Page 68 of Rising

“You’re right, itisnone of your business.” I almost left it at that. “I don’t I owe you an explanation, but just so we’re clear, the answer is no. I don’t know what kind of fucked up male-female relations you’ve encountered in your own life, but not every relationship between sexes has to be sexual. We’re very close, nothing more, nothing less.”

His chestnut eyes sparkled with excitement. He enjoyed bothering me. Riling me up. I turned my back to him, annoyed that I’d be stuck with him and relying on him in a small group the next few months. We’d have to find a way to work together, or we’d end up getting everyone else killed.

“I’m looking at him like that because I don’t want to look away,” I offered, hoping that if I offer this piece of vulnerability, he can see what I’m fighting for. What we’re fighting for. “If I look away, then the moment is over, the night will end. And in the morning, I’ll have to leave my brother behind.”

My eyes remained stuck on Riley but I felt Alexiares’ attention at my back. He said nothing. Sitting in silence, enjoying the music, I let the moment pass. Giving myself back to the liveliness of the tavern, humming along to the music, I felt Alexiares tapping his foot under the table. The crowd started to diminish and the bartenders hollered for last call, Reina and her girlfriend came into focus.

I hadn’t officially met her yet, and she reached out a wavering hand. Her blonde hair plastered against her forehead as Reina leaned on her shoulder, staring at her admirably and moving it behind her ear, “Jessa, nice to meet ya, General.”

It was more of a slur of words than introduction. I grabbed her hand, grinning, when Moe clunked down a round of shots onto the table. A varying version of ‘yays’ and hoots went out around the table as we all reached to grab one.

“To not dying!” Moe morbidly teased.

I shook my head laughing. “To not dying!”

Not a single one of us successfully downed the shot without making a face of pain, when the remaining crowd started jumping sporadically, the band playing the last few of their songs with the remaining energy they had.

I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor, filled the air and Reina let out a high-pitched screech, “Oh, this is perfect! Don’t you see the irony?”.

She yanked me from the seat, somehow grabbing me, Moe, and Jessa at once towards the middle of the room. The four of us dancing in a circle, swaying with the rest of the crowd.

A few songs later and the band began packing up their belongings, moving them towards the back room for the next week. Reina kissed the side of my cheek before promising to meet at first light, leaving hand in hand with Jessa, who could only grin as she leaned into Reina’s side. Seth and Moe had disappeared the moment they’d felt unwatched, no one had been surprised about that. I was only grateful my second still had the sense to take what they had almost started out on the dancefloor, back to their bedroom.

I’d waited until most of the patrons had left, wanting to stay behind to help the owner clean a bit and say my goodbye to her as well. Another friend, another reminder at what I was doing this for. Riley and Alexiares almost ended up on the other side of a very drunk fireball, flanking me as I descended the steps.

“Shit! Do you guys wanna die or something?”

“Don’t look at me. He’s the only one that brought a key. Can’t get in the house,” Alexiares said defensively.

I glared at him. “I doubt you couldn’t find a way inside without him.”

Riley chuckled, and we moved through The Compound in silence, enjoying the crisp night air. The rain had stopped earlier in the day, but the wet smell still lingered, mixing with the salt from the ocean air. It had been nearly a year since I’d last woken up to the thick, and heavy inland air. It was an unfamiliar scent in my nose, lost to time, and now I would be months without the refreshing sea breeze that somehow made things more tolerable.

The paths leading from Entertainment Square to the General Living Quarters were still fairly populated with people. Either out for a late-night stroll, chatting in front of the homes of their friends, or laying out and staring up at the partially cloudy night sky in the greenery areas.What a perfect night.

Alexiares ignored the key in Riley’s hand. Walking to the door, he picked the lock with ease, entering without a glance back or a goodnight. As soon as the door closed, I folded into Riley’s open arms, taking in his warm hug.

“You know the asshole asked me if we were a couple tonight?” I fostered, avoiding the more serious conversation that was sure to follow.

Riley made a fake gagging noise, and I punched him in the gut, pulling away.

“Unnecessary,” he gasped out.

“Yeah, well, so was the gag.”

I made a show of being angry and serious, causing us to both fall to the ground in laughter before leaning against the door.

His locs fell to my shoulder as he rested his head. “I’m gonna miss ya, sis.”

“Gonna miss you too, brother.”

“You know what you’re getting yourself into?” he asked, checking one last time.

“If I did, I don’t think I’d be so easy to walk out those gates in the morning.”

“Something tells me you’d walk out those gates regardless.”

“I’m going to fix this,” I said definitively.

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