The Bird and the Bee

Chapter 28

Miss Honey didn't wake up till around lunchtime, her head pounding and a faint pain in her stomach. Her thumb immediately went to brush over the ribbon, but felt nothing and immediately sat up. Glancing around the room wildly, she found it under the blankets and took it, laying back down. She looked over the material, her eyes wanting to shut again so badly and she didn't bother to fight against it.

Miss Peregrine was busy downstairs, just finished with setting the table and gathering the children. She wasn't sure if Jenny was awake or not, knowing she'd have to wake her regardless so she can eat.

"Is Miss Honey coming down?" Olive asked, the rest of the children looking over as they waited for an answer.

"I'll see." Alma settled on saying. "Go ahead and eat, I'll be back down shortly."

The headmistress made her way upstairs, determined to try and have the woman at least eat something if she wasn't ready to go see the children yet. She didn't bother to knock, knowing she was more than likely in bed and sure enough seen she was still half asleep. Alma knew what was going on, she had done the same exact thing when Victor had passed. She wouldn't say hardly anything, didn't leave her room and when she did it was just to make meals and handle reset. She didn't want Jenny to fall into the same pattern, it wasn't healthy.

"Jenny dear, it's time to wake up." The woman slowly opened her eyes, Alma tucking her hair back to gain her attention.

"I'm tired." Jenny rasps out, the older woman brushing her thumb over her now dry tear tracks.

"I know, little bird, but you'll feel better once you get out of bed for a while and eat something."

"I'm not hungry." She says, her voice clearly hoarse which Alma noticed and took note to make her some tea.

"Can you try at least just a little? For me?" She says softly, concern seeping into her tone and Jenny looked over her gaze for a moment before nodding. "I'll go get you some food. Is there anything specific that you want?" She shook her head. "Alright, I'll be right back."

Jenny slowly sat up in bed with a small stretch, her eyes heavy with the sadness that lingered behind them as she looked at the ribbon in her palms. She was too tired to cry, but how desperately she wanted to. She just wanted to hide under the covers and never come out. The door shortly after had opened and Jenny looked up, the smell of the soup the woman had brought bringing a dull hunger to her stomach that she didn't take much notice to.

"I brought you some tea to sip on as well, to help your throat." Alma says softly, Jenny watching as she set the mug down on the nightstand, holding the bowl carefully as she set down on the edge of the bed.

"Do you want me to stay?" Alma asks, not wanting to push her boundaries or make her too uncomfortable, the last thing she wanted was to make her more upset.

"It's up to you." Jenny says quietly, avoiding her eyes as they burned, blinking a few times when she felt them well up with tears.

"It's up to you, darling." Alma replies, moving her head to meet her gaze, Jenny looking up at her.

"Could you stay?" She says, the older woman nodding and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, then the tip of her nose. She carefully handed the bowl over to her, Jenny taking it in her shaky hands and looking down at it, her stomach slightly disagreeing but knew she had to eat. She just didn't have the motivation she had before.

"You don't need to eat it all if you can't, I understand. I just want you to try." Miss Peregrine says, trying to give her some comfort and Jenny glanced at her briefly before taking a small bite of the soup and Alma sent her a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She glanced down and seen the ribbon was still in the woman's hand, tangled around her fingers underneath the bowl that she held and though back to Horace's dream. She was still hesitant to tell Jenny, not wanting to get her hopes up only to have them proven wrong. She would keep it on the down low until she found out more, sparing the woman anything that could only cause her more pain. Her blue eyes slowly moved up to meet hers, immediately growing concerned when she seen the tears that went down her cheeks, the younger woman trying to wipe them away with her free hand. A small frown spread across the older woman's lips, reaching up and brushing away Jenny's tears as the brunette tried to push them down.