Rebuilt

Chapter 15

"Shhhhhh, do you numskulls want to wake them up? Didn't think so, do shut ya's trap."

I roll over and find myself nose to nose with Elmer, I quickly push away from him and look at our bodies, his arm was wrapped around my shoulder, and out ankles were wrapped around one another.

I sit up quickly and place an arm on the mattress to support myself, Elmer groggily opens his eyes and smiles at me. I look away from his goofy smile and looked at who surrounded me.

Albert, Jack, Katherine, Mike, Ike, Race and JoJo, all look at Elmer and I snuggled up together in the tiny twin bed.

"Albert owes me a dime!" Race shouts through his cigar. Albert promptly frowns and slaps the change in Racers hand.

"What we're you'se bettin' on?" Elmer asks, facing the boys, and Katherine, but she's just leaning against one of the bunks smiling.

Albert smirks, "how soon it would take for you'se two to fu-"

"We didn't do nothin'!" I hoarsely shout, pulling the thin sheet off Elmer and I, I jump over his shirtless body and bolt for the door.

"Blades!" Elmer shouts. I hear him fumbling around, most likely putting on shoes, and a shirt. "Blades! Please, don't run off again!"

"Don't," Katherine says to Elmer. "She wont be going far. Just give her some space to breath."

I walk through the front door and get launched into a coughing fit, taking deep breath I look around the front of the lodge house. I spot a ladder leading above the lodge. I being to climb the ladder, careful not to rip Katherine's nightgown.

Reaching the top of the ladder, I stumble upon a narrow platform that looked out over the city. My eyes grow wide at the sight, the beautiful city, orange and yellow from the dawning sun. I approach the edge of railing and look over the various buildings and the crowded busy streets. I sit on the cool metal flooring, and dangle my bare legs through the railings.

I question what just happened. I didn't think anything happened last night, Elmer wouldn't take advantage of me like that. Or at least I don't think he would. I trust Elmer. And that's all there is to it.

I hear soft footsteps approach me from behind, I turn around to find Katherine. She smiles lightly, "hey Blades."

I smile. I haven't been around another girl in who knows how long.

"Can I sit?" she asks.

I nod my head, "sure."

She sits down next to me, and sighs. "Are you okay?" Katherine asks lightly.

I shrug my shoulders, "I guess."

"Why'd you run off like that?" Katherine asks.

I asked myself the same question, if that had happened in the refuge I would have gotten beaten into tomorrow for even talking about escaping. I guess since it was an option I just went for it, I didn't realize there wouldn't be consequences.

"I was expecting to get stopped," I admit to Katherine.

"You didn't get stopped the first time you ran out after Race made that," she stutters. "Joke."

"Yeah, then I ended up in Brooklyn."

"Speaking of Brooklyn," Katherine turns her body full towards me. "Is that where you're from?"

As soon as she said that I was immediately reminded of Elmer and when we first met. His innocent brown eyes and fluffy dark hair, genuinely curious.

"I'se got no clue," I say gripping my throat. I swallow and clamp my eyes shut as it feels like I'm swallowing shards of glass.

"Your voice," Katherine says pulling out a notepad. "Why is it like that?"

I flinch, I thought she was actually interested in my well being, but I'm just another one of her new stories apparently. "Screamin' for 12 years will do that to ya," I stand and head for the ladder back to the ground.

"Wait!" Katherine exclaims, standing up she reaches for me. "I'm sorry for being so pushy. I just wanted to make sure you knew you had a female friend. Not the just the boys." She smiles weakly. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem pretty shaken up..."

"I'll be fine," I start descending the ladder and am met with Albert leaning against the door frame.

"Just so you'se know, I made Race gimme back me dime after Elmer told us nothin' happened between you two."

"You'se okay, I just need to learn how to take a joke."

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I brush out my hair with a brush that Katherine left for me. After that I wash hands, dry them and leave the bathroom. I walk down the narrow hallway, dressed in my normal ripped clothes, still dirty regardless of how many baths I take. I walk over to Elmer's bed and start to put on my socks and shoes.

Two hands cover my eyes and I immediately palm my pockets in search of Elmer's switchblade. "Hey, relax. It's just me." As soon as hear Elmer's voice, I immediately calm down.

"Get ya dirty paws offa me," I jokingly scoff.

"Nu-uh," Elmer laughs. "I'se got something for you."

I roll my eyes, even though Elmer's hands are covering my eyes. Elmer removes one of his hands, but is still covering both of my eyes. I feel my head become substantially warmer, then I'm being carried off the bed.

"Elmer, put me down!" Elmer tosses me over his shoulder and begins to walk towards the bathroom.

"Look in the mirror, love." He positions me towards the mirror, forcing me to look.

Elmer had plopped a cap down on my head that look almost identical to his, though compared to his dark gray cap, mine was light gray. I feel myself smiling at the mirror, for the first time in ages I looked in the mirror.

And smiled.

"It suits you," was all Elmer said before me wrapped his hands around my waist and gave me a hug from behind.