Margaret paced back and forth in her room, coat in hand, running her fingers through her hair and trying her best to calm down. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but she wanted to try. All of Mr. Keating's speeches had inspired her. She loved poetry and freedom, and maybe that's what she would feel tonight. Maybe tonight would be the night she truly embraced the essence of "Carpe Diem."
She nearly had a heart attack when a rock crashed against her window. She sighed and opened it. She stuck her head out and saw Charlie down below, gesturing wildly.
"Oh Juliet! Would you please do me the honor of coming down to join me?"
"Shut up, Romeo!" she replied, laughing.
"When you're done ruining my romantic side, will you honor us with your presence? We don't exactly have all night!"
There was a tree right near Margaret's window. The plan was for her to climb down it, but she was terrified. She put on her coat and took a deep breath, softly murmuring "Carpe Diem." Her bedroom door was locked, and she prayed that no one would come to check on her during the night. As a precaution, she had arranged her pillow and sheets to make it look like she was asleep.
She clung to the small railing attached to her window and grabbed a branch of the tree to climb down. She descended as quickly as she could, nearly falling several times, but luckily, the many summers spent building treehouses with her brother had given her a certain dexterity that had saved her life more than once. When she reached the lowest branch, she realized the height of the tree and felt unable to jump. Meanwhile, Charlie was growing impatient and anxious as he heard the headmaster's dog barking in the distance.
"For heaven's sake, Mag, will you just jump? The guys will be here soon. They've distracted the dog with treats, but it won't keep him occupied forever."
"But it's so high! I can't jump!"
"Just jump, I'll catch you!"
She closed her eyes for a few seconds, gathered her courage, and jumped. As she was convinced she was going to hit the ground, she landed in Charlie's arms, who had to make an incredible effort not to fall under the weight of the reasonably small girl. He set her down on the ground, and she thanked him with restraint, avoiding his gaze. At that moment, the rest of the gang arrived, and they all ran off towards the small woods.
And finally, for the first time in their lives, they felt freedom. Running in the darkness, with only their flashlights and the moon as their light, without worrying about their labored breathing or the pain in their legs.
They searched for the famous cave and lost sight of each other at times. Suddenly, they heard Meeks scream, only to realize that he had just fallen victim to one of Charlie's pranks. Meanwhile, Neil had found the cave, and everyone entered, trying not to bump into each other, except for Pitts, who hurt himself. They lit a fire and took their places. Margaret sat between Knox and Charlie, who offered her a cigarette.
"I don't smoke! It's absolutely bad for your health and..."
"You're lying, you love it, so take this cigarette and be quiet," Charlie interrupted her.
She sighed and finally took the cigarette. Neil announced the start of the meeting, and everyone applauded, then gathered the food they had brought for the evening. Neil began by telling a scary story about an old woman discovering her murderer in a puzzle. Margaret knew this story by heart, but it scared her every time. After this story, Cameron wanted to tell his own, but everyone made it clear they already knew it. Pitts told a terrible story that made him laugh, then passed the book to Margaret.
"Are the only stories in this book absolutely terrifying, or are you just good at finding them?" Margaret asked.
"Well, read us a beautiful poem if that's what you prefer," Neil said.
"Very well, I've found one!
'I stumbled upon a laurel branch
And saw therein a sign of destiny
Who could believe otherwise
When alcohol flows slowly through my body
The stars came closer to me
And I wonder what I'm doing here
Writing dismal rhymes
Reading them would be kind.'"
Everyone bowed before these verses, then Charlie asked for silence, claiming he knew a "real poem." He took out a piece of paper and recited:
"Teach me the art of love, it would take much more wit,
For it is wit that I am enamored with, and Cupid who always believes
He has struck would take lessons from my mouth."
The poem obviously wasn't his, but everyone applauded him. While his friends enjoyed reciting other poems, Charlie sat next to Margaret and murmured:
"You will have learned tonight that I am a great romantic."
"I don't believe a word of it."
"Really? Looks like you still have a lot to learn from me."
He tried to lean in for a kiss, but the girl pushed him away, laughing nervously. The evening ended in laughter and singing, and the boys walked Margaret back to her room and bid her goodnight.
She was delighted to have climbed that tree to join them, and she sincerely hoped that her year could be similar to this evening. But as she sought sleep, she remembered the moment when Charlie had tried to kiss her and wondered what would have happened if she hadn't pushed him away.
As Margaret lay in bed, her mind wandered to the possibilities of what might come next. What other adventures awaited her and her friends? Would she continue to find the same kind of thrill and freedom in their escapades? She thought of Mr. Keating and his encouragement to seize the day, to make their lives extraordinary. This night had been her first step into that new world, a world where she could be more than just a student following rules.
The memory of the night's events played over in her mind like a favorite film. She felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation, knowing that this was just the beginning. The camaraderie she felt with her friends, the thrill of sneaking out, and the joy of sharing poetry and stories by the fire-all of it filled her with a sense of belonging and purpose.
Margaret drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face, her dreams filled with visions of future nights spent in the cave, surrounded by her friends and the timeless words of poets and storytellers. She had taken the first step toward living the life she wanted, a life full of passion, adventure, and the beauty of the written word. And she couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring.
YOU ARE READING
Cigarette, daydream and poetry ( A DPS fanfiction ) Charlie x OC
FanfictionA fanfiction about the film of the dead poet society. A young girl called Margaret is accepted into the Welton School, she is the only girl but this privilege is granted to her thanks to her incredible results and the insistence of her parents.
