Here's to Christmas - Skulduggery Pleasant FanFic

Chapter 4: You Guys Can Come Back

Lisa put on an extremely serious face and attempted to add a vibrato to it and, Valkyrie was sorry to say, failed rather miserably. She shook her head no, but both Lisa and the coach were adamant.

"Sing Hold On Till May." Jana said. She bit her lip to hold the smile down and raised her eyes.

"Ok." She said, silencing the table. She averted her gaze and looked at the Dead Men behind their heads.

"She sits up high,

Surrounded by the sun.

One million branches

And she loves everyone. Ok, that's it. That's all I'm singing."

Lisa and Jana and the dark haired girl looked at each other.

"All right, she can actually sing." The dark haired girl spoke up.

"You should sing professionally," Lisa gushed. Valkyrie shook her head again.

"I can sing a little but I don't have that much talent. I wouldn't get very far."

"You're more talented than me," Lisa continued, and then cleared her throat. "She sits up high, Surrounded by what is it? The sun..."

This rendition of Hold On Till May was really no better than the I Dreamed a Dream attempt and they all knew it, and more laughter erupted. Valkyrie couldn't help but join in. The mother looked up at her and frowned.

"You aren't...studying acting, are you?"

"No. Why?"

"Oh, I just saw someone who looked like you at the academy the other day. I was interviewing one of the professors. But since it wasn't you I must be coming off as a bit weird right now."

Valkyrie shook her head. "Of course not. I think I just have that kind of face. Would you like the bill now or a bit later?"

"Now I think. Jana has a competition tomorrow and we should be getting back to the hotel."

"Ok. No problem."

Valkyrie went to the till to fetch the bill and allowed her heart to sink into the pit of her stomach. Did that woman see the reflection at the acting academy?

Her fingers shook slightly as they whisked over the buttons on the computer.

"Come on," she told herself quietly, "get it together."

She brought the bill to the table. Lisa was still singing (or trying, in any case) and the coach was joining in. She set the bill down on the table and Lisa suddenly stopped.

"Do you know Jamie Oliver?" she asked. Valkyrie nodded.

"Yes. I mean, I'm not like his best friend or anything, I don't have his phone number, but I've met him."

"That is so cool." Jana added. Valkyrie shrugged. "Yeah. He's nice."

She walked back to her table and took a quick break.

"Are we going home after they've left?"

"Yeah. I think so." Skulduggery assured her. She half smiled. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, it's just...that woman saw the reflection at the acting academy. I know it shouldn't bother me, but...it does."

"Stop thinking about Stephanie." Dexter insisted. "Just enjoy your Christmas. We're going to make it the best Christmas ever. Promise."

"Yeah, especially since we're getting the...ow! Don't kick me!"

Saracen glared at Skulduggery, who gave him a warning look. Valkyrie frowned.

"What? What are you getting?"

They exchanged awkward glances and Valkyrie was about to press further when she saw some of the skating party getting up to go to the toilet.

"Ok, I'm coming back after I've taken the bill."

She went over to the table and collected the bill as the mother and the coach got up and shrugged their coats on. It was cold outside after all.

"Thank you for a lovely evening." The coach said.

"It was my pleasure," Valkyrie smiled, "You guys can definitely come back."

"We'll most certainly come back. Both the food and the service was excellent. In fact, I may write a very nice letter to Mr Oliver. What's your name?"

"Valkyrie. It's not exactly easy to forget."

"I think it's a lovely name." the mother said, and all of a sudden Valkyrie wanted this person to be her adopted mother.

The skaters rejoined the party, Lisa still singing, and they went down the stairs.

"Good luck in your competition tomorrow." She called after Jana, who smiled and thanked her. She looked down at the bill and saw that they'd paid an extra twenty euros. She smiled gratefully.

After much discussion, Valkyrie bullied Dexter and Saracen out of the front seat and couldn't help but fall asleep on the ride home. At the house, she said goodbye to the others and walked inside, quite prepared to go to sleep in her clothes on the sofa straight away; but then she remembered that band Jana had told her about, All Time Low. She took out her phone and sat on the sofa and searched All Time Low on YouTube. She had to admit; they were pretty amazing. She fell asleep listening to their music.