she sees him every day when he gets back from school. she smiles, he smiles. she waves, he waves. one day she tries to start a conversation.
[ johnny cade ]
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CHAPTER XV DECEMBER TWENTY FOURTH & TWENTY FIFTH !
Imogenwas excited to see snow on the ground in Oklahoma on Christmas Eve morning. It rarely ever snowed in Tulsa but by some miracle it was pouring snow. She rushed outside once she saw it, ignoring the fact that she had no shoes or coat on. She stared as the snow fell around her, happiness bubbling in her chest. She couldn't help but laugh.
Her parents came out next, wrapped in coats and wearing their shoes. Her dad quickly pulled a coat on her and laid her shoes on the barely covered sidewalk. She put them on to keep him from annoying her.
Imogen looked over at Johnny's house. She hadn't seen the boy in what felt like forever, he stayed inside most days and she was too scared to knock on his door. The gang said they had seen him occasionally over the past few weeks but he went home early. Imogen didn't know why he'd want to go home.
"Ready to go in?" Her father signs when he gets her attention.
Imogen glances at Johnny's house one last time before following her parents inside the warm house.
—
She was placing the plate of cookies on the coffee table when she sees a shadow near the front door. Her parents had already gone to bed and she was by herself. Nervously, Imogen tip toes towards the front door and cracks it open. She sees Johnny leaning against the door post and quickly opens the door wider to pull him inside.
Imogen's eyes fill with tears as she stares at him. She quickly pulls him to the living room and onto the couch.
"God..." She signs, "What happened?"
Johnny doesn't look at her.
Imogen stares at him bruised arms and swollen eye, tears threatening to fall. She sniffles and holds up her finger telling him to wait. She rushes toward the bathroom and grabs the band aids as well as a wet washcloth.
Johnny accepts the washcloth and presses it to his eye, wincing as it comes in contact with the bruising skin. Imogen opens a few bandaids and places them on the cuts littering his cheeks and arms.
"Who did this?" She signed furiously.
Johnny shrugs.
"Your parents..." Imogen continues, remembering their first encounter.
Johnny stares at her hands moving rapidly, trying to recognize a few of the words but with no luck. Johnny looks for a scrap piece of paper from the side table and a pen.
I'm sorry for bothering you.
It's alright, Imogen replies, her hand shaking as she tights.
