Mockingbird

Part 3

Madison was determined to catch him. She stood at her window, behind the curtain that night, watching her porch. He had to come at some point. And he did. Why hadn't she done this sooner?

She saw the figure move towards her house and into the yard, and she opened the door just in time to see him on the stairs. A scream would have escaped him if he'd made any noise and he fell on his seat, then scurried backwards, fit to run.

"Wait!" She ran outside and stood in front of him, his wide gray eyes watching her and he covered his face, embarrassed.

Madison smiled and held out her hand to help him up. He looked at it, then his long fingers wrapped around hers and he stood at a slouch. He said nothing, only looked around nervously, probably afraid someone would see him. Madison looked to where he gripped her hand. "Would you like to come inside, Boo?" She spoke softly to him.

He looked at her, and a small smile creeped over his face and he nodded, and she led him inside.

She closed the door and turned on a light in her living room, and Boo stood uncomfortably by the door. "Come over here, Boo." She waved him over next to her in front of the fireplace, and he sat next to her. She could feel him shiver when she touched him and gave him a blanket. "It's cold outside, why didn't you put on a coat?"

He looked at his feet. At first she didn't think he'd say anything, then he whispered. "I don't got one, ma'am."

"Oh." Madison frowned. Maybe she shouldn't have asked, her question seemed to make him look even worse. "I could buy you one, if you like."

"I couldn't have you do that."

"But for all the flowers you've given me..." She knew she had found him for absolute certain when a blush covered his face.

"I-I just thought maybe you may like 'em. I uh... I didn't er..." He hid his face with his hands again and quivered. "I'm sorry, ma'am."

Madison instantly felt guilty. "Why would you have to be sorry?"

"I ain't s'posed to go outside." He wailed from behind his shivering hands. "Pa don't want me to hurt nobody! I ain't hurtin' you, am I?"

Taken aback, Madison shook her head. "No." She felt full pity with a twinge of fear. Had he hurt someone before? Was he crazy? What happened? But when she saw him hunched over and shivering she decided now may not be a good time to ask. She touched his leg and he gasped and pulled away, so she sat closer to him. She knew she should be afraid, she knew she should kick him out right there, but something drew her to him, and she kissed his cheek.

Boo stopped quivering. He stopped shaking. He froze completely still and looked at her. He said nothing, he only took his hands away from his face, and Madison took them in her own. "Boo, you don't need to be scared here. I have nothing against you. You look afraid even at home, but you don't need to be scared here, and you can come whenever you want." She smiled, and Boo smiled back. His breath quickened and he pulled her closer, and wrapped his arms around her. Madison could hear his heart race as she put her head to his chest and put her hands on his shoulders, cuddling against his warm, soothing body.

She felt his shaky fingers go through her hair a few times, then rest on top of her head. "I-I like you." He muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "I love you."

Madison wasn't sure how to respond yet, so she slowed her breathing, pretending to be asleep.

Boo Radley had visited her every night. They would talk for hours, and then he would go home; many factors went into how he would not stay all night. To the best of her knowledge, no one knew, not even Stephanie.