Birmingham Rhapsody

Chapter IX

  I wake up to weak sunlight streaming through my window. Thomas had fallen asleep in the chair sometime during the night, ashes from his cigarette coating his waistcoat. "Tommy?" I get up and place my hand on his shoulder. "Thomas?" He startles awake, his gem-like eyes settling on me. "Hey Kat... what time is it?" he reaches up and rubs his hands over his face then combs one hand through his hair.

  I shrug. "Early. Although it is hard to tell, what with Birmingham being perpetually cloudy." He cracks a small half-smile and stands, brushing the ashes off. "Get dressed, I'll meet you downstairs," he replies and walks out the door. "Hey! Wait, where are we going?" I call after him. "To my Aunt Pol's first,". I sigh. I'm not going to get anything more out of him for now. "Why?"

  He gives me a frustrated sigh and comes and sits back down next to me. "Stop asking so many questions! From now on I'm only telling you what you need to know and you're going to stay quiet." I shrink back slightly at his outburst and nod slowly. He reaches out and takes my hands in his, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of my right one.

  "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have yelled at you. We're going to my aunt's cause she wants to meet you." I look at him questioningly. "She's concerned about me. I find it ridiculous." He drops my hands and gets up to leave. "She cares about you. She doesn't want to see you getting hurt again."

  Anger flashes in his eyes briefly. "And what do you know about my pain! You're just a silly little girl." Thomas storms out of my room, slamming the door closed behind him.