Now
At some point, Sebastian and I had fallen asleep. One of his legs hanging off of the side of the bed and the other out to his side. I've been in the fetal position all night, trying to keep on the bed. Of course, if we had gone to sleep the other way on the bed, we would both be much more comfortable.
I notice that our hands haven't moved, still only a few inches away from the others. My breath catches just thinking about how easy it could be to just grab his.
Sebastian starts to stir, his nose twitches as he breathes in deeply. His fingers flicker next to mine. I watch enthralled as his whole body begins to wake up.
Before he can catch me staring, I get carefully. Making my way to my dresser I grab a sweater and jeans.
I hear sheets shuffling, as Sebastians soft skin drags against them.
I turn to see him sitting up, rubbing his tired eyes still droopy. His hair sticking up every where. And something that looks suspiciously like drool coming from the side of his mouth that he wipes away next.
What a sight. I smile. I've missed him.
"Good morning." I say quietly, wishing not to disturb him.
He smiles, caught off guard only for a moment before he remembers his surroundings.
"Good morning Tober. Sorry for falling asleep like that. That hurts." He muttered, referring to our positions.
I shake my head, "I've had worse."
"You shouldn't." He says fiercely. Eyebrows furrowed, glaring at the ground.
I smile to myself. "Don't worry, I won't deal with that stuff anymore. I have you now." I say.
A few beats of silence before my face goes red.
"I mean, I'm here. I have you guys. I won't" I stuttered out.
He giggles out covering his mouth. "I got what you meant. Don't worry."
~~~
Sebastian left me to get ready for breakfast. Saying something about his mom promising oatmeal the day before.
After getting dressed and brushing my teeth, during which I had a small crisis about how long we would have toothpaste and what we would after, I grabbed my old beat up boots.
I had needed a new pair of shoes at some point, so I went into a charity shop and took them off of the shelf, replacing them with my too small converse.
The ones I grabbed had considerable more wear to them but I had been worried about getting caught to find something of equal value.
Although I was the charity they advised to sell to.
All I cared about was shoes that fit, and it was a plus that they would keep snow out. But what had really drawn me to them was how similar they looked to the ones Erin would wear.
When I stayed with Erin and Sebastian it was no secret how much cooler Erin was than both of us.
While I was home schooled out of convenience, their parents not wanting me not to have an education, the siblings would tell me stories about school all the time.
Erin always had much more to say, more stories about getting into trouble with friends, and new crushes.
I had been enthralled.
Not just with the stories, but with how she dressed as well.
She wore skinny jeans and big tee shirts one day, and a flowing dress the next. But always paired with black doc martens.
Seeing something like them in the store after so long of not seeing my friend felt like getting stabbed in the gut.
Shaking away the far off memories, I slip on my shoes reminding myself that I have more than the blurry memories now.
I have Erin.
I have Sebastian.
I make my way down to the dining room, through the extravagant hallway, looking at all the paintings hung on the dark walls as I go. My steps echoing on the marble floor.
A painting of Medusa catches my attention. I'd always been fascinated by her. Asking my father to tell me her story over and over again.
He had said there were many, ones bad men liked to tell. That Medusa had been punished to be a monster. And later killed for it.
But he believed she was hurt. She was turned into a "monster" so she could finally protect herself. And then she was killed for it.
I was always told stories about the gods and goddesses by my father. Maybe there had been a reason why. Or maybe Amber is crazy.
"There you are." Sebastian says, a few feet behind me. I had been so wrapped up in my thoughts I hadn't heard him coming.
"Breakfast is ready, let's go." He says with a small smile.
I follow him with a smile of my own taking up my face.
The dinning room is bustling with people getting food from the table in a line buffet style. I hadn't realized how many people lived here, or really how many people could fit.
We got in line grabbing plates shuffling as the line moved slowly. I followed Sebastians lead, taking almost every thing he did. Except the eggs. I hated those.
After we had our food we made out way just across the hall to a small library. Erin and Steph were already there eating. Another group were at the other end of the room talking and eating as well.
I was stressed to say the least.
Erin giggles when she sees me, noticing my distress.
"Don't worry, only some of those people live here, and we only do community meals twice a month." Sebastian says sitting next to his sister on a large couch. I sigh sitting next to Steph.
"Where do they all live then?" I ask beginning to eat.
"Houses and cottages a few miles from here. This is just where the medical center is, where people meet for job placement and where people without young children live. It makes the most sense I guess. If we can't all live together." Erin said still shoving food into her mouth.
Sebastian rolls his eyes, making me smile.
The normalcy of it sends an uncomfortable ping through my stomach.
A community of people together when things seem to be ending shouldn't feel so eerie. Maybe it's because I've just been thrown into this, in the middle of it, and everyone else has had the slow incline, the steady downfall of the world around them. That's why it feels like this.
In all my life, I hadn't been in a situation like this. When society is collapsing, and every one is running from a common threat.
No, it's always seems to be one of two things, realities so similar to the one with Erin and Sebastian that I can barely manage telling the difference, or darkness. So I don't know what to do.
If I find myself in the former, I'll try to stay far away from them. I've learned not to trust myself. I'll try to survive like usual. But with small hiccups because it is a different reality. Rules change in ways I'm not aware of leading to mostly harmless situations.
But the latter is much worse. Maybe worse than this.
Thinking about it sends a shiver up my spine. Nausea over takes me.
I breath in deeply trying not to think about it anymore.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts by a hand on my arm, a light grip, but enough to shake me out of my trance.
Sebastian is looking at me,
"Are you okay?" He asks concern lacing he voice.
I nod, "Yeah just tired. You ruined my back." I joke. I know that he doesn't but it. But he smiles and huffs.
"Not my fault you fell asleep like that." He says with a smirk.
The girls are giggling, watching us. But Sebastian doesn't pay attention to them, so I won't as well.
Sebastian pops a blueberry into his mouth grinning. I'm smiling as well.
For a moment I've forgotten and the mystery of my father and I's alleged relation to the Greek goddess.
I've forgotten about a monster that has been targeting my friends for years, killing and turning them.
I've forgotten about these powers that I can't control or understand.
I just smile at this boy. Who I've loved since I met him. Since died, and long after.
Maybe I'll tell him. We could be happy together.
But maybe that's just the atmosphere of this place playing tricks on me.
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