Here's the second chapter :)

I also wanted to thank you for the follows and favs :D

I'm still looking for beta readers because my English isn't the best…

—

Bert has been visited by Elizabeth almost every day since their first meeting. She simply admired his works and his music - she was inspired.

Of course, the artist enjoyed that people liked his creations.

Liz was a quiet observer. Sometimes people talked to Bert and she listened.

Probably the most interesting conversation was when a chimney sweep talked to his colleague about his birthday, which was the following day. This brought the girl to an idea.

The next morning, Elizabeth secretly sneaked out of the orphanage.

She got out of the window and climbed down over the tree that stood in front of it. It wasn't the first time she did that, and she didn't care if she got into trouble - she wanted to get a birthday present for him.

She quickly ran away from the orphanage to Mrs. Corry's shop.

She knew that she would find everything she needed there: chalk and gingerbread.

It was early November and the rain from last night was frozen, causing Liz to slip over and over again.

Just a few meters before she reached the store she stumbled, fell and slid across the icy ground.

Tears shot into her eyes, but she stayed calm. Her left hand and left cheek hurts badly, and when she touched her cheek she noticed that she was bleeding.

Nevertheless, she did not stop and went to the shop- but this time slower.

As she arrived at the shop, she reassured herself that no one saw her. After all, she was on a secret mission.

Quietly she sneaked into the shop and went first to the gingerbread. Her luck was that she not only looked younger than she actually was, but was also very small and petite. A doctor once said that she was very likely to be born too soon.

When she arrived at the gingerbread she let her eyes wander through the shelves again: nobody was there. Quickly she put a small bag in her pocket and proceeded inconspicuously.

Still, she tried to remain unseen because nobody would sell her anything- everyone knew she was an orphan without any money.

She continued her "shopping" and went to the back of the store, where she could find chalk and other things. Elizabeth knew Bert needed dark blue and dark red, so she chose those colours.

The girl had problems to reach these two colours. When she looked around, she saw a box. She placed it in a suitable place and climbed up.

Just as she was about to put the colours in her pockets, she was interrupted a voice: „What are you doing, young lady?"

She was startled and dropped the chalk, which crashed on the ground.

She didn't turn around. Bert stood behind her and she couldn't bear to look him in the eyes for such an action. Nevertheless, his voice did not sound angry- but disappointed.

"I ... I looked at the chalk," she lied, climbing from the box, her eyes fixed on the ground.

"Elizabeth ...", his words were more admonishing, but barely more than a whisper, "and what's in your pocket?"

"Gingerbread ...", she scratched the back of her head and continued to look ashamed on her feet.

"Aha ... And what did you want to do with the chalk and the gingerbread?"

"I wanted to give you a birthday present..."

With a sad smile Bert knelt in front of Liz and put a hand on her shoulder: "Why in the world did you want to give me a birthday present? I don't need any presents, especially not if they're stolen."

She looked up and was about to answer when Bert saw her wound on her face: "Gosh, Lizzy! What happened to you? Has anyone done that to you? "

He sounded horrified and she saw the concern in his eyes.

"No, I just slipped. But it only hurts a bit. "

„Are you hurt anywhere else? Do you need to see a doctor? "

"My left hand hurts."

"Let me see," as she held out his hand, he took it carefully and examined it, „not that bad. I don't think you have to go to the doctor."

With a look of admiration, Liz looked at the artist. They had only known each other for a few months, but he cared more for her than any other person she has ever known. He was almost like a father to her. But her question, why she can not live with him, the people from the orphanage always answered with strange stuff. Something with unmarried and classes. She never understood until she asked Bert about a week ago what it was all about.

"You know, Lizzy, there are people who have a little more money than others. Some have a lot, some, have little and then there are those in between. That is why it has been divided into the upper class, the middle class and the lower class. "

"And where are you?"

Bert was a little uncomfortable with this question. How was he supposed to explain to a child that he had no money?

„I'm in the lower class. But this does not mean that you are worse than the others. You only have less money."

She was thrown out of her mind when Bert got up and said, "Come on, give me the gingerbread and the chalk and we'll go away from here before Mrs. Corry see you."

Elizabeth nodded, handed him the bag of gingerbread and picked up the chalk.

Both went to the cash desk, where Bert paid with his yesterday's earnings.

After they left the shop, he gave her both: "Here, you can do with it what you want."

Her eyes lit up when she came up with an idea: "Thanks! I'll be right back!"

"But don't run and be careful! I don't want you to break your bones!"

Nevertheless, she flitted to the orphanage, climbed over the tree into her room, went into the hall and ran to a room where she knew she would find old newspapers there. And indeed: a whole bunch was in the corner.

She quickly grabbed a newspaper and wrapped up the gingerbread and the chalk as best as she could.

Bert sold in the park hot chestnuts and about an hour after she was gone, Elizabeth stood with a wry grin before him, her hands were behind her back and her face now swollen and blue: "Left or right?"

"Mhmmm. Left."

She gave him the gift. On it was a light green hair bow: "Happy Birthday, Mr. Bert!"

With a smile he accepted the gift: "Thank you, Lizzy"

Elizabeth spent the whole day in the park. After a while Matthew came over and both kids played in the park. Bert was a bit worried because Liz coughed a lot and her wounds kept bleeding. At one point he got her a bandage for the face and the hand.

Later that day Bert began to draw a picture. He was watched by the two children. Matthew left as the sky slowly turned pink, but Liz stayed for a moment.

"Bert?", Elizabeth looked at her feet and folded her arms behind her back. She looked as if she had to confess to him that she had destroyed his apartment. Did she want to apologize for the incident in the morning?

The artist looked up from his latest creation, which he just finished, and raised an eyebrow: "Yes?"

"I know you're mad at me but ... can you teach me that?"

A wry smile crept over his face: "I'm not mad at you ... I was just disappointed, because I never expected something from you."

"Really?"

"Really ... and what do you want to get taught?"

Her eyes widened: "Everything! I want to paint as well as you do! And I want to be able to make music too! And show me how to put on these bandages!", she pointed at her hand.

Bert got up and patted the chalk dust off his shirt and pants.

"I can try ...", he scratched his head, "tomorrow I want to play the guitar. Maybe we should start with this instrument?"

Elizabeth grinned from one ear to the other: "Yes! I will be there! And I'll try hard! Bye."

With these words she disappeared towards the orphanage.

The next day, Bert waited patiently for Elizabeth, but she didn't come.

When she was not there the next days, he began to worry. Something was wrong.

I hope you liked the second chapter :)

I have a lot of ideas for the next chapter :)

And a well-known character finally returns. Guess who it is ;P