A Different Path

Chapter 8 - A Harder Day

Criticism spot! :)

~ Time skip, just a couple of days.

Crutchie's POV

I shot awake from yet another nightmare, but unlike usual, I didn't sit up right away. I continued to lay down as I felt tears pour down my face, my breathing heavy and my body shaking as though I was cold. I shifted closer to Jack, burying my face in his shirt. I accidentally woke him as I did so, but I didn't look up at him.

"Crutch? You okay?" He asked, and I shook my head, still not taking my face out of Jack's shirt. "Nightmare?" I nodded and he put his arms around me, gently combing through my hair with his fingers. I began to feel guilty about waking him, feeling like a burden.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, my voice shaky.

"You have nothin' to be sorry for," he spoke quietly, his tone soothing. 

"I just feel bad," I finally got the courage to look up at him, still feeling tears fall from my eyes every now and then.

"About what?"

"When you helped me that one day, you probably didn't think I'd be such an issue," I continued mumbling, wiping my cheeks dry.

"You ain't an issue," he reassured, but I couldn't bring myself to believe him. I wanted to drop it, however, so I tried my best to smile at him.

"Thanks."

The morning bell rang a few minutes later and we got ready as usual, Jack's personality shifting as we entered the square as it always did. When we stood in line, however, Weisel and Oscar were talking, and eventually Weisel walked over to Jack.

"I need to speak to you," he said, motioning for Jack to follow. Jack did just that, seeming very confused. They only spoke for a few seconds before he got back in line, not saying a thing. After we got our papes we stood in our usual group of Race, Romeo, Jack and myself, talking.

"What did Weisel want?" I finally asked, not able to hold back any longer.

"Well, I was about to ask youse guys about that," he said, looking at the three of us. "Weasel was wondering if any new kids named 'Charlie' had shown up here within the past few years," as he said my name, I immediately felt my blood run cold. "Has anyone named that started here that I didn't know about?" Race shook his head, but Romeo looked at me, making me feel even more nervous than I had felt before.

"Crutchie, what's your real name?" He asked, and I felt Jack's eyes on me. 

"I- I don't remember," I stammered, trying, and failing, to seem calm.

"Oh, right, forgot." Romeo said, dropping it. I could still feel Jack looking at me, however, and I fought myself to not look at him. "Let's sell," Romeo broke the silence, making Jack stand on the wagon and sending everyone out.

I remained silent as we walked, still managing to not look at Jack. Right as we reached the road we part at, he pulled me into an alley, looking very, very worried.

"Crutchie, if you know your name you should tell me," I instantly felt sick to my stomach, staring him in the eyes. 

"I don't," I spoke quietly, not wanting to sound afraid.

"Do you promise?" He asked, and I felt horrible as I nodded, lying to him. "Okay. I believe you. Let's go," he smiled at me as we left the alley, parting from one another.

As I sold I found it difficult to keep focused, making me nearly not sell all of them. When I got home Jack wasn't there yet, allowing me time to breathe and get my bearings. When the ladder eventually shook, I felt my heart sink. I smiled at Jack as he reached the top, him doing the same back.