Sorry this chapter took so long to write. Things have been busy with my role-playing games lately…don't worry Diana, you won't have to kill me just yet, lol.
I smiled and stood up, but he didn't respond. Instead, he just stood there for a moment, then collapsed. I rushed over, confused. "Josiah? Josiah…" I turned him over and felt his forehead, then gasped and drew my hand back quickly. It was freezing, so cold it made a chill go down my back. His face was milky white and he looked like he could have been dead. I choked back tears as I tried desperately to think of something to do. I frantically looked around the barn and noticed a well in the corner. Unable to carry him, I had to drag his body over to it. I lowered the bucket and once I heard water slosh into it, brought it up as quickly as I could. I dipped my hand in the water and wet his face with it, murmuring softly, "Come on, Josiah…come on…"
After
a few minutes, he still hadn't woke up. I felt the first tears fall on my cheek
as I put a hand on his chest, desperately looking for a heartbeat. For a
moment, I didn't hear anything, and then I felt a slight thump. After a few
moments, Josiah began to open his eyes and I smiled at him, incredibly
relieved. He stared up at me, "What happened?" he asked weakly.
"Once
you got to the barn, you collapsed. I was so scared, I thought I'd lost you." I
gushed, aware that tears were still running down my face.
He
smiled slightly, "Don't worry about me. I'm all right now."
Still,
I couldn't help being concerned, "Are you sure? I mean, maybe you should see a
doctor."
"Really,
I'm fine. It's this new medicine the preacher's are giving me. It's for the
stomach pains I've been having lately. They told me I might have a violent
reaction the first time I took it." He sat up, looking a little better.
I
nodded, my mind set at ease, "Oh…so, anyway, what did you want to see me
about?"
He
smiled, "No reason, just to talk to you. Do you think I did okay at the sermon
this morning?"
I
smiled back, "It was incredible. My friends, the ones I was sitting with, never
pay attention in church, but this time they actually listened and seemed
interested. Though no one was more intrigued than I was. You really are the
'Amazing Boy Preacher'."
I
could have sworn I saw him blush slightly, "Thanks." He paused for a moment, as
though pondering something, then said, "But how come you weren't sitting with
your sister? You didn't tell me much about her, but I would've thought that
being twins, you two would be pretty close."
I
sighed, "I don't know anymore. These days, she's nice to me sometimes and other
times she's as mean as the snobs she's friends with. I can't stand it, we used
to be so close. I can't explain what happened. She's not herself anymore. She
never wants to have fun anymore, she used to be so full of life. But now…"
My
voice trailed off as I felt the tears well up again. I immediately looked down,
willing myself not to let him see me crying again. He gently put his arm around
me and I looked up at him again.
"Why
don't you talk to her? Tell her how you feel and that you wish that you guys
were still close. Maybe she'll listen and understand where you're coming from."
I
smiled a bit, "You think it'll work?"
He
nods, "It's worked for me before."
I
grinned, "Thanks. You don't realize how much you've helped me since I first met
you."
He
smiled back, "Glad to be of help."
"Well…I
guess I'd better get back home, can't be late for lunch." I said.
We
both stood up, "Yeah, I better be getting back too."
"Want
to meet sometime later tonight?" I asked anxiously.
He
smiled, "Sure. How about in the cornfield? That way no one can bother us…well,
if you're father's sober, that is."
"I'll
try to hide his whiskey tonight or something," I said with a laugh, "I'll see
you then. Bye."
"Bye…"
We both left and went our separate ways. I ran all the way home through the
cornfields, hoping Rachael and Papa wouldn't notice I'd came home rather late.
I
hurried inside and found Rachael eating at the dining room table by herself. I
was surprised, because usually she and Papa ate outside together when they were
working. "Why aren't you outside with Papa?" I asked her.
She
looked up at me and frowned, "Because I didn't feel like working today, all
right?"
I
raised an eyebrow. Rachael hadn't eaten lunch inside the house in years. My
first instinct was to ask why, but she didn't seem to be in a very good mood
and I wasn't about to get on her bad side. Though I'm beginning to think I've
already done it.
I
went into the kitchen to find something to eat. I found some bread and cheese
and managed to make a sandwich with that. I walked back to the table and sat
down. Before I could even get a word out, Rachael just stood up and walked back
into the kitchen. I stared after her, stunned. Rachael had never purposely
avoided me before. I felt anger boil up inside me and frowning, I pushed my
plate aside and followed her into the kitchen. She was staring out the window,
her back to me.
