Dead Poets and Dying Roses

Ninth Chapter

(AN: own plot idea)

I don't remember who has had the idea to make a picnic at the lake at the end of autumn, but there we are all dressed in multiple layers of clothes as it us super cold. Well, officially I am at the ettiquette course and staying there until dinner as an honourable woman would do. So I'm covered for the day. It was pretty hard to hide all the pastries I have made for this adventure, but somehow I managed it without anybody noticing. Thank God, Mr Keating let my friends skip class today to find inspiration for new poems. Our meeting surely will be inspiration for a lot of things. I'm waiting for the boys when I see Neil practically flying towards me. "I'm doing it! I signed in! I'm going to play Puck!" "No way!", I scream and we crash into eachother in a wild hug. "Oh my god, Neil, I'm so happy for you!" At this point we are just jumping up and down like crazy. "How the hell did you get your father's permission?", I ask curiously. I know that Mr Perry actually was against my cousin participating in the play. "I just faked the formular and his signature, just like you showed me!" I screech and hug him again. "I'm so proud of you! I knew you would learn some good shit from me!"

The other boys watch the whole spectacle from aside. It is just wonderful to see the cousins embracing eachother and celebrating like little children. Still, they all wonder how these two can contain so much joy and love for one another, when they have grown up in such a horrible place like the Perry's home. Everybody knows that this happiness is not granted and that they can be grateful, that somehow their friends always find light in the darkness. That they are here and enjoying every bit of life even though they have to overcome so many bad influence on their way.

After we all have ended up in a group hug Knox, Pitts and Meeks now try to unwrap the picnic blanket. I stare out onto the lake. "You think, it is thick enough to walk on it?" Charlie joins me with his hands in the pockets of his coat. I take another glance at the ice covering the lake. Then an idea pops up in my mind and I grin. "I don't know, but I think you should try out." He laughs and white clouds escape his mouth. "Go out there and break in, no way." I cross my arms. "Oh, okay. I thought the great Charlie Dalton isn't afraid of anything." He looks at me with fiery eyes. "Big words over here, mon chéri." I'm not even trying to correct him. "Why don't you go out there yourself then?" I raise my eyebrows skeptically. "Are you kidding me? I'm just going, if you are going." "Is that a challenge?", Charlie asks eagerly. I shrug. "Of course, it is.", I dare him and reach out my hand. " "That's a terrible idea.", a voice behind us warns us, but I don't listen. "Oh, shut up, Cameron! Grow yourself some balls!" I shout back and just hear him mumbling a few more words. Charlie finally wraps his fingers around my hand and I get a tickeling feeling. "Step by step I guess?", he asks and we make our way on the ice. I'm feeling like a penguin, honestly. From now and then I can feel Charlie squeezing my hand struggeling to walk without falling. We put a good distance between us and the saftey of the ground. I have missed the cold autumns of Vermont. Walking beyond the beautiful maple trees coloured in all shades of orange and red, going ice skating on a lake or sliding down a snowy hill. Neil and I have always used to do that as children. One time I even broke my arm, because we collided with a tree. Mr. Perry has been so angry that he didn't let us leave the house again the rest of winter. Then suddenly Charlie and I are both slipping on a part of ice that isn't that covered with snow. I get ripped out of my thoughts and try to stay on my feet. It's a hard fight but somehow we manage it. By now we are both grabbing eachothers arms and our faces are just inches away from each other. For one moment time seems to stand still.

It shouldn't be that difficult for Charlie to stand this close to a girl. He has had no problem with Gloria or Tina wrapping an arm around him at the last meeting, but this is different. This is not just a bit of fun. Even though he doesn't want to admit it, Rosalie means something to him. He can't define it yet, just that he hasn't felt the same before about a girl. He is not as confident as normal to shamelessly flirt with her, he wants her to really like him. And now she is looking at him with those bright eyes, sparkling with joy, a cute smile on her rosy lips. He can not take his eyes of her even as she starts to blush.