Ancil“I didn’t know you were in here,” Sara said.
“Yeah. I decided to take a shower too.”
“That’s cool. Did you find any soap?” She asked.
“Yeah, it had a whole case of soap in one of the lockers. You could take a couple if you want,” I said, pointing her to the locker.
She went and got it then said, “Thanks.
“No problem.”
“You want to come help me look for something to wear when you’re done? These jumpsuits not all that comfortable,” Sara said.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll meet you out front.”
She smiled then walked out the door.
I finished what I was doing and headed out to meet Sara and the rest of the gang waiting for me in front.
“Me and Jed just going to look for some clothes,” Sara said.
“Okay, but don’t stay too long. If allyuh get into trouble just shout. We meet back here in the next hour.”
“I think I should go with them to keep them safe,” Ronald suggested.
“We’re good,” Sara said, quickly pulling me away.
When we were a safe enough distance from the others I asked, “How come you didn’t invite Ronald along?”
“I just wanted to spend some time with you,” Sara said.
“Really?” I asked, confused.
“Yes really,” She laughed a little.
“I don’t believe that.”
“Why not?” Sara asked, with a small laugh.
“I just don’t.”
“Don’t be fooled Jed. Just because I’m mean to you sometimes doesn’t mean that I don’t like you……around.”
“You enjoy my company?” I asked.
“Yeah. It’s much better than Ronald’s company. He is a meathead who’s always talking about muscles and protein. Bleh!!”
“He does actually seem like a meathead. You knew each other before, right?” I asked.
“Yeah. He was in my dojo back when I was into all that Karate stuff. He always used to annoy me and tell me how much he liked me.”
“Wow. So I’m guessing you didn’t like him, back.”
“I don’t do love or like Jed. It only leads to heartbreak, especially now. I don’t think I could stand losing somebody that I love again. It’s too much.”
“I know that feeling. I lost a lot of loved ones already.”
“That girl…Megan. You loved her?” Sara asked.
“Yeah. I kinda did. More like really liked her. I lost her once. Then I found her back. But now she’s gone again.”
“Sucks right,” Sara said.
“Yeah.”
“At Least we still have each other. That should stand for something right? I really think that should stand for something. The fact that you found me should stand for something.”
“I really hope so,” I said, fixing my eyes on Sara’s. “I really do.”
She stared into my eyes for a while and we were having a moment together that we never had. Sara and I never made eye contact for more than a second before but right there and then we did and it felt effortless.
After about ten seconds Sara quickly looked away then said, “I don’t know how you think I feel about you…” She turned back to me, holding my gaze again. “But I don’t hate you Jed. I might act like I do but I don’t. There was a parasite in me that was making me hungry and irritable all the time, but I actually admire you. The way you try not to let all the chaos and destruction in the Twin Republic turn you into a monster. The way you risked your life to save Justin even when you didn’t have to. The way you cared for me, Justin, Clive and Saraya. That is admirable but the thing is — it reminded me so much of my father. The way he always wanted to be a hero. He teamed up with Jeremy Duncan because he thought that he would be part of the greater good. He was all about bringing back people who were already dead, not killing them. But when he found out what Jeremy was really up to he decided to oppose him. Me and my mother tried to convince him not to do it but he didn’t listen. He just had to be a hero and because of that me and my siblings ended up alone and infected without our parents. So that’s why I was always down on you about being a hero because I didn’t want to lose you the same way I lost my father. You were the only person who seemed to genuinely care about us and I realized that when you saved Justin.”
