Reintegration program - Elmax

Chapter 50 : Reading

The worst part was passed. Jane was physically feeling a bit better, but she was still suffering of insomnia, nightmares, cold sweat, dark thoughts and irritability. Joyce was proud of her, even if she had been awful the entire week, she didn't crack, showing a real motivation to feel better. Joyce even gave her some easy homework to occupy her mind and give her the opportunity to learn more. Joyce was helping her with her reading when someone knocked at the door.

- Keep reading, told softly the mother, standing.

She gently squeezed her shoulder and gave a kiss on the top of her head before going to her door and opening it.

- Hi Max, smiled Joyce.

- Hi, am I bothering you? asked shyly the redhead.

- No, no, of course not, come in.

The redhead put only one foot inside that Jane's dog was already jumping on her with happy barks.

- Yeah, Dog, I'm happy to see you too, chuckled Max.

The redhead walked to the other girl at the table and wrapped her arms around her neck and placed her head on her shoulder.

- What's up Grumpy? mumbled Jane who turned her head to her.

- Nothing interesting, just a day at the coffee shop, pouted Max.

- Piss hair came back?

- Not since you cleaned the floor with his body.

- Good.

- What are you reading?

- Harry Potter, answered the ex-prisoner, showing the book to her. We finished the first chapter.

- Oh, nice! I skipped the first chapter, a bit boring for me.

- I don't know, I don't really remember what I read...

- It's because it's the beginning, when you'll be used to the characters and the universe, it will be easier, said Max.

- You're sure? frowned Jane.

- Absolutely, it's like that with everyone who read a new book, you need time to be into the story.

Jane looked in the void before having a small smile. What Max told her reassured her, she needed someone to tell her that it was normal and it was something common. She knew she had lots of shortcomings in almost everything and was feeling a bit shitty about this. Being sixteen and not being able to read correctly wasn't the thing she was the proudest, she was even ashamed of this.

- You can take a break Jane, said Joyce. If you need anything, I'm in my room, ok?

The two girls nodded. Joyce walked away, giving the girls some privacy. Max sat next to Jane with a smile on her face.

- Why you're so happy? frowned Jane.

- I'm happy to see you, that's all.

- I'll never understand that feeling, I'm never happy to see me!

- You're stupid.

- I know, smirked the ex-prisoner.

- I never understood why I was Grumpy while you're the one who spend your time grumbling, stated Max with a light tone.

- I'm already Dopey, Melissa thinks I'm more stupid than angry.

- Yeah...it's all the same for me, you're as much stupid as angry, joked the redhead.

- I'm glad you came to remind me this! told Jane with a small smile.

- When you want! And you can't be Grumpy because you're already Goblin.