Riders of Pop(2)

"Yes!" Malcom said, adopting a tone of feigned seriousness. "Of course, games like when you made plants grow in my head?" He was really resisting the urge to burst out laughing at that moment.

Nora must have realized this because she looked. A brow was raised before she responded with a smile, "Well, something had to grow there, right?"

Both laughed as, one by one, they were called to the office.

Nora looked at Malcom tenderly, "There was also that time. Do you remember it?" She asked with a soft voice. Her face was unable to hide the nostalgia and helplessness.

Malcom smiled. He nodded slowly, "Of course I remember. It was one of the happiest moments of my life."

"Life was simpler at that time," Nora answered.

He nodded in agreement. It was easier when they were kids. They just needed to follow simple rules, and there was no need to bother with what other people thought, especially those who looked down on them for being unable to use their entire magic ability.

She stared at Malcom with a complicated expression. Nora then released a heavy sigh, "But we all grow up and make decisions."

Malcom watched her, and with a melancholic expression, he ran his index finger over the young woman's cheek.

She smiled. Nora took Malcom's hand to get it away from her face. "Not all is lost yet."

Malcom smiled at that statement. He let go of his friend's hand before he looked at the ground.

The girl snorted under her breath.

"Are you still thinking of leaving?" Nora demandingly asked.

"Yes," Malcom replied, looking at his friend tenderly, "I owe it to them."

"You won't be safe!" She blurted out, her eyes wide with unmasked worry.

Malcom forced a smile. He was trying to assure her, but he also knew that it was not that easy to do so. "That doesn't matter. I'd rather be free than old."

"You have no idea what you're saying Malcom. And you still don't know how many people you might hurt in the process," The young woman held Malcom's hand tighter, "Maybe you think that because your life is not as glamorous as it could be."

"Not all of us can be the singers of the moment, Nora," Malcom replied as gently as he could.

"Maybe! But some could still be with them, you know, like assistants?" Nora said playfully. She was looking at Malcom mischievously when she continued, "Travel see places enjoy the luxuries of life."

Malcom smirked and took off his hat to ruffle his hair.

The girl looked at him with a combination of shame and firmness.

"I have to do this, Nora." His plans would not change regardless of who he was talking to.

She gave a frustrated snort. Talking about it with him was frustrating as if he didn't know that it meant a death sentence.

"It is not true!" Nora shook her head. She let go of the Materializer's hand and then glared at him, "Malcom, I understand your reasons. But a long time ago, you saw things differently. Ever since you started thinking of ​​leaving the country, it is as if we no longer existed in your mind. I do not want you to go!"

Malcom cleared his throat before carefully offering, "You can come with me…"

"I do not want to abandon what I have achieved here!" Nora immediately refused while her pretty eyes continued to glare at Malcom.

Malcom felt exasperated. "Achieved, eh? Well I'm glad that you are satisfied with all you have now. But that is not the case for everyone else, Nora. Please understand that."

Nora pursed her lips and remained silent.

He continued after releasing a heavy sigh, "This country is crazy, Nora. You are a Marked, condemned for life, to have your magical energy extracted so that an ancient monster does not kill everyone. You need to agree with me that they only value you because you sing silly songs in a group and not because of your sacrifices of being a Marked one. Tell me that is not stupid to you?"

Nora took his hands again, "Malcom… one of those silly songs, you know it is worth more than everything you have. I like money too like you do," She said with a soft smile.

Both of them laughed, cutting the tension.

She continued, "Honey, I can't tell you that people are stupid because they are. But why is that important to you and me?"

"Nora is very important. These wretches are not grateful and destroy the lives of some people who do not even have the right to complain."

"You complain! A lot!" She said with a teasing smile.

Malcolm could not do anything against that smile. Every time he saw Nora smile, the anger he felt for his whole situation calmed down.

"You're right. I complain a lot. But I don't want to be the dude that just complains I want to act upon it," he tried to defend himself.

The man at the counter called for Nora's name. She got up, "Then stop complaining about how miserable your life is, and live it happily with me."

Nora caressed Malcom's face tenderly before heading to the office while Selma waited for her at the door.

Violet had already entered, and Ben, who was on the other side of the room, was approaching him.

"She told you the usual?" Ben is used to Nora and Malcom's conversation. He sat next to his friend before adding, "You should listen to her, dude!"

"I can't, Ben," Malcom said, as he lowered his head to stare at his shoes, "I can't live life like her. I'm not like that, and I can't ignore the truth."

"She makes the best of a bad situation," Ben muttered, before putting his hand on his friend's shoulder, "If you were smart, you would learn more from her…."

Malcolm frowned when he heard that. He could not accept the idea that his own goal for so long was not the 'smart' thing to do. Now he had a strong desire to forget his obsession.

"You think I should forget everything and be with her?" He asked softly.

Ben shrugged his shoulders, "You know… It doesn't really matter what I think, Mal. In the end, you will do what you want anyway."

Just as he said that Malcom was called to the office. As he approached, Nora left that place.

With shoulder-length red hair, blue eyes, and a freckled face, she looked at him with a latent feeling in her eyes. The young mage took her hand, and the contact between them gave some sanity to the situation they were living in, she said, looking at him tenderly.

"Are you going to the concert tomorrow?"

"No," Malcom shook his head, his expression was sad, "I have a hunt to do. Besides, I hate your music..."

The young woman hit his arm. She laughed before speaking, "It's okay. When you come back, we will have a little time together, and maybe we will reach an agreement."

Malcom smiled and squeezed the girl's fingers that were still lacing with his, and he headed straight for the office.

Nora walked to bid goodbye to Ben.

"You're the only one who can make him change his mind," Ben said in a friendly tone.

She shook her head. Nora felt resigned. "We both know that's not true."

"If someone can. It would be you," Ben assured.

"Well, whatever happens, I'll spend time with him," Nora said softly.

"He'd like that."

And with those words, the young woman gave Ben a friendly hug, and then she left to greet the rest of her fans.

Violet, who had just left the office, met with Ben and said, "I'll never understand why Malcom is not with her!"

Ben looked at her knowingly and said, "I don't think he understands it himself."