I'm an updating machine.
Bad news though, I'm not going to be able to finish untilmy next break from work when I get home on the 16th. My friends and I are having a Going Away/End of School sleepover and scary movie-athon. And I promised my mom to come to a park opening with her on Friday. I'll be able to update sometime before I leave but not enough to finish things out.
The air outside was cooler as the sunset but still humid. Sweat trickled down my face causing my clothes to become uncomfortable. I saw a deserted dock and stopped, pausing to think about whether or not I should jump in the cold water. Without a whole lot of thought I ran down the wooden platform and swan dived. Treading water I enjoyed the sensation of my wet clothes. I swam under the dock to avoid the looks from people passing. I pushed my hair which had turned black from the water out my face.
Hugging a wide pole holding up the dock, I sighed, relieved things were going to be back to normal soon. I shimmied up the dock support I'd been clutching. Sitting on the dock I dangled my feet over. Well, not everything. Yes, I'd be back on the ocean with the Captain and Leo and Jason, Leo's son, but I don't think I'd forget the newsies. Even if I went back to New York, how was I supposed to face them? Skittery probably in all honesty informed them of what a horrible person I was.I just didn't think I could face that.
I jumped when I heard someone next to me say, "You're wet." The same boy who had taken me to the White Rose sat down my side.
"If you did that in New York, you'd probably get shot." I said, laughing to myself. The boy didn't seem to get it.
"I'm Dean." He stated.
"Mary." I said, not looking at him but rather at the ocean. I sat there, feeling awkward. Something about Dean bothered me and I knew I'd never know exactly what it was. I wanted to run away from him but my legs didn't seem to agree. I pulled them up to me chest and hugged them.
"Why are you here?" He stated bluntly as he ruffled his own blond hair.
I shrugged. "Why not?"
It was his turn to shrug.
"I need to go." I said.
"Where?" He asked, with a crooked, ironic smile. Nosy little...
"Why does it matter?" I asked not liking where this was going.
"Just wondering." He said nonchalantly. "Mind if I come?"
"Well," I frantically tried to scrape up an excuse. "I'm going to see my father."
"Doesn't he live with you?"
"No, not right now." I said bitterly and placed my hand on the wood floor again. "Not that it's any of your business."
"Sorry." I got up and left, feeling him watching my back. Over the next week and a half I spent in Georgia I tried hard to avoid him. It almost became a game, walking through the streets trying to be invisible and fade into crowds. But this game would always take a turn for the worst if Dean came into sight. I couldn't understand why I was hiding from him but I just didn't like something him. I thought about it lying in bed one night and came to a conclusion. I felt spending time with him was somehow wrong because of Skittery.
What happened between Skittery and I was another one of th many things I though about at night. Partly I regretted having hit him. Any other time and I would have kissed him back whole-heartedly. "Any other time!"I thought to myself countless times and hit my head off the pillow.
I went to the hospital every single day and left happier than the last, seeing the Captain heal faster and faster. Sunday, I came in to see him packing things.
"Ahem." I said, knowing he was ready to leave. I knew it was coming but I still smiled like it was a big surprise. "Is there something you forgot to tell me yesterday?"
"Nope, just found out this morning." He shut the suitcase. "Lets go get some train tickets."
"Where to, Cap'n?" I asked.
"It's up to you; Pittsburgh or New York?"
My mouth fell open, not believing I actually had to decide.
Whaddaya think? Tell me!