Catalyst

by Shelly Crane

  “You wouldn’t,” she rebutted.

  “Oh, I would,” I said and winked at her.

  She blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear making me smile.

  The day I can’t make her do that anymore would be a sad, sad day.

  “Well, you looked good,” Sherry said. “As Miguel would say ‘nice follow through’,” she said with a deep accent.

  L laughed at her.

  “Thanks. Cain’s a pretty good teacher.”

  “I bet. Well, I’m gonna go check on Celeste. I feel terrible that I haven’t gone to see her yet.”

  “You were unconscious. I think you have an excuse,” I said sarcastically.

  “Funny,” she said and smiled. “And I wasn’t unconscious. Well, not for all of it.”

  “Still. It’s a pretty good excuse. Besides, Danny has been with her every second, like I said,” I said.

  “Ok. I’ll let you two get back to beating the crap out of each other.”

  “Uh, you mean a one sided beat down. I’m not exactly connecting hits here,” Lillian said sullenly.

  Sherry laughed and walked away, waving.

  “Baby,” I said sweetly, playing on her good side. “You are doing awesome. It just takes time. I was in the military for four years. You’ve only been at this…oh,” I looked at my non-existent watch, “forty three minutes.”

  “Ok. Ok, I get it. I’m being a baby.”

  “No, you’re not a baby.” I wrapped my arms around her waist. “But you’re my baby,” I crooned over exaggeratedly.

  “That’s the sweetest and cheesiest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  “You better get used to it.”

  “Why? Are you going to continue to strive for cheesiness?” she said and laughed.

  “No. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

  She sobered and closed the small gap between us, wrapping her arms around my neck.

  “Good,” she whispered. “You are so sweet, Cain. I really-” She sighed. “I’m really glad I met you.”

  “I’m glad you met me, too. I’d miss you, even if I didn’t know you.”

  She looked at me with her big blue eyes glistening. I started to apologize but she smiled small, then grinned and shook her head, like she couldn’t believe it. Then she pulled me down and kissed me. Her slim fingers on my neck tugged and pulled. She pressed against me and I forgot where I was.

  What had I said? What did I do that was so great? I thought back but couldn’t think of it. Girls, I’d never understand them. But I didn’t want to understand girls anymore…only one.

  I pulled her tighter to me and heard her murmur her content. Then, I heard someone talking around us. No, they were yelling.

  “Bloody h-” Miguel cut his curse off and looked Lily’s way then back to us. “I said no smooching!” he yelled.

  “Bite me, Aussie!” Lillian yelled without looking away from me. I laughed and she did too. She spoke softly to me and I could feel her breath on my lips. “I think we need to have a talk about your being a gentleman.”

  I froze. Holy mother! How could she do this to me in the middle of training!

  “L, we’re gonna have to talk about the proper times to bring up such things,” I said scowling, but she just giggled.

  “I didn’t say I wanted to jump your bones in the middle of the room with an audience, Cain. I said I wanted to talk about it. Later,” she said clearly amused at my distress.

  “Still. Not. Cool, L. What are you trying to do to me?”

  “I’m sorry. Maybe you’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it at all-”

  “Oh, we’re gonna talk about it!” I said loudly and she smiled coyly at me. I knew what she was doing; reverse psychology. “Why you little minx.”

  She burst out laughing and I grabbed her around the waist. As we turned we saw Miguel glaring at us.

  “Ok. Sorry. We’re serious,” I said.

  “Yes. Serious,” L said laughing.

  He rolled his eyes and carried on with the lesson.

  L grabbed my hand and laced our fingers. I rubbed the inside of her wrist with my thumb, feeling the softness there. She really was the softest woman I’d ever felt. I also felt her shiver. I turned to look at her and she had goose bumps on her arms. She looked up sheepishly and met my gaze. I smiled at her and she blushed again, tucking her hair behind her ear. I chuckled and tried to keep my eyes on Miguel.

  Unfortunately, for him, he wasn’t cute enough to keep my attention.

