“Grab your mattress Mia,” Dreya said in a flat voice looking straight at Lark. She folded her arms across her chest. “Aren’t you concerned with how Anna is?”
Lark raised his eyebrows and smirked. “Not really. Although it seems like you’ve gotten her side of the story and now I am the bad guy.” He glanced back toward Anthony and Brett and shrugged his shoulders. “Can you believe that girl?” He turned back to Dreya to face her ice-cold glare. “Listen, this isn’t what it looks like. She was crying this morning and it woke me up. I went over to ask if she was okay and she asked me to crawl into her bed and hold her. Being the gentleman that I am, I obliged.” He smiled at Dreya and spread out his arms. Jayden stepped forward and Lark put up his hands in mock surrender.
“Slow down there, boss,” Lark said to Jayden as Anthony and Brett stood up. “She was coming on to me. I was casually letting stuff happen when out of nowhere she yells for me to stop. I didn’t even have a chance to get up before James yanked me onto the floor. That dude is a hot head, but I can see where he is coming from. He was trying to do the right thing, but he didn’t realize that she is crazy as hell.” The cabinet lit up when the food packets arrived just as he was finishing his story.
Dreya looked at the cabinet and then back at Lark. “I don’t believe you,” she said flatly. “Mia. Get your food and your mattress.”
“We are taking James’ and Anna’s mattresses too,” Katrina said while eyeing Anthony and Brett. “Which ones are theirs?” Brett pointed to the bunk beneath his and the one above Mia’s.
Anthony turned to Dreya. “Hey lady, he isn’t lying. He didn’t even try to fight James back. And why would Anna let him into her bed in the first place without screaming?” Brett nodded as he spoke. Lark smiled at his friends.
Dreya’s words were so soft that Katrina strained to hear them. “I don’t like you and I don’t trust you. If Anna says you tried to take advantage of her then I believe it. My sister won’t be in this room anymore.”
“Aw, don’t be like that.” Lark put his hand on Dreya’s arm and smiled. “She’s not even my type.”
Dreya didn’t flinch but Jayden stepped up and removed Lark’s hand from her. “No, bro,” he said while releasing his grip on Lark’s wrist. “Don’t touch her.” Jayden motioned to the cabinet. “I’m going to come get their food every day until we get out of this place. If you are as chill as you say that you are then that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Lark took a few steps back towards his friends and laughed. “Do whatever you want to do. It isn’t a big deal.” Jayden grabbed three of the food packets and the third mattress. They made their way out the door.
By the time they had arrived back in the common room, Anna was gone. Some of the siblings were out eating their breakfast together and they all turned to watch as Dreya stormed out of the tunnel.
James walked up to meet them but froze when he saw Dreya’s face. “What happened?”
“Don’t worry. Nothing happened,” Dreya answered. “Where is Anna?”
“One of the other sisters from Tunnel 5 came out and talked with her. She went back to their room to talk with Laura I guess,” James said as Jayden handed him a food packet.
Jayden started walking toward Tunnel 5. “I’m going to run this mattress and food to her. I’ll see where she wants me to put it.” He turned the corner down the hall.
Katrina walked up to James and he took the mattress from her. “Thanks for doing this,” he said smiling with his fat lip. “I should have done it, but I really didn’t feel like dealing with that guy again right now.”
She handed him his pillow and bag of food that he had been saving. “It’s not a big deal,” she said while walking toward her own tunnel. “Come on. Let’s get you settled in. I’m starving.” Dreya ushered her sister down the hall with Katrina and James following them.
*
“What in the world is going on?” Becca asked with her mouth full of packaged pancake.
“Meet our new roommates,” Katrina spoke as she came through the door. “It’s been an interesting morning.”
“Why are they here though?” Becca shot a glance at Dreya. “I mean, no offense, but what happened? And what happened to your face?” she asked James.
