Disclaimer: I do not own The Book Thief.

Please note, The narrator, Death, writes in bold.

AN: Put a little up here. Im busy with exams, but school ends for me some time in May I should be able to write more when it ends. Thanks for reading :)

A/N #2: PLEASE NOTE IN THIS FIC: LIESEL IS NOW 16, BETTINA IS 14, VIKTOR IS 18 AND RUDY IS 16 YEARS OLD!

Chapter 22: Poker Face

Rudy shakes his head. He wants to forget that sex dream ever happened. He gets his morning routine started. He feels the stubble on his chin with his fingertips, frowning slightly. He had just shaved two days ago and already the bastard was growing back. It never used to grow back this quickly. He guesses he is growing up now. He sighs, as he opens his nightstand drawer. He pushes past the mess of poker cards that took up most of the contents of his drawer until he finally found his blade. He also grabs a fragmented piece of mirror, just large enough to be a hand sized one. He had won it the last time he played cards against the other recruits. They weren't allowed to gamble on the premises. But that didn't stop him.

He gets to work on his facial hair, eyeing the broken mirror as reference. He curses when he nicks himself. He really needs to get some shaving cream. He doubts anyone is bartering that. A broken mirror is good enough, it isn't likely someone could get their hands on shaving cream. There is so much they didn't have here. He sure didn't feel like a superior race these days. He is just as hungry as he was at Himmel. Just as hungry, if not starving. They worked him to the bone here. Rookies like him weren't fed much to crush their spirit. At least that's what Volker had told him. Like Holle, if that were true. That kid was always spewing conspiracy shit to others. That there were these things called gas chambers or something like that. And the Jews were being gassed to death in those vacation camps they go to. There was no way that was true. It wouldn't be a vacation then, but a death sentence.

He had entertained the thought once that were getting rid of the Jews. But cold blooded murder? There was no way that could be true. It would have gone against everything his family had told him. His friends. His teachers. If that were true than everything he knew was built on a lie. He isn't like that Saumensch that is content living a lie. Pretending to be German. Pretending to love him. No, he wasn't one bit like her. He is above her. Like he was that night. He felt like a sick bastard. Her face contorted in fear, there was something nice about it. Something satisfying about finally overpowering her and forcing her to acknowledge him. Everyone noticed him for how great he was. How athletically gifted. Good looking, smart and talented. Why did Liesel want Viktor instead?

He feels an overwhelming jealousy. There was nothing good about him besides money that is. Is that what she was after? She sure didn't seem like it on the surface. But then again no one was these days. Surely not his perverted, sadistic self. Everyone was always wearing some sort of poker face. He had been having so many dreams of Bettina lately. Vile ones that a brother wouldn't have for his sister. And he liked them too. He wondered about himself lately. Would she be able to accept his demons? See his dark side and still stand by him? Liesel surely couldn't handle his dark side. She had finally seen him at his worst, if not his true self. His shadow self and she had been terrified. So terrified that she had closed her eyes and looked away. Was sex with him really such a horrifying thought to her?

Back to Viktor. He was clearly easy on the eyes if you could get past how disgusting he was. Besides he was sure he was way more attractive than him anyways. That scrawny bastard surely wasn't an athlete. But most rich kids like him weren't supposed to be into sports anyway. Brings family shame or some shit. Oh the agony, of engaging in the same activities of the poor! He probably held his breath when he walked past poor people. Don't want to breathe the same air as them...

Trausch finally starts. Mumbling and groaning like the baby he is. "Oww, Rudy... Whadja you do that for?" He winces holding his jaw gingerly. The big oaf gives him the googly dog eyes. Ew, the idiot. He isn't his girlfriend that gay shit isn't going to work on him. He thinks in disgust, turning away. "Don't call me Rudy. We aren't friends." Rudy says, his voice low with irritation.

"Aww! I thought we were best buds!" Trausch exclaims sarcastically.