it written down. Please bear with my strange syntax formations, goofy grammar checks, horrible paragraphing and weird punctuation uses.
Disclaimer: Characters mentioned here are simply borrowed for a work of a fan. Not mine at all! That's why it's called fan fiction, duh!
Previous chapters:
Chapter 1: The Invitation
Chapter 2: The Party
~~~~~
Chapter 3: The Ride
Time passed by quickly as visitors started to leave one at a time in a courteous manner. Susan knew it was getting late but it seems the lights from the chandelier, the vibrance of the drapes by the windows and the music of strings in the atmosphere still give life to the occasion.
She had taken Viktor’s invitation for a dance earlier which led her to steal moments of stares and glances at Sebastian while he danced and talked to Kathryn. The dance floor was easy for her to make an excuse of each gesture she made.
She tilted her head up and looked at the chandelier hanging from the majestic ceiling of the Valmont mansion. She recalled his eyes and his smile. Joy and strangeness filled her.
She sighed. The vision remained vivid in her head.
“What are you looking at?” Viktor asked, noticing Susan’s blue eyes locked on the lights above.
“Oh, nothing,” she said and smiled at him. “The lights are just so amazing.”
He looked up as well and sighed, “Yes, they are.”
She kept on looking at him and felt warmth rushing throughout her frame. “Thank you—for tonight.”
He looked at her in an instant. He gave her a content look and replied, “As I’ve said before, your company warms me. No need to thank me.”
Suddenly, Mr. Valmont climbed up to the center of the stairwell and faced the crowd before him. The music has stopped and everyone turned their attention to him.
“Everyone,” started Mr. Valmont, “In behalf of my family, I would like to express my grandest gratitude to all of you for coming to my daughter’s birthday.”
The crowd clapped and he continued, “I wish you all a good night and a safe journey home—and happy birthday to Kathryn!”
He raised his hand to Kathryn’s spot and everyone looked at her with great smiles and greetings. She smiled back at them and held on to Sebastian ever so tightly. Sebastian felt his muscles twitched a bit from Kathryn’s grip but remained calm. He gave the crowd his bright smile and accidentally turned to Susan’s spot. He remained his eyes on her. For a moment, he was breathless.
Susan glanced at him and completely froze. His eyes were the darkest in brown she has ever seen. She became afraid. She doesn’t know Sebastian’s intentions. She doesn’t know Sebastian’s thoughts. She doesn’t know Sebastian at all.
I’m sure, she thought, that I don’t know him. And yet deep in her heart, she had the most ironic feeling as if she does.
She quickly turned to Viktor and said, “Will you give me a ride home?”
He stopped his clapping and almost couldn’t speak when he heard her. “I—I don’t think I can. I—I—I d-don’t have my own—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she interrupted him.
Viktor looked at her intently and a smile escaped from his lips. “My pleasure.”
~~~~~
“Thank you for the most delicious dinner, cousins,” said Eustace as he grabbed his coat from the closet and handed Jill hers.
“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it,” Peter replied and patted him on the back.
Jill slid into her coat and stretched out her arms into the sleeves. “I sure do hope that we can plan another dinner like this soon enough.”
“Oh, Jill,” Lucy sighed. “Why don’t you and Eustace just stay the night over? It would just be so grand—and we’ll talk and chat more about—”
“Lu,” Peter said as he interrupted her. She gazed at him with almost a frown.
Edmund chuckled and turned to her. “Don’t worry, Lu. They’ll be back for another dinner next time—and I’ll cook.”
She brightened up while Eustace and Jill laughed.
“We’ll take your word for it,” Eustace said after sliding into his coat.
“I’m going to need your meat though,” Edmund replied, “for my special Dragon Broth.”
They all laughed. And in moments, Eustace and Jill bade their farewells and left. Peter and Edmund chatted their way to the kitchen when they noticed Lucy still standing at the door.
“Lu?” Peter called out to her.
She turned around and replied, “What about Susan?”
The boys looked at each other and grasped the problem back at hand. They walked towards her with comfort eyes.
“She’ll be home soon,” Peter replied.
“Peter,” she said, “That’s not what I mean.”
He looked at Edmund hoping for some back up. Somehow, Peter’s words got stuck in his throat.
“Would you like to wait for her?” Edmund asked after realizing Peter’s motion and looked at Lucy. “I am still going to wash the dishes and I’d like some company before Su comes.”