“Thought you didn’t care about drama,” Dreya said while taking Mia’s mattress and sliding it into the corner on the floor by her own bed. She picked up her food packet and began to tear into it. Becca rolled her eyes. “Anyways,” Dreya continued, “That jerk Lark tried to molest Anna this morning while everyone was asleep. James pulled him off when he heard screaming. They fought and now we have new roommates. Is that okay?”
Willow’s face went pale and she put her hand over her mouth. Ethan looked nervous. Becca glanced around the room and said, “Well I guess we really don’t have a choice, do we?” She sighed. “But I kind of find this all hard to believe. Where is Anna?”
“She is staying in Laura’s room,” Jayden said while walking through the door. He went to his own bunk and opened his food packet.
“How is she?” Mia asked jumping up from her mattress on the floor.
“She seems better now. All the girls in the room are working to cheer her up.” Jayden bit into his dry pancake.
“It sounds like an attention thing,” said Becca while swinging herself down from the bunk.
“It wasn’t,” James said in a cold voice. “I was there. I heard her scream. I pulled him off, remember?”
Becca shrugged her shoulders just as Nanny announced the beginning of the lecture. “There are two sides to every story,” she said tossing her extra food into the pillowcase. “I’m going to ask more questions.” She walked out of the door.
Chapter 10
“What is with her?” Mia asked her older sister.
Dreya sighed. “I don’t know. I think she likes Lark or something so this may be hard for her to hear.”
“Hey. At least she is going to class today,” Ethan said while getting up to leave and everyone followed him out of the room.
Willow ran ahead and went to sit with Laura’s group. Anna and another girl from Room 5 weren’t there. Lark and his friends were though. Becca had gone across the gym to talk with him. She turned to smile at the rest of Room 3 as they entered.
Katrina tried to focus on the lesson. It was a basic coverage on some survival techniques, starting out with how to purify drinking water. According to Nanny, most underground sources such as wells would be okay to drink from. However, exposed water sources would contain radiation. Filtering the water through dirt should make it safe though. Katrina already knew how to do that, so she let her eyes wander around the room.
The group of girls with Laura weren’t focusing on the screen. They were busy whispering and sending death glares Lark’s way. Becca looked relaxed while sitting next to Lark and the rest of his group wasn’t paying attention to the screen either. Instead they were huddled in close as he was talking to them. Katrina’s head was reeling as she tried to distance herself emotionally from the situation.
She didn’t want to care about what Becca did or worry that Anna would be okay. She reminded herself that this was temporary and to not get too involved. She didn’t trust Lark either, but she kicked herself for giving him the benefit of the doubt in the first place. She was starting to get sucked into the drama and didn’t know why.
“Where are you?” James spoke into Katrina’s ear, sending chills down her spine. She turned to face him and caught herself staring into his beautiful blue eyes.
“Nowhere,” she said. “Well, I guess six feet under.” She started giggling.
James shook his head and smiled at her. “You should pay attention,” he said while directing her gaze back to the projection on the wall. “This is important.”
“Are you telling me what to do?” Her eyes opened wide in surprise.
He raised his eyebrow as his smile got bigger. “I just know that this is important, so I was trying to get you to pay attent
ion. Forgive me for being concerned about your wellbeing.”
Katrina rolled her eyes. “I already know how to filter water.” The documentary on the screen droned on.
“Oh, you do?” James asked still smiling. “Well that’s good. How’d you learn that?”
“My dad taught me.” She lowered her eyes. “He taught me a lot about survival techniques.”
“Mine did too.” James put his hand on top of Katrina. Warmth spread across her fingers. She glanced back up at him, but his face was turned towards the screen again as he continued talking. “I can’t wait to get out of here and go find him.”
“You think he is still alive?” Katrina asked,
“Of course he is.” James turned to look at her. “I don’t even understand why he put me down here. We could have survived this thing together somewhere.”
“There wasn’t enough time.” Katrina averted his gaze again. “It was a split-second decision and they thought they were doing the right thing. I keep questioning it myself, but it does no good.”
