The Book Thief | Don't Leave Me

Max Returns

EDITED 19th July 2018

•1945•

On a late morning in October, when the sky was a quiet murky blue--stood in a small shop not far from their broken memories, Rudy and Liesel sorted through which suits belonged to which order. In order to keep an eye on the two, Alex Steiner had set them with something to do in the shop while he made a start on a new suit.

The bell of the shop sounded as the door opened, and in stepped a man with swampy eyes, a clean-shaven face and hair like feathers. He looked a tad nervous. Who could blame him? He had never felt more lost since he came out of hiding and after all he had been through, he had no home. His tired face would never be able to hide the pain he will forever hold on his back. 

He approached the counter. "Is there someone here by the name of Liesel Meminger?"

"Yes, she's in the back," said Alex. The Jew was hopeful, but he wanted to be sure. "May I ask who's calling her?"

Liesel stood in the back listening in to the whole thing. Her ears twitched at the sound of her name as her heart began to pick up speed as the voice responded.

Rudy had stepped out after hearing the man ask for a Liesel Meminger, his face showing curiosity and his body language displaying protectiveness over the girl.

Liesel stepped out, eyes twinkling of hope. She stepped out the doorway smiling, "Max." She breathed running to his arms.

He took her in his arms and a smile grew to his eyes drawing lines on his face. He gave her a kiss on the top of her head, making Rudy's heart swell of jealousy. "Who is he?" He thought to himself. It burnt a whole in his chest, yet he didn't want to appear foolish. 

Liesel was crying into his chest as Max rocked her crying his own tears into her caramel hair.

It hurt Rudy too much; he dashed out of the shop and took off to the Amper River. He collapsed on the bank of the river, leaning over staring back at his reflection. The water was quiet and still, moving quietly as his salty tears dripped into the water. 

The cold air brought some sense to him as he recalls Max from Liesel's stories. As the snow dissolved into the river, Rudy felt ashamed with embarrassment. He couldn't believe he'd let jealousy get to him, "Of course she wants Max, he's handsome, and he's stronger," yet the thoughts wouldn't leave his mind. He only hoped his actions would go ignored.

"Rudy?" It was Liesel.

He looked up, his eyes red of discomfort and defeat. He stared back at the river averting his eyes from Liesel's.

She walked over and crouched next to him, reaching her hand out to him before he flinched away. "Rudy," She kept her thoughts open, too confused as to why he'd stormed from the shop.

"You love him." He said.

She stammered in surprise at his words, "Not like that."

"Why not? He's good looking, he's stronger. I'm weak, you're better off with him!" His words hurt her as well as himself.

"Rudy, no! If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have left the Bürgermeister's Manor. Max is just another friend I can talk to. I haven't seen him for years. After everything I've lost, everyone... I trust you and I-I love you! I love you for who you are you Saukerl! Like no one else I know." She cried.

Rudy continued to cry, only this time for hurting Liesel like that.

"I'm sorry." She said standing.

He quickly stood and spun her around before she could leave.

"No, I'm sorry." He said staring into her watery brown eyes, placing his hands on her waist.

She replied by giving him his first true kiss from her. He was shocked but accepted it hugging her closer to him.

************

"Is that Rudy?" Max asked Alex from the trees.

"She told you about him?"

"Ja, lemon coloured hair, that has to be him." He smiled at the memory of their time together in the damp basement.

Alex smiled back and looked back over at his son.

"Oh verdammt" He muttered after he pulled away from her. Liesel turned then spotting Alex and Max.

"No kiss for your brother?" Max called to Liesel.

She blushed and tried to look anywhere else. With Max and Alex caught up with the teenagers, they all turned and headed back to the shop.

"When's the wedding?" Max whispered in Rudy's ear before Liesel clapped him in the back of the head.

"Am I invited too?" Alex asked making fun of the situation.

"Papa!" Rudy blushed.

"You can call me Papa now Liesel." He snickered.

"We're brother-in-laws now Rudy." Max said.

Rudy's eyes widened.