I meant to have this chapter up yesterday, but it was my birthday Thursday and we were still celebrating Friday. So, here it is now. On to review replies:
conception.creation: You are always the first one to review a new chapter. For that, you get three cookies. () () (:) The last one is chocolate chip XD. Thanks for assuring me I'm funny, I try. And thanks for the review!
Also thank you to Lisette for reviewing, and welcome yellow 14, I love to get new readers! Thanks for your review!
Dislcaimer: I'm sure you know by now that I don't own the Bartimaeus Trilogy or the song Just What I Needed
CH. 4
It was only a few day later that Kitty received a letter, and it wasn't good. Her father had died of illness. She kept her composure and really didn't talk about it. But then we went to his funeral on a rainy afternoon.
When we returned to her apartment that night, she dropped her soaked jacket on the floor, biting her lip. Her eyes were rapidly getting watery.
I took off my wet shoes and looked at her. "Kitty . . ."
"What?" she asked shakily, obviously trying to busy herself with tidying up her desk.
It was at that moment that I truly felt compassion for her. I didn't want her to be sad. I wanted to comfort her. I wanted to comfort her like a real friend.
"Kitty," I repeated, going to her side. "I'm sorry about your father."
She turned to look at me, and I saw the true pain in her eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around me, crying. I held her close, comforting her.
Still hanging onto me, she stumbled over to the bed. She let go and dropped onto the bed on her side, crying into the pillow while she still held my hand. I lied down too, facing her.
And so we stayed like that until she fell asleep.
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Kitty felt morning sunlight on her face. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled. Bartimaeus was lying in front of her, eyes closed, almost looking like he was sleeping. In between them, they were holding hands.
She sighed. He looked so peaceful. The soft sunlight made his tan skin shine. Kitty had no objections to staring at him for hours, but she was really hungry.
"Bartimaeus?" she whispered.
He opened his eyes. "Hmmm?"
"You looked like you were sleeping."
"I don't need sleep."
"That doesn't mean you can't."
He grinned. "Yeah, well, I wasn't sleeping. I was kind of," he paused, " . . .daydreaming as you humans put it. Only in a deeper sense."
She smiled. "What were you thinking about?"
He paused. "Uh . . .nothing."
She sat up. "Well, thank for being there for me last night. You know, I don't usually cry."
He sat up. "I know."
"Mr. Button called the other day and wants us to meet him at the library to help him do some research over magicians and spirits during the age of the Vikings. I told him we'd help."
Bartimaeus stood up. "Wonderful. Just the way I'd like to spend my morning."
She playfully pushed him. "C'mon, he's old and needs assistance."
And hour later they were at the library, going through the many shelves of books. Kitty stood next to Mr. Button, sorting through large volumes. She glances up to check on Bartimaeus, who was on the other side of the room.
"Who is he?" Mr. Button asked.
"Hmm?" Kitty turned to him. "Oh, my friend, Bartimaeus. He's a djinni."
"Your djinni?"
She held his stare. "I don't own him. And I told him I'd dismiss him whenever he wants."
Mr. Button stared at her. "You and I have the same outlook, somewhat, on spirits, but just keeping one around isn't safe. Especially if he's under no charge."
"I trust him."
"The world isn't ready for that kind of relationship between human and spirit."
She glared at him. "And how will it ever be if people don't just go for it?"
Mr. Button sighed. "I'm just trying to help you. I don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't." She set the book down and went over to help Bartimaeus look.
That evening she was working at the Frog Inn. She glanced up again to see Bartimaeus was still starting at her from his corner table. It seemed he did that a lot lately.
She smiled.
"How's it going with your boyfriend?" George asked.
She gave him a look. "He's not my boyfriend."
"Do you love him?"
"George!"
"Not like that," he chuckled. "I mean the kind of compassionate love where you want him to be happy, you never want to lose his friendship, things like that."
Kitty paused. She looked across the room at Bartimaeus, and he held her gaze.
"Yes," she said softly. "I do love him."
George patted her. "See there, you're closer to the marriage phase."
She playfully kicked him and headed out to serve food. She went to a table next to the one the djinni was at. There was a single young man there.
"Hey, pretty," the man smiled.
She sat down his food. "Here you go."
He held out the money. "I'll give you a tip for a kiss."
Kitty saw, out of the corner of her eyes, Bartimaeus stiffen.
"No," she said, trying to stay friendly. "But I'm flattered."
She turned to leave, but the man grabbed her arm. "Now hold on, beautiful, let me give you my number."
'What number would that be?" Bartimaeus asked suddenly.
The man gave him a cold look and said sarcastically, "My IQ number."
"Really?" the djinni mocked surprise. "That won't take very many numbers."
The man jumped up, growling.
"Bartimaeus," Kitty said as the djinni stood. "C'mon, he's not worth it."
The man looked at her. "You know him?"
"She's with me," Bartimaeus said.
The man laughed, turning to Kitty. "Now listen, sexy, you-"
Suddenly Bartimaeus grabbed him and jumped through the wall, making a crash.
Kitty sighed as everyone stared in her direction. She said to them, "That was just two guys fighting. It's all good."
Quickly she ran outside and nearly into Bartimaeus.
She gave him a look. "Where's the guy?"
The djinni shrugged. "What guy?"
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
"No, he's unconscious."
Kitty rubbed her forehead. "He's gonna go blabbing about you attacking him and it's gonna get me in a world of trouble!"
"Relax, I told him if he went running his mouth I'd come back and finish the job."
Kitty couldn't help but smile. "Thank, though."
He winked. "Anytime."
Well, what do you think? Please review!
