“Reece did say you’re a lot harsher than the Kylah I remember.”
I laughed. “Only because he was pretending to be useless as a recruit. I honestly thought something was seriously wrong with him the way he stumbled around. Turns out, I was the one with the issues.”
“We all have issues. Imagine what mum and dad think of us now,” he said.
“I honestly try really hard not to think about what they’d think about me. They’d be proud of you, though. What you’ve done here is incredible, and these people obviously think very highly of you.”
“They’ve been so kind to me. It’s the least I could do. Seeing them get to leave and go home will be worth everything, you just wait and see.”
“Then what will you do? Do we just live down here for the rest of our lives in hiding?”
“I was actually thinking maybe we could go with them.” He looked up, gauging my reaction.
“Are you serious?”
He nodded.
“Oh crap, you’re serious.”
I thought for a moment, letting his revelation hang between us.
“No way,” I said. “I mean. How could I go to Terra Sol after everything I’ve done? They’d toss me in a cell and throw away the key. If they don’t believe in capital punishment… do they?”
He smiled. “No, they don’t. And they’d understand. They were deceived by Skywatchers and our government more than anyone. They forgave me for the part I played in getting them here. If you want to get technical, I killed a lot more of them than you did.” Sadness filled his eyes.
“I think you’re underestimating how good I was at my job… unfortunately.”
“Look, we don’t need to decide anything now. It’s another week until equinox…”
“Equinox?” I asked.
“Yes. When the centre of the sun is directly above the equator. That’s when we’ll be launching the airships.”
“All of this nerdy talk hurts my head. No wonder you and Reece get along so well.”
“You two seem to get along really well, too,” he said.
I prayed I wasn’t blushing. Reece wouldn’t have said anything to him… would he?
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here with you. And he’s okay, I suppose,” I replied.
“Are you sure you’re not hungry? It’s pretty quiet in the dining hall at this time of night. I can see if the cooks have any of our favourite deserts,” he said.
I sat up straighter. “Do you think they could make us a banana split like mum use to make?”
“Let’s go find out.”
“There you two are,” Reece said as he found us sitting at a table in the dining hall.
We barely replied with a glance as we both dug into our bowls of banana, ice-cream, nuts, sprinkles and the most delicious chocolate topping.
“Can’t talk… eating,” I replied.
Reece picked up a spoon and directed it towards my bowl.
I hugged it into my chest. “Back off!”
He moved towards Tyson. “Not a chance, buddy.”
“Come on,” he said. “I’ve never even tried… whatever that is. I can’t go home saying I’ve never had any.”
“You don’t even know what it is to say you didn’t have any,” I replied.
“Now my head hurts,” he said.
“One mouthful,” Tyson said. “But when you want more, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”
He scooped out a spoonful and put it in his mouth, his eyes practically rolling in the back of his head. “Oh my goodness. It’s to die for.”
“It’s a banana split,” I said. “Just how mum used to make them.”
“Minus the cherries,” Tyson said.
“I never liked those anyway. I always gave them to you,” I said.
“I have missed your extra cherries. Oh, and you know what else…”
“Pickles?” I asked.
“Yes! I can’t wait to start getting extra pickles again.”
Reece laughed.
“What’s so funny?” I asked before spooning in my last mouthful.
“This. You two. Seeing you together was worth everything.”
“You’re not getting all nostalgic on us, are you?” I asked.
“No.” He pretended to sniff and wipe at a tear.
“Oh, mate. Come here.” Tyson pulled him into a tight hug, making me laugh.
“Is there something going on between you two I should know about?” I asked.
“Can’t two guys hug and be mates?” asked Tyson.
Reece’s eyes met mine, and I prayed Tyson couldn’t see the connection between us.
“Of course, they can. It’s called a joke, Ty.”
“So funny I forgot to laugh.”
I dead panned. “You don’t seriously still say that? What are you? Five?”
“I wish. Life was so much simpler back then,” he said.
“Yeah, it was. I don’t think I ever told you how much I appreciated everything you did for me when we lost Mum and Dad. You gave up so much to be my guardian, and I love you so much for it.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with Kylah?” Tyson asked, feeling my forehead.
I swatted his hand away. “I’m being nice, stupid. I mean it. Plus, I think I’m on a crazy sugar high. I can’t remember the last time I ate anything remotely sugary.”
“If I knew all you needed was sugar, I would’ve bought you a tub of ice-cream when I met you,” Reece said. “It took you a few days just to remember my name.”
“I didn’t want to remember it. You were so freaking useless and a pain in my butt.”
“For what it’s worth,” Tyson said. “I know you kept good grades at school and stayed out of trouble to make my life easier. And I would’ve done anything for you. I still would.”
“I’m off to bed.” Reece rose from the table. “I can’t handle any more of you two being so nice. I feel like I’ve woken up in some alternate dimension or something.”
“Night, mate,” Tyson said.
