Rebuilt

Chapter 14

Oscar and I parted ways, and I headed back towards the lodge house. Guessing by the position of the sun, I think I missed lunch. By the time I reach the lodge house, I saw some of the rest of the boys returning from their day of selling.

"Blades!"

I turn around and spot Mike and Ike running up from behind me. By the time they reach my feet they're both out of breath and panting.

"Elmer," one of the boys took a gasping breath, "was worried sick."

The other twin nods in agreement. "He thought you'se had wandered inta Brooklyn again."

I shake my head. "Nope. Didn't wanda inta Brooklyn. Just out sellin' all day."

"All by you'se self?" they say it in unison. I nod.

"It ain't smart to go out sellin' by ya self," I turn around at the new voice to see Jack behind me, and just behind him limping his was along, the guy they call Crutchie.

"Sorry," I mutter.

"You'se fine," a new voice says. "Gives you an excuse to say yes to me being ya selling partner next time."

I turn and see Albert next to me. Now, I've been snuck up on and surrounded by the twins, Jack, Crutchie, and Albert. We all make our way up to the lodge house and sit in the couches surrounding the tiny brown table.

"So, Blades how was ya day," Albert asks and he sits down on the couch next to me. He places his arm across the back, scooting closer and closer to me.

I shrug my shoulders.

"Give the girly some space Al," Racer wallks through the door and gives me a goofy simle, his cigar limp between his lips.

"Aye Race you know da rules, no somkin' in da lodge house," Jack acts as if he is an overprotective dad when he looks over all of these boy. Though in retrospect, he is like that. Always makein' sure that the boys are safe and that they get fed.

Race rolls his eyes and points to the edge of the cigar. "It ain't lit, Jacky."

Jack tosses a hand, "whateva."

I kick Albert in the side, he looks over. "Where's Elmer?" I rasp.

He shrugs, "I'se got no clue. Maybe he's still out sellin'."

"Doubt it," Race said sitting himself down next to Albert. "He only bought 50 papes today."

I feel myself starting to worry. And I have no clue why, Elmer's probably fine, but still.

Albert pats me on the shoulder, "relax Blades, Elmer knows the city better than the rest of us combined, he knows his way around."

I smile tightly.

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The boys let me get ready for bed first, which consists of me drawing an ice cold bath, and quickly washing my hair and body with Elmers flowery body wash. I toss on a night gown that Jack said Katherine had left me.

I exit the bathroom and head towards Elmers bed. Elmer was no where to be seen, but on the sheets snuggled under a pillow, Misty in her white fluffy glory is curled up on Elmers pillow. When she see's me, she stretches out and purs.

Sighing, I flop down on the bed and snuggle the cat. Nuzzling the crook of my neck, I can feel myself getting more and more fatigued.

Finally, I drift off into a light, but peaceful sleep.

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"Pssst, Blades."

The voice woke me out of my light sleep, startling me. I jumped up crashing my head against the metal bar, supporting Albert's mattress.

I hiss out in pain cradling my forehead. I feel a supportive pair of hands on my shoulder.

"Shhhhh, you'se okay, love you'se okay." I hear Elmer's soothing voice as he hushes me through my pain. "C'mere," he hoisted my shaken body up, so I'm sitting up straight.

"My," I cough harshly. "Head."

Elmer led me into the bathroom and flips on the dim light. "Sit on the counter."

Complying, I hoist myself onto the counter, avoiding the sink. Touching my forehead, I feel warm, sticky blood. I blanched and felt myself getting light headed.

"Hey, hey, you'se fine doll," Elmer placed his hand at my hip, steadying me. He turned on a near by sink and turned in onto a warm setting. Grabbing a brown washcloth, he ran it underwater and gently wrung it out.

He placed a steady hand at the base of my neck and began to clean my bloody forehead. "I'm sorry bout scarin' you."

"You'se okay," I say quietly.

"Ya voice sounds better," he says continuing to gently scrub my forehead.

"No it doesn't," I say. Not trying to get into an argument, but sheerly at the fact that I know it's not true.

Elmer frowns, he looks from my forehead into my eyes. "Is it ever going to get better?"

I shrug.

Elmer frowns once again. He removes the cloth from my forehead, "sorry 'bout scarin' you again doll."

"You'se fine, I'm sorry 'bout bein' so jumpy."

"It ain't your fault, I should have know not to wake ya," he helped me down from the counter.

"Why did ya wake me?" I ask, to tired to care, but still curious.

Elmer stopped what he was doing, "you'se were shivering like it was the end of da world. I wanted to make sure you'se were okay."

I nod my head, "just cold."

Elmer gave me a bear hug and held me close, "you'll be gettin' a lot cooler as the year progresses.

I sigh and stand in Elmers' warm embrace. I was always colder in the rafters of the theater, so I might not feel cold, though my body would still shiver and do its natural attempts to regain warmth.

"Come on, we should head back to bed." Elmer opens the bathroom door for me then shuts it behind him as we walk down the dark hall.

Making our way over to the bed I hear a loud thunk I turn around to see Elmer doubling over in pain after stubbing his toe on Romeo and Buttons bunk. "Idiot," I mutter.

Elmer scoffs and laugh, "shut up."

"No," Specs says. "She's right."