Sorry, I know it's been forever, but school has taken over my life.
This chapter is slightly filler-ish. Slightly.
Thank you, again, for your lovely reviews, I have so much fun reading them:D
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He finally said it. He finally fucking said it. Those three little words that I had said to him so many times and never gotten in return. The night after Lucy and Jude became a thing, I had watched in wistful amusement as Lucy practically floated around the apartment, an airy smile on her face and a radiant glow about her that hadn't shown up until then. I had shaken my head in exasperation, but secretly longed to feel the same way she did. Now, I finally understood.
The next two weeks seemed to go by in a flash. I found a job, as I found I going farther into the red zone as far as rent goes, at Katz's. It wasn't amazing; the manager was some greasy, skeezy guy who needed to embrace the invention of showers and whenever I wasn't at home or occasionally sleeping, I was there, but it paid the rent.
I hadn't seen Max in almost a week, however, so I stumbled into the Vet Ward at 9:30 one evening, blisters on my feet, my hair messy and unkempt, and my head throbbing horribly. As soon as I reached Max's bed, I collapsed face-forward onto the end of it.
"Tired?" he asked, a trace of a smirk forming on his lips, despite the deep, violet circles under his eyes and the drip pumping fluid into his right arm.
"Mmph," was all I could reply.
"So begins Eleanor's downfall into the Rat Race."
"Like you would know anything about that," I grumbled in response. Smiling feebly, he teased a few strands of my hair between his fingers.
"Oh, but I do. As a proud member of the New York City Transportation Service, I believe that I would know everything about that and more."
"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Cabbie Driver," I muttered as I sat up, but I couldn't hide my smile. I shifted towards the other side of the bed and folded my legs Indian-style, resting my back against chilly, metal rails.
"When do you get out of here?"
"Soon. Couple days, I think."
"Good…listen, I really can't stay long. I have to open tomorrow morning at 6:00, and I'd like to get at least an hour of sleep or so."
"Do you think you can come tomorrow?"
I sighed, feeling horrendously guilty. "I'll try, I think I'm working from opening until closing. We'll see how many people decide to show up to work."
A sad smirk formed on his lips. "What's the deal with you working so much? I mean, you barely worked last year, if at all, and now you've been busting your ass around for two weeks!"
"Well, considering I'm paying both yours and my rent, I'm a bit strapped for cash. The money I had last year came from Mommy and Daddy, and they don't exactly support –"
"Since when have you been paying my rent?" he interrupted, eyes narrowing in confusion.
"Since you came back. Sadie needed the money to keep the heat and temporary air conditioning going."
"Jesus, El…" he muttered, shaking his head and attempting to hide his embarrassment. "You don't have to do that…"
"I know I don't. It's a good thing I love you, isn't it."
"Honestly, I'm sure I'll be back to work in a few weeks, don't kill yourself trying to be nice to me."
I kissed his forehead lightly. "I'm not killing myself. I'll finish off this month's payment, and then you can get back to work and pay your own rent bill."
"I'll pay you back for everything, seriously …"
I opened my mouth to protest that there was no need, but closed it momentarily when I realized that this was not an issue of repayment. Finally, I said "You can if you want to, but it's no difference to me."
He nodded but still looked discontent, which only made me feel worse. I glanced absently at clock and groaned.
"I've got to get home…sorry I couldn't stay long." I slid off the bed and got my purse. After sharing a light kiss, I turned to go, but he caught my hand, rotating me back to face him.
He gave me a weary smile and squeezed my hand a little. "I love you, Ellie," he said softly. "You know that, right?"
I couldn't help but laugh a little as I replied "Now I do."
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"Stop telling me this a peaceful march. With the dogs and the violence…and you know those people are much more radical than you want me to believe!"
"They should be radical. You should be radical, we should all be radical!" Lucy spat incredulously. She could barely believe the words coming out of her mother's mouth. She had thought that with two children and a family friend deeply affected by this war, her mother would care and support all the time and energy she had put into SDR. The fact that she was still against it and still trying to convince her that it wasn't her place tore her apart and made her lose any control she had left. "Daniel is dead and Max is all…fucked up, and this war keeps going on and on, and nobody's listening!" she gasped, her voice starting to crack as she gazed outside the telephone booth. She just couldn't understand how thousands of people who cared just as passionately about this as she did would pour their hearts into this and how the government and society in general would just walk on by.
"I'm listening!" Mrs. Carrigan pleaded.
"No, you're not listening."
"I just don't want my beautiful daughter to get hurt," she choked until she could no longer contain her tears. Mrs. Carrigan felt terrible that she prying her eldest daughter away from something that she cared so much about. In one way, she was proud of Lucy for having wisdom and passion beyond her years. But after coming dangerously close to losing one of her children, she couldn't let it happen again.
Lucy knew this what her mother was feeling, and the sharp ache of guilt churned in her stomach. "Mom…don't cry. Please don't cry…everything's really alright here."
She heard the crowd roar and watched the previously peaceful march unfold into a violent riot.
"I'll talk to you later, I've got to go," she said hurriedly before hanging up the phone.
Smack. Lucy froze as she heard the glass shattering from the bullet. She needed out and fast. Frantically, her hand flew for the handle to the door. It was locked shut. No matter how hard she pushed or pulled, it wouldn't budge. People were getting slammed up against the walls right and left, and she swore she heard more bullets being fired.
She leaned up against the wall, and shut her eyes, trying to block out the shouts, the pops from the guns, everything. She started humming a tune that had seemed ridiculous earlier, but right now it was the only thing that was remotely comforting.
"You know it's gonna be…alright…" she sang softly as the tears started to roll down her cheeks.
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I know it's not wonderful and it's short and I'm sorry, it'll get better, I promise.
Review, please. (Nicely, if you don't mind.)