Dead Poets and Dying Roses

Eight Chapter

"You look tired, honey? Do you feel sick?", my aunt asks me at breakfast. I already know I look like a ghost after staying up so late last night. And the alcohol. "Oh, I just didn't sleep very well. I'm not used to the bed here anymore." The lie escapes my mouth as fluent as I speak French. Glad, that nobody further questions me, I take another bite of my toast. After cleaning the table and helping Mrs. Perry with the household I loudly exclaim that I now will work on my studies. Also I make sure, that Mr. Perry sees me sitting down at my desk. As soon as he closes the door to his office room I put my math papers away and take out an unfinished poem. I know I should do more for school, but I just can't focus here at home. A car driving by or the sun reflecting itself in one of my glas vases and I'm already distracted. That's a problem as I need to hold up my grades in order to stay in favour of my uncle. I mean, I'm not a bad student, but I'm not very good either. My strengths lie more in the area of literature and language than in math and economy. In Mr. Perry's eyes that means I'm not trying hard enough. Sometimes even I think that my talent to write isn't worth anything as it doesn't get me far in this world. But I won't give up my dreams, just because some men tell me so. At least I have to try it. So I close my eyes and write, let my feelings spill out on the paper. In the end I stare at it proudly. Now I'm going to have something to present at the next meeting. Just when I think about the Dead Poets the phone rings. Happy about Neil's call I practically fly down the stairs. Mr. Perry just quickly looks out of his office. "Don't worry, uncle. I'm going to get it, so you can continue working." He probably thinks, that I want to better my image by keeping his peace. If he knew. "Hey!", I answer the phone. "Wow, that sounds enthusiastic. Are you so glad to hear my voice again?" That's not Neil. "Charlie?" My eyebrows furrow. "The one and only.", he just says. I take a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure nobody is listening. "Why are you calling?" Curiousity rises in my chest. I think it just runs in Neil's and my blood to be interested in everything. "Would 'I miss your angelic voice' be the right answer?" I laugh at his words. "Okay, we just met yesterday, so what the hell do you want?", I ask him smiling. "Well, it is the truth, but I indeed have a little request." I bit my lip waiting for what stupid idea would follow. "I thought because you are a girl..." "No, really? I didn't know that, thanks for enlightening me, Mr. Holmes." I can't hold back a sarcastic remark. "Haha. Very funny.", I hear Charlie complaining, but he's laughing. "So because you're a GIRL, I thought maybe you could bring some of your girlfriends to join next time." I clutch my hand over my mouth or Mr. Perry will get suspicious of so much joy in his house. "Are you really that desperate?" "Oh, come on, Rose!", he begs, using my nickname. It sounds good how he says it. "You have seen those boys, they need some motivation!" I lean against the wall. "And motivation means girls for you?" I can't even get the question out without snorting in amusement. "Yes, I mean, you already enlightened us with your presence.", he charms me. What can I say, how can someone resist boys that know how to use words the right way? "Fine.", I sigh. "But it's going to be risky, so I need a favour in return." "Anything for you, my love." A gasp escapes my lips. "Okay, slow down a bit." His laughter ring through the phone. "So, what kind of favour are we talking about?" I think for a minute, but can't come up with sonething this quick. "Let yourself be surprised! Or are you too afraid?", I challenge him while playing with the cable. "Charlie Dalton is never afraid of anything!" He's an idiot, but somehow that is kind of my type. You have to focus, I warn myself. He's just a flirt, nothing more. "See you, Charlie the Brave." And with that I hang up.

Neither does she know, that Charlie is thinking the same to himself. He needs to get her of his mind, so he thinks bringing some other girls will hopefully distract him enough to forget her.

I nervously play with my fingers, while sitting in the car with Mr. Perry. He is driving me to the etiquette course I convinced him to let me go out for. Mrs. Perry actually has helped me without knowing by saying that maybe I would learn some good table manners and other boring stuff. Well, she obviously hasn't said that last part like that. Neither one of them knows, that the house we are driving to is just my friend Tina's home. Tina's family lives in this big house that has belonged to a girls school once. I'm lucky, they never put the sign down and that Mr. Perry doesn't know anything about it, so my lie seems more trustworthy. Damn it, Charlie owes my a whole bunch of favours after this dangerous trip. Sweating, I walk up to the door as we arrive, Mr. Perry's eyes burning on my neck. He is making sure I don't do something stupid. Tina opens the door and wants to greet me, but I interrupt her panicing. "Just let me in and look innocent!", I urge her and she immedeatly understands. With the most elegant behaviour she lets me in and the stress leaves my body as I hear the car leaving. "Okay, what was that?", Tina interrogates me as soon as the door is closed. "I will tell you, but first of all, do you have any plans for tonight?"