  From Here to the bush

  Chapter 7 – Lillian

  That night after a supper of noodle soup, Cain was begged to play guitar by the entertainment deprived bunch. I decided to wash some clothes but on my way to my room I saw Ryan and that girl that I still didn’t know the name of. I slowed down, listening to the sounds of Cain’s strumming behind me, and watched as the girl sitting right next to Ryan stared at the floor.

  She was clearly distressed still. She refused to speak to anyone but Ryan and Billings because they had saved her. She looked young, maybe seventeen or eighteen. I knew she was terrified and there was no telling what the Lighters had done to her before we found her. I stopped and knelt down in front of them.

  “Hey, Ryan.”

  “Hello, Lillian.”

  “So...how are things going?”

  He looked down at her and back to me. His face would have been funny had the situation not been like it was. He was at a complete loss. He had no idea what to do with her, what to say, except let her cling to him because that seemed to keep her calm. He eventually shrugged.

  “I don’t know,” he sighed. He took a deep breath and tried for normal. “So, I never got to speak to you about the facility. How was it in there?”

  “It was...terrible. Daniel told us Sherry was one of the lucky ones.”

  He made a noise of disgust in the back of his throat and the girl looked up at me.

  “You were there?” she asked, her voice scratchy from non-use. “At that place where they had us.”

  “Yes. I was with the ones who rescued you,” I answered.

  “Thanks,” she muttered and lifted her knees and put her forehead against them.

  I mouthed to Ryan ‘What’s her name?’

  She told me it was Ellie. She hasn’t spoken much, even to me, but from what I understand she was turned over to the Lighters by her two brothers. They were after the rebel reward money. She’s only eighteen.

  I closed my eyes and shook my head. What was this world coming to? I spoke my next words to her softly.

  “I have some clothes you can have. We all kind of trade clothes anyway around here. Most of us didn’t come here with much. I’m sure they’d be your size.”

  She looked up and at me with a wary expression.

  “I don’t have any clothes to trade.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said with a smile. “I’m sure you’re ready to be out of those clothes. I can...uh, show you where the showers are and get some you some clean clothes while you clean up a bit.” Her eyes went wide and her hand went straight to Ryan’s sleeve, bunching her fist in the fabric, as if she didn’t even realize she was doing it. I wondered what they had done to her to make her so scared. And why Ryan was the one she had claimed as her protector. “I’ll bring you right back to Ryan when we’re done. We’ll be just down this hall.” I pointed to show her.

  She looked up at Ryan and he nodded and smiled as he said, “It’s ok.”

  “Ok,” she whispered.

  I didn’t touch her, I didn’t think she’d like that, so I just led her slowly down the hall and prayed we didn’t pass anyone, but we did. Miguel. He cast surprised eyes on us and then pasted on a friendly smile.

  “Hello, ladies.”

  Ellie quickly looked down at the floor and sort of tried to blend with the wall.

  “Miguel, this is Ellie.”

  “Ellie. Pretty name,” he said softly and leaned down to try to see her face. “And how are you today?”
/>
  “Fine,” she whispered and then peeked up at him from under her bangs. “You talk like that guy from Lost.”

  Miguel chuckled and nodded. I giggled too.

  “Yes, I guess I do. You watched Lost, did you?” She nodded slightly. “Me too. Who was your favorite?”

  “Hurley, of course,” she said and gave him a subtle ‘duh’ look.

  He laughed harder and nodded again.

  “I think he’s probably everyone’s favorite.”

  She smiled at him and bit her lip.

  “Say something really Australian.”

  He screwed up his lips and thought hard, or acted like he did for her benefit. Then he spoke with a way over exaggerated accent.

  “G’day, mate. Let’s head up to the boozer for a cold one and on the way we’ll probably croak a croc or two.”

  She laughed and looked thoroughly pleased. She pushed her hair out of her face and lifted her chin a little.

  “I’m Ellie.” She extended her hand. “I’m sorry if I’ve been...weird. But I haven’t had a very good experience with strangers lately.”