"What
the hell is your problem?" I asked, glaring at her.
Rachael
turned around, giving me a smug look, "Nothing. What's your problem?"
I
walked a few steps toward her, "What have I done to you? Why are you acting
this way?"
Rachael
glared back at me, "Look, just because we're twins doesn't mean we have to do
everything together. And we especially don't have to have the same friends…"
"I
never said we had to," I shot back.
"All
I'm saying is, I don't want you coming over to me when I'm with my friends, all
right?"
I
nodded, realizing what she meant, "Really? And do your 'friends' include Papa?"
Rachael's
eyes widened and I knew I'd hit a nerve. I continued, "You're becoming just
like those bitches you call your friends. Worse, even. You can't even share
your father with your own sister."
Rachael
smirked, "Of course I can. He just likes me better than you."
I
glared back at her, "That's all going to end if you keep refusing to work with
him outside, just because your friends tell you they wouldn't be caught dead
working out there."
The
smirk vanished from her face as soon as the last syllable was out of my mouth.
"And
you know it too. He's not a man anymore, he's a tyrant. Have you told your
friends about Papa? About how he's drunk all the time and how he can hardly
ever go out in public?" I knew I sounded mocking, but I didn't care.
Rachael
sneered at me, "Shut up…"
"I'll
bet you haven't. You'll never let them know about it, will you? Because you're
too ashamed they'd laugh at you, or even worse…"
"Shut
up!" Rachael screamed at me.
We
heard a gruff voice from outside, "What's going on in there?"
Rachael
and I both gasped and looked at each other. Papa. We heard footsteps and the
sound of the back door opening. I quickly ran from the room, leaving Rachael to
deal with Papa. Not knowing where else to go, I ran out the door and into the
cornfield. It was the only place I knew I would be safe. I was sick of Papa,
sick of Rachael, sick of everything. The only thing that kept me here was
Josiah. He was the only one who understood me. Sure, my friends understood me
too, but not in the way he did.
I
continued trudging through the field, glancing up at the sky, which had already
begun to darken slightly. I couldn't believe all the things I had just said in
there. I'm usually pretty good at controlling my temper, but today I just
couldn't let what Rachael did go.
I
finally reached a clearing and sat down, wondering if I would even be welcome
at home tonight when I came back. Knowing Rachael, I'm sure she had told Papa
the whole thing was my fault. Maybe I could sleep in the barn tonight or
something…
I
frowned, running a finger through the dirt boredly. I had a long time to wait
for Josiah, but I was willing to be patient for once in my life. At first, I
began to wonder if maybe Papa or Rachael would come out here to find me, but as
time passed on, I knew they wouldn't.
The
hours crawled by, feeling more like years. All I did was watch the sky darken
and the stars appear, while pondering what to do about Rachael and Papa. It was
as though they'd both turned against me. If Mama was still alive, it
wouldn't be like this... I reminded myself glumly. About that time, I heard
some stalks rustling in the distance. I could see a light coming toward me. I
smiled and stood up, glad that my waiting had paid off. Finally, Josiah walked
into the clearing. He still looked a little pale, but a lot better than
earlier. He smiled, "Sorry I was so late…have you been waiting long?"
I
sighed, "You have no idea…"
The
smile vanished as he set down the lantern and walked over to me, "Why? What
happened?"
I
frowned, "I was going to talk to my sister, like you had advised me, but she
was practically avoiding me. I lost my temper and started yelling at her and we
got into an argument. Then Papa heard us and came in and the only thing I knew
to do was run out of the house and hide. He takes Rachael's side in nearly
everything, I knew he would punish me."
Josiah
shook his head, "I'm sorry…isn't there something I can do?"
I
gave him a small smile, "No. I don't think there is. The damage has been
done…but I appreciate the offer."
"At
least let me give you a place to stay. You could sleep in the barn and I'd
bring you food and everything. Just for a few days, so you can give your father
some time to cool off."
I
smiled hopefully, "Really? You wouldn't mind doing all that for me?"
He
shook his head, smiling, "Of course not. I'll do whatever it takes."
As
I hugged him once again, I knew that for now at least, things were going to
turn out alright.