The Lady's Game (Completed)

5 - Rain of Shame

Chapter 5 

I enter the house and let out a sigh, not believing my luck at not running into Jack. Going upstairs, I lie in my bed and wonder what on earth I'm going to do. A tear trails down my cheek at my despairing situation, and I wonder where I'm going to find the strength to keep on going. 

***

'Get up, yer lazy skank!' a faraway voice yells. I slowly wake up and drag my eyelids open, forcing them to stay in this positon even whiles looking at uncle's angry face.

'Yes, sir?' I ask sleepily, desperatly trying to wake myself up to not make him any angrier.

'Get up, there ain't noffin ter eat, go get som'in!' he yells, dragging me from my bed by my hair and yanking me downstairs and through the front door. Throwing it open, he pushes me out and I land on the floor, scraping my knee and hands.

I look behind me at my uncle before he slams the door shut, leaving me in the nippy morning.

'Good morning, uncle,' I snap sarcastically, getting up and scowling at the door. Turning, I find myself surrounded my a beautiful morning, and my anger melts along with the dew on the patches of grass on the floor.

l look at the sun in the clear sky and shiver at the morning chill, before heading to the fountain to wash myself and wake myself up.

Upon arriving, I cup water and rinse my face, leaving my hands on my face for a few seconds before releasing the water and letting it trickle through my fingers. I watch it run freely, smiling slightly at simplicity of the movement.

But as the water washes away my sleeping haze, I sigh and frown. What did uncle even say? He wanted to eat? Well, maybe a good first step would be to give me some money. And where on Earth will I find food this early in the morning? I glance at the sun and grimace at how early it is.

'Curse you,' I mutter, putting my hand in my hands and sitting on the edge of the fountain.

'Wot's wrong?' asks a sweet female voice. I jump and look up, startled. A beatiful girl looks back at me, cocking her head to the side and looking at me quizzically.

'Nothing.' I put my head back into my hands and let out a long sigh, expecting her to leave. But she doesn't, instead, she steps closer and I look back up, getting annoyed.

'Yer 'urt,' she says, glancing at my ripped dress, bleeding knee and knuckles.

'Hmm,' I say, glancing back up and frowning as I find her looking familiar, even thought I have never seen her before.

She continues to look at me, and I take the time to do the same. She looks about the same age as me, but with baby cheeks and clear, innocent blue eyes. Slightly dark eyebrows rest above dark lashes, and dark, curled hair fans her heart-shaped face. Her full, pink lips stand out on her fair-skinned face; over all, she's very beautiful. She's also holding a basket with bread, a jar of orange jam and something steaming wrapped in paper, carefully cushioned in the centre.

'Is there something you need?' I ask, slightly unsure of what to do.

'Oh, no, I was just wonderin' why yer were just sittin' 'ere on yer lonesome this early in the mornin',' she says, walking towards me and plopping herself next to me. She smiles, but I just stare at her, unable to do much else.

'So, are yer gonna say som'in' or are ye just gonna keep on starin'?' she asks, looking amused. I snap my mouth just and clear my throat awkwardly.

'It's nothing. I'm just ... um, I'm ... enjoying the peace,' I reply, nodding my head to myself, 'yes, I'm enjoying the peace.'

She raises an eyebrow at me. 'Yer enjoyin' the peace,' she repeats, clearly not believing a word.