━━ CHAPTER NINE / lucy carlyle

Afternoon errands were always Demi's least favourite part of the week when she had to do them. It usually required her to be out of the house at least ten minutes before she wanted to be and her run was almost always cut short. But it was her turn that week so she couldn't complain. And it meant she could avoid all of the interviewees.

That was Lockwood's job and George was there to sufficiently judge their character. Demi trusted them both and she knew that she would just get in the way. So, being out of the house was exactly how she wanted it to be.

But as the day drew in and she had finally finished getting everything she needed (three bags of various supplies and other bits she'd been asked to get and six bags of food shopping), she was glad to be back through the door. The house was oddly quiet and rather than the typical potterings of George in the kitchen, she clumsily entered the kitchen to see an unfamiliar brunette girl waiting for the kettle to boil.

She seemed just as startled by Demi's presence as Demi was by hers and they stared at each other for a moment before she rushed to help Demi with her bags. They managed to get them onto the table without much incident before they finally spoke.

"Hi, I'm Demi. And you are?" She asked curiously. Demi could only assume that it was the new member of the team but Lockwood hadn't bothered to tell her anything about their lists of candidates. He had merely told her that there was a substantial list and they'd hopefully find someone to hire (they hadn't had much luck before then).

"Lucy Carlyle," The brunette responded, her tone was soft and a little timid. Demi grinned and she glanced down at the shopping before she looked back at the girl.

"You wouldn't mind giving me a hand would you?" Demi asked softly. Lucy shook her head and together, the pair put away the shopping. Demi directed when Lucy fumbled but it was a relatively easy task now that it was two of them. The boys always forgot to help Demi when she got back from the errands. She always pulled them up on it but some things never change.

"I would have asked what you like but Lockwood wasn't sure what would happen with the interviews," Demi explained as she grabbed the milk and passed it to Lucy who put it in the fridge. The girl smiled awkwardly before she shrugged.

"I'll eat anything. I don't want to get in the way," She explained. Demi scoffed and she pulled out her bag of chipsticks. She dropped them onto the table before she then grabbed the orange juice - with pulp - for Anthony. Demi hated it which is why she bought herself orange juice without bits. She wasn't a heathen.

"Trust me, you won't be getting in the way. The boys have the weirdest food requests and we take turns doing the shopping so don't hesitate to ask for something," Demi said as she finished with her bag. It was the last one and they were finally done. Other than the bits and bobs that Demi still needed to put away somewhere, at some point.

"O-Oh, okay," She mumbled out. Demi smiled again and then she ran her fingers through her hair. She was exhausted. She was sure that Lucy could see it in her face. Curfew had set in now and the familiar call for bed had hit Demi like a truck.

"Is there anything you need? I'm gonna talk to Lockwood and then head up. Did he show you where my room is?" Demi asked quickly. Her rambly questions made Lucy pause and she seemed hesitant to answer them. Demi knew that she would be nervous but this felt somewhat out of the ordinary. But maybe she'd settle down, only time would tell.

"He showed me the door," Lucy responded. Demi nodded and she pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail, needing to get it out of her face.

"Alright, well, just knock if you need anything. A chat, a rant, snacks, whatever. And I leave my door open at night, just a crack. Old habit so don't be surprised if you see me. Is everything okay?" Demi asked, purposefully slowing her words down. Lucy seemed to be a competent girl otherwise Lockwood wouldn't have hired her but the nervous energy surrounded her. It was as if she was scared to step out of line.

"Yeah, yeah. Just nerves. I'm gonna go up to my room," Lucy responded. Demi gestured towards the cup of tea that Lucy had made and Lucy grabbed it with a cautious smile before she disappeared up to her room. Demi glanced at the bags and decided that rather than taking them down to the basement, she'd leave them at the door. Her conversation with Lockwood about their newest member was more important than sorting. That was George's job.

Every step Demi took up the stairs, the more she regretted them. Her feet had gone a little numb from being on them for so long and she could feel the exhaustion settle into her bones as she dropped into the armchair beside Lockwood.

"So you met her?" He asked, not looking up from his gossip columns. She hummed in response and ran her fingers across her face.

"She seems... timid." Demi wasn't sure what was the best word. Scared wasn't right and nervous wasn't encompassing enough to describe Lucy's behaviour. Timid seemed right and Demi wished she wasn't. Not that she had any idea what had led the girl to their odd little agency.

"George was a little harsh," Lockwood dismissed as he closed his magazine finally. His gaze then turned to Demi and she sent him a half-hearted frown.

"I wish he would be nicer." There was no real way to respond to that so Lockwood turned his gaze to the fireplace, "You showed her everything, right?" Demi asked after a moment and Lockwood nodded. The whole tour had been given and it wasn't like the house was very complicated. It was easy enough to navigate.

"Come on, Dem, have a little more faith in me." The teasing lilt to his tone made the corner of Demi's lips curl into a smile. She was tired and the exhausted-happy feelings were taking over, making everything else dull out a little.

"You didn't give me a proper tour," She mumbled. Lockwood scoffed.

"Would you like one now?" Demi shook her head. Her eyes closed briefly as she tilted her head up towards the ceiling. It was such a soothing feeling being in the happy-sleepy-tired state. Especially when she was sat with Lockwood, he had such a calming presence when he wasn't being an arrogant prick.

"I would really like bed right now. Anything I need to know about our new friend?" Demi asked curiously. Lockwood shook his head but he dropped his magazine onto the circle table between them and offered his hand out for Demi to take. And she did and he helped her to her feet much to her annoyance.

