I honestly didn't know whether to take the things she said as a joke, or an insult. She said everything so casually, that it seemed like teasing, but her words were also serious, and honest.
So I stayed safe and ignored it.
“If you're seventeen, aren't you still in school?”
She shook her head. “Got my diploma a few months ago, and my GED. I guess you could say I'm a genius,” she replied.
“You can do my work then,” I muttered, and she laughed. I couldn't explain the bit of brightness that seemed to light up inside me at the sound of her laugh.
“Are you home schooled?” she asked.
I looked to her, and started to ask how she knew. How in the world could she possibly know I was a home school brat? Like it was written across my face?
For a moment, I had forgotten my burns.
I nodded rather than answering. She was still smiling though, and I was quickly starting to pray for sleep. “I was, too. I had a lot of free time though, so I usually did as much school work as I could at one time,” she replied.
I didn't know why she thought I would care about her free time. Or that she was home schooled. I didn't know why she thought I would care about anything that had to do with her or her perfect life.
“I can think of a quote from any book I've read,” she said, biting off the end of a Sour Punch Straw when I looked at her.
Raising a brow, I smirked. “Really? That's just amazing,” I said, not masking the sarcastic tone to my voice as I said it. I knew I was being a jerk, but at the moment, I didn't care.
She pursed her lips, and rolled her eyes. “It is amazing, Mr. Witty. Just give me a book, and I can tell you a quote from it,” she replied. I looked at her skeptically. “Go ahead. Try me,” she bantered, rolling her hand in a motion for me to try.
I'll be completely honest when I say that I was definitely searching for anything that I didn't think she would know, just to make her look like a fool. Her knowing smile was beginning to get on my last nerve.
“How about a Clive Barker book?” I asked. I didn't think she would even know who he was.
I could just imagine her curled up with the Cullen. Love triangles, and golden eyes, and all of that other mushy crap.
“Any particular book?”
I shook my head.
She smiled. “'Of all the rash and midnight promises made in the name of love, none, Boone now knew, was more certain to be broken than 'I'll never leave you.'. '” she said, then tilted her head. “Shall I continue? The next paragraph was actually my favorite.”
I didn't really say anything. I was beginning to feel drowsy.
“What time didn't steal from under your nose, circumstance did. It was useless to hope otherwise, useless to dream that the world somehow meant you good. Everything of value, everything you clung to for your sanity, would rot or be snatched in the long run, and the abyss would gape beneath you, as it gaped for Boone now, and suddenly, without so much as a breath of explanation, you were gone. Gone to Hell or worse, professions of love and all,” she spoke.
Her voice had been soft, and soothing, and I felt the medicine finally taking over. My limbs were heavy, but my eyes were heavier as she quoted the introduction to Cabal with accuracy.
I would know. I had read the book before.
I was barely aware of her standing, nor of her pulling my blankets over me. The last thing I heard before I fell asleep, and it could have possibly been my mind playing tricks on me, was her soft voice saying, “Tomorrow will be better.”
I certainly hoped so.
♥
I woke up to a nurse drawing blood. Maybe I should have put up more resistance than I did, but I wasn't sure if I was even awake until the voice wasn't Julie's.
The nurse had a rougher voice as she said, “Go back to sleep. Doctor will be here shortly.”
I didn't fall back asleep, but I didn't do anything. I just sat in the bed, and stared at the table beside me, pushed away slightly so the nurse could draw blood.
I looked at the can of Pringles, and the small note in front of it, with my name written on the front, surprisingly spelled correctly. She must have gotten that from one of my charts or something.
Looking to the clock, I knew Ava wouldn't come by for another twenty minutes or so, and I doubted the doctor would either. Doctors were busy in the morning, right?
I reached over and barely grasped the edge of the table. I pulled it toward me, and picked up the folded napkin with my correctly spelled name. I opened it, looking over it before smiling slightly.
Dear Falon aka Frown Guy,
In case you don't remember, I did quote a Clive Barker book, and I'm not stupid. I'm sure you probably assumed I was more of a Twilight fan (because, let's face it, what girl hasn't read Twilight). Though I can quote Twilight, I've read a lot of books. Just remember, I'll always be prepared when you name a book.
Julie
P.S. If you were being serious last night, I can help you with your school work. Just let me know tonight.
P.P.S. And don't try to act like you're asleep again. I know you were looking at me. ☺
I started to fold the napkin when the door