  He took her hand and shook it gently.

  “Quite alright, Ellie. We tend to look a bit ruggish, but I promise you that this bunch of blokes and sheilas are the best lot you’ll find from here to the bush.”

  “I have no idea what you just said, but it sounded fantastic,” she said through a smile.

  He chuckled and started to head up the hall.

  “Good enough for me. See you later, ladies.”

  “Bye, Miguel,” I said gratefully and he winked before turning.

  “He’s nice,” she said.

  “Yeah,” I agreed as I directed her to the end of the hall where the showers were.

  I told her where everything was, but she asked me to stay if I would, so I did. I turned as she undressed and then sat on the sink as she showered. She spoke to me over the rush and crash of water.

  “So that Miguel is nice.”

  “Uhuh.”

  “I think he likes you,” she said and I laughed sadly.

  “I’m kind of taken.”

  “The lip ring one?” she questioned.

  “Yep, the lip ring one. Cain.”

  “He’s cute too,” she confessed softly.

  “What about Ryan?” I asked. “You seem to like him.”

  “He’s...” She peeked out the curtain at me and looked at me. “He was afraid to touch me.”

  “What?” I asked and stood to take a few steps closer.

  “When Billings handed me over to him in the van...he was afraid to touch me. He was so careful with me that his hands barely touched me at all. He kept whispering in my ear that it was all ok. That he was there to help me, that he wouldn’t let them hurt me anymore.”

  “Yeah. Ryan’s pretty great like that. He’s sweet.”

  “He is,” she agreed and went back behind the curtain. “He’s treated me the same ever since.”

  “Well, I know you’ve been scared but you don’t have to be. We’re just like you. We’re all just surviving.”

  After some silence she sighed and said, “I know.”

  I let her finish and then gave her some jeans and a blue shirt to change into. She looked a million times better. She tussled her long chestnut hair and left it hanging in long waves down her back as we made our way back to the living room.

  There were quite a few people there once we got there and she again seemed bashful and withdrawn but not as much as before. I realized she’d barely slept, barely eaten and hadn’t showered at all since she’d been there. One down. So I took her straight to the kitchen. Ryan’s eyes followed us all the way to the kitchen in fascination.

  He really cared about her, but for some reason that seemed lost on him.

  “Hey, Sherry,” I called. She looked back and did a double take as she saw who I was coming with. “Can we get Ellie something to eat?”

  “Sure,” she said and quickly dumped a ladle full of noodle soup in a bowl and placed it on the table, directing Ellie to sit. “Hi. I’m Sherry.”

  “I remember you,” Ellie said and started spooning the soup quickly. “You were the one they came to rescue.”

  “Yeah,” she said softly. “I was. I’m glad we could get you too.”

  “Me too.” She looked up at Sherry with wide eyes. “Did they do to you what they did to me?”

  Sherry gulped and then crossed her arms over her chest in a very un-Sherry like move.

  “Um...do you want some tea, too? I made some.”

  She turned to the fridge, avoiding the question and our gaze and it was strange for Sherry. Most people would need time to get over all she’d been through but Sherry usually just shrugged things off.

  She got Ellie and me a glass and I saw Ryan come in and stand in the doorway, playing watch guard. Sherry took a deep loud breath as Ryan came in. He glanced at Ellie and smiled.

  “Hey, you look better.”

  “Thanks,” she said and looked up at him, smiling sweetly. “Thank you for helping me. I’m sorry I’ve been...strange.”

  “Not a problem,” he said, waving her off. “I’m just glad you’re here and that you're safe.”

  She nodded and took another bite of soup. Ryan looked at Sherry then and his face registered her look of discomfort.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Yeah. I’m fine,” she told him, her voice small and flat.

  He bent his head to see her face. She peeked up at him from under her lashes and smiled sadly at him. He held his arms out to her and she walked gladly into them.

  I could hear him murmuring to her that it was all fine, that it was ok to feel strange after what she’d been through, that we were all here for her.

