Well, here's the next chapter. I don't really like it (I never like anything I write, though, so that probably doesn't mean anything) but I hope you do. I've got to warn you that it briefly mentions suicidal thoughts and actions, so if this upsets you, then please don't read it. As usual, enjoy...
Scipio stood looking over the balcony and at the ground several feet below him, feeling dizzy. He could see the mud splattered on the bright green grass, a result from last night's rainstorm. For a moment, he wondered what would happen if he jumped. But no, he couldn't do that; there was still a chance, still a possibility, that Elaine would come back. Still something to live for.
The afternoon sun bore down on the residents of London. It was another hot summer day. Another day without Elaine. He'd barely been able to get out of bed that morning. No, it wasn't the getting up and about that got to him the most, it was the waking up. That one second when he forgot she was gone and had to remember all over again was torture, terrible enough to lead him into situations like this.
Scipio went back into his bedroom and searched through the room, looking for something to occupy his time with, to distract himself. He found a bouncy ball Bo must have put there, a pen that didn't have any ink in it, and a few dirty socks. Nothing particulary interesting. He was about to play around with the bouncy ball when his hand hit something cold and bizarrely shaped. Scipio pulled whatever it was out from under the bed and discovered that it was his old bird mask. Memories of being the Thief Lord and the Stella swarmed into his mind, and he smiled for the first time in six weeks, thinking back to those happier times.
The doorbell suddenly rang from downstairs. Scipio put the mask back and went to answer it. Everyone else was busy playing video games in Mosca and Riccio's room, or, in Hornet's case, reading a book. None of them went to answer the door. Well, they probably didn't hear it, he thought. Scipio turned the knob and pulled the door open, expecting some kid selling something for a school fundraiser.
His heart stopped beating.
"Hey, Scip," Elaine said nervously, turning a piece of paper over in her hands, again and again and again. "Um, I'm back."
She looked so different, but, somehow, quite the same. Her stomach was slightly larger, she was wearing a pretty green cotton dress Scipio had never seen before, and her hair was shorter, though not much. There was a healthy pink glow to her cheeks, and, though he may have been imagining it, he thought she was wearing makeup, something he'd never seen her in before. Elaine smiled awkwardly at him and waited for his response.
"Elaine?" he asked, shocked, voice cracked from lack of use. "I can't believe it! Where the hell have you been?"
"Yeah...about that...it's a really long story..."
"Tell me about it, then," said Scipio, closing the door and sitting down on the porch swing. Elaine sat down next to him, still messing with the piece of paper.
"Well, I ended up getting on a train and going to my parents' house - it's about three hours away from here. I mean, I've never liked them that much, but I just wanted to see how things were. If that makes any sense. A lot of things have changed since I left. My mom quit her job a while back, so now instead of working all the time, she's always going out to clubs and stuff. Meeting guys and...well...you know."
"Yeah, I know. What about your dad? If you don't mind me asking," Scipio quickly added.
"He was in a car wreck two months after I ran away. There was a bunch of drunk teenagers that ran into his car in the middle of the night. He died on impact, the doctors said."
"Oh. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay. Well, it's not, really, but we weren't ever that close. It didn't upset me as much as you'd think it would. I told my mom about the baby, and, as weird as this may sound, I don't really think she actually cares. She was surprised, yeah, but she's got so many problems with all her boyfriends and junk at this point that she's really not that interested in it all." She sighed. "Isn't that horrible, to not even care about your own grandkid? I mean, whatever floats your boat, but still..."
"It is."
"So, anyway, I went to visit Remy's grave after staying with her for a few days. It's really pretty. It's by this river and there's trees and flowers all over the place. Remy always liked lilies, so I left some there. And guess who I ran into? Her parents! They really haven't been doing that well. I'm a bit worried about them, to be honest. You can tell something has changed. They used to joke around and stuff all the time and now they don't. I can understand it, but I'm still wondering if they'll be okay. I stayed at their house for the next few weeks, decided I'd come back, and, well...here I am."
There was silence. Scipio wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and hold her forever. Elaine wanted him to do that very thing. But neither knew what the other wanted.
"I'm sorry I left," said Elaine uncomfortably after a moment. "It was really stupid of me to do that, I know---"
"No, it wasn't stupid at all. It was my fault more than anything. I never should have started arguing with you or any of that stuff. I'm really sorry, Elaine."
"It's okay." Again, nobody spoke. "So, um, what do you think? Again, I'm sorry, but I think that we could try and start over. You know. I really do care about you and all and I think that the baby should grow up with a father. I totally understand if you hate me now, but..." she trailed off into silence.
"And why do you think I hate you?" asked Scipio, a smile creeping upon his face, for some bizarre reason.
"Well...because I walked out out you and stuff...And I'm sure it hasn't been a bed of roses lately," she responded, a bit confused by his expression.
"Yes, you did leave. But who's stayed with you throughout your pregnancy?"
"You..."
"And who let you have a warm home at the Stella when you didn't have anywhere to stay?"
"You."
"And who moved all the way from Venice here with you to have a proper home for our baby?"
"Scipio, now you're making me feel bad..."
"I'm not trying to. My point is that I've gone through all of this with you and you honestly think I hate you?"
There was a pause. "Yes."