Lucy smiled and said, “I’d like that.”
The boys smiled and they all went to the kitchen.
~~~~~
“Where’s your coat?” Viktor asked Susan. They were just outside the door while the guests were leaving the party.
“I don’t have one,” she replied. “I didn’t know that it would get this cold.”
She rubbed her arms and looked at the people passing by them. Steams of breath escaped from her mouth and for a moment, Viktor caught himself staring at her lips.
“You can wear my coat,” he said as he immediately removed it. “I’m already wearing layers of clothes.”
Susan smiled and she let him place the heavy fabric over her shoulders. “Thanks.”
He smiled and continued, “You just stay here while I go back inside and ask permission from Mr. Valmont to let me borrow his car.”
“Would that be alright?”
“Certainly,” he replied. “I don’t see why not.” He smiled at her and turned for the door when someone bumped into him.
“Viktor!”
“Sebastian!”
Susan’s smile disappeared and immediately felt a rush of blood to her head while her knees started to tremble.
“Where are you going?” Sebastian asked.
Viktor looked at Susan and then he looked back at him. “I’m going to borrow Mr. Valmont’s car.”
“What for?”
“He’s giving me a ride home,” Susan finally blurted. She wanted to stay away from him at that instant.
Sebastian looked at her and she felt uncomfortable.
“Miss Pevensie,” he said, “will you give me the honor of giving you a ride home instead?”
Susan was shocked. She couldn’t find the right words to say to him. The courtesy he displayed and his offer seemed too much for her. His mere existence seems to crush her and bring her life at the same time.
Viktor was shocked too. “Sebastian, I—”
“Viktor,” he put his hands over Viktor’s shoulders and continued, “I insist.” He then looked at Susan, waiting for her reply.
“I’m not sure if she will agree to it,” Viktor replied and looked at Susan. “It’s all up to the lady.”
She couldn’t speak. She didn’t want to leave Viktor, but she didn’t want to turn down Sebastian’s invitation. A fine young man like Viktor makes her feel warm and secure, but she couldn’t understand how suddenly a boy like Sebastian can be so frank with her and be completely amazed with him at the same time.
He, she thought, he makes me feel like—home, but different. At last, she had found the word she was looking for.
“Susan?” Viktor interrupted her thoughts. Sebastian stared at her anxiously waiting for her answer.
She still couldn’t speak. She was afraid that her words might not come out right. So she nodded and gave Sebastian a small smile.
Sebastian grinned widely. “Thank you.”
She immediately moved her shoulders so she can remove the coat and give it back to Viktor when he stopped her. “No. It’s cold.”
She smiled at him and gave him a hug. “Thank you.”
Sebastian held his breath at the sight of them in each other’s arms.
“Take good care of her,” Viktor said to him after Susan’s embrace.
“That’s no problem,” Sebastian replied and smiled. He then turned to Susan while Viktor walked away. “This way to my car.”
She then followed him silently as Sebastian led the way.
The cold air rushed through her calves and her face. She was grateful for Viktor’s coat and now she felt guilty of letting Sebastian give her a ride home. She hardly knew him, but she still felt she did.
“Are you always this silent?” Sebastian suddenly spoke.
“No.”
“Are you just shy?”
“No.”
Sebastian drew a deep breath and said, “Is it me then?”
Yes, she thought. She badly wanted to say this but opted for another. “No.”
“Do you have a problem? Because you can share it with me if you want,” he said and smiled at her. “I don’t bite, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Susan pressed her lips and smiled back. Then, he suddenly stopped and reached for his pocket. He turned to her and smiled.
“This is my car,” he said. Susan saw a white shiny vehicle right in front of them with huge headlights and slick silver sidings.
“It’s from America. They call it the Packard Caribbean,” he continued and opened the door to the front seat.
“I see,” she replied and climbed inside. Sebastian softly closed the door and ran hurriedly at the other side to the driver’s seat.
“Finchley, right?” He said as he started the engine.
“Yes.”
And Sebastian stepped on the gas.
On the road, they didn’t speak which was really odd for Susan because she find Sebastian a talker in the party.
“Are you always this silent too?” She said finally.
Sebastian chuckled. “No, not really. I thought that you just wanted some peace and quiet.”
“No, not really,” she repeated after him, almost mocking him with a smile.
Sebastian smiled. “Would you like some music then?” he said and turned on the radio.
“No.”
