The Artful Dodger

Chapter 15

"Rose? ROSE?"

She opened her eyes blearily.

"Oh, thank the Lord she's awake. Rose? Are you okay? Why were you talking to yourself and hiding in the cell?"

"What?" Rose was thoroughly confused.

Looking properly, she could see that she was on her bed, all the boys surrounding her. Paul and Charley were there, Oliver and Davy sat either side of her, and she had her head in someone's lap. Someone she had broken up with earlier that day.

However, she did not move. She would never admit it, but she quite liked the warmth and comfort that his lap brought.

"I..." she started, then the thoughts came back to her. She began to shake with terror once again.

"Rose? Are you okay? What happened?" said Dodger, holding her.

"Peter... I saw him. Dead. He followed me. He looked at me."

The boys all looked at each other. Oliver took Rose's hand in his, which Dodger tried not to get jealous about. Rose was not his girlfriend anymore.

"It's okay, Rose. It's not real." said Oliver.

"I know... but it looked like him. I heard the trapdoor! I felt breathing on my neck!"

The boys again looked at each other, trying not to appear scared. However, they could all remember the hanging, and most had seen the limp body of Peter, and could only imagine the horror of seeing the grisly sight in a room all alone. Dodger felt sorry for her, sat her up and hugged her, though he was worried that she would push him away. She tensed at first then relaxed into his arms.

"Can we change the subject now?"

"I've still got a girlfriend!" exploded Davy, red with excitement. He'd been holding this in for a while.

"Oh, that's nice. Who?" asked Rose, still sore about her own breakup but willing to listen.

"Georgina, or George. I used to go out with her a while back but then we lost touch... but we found each other again! She's even more perfect than I remembered..." Davy sighed, thinking about her.

"Does she have curly hair? Is she about my age?" asked Rose, recognising the name from a few years ago. She used to be friends with a George!

"Yes! You know her?" asked Davy, excited.

"I think so... can I come and meet her tomorrow with you?"

"Sure! But what'll Fagin say?"

"I'm going no matter what. I'm not staying alone here again. And wouldn't a girl pickpocket be less conspicuous?"

The boys looked at her, mouths open.

"Your brother... died 'cause of pickpocketing. An' you want ter be a thief?" said Dodger, taking his hat off and scratching his head in confusion, "well I admire yer nerve! You better ask Fagin."

Rose turned around in his arms and looked at him.

"I've not really got a choice, Dodger, have I?" she said, "I'm not staying here again!"

"Well, I'll teach you, madam. Me, I'm the best pickpocket around here!" Charley boasted, and earned a slap from Dodger.

"Rose, don't listen. I'll take you. Me, you an' Davy can go out tomorrow, you can meet George an' I'll teach yer to get them purses out without anyone seein' you."

Rose smiled at him, and relaxed, feeling safe in his arms. She would not admit it, not even to herself, but she, despite her best efforts to conceal it, still fancied Dodger.