This is the second chapter. Thank you for the two reviews I have received, though I wouldn't mind I few more. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
"I need a fresh rag," Mrs. Lovett sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted. Sweeney remained silent, his gaze directed at his fingertips which were tracing each scratch in the table below him. His brow was furrowed in deep thought and although she wished he would break the silence that had fallen over the room she was partially glad that he had not yet replied to her outburst. She left the room, the only sounds were her shoes against the floor. She returned with a clean white rag that would soon be gray and dirty. Using freshly boiled water she began to clean, using the task at hand as an escape from her thoughts.
"I'm going upstairs," Sweeney finally said.
"That's it?" She raised her eyebrows, not looking at him. "After all of that you're just going to pretend like it never happened?"
"I suggest you open up soon," without another word he left. Alone now, she was able to cry.
Sweeney couldn't believe what Mrs. Lovett had told him. He should have known, shouldn't he? It's not as if she hadn't told him before in one way or another. Hearing her actually say those three words had more effect than he could understand. Why had his breath caught in his throat, why had his heart began to leap in his chest? Exasperated he plopped down into his chair, holding his picture of Lucy and Johanna. How could he secretly have been pleased by Mrs. Lovett's confession when he still loved Lucy? It was exactly fifteen years from today that he had officially lost her, he should be mourning, he should be slitting the Judge's throat. Instead, all her could think about was how caring she had been towards him when he was upset, and how pretty her eyes were when she peered at him from under her thick black lashes. Suddenly the sound of the bell rang throughout the room followed by the click of the door shutting.
"Mr. Todd?" An unfamiliar voice asked. A slow grin came over Sweeney's face as he stood to face his first victim of the day. Oh yes, this man would be perfect. He was an older gentlemen, obviously at an age in which death was following close behind his each step.
"At your service," Sweeney bowed, gesturing for him to take his seat. After tying off the cloth around his neck he went to work on sharpening his blade. As always he was entranced by the beautiful gleam of the razor, how it shined in the light. "Come now my friend," he whispered so softly that he knew the customer could not hear. He did not bother to lather the man's face before he sliced the blade deep into his neck, hearing the satisfying gurgle of blood pouring and spraying from his opened wound. Within seconds he was dead. With a great deal of enjoyment Sweeney stepped on the trigger that sent the lifeless body sliding back and falling into the trap door below. Soon enough Mrs. Lovett would find it and bake it into one of her famous pies. Pleased that no blood had landed astray of the body he sat back down on the chair.
A few minutes later he heard the familiar clatter of boots entering the shop below. He wondered how Mrs. Lovett was feeling. He couldn't help but feel a little sorry. She had done nothing but helped him since he had shown up and he had done nothing but be rude to her. Perhaps, he thought to himself, perhaps I should apologize. Seeing that no one was in need of his services he went downstairs.
"Ello Mr. T. Do you know where Mrs. Lovett ran off to? Had to open by myself. She baked enough pies for lunch but not enough for dinner," Toby's face was slightly red and he already looked exhausted from bustling around and serving everyone alone.
"She's gone? When you run out close up shop, I'll go find her,"
"Yes sir,"
"Good lad," he could not hide the slight bit of worry that had fluttered in his stomach. Gone? Where on Earth had she run off to? He hoped she hadn't been hurt, or lost. Did she run away because of him? What a stupid question, of course she did. He felt like using the razor on himself for having been so stupid. Mrs. Lovett, although strong in some ways, was fragile in others and no doubt he had broken her heart. Pulling on his coat he ran outside. There weren't many places she could go, and he knew that if she was upset she wouldn't have gone to the market. Suddenly he remembered a place she might have gone to be alone.
"Lucy, Lucy, all about her. What about me? I've been nothing but kind to that man! Why can't he let her go? Oh Lucy, how I wish I was you," Mrs. Lovett sobbed, propping herself against the tree behind her.
"Don't wish that," a deep sad voice said. Emerging from behind the other side of the tree was Sweeney Todd, looking both distressed and completely broken, "And don't run off again,"
"How did you find me?" She quickly attempted to wipe away her tears but new ones kept coming to replace them.
"Lucky guess I suppose," he shrugged. That wasn't completely true. He had known she would come there. He remembered the picnic they had had only a short while ago. Mrs. Lovett had spent half of it musing about how pretty the area was.
"Leave me alone, you don't care," she had pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in the ruffles of her dress.
"What makes you think I don't care?" He demanded, his voice taking on a slightly angry tone.
"Because the only thing you care about is your Lucy,"
"My Lucy is dead,"
"She's all you talk about, her and the bloody ol' Judge. Not once have you ever showed interest in me," she continued to cry.
"I'm still going to kill the Judge, and I still love my Lucy, but that does not mean that I don't care about you. Stop crying my pet, please," he kneeled beside her, resting his hand on her shoulder.
"Then why didn't you say anything when I told you how I felt this morning?"
"Mrs. Lovett… It doesn't matter what I said or didn't say. Listen to what I am saying now. You gave me a fright when you ran off and I thought for just a minute I had lost you. You have no idea how scared I was for that split moment," he admitted. She lifted her head, meeting her brown eyes with his.
"You were worried about me?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes," he gulped.
"Why? You never cared before," she hid her face once more.
"Will you stop saying that? How do you know whether I care or not? Just because I never said it doesn't mean I don't care about you! I do care about you, a lot!" He shouted, then froze.
"You what?" She lifted her head once more and without warning Sweeney leaned down and kissed her.
I post these really fast, I know. I have nothing better to do than write so as long as I have time I should be able to post these chapters almost every day. Please review and thank you for reading!