No idea what the title is but I have the story! XD! (chp 2)

“Wake up, Ved, we’re going out!” Sunlight was streaming through the grimy windows and Bastian was trying, very successfully, to awaken his older sister. Groaning, Vedette rolled over and looked at her watch. Quarter past ten. She hadn’t gone to bed until nearly four in the morning because Gem had kept her talking for three hours. He’d still been awake when she’d finally dozed off because the last thing she remembered seeing was the shadows of the candles, flicking gently against the walls.1

“Come on, Ved, we need to set off soon and you haven’t had breakfast yet, you slow-poke.” It wasn’t Bastian speaking but Gem. He was standing in the doorway of the children’s room and watching in amusement as Bastian used his older sister as a trampoline.2

“Come on, Bastian, give Ved a bit of peace, I think she might be awake by now. Let’s go and help Eve in the kitchen, shall we?” Vedette knew perfectly well Bastian would be more of a hindrance than an assistance and Gem wouldn’t really help with something as demeaning as tidying up or preparing food; he’d only said it to give her a little peace, but she was grateful to have a moment to compose her thoughts before having to meet with the others.3

When she was ready she went into the reference book section which served as their kitchen. There was a door dividing it from the room with the main desk which was a kind of living room. 4

Maya had been down to the shops for fresh bread already so they sat down to a meal of cheese, French loaf, coffee (Thermione was good with electric and had somehow managed to connect a kettle) and fruit juice. Eve had laid it out on plastic plates, carefully arranged on an upturned wooden box, supplied by Maya’s dad, that served as a table. It had once held apples and the faint aroma of the fruit still reached them whenever they sat down. Vedette loved the smell but Maya claimed the apples had been rotten and the smell made him feel sick. Still, it didn’t seem to spoil his appetite; he ate almost twice what the others had. Thermione might be the oldest but Maya was taller and stronger than any of them.5

“Sit still Bastian, you’ll knock the juice over.” Eve hastily snatched the white jug off the table while Maya whisked the coffee pot to safety. Bastian pouted but stopped wriggling about so much. Eve sighed and set the jug back down in the centre of the boards. Maya poured himself some coffee and took a gulp. Then he choked. “It’s boiling!”6

“Well, what do you expect? It’s just come out of the kettle.” Gem snapped. 7

There was a sudden silence and Eve raised her eyebrows. “What’s up with you?” she asked. Gem gave a grouchy shrug and picked up a piece of bread. Instead of putting it in his mouth however he slowly shredded it, spreading crumbs everywhere. Vedette was startled, he’d been in a cheerful mood when he was in the bedroom.8

Everyone watched him in surprise; food cost money and they always did their own shopping when they were living on their own, as a test of how well they could manage. Their parents obligingly provided the amount of money they agreed they could live on and they couldn’t really afford to waste it. Gem scowled from under his dark eyebrows, daring anyone to say as much to him. The tension was broken by Bastian upsetting his juice. Eve went to fetch a cloth and Thermione berated Bastian for his clumsiness. As usual Bastian played no attention but began swinging his legs idly. One of his feet started to tap on the edge of the box and everyone grabbed their cups, Thermione picking up Eve’s and Vedette grabbed Gem’s since he didn’t seem to be paying enough attention to even notice.9

When they’d finished eating Eve and Vedette cleared up and washed up the plates. They were always very careful to conceal any evidence that the old building was inhabited before they went out, in the unlikely event that anyone should take it into their head to force open the main doors and have a look around. 10

Eve had asked Thermione, Maya, Bastian and Gem to disguise their beds as part of the general mess and debris but when the two girls went into the bedroom they found Bastian playing with a cork he’d discovered under a bookshelf, Thermione reading a magazine, Maya juggling - or trying to - with some of his soft toys and Gem staring moodily out of one of the dirty windows.11

“Come on guys, we’ve washed up so you could at least help with the beds. Maya, quit chucking those things around, Thermione stop reading and Gem…” Eve trailed of as Gem turned from the window and gave her a dark look. “And Gem what?” he asked in a soft, dangerous voice. “Nothing.” said Eve quickly “Bastian, give us a hand hiding these torches. Only this time hide them so we can find them later.” Eve might have been able to boss everyone else around but she wasn’t fool enough to try it with Gem when he was in a bad mood.12

Maya and Thermione leapt to their feet and set to work stuffing blankets under chairs and boxes while Eve and Bastian hid the torches and Vedette gathered up the candles. Gem stayed by the window and scowled at anyone who looked at him, as if seeing if any of them had the nerve to tell him to help. 13

By the time they left the library they were all feeling nervous and tense. Gem was rarely in a bad mood but when he was it was like having a storm ready to break; the air was thick and heavy and a cloud of gloom seemed to hang over everyone. Gem’s moods were often infectious; it was impossible to be miserable if he was feeling good but at the moment even Bastian appeared slightly downtrodden.14

It might have been sunny when Vedette woke up but now it was pouring. They hurried through rain-washed alleyways until they reached the high street. It was market day and, despite the weather, the street was packed. 15

Vedette took Bastian’s hand to stop him getting lost and turned up the collar of his raincoat. Eve put up an umbrella and turned. “Ok. Me, Gem and Ved’ll take care of the shopping and get what we need. Maya and Thermione, you’d better stick together today, neither of you wander of on your own.” 16

Gem shook his head. “Can’t. I promised I’d go home for a bit today.”17

Everyone stared at him in disappointment. “Sorry.” he said, though he didn’t look it. Bastian pouted. “I want you to stay Gem.”18

Gem smiled slightly. “Can’t, I promised. But I won’t be too long. Go with Eve and Ved.” 19

Vedette grinned at him as Bastian reluctantly took her hand again 20

“I’ll meet you back at the hideout at four thirty at the latest, ok?” he said. Vedette nodded and Gem vanished into the crowd.