"You're too insecure for your own good. Of course I don't hate you. I don't even know where you got that from...But I'm still here, Elaine. Haven't you noticed it yet?"
Elaine smiled at him.
"Exactly."
Elaine put her head on his shoulder, and was relieved when he didn't pull away from her. "I love you so much. And, believe it or not, I actually mean it when I say that. Every time."
Scipio put his arm around her. "I love you, too. And I do mean it every time, as well."
"And, um...Scip? There's one more thing." Elaine was still turning the piece of paper over in her hands, and glanced down at it.
"Okay, shoot. What is that, anyway?"
"Um...well...it's a...schedule." She unfolded the piece of paper and handed it to him. It was a schedule, indeed. It said that whatever it was would take place on the fourteenth of that month, a few days from now, at 4:30 P.M., Dr. Maria H. Johnsen. Doctor? He thought. What does Elaine need a doctor for? And next to the doctors name was one word...
"Physciatrist?"
"Yeah." Elaine started to nervously wring her hands. "Don't worry, it's not your fault or anything. It's actually been going on for about eight months or so now...I've kept quiet because I didn't want you guys to think I was weird or anything, and I didn't want to complain. But sometimes it all got to be too much, and...and...it really sucked, you know? Sometimes I'd think...I'd think..."
"Think what?"
"Nothing important."
"Come on, Elaine, what is it?"
"Nothing, honestly. So I finally---"
"Just tell me what it is. Please." Scipio wasn't about to let her sink back down without knowing what really was on her mind. He thought he knew the answer, but he just hoped it wasn't true.
"Well...you know...some pretty horrible stuff. Like I just wanted to...die." The last word came out in a whisper. Immediately Elaine rushed on, "It's really not your fault, Scipio, it's not---"
"Elaine, why didn't you tell me?" Scipio found it hard to believe. He didn't want to know it, even if it was the truth. How could someone so perfect think like that? Why?
"I told you, I didn't want you to think I was weird." Elaine held up an arm and Scipio was horrified to see a long, white scar going down her wrist. "But I couldn't always keep it all in and this happened. I knew it was starting to get bad, but I never did anything. And it's not because of pregnancy and stuff, since, like I said, it's been going on for about eight months. I finally decided that I needed help or...however you say it, and I got myself this doctor. That'll be my first appointment. I'm lucky I got in so quickly."
Scipio was feeling...odd. He couldn't describe it. Even though Elaine said it wasn't his fault, he felt very guilty. Why hadn't he been able to notice something was wrong? With Elaine hurting herself, she could have ended up dead, and he wouldn't have had a clue...
"Honestly, Scipio, it isn't your fault," she said for a third time. "It's nobody's fault. And I just...I thought you should know...that I was going through this and if I seem kind of crabby or depressed or whatever at times, that it may not just be me being pregnant...and that I apologize in advance," Elaine finished quickly.
"I...I..." Scipio was trying to make sense of it all. "It's...it's fine. Really. I don't mind. I understand - I mean, I don't really know what it's like, since, you know, I've never been in your kind of situation - but it's okay. If there's ever anything I can do for you, just tell me."
Elaine smiled gratefully up at him. "Really? Do you really mean it?"
"I'm dead serious."
"What did I ever do to deserve someone like you..." she sighed.
Scipio said the first thing that came to mind. "You existed," he replied idiotically, causing Elaine to laugh.
"But really," he said, to cover up his moment of stupidity, "if you ever need anything---"
"Just tell you."
"Yes. And if you ever feel bad, um...well...if there's anything I can do to help---"
"Just tell you," Elaine repeated.
"Yes." Pause. "Elaine, seriously, I really am sorry that I didn't notice anything, and...yeah. Don't worry, I'll be right by your side during this whole thing. I promise."
Elaine smiled at him again and moved slightly closer. Their lips were inches away...Elaine could feel his breath on her face...she closed her eyes...
...and the door opened.
"Yeah, I'll be right back. Are you sure you don't need anything, Hornet?" Mosca was calling over his shoulder as he stepped onto the porch. There was a muffled response and he said, "Okay!"
Mosca closed the door behind him and turned around. His eyes fell on Elaine and widened. "Elaine...what...how did you...?"
Elaine smiled at him. "It's a long story, Mosca. But I'm back and staying for good. Is everyone else here? I'd like to explain some things."
"Y-yeah, they are. I was just about to go to the store but I'll wait. Uh, come in," Mosca stammered, opening the door again.
"One minute. I've got to ask Scipio something." Mosca nodded and went inside. They could hear his deep voice say something and Hornet's sudden ear-piercing, excited scream. Elaine and Scipio stood up and grinned at each other, imagining the braided girl's expression right now.
"And that question would be...?" asked Scipio.
"What we were talking about a second ago...you really mean it?"
Scipio grinned even wider as he scooped her into his arms and spun her around. Elaine giggled and felt a flurry of butterflies in her stomach as he kissed her forehead.
"Of course."
Author's Notes: Awww!
...Well, that's got to be the cheesiest thing I've ever written. Lol. Oh well, I had fun writing it. Sorry it took so long; I've had a lot of schoolwork lately and I've been babysitting my godson pretty much around the clock. Reviews are loved!