About the last chapter, I have no idea if the plague already existed in that time. That was just for the story. It is true Romans had no objection towards gay people, but the Jews had.
It had been clear the moment she had seen him, thought Mary. Ruth had become red, and she was clearly a girl that could fall in love with a hero. Or his reputation. Nowadays you could hardly get her out of the room Judas lay in. She stared at him the moments she thought he didn't notice her, laughed when he made a joke, fenced around him while swaying her hips and batting her eyelashes. And of course, Mary thought annoyed, manly as he was, Judas didn't notice her at all. It would surprise her if he knew Ruth's name. The girl was getting desperate. It wouldn't take long anymore before she would come to Mary for advice. And she had no idea what to say to her.
Jesus would still walk around and talk to everyone, of course. But not all the apostles went with him. Two or three stayed in the house, with Judas. Ruth and Mary stayed always, and she started to wish she could go into town too. Judas kept being harsh and mean to her. She talked a lot with Ruth, and noticed the girl was still a child. But she was very nice, and cared a lot about her brother.
After a week, when it was almost evening and Jesus and the others would almost arrive, Mary and Ruth decided to chuck all the men out of the kitchen, so they could eventually take a bath.
"You're not serious, Mary!" moaned John.
"Yes I am," she said firmly while she pushed him outside. "And you should think about that too. I hardly smell a difference between you and Andrew."
She heard Judas laugh, and looked up surprised. He had never been nice to her. He lay tempting stretched out on the bed, leaning on one elbow. The light of the flames danced over his naked chest. John blushed, muttered something dark and went over to Mark.
"The little whore's a point you know," Judas said with a twinkle in the eyes. "You all reek terribly. I'm even surprised you still got people who want to listen to you."
Mary felt her cheeks burning. Did he have to talk about that? "I'm not a whore," she hissed.
He observed her, one eyebrow raised. "May I congratulate you then on a perfect imitation."
She stared at him, trying to strain her anger and desire to fly at him. Mark, John, Thaddeus and James all watched them anxious. They didn't know which side to choose.
"I'd rather be a whore," she said quavering. "Then such an asshole like you are."
She just congratulated herself on having the last word in the argument, when he with a sardonic smile made a half bow. "I feel flattered."
She slammed the door and trembling turned to Ruth. She hadn't heard the conversation, because she was filling the bath, and stared surprised at Mary. "Is there something wrong?"
"No," Mary replied and managed to smile. "Nothing."
Ruth emptied a bucket in the tub, and then, hesitating, asked: "Mary… what must I do? I mean… he hardly notices me, I think."
"He's a man, dear," she answered. "They don't notice anything till you push it right under their nose."
Ruth giggled. "Jesus noticed you."
"We are not married, or anything of the kind."
"Admit it, Mary. It's a public secret you two like each other," Ruth grinned, while she fiddled with her dress.
Mary pushed some hair out of her eyes and calm helped her. "Well… I don't know. That was kind of… an accident. We both didn't plan it, and to admit it, we're both quite shy about it. It's quite different in comparison with you and Judas."
"What do you think of Judas?"
Mary was silent. She remembered the first time she had met Judas. Jesus had saved her from the angry crowd, and had introduced her then in an old temple to the apostles.
She remembered the surprised and searching look on Jesus' face when there were only eleven people to present her to. "Where is Judas?"
"Oh," Andrew answered laughing. "I believe he went to the poor once more. Someone gave him money, so he had to hand out it again."
"Are you talking about me?" a voice said. They all turned around. A dark, handsome man walked over to them. "Hi, Jesus."
"Judas!" Jesus smiled. There was a friendly twinkle in his eyes. "This is Mary Magdalene."
She smiled a little shyly. There came a mocking smile on his face. He observed her, like she was some sort of dirty insect. Her smile froze. He turned to Jesus and asked loud: "Well, you seem to have more money than I knew. A prostitute like her can't be cheap." Then he walked away.
Jesus was for a moment stupefied and amazed. Then he turned to her. "I apologize, Mary. Normally he isn't like that."
