July 1, 1939

John Coffey was sleeping, Eduard Delacroix was watching mr Jingles, Wild Bill Wharton was quiet and Angela was jumpy. Angela's jumpiness had everything to do with Wharton's silence. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she had mouthed off at him and it made her more than a little nervous.

She knew there were bars between them, and it was highly unlikely that they would every meet without the bars between them, but somehow that didn't stop her from feeling nervous. Never mind, Brutal will protect me, she thought.

Angela broke into a silly grin when she thought about Brutal. We kissed, Angela thought, just barely suppressing a giggle, I can't believe we kissed. She knew in her heart that it was hopeless, she knew that they could never be, but it was really all she had left to cling to. Her execution was set for July the 7th, only six days later.

Angela wasn't the brightest girl in the world, but she knew very well that in six days her life would end. Six days. It seemed so unreal, so impossible. I am to be executed, she thought, and found that the thought didn't scare her. Maybe I'm not afraid to die.

Angela sneaked a peek at Wharton's cell and noticed with some relief that he was no longer looking at her. He was looking at Toot-Toot, an amiable and slightly crazy old man, who was mopping the floor. Angela wasn't sure if Toot-Toot worked at the Green Mile or not, but she liked him, so it didn't really matter.

Wharton was fixated on the old man, and Angela couldn't help but wonder why. She had to strain her ears to hear what he was saying to Toot, but she thought she heard him mention a moon pie. Toot nervously looked around, not looking behind him where Angela was watching, and swapped the moon pie for something. Toot hurried away and Angela looked at Wharton again. He was unwrapping a strange looking candy bar and, not knowing he was being watched, crammed the whole thing into his mouth.

Angela wrinkled her nose and looked away. She continued to look the other way until she became aware that Brutal was doing a cell check. She smiled at him when he came to hercell and he smiled back before jotting something on his clipboard.

Angela got up while he was writing and walked to him. She stood in front of him and smiled up at the big man. He gently grasped one of her hands and placed a soft kiss on it before he looked up and kissed her softly on the lips. Angela stepped away from him with a smile, and allowed him to continue his job.

After checking Del and John, Brutal arrived at Wharton's cell. Wharton was standing at the bars, staring ahead, his cheeks bulging outward. Brutal stepped closer, fascinated, when suddenly Wharton slammed his fists into his own cheeks, propelling a disgusting spew of liquefied chocolate sludge into Brutal's face. Angela gasped in surprise and Wharton shrieked with laughter, falling back onto his bunk.

"Li'l black Sambo, yassuh, boss, yassuh, howdoo you do?" Wharton mocked.

"Hope your bags are packed" Brutal said calmly, wiping at his face.

Before long Wharton was dragged to the restraint room, kicking and screaming all the way. He was tossed in and the door slammed shut. Brutal turned away from the room, still wiping the sludge off.

"The moon pie thing was pretty original" Edgecomb said "Gotta give him that"

Brutal nodded when suddenly Angela caught his eye. Her head was down, her shoulders were shaking and she was trembling all over. Brutal went to say something but Edgecomb beat him to it.

"Angela?" he questioned "Are you okay?"

Angela shook her head but didn't look up. Brutal walked to her and touched her shoulder. When she looked up, he was shocked to find that she wasn't crying, she was laughing.

"It was disgusting, but it was also one of the funniest things I have ever seen" Angela laughed.

Inwardly Brutal was happy to see her laughing, outwardly he frowned and turned to walk away.

"No, wait" Angela cried.

Angela grabbed hold of his jacket and he allowed her to pull him back.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh" Angela said, still half laughing.

Brutal just sniffed but smiled when Angela kissed him on the nose.

Edgecomb was watching all of this without speaking up. He had had a feeling that there was more between them, and now it appeared his feeling had been correct. Edgecomb prayed that Brutal knew what he was getting himself into, he could be severely hurt if he didn't.

Brutal, however, knew exactly what he was getting into. He knew he was setting himself up for a world of hurt. Angela was set to be executed in just six days, and only a miracle could stop it now. He also knew that if he continued the relationship, he would likely fall in love with her, if he wasn't already. He knew all of this, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He could no longer pull back, he cared too much to do so. All he could do was take it one day at a time, and pray, pray that somehow she would be saved.