“Oh,” he sighed and switched it off.
Silence. Sebastian wasn’t comfortable with it, but remained cool on his seat. He didn’t want Susan to think that he’s trying too hard to impress her which is true.
“May I be blunt?” she finally spoke.
“Yes, please.”
“Are you…. Do I know you from somewhere?” Susan stared at him as she said this. She needed to be sure that Sebastian is indeed a stranger and she has never met him before.
Sebastian chuckled. “No, I don’t believe I have met you anywhere other than the party earlier.”
I knew it, she thought. There’s no way that I could know him.
“Why do you ask?” Sebastian suddenly asked.
“I thought I know you from somewhere,” she replied. “You seem so familiar.”
“Is that the reason why you seem distant to me?”
She didn’t want to answer his question. Instead she answered him differently, “In the depths of my mind, I have the strangest feeling ever that I’ve known you real enough. Yet I know, and I’m sure I haven’t.”
“Have you had any dreams of me before we have met?” he asked jokingly with a half smile.
Susan raised her brow and replied, “A little too overconfident?”
“I’m just making you laugh,” he said and chuckled.
“Well, it’s not funny,” she said and turned to the window.
He stopped and straightened his sight on the road. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“You can pull over here now,” she immediately interrupted. “Thank you.”
Sebastian parked the car and looked at the house they stopped to through the windshield. He stopped the engine and turned to Susan, “Slap me.”
“What?” She turned to him and looked at his serious dark brown eyes.
“Slap me,” he repeated.
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because I feel like a prick,” he continued. “I didn’t mean what I said and I’m sorry. But if that doesn’t make you feel better, you can slap me.”
Susan reached for the lever and replied, “You’re impossibly ridiculous, Sebastian.” She hurriedly climbed out of the car, leaving the coat and walked briskly to their house.
“Susan!” Sebastian called out to her. “Wait, please!” He quickly got out of the car and ran after her. He caught up with her and grabbed her elbow softly and they stopped by the doorstep.
“I’m—” he started when Susan turned and interrupted him again.
“You were so blunt at the party and in front of important people on a very glorious occasion. You were very much persistent to give me a ride home when I had already arranged Viktor to do that for me. And yes, I was so stupid to have let you, because now I had to put up with your conceitedness and you want me to slap you for it?” She finally expressed her annoyance with him and panted with waiting eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“What do you want, Sebastian?” she asked with eyes still beaming at him, waiting for a valid intention.
He breathed deeply and replied, “I just wanted to ask you out for lunch tomorrow.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “That’s it?”
He nodded.
“All that trouble just for that?”
He nodded again.
“What about Kathryn?” she asked again, more anxious to whatever he will have to say.
“Kathryn?” he said, “What about her?”
“Aren’t you two…,” she lost her words which made Sebastian thought for a while.
He couldn’t understand what she meant. For a while, he thought of why she had asked about him and Kathryn. Then, he got it.
“Oh,” he said, thinking that she meant Kathryn and him are dating. “No! She is the daughter of my father’s friend. That’s just about how far it is with her to me.”
“But she was so—”
“I’m just doing her a favor to be her escort for her birthday party. That’s just practically the story there is,” he replied. “You thought that she and I have something together?”
She nodded.
He suddenly laughed and said, “She’s the last person I’d even think of coming near her just for that.”
Susan raised her brow and said, “Are you always a little too overconfident?”
Sebastian stopped his smile and replied, “No. I’m sorry.”
“You apologize too much,” she said as she crossed her arms.
“Is it a sin to be?” he asked while still remaining apologetic.
Her eyes blinked a couple of times and stared at the door step. “No.”
Their eyes didn’t meet and felt more guilty and contrite with each other.
Suddenly, Susan spoke, “I’m sorry I—”
“I—It doesn’t matter,” Sebastian halted her and continued, “May I ask you something?”
She looked up to him and replied, “Yes.”
He cleared his throat and said, “Will you go out with me then, tomorrow for lunch?”
She stared at him for a long time. She didn’t know what to say. She cleared her throat while she watched him breathless.
“I…,” she started to speak but nothing came out more of it.
He still stared at her and waited for her reply. She doesn’t know what to say. Part of her wants to accept it but another part of her doesn’t want to. Who does he think he is? She started to wonder if he is just another toy that Kathryn would like to play with and even include her. But he said that he was just an escort for her birthday, nothing more. She thought her mind is playing tricks on her again.
