Page 60 of Beyond The Maples
I know I've seen a live plant at some point. The world wasn't this completely desolate when I was a small child, but even if I had seen them when I was young, I don't remember. I vaguely remember stories about my mother pickingwildflowers, or my grandparents growing beautiful gardens. About my dad playing games with friends in fields of grass. But I've never experienced a single one of those things. None of us have.
"Well, it's definitely going to die now that Leo's stolen it from its home," I mutter.
Leo frowns at me. "What was I supposed to do, leave it? We've been looking for answers and proof that something is weird here, and then I find this? It seemed too good to pass up."
We all just continue to stare at the plant, brows furrowed.
"It's true. We actually had a report yesterday that said there's been no new progress with agriculture. But I can't believe that's true if Leo just stumbled on this... weed, randomly, without someone even bothering to water it." Farra shakes her head as she talks.
I run my fingers through my unruly hair. "We can't report it now. I don't trust that they won't try to discipline Leo, or ship him off. We have no idea which way it would go, and it's not worth it. Fallon seems to love to dole out punishments." I cringe.
"Maybe we take it to Sibs? We haven't made it back there yet, but we need to. We hide it in here until this weekend, and then I take it and either dispose of it, or leave it with her." I eye my friends waiting for argument.
"And trust the old lady with something that could screw us over?" Farra scoffs.
"She won't turn us in. Look at her house. Everything in there could send her straight to the depths of Aether," Leo responds before I have a chance to.
"Ok, I guess that’s kind of the best option," Farra concludes.
"I know we had said we were all going together, but this changes things a little. I really need you two to hang back here, or in town, so people see you. An alibi is our best option right now." I shrug hoping they understand.
Leo agrees without hesitation. Farra agrees on the condition they stay close.
We sit there for a minute, passing around the plant and study it thoughtfully, talking about what kind of plant it could be, untila knock sounds. We all freeze. It opens slowly when no one responds, and my eyes widen in horror as I realize what's about to happen.
Farra reacts quickest, tackling Leo, who has the plant in open view of the door and places her body over his as the door swings open.
"Oh, shit, sorry... I knocked, but I heard your voices, so I didn't think I'd be interrupting. Wait, what am I interrupting?" Deacon stares at our strange positions.
I'm on the floor, trying and failing to look casual. Farra has her whole body covering Leo, in what can only be described as the most awkwardly platonic form of smothering one has ever seen.
"We were preparing for group sex. Yes, you may join. Yes, you will have to be intimate with all of us. No, y–"
Leo stops talking when Farra slaps her hand over his mouth, threatening to end his insignificant life, among various curses.
"He is such an idiot sometimes that we have to do this, ya know?" I say, standing, trying to block out the view of Farra smothering Leo behind me, and pray to the Gods Deacon doesn't catch a glimpse at what is inevitably a smushed plant between the two on the bed. I usher him towards the door.
"Did you want to go for a walk and talk for a bit while these two work out their marital dispute?" I put my boots on quickly as Deacon nods, watching them, confused.
"Yeah, that's why I came by." We both ignore Leo's yelps for help as I shut the door behind me.
We walk down the stairs out and into the courtyard in heavy silence.
Deacon breaks it first, sighing, "I'm sorry we've been fighting so much lately. Even before you left, things felt off." His hands run through his auburn locks, and I see the worry on his face. I smile at him.
"I know. I'm sorry too."
I think about what to say next, because while I'm sorry we've been fighting, I'm not really sorry about what I said. For once, I don't want to try to make him feel better by taking it back.
"You were right, of course, about most of it. I've never fully understood where you were coming from. Even if our lives were always unfolding right beside each other, I'm not blind Maple. I know we've had very different experiences." He swallows.
I keep my eyes trained on my feet, unwilling to look at him, so I don't start crying. I bob my head, hoping he'll keep talking so I won't have to.
"Also... we never hashed things out. At home you were always so determined, distracted by all your responsibilities, it felt impossible. And I know I've handled certain things... poorly. Especially, um… that night before you left."
I look up at him now as he stumbles through his words. His cheeks go slightly pink, and I laugh, "Oh boy, do I see a blush? Are you embarrassed?" I tease.
"Yes, I am embarrassed. I'm embarrassed because I'm not sure when the lines got so blurry between us, or why that made me act like an idiot. But I did, and I'm not sure where to go from here." He sighs again, a slight frown on his face.
