What Once was Broken

Chapter 12 .... New Adventures Make New Friends

"So," I began as I hopped from a pillow to a suitcase, "why did I have to change clothes if I was going to get wet anyway?" "Well, put it like this." the boy responded from behind, "Your night wear was so thin that it was practically see through. The fact it was a light color didn't much help that either!" After our little talk, we scrounged the underbelly looking for some dry clothes, which turned out to be a success! I chose to wear a red colored jumper dress that stopped about a four finger length from my knees, along with a white blouse, short, gray colored leggings, white knee high socks, and turquoise buckle flats, still fairly new. I had placed my soaked cloak and gown in a brown leather sac à dos, a rucksack that we had found, which the boy was now wearing along with his blue cardigan. Now that I thought about it, he looked well in the color blue. It gave him a fuller looking figure than his gray tank underneath. "I think your cardigan suits you. You know, with your complexion and all." I said, paddling my way towards a barrel. Bubbles formed behind me, and I leapt quickly from the water to avoid being dragged under by the mysterious monster called "The Granny". "You don't look so bad yourself." The boy replied, hopping to a suitcase on his left. "You look like an adorable school girl from over seas without your cloak hiding your hair and face. Red really IS your colour!" I felt flattered by his complement, charmed even. I smiled to myself as I hopped to a crate, then to another pillow. "So what do they call you, anyway?" I asked, turning around to make sure he was alright. "What they call me?" The boy asked, looking up in a confused manner. A harsh force came from beneath me, knocking me into the icy, gray colored water. I quickly swam over to a sofa, and clambered on just as the creature reached a hand out to grab me. "Are you alright?" The boy called, hopping onto a larger crate, then a smaller one. "Oui, I'm okay. But back to my question. How does one address you? What is your name?" "My name?" The boy asked, tilting his head back as if he was trying really hard to remember something. He shrugged, the leapt to a small suitcase just as the harsh force tried to tip him off. "To be honest, I'm not really sure I HAVE a name anymore." He replied. "Then how shall I call for you when I need your help? You must have SOME kind of name!" I said, holding on tightly to the sofa should the Granny try and tip me off. "Well if you're a monster," the boy began, making his way closer to my location, "I'm nothing but a child fillet steak. If you're the mistress of the Maw, I'm a filthy heathen. But most days, I like to call myself, "The Runaway Kid"." ""The Runaway Kid"?" I asked, scrunching up my face into a weird expression. Once the boy reached the sofa, he nodded his head, and climbed out from the water just as the water beast tried to capture him. "Yes, "The Runaway Kid". But if you choose to call me something else then have a crack at it." A forceful impact tried to launch us both from the sofa, but thankfully it failed, thanks to the idea of holding on. "She's relentless, I swear!" The boy muttered under his breath. I leapt from the sofa onto a file cabinet looking structure, then another barrel. "Do you suppose the name Pierre would be fine?" "I assume france is your native country, but I much rather not a name from there, no offense." The boy replied, following behind. "Cole then?" "Nah." "Jacob?" "No." "Alexander?" "Too posh." I leapt over to a stool, and held on to the cushion. "Well there has to be SOME proper name I can give you." "Try something British sounding, but not posh like the name "Alexander"." The boy replied. "Milton? Oliver? Graham?" I guessed. The boy shuddered in disgust, and shook his head no. "Something that suits me." He suggested, hopping to keep up with me. I studied him for a bit, thinking real hard about what name he may accept. "Ellis? Nico? Fletcher? Charlie?" "Charlie?" He asked. I nodded my head, and replied enthusiastically, "Charlie's a cute name. I think it would fit nicely with your complexion." The boy tilted his head back in thought for a moment, then smiled a wide grin. "Yeah... Yeah! I like that name, "Charlie". Not to posh, OR wild sounding!" We shared a giggle with each other, and continued on hopping and swimming our way across the depths of the Maw. "Now that we found a name for me," Charlie began after minutes of swimming and hopping, "may I ask what I shall address you as?" "Claire," I replied, "Claire LaBouvier." "Claire, eh?" The boy asked, smiling, "Lovely name. It fits with your personality quite well." "Merci! Thank you kindly." I replied, bowing at the hips. I continued to hop ahead of him, only swimming when I was bucked off the object I was on, or having to get to a far away platform. "H-Hey now! you're going a bit fast don't you think?" Charlie called, struggling to keep up with me. I giggled, and shouted back to him, "Keep up Charlie! I see dry land!" And continued on hopping until I reached a dry peice of floor. "Almost there! Give me a minute!" Charlie called, and right before he could jump, "AHHHHHHHHHHH!" The Granny had launched him into the air, causing him to hit the wall above me. "Ch-Charlie!" I exclaimed, alarmed by the impact of the hit. "Owwwww." He moaned, hitting the floor with a thud. I ran over, and propped him up on the wall. "Mon dieu! Étoiles au-dessus! Are you alright?" I asked, examining Charlie for any broken bones. "You know," he uttered weakly, catching his breath, "I like it when you talk in french. It's very pretty." "This isn't about me right now. You just fell from a great height Charlie!" I replied, moving some of his hair from his face. "Ha! I'll be fine, I assure you." He replied, puffing out his chest in a strong manner. Irritated, I huffed, "Why is it that boys say they're okay, even when they're NOT okay! You accidentally cut yourself, but "I'm okay", then you fall down heights like these, and you still respond with "I'm okay"! You could've DIED you know!?" I took his hand firmly, and I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. "I don't want to lose anyone else. I don't want to sit here, and watch another soul die!" I placed the back of his hand on my forehead, and began to sob as my memories went back to the incident in the Hideaway. I felt helpless as the Eels had gobbled up every boy and girl, and I NEVER wanted to feel that way again. I felt his hand close around mine softly, and said in a gentle, kind voice, "Your very tender, cordial as well. The world needs more people like you. People who care, and worry about one another. But the one fact I'll tell you, plain and true, is that when a boy says they're okay, all they're telling you really is "I'm strong. Just trust me on this!". It's irritating to hear on your end, I know, but all you can do is take the boy on their word and hope for what's best. A secret between you and I, ninety nine percent of the time a boy who says they're okay, will ACTUALLY be okay." He took his free hand, and wiped my face with his sleeve. I never really understood men, or even boys for that matter! How do you take someone's word on something when they're right there in front of your face suffering? Is it just in a girl's nature to be worrying about every little thing, and nit pick at every situation or choice made? Is it just fused into our genetics to give our heart out for people who may not make it in the long run, and feel regret when we are powerless? What of a boy's genetics? Are they TRULY as strong as they say they are? How can one say that when he hasn't truly shown strength physically? It's confusing for me to say the least. I've only had one person be honest with me when they hadn't been okay, and that person happened to be my father. I remembered as I cried I would ask him if he was alright, and if he had felt any better. He would tell me that he was in serious pain, and that pretty soon his suffering would be over, and just as he said, he died right there in his bed. I set Charlie's hand back onto the floor, and suggested, "We should rest up before heading on. Regain some of that energy we lost from jumping and swimming, yes?" "If you wish it." The boy replied, putting his arm across his tummy, and sighing. I stood up, and dusted myself off as I said, "I'm going to find something for you to rest yourself on." "But there's not much floor to tread, so be careful." "I'll call you if something comes up, promise!" I gave him a quick hug, and was off to find him something soft to rest his body on.