The Prisoner

Chapter 8

When morning came, Rose awoke before Javert. He was sleeping soundly on his back while her head was on his chest. His left arm was wrapped around her waist and his right was dangling from the bed, barely touching the wooden floor. Rose didn't bother to change their position, it was way too comfortable. Her thought returned to the nightmare she had. SHe hadn't even realized that she was starting to trace patterns on Javert's chest until a low groan was heard.

"What are you doing?" he asked his voice still rough from just waking up.

"Sorry" she mumbled and quickly removed her hand from his chest. Neither of them seemed to notice their position.

"I asked what you were doing. I didn't tell you to stop" He said with a chuckle. He took one of her dainty hands in his and placed it back on his chest. Rose blushed a deep scarlet but started tracing patterns again, nevertheless.

"How long have you been awake?" asked Javert, still enjoying the feeling of the fingers on his chest.

"Not much before you" she replied.

"So you didn't get bored?"

"Trust me Javert I get more bored when you're awake than when you're asleep" she teased with a grin. Javert let out a soft chuckle and poked her belly with the arm that was around her.

"Don't you have work?" she asked, finally stopping the movement of her fingers. Instead, her hand rested softly on his chest.

"I do. Did you clean my uniform?" he asked. Even though Javert didn't treat Rose as if she really was his slave, he still had her do chores he was too lazy to do.

"I did, It's in the bathroom" she informed him. Javert sighed and removed his arm from around Rose. He got out of the room, and Rose buried her head in the pillow.

"I am leaving Rose, make chicken soup for dinner, it's all we have. Don't leave the house" he shouted from outside. The maids had taught Rose how to cook so she made the soup with no difficulties.She finished making it far too quickly and there was still 3 hours left before Javert would be back. Rose went inside their shared bedroom and laid down, she didn't even feel herself drift off until Javert woke her up.

"Rose, wake up. You need to eat dinner" he said softly while shaking her shoulders. Rose groaned and flipped herself on her side so she would not be facing Javert. She was far too tired.

"Get up, Rose, you've been sleeping for far too long" he tried again.

"What do you want?" she mumbled.

"Go eat dinner and then come sleep again" he whispered, while making her sit up by her shoulders.

"Fine" she groaned and swung her legs off the bed.

"I already ate. You make good soup" he told her with a smile. She nodded her thanks and went into the kitchen to get her bowl. She sat across from him on the table and blew air on the hot liquid. They sat in silence, Rose sipping her soup and Javert reading a book.

"What are you reading?" she asked when she finished her dinner.

"A book" he mumbled not taking his eyes off the page he was on.

"What's it called?" she questioned again, he glared at her from behind the book and returned to his spot.

"Just curious" she mumbled and rested her head on the table. She closed her eyes and thought of Marius and Cosette, she really wanted to see them again.

"Rose?" called Javert after a while.

"Yes?" she replied, still not opening her eyes.

"Just checking if you're awake" he muttered. Rose opened her eyes to find him back to reading the book. she rolled her eyes and closed her eyes again.

"When can I see Marius again?"

"I don't know" he replied. Rose couldn't help but be annoyed by his short answers. What was wrong with him?  She got up from the table and went inside the sitting room. She laid down on the couch and drifted off, she didn't want to sleep next to him when he was in this mood.

The next morning, Rose awoke to find herself still on the couch. One glance out of the window, told her that the sun was just rising. She tried falling asleep but realized it was impossible after 5 minutes of  twisting and turning on the couch. She went inside the bedroom to check on Javert and found him hugging a pillow close to his chest. His normally combed hair was standing up at places and his right foot was dangling off the bed. Rose sat down on the edge of the bed and put her head on the wooden headrest.

"Weren't you sleeping on the couch?" came a raspy voice only a minute or two after Rose sat down.

"I got up" she snapped

"What time is it?" he asked, ignoring her attitude.

"The sun just rose" she replied, using short answers just like he did.

"I am going to get up, I am going to get bread when i am coming home" he told her and went into the bathroom. Rose sighed and closed her eyes, she was stupid to think that he would treat her  well forever.

Javert came out of the bathroom a minute later, in his full uniform. He walked out of the appartment in long strides without saying a word to Rose.

Rose had no idea that Javert was leaning on the door of the appartment and breathing heavily as he tried to convince himself that he didn't see Rose attractive in anyway.