  When I looked back to Ellie, her spoon had stopped mid-bite and she was looking at them with a perplexed expression. I waved to get her attention and mouthed ‘It’s ok’ to her. Then ‘Just friends’. That seemed to appease her somewhat as she started eating again, but she still glanced at them a couple more times. I’d need to explain the rules to her. That we were all family and everyone had each other’s back. Especially Sherry. She was one of the original members of this group and everyone knew her and loved for the little mama she was to us. Ellie would just have to get used to that.

  “I’m sorry,” Sherry said as she swiped a loose curl from her neck and smiled bashfully at Ryan. “I’m a big baby.”

  “I remember someone telling me once that I was silly for saying I was a baby,” he said and looked at her pointedly. “I think she was right about you too.”

  “Ha, ha,” she said and laughed at some private joke they apparently had. “Thanks, Ryan.”

  He nodded to her as she turned to leave and then he looked back at Ellie. I saw it. His whole face completely changed. He was her protector and her comforter. Maybe this stemmed from the fact that Calvin didn’t really need him much anymore as a Keeper. But in his mind, and on his face, this girl was his now, he was her Keeper.

  When she looked up and caught him watching her she smiled, but didn’t look away. She was different with Ryan. He smiled too and sat in the chair next to hers, turning it to face her. They immediately started talking in low voices. He rubbed a hand down her back and asked her if the soup was good and if she felt better. She said she did, and I decided I was no longer needed there. So I left with a silent giggle at the new possibilities.

  Love Implied

  Chapter 8 – Merrick

  I rolled over and inhaled the familiar vanilla that told me exactly where I was. I inhaled again deeper and longer, pulling the sweet smelling girl closer to me. I heard her giggle and it make me chuckle. It sounded low and on the verge of predatory even to my ears.

  “You better watch it, mister,” Sherry warned in a croon. “I remember someone saying that he was going to ignore me from here to eternity.”

  “I said until you heal, wife,” I corrected and then groaned as she reached back and tugged at my hair. “Besides, we need
to get up. The meeting is this morning and I want some coffee before that.”

  “Alright,” she sang and rolled over while wrapping her bare leg around the covers. “I’m going to stay here for a bit longer and dream of the day when my husband wants me again.”

  “I want you, honey, I just…” I realized what she was doing as she rubbed her leg against mine. She warned me didn’t she? “Sherry,” I warned, but I still found myself running my hand down her leg.

  “It’s been days, Merrick. I think I can decide what’s best for me,” she said sternly and sat up giving me a strange look. She pulled me closer and I was just about to protest when someone knocked on the door.

  “Guys, the meeting is about to start. Miguel wants to get going,” Jeff said sounding somber.

  “Ok,” I answered back gruffly and turned to look at Sherry. “You got lucky.”

  “No, you did. Saved by the knock,” she said softly and then wrapped her arms around my neck to kiss me. I could no sooner stop her than I could hurt her. She climbed onto my lap and kissed me with a forcefulness that belied her small frame. She tugged and pulled on me with urgency. When I finally gave into her and her small, sweet tongue swept into my mouth, she pulled back.

  She bit her lip and gave me a small smile before pushing on my shoulders to stand and reaching for her discarded jeans. I grabbed her hand and gave her a look.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We have a meeting,” she said as she pulled her hand easily from mine and tried to tame her locks.

  “But you knew that before you kissed me,” I countered in complete confusion.

  “Yep,” she quipped with a crooked smile that made me want to kiss her again. “Let’s go, Finch.”

  “Wait, wait, wait.” I stood too and guarded the door. She wasn’t escaping from me. “So this is you pushing my buttons? You’re just going to torture me until I give into you, is that it?”

  “Yes,” she whispered and moved forward to kiss my chin, “exactly.”

  “So you’re a temptress now,” I growled in frustration at the whole situation. She knew what she was doing to me, there was a meeting to go to and she was still recovering, but she looked pretty dang healthy and…able to me.