-1Wow chapter 5 already, it's hard to believe I've been working on this for less than a week. Thank you all once again for the supportive reviews. I'm so glad that you all are liking it. Like I said earlier, I personally love writing this fic. Okay, so onto chapter 5...
Nellie woke up several hours later, convinced that the night before was nothing but a dream. It all seemed like a blur to her, the attack, being taken care of by Ben and most of all the kiss. She convinced herself that seeing Ben at the pie shop, brought forth dreams and thoughts about him. She sat up opening her hauntingly brown eyes and looked around. She was in a small room with a great deal of daylight shining through the large window across from her. She signed loudly. I must have fallen asleep at the shop. As she stood up, her head began to spin rapidly forcing her to sit back down on the bed. She looked down at herself finding her wrist wrapped tightly in gauze, bruises on various parts of her body, and wearing an unfamiliar night gown that reached a little below her knees. She tried to stand this time grasping the wall to help her steady herself and proceeded to leave the room. There were very steep grey stairs that lead to a door. She started to make her way down the stairs when she heard voices causing her to freeze and sit down on the step. She peered down to find Benjamin Barker talking to another man while putting shaving cream on him.
"Yes, the weather has been quite good." the customer said in a jolly way as he leaned back against he barber chair.
"Although, the heat has been becoming a tad overpowering." Ben said and began to shave the customer. Nellie quickly hurried back up the stairs.
"No..no, it can't be. I can't be in Benjamin Barker's barber shop. This is absolutely nutter. I must still be dreaming. God, what did I drink last night?" Nellie chided herself sitting back on the bed. She tried closing her eyes and accepting the fact that this was just a wonderful dream until she felt a hand touch her shoulder causing her to jump. Ben smiled back at her in the most charming way imaginable.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Ben? Why was I sleeping in the room above your barber shop?" Nellie asked calming down a little.
"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you were attacked by the greasy git Beadle Banford and well I brought you here." Ben said.
"Why?" Nellie asked eyeballing him suspiciously.
"Umm because you were hurt." Ben asked.
"I knew that, but why would you care if I was hurt or not…I am just a kid after all. That is the purpose of being a kid..to get hurt and get dirty and waste time on dreams." Nellie said.
"I guess I deserved that. Look Nell, I had to help you because you're my friend and that's what friends do." Ben said unable to provide the real answer.
"I appreciate it thanks." Nellie said standing up.
"Whoa there, where do you think you're going?" Ben asked pulling her back.
"Umm back to my home. Father is probably worried sick about me." Nellie said.
"Already taken care of, I sent word to him that you're perfectly safe and visiting Lucy and I." Ben said.
"Oh, well, thanks." Nellie said avoiding eye contact with him.
"You know, it's nice seeing you again. Of course I wish there could have been better circumstances, but it's nice to have you around." Ben said.
"Don't you have any appointments, Mr. Barker?" Nellie asked trying to avoid his previous comment.
"I have an hour break, so you and I could talk." Ben said.
"Talk about what?" Nellie asked.
"Oh..oh everything. I haven't seen you in three years Nell and all of us sudden you come out of nowhere." Ben said.
"Yeah it's kind of funny really." Nellie said.
"Look, all this time, I couldn't forget what I last said to you." Ben said.
"Its quite alright now, I've moved on since then." Nellie said.
"Oh, well that's good. So, how's the pie shop business? How'd you come about running it by yourself?" Ben asked.
"Its alright. My mom got sick and she can't work any longer. So father and her thought it was best that I take over the business." Nellie said.
"Well you're doing a marvelous job. I've never seen so many people in one place before." Ben said.
"Thanks." Nellie said with smile. "How's this place doing?
"Oh it's alright. Business has been kind of down. No one really wants to waste their time in a 100 degree barber shop for practically and hour. I mean I have a full she dual, but it's certainly not like your place." Ben said.
"I didn't know, you actually had a room up here." Nellie said looking around.
"Yeah, my dad and I would sometimes have to sleep here when it got really busy. Customers used to come all hours of the night." Ben said.
"Ben? Why are you doing this to me?" Nellie asked suddenly really upset.
"Doing what?" he asked.
"Torturing me like this." she said bursting into tears. "Stop trying to make me love you again, it's far too much pain. We can't just pretend like nothing ever happened. You broke my heart Ben. You shattered it and now when I finally get my life together, you have come back into it."
"Nellie, please." Ben said trying to console her. She gained control of her emotions and stood up.
"Ben I really should be going." she said in a low voice.
"Alright then, there's a gown in the closet that should be about your size. Sorry, but your original got ruined." Ben said opening the closet.