“Night, Reece,” I added, locking eyes with him.
“I’ll fetch you in the morning and take you on my rounds if you like,” he said.
“I’d like that,” I replied.
“Yup, can’t handle the niceness. I’m out of here.” He spun on his heel and left Tyson and me alone in the dining hall.
“I’m afraid I have to get to bed, too. Not all of us got to sleep half of the day away,” Tyson said.
“I promise I’ll make up for it tomorrow.”
We left the dining hall, and Tyson led me back to our rooms. In the hallway he stopped before unlocking his door.
“Can you promise to knock before you come in next time?” I asked. “You scared the life out of me earlier.”
“Cross my heart,” he said, doing just that. “And, Ky?”
I lifted my eyebrows.
“Whatever’s going on between you and Reece… I approve. He’s a good guy.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t…”
“Night, Kylah.” He unlocked his door and left me standing in the hallway gobsmacked.
When I regained control of my limbs once again, I unlocked my own door and went inside to lie on my bed. Of course, Tyson knew. But knew what? Did Reece even feel anything for me anymore after all I’d put him through? I shook the notion from my head. He was going home in a week, and there was no way I was going to a planet where I’d always wonder if I’d killed this person’s son or that person’s mother. No, I couldn’t go. But the idea of watching Tyson and Reece leave without me made my heart ache.
Staring up at the metal ceiling, I jumped at the sound of knocking at my door. I shook my head and smiled. Tyson was either being a smart ass or had decided to check on me one last time.
I swung the door open, and my smile dropped at the sight of Reece, my heart kicking up a notch.
“Sorry, I figured you wouldn’t be tired, and I couldn’t sleep so…” he let his words trail off.
He did as I asked and closed the door behind him before following me to my bed and sitting beside me.
“Do you think I should maybe go check on Natalie? I’ve been a pretty crappy friend today,” I said, breaking the silence.
“I already checked in on her, and she was heading to bed. I think she followed Tyson around all afternoon, anyway,” he said.
“At least she was being helpful. I just slept all day.”
“It’s okay, you’ll make up for it when I put you to work tomorrow,” he said.
“Can’t wait.”
We fell into silence again.
“Tyson knows…” I said at the exact time Reece said, “I was wondering…”
“You go first,” he said.
“No. You go.” I’d lost my nerve.
His throat bobbed. “I was wondering if you’d mind me sleeping in here with you.”
I looked to my bed, my cheeks heating. “I guess that’d be okay.”
“You guess?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t know. It’s awkward, okay,” I blurted out.
He laughed, making me laugh.
“Why is this so awkward?” he asked.
“Because so much has happened. And because now we know who each other really are,” I said.
“To be fair I always knew who you were.”
“All of these years I thought I was better off on my own, then you came around and turned my world on its head. And it’s true. I hated you for it. I hated you for making me trust someone again and then deceiving me.”
“Ky, I…”
“Let me finish. But I like who I am with you much better than the Ky I am without you. The one who keeps everyone at arm’s length and has constant snarky remarks.”
“I kind of like your snarky remarks,” he said.
I smiled. “What I’m trying to say is…”
“I like who I am with you, too,” he said.
He took my hand and squeezed it, his deep blue eyes catching mine in their stare.
“Tyson asked me to go with you when you leave for Terra Sol,” I said.
“And?”
“And the thought of never seeing either of you again tears me up inside.”
“I’m sensing a but,” he said.
“I don’t know if I could live with myself looking into the eyes of people who may have loved and lost the people I murdered every day.” I sighed. “Maybe being left here on my own is the universe’s sick idea of karma.”
“I wish you’d change your mind, but I can understand why you don’t want to go to Terra Sol,” he said. “It won’t be easy leaving you behind, though. Watching hunters drag you away while I stood and did nothing broke me. I don’t know what this is between us, but even if it’s just an amazing friendship, I don’t want to lose it.”
“Me either. But going to Terra Sol isn’t an option.”
“I won’t be going anywhere if your brother finds out I’m sleeping in your bed. He might just kill me,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” I said. “He knows something’s going on or has gone on.”
“How?”
“He’s my brother. He just knows things.”
Reece paled.
“It’s okay. He said he approves, and you’re a good guy.”
He released a sharp breath.
“You know what, despite all of the sleep today, I think that massive feed of ice-cream and banana has made me sleepy. You ready for bed?” I asked him.
I lay down as he turned off the light before crawling in beside me. Resting my cheek on his chest, I wrapped my arm over his torso, listening to his heartbeat and feeling the rise and fall of his breath. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight and we lay like that until his breath evened and I eventually fell asleep.
Chapter Sixteen
“Rise and, oh…” Natalie’s voice roused me from my sleep.
The weight of Reece’s arm over my waist seemed to grow heavier under Natalie’s stare.
“How’d you get in here?” I groaned.
“What? We’re just going to ignore the fact Reece is in your bed?” she asked hands on hips.
