Page 24 of Apricity
He lifts his wrist and looks at his watch. That thing is impressive to say the least. It has every wingding you couldpossibly think of- compass, elevation, dive depth, calorie counter, blood pressure monitor, heart rate tracker, flashlight, fire starter, and of course the date and time. If the damn thing could still connect to the internet, it would tell you the weather and the stocks if you wanted. But the best part? The battery lasts twenty-five damn years. I swear, if I ever find one, I’m keeping it for myself.
“Let’s see… it is…November twenty-eighth.”
“Thanks man.”
Jax and Hawk go back to arguing about their game but I notice Aly scrunching up her nose in thought.
“What’s wrong, beautiful?” I turn her in my arms so I can look at her better. She shrugs and tries to look away but I stop her attempt to hide herself. “No no no. We don’t do that. What’s wrong?” The guys hear our exchange and drop everything, coming to Aly’s side.
“Baby, what is it?”
“What’s going on, sweetheart?”
She looks at each of us but shakes her head again. “Look, it’s stupid. I don’t even know why it hit me like it did.”
Oh, no. We’re not hiding stuff now. I go to ask but Jax beats me to it.
“Baby, even if it’s something small, it’s not stupid. What is it? How can we help?” Jax offers.
She lifts her hand to the window. “It’s almost Christmas. It’ll be the first time… the first time without… well everybody. I don’t want it to be the first time without Christmas too.”
Jax, Hawk and I exchange glances as Aly continues.
“No… Not Christmas, per say. Something normal. Something to prepare for, to look forward to. Something outside of survival,” she sighs. “That stupid virus took everything from us. Family. Friends. Loved ones. I don’t want it to take something else. Even if it’s something as frivolous as a holiday.”
We’re all quiet as we ponder Aly’s words. She’s not wrong. Nothing’s the same. Nothing will everbethe same.
We have no idea who’s left in this world besides us. And while I know it’s unrealistic to think we’re the last ones, Aly, me and the guys? We’re allwehave left. I know all my family’s gone. I know all the guys that were stuck on base are gone. We’re it. So why not try to take a moment of normalcy in this shit world of chaos? I see nothing wrong with that.
I look to my right to see Hawk’s face transform with excitement and resolve. The wheels in his head are already turning with a plan with something for all of us to look forward to. And, in the aftermath of losing almost everything, I think something to look forward to is just what the doctor ordered.
“Fuck, yeah! Let’s do it!”
Chapter 15
Hawk
Yes! This is exactly what we need. Something new. Something to prep for and focus on that’s fun. It’s giving me the same feelings I had when Cole suggested new sexy time ideas - pure thrill and satisfaction.
“Come on. Come on. Come on! Put your foot up here and let me lace up those boots for you, sweetheart.” Once we finished our coffee and simple breakfast made of campfire toasted bread smothered in peanut butter, I couldn’t wait to get started. I threw clothes, boots, everything across the room in an attempt to get moving as soon as possible. For some crazy reason, the others don’t seem as enthusiastic about our excursion as me, though.
Aly tries to wiggle her foot out of my hand, swatting at me on my knees in front of her. “I can do itmyself—”
“I know you can, but this way it’ll be faster and we can go and raid the shit out of those farm houses over there and get all kinds of stuff and—”
“Ok… no more coffee for the fire chicken,” Cole says pointing a pen at me. He’s making a list. A LIST! About what we might need on our little scouting trip. I mean, has he ever celebrated any winter holiday? Like ever? Christmas? Hanukkah? Kwanza? Boxing day?The fucking solstice? Even ifhedoesn’t know what we need off the top of his head, I do.Iknow what we need.
Right now, we need to get our asses moving before my head explodes. I mean, if that's the case at least it'll be festive as fuck in here with all the red that'll be splattered on the walls. And to that I say, mission fucking accomplished. But I'd rather decorate the old-fashioned way, thank you very much.
Jax takes Aly’s foot from me and places it on the ground, allowing her to do it herself like she wanted but that’s not the point. Why are we holding up the line? Let’s go! Let’s do this! This is what we’ve been waiting for!
New.
Exciting.
Awesomeness!
I’m gonna deck the fuck outta these halls. Tinsel and streamers and a tree and—
