The Queen Of Spades

Chapter 6, Continued

I nodded and kneeled down in front of Jade's tombstone to get a rubbing off it, hoping that Gideon would leave—and that he wouldn't. I liked hearing his steady breathing, just like I liked hearing Olivia's at night. It reminded me that I wasn't alone, but more importantly, it reminded me that I wasn't there anymore. He didn't, he sat down in the grass quietly and waited for me to join him. When I was done with the rubbing, I sat down next to him and laid my head on his shoulder, feeling him tense briefly and then relax again. The rhythm of his breathing making his shoulders rise and fall like waves in the sea. We sat there quietly, without talking or moving for hours, just looking at the tombstones.

I didn't want to leave that afternoon, but at four o'clock I left the cemetery to go to the boxcar and once again attempt the violin. After homecoming, my hand was shaking more than ever and I couldn't even hold the violin still to put it under my chin. I was about to leave when I heard footsteps and talking outside of the boxcar. It sounded like a few guys talking about the graffiti on the other train cars. I opened the door of the boxcar a crack and stepped out, hoping to slip out without them seeing me. Once I closed the door, I turned around and quietly walked the opposite way of where I usually go, planning on going farther away before I climbed up and train hopped back to the bridge.

As I started walking, I put my hood up and collided with another person that I can only assume was with the other guys. I kept walking, hoping he would ignore me. But, story of my life, he said "Hey girl, where you in a rush to?" Because boys don’t understand grammar, apparently
"Gotta go. People to kill, things to do." I said, jumping up on top of the car I was closest to.
"Well, have fun." He thought I was joking, "But, um, before you go, can you tell us, do you know who painted this?" He pointed to the picture I drew a while ago.
"Yeah, I know who made it. Why?"
"It's cool, I want to know what it means."
"I did, it's about secrets."
"Groovy. Well, if you have time before you go commit murder, wanna help us paint?" Did he really just say ‘groovy’? Wow.
"Aren't you afraid of getting in trouble?" I asked. "Graffiti is against the law, after all."
"Please, graffiti is, like, lower down on the 'not really illegal' things than littering."
"I really do have to go, but have fun and don't do anything stupid like spray painting dicks all over the place."
"I won't, can't promise anything about the others though." He said, then he got a very puzzled look as I started to walk away. "Wait, where are you going? The exit's that way." He pointed in the opposite direction of the bridge.
"Not for me B'y." He watched as I ran until I got to the bridge and jumped on to it. I didn't want to go back to the house but I didn't want to stay if I wasn't alone. It had been weirder than usual at the Hudson's house since yesterday. Olivia slept on the couch in the living room and nobody spoke during breakfast. They were scared of me, I could tell. I expected it but still, it kind of hurt my feelings. Honestly though, I was glad. They didn’t try to act friendly anymore and I was glad.