“Susan?”
She looked at him. I guess I will never know till I—I dare a move. And just before she could give him an answer, she heard footsteps on the other side of the main door. She looked at the door instantly and felt her heart racing.
“Peter,” she whispered under her breath. She was afraid of how Peter will react. She doesn’t want any of her siblings to know of her business. She wanted to prove that she can handle everything without their help, eventhough she felt scared most of the time. Sometimes she wondered where her courage comes from, or was it just stupidity in action.
“What?” Sebastian asked wondering what she said.
Susan looked back at him and replied, “Yes.”
Sebastian’s face brightened. “Thank you. I’ll wait for you here at 11 o’clock tomorrow then?”
Susan nodded and quickly gave him a smack on his cheek. She rushed to the door before somebody opens it.
Sebastian’s eyes grew wide of joy. He touched his cheek and felt the warmth tingle slowly fading on his skin. He turned and started walking to his car with a light feeling on his feet.
Susan stopped at the door step and smiled. And before she could turn the knob open, she peeked on to her shoulder and watched as Sebastian was walking in a very slow pace with his hand touching his cheek. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then. She then thinks that he wasn’t as bad as she thought after all. She looked back to the door knob still wearing a smile.
Sebastian stopped at his tracks and turned. He looked back at Susan who was at the doorstep. He returned to his walk to his car and thought, I can’t wait till tomorrow, my queen.
~~~~~
“Susan,” Peter said as he opened the door and found her on the door step with a smile.
Susan’s smile faded. “Peter.”
He stared at her with strict eyes. Then he noticed a figure walking on their pathway towards the street. His brows met and wondered who he was.
Susan noticed his gaze on Sebastian. She got nervous and quickly said, “I told you not to wait up for me.” She bumped him and made a small push towards inside. She doesn’t want Peter to know Sebastian just yet.
“Who was that?” Peter asked as he slowly walked out of the door.
Susan turned to him and replied, “No one.” She saw him outside and her heart went racing fast.
Peter stopped by their door step and stared hard at a man walking towards the car. The sways of his hair and his tall frame made Peter think hard. He figured that the man gave Susan a ride home, but that wasn’t really what he was wondering. The man seemed so familiar to him.
He turned around and, at that instant Sebastian peeked over his shoulder and saw a figure of a man walking inside the house. He saw Susan looking at him. Then, the door was closed.
“Must be her brother,” he said under his breath and finally arrived at his car. But before he could walk around to the driver’s seat, he saw the coat inside.
~~~~~
“Why are you still up?” Susan asked as Peter closed the door behind him.
“We waited for you,” he replied.
“Susan!” Susan turned around and saw Lucy running towards her with a smile. Behind her was Edmund following slowly.
“Lucy,” she said and received her hand with a smile.
“How was the party?” Lucy asked.
“It was fine,” she replied and felt Lucy’s small arms wrap around her waist.
“You look so beautiful,” Lucy said and buried her cheek to her dress.
“Thank you,” she said and looked down on her. Lucy somehow never fails to brighten her up. She then looked at Edmund who was staring at her.
“We need to talk,” Peter said.
Susan turned around and looked at him. “About what?”
“About Narnia,” Edmund replied as she looked at him as well. Lucy loosened her grip and turned to face her.
“What about it?” She didn’t quite understand why her siblings still push their idea of Narnia as real.
“You can’t go on pretending, Su,” Peter said.
“Pretending?” she chuckled. “I have grown out of pretending in that game of yours. Aren’t you too old to still play that?”
She walked towards the kitchen but Edmund halted her. “Su, it’s not a game.”
“As I recall correctly, you were the star of it,” she said and tried to evade him when they heard a knock on the door.
Sebastian, Susan thought and hurried back to the door but Peter had already opened it.
~~~~~
A rush of cold air breezed through the open door as Peter’s eyes grew wide at the sight of a man right in front of him.
“Caspian,” he said and froze.
“What?” said the person outside, “I’m sorry but you must have mistaken me for somebody else. I’m Sebastian.” He held out his hand for a shake but it wasn’t returned.
“Right,” he continued. “May I speak with Susan, please?”
Peter, who was still stunned, pushed the door and revealed Susan behind it. Behind her, two more figures stared at him.
“Good evening,” he greeted to the two people behind Susan and waved a little. He then turned to Susan and said, “I believe you left this in the car.” He held out the coat to her.