"Now excuse me while I change." Nellie said wiping the tears out of her eyes.
"Very well." Ben said feeling defeated and went downstairs.
While Nellie changed, Ben sat in his barber chair pondering about this current situation. He couldn't help but constantly think of Nellie with her vibrant brick red hair and haunting brown eyes. Now most of all, she was changing both physically, mentally, and emotionally. The woman that was previously sitting next to him was so much different from the young girl that sat next to him eating lollipops. He couldn't place what exactly had changed about her, all he knew was that somehow he liked it. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Nellie coming down the stairs wearing one of Lucy's old dresses. It was a forest green color which complimented her hair, eyes, and petite figure.
"Well that defiantly suits you." Ben said.
"Thanks, was this Lucy's?" Nellie asked.
"Yeah, but just between us, you look much better in it than she did." Ben whispered.
"Why thank you." Nellie said with a blush.
"Well, you should probably go. Your father probably will need help with the lunch crowd." Ben said with his hands jammed in his pockets.
"Yes, probably." Nellie said shifting her eyes to the floor.
"Will I be seeing you again? And I'm not talking three years from now. Can you come and visit me once in a while?" Ben asked.
"Ben…what will your wife think?" Nellie asked.
"She doesn't have to know." Ben said.
"Uh." Nellie started looking around nervously.
"Please?" Ben whispered.
"Alright fine, but just as friends." Nellie said.
"Very well, so…I guess..I'll be seeing you." Ben said.
"I guess so and thank you for everything Ben." Nellie said locking her eyes with his and smiling, then left the barber shop.
Nellie walked back to the pie shop, which was a couple blocks from the barbers. All the while, she was thinking of Ben and how much he had changed. He was no longer treating her like a little girl or even just a friend. There was something more in his voice when he spoke to her, a new light in his eye as he spoke to her and most of all she couldn't ward off the fact that he couldn't take his eyes off her. Have the table turned? Was he now falling for her? Before she could dwell any further on the situation, she came upon the pie shop in which at least twenty people were lined up in front of. Nellie rushed inside finding her father rushing around nervously. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he raced from one customer to the next delivering pies, taking orders, and collecting money. He finally stopped in just the amount to time to catch his breath and greet Nellie. However when he saw her appearance, he nearly fainted.
"Nellie, what the bloody hell happened to you?" Charlie asked studying his daughter.
"Nothing, why? What's wrong?" Nellie asked.
"Looks like you've been to hell and back. What did that Barker guy do to you?" Charlie asked.
"Nothing, he would never hurt me father. You know that. Now can I help you out?" Nellie asked.
"First put some ice on that eye of yours. Did a doc look you over? Maybe I should call you one." Charlie said handing her an ice cube wrapped in a towel.
"I'm fine, really." Nellie said.
"Are you sure? What's with your wrist?" Charlie asked.
"I don't know really." Nellie said holding it behind her back. Charlie snatched it quickly and studied it.
"He broke your wrist..Nellie, please what did that Barker guy do to you?" Charlie asked holding her by the shoulders.
"Nothing, he didn't do anything to me." Nellie practically yelled.
"Listen pet, maybe you should take the day off and let me handle this." Charlie said.
"Father, I really am fine. Now I'm going to take care of those customers." Nellie said and approached the couple that just walked into the shop.
After a while, Turpin and his entourage entered causing the little bell on the door to ring and Nellie to whirl around to face them.
"I'll be right with-" Nellie started
"Ah yes Nellie, looking prettier than usual, I must say." Turpin mocked making his minions laugh.
"Ah yes Judge Turpin." Nellie said under her breath.
"Nellie, I think that shade of black and blue goes great with your skin tone." Turpin said.
"You-you." Nellie started for them, but he stood up and grabbed her by the forearms.
"Don't even try it or I'll finish what Beadle started. And this time I'll be sure Benjamin Barker can't save you." Turpin threatened.
"Fine." she said pushing out of his grasp. "What can I get you?"
"Blueberry pie." Turpin said with an evil glint in his eye.
"As you wish." Nellie said with a fake smile and turned away from them. An evil smirk took over her face as she went behind the counter and prepared a blueberry pie. Only this time with a special ingredient.
I feel like I should have ended that with a MWHAHAHAH! AH yes the story behind the disgusting pies lies in this and the next chapter. See there's a reason behind it. Sorry that this chapter was kind of bad and not too much action happened between Nellie and Ben, but stay tuned. There is far more to comeJ Preview for the next chapter: What does Nellie put in Turpin's pie? When will she see Ben again? Will romance spark between them? Haha knowing me, most likely, (does the creepy Bellatrix laugh) See you in chapter 6.