The Meeting (Emerge)

by Sunseri, Heather

  Dax and I only knew what we managed to hear when the rumors first formed more than four years ago and things we learned as we made our way through settlements in the west on our way here.

  “She’s right, Jake,” Zara said, but then continued under her breath: “Though, I’m surprised she had the guts to say it without her sidekick.”

  Nina crossed her arms and glared daggers at Zara. I assumed Zara was talking about Cricket, who I hadn’t quite figured out yet. So far, without many words, she could completely change the air in a room. When she entered, people sat up. Nina, on the other hand was outgoing and sociable, but didn’t seem to insert opinions unless necessary, like now.

  Cricket had spent most of her time the past two weeks helping Dr. Quinton at the hospital, and much of that time at Dax’s side. She was quick to help us, though she knew nothing about us. Nina went along with what Dr. Quinton and Cricket decided. Her job had been to talk to me and help me understand what was happing with Dax. I’d had no choice but to trust them.

  Zara moved closer toward Jake. “We’re all a little bit nervous when someone new shows up, but these two boys needed our help. And I, for one, like that we’re able to help someone new for a change.”

  “Well, would you look at that,” Jake responded. “Could the two of you—and Cricket for that matter—be any more obvious? You’re talking with your hormones. I mean, how often do three teenage girls get the opportunity to meet two new pieces of fresh meat?”

  I should have been offended by that question, but I leaned closer, hoping Nina would answer this one. She looked offended. Zara, however, did not.

  “Well, who can argue with that?” Zara threw her hands out to the side. With that the townspeople erupted in laughter, waved their hands, dismissing Jake, and dispersed.

  Besides suddenly feeling like a juicy cheeseburger, just waiting to see which girl was planning to devour me and have my future babies, I gained an insight into the type of community Boone Blackston was. I gotta say, I kinda liked it.

  Nina

  I climbed the stairs to the top of Boone Blackston’s bell tower after ten p.m. I was exhausted but knew it would be difficult to fall asleep.

  The town was quiet again. I wasn’t surprised by Jake’s questioning of Dax’s and Dylan’s entrance into the settlement. I’m not sure how many years would have to pass before the people of any settlement wouldn’t be suspicious of anyone new. Building a community of men, women, and children who would look out for each other had taken time.

  I pushed open the floor hatch and climbed onto the observation deck. In the daytime, I could see beyond our walls on all sides. At night, I could only see as far as our perimeter, thanks to the solar-powered lanterns and the various kerosene lights in the buildings where people were living. The settlement had electricity, but it was fairly unreliable, so we saved it for times when we really needed it.

  I sat on the bench built next to the walls of the tower and stared toward the mountains in the distance. Beyond those mountains, others lived. And I craved to know how they were surviving differently in this world.

  “Nina.”

  I jumped at the sound of my name. “Dylan… Hi.” I hadn’t even heard him climb up through the hatch.

  He sat beside me, leaning his shoulder against the wall and facing me. “Trouble sleeping?”

  I shrugged. “I’m a night owl, I guess.” His dark chocolate eyes didn’t leave mine, and I found myself unable to look away. It had been like that the past two weeks. Whenever he looked at me, an uneasiness erupted in my heart, and I struggled to control my pulse. I couldn’t sleep. And my judgment was clouded. I never would have stood up to Jake tonight. That was always Cricket’s department.

  “Your dad wants to amputate Dax’s leg.”

  Before I could stop myself, my hand grabbed his. “I’m so sorry.” I looked down as his fingers moved, not to pull away, but to intertwine with mine. I swallowed hard past the nervous lump in my throat.

  “I talked him into waiting one more day to see if there’s improvement. Dax has spent a lot of the last forty-eight hours unconscious. If he doesn’t show major improvement with this last round of antibiotics by morning, the leg comes off.” He looked up from our connected hands.

  “Don’t give up yet.”

  A single frown line formed along his forehead. “Thank you for what you said down there.”

  “You heard that?”

  He nodded.

  I pulled my hand away and walked toward the other side of the tower. Dylan stood behind me as we looked out toward the hospital. “Where will you and Dax go from here?” I faced him. My question assumed Dax would make a full recovery. “I remember from our original meeting that you have no intention of staying here.”

  He cocked his head, smiling. “Will you be sad to see me go?”

  “You’re teasing me.” I turned away and stared out over the settlement again. “Just forget it.”

  “Forget what?” He moved to stand beside me and touched his hand to my cheek, urging me to look at him. My skin tingled beneath his touch. Avoiding him the past few days had done nothing to squelch the feelings I was developing for this man I barely knew. When he captured my eyes, he said again, “Forget what, Nina?”

  “Forget I even asked about your plans.” My voice took on an edge that wasn’t there before. I refused to let this stranger get further under my skin.

  “Answer the question. Will you be sad to see me go?”

  My heart was beating so wildly, I was positive he could hear it. “I will not… answer the question.”

  “Why? Scared?”

  Terrified. “Uh… No,” I scoffed.

  “You’re lying. You’re scared to admit that you don’t want to see me go.”

  “And you’e crazy.” I pulled away from his touch and walked to the hatch and started to climb down but stopped short. “Pull the hatch closed when you leave.”

  “I will.” Before I could climb further down the ladder to the stairs, Dylan bent down and captured my chin with a cupped hand. “As much as I shouldn’t want to know, I, now more than ever, want to know the answer to the question.”