“Morning, Natalie,” Reece said, rolling onto his back.
“Is this new, or am I completely blind?” She pointed between us.
“You’re blind,” Reece said.
“This is…” What was this? I had no idea. I just knew I only had a few days left before I never saw him again, and I was going to make the most of it. “Two friends who fell asleep talking. Reece is leaving in a few days, remember?”
“Sure, it is,” she said.
Reece’s shoulders slumped beside me.
“Anyway, Tyson gave me a key to your room so I could wake you up,” she said. “Apparently, you two are going to get to enjoy each other’s company all day, but you have a lot to do.”
“She’s right. We should get moving,” Reece said.
“Are you joining us?” I asked.
“I’ll be helping your brother out,” she beamed.
“Morning,” Tyson appeared in the doorway.
“Far out. Don’t you people know how to knock,” I said.
Tyson stopped in his tracks, looking between Reece and me. “When I said I approved of you two, it didn’t mean go jump straight in bed with him.”
“It wasn’t like that,” I said.
“Are you trying to tell me Reece is a figment of my imagination?” he asked.
“I’m telling you, you need to get your mind out of the gutter.”
“I was coming to say good morning and see if you’re happy to work with Reece today. Guess I already have my answer,” Tyson said.
“I’m happy to do whatever needs to be done,” I replied.
“I was going to put you on with me so we could spend some time together, but Natalie insisted she wants to learn as much as she can about what I’m doing. I hope you don’t mind,” Tyson said.
“It would’ve been nice to spend time with the brother I haven’t seen for years.” I aimed my words towards Natalie. “But I’ll go work with Reece if that’s what you want.”
“Don’t get too excited,” Reece said.
“Now, can you three get out of here so I can get dressed?” I said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Tyson said. “It’s going to take me months to get this scene out of my head.”
“Bye, lovers.” Natalie waved over her shoulder as Tyson ushered her through the doorway.
I threw my pillow, hitting the closed door.
“Well, at least the awkward conversation is out of the way,” Reece said.
“At least at Skywatchers I had privacy,” I said. “Sorry, about that.”
“I’m not sorry at all. Now I can spend every night here with you until…”
“Until you take off to another planet never to be seen again. It’s okay, I’m well aware how this is going to end.”
“Let’s make a deal. We might only have a few days left, but we’ll make the most of them. We’ve wasted so much time already, and I don’t want to leave with any regrets.”
“Sounds like a good plan.”
He placed his hand on my cheek and drew my face closer to his. Pressing his soft lips against mine, warmth spread through my body before he pulled away.
“I wish we could just stay here all day, but we really do have a lot to get done today,” he said.
“I’ll have a shower and get dressed and meet you out in the hallway in twenty minutes?” I said.
“Deal,” he replied.
Reece and I stood in a large room with walls lined with shelving, stacked with various boxes, containers, and jars.
“So, what do we have to do?” I asked.
“We have to count everything in this room,” he said.
My eyes widened as I scanned the room. “Everything?”
“It’s everything we’ll be taking on
the airships with us for our journey home. We need to know exactly how much there is so we can portion it out during the trip.”
“Maybe I should’ve fought Natalie harder about going with Tyson?” I wondered what fun thing they were going to be doing today while I… counted. “Surely my skills could be used elsewhere?”
“This is an important job. If we didn’t count this, people would run out of food,” he said.
“I won’t be on the airship to know otherwise,” I replied.
He raised an eyebrow at me.
“Okay, let’s just get started.”
“You start on the left wall. I’ll start on the right, and we’ll keep going until we meet in the middle,” he said.
“Sounds like a plan.” I took a notepad and pen from him and made my way over to the shelf.
The first box was filled with bags of oatmeal. I pulled it down and sat on the floor to count.
The morning was long and quiet with neither of us wanting to screw up our counts and have to start again. There were, however, lots of stolen looks across the room and smile exchanges. Why did the guy I like have to be from another planet? Throughout the morning, I contemplated what it would be like to go with him to Terra Sol. Start a new life. But each time the thought of persecution set in, and I reminded myself I’d waivered that right by killing so many Solians.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, and Tyson appeared.
“Having fun?” he asked.
“You have no idea,” I replied. “Have you come to take over?”
“I’ve come to drop you both off some lunch,” he said, revealing a plate of sandwiches and fruit.
“We don’t even get to go to the dining hall for a break?” I said.
“Just like old times, hey, Ky? Sitting in your room eating alone,” Reece said. “Only this time, you’ll have my awesome company.”
“How’s it going with whatever you and Natalie are doing?” I asked.
“Great thank you. Natalie’s a big help.”
“I bet she is,” I groaned.
“She’s sulking because you ditched her for Natalie,” Reece said.
“I promise we’ll get to spend heaps of time together after today,” Tyson said.
“If you say so,” I said.
Equinox Page 13