Chapter 14- Drunken Honesty

At first, Grim dad want to go to this meeting but now, she didn't. she didn't want to see David and she already promised him that she wouldn't go. She doesn't like breaking promises. In the end, it was Race who talked her into going. He wanted her on his team at the poker game and they would split the winnings.

At the tables at Irving Hall was Spot, Jack, David, Grim, Race, Killer ( the leader of the Bronx), Greenly ( the leader from Queens), Art ( the leader from Staten Island) and their boys. Grim was the only girl at the meeting and Spot sat her next to David. She felt very uncomfortable and had no idea what they were talking about. Instead of listening to the conversation, she kept drinking the beer that was being placed in front of her every time a glass disappeared.

David was starting to become concerned for her. He doesn't know if she can hold her liquor and she's in a room full of boys that wouldn't mind taking advantage of a drunk young girl. When she got to her eighth glass, David took it out of her hand and placed it on his side of the table. Grim didn't protest. She didn't do anything except stare at the table. David also noticed that Spot was watching her too. I'll be damned if he'll take advantage of her like he does with the others, David thought.

"Grim," David said quietly after the meeting was over and all the boys went in their own directions, "are you okay?"

"I'm just swell." she said absentmindedly.

"Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" he asked as he studied her face.

"David, you are the sweetest person in the world." she said then she kissed his cheek. "I love you. You do know that, don't you?"

"I know, Grim."

"Grim," she said thoughtfully, "I never liked that nickname. I guess when you hear it all your life, it kind of grows on you."

"Well, I can call you Edna if you want," he suggested, "provided that you don't stop me again."

"Oh, I felt so bad about that. I would never put my hands on you." she looked like she was going to cry.

"Don't worry about it. Really, I'm fine. I already forgot about it. No harm done. Please, don't cry."

"And I don't like Spot. I'm nothing like him and I don't want to be like him. He's so cold, David. He doesn't trust anyone and I don't think I can live like that, you know? I need to be with someone because I don't like how I am. I need someone to stay with me even when I don't even want to be around myself." she explained.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I don't think I can tell you this sober." she said with a small laugh, "You are the best thing to ever happen to me and I know I messed everything up between us. I know we'll never be together because of the way I act and I can't change that no matter how hard I try. I hope you find a sweet girl who'll give you unconditional love because you deserves that."

"Edna," he sighed.

"Promise me, David." she said quickly, "Promise me you'll find another girl."

"I don't want another girl, Edna. I still want you and I don't know why. I should find someone else but I can't. I just can't do it."

"You're a fool, David." she said quietly.

"Then I'm a fool."

Grim looked away from David and noticed that Spot was watching her from across the room. David also noticed and he wasn't liking it. When there's a girl at a party and there's beer, Spot doesn't drink. The boys says that it's because he wants the girl to be easy to take to bed but, after her conversation, Grim knew that wasn't true. Spot left his group and came over to Grim and David.

"Is she all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine." she snapped at him.

"She had a little too much to drink." David clarified.

"Maybe you should take her home." Spot suggested.

"I was about to do that." David said and Spot was about to walk away but David stopped him, "Can I talk to you for a minute, Spot?"

"Okay." he said then he followed David away from the table so Grim didn't hear the conversation, "What is it?"

"What's your relationship to Grim?" David asked. "Do you like her or something?"

"You better explain yourself, Mouth." he warned.

"I saw the way you were looking at her and I know you kissed her this morning. She told me about that. I'm not going to let you use her like all your other girls."

"Let me tell you something, Mouth," Spot took a step towards him but David stood his ground, "I don't explain myself to anyone. If you wasn't Jack's friend, I would give you one hell of a soaking. Now, you best take her back to the lodging house before these boys get some ideas of their own."

With that being said, Spot gave him one more look then walked away. He didn't feel the need to explain myself especially to David. Besides, there wasn't anything to explain anyway. He's not in love with Grim. That's not the way he worked. He doesn't fall in love with anyone because that's a sign of weakness. He will not let his enemies see any kind of weakness he might have. Spot returned to he seat and continued to watch David and Grim.

"Let me take you back to the lodging house." David said to Grim when he got back to the table.

Grim was able to walk straight enough but David still had to hold on to her. David realized quickly that the lodging house was too far away to have Grim way, so he decided to take her to his apartment. The apartment was empty when David got home. His mother left him a note saying that a neighbor invited them and Sarah to dinner. David already knew Les was at the lodging house and has to get him later. David helped Grim into Les's bed since it was the closest and he began thinking about how he was going to explain this situation to his parents.

"Where are we, David?" she asked after a while.

"This is my home." he answered.

"It's nice."

"Have you ever drank before?"

"Not till I was drunk." she laughed. "I would drink with the guys when I would play poker."

"Did you like the organization?" he asked which made her smile fade.

"Why are you asking me this now, David? You're ruining my good mood."

"I just want to know."

"Well, if you must know," she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling in thought, "it was very…organized. We followed the same routine every day. We wake at six and do excises then we'll have class. At noon, we'll have lunch. The couples looking for children to adopt start coming in at one and we would line up in out age groups depending on what the couple preferred. At seven, we have dinner followed but prayer services. We would go to bed at nine but us older kids would sneak out to the pubs. There's not much to it. Actually, it's a pretty boring existence."

"But did you like it?" he asked.

"Do you think I wouldn't have left if I did? It was the closest thing I had to a home though so I can't speak that poorly of it." she answered.

"Edna, can I ask you something important?" he asked in a serious tone.

"Of course."

"If I left New York, will you come with me?"

"You're thinking about leaving? Why? I still have the money for your family. You can have it."

"It's not about that. Well, not entirely about that. I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud, I guess." he said looking away from her. "Forget I said anything."

"I'll follow you anywhere, David." she said quickly.

"You're drunk, Edna. You'll say anything."

"It's true, though. I would follow you anywhere. I wouldn't want you to be something you've never been alone. I know how that feels. It's really scary." she said, sounding very concerned.

"I won't go anywhere without you, Edna. I promise."

Grim turned her gaze away from David and stared out the window. Her vision was a bit hazy but she could still focus. There was no one outside on the streets and it made Grim feel like it was only her and David in the world. This is a nice feeling, she thought. Suddenly, she felt the bed shift. She looked over to find David laying next to her. She moved her head close to his and gave him a small kiss.

"You are my best friend, David." she whispered.

"So are you." he whispered back.

Grim leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She fell asleep a short time later.