Uprising (60 page)

“Excellent. Water?”

“Certainly, sir.” He picked up a bottle from the little refrigerator box under the counter and handed it to me. “Any thing else, sir, before you go on?”

“Just get me in front of the camera. I’ll do the rest.”

Something’s Just Not Right

I wake. I feel a bit weird. Something...there’s a button in my mouth. I pull back and realize- oh. Cain’s button. His shirt button, because my face is pressed to his shirt front. I pull back further to look at him. I can barely see him with the sliver of light from the crack in the door. But it’s enough.

He murmurs my name in his sleep and my breath catches. I panic, just a little bit. He’s dreaming about me? Already? Is that bad? Good? Weird? I don’t know.

He feels me pulling away from his arms a bit and tightens them around me, murmuring my name again. He kisses my forehead, still asleep. I delight at the novelty of it.

I have always loved that. The forehead kiss is a telltale kiss, I’ve always thought. I mean, there’s no tongue involved. It doesn’t get you hot and bothered. It’s just sweet. When a guy starts to give you forehead kisses, that’s when you know things have gone past his initial physical attraction to you. There’s more there to ponder. Chaste kisses are the foundation for sweet and lovely things to come. And he just did it. Granted, he was asleep but on some subconscious level...right?

I maneuver out of his arms finally and leave him to finish his nap. He was up longer than me. Plus he’s a guy. Unspoken rule. Guys sleep anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances and will gladly do so. So, being sleep deprived must be doubly bad for them.

I inch out into the hall and straighten my clothes from being sleep bunched to find Miguel in the hall, sitting on the floor with his legs crossed, whittling of all things.

“Hello there,” he said easily.

“Hey, Miguel.”

“Better?”

“Hmm?”

“Nap. Do you feel better now? You kinda passed out earlier.”

“Yeah... I do, thank you. Long night.”

“I heard.”

I looked at him curiously.

“You whittle?”

“Is that what this is called? Then, no. Absolutely not. But I pretend.”

I laughed and he got up, folding his knife in his pocket and holding the somewhat carved wooden piece in his hand.

“So, you and Cain?” He nodded to my door, knowing he was still in there, in my room.

“Um.” I thought what would Cain say. Would he want everyone to know we’re official. Are we official? I am so bad at judging these things. So I just answer, what I hope is the truth. “Yeah.”

He nodded like he once again already knew the answer. He looks a little disappointed.

“He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah, he is.”

Awkward silence follows.

“You don’t happen to have a hot sister stashed in there somewhere, do you?”

I laughed at him, thankful for his break in the silence and his humor.

“I’m afraid not.”

“You’ve been through hell. You deserve a break from all this. And I don’t just mean just today.” He looked at me poignantly. “You’ve had it rough for while. I hope you’re happy, with him. Cain deserves a little bit of happy too. We all do.”

“Yeah.”

I knew Miguel had had a little crush, or something on me. I felt bad now.

“Well, I’m gonna grab a cup of coffee. Want to come with?”

“Sure. I could use it. In an I.V. preferably.”

He chuckled as he swung his arm for me to lead the way.

“I’ll see if I can rig that up.”

We walked down the hall and I could see people eating and some sitting. There were hardly any people in the commons room, things were relatively quiet. It smelled like pasta and my stomach growled, loudly.

“Let’s get you some spaghetti to go with that coffee,” Miguel said laughing.

“Thanks,” I said and ducked my head, embarrassed by my bodies inability to control it’s functions. “I only ate a couple hours ago, but I’m starving.”

“Sherry’s cooking will do that. That girl can sure whip it up for someone so young. But she learned from the best, I guess,” he said sadly and smiled like he was remembering something.

“Trudy? I’ve heard Sherry talk about her.”

“Yep. Mrs. Trudy was fierce.”

“Hey!” Sherry yelled over the table in the kitchen and came to hug me. “Are you doing ok? Hungry?”

“Starved.” I looked knowingly at Miguel and he winked at me. “Don’t, Sherry, I’ll get it.” I grabbed her arm to keep her from heading toward the stove. “Everybody worries just a little bit too much about me around here. Why is that?”

“We love you,” Sherry said sweetly.

She meant it. I felt a pang in my ribs. My heart clenched.

“Thanks, Sherry. I love you too.”

“And I’m outta her,” Miguel said raising his arms, backing away like we were dangerous.

“Miguel?” Sherry asked playfully.

“Girl talk comes out, I hit the road. I can’t deal with tears. Literally. I’m allergic.”

“Well then you’d better run-”

He took off running and then turned at the door to wink at us before walking out.

“He’s crazy.”

“He’s sweet.”

“That too,” Sherry said laughing then sobered. “So, how’s Cain?”

I stiffened and immediately felt guilty. He’d assured me he was over her. I shouldn’t react this way. They were friends long before I came along. We all live together. I gotta get over this.

“He’s ok. I’m letting him sleep. He’s just tired.”

“Speak for yourself, cutie.” Cain walked in behind us and didn’t stop until he was flush in front of me, our toes touching. “I don’t know about you, but I feel great.”

He reached for me, his arm going around my waist, his hand to the back of my neck. He smiled and bent his head down to mine. His lips pressed gently. It was an easy kiss, I think that’s what he meant for it to be. But I felt him hesitate. Then he pressed harder, then his lips parted.

I felt all restraint drain from me like water through my fingers. My hands squeezed his shirt hem in my hands and he kept kissing me. Sherry and I had been in the kitchen alone and I distantly heard a little giggle and a girly cleared throat before footsteps retreating.