"It's alright," she said, with a strained smile.
"No, it's not," Jesus said angrily. Then he turned around and went after Judas. They could occasionally hear them, when they raised their voices in their argument.
After that Judas had acted very politely towards her, but he had never lost his biting, sarcastic manner.
"I can't say I like him, Ruth," Mary sighed while she stepped in the tube. "He always acts like I've insulted him. But I'm sure there's a good reason," she said hastily when she saw the hurt expression on Ruth's face. "I mean, I didn't. I've even done my best being nice to him, because he's Jesus' best friend, but he keeps being unfriendly to me. Don't say you haven't noticed."
The girl was silent for a moment, and eventually nodded. "You're right, I suppose," she said dour.
"Well… do you know what I should do?" Ruth asked after an uneasy silence.
"Well… are you sure he's the right guy for you?"
Ruth's eyes blazed. "Of course he is."
"I mean, we leave over a week again, Ruth. What will you do then? Would you leave your brother behind?"
There was a spark of hesitation in her eyes. "Of…Of course."
"You would give everything up for a man you hardly know. Never see your family again."
"You… You did."
"I didn't have a home like you have. I slept on the street and I had no friends or anything."
She saw that the girl felt very uncomfortable and was silent for the rest of the time.
After two weeks, Judas wasn't totally better, but they couldn't keep him in bed any longer. So they prepared to leave. Mark tried to convince them to stay longer, but Jesus told him sternly that it was a miracle he wasn't ruined by feeding thirteen more people. After that Mark didn't object anymore, but it was clear he didn't like it.
When they stood outside the house, he embraced everyone, almost tears in the eyes. Peter was slightly amused by that, but made sure his face hid his feelings. Ruth shook everyone's hand and embraced Mary once. Peter saw she watched Judas, who was thanking Mark with Jesus, and she hesitated. The girl had been crazy about him. The first week she had tried to attract his attention by being loud and tempting, and the second week she had tried to act like an icy queen. Both methods hadn't worked. Peter had been almost been annoyed by Judas, who probably wouldn't have noticed her if she had stood naked before him, and he knew Mary thought the same. He saw his younger brother, Andrew, watching Ruth with adoration. That was another problem.
Ruth had made her decision, it seemed. She hastily walked over to her brother, Jesus and Judas. She put her arms around Judas' neck, gave him a clumsy kiss, which landed half on his cheek and half on his mouth, let go of him, turned around and ran away, to the city.
Judas looked so baffled Simon started to laugh. Some apostles followed his example and even Jesus wore an amused smile on his face. Mark and Andrew stared in the direction Ruth had run into.
"Why did she do that?" Judas asked weakly, robbing the place she had kissed him.
Mary's eyes were on fire. "Why?" she screamed. "Because she likes you, you big idiot!"
Judas was so perplexed he even forgot his mocking attitude. "Me?"
"I'm surprised too," Simon chuckled.
"Yeah," Judas muttered. He hadn't heard what Simon had said. Then he suddenly looked up. "Hey!"
All the apostles started to laugh again.
Jesus turned to Mark. "I'm afraid we have to go."
"Yes," Mark said. He looked as bewildered as Judas. "I'll have to calm down Ruth."
"Tell her I'm sorry, will you," Judas said, suddenly awake. "I didn't know."
"Yes," Mark mumbled. "Thanks. And- um- well, Judas, eh- I normally should beat you up, I suppose, for hurting my sister, but eh- I suppose you couldn't help it either. Well, good journey." He smiled, still surprised, and left.
"Let's go," Jesus said.
"Yeah," Judas muttered. He added towards Simon: "Shut up, now!"
"You- you…" Tears trickled down Simon's face.
"I can't help it I'm so handsome."
"You, handsome?" Simon chuckled, weeping away his tears.
"In comparison with you. But I suppose that is a terrible argument." In addition to Bartholomew, John, James, James and Phillip, who all now roared with laughter, Simon stopped quite suddenly.
What do you think of it? Please review and tell me! (What do you think, Claire?)
