Fighting to Survive (8 page)

“
Let's
go have sex,
”
she said to Juan, and shoved the bag into his hand. She swung her
legs down onto the ladder leading into the construction site.

“
Uh,
what? Okay!
”
Juan scrambled down after her.

At
the bottom, he caught her up in his arms and threw her over his
shoulders. Both of them laughing, he carried her to their makeshift
tent.

1. The New Season

The sun was barely
peeking over the edge of the fort's walls when Katie set out on her
daily jog. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she wore a T-shirt and
jogging shorts. For the first time, she was wearing her brand new
jogging shoes. After Peggy and the Mayor had inventoried everything
brought into the fort during the scavenging expeditions, they had
meticulously laid out everything in large boxes or any other bin they
could find, and opened up a sort of store for everyone in the
basement. No currency was exchanged, but you had to sign out anything
that was taken. Katie had been surprised to find a box full of
jogging shoes and had managed to find a pair that fit.

Katie
started on her trek around the fort, enjoying the brisk morning air,
feeling it nipping her checks bright red. She was trying to enjoy the
cool morning air as much as she could before summer was in full swing
and the mornings would be balmy.

She
was on her second rotation when Jenni dropped in beside her. She was
dressed in jeans, a red tank top and her boots. Glowing with
something other than the cool morning air, Jenni grinned at her.

“
Gawd,
I think I hate you,
”
Katie said with a laugh.
“
Every
freakin' night?
”

Jenni
laughed and easily matched her pace.
“
Yeah,
so?
”

“
I
almost feel bad for Juan,
”
Katie decided.

“
Yeah,
I am pretty brutal. I don
’
t
know how he puts up with me.
”

“
You
’
re
loca. And he loves loca,
”
Katie reminded her.

Jenni
lightly pumped her arms as they ran and her grin said it all. She
was wonderfully in love and it made Katie happy for her.

“
You
know, you kinda have options,
”
Jenni started cautiously.

Katie
shrugged. She debated opening up to Jenni or not. Her best friend
could be terribly blunt and loud at times. If she confided in her,
there was a good chance that everyone in the fort would know her
business fairly quickly.

Jenni
frowned as they took another corner.
“
Haven't
you ever kissed a boy?
”

That
made Katie laugh out loud.
“
Lots,
actually.
”
There it was out. She had said it.

“
Before
you realized you were a lesbian?
”
Jenni raised her eyebrow.

“
I'm
not a lesbian,
”
Katie said with a smile, deciding to fess up.

Jenni
arched her eyebrows even higher.
“
Huh?
”

“
I'm
bi,
”
Katie answered.

“
Huh?
”
Jenni looked utterly confused and almost ran into a pile of concrete
bricks. Katie yanked her out of the way just in time.
“
You
had a wife.
”

Katie
nodded as they made the turn.
“
Yeah,
but I'm bisexual. That means I find both men and women attractive. I
just happened to end up with a really fabulous gay woman instead of a
really fabulous straight man. The odds usually work against that,
but Lydia snatched me up.
”

Jenni
’
s
eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and she made an
“
oh
”
sound that lasted for a few seconds. She smacked Katie on the arm.
“
Then
you do have options, you bitch! Travis!
”

Katie
smacked her back.
“
Shut
up!
”

“
No,
seriously! If you like both guys and girls, you have options!
”
Jenni had the mad gleam of a matchmaker in her eyes.

“
I
don't want him to know I'm bi or that I have some feelings for him,
”
Katie said firmly. She almost regretted telling her, but it felt good
to say it out loud.
“
At
least, not now.
”

“
You
have feelings for him?
”
Jenni grabbed Katie
’
s
arm and dragged her to a stop.
“
Oh,
my gawd! You have feelings for Travis!
”

“
But
he can
’
t
know, so keep it down!
”

Jenni
twisted up her face, confused.
“
Why
not? I mean, I'm relieved. I was afraid you'd be alone for the rest
of your life unless some hot lesbian came along.
”

Katie
sighed.
“
Just
because you put two lesbians in a room that does not mean they'll
hook up. Well, unless you go with the second date Uhaul theory…

“
What's
that?
”

“
What
does a lesbian bring to a second date?
”

“
A
Uhaul. That's funny!
”
Jenni giggled.
“
So
lesbians move fast.
”

“
That
’
s
not what we're talking about!
”

“
Okay,
but I mean, well, you have options! You can have Travis!
”
Jenni was almost jumping up and down with excitement.
“
Katie,
I
’
m
so happy!
”

Katie
felt her stomach tighten nervously.
“
I
don't want options right now. I just...
”
She trailed off.

“
She's
gone, Katie.
”

“
I
know. But I just can't forget her and move on. Even if I do….
”
Katie wiped a tear from her eye
“
...even
if I do have feelings for Travis. I don't want to talk about this.
”

Jenni
sighed. She reached out and touched Katie's shoulder gently.
“
I
just want you happy. Is it wrong for you to be happy?
”

Katie
shook her head.
“
I
don't know if I can be without her. I loved her so much, Jenni. When
I met her I just knew she was the one and when I met Travis-
”
She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“
What,
Katie? Tell me.
”

“
It
felt…similar. Not exactly the same. But like he was
important to me. To my future. Maybe I
’
m
just admitting it to myself now, but-
“
She couldn
’
t
continue. Her emotions swirled up and she tried to focus herself.

Jenni
saw the tears in her eyes and threw her arms around Katie, nearly
crashing them both into the ground. Katie grabbed hold of her and
they hugged each other tightly.

“
It
’
s
okay! It
’
s
okay. At least you know that you
’
re
not alone and that people do love you. And he
’
ll
wait until you
’
re
ready. You know that.
”

“
I'm
so grateful I have you,
”
Katie whispered. She kissed Jenni
’
s
cheek and clung to her.
“
You're
a good friend.
”

Jenni
stroked her hair and looked at her intently.
“
I
love you, but I don't want you hurting so we'll drop this for now.
”

Katie
nodded, smiling.
“
Okay.
For now.
”

Travis
walked up, looking a little grim, his hands in the pockets of his
lightweight jacket. Katie couldn
’
t
help but notice the bags under his eyes or his slightly mussed hair.
He was carrying so much on his shoulders and she wanted to hug him.
“
We're
going in today. According to what's left of the Internet there is a
bad storm heading this way. Some survivors in a school several
counties away are reporting that it's very, very bad. They lost
power and had to go to their backup generator.
”

The
women looked toward the row of generators, that up to this point they
hadn't had to use, and winced.

“
So,
we're going in. Get ready.
”
His gaze lingered on Katie.

“
I'll
change and get Nerit,
”
Katie answered. She had this deep desire to hug him and let him know
it was okay. That they would both be okay, but she couldn't let
herself. Not yet.

He
nodded and walked on to inform the others.

Jenni
smacked Katie's shoulder.
“
He
is so into you. Don
’
t
keep him waiting too long!
”

Katie
turned and glared at her.
“
You
said-
”

“
Gawd,
yes, but-
”
Jenni threw up her hands.
“
He
’
s
so hot!
”

Katie
laughed despite herself and smacked Jenni
’
s
shoulder.
“
Lay
off. Okay? For now. For me.
”

“
Fine,
but we will talk about this later.
”
She kissed Katie hard on her cheek and strode off.

Katie
stood alone, her hands resting on her hips, and exhaled slowly. She
glanced over at Travis and caught him looking at her. She gave him a
soft smile and his face lit up as he smiled back at her.

Sighing,
she walked into the city hall building, trying hard not to think of
anything but the task ahead.