“Oh,” Susan sighed and received the coat. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, the two figures behind her walked towards the door and looked at Sebastian intently.
Susan noticed the looks of her siblings at him. “Sebastian, they are my brothers and sister. Peter, Edmund, Lucy, this is Sebastian,” she said as she introduced him to them.
Then, Lucy said, “Cas—” but her mouth was immediately covered by Edmund.
“Pleased to meet you,” Edmund said to him and acted normal.
Sebastian smiled and nodded.
“Are you from here?” Edmund asked.
“Oh, yes,” he replied, “But I live in downtown.”
“Ah,” Edmund said and continued, “What school are you attending?”
Sebastian looked at him for a while. He just arrived from America and going to school for the semester hasn’t crossed his mind before. He just thought of visiting his family and then leaves London again.
“I—uh…,” he really didn’t know what to say. Susan, who had been looking at Edmund, suddenly looked at him.
He looked at her and he knew that he can’t just leave London again just like before. He looked back at Edmund and continued, “What school is near St. Finbars?”
“Uh, that’ll be Hendon House?” Edmund replied with a confused look.
“Yes,” Sebastian said,” Yes, Hendon House.” He felt funny at that moment. He knew that Hendon House was not the best school in London, and his father would certainly disagree of him being enrolled there. Even him too, but the thought of being near Susan meant more to him than being in any reputable school.
“Really?” Edmund exclaimed, “Peter and I are from there too! Are you new?”
He looked at Susan and replied, “Yes.”
“Thank you for the coat,” she said again.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said and reached for her hand and brushed a kiss on her knuckles. He looked up to her and continued, “My queen.” He returned her hand and bowed to her. He then looked at her siblings and bowed ever so slightly to them.
“Good night,” he turned around and walked towards his car.
Peter, Edmund and Lucy were shocked at Sebastian’s display, and one by one they looked at Susan.
Queen? Susan reflected on Sebastian’s words as she raised her hand and looked at her knuckles. She knows that she must be flattered and feel all glittery inside for having shown with a very proper affection and be complimented as such, but her heart felt different. Queen? She repeated in her mind and the thought of it makes it stranger and even more familiar to her.
“Su,” Edmund called and she turned to look at him. “Are you remembering something?”
She looked at him as if she wanted to say yes, but no words fell onto her tongue. She wanted to say it, but she wasn’t sure if she remembered anything. In fact, she doesn’t remembering anything. She found it odd that Edmund asked him that. Then, she noticed Lucy and Peter looking at each other and then they looked at her. At that moment, she knew that her siblings are trying to make her silly again by making her remember a fantasy game they played when they were still children.
Her angry eyes locked at Peter’s for a moment to make him notice how angry she was. Peter loosened himself, but before he could reach out to her, Susan dashed her way to the stairs and up to her room.
~~~~~
“Good night,” Lucy closed the door and turned to her brothers.
“Not just yet,” Edmund said and his siblings looked at him.
“Edmund, what is it now?” Peter asked.
“Did you see him?”
“Yes,” Lucy replied, “He looks exactly like—”
“Caspian,” Peter interrupted. They all looked at each other.
“How odd it is to have someone who looks exactly like him right in our door step?” Lucy said, “Is it possible that Caspian was reincarnated of some sort?”
“Lucy, stop talking gibberish,” Peter said and rolled his eyes at her.
But Lucy continued, “What? The more I think of it, the more possible it becomes. Must have been Aslan’s doing.”
“Aslan would never do that,” Peter said and continued, “unless he has a very important plan for—”
“Well, however it is, I just got us a plan,” Edmund said and smiled at them.
“You got a plan?” Peter echoed.
Edmund grinned and replied, “Yes, a plan. Maybe Sebastian can help us make Susan remember Narnia.”
Then Peter chuckled, “Have you gone mad? Sebastian obviously doesn’t know anything about Narnia.”
“But we don’t have to make him know—yet”
“But nobody can know about Narnia except for those who have gone there—like us and Eustace and Jill,” Peter said mockingly at Edmund.
“And if ever that’ll work,” Lucy said, “how will she accept it again—especially him?”
“What do you mean, Lu?” Peter asked.
“Have you forgotten how she forgot Narnia?” she paused, waiting for them to answer but none of them spoke. “It’s because she wanted to forget Caspian.”
