A/N: And here's chapter 4! I hope it's really good...it's supposed to last you until I get chapter 5 written. I know, I know...that's really annoying. I know that I hate it when authors do that, and now, here I am doing the same thing. But, I will say this: I will have chapter 5 out by July 4. There...now I have a deadline that I have to meet, which makes me actually write something! Feel free to send on any ideas/things you would like to see!
Chapter 4
Bookworm was sobbing as she jammed the few possessions that she owned into a small knapsack. She knew that Racetrack had probably gone to the bulls as soon as she had left the room. They were most likely already on their way. She had to leave immediately.
"Bookworm?" She froze when she heard Racetrack's voice coming from the entrance into the bunkroom. With a sigh, she turned around. I should have known that he was going to run after me, she thought wearily. She was surprised to find that he was alone.
"Where are the police?" she asked, needing to know how much time she had. Racetrack was confused for a few moments.
"Why would the cops be coming?" he asked. Then his eyes lit up in understanding. "I didn't go to the bulls, Bookworm." When she didn't answer, Racetrack continued. "I know that there must be some sort of explanation, and I want to hear it from you." Bookworm sighed and sat down on her bed. She was silent for a few moments, wondering where to begin.
"I've never told anyone about what happened that night," she said, staring straight ahead. "It was eight years ago, today. I was eight years old at the time, and the only child of two very loving parents. I had asked earlier in the day if I could go over to my best friend's house so the two of us could start reading Treasure Island together. My father had instilled in me a love for reading at a very early age. My friend couldn't read nearly as well as I could yet, but she loved to hear me read, so we always got together and I would read her my newest book. Anyway, both my father and mother said that I had to stay home that night, for a reason that I can't remember now." Bookworm smiled sadly, remembering the next part of her tale. "So, after dinner while they were in my Father's study talking about one thing or another, I snuck out of the house, carrying Treasure Island with me. I showed up at my friend's house and the two of us had a grand time reading about Jim Hawkins, treasure chests, and, most important of all, about the pirate Long John Silver." Bookworm paused for a few moments, trying to gather her thoughts. She thought that it would be hard to tell Racetrack, but she found that once she got started, it was hard to stop. Racetrack stayed silent, giving her all the time that she needed. After about a minute, Bookworm started up again.
"We lost track of time. When I finally realized what time it was, I had been gone for almost three hours. My parents were sure to have noticed by then that I was gone, and I was sure that they were worried sick about me. I ran home as fast as I could. When I got there…" she trailed off, her eyes filling up with tears at the memory of what had happened that night. She tried to compose herself enough so that she could tell Racetrack what had happened. "When I got there, the whole house was in flames. My mother and father were nowhere in sight. They hadn't been able to get out in time." She broke down, sobbing. Wordlessly Racetrack moved over to the bunk and sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her as she cried. "It was my fault, Race!" she choked out. "If I hadn't snuck out, then the Lord wouldn't have punished me by taking away my parents." Racetrack just sat there for a few moments, stunned. Then his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
"Who told ya that piece of garbage?" he demanded. Bookworm looked up at him.
"My foster mother. Every day for two years she told me that. She wouldn't have said it if it wasn't true," Bookworm said matter-of-factly, waiting for Racetrack to push her away in disgust. But he never did. He just leaned back a little so that he could look her straight in the eyes.
"Listen to me, Bookworm. It was not your fault. You didn't light a match and set fire to your house. It was an accident. If you hadn't snuck out, you would have died." He took a deep breath. "It was not your fault," he repeated. Bookworm shook her head and looked away, refusing to hope that he could be right.
"But Race…" He cut her off.
"Look at me." He said it so forcefully that Bookworm found herself doing just that. "Do you really think that I would lie to you? You were eight, and you snuck out to see your best friend. But you did not kill your parents, ya hear? If I ever hear you say that it was your fault again, I'll soak ya," he said, only half joking. "Your foster mother was an evil woman to have told you that it was, because it wasn't. Understand?" Bookworm looked at Racetrack, searching for any indication that he was lying to her. To her surprise, she didn't find one. He was telling the truth. She didn't want to ask what she did next, but she had to know.
"So, you don't hate me?" she asked, her voice wavering a little. Racetrack smiled.
"Does it look like I hate you?" he asked, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Bookworm gave a small smile back and shook her head.
"No. It doesn't," she said, resting her head on his shoulder as he slid an arm around her waist. They sat there in silence for a while, both lost in their individual thoughts. Finally, Bookworm spoke.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. Racetrack looked down at her.
"For what?" he asked. Bookworm sighed.
"For ruining your night," she said, wiping away a stray tear.
"I got to kiss a beautiful girl," Race said with an impish smile. "Nothing could ruin my night after that." Bookworm blushed slightly.
"Even though said girl took off running only moments later?" she asked. Racetrack laughed.
"That just made it more exciting!" There was a pause before Racetrack continued. "I didn't scare ya, did I?" he asked.
"Of course not!" Bookworm cried, sitting up. Racetrack thought for a few moments.
"So then you wouldn't mind if I kissed you again?" he asked. Bookworm's smile faded, the opposite reaction that Racetrack was looking for.
"Please don't misunderstand me," Bookworm said pleadingly. "There's nothing that I would love more, but I don't know think that now is the best time for me to start a relationship with anyone." She fought back tears as she spoke, praying with all her heart that Racetrack would understand. To her immense relief, Racetrack smiled charmingly and gave her a hug.
"Don't worry, Bookworm," he whispered. "I understand completely. When you're ready, I'll be waiting."
A/N: And there it is! Hope you enjoyed! Talk to you again by July 4th!
