AN: Chapter 2- read and review
PS: I won't have much to say in my AN for this fic because when I write depressing fics I don't feel like talking…so just bare with me…
I came back the next day, as promised. Medda seemed to be expecting me, and simply waved me back. I took off my hat as I walked down the hallway, taking a deep breath before I stepped into the room.
"It's me." I said as she lifted her head to look. She laid her head back down, and I could tell she was worse than yesterday. She smiled at me as I sat down and laid my hat on the nightstand.
"You came back."
"Well, I promised, didn't I?"
She laughed. "I think you just came for your watch."
"You'll jest have ta take my word for it. It wasn't jest for da watch. Trust me."
She nodded, and then reached out her hand, offering my watch back to me. There was a deep imprint in her hand where it was sitting- she'd either been squeezing it really tight or she'd held it all night like that.
"You keep it. I'll tell ya when I want it back."
"Thank you." She said, closing her fist around it again.
Another silence, but this one was much less awkward than the ones yesterday. I guess she accepts silence as a part of normal conversation.
"So what are all these books?" I asked, gesturing to the stack of books that had grown by three overnight.
She reached up and pulled one down, gently stroking the cover. "They're the classics. Great works of art." She pushed herself up until she was sitting up, propped by lots of pillows. "Why don't you borrow it and read it?" she asked, holding it out to me.
"I…I really can't." I said, noting the embarrassment in my own voice.
"Why not?"
I looked down at the floor, feeling a blush creep across my face. "Cause I can't read."
Her mouth dropped open in astonishment. "You can't read?!"
"Dat's what I said!' I snapped, immediately regretting it, but she didn't seem to mind.
Silence. I could feel her eyes on me, feel her studying me in a new light.
"Will you learn?" she suddenly asked.
"What?"
"Will you learn? For me?"
I hesitated. I shouldn't have to do anything that she told me to. I didn't have to learn to read just because she was going to die. But then again, I knew I needed to. Maybe Specs would have some spare time in the evenings before lights out…
"Sure. I…I'll try."
She was beaming now. I couldn't help but feel like I'd accomplished something, making her happy in what were probably her final days.
"Aren't you scared?" I blurted out, and I was stunned when the smile didn't leave her face.
"No. Not at all."
I was perplexed. 'Why not?"
"It's my time."
"But you's so young!"
She looked back at the window, and I wondered why she didn't just open it and look outside. "I've had enough life. I've gotta move on."
"I don't understand…"
She looked back at me, the smile never fading. "Neither do I."
I groaned in frustration, avoiding her gaze. This wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that someone like her had to die and someone like me- who'd wanted to just die for so long- was still sitting here, totally healthy.
"You're very handsome."
I laughed. "You said that yesterday."
"Well, I mean it. But…you're not happy at all. I can see it in your eyes."
"You said that yesterday, too."
"That's because I don't think you quite understand yet."
"Understand what?"
She took my hat off the nightstand and started inspecting it, turning it over in her hands. I watched, curious, but decided not to ask.
"What do you say to going out and burning this? Right now?"
"I wouldn't recommend it."
"Well why not?"
I was getting frustrated already with this charade. "Cause dat's the only hat I got."
"So it's important because there's only one?"
"Yeah, I guess. What's all dis about?"
"There's only one of you."
"I'm bein compared to a hat?"
"Well, obviously you don't have the guts to object."
I tried to keep my temper from getting the better of me as she pulled my hat down onto her head. It promptly fell over her eyes, and she leaned back against the pillows. "I'll bet if I said I were keeping it you wouldn't say a thing. You'd just sit there and sulk through the rest of the conversation, and then you'd leave."
"What makes ya think ya know all dat?"
"I just do."
I reached forward and snatched my hat off her head, pulling it back down on mine as she busted up into laughter.
"Is dis another one of your mind games?"
"No…I just wanted to get under your skin. You're funny when you're mad."
Medda opened the door, her hands on her hips. "What are you doing in here?"
"Nothing, Medda. Just having a few laughs." The girl said.
"Well, laugh time is over. You're going to miss curfew if you don't go." Medda said to me. I nodded and stood up, saying a quick goodbye. Medda closed the door after me, and then stopped me just before I left.
"I just wanted to thank you." She said.
"For what?"
"That's the first time I've heard her laugh since she got back. She really likes talking to you."
I nodded and walked out, running back to the lodging house and getting there five minutes before curfew. Not that I would've known- my watch was back at Medda's.
I saw Specs on the way in, and the book he was reading reminded me of the promise I'd made. I sighed but knew I had to follow through- I may be pessimistic, but I don't break promises.
"Hey Specs."
He looked up from his book and smiled, although I knew what he must've been thinking; Why is he talking to me? Did I make him mad?
"I…I was wonderin'…if you could do me a favor."
"What?"
I sat down beside him, not wanting any of the other newsies to hear my request. "I was wonderin' if you's could teach me how ta read."
I could see the look of pity in his eyes, the same look I'd been avoiding all these years.
"Sure, Skitts. Wanna start right now? This one's pretty easy."
And so that night I learned the basics of reading. And I wondered what else I would be doing for this heaven-bound girl before she was gone.
AN: Review!