They were silent for a while. This never occurred immediately to them.
“This is going to be harder than I thought,” Edmund said under his breath and both of his siblings wore weary eyes at him. “But it’s a risk worthy to take.”
“Ed!” Peter exclaimed. “Moving on was the best choice for Susan.”
“Yes, but,” Edmund continued, “But forgetting was the worst for her—and so it is for the rest of us. Look how we are all affected by her change.”
Peter looked down at Lucy who looked at him back. They have been indeed affected by Susan’s gradual change just over a couple of years. It only took a toll when suitors and parties and fashion had invaded her spirit after her trip to America, and the gentleness that which she was renowned of faded over through the course of invitations and presents. Her siblings never took this seriously, but when they asked her about Narnia tonight, it was time for them to act.
“Alright,” Lucy said, “I’m game if you are.” She looked at Peter who had been sighing under his breath.
“Fine,” he said and rolled his eyes. He certainly didn’t want to be forced into this but seeing he was the only one left being skeptical over Edmund’s plan, he continued, “I’m in, but you have to promise me that we are going to keep a very watchful eye over her. We don’t want her to get hurt again.”
Edmund grinned widely. “I promise by the Lion’s Mane.”
Lucy raised her right hand and put her left to her chest, “Me too.”
“So how is this going to work?” Peter asked.
“Simple,” Edmund answered with a quirky smile, “We just let her date Sebastian.”
“Don’t we have to do something?”
“Why?”
Peter sighed and replied, “She has no idea who Caspian is.”
“Do you think we should talk to Sebastian about this?” Lucy asked.
“No!” The boys replied.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Peter,” Edmund continued, “we don’t have to do something. Sebastian is the living replica of our Caspian. His looks obviously are like Caspian, his American accent which is Telmarine’s for Caspian, his American car which is Destrier for Caspian—and how he talks to Susan. And Susan already is feeling something, I know it. We just have to let this happen again and again till she will wake up one day and remember her crown.”
“And on that day,” Lucy added, “we will have to make sure that we’re there.”
“You have a point,” Peter said, “but we will have to make sure that there is progress.”
Edmund’s forehead wrinkled. “What?”
“Does that mean you are going to follow her around?” Lucy said in confusion.
“No,” Peter replied, “we are going to follow her around.”
“Really now, Peter,” Lucy sighed.
He started walking towards the kitchen and replied, “You have no choice, or else I’m out of it.”
“What?” Lucy and Edmund exclaimed as they followed him.
~~~~~
Susan sat before the mirror and removed her jewelry delicately. She let her hair fall from her do and the shiny brown curves touched her back. She then changed to her robe and sat back before the mirror. She quickly put some cream on her face and gently swabbed the make up off with a cotton ball. She did this a couple of times, and then she heard a scold from Peter downstairs.
What now, she thought. She was very tired and hearing her siblings argue is the last thing she wanted, but she didn’t want to interfere on whatever they were discussing.
I bet they’re talking about that silly game again, she thought again. She didn’t understand how her siblings are forcing her to believe it’s real. Obviously it’s not.
Just then, the face of Sebastian with a small smile flashed in her mind on a split second. It blinded her for a moment and a terrible headache rushed through her skull instantly. She groaned in pain and fell off her chair. She rubbed her eyes and massaged her temples trying to ease from the moment.
“What was that?” she whispered to herself. She remembers the flash now as a picture in her head. She saw Sebastian, but different, she thought. She knew she saw Sebastian, but an awkward feeling of disbelief overpowered her. That smile… Was it really him? But—he wasn’t like Sebastian all over, just his face. Where did that come from?
She stared down on the floor with a hand supporting her weight and another hand massaging her temples. When the pain had already settled down, she tilted her head a little and spotted Viktor’s coat placed by the edge of her bed.
She quickly stood up and sat on the bed near where the coat was placed. I’m so sorry, Viktor. Maybe I should’ve just disagreed when Sebastian asked me for a ride home. I bet you’re laughing at me if you saw me there earlier all in pain—and…
Sebastian’s face was on her mind again. I don’t understand it at all, she thought. She then took the coat in her arms and carried it to the closet. There, she hung the coat inside on a hanger when she found herself staring at the darkness inside.
I wonder, she thought. Her face became curious while her hand slowly reached out inside.
“What?” A faint voice in unison from downstairs startled her. She quickly shook her head and clutched her hand back. What was I doing?
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