Cain had somehow walked us back to the wall. I hadn’t felt myself move but I felt the wall stop me. Once again, I could tell he was being tentative with me. Gentle. I could also tell this wasn’t the end of his list of wants, but he was attempting to reign it in. I remembered we hadn’t had any kisses since we’d been home. Not any ‘we’re safe, we made it home, I’m so glad’ kisses. That must be what this is.

I moved my hand to his chin, his cheek, then around to the back of his head to rub and scratch his barely there hair and he groaned and pressed me further into the wall.

Hmm. I think he likes it.

I do it again and he groans- half growls- again then breaks off and looks at me, touching his tongue to his lip like he needs to figure something out.

“What?” I ask breathlessly and thoroughly amused.

“You’re not gonna make this whole ‘being a gentleman thing’ easy on me, are you?”

“I thought you didn’t want to pollute my ears with filth talk? That’s practically an innuendo, mister.”

He laughed and nuzzled my nose with his.

“You are just so amazing. I hope you know that,” he said softly, his blue green gaze on my blues.

I just smiled.

Then Danny walks in.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake! Can I go in any room in the place and not see the Nature Channel?” Danny said with his hands on his head like he was in pain.

“Please! You and Celeste are twice as bad as anybody in here,” Cain said through a laugh.

“Not the point. It’s like the Love Boat up in-” Danny was cut off as he turned back around to head in to the commons room.

We burst out laughing. Once we settled, Cain smoothed my hair back, tucking it behind my ear.

“If Danny’s complaining, it must be bad.”

“Terribly bad. Aren’t you concerned?” I said mockingly.

“Not a bit.”

He kissed me once more before licking his lips and grinning then he sniffed.

“Is that spaghetti I smell?”

Sherry. Sherry, Baby.

“Ok. Um, that’s fine, I guess. I’ve just never worked the store before,” I answered Margo not really understanding why she was insisting I learn to operate the store.

“I know. That’s why I think it’s important for you to learn.” Something was definitely going on. She hadn’t looked me in the eye since we’d been talking. “I know there’s a lot of people here but, what if something happened to all of us who do know how to work it? I think everyone should take a crash course, at least one night, just in case.”

Her words were on the verge of a lie. It was the truth but not all of it. I couldn’t really figure it out but...

“Well, you have a point. But you know Merrick. He’s not gonna like this and he’ll probably insist on helping me.”

“Uh..” She looked unsure. What is with her? “That’s ok. He can stay with you if he wants.”

She seemed to be wording things carefully.

“Ok. Well, Lillian, Danny and Celeste have kitchen duty tonight. So I’m free. This afternoon then?”

“Yes. Great. Meet me up there in an hour and we’ll get started.”

“Ok.”

She walked away stiffly. Margo hadn’t been the same since that day she was tricked by the Lighters to ring the bell, causing us to investigate outside and some of us died. I understand her guilt but I wish she’d ease up a little. It’s depressing to watch her be so depressed.

I march out of the kitchen to the commons room to find Merrick sitting with Lily on his lap in the corner. They looked conspiring. I quirked my brow and watched them with intense fascination. I heard Merrick humming and saw him swaying.

Merrick? Humming?

Then I heard his voice stretch together in long baritone notes that sounded strangely like singing.

Merrick? Singing?

I inched closer, trying to look inconspicuous but failing miserably as I stubbed my toe on the record player console.

“Hi!” Lily said cheerily.

“Hi,” I answered and took a seat beside them on the floor. “You two look busy.”

“We are. Daddy’s teaching me a song.”

Daddy... Ahh...

“Really? What song?” I asked then looked at Merrick. “I wasn’t aware you knew any songs.”

“Well, Cain kinda taught me one, on one of our trips to town.”

He cleared his throat, like he was uncomfortable.

“Uhuh. And what song is that?”

Lily took over and belted out the lyrics sweetly, and I was pleasantly surprised. The kid could actually stay on key.

Sherry, Sherry baby. Sherry, Sherry baby.

Sherry baby. Sherry baby! Sherry won’t you come out tonight.

Come out tonight! Sherry baby.

Sherry baby! Sherry won’t you come out tonight.

“Aww. Lily. Thank you,” I could hear the tears choking me response but I held back. “That was so great.”

“I wuv that song! I can’t believe you have a song with youw name in it!” she said amazed.

“I know,” I said, tweaking her nose. “Pretty neat, huh.”

“Do I have a song with my name in it?”

“Well,” I thought racking my brain. “There is a song by the Pink Martinis called Lily, but I’m not sure it’s age appropriate.”

“What’s age appwopwiate?”

Merrick and I laughed.

“It means not for you. You want a snack?”

“Yes, pwease.”

“I see Marissa in the kitchen. Why don’t you run and ask her for some crackers.”

“Ok.”

She skipped away. We need to change her nickname from Bug to Skippy.

I turned to Merrick.

“Margo wants me to work the store tonight. Thinks we should all learn to run it, just in case.”

“Hmm. Well...I see her point. I’ll come with you.”

I laughed, knowing he would.

“I figured. We’ve got about forty five minutes until we need to head up. Got any ideas of what we could do?”

I bit my lip and he smiled.

“Oh I have ideas. But they aren’t what you’re thinking.”

“Are you sure? I’m pretty sure it’s the same.”

I climbed onto his lap.

“Mine involves you lying on your back.”

I felt my eyes bulge.

“Merrick!” I chided.

“In the practice room.”

“What? I don’t think we should-”

“You’d be on your back because that’s where I’d put you. After I kicked your cute butt.”