James smiled reassuringly. He still held her hand. “Do you think that your dad is okay?”
Katrina laughed out loud and Dreya turned to shush her. “Of course he is,” she said through whispered giggles. “Radiation wouldn’t kill him.”
James caught her laughter. “Why not? Is he bionic or something?”
“No.” She stopped smiling as she realized she was sharing too much. “He is just a normal guy, but I trust that he will be okay.” She shifted in her seat. “So, what did your dad do that was so special that earned you a ticket down here?”
The laughter drained from his eyes and he pulled his hand back. “I don’t honestly know,” he said ending the conversation. “Do you mind if we talk about it some other time?”
*
Jayden returned to their room as they were opening their meals. He tossed a packet to both Mia and James.
“Thanks man,” James said catching it midair. “I’ll get dinner tonight. You shouldn’t have to worry about this.”
“It’s no problem.” Jayden tore into his packet of food. “Plus, the one guy in Room 5 moved in there to take Anna’s spot and gave up his bunk to her. He said the room was too girly for him now. I only have to get yours and Mia’s.”
Becca was watching the conversation intently. “You know she is lying, right?” she interjected. “Lark didn’t do anything that she didn’t want. When she all of a sudden went crazy on him, he didn’t have any time before Mr. Knight in Shining Armor over here sent him flying.”
“Believe what you want Becca,” Dreya said. “But tell me what reason Anna would have for lying?” Katrina noticed James biting his lip. She put her hand on his shoulder.
“I don’t know.” Becca laid back on her bed. “I think she just wants the attention.”
“Then why is she hiding?” James asked through clenched teeth.
Nanny came over the intercom to announce the physical exercise time. Everyone put away their extra food and headed toward the common room. As they exited the tunnel, they saw Anna emerging from Tunnel 5 with Laura and another girl flanking her protectively. Becca turned to James and gave him a smug grin before skipping off to join Lark’s group. Katrina watched everyone whisper to one another as they sorted into their various cliques. She put her head down and started running laps. James stayed with her, keeping her pace and looking at the floor. They didn’t notice Lark separating from his group until he was right next to them.
“Hey man,” Lark said to James slowing down to their pace. “Are you okay?”
James hesitated for a second, almost losing his step, but he regained his speed. “Why don’t you ask Anna that?” James spoke quietly but Katrina could hear the rage in his voice.
“Listen,” Lark continued sympathetically, “I know what that must have looked like and I don’t fault you for trying to kick my butt. I didn’t do anything to her though.”
James let out a sarcastic laugh and kept jogging.
“Alright,” Lark said shaking his head. “Think whatever you want. I was just hoping there were no hard feelings and that you would listen to the truth.” He took off running ahead.
Katrina didn’t know what to say so she kept silent while stealing a few glances at James’ face every now and then.
When he finally caught her looking, he shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what else to do. Anna doesn’t want to push the issue, so my hands are tied.” Katrina nodded and kept her head down for the rest of the run.
Willow had joined Laura’s group as they sat on the bleachers talking quietly with Anna. They kept up the glares towards Lark intermittently. Lark’s group raced up and down the bleachers with one another.
Jayden, Dreya, Mia, Katrina, James and a few other stragglers were the only ones still paying attention to the animated directions coming from the projector screen. They could barely hear the cues over the talking, laughing, and banging of the steps on the bleacher seats.
When it was lunch time they made their way back to the room. After grabbing her food packet from the cabinet, Becca took her mattress and stored food from her bunk. “I’m giving up my spot and moving to Room 6.” She headed toward the door.
“What?” Mia asked her. “Why are you leaving?”
“It’s too crowded in here.” Becca swung her pillowcase over her shoulder.
Dreya sighed loudly but went to give Becca a hug. “Be careful in there, okay.” Dreya ignored another eyeroll. “And you can always come back here if you need to.”
