What You Give

4/M-L

OMG I'm so sorry I've taken basically FOREVER to update but here it is! The first part is a flashback in case that's not obvious. :) Enjoy!

“His fits when he is neither sick nor well, though no distress be near him but his own unmanageable thoughts... While she as duteous as the mother dove sits brooding, lives not always to that end, but like the innocent bird, hath goadings on that drive her as in trouble through the groves…"

~ William Wordsworth ~

***

"So what did you all think of Frankenstein, as a whole?"

The class grumbles a few responses, all unintelligible. “Surely some of you read it? We’ve been discussing it for the past two weeks now. You’ve had time and I would hope your ears all work well enough to discern the basic plot from my recent ramblings…?” His statement comes out more of a question, and Ernest sighs in frustration. This class is ridiculously hard, and the first paper on a story he hasn’t read is due next class. He’s studying to be a doctor; this is absurd, taking a required literature class from an oaf like Mr. Platt. In the seat adjacent to his, Lucky’s eyes scramble over the pages of the next required reading: “The Prelude” by William Wordsworth. “…but after I had seen that spectacle, for many days, my brain worked with a dim and undetermined sense of unknown modes of being; o'er my thought there hung a darkness, call it solitude or blank desertion.” The words hit too close to home, and Lucky slams her textbook shut with a huff. This catches Ernest’s attention; once again the strange, beautiful girl next to him has done something far more interesting than this class’s curriculum, and he’s distracted. They’ve never spoken; she doesn’t speak to anyone, and he hasn’t had the courage to change that. Until today. Today, things will change.

The class ticks by slowly, with Ernest watching the ancient clock on the wall and Lucky fiercely concentrating on Mr. Platt’s interpretation of the Creature and his innocence.

“Well then, guys, I guess that’s all for today. Please remember to read Wordsworth! It’ll be worth your while, I promise! We’re hardly halfway through the semester – don’t slack off yet! We haven’t even gotten to the hard parts…” he trails off as students begin weaving between the desks, bags in hand, to leave the classroom. Lucky immediately paces towards the door, but Ernest catches her; he’s had his bag packed since ten minutes after the start of class. They meet at the doorframe, and he steps to the side to let her walk out first, quickly catching up to walk in step with her once they exit.

“So did you understand any of that book, or was it just me that was confused?”

“Who.”

“What?” Even with that one word, Ernest is enchanted by the sound of her voice.

“It was you who was confused. ‘That’ refers to objects, not people.”

“Okaaay…” Maybe this was why she never talked to people. Who corrects a complete stranger’s grammar? Ernest speeds up his pace, as she has resorted to a near-jog down the hallway. “Is that a normal thing, you correcting people like that? Or am I just special?” He smiles at her, but it comes off goofy rather than confident.

She only laughs and says, “You, special? I think that’s obvious.”

His cheeks warm out of embarrassment, first from the compliment of her counting him as special to her, then from the realization of what she actually meant by ‘special.’ “Oh well uhm… I’m Ernest. Ernest Mc –“ someone bumps into him as they rush past, "McMiller."

“Sooo… your name is Ernie Mac, then?” She giggles, skeptical. “That’s something.”

“Well – I was named after Ernest Hemingway but uh yeah, I guess.” He’s too out of breath to laugh with her. “Wait, slow down a minute,” he says, grabbing her forearm to stop her. Ernest leans over, resting his free hand on his knee as he catches his breath. “Damn, how do you walk that fast?”