The Eye Of The Ankh #Wattys2016

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A knock at the door. "Alice, Hugo's here. He's got a present for you."

"Tell him I'm asleep." I mumbled.

"Uh, Alice," Hugo opened the door. "I know you're not asleep."

Hugo stood in the center of my room. He walked over to one of the windows and opened the curtains. Bright sunlight poured into the room and I groaned. "Hugo, please." I turned on my stomach, burying my face in the pillow.

"Alice, come on, when was the last time you left your room?"

"I got up to use the bathroom."

Hugo tsked. I sat up in my bed, struggling to keep my eyes open. He sat down, handing me a box wrapped in plain shiny blue paper. There was a white and gray bow in the center. "Happy birthday, Alice."

"How'd you know it was my birthday?"

"Anna told me. Open your present."

I unwrapped it slowly, trying to keep the crumpling to a minimum. The box was dark cherry wood, the scent unmistakable. It was plain, but beautiful. Da Vinci was carved into the top. I opened the latch. On the inside were trays of art supplies. Pencils and pens. Oils and chalks. The best paper. Amazing brushes. Dozens of paints.

It was amazing.

"Hugo, how much did this cost you?"

"That's not the traditional way to say thank you, but I'll accept it."

"Hugo, I can't accept this."

"It's your birthday. You have to."

Hugo sat down beside me on the bed. I wrapped my arms around him. "Thanks, Hugo. I really needed something like this."

He smiled. "Do me a favor, though. Get up, shower, get something real to eat, and leave the house."

I bit my lip. "Hang here while I shower. Then we can go get something to eat."

Hugo smiled. "Deal."

Hugo opened the front door, clear and fresh air flowing into the house. Birds were chirping and flowers were blooming. It had been weeks since I really left the house.

"Come on," Hugo took my hand and pulled me along. We walked a while down the street before circling back to where he parked. Hugo drove to a bistro, and we sat outside. Spring never felt so good.

"Did you go to the funeral?"

I shook my head. "Couldn't bring myself to. Did you?"

"Wasn't really invited. Jude went. She's cleaned up quite a bit. Less... rebel." Hugo ordered drinks. Peach tea for me and a water for himself. "Closed casket."

I took a deep breath. "I want out."

"Out?"

"You know what I mean. I can't do it anymore."

Hugo nodded. "I understand that. I'll talk to Boss. She'll probably have you under surveillance for years, just to make sure you don't rat."

"Why would I rat on something I was a part of?"

"You might lie and say that you went undercover, spying." Hugo said, smiling as our drinks were set down. We ordered our food.

"Whatever. Are you still in?"

"I have the easy job: recruitment. I'll still be in for a while." Hugo said, spinning the ice in his water with his straw. "How are you doing? Mentally, I guess."

"Horrible. Amanda—my therapist—is at my house every other day. You're my most important patient, Alice, she says. She and Anna are just worried about me."

"You can't blame them. Not to sound clingy or anything, but I called a lot. You never answered. Anna said that you hardly ever left your room, and when you did it was like you were a ghost. She said that you hadn't left the house since everything calmed down."

I bit my lip. "It was too much. I wasn't questioned that much when my parents died. It was hard to lie about what all I knew."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I wouldn't be in the mess if I said no."

The waitress sat down our food. Hugo thanked her. "But you said yes. And you met me." Hugo smiled. "So, excited about graduation?"

I bit my lip. "Yeah, about that. Listen, Hugo, I've missed a lot of school, and they said I won't be able to graduate with my class. So, Anna and I talked to the principal and he said that although I can't really graduate with the class, I can walk. They'll give me a fake diploma for pictures and I'll have to come back for a few summer classes."

"Oh. At least you get to walk,"

I nodded. "Wonder who will be giving the speech..."

Hugo smiled. "It's a little early to know for certain, but I've been noted that I may be able to speak at graduation. It's me and a few others, but..."

I smiled. "Hugo that's great! Such an honor."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know." He smiled, bashful.

I raised my tea. "Cheers!"

He raised his water, taping the lip to my glass.