She would have fallen asleep in the armchair if she wasn't careful. It had happened more than once and she always woke up with the worst crick in her neck. The complaining was not worth the bliss of sleeping somewhere warm and cosy like the library.

Lockwood didn't comment as they walked out of the library together. His hand was still holding hers but when they walked down the kitchen stairs, he had to let go. Not because he wanted to but because he had no choice in the matter much to his annoyance. Demi grabbed her glass from the cupboard and filled it with water before she pushed her free hand across her face, stretching out onto her tiptoes before she dropped back down to the floor.

"Can you grab my chipsticks?" Demi asked as she pottered back to the door. Lockwood nodded and he grabbed them from the table. The pair then headed back up the stairs together. Demi's movements were sluggish and he gently took a hold of her hand, using it to urge her up the stairs when he was convinced that she wasn't going to get any further.

Once they were in her room, Lockwood dropped the chipsticks onto the side before he turned around to face her. The glass of water was on the side table and she was looking at him, a small smile on her face. She then dropped to sit on the edge of the bed.

"You better be nice to Lucy," Demi mumbled as she looked up at the boy. Anthony chuckled and moved to stand across from her.

"I'm nice to everyone," He retorted. Demi stared up at him, mildly unimpressed by his answer. Her filter was slipping away now that the exhaustion had seeped in.

"Kipps would argue otherwise," Demi mumbled. Lockwood scoffed and she waved her hand to tell him to shut up before he went on any sort of rant or tried to justify his hatred. Demi didn't want to know, they had already discussed it too many times, "I want to go to bed. Don't." He rolled his eyes playfully before he glanced at the door. He knew he needed to go but he really didn't want to. Part of him wanted to stay with her forever.

"I'll let you get ready. Goodnight, Dem," He said softly. Demi gave him a sleepy half-smile and when he stepped closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead, her heart stopped. Her face instantly flushed bright red and the bashful smile spread across her face in seconds.

"Goodnight, Locky," She mumbled. He nodded and then stepped out of the room, pulling the door to. She heard his footsteps on the stairs and it was only when she was sure he was out of earshot that she let out a giggly-chuckle. Her hand pressed over her mouth as she grinned beneath it. He had kissed her on the forehead.

She would have melted for him then and there. But he had left so she got ready for bed and with a grin still plastered on her lips fell asleep.

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After Demi's run, she made herself breakfast with George (who hadn't slept yet) in the kitchen before she returned to her room to tinker. A few hours later, there was a knock at the door. It was too soft of a knock to be Lockwood or George so she could only assume it was Lucy.

"Come in," Demi called before she swivelled around in her chair. She pulled the goggles she had been wearing to protect her eyes so they rested awkwardly on her forehead and gave the brunette a lop-sided smile when she fully opened the door, "Hey. Everything okay?" Demi asked softly. Lucy nodded and she stepped inside and closed the door. She closed the door quietly and only once it was closed did she speak.

"Do you have any shampoo?" Lucy asked softly. Demi's eyes widened when she realised that Lucy would probably be without most essentials. From what Demi had gleaned from George's retelling of events, she had been timid but feisty. A complete bombshell and had not called ahead to let them know she was coming for an interview but she was talented and a Listener. So she ticked all the boxes.

"I do," Demi said as she got up from her chair. She pulled the goggles off and dropped them onto the desk before she gestured for Lucy to follow, "We can go out and get you anything you don't need if you want," Demi suggested as she pulled the bedroom door open. Her feet pattered against the stairs as she headed towards the bathroom. Lucy followed behind, always quiet and not taking up too much space as Demi pushed the bathroom door open.

"If it's not too much trouble. I don't have a lot of money," The girl admitted softly. Demi turned to look at her as she went through the shelves in search of her spare bottle. A small frown appeared across Demi's face.

"Good job I'm here then. We can get whatever you need, my treat," Demi shrugged as she spotted the shampoo. Of course it was on the top shelf, out of her reach but where Anthony had been easily able to grab it.

"No, no, I don't want to-" Lucy began but the playfully scathing look that she received from Demi made her stop dead in her tracks. Demi smiled and then she climbed up onto the counter and grabbed the shampoo. It nearly dropped onto her face but she just about managed it. Lucy took it from her hand and was about to leave when Demi leant over and grabbed the spare bottle of shower gel from the side. George had got the wrong one a few weeks ago and she knew she'd never use it. The smell was not one she particularly enjoyed.

"How do you feel about peaches?" Demi asked as she dropped down from the counter. The shower gel in her hand and held out to the girl.

"They're okay?" Lucy seemed a little confused by the question but it only made Demi chuckle softly in response.

"Then take this. It's not my usual shower gel. George picked up the wrong one by mistake," Demi explained. The other girl smiled gratefully and took it from her, balancing the two bottles precariously in one hand, "But whenever you're free we can go shopping." Lucy nodded and muttered out a soft thank you before she said she was getting a shower. Demi nodded and watched as the brunette headed up the stairs.

Demi debated going down to the kitchen for a snack but when she heard Lockwood pottering about in his room, seemingly heading out of it, she decided to just go back to tinkering. In her fully awake clarity, the kiss on the forehead had sent her reeling and not in a good way. She didn't know what to think of it or how to even take it so she was going to avoid the brunette for as long as she could.

Hopefully until her head sorted itself out.

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