Briar

Ch. 8 Leaving

The servants of Numberland had gotten used to Jonas being absent from their large family like dinner as the ladies always insisted on using the grand dining hall, and they, of course, could never eat with servants. But eventually, everyone had fallen into a new routine.
It was a particularly quiet night. The ladies were well fed, and the heat of summer seemed to be the only thing that burned hotter than their tempers. Too weak to ring their bells, but in person, they were as nasty as ever. Rose just hoped the older couples could look after those girls after she was gone.
“I’ve decided that I’m going to leave.” Rose said it softly, hoping it would sound like a normal, natural thing.
“That’s very nice,” Mrs. Happershap said absent mindedly. Then, “Wait. What? Leaving.” Her face flip flopped between joy and pain. It ended up with her smiling, “That’s great dear,” right before she burst into tears are rushed out of the room.
Mrs. Fonderal even bothered to look up and over the massive bowl of mashed potatoes that dominated their small round table.
“That went better than I expected.” Her father added.
“Dad…”
“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. She’s just sad that she can’t smother you until you’re old.” He barked a laugh and then went after his wife.
“Well that ruined the dinner,” Mr. Fonderal said and then continued to eat.
“I don’t know what you want to go out there for. What are you expecting to find?” Mrs. Fonderal quizzed.
“I don’t know. I guess I just want to see something else besides this.” There was no way that Rose would ever tell this bitter old woman that she was leaving because she had made the monumental mistake of falling for Jonas, lost to an idiot and was going on a vein hope that she might have another home out there somewhere.
“Well, this, as they say, is about as good as it gets. And I hope you don’t expect me to chase those girls all over the place.”
“I would never expect you to do anything Mrs. Fonderal.”
“Don’t get snippy with me girl.” Only Mr. Fonderal laughed.
The geese were the next ones to find out. Rose held the cups of seed over the impatient geese to insure their attention.
“Now I’ve got something important to say to you. I’ve decided to leave Numberland. So, my mother will be taking care of you. I want you all to be nice to her. She doesn’t have my spunk, and she’s a sweet lady. I know that you all understand what you do while you’re geese, but she’s forgiving to animals. If I hear that any of you hurts her I will come back here and personally pluck every last feather off of every last one of you. And don’t think I won’t. Now that we understand each other,” Rose poured the seed into their bowls, Princess first just like at dinner. She took their enthusiastic eating to mean that they accepted her terms.
Jillian confronted her later that night.
“So, you’re actually going to do it?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I,” she paused. Rose hated explaining herself, “I like to do things in one fatal swoop.”
“Why always with the bird jokes.”
Rose smiled at her. “You know you love them.”
“Yeah, they’re the reason that I’m coming with you.”
“You’re coming with me?”
“I figure someone’s gotta watch out for your butt. And who would suspect the goose.”
Rose threw her arms around Jilly. “Thank you,” she half whispered.
“Nah, you’re doing me the favor. Getting me out of here and getting me away from those loonies.”
Rose laughed, “Loons. Good one.”
“Thank you. So when are we leaving?”
“I figured the end of the week would be good.”
Rose had fully intended to tell Jonas the news, but a little princess blurted it out over dinner before Rose could build up the courage say anything. Rose suspected that Perky time it so that Rose would happen to be carrying very slippery potatoes when she told Jonas.
Perky let the news slip right when Rose was rounding the corner on Jonas’s side. His whole body instantly shifted to look at her. Quick enough that Rose couldn’t even attempt to get out of his way. He ended up with a bruise on his head from the platter, and the potatoes ended up on the floor with unrepentant and disoriented Rose.
Perky, already poised to move, rushed over to him, “Oh! You silly girl. Look what you did to him.” She had grabbed him by the head trying to shoving it between her breasts. Jonas pushed her off.
He stood looking at Rose. He walked over to where she was and helped her up. Without even letting her catch her breath, “Is it true?” His eyes held hers; his hands still wrapped around hers. Rose could feel him breathing, and she tried to not let it go to her head.
“It’s true.” Rose refused to look down. Refused to be ashamed of leaving when he was getting married. With his head bent, Jonas back away first, dropping her hands. And Rose started to breathe again.
“If that’s truly what you want Rose I won’t stop you.”
“If I truly wanted something Jonas, you wouldn’t be able to stop me.” Just another lie in a long line. It crushed her to just think about Jonas knowing of her affection, of the two of them laughing at her expense.
Jonas took this to mean that she didn’t want him, that she knew he was hopelessly in love with her.
“When are you leaving?” Jonas was blushing now, embarrassed at such a public scene.
“Friday. Lady Jillian has also decided to come with me.” Rose stared straight ahead, directly over his shoulder. Jonas wondered if it was because she just couldn’t stand to look at him any more. Was he that sickening?
“Very good. If Lady Jillian wishes to leave, no one will stand in her way.”
Perky gave a little huff, but didn’t dare say anything to contradict Jonas.
“Thank you.”
Jonas opened his mouth, but no words came. I’ve got to say it. Ask her. “Do you think you’ll come back?”
“I don’t know.”
Jonas was quick to cover up his pain with concern, “Winter can be very dangerous, you know. You should have stay somewhere. You could come back then.”
His words only confirmed Perky’s words for her. Why else would he want her back by winter, in not to help at the wedding? “Thank you very much for your advice.”
“Numberland is open to you at all times.” Jonas, seeing that Rose had no intention of a response, excused himself.
He went to the library, hoping that Rose would be there later. He wanted to be as close as possible to her in the next few days. Just think these could be your last 3 days with her, and you’re not even brave enough to try and work things out between the two of you. He tried to tell himself that feelings change, but there was no real hope for Jonas. Her actions told him that she had only come to loathe him more in the last few months.
The two girls left just after breakfast on Friday. The whole house was assembled. The geese were squawking and Mrs. Happershap was yelling out advice like don’t forget to wear your scarf and be nice but not too friendly to strangers. Jonas just watched her retreating back, trying to, as he had in the last few days, memorize everything about her. She’d packed up almost all of her belongings into a small little sack. It was almost like she had never been in Numberland.
“Wait!” he called out. They were almost to the edge of his land. Jonas ran to them, panting he repeated, “wait.”
Rose looked at him confused. Jonas grabbed a rose from one of the bushes unconcerned with its many thorns. He muttered an incantation under his breath. “Here. A rose to remember us by.” Remember me by. “It’ll never wilt nor wither. It’ll stay just as it is, and,” more quietly, “I hope, by your side.”
“It will be with me always.” Rose took the red flower from Jonas, not bothering to look at it only at him. “You’re bleeding. You shouldn’t just grab roses that way.”
His eyes darkened, “I know.” I know I shouldn’t try to keep you, but sometimes even I can’t help myself. Rose got the feeling that he was talking about something else but she couldn’t figure out what.
“Good bye, Rose.”
“Good bye, Jonas.” Blood welled on his hand, and he let it drip until Rose and Jillian were out of sight in the forest that lay just beyond Numberland.
“Good bye,” was uttered one last time before Jonas turned and walked back to his suddenly lonely castle.


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Ok yes I do realize that Jonas is kind of ridiculous but yall have to understand he came from a very very proper family. In that kind of environment you do not discuss your feelings in anyway. So really a) he doesn't know how and b) some of the things he does like seeking out her company are really abnormal for him. He's a pretty antisocial guy. This does at least come through a little right? Sorry I have to ask these things cause I know them but who know what the hell the audience will pick up