“This is messed up,” Willow said as Becca left the room. “You guys pretty much forced her out.” Mia looked like she was about to cry.
Jayden put his mattress on Becca’s empty bunk and lifted Mia’s mattress from the floor to put in his old spot above Dreya. “We didn’t force her to do anything.” He sat down next to Willow. “What were we supposed to do?”
“I don’t know.” Willow’s voice was cracking. “Why didn’t Lark have to leave his room? Why isn’t he the one getting punished for all of this? Why does Becca trust him so much?” Tears began to roll down her cheeks.
“Why did they blow up the planet?” Katrina stared at her as she spoke, “Why do all of this just to save us? None of these questions have any answers. We are all just doing our best to cope with the hand we were dealt.”
Willow nodded and wiped away the tears. Dreya grabbed the mop bucket and they all went to work cleaning the room.
*
Jayden left early to get the food packets from Room 6 despite James’ saying that he would get them. Katrina agreed that it was better to let the tension die down. They waited until he got back before everyone ate dinner together. Mia’s eyes kept closing. Katrina felt just as tired. Willow and Ethan went by themselves to go to the movie. The rest of them decided to skip it and go to bed early.
“I wish they’d turn out these lights,” Mia said yawning. Dreya mumbled in agreement and the two of them buried their heads under the blankets to sleep.
Jayden did the same and Katrina turned to stare at the wall. Minutes later, she heard the steady breathing of her roommates fast asleep. Katrina rolled back over and lifted her head slightly off the side of the bunk to see James laying on his mattress on the floor. He was awake with his arms behind his head and he looked up at her, catching her eyes, when she moved. She sighed and sat up before gently sliding down from her bed onto the floor. She motioned for James to follow her to the bathroom. He got up and quietly tiptoed behind her into the room before closing the door behind him.
Katrina slumped down on to the floor with her back against the wall and pulled her knees to her chest. She rubbed her eyes with her hands. James sat on the floor across from her and raised his eyebrows as he smiled when she looked at him.
“What’s up?” he asked playfully.
She couldn’t help but return his smile. “I’m exhausted but I can’t sleep.”
“Me either.” The smile dropped from his face. “It’s been a long da
y.”
Katrina nodded her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about that Lark guy being a creep. He didn’t come across like that to me. How did you know?”
“I’m just good at reading people,” James spoke nonchalantly. “He reeks of too much money and not enough work. I hate people like that.”
Katrina smiled softly watching as James tried to brush off the whole situation. She noticed how murky his blue eyes got when he was thinking deeply and how clear they became when he decided on something. My dad might actually like this guy, she thought.
“So, what do you read when you look at me?” Katrina nudged his foot with hers. His eyes sparkled clear blue as he pushed her foot gently back with his. That smile he gave her made her whole soul happy. She couldn’t help but grin.
“You’re okay,” he said winking at her.
“Just okay?” Her jaw dropped open in fake outrage.
James shrugged. “Yeah. Just okay. Well maybe a little more than okay.” He smiled again. “You are kind of confusing, but I think that is because you are in your own head so much.”
Katrina laughed. “I could have said the exact same thing about you.”
“Hmm,” he said rubbing his chin, taking care not to press on his swollen lip. “Maybe it takes one to know one.”
“Well if that’s the case then you are just okay too.” She winked dramatically at him before pulling herself up to stand. He laughed while grabbing her hand to pull himself up too, but he didn’t let go once they were both on their feet. Katrina stood there holding his hand and her heart beat faster. She stared into his eyes and could feel herself being pulled in. Taking a steady breath, she stepped forward to close the distance between them.
He reached up with his free hand and tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. “You are a little more than okay,” he whispered sending electric currents down her spine again. He took his hand away from her face. “I think I kind of like you.”
“Oh, just kind of?” She tilted her head to the side and smiled. She couldn’t believe how calm her voice sounded. “Well I kind of like you too. But just kind of.” She tipped her chin up slightly and could feel his breath on her face.
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