Chapter 13

Happy Boithday

Olivia ran all the way to the boarding house. She flew up the stairs and searched the bunkroom, but there was no sign of Mush. Oh no! she thought to herself, they may have taken him to the hospital! She ran downstairs and tore through the living room and kitchen. Where could he be?

"Olive?" she heard someone call her.

She sighed with relief. "Mush? Where are ya?"

"Down here," he replied.

"You're in my room?" she questioned, wondering what was going on. She ran down the rickety steps that led to the dingy basement. This was no place to keep a sick young man! Her room was right at the bottom of the stairs. Mush was sitting on her bed. "Are ya ok?" she asked with concern.

He grinned, happy that his scheme had been pulled off. "Yeah."

She looked at him strangely. "But Kid said…"

He stood up. "Have ya looked around?"

She realized that she hadn't. She glanced around the room quickly, her eyes widening. "What…" The room was painted in a light yellow shade (unlike the former grimy white walls), there was a large mirror mounted on the wall just like she had wanted, there were new white curtains on the window, and the floor had a soft beige colored carpet on it. There was a vase with daisies in it on her nightstand. She smiled and threw her arms around him happily. "Did you do all this?!"

"Jack helped me wit the paintin," he replied modestly.

She smiled. "I love it. It's…it's poifect, Mush!"

"Happy Boithday," he said quietly, hugging her tightly.

"Thanks," she smiled into his shoulder. Olivia suddenly became very aware of their closeness and pulled back awkwardly. "So, ya not sick then? Kid lied to me?" she asked uncomfortably.

"I told him to," he told her. "Ya ain't mad at me, are ya?"

She looked into his eyes. "Couldn't be mad at you, Mush."

"Good," he said with one of his trademark smiles. "Hey, these here are from Spot," he said, pointing towards the daisies on her nightstand.

She looked at him suspiciously. "Is that so," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

He let out an amused sigh, her reaction being expected. "He's real sorry, Olive. He told me to tell ya."

"Ya talked to him?!" she exclaimed. "Why would you…"

He put his hands up in defense. "He came all the way here from Brooklyn just to ask me to give these to ya. Maybe the two of you'se should talk sometimes. Just maybe forgive eachudda."

Her eyes softened slightly. "Mush, it's my boithday. Gimme a lil peace," she said with a sigh. "Talkin bout Spot ain't gonna help me mood."

"Alright Olive," Mush nodded in understanding. He didn't really want her to talk to him anyway, and risk them getting back together. He shrugged the thought off. "I, uh, I made ya a card," he told her. He pulled it out of his back pocket and handed it to her. "Don't read it till I'se gone, ok?" he instructed her.

She nodded. He left quickly, looking self-conscious. She sat down on her bed and opened the card, which was really just a hastily scribbled down letter.

Olive,

I can't remember what life was like without you around. I mean that in a good way. You were like a breath of fresh air around here, even when you was pretending to be a boy. Remember how you begged me to set you up with Spot? And I did? I hate myself for doing that, for two reasons. First, Spot ended up hurting you, and I never ever would want to see you hurt like that. Second, I liked you myself, all along. Olive, I hope this doesn't sound too corny, but I loved you from the moment that I saw you. Ok, so when you was pretending to be a boy I didn't love you, but I liked ya. I liked your personality and your spunk and your brains. That's why I think I've fallen for ya. You love life and I love you. I hope you could love me that way.

Happy Birthday,

Mush

P.S. Come to Tibby's.

Olivia smiled, pulling the letter to her chest. "He loves me," she whispered to herself. She was startled. When did Mush become the love of her life? Had she loved him all along? She'd known back when he came to her rescue after the Spot incident that Mush was her kindred spirit, her soul mate, whether they stayed just friends or not. It just seemed right to be with Mush. Finally, a boy liked her that wouldn't create a lot of drama in her life.

* * * * *

Author's Note: Aww, isn't my Mushy sweet? Sorry, I had to make him write a mushy note, cuz his name is Mush. Maybe that's how he got the name? Anyhow, that's the kind of letter I'd like to get from a boy! Sigh

Ok, on another note, there's been a request for a war scene at the party so, despite my inexperience in writing stuff like that, I'll try my very best! Hope it works haha. Thanks for reading!