  When his gaze lowered to my lips, I instinctively licked them and swallowed. “Well, I hope you don’t mind disappointment.”

  “Actually, no, I like getting my way.” He released my chin. “And after you answer that question, I want to know if you’ve ever been kissed.”

  Dylan

  I stared through the interior window of the hospital at Dax while Dr. Caine examined him.

  “He’s awake.” Nina sidled up beside me. “That’s a good sign.”

  “Is it?” My tone was short from the nerves turning over in my stomach. How would Dax and I survive if he had to continue on only one leg?

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Cricket arrived on the scene and stood beside Nina. “Oh my gosh! He’s awake.” Cricket left us and entered the room. She went immediately to Dax’s side.

  Why was she so attached to my brother? She’d barely left his side the last couple of weeks, and Dax was in and out of consciousness during that time. Cricket turned and motioned for Nina and me to come in. Her excitement was contagious.

  As I got closer, Dax looked up. “Hey, bro. The doc tells me he’s got some good news this morning. Says you made quite the fuss yesterday when he threatened to remove my leg in order to save my life.”

  I looked from Dax to Dr. Quinton, who smiled. “His fever is down, and the tissue surrounding the wound appears to be clearing up. I think he’s out of the woods.”

  I let out a large breath of air and bit back emotion that threatened. I could not let these two girls see me cry. “That’s good news.” I walked a couple of steps closer and grabbed onto my brother’s hand. “Shit, Dax, you scared me.”

  “I know, man. I’m sorry.”

  Cricket, Nina, and Dr. Quinton slipped out of the room as I took a seat on a rolling stool.

  “So…” Dax started. “What is up with the two chicks?
”

  I glanced sideways and caught the eyes of Nina. She blushed and looked away. “They saved your life.”

  Dax leaned his head back and looked up at the ceiling. “I hate owing people. Couldn’t you have stolen some antibiotics and nursed me back to health yourself?”

  I laughed, though none of this was funny. “I almost lost you.”

  “Well, you didn’t. Now, let’s get out of here.” Dax sat up and swung his legs around to the side. “Where are my clothes.”

  Cricket reentered the room. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m getting out of here, Princess.”

  “The hell you are.”

  I quirked a brow. Dax mirrored my expression. “Look, Princess, it’s not that I’m not appreciative of what you and the doc did for me, but my brother and I have places to go?”

  “You’re not completely healed, yet. You need a couple more rounds of intense antibiotics or you’ll be right back in here, and next time you might not get so lucky. Not to mention, if you’re supposed to look anything like muscles here…” Cricket nodded toward me. “…you’ve got some strength to regain.”

  If I thought Dax wouldn’t punch me, I would have laughed at this tiny girl standing up to my brother.

  “You boys are welcome to stay with us at Boone Blackston,” Dr. Quinton added from the doorway. “Dax should spend a couple more nights here in the hospital where I have the proper medicines, but after that, you can share a room at the Inn.”

  Dax and I traded a silent exchange before I spoke. “Can you give us a minute?” I watched Cricket and the doc leave, then turned to my brother. “They’ve been very nice to us. And except for one arrogant asshole in town so far, that we can easily take, the townspeople have given me the space to get a feel for the town. I like it here.”

  “And that raven out there in the hallway who can’t take her eyes off of you? Does she have anything to do with this?”

  Nina

  I sat with Cricket and Dad in his office in the basement of one of the buildings that evening after dinner. He had asked one of our town’s nurses to stay with Dax while they took a break from the hospital.

  “So, it would appear that Dax and Dylan are staying,” Cricket said while fingering the tree of life charm that hung around her neck. She never talked about where the necklace or the charm came from, but anytime I knew she was thinking hard, she rubbed the beads and the charm of that necklace.

  “You think they’ll stay long?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

  Dad looked up from his desk. “We don’t know much about them. Probably best not to get too attached.”

  “Agree,” Cricket added.

  I looked from him to Cricket. Sometimes I wondered if somehow the universe got mixed up, and Cricket was actually my Dad’s daughter. They had an intense father-daughter connection without actually being related, which probably had something to do with him saving her life a long time ago. I didn’t mind their connection. My dad had enough love for both of us, and it made Cricket and me even more like sisters.

  “I’ve got something I need to do,” I said. Neither of them even looked my way as I slipped outside and up the stairs to the street.

  I headed in the direction of the Inn where Cricket and I shared a room, and where Dylan and Dax would share a room once Dax was free of infection.

  Dad was right. If I were smart I wouldn’t get too attached to Dylan. He’d had one foot headed out of town since he arrived. I was starting to think I was getting dumber with age though, because I didn’t care how stupid the decision I’d already made was. Ever since he’d asked me if I’d ever been kissed all I could think about was having him be my first.

  I rounded a corner and took a shortcut down an alley toward the back entrance of the Inn. Lost in thought about the mistake I was about to make, I didn’t even hear the person approach until a hand was over my mouth, the heat of a body at my back, and hot breath against my ear.

  “You think because your father deemed himself a leader in our town that you can disrespect me in public?”

  I shook my head, my eyes wide. My pulse skyrocketed.

  “You’re just a little girl. But we can change that. You don’t need new guys to enter our community to find a man. I’m right here.”

  I wanted to scream through his hand, but I couldn’t produce any sound. His palm was rough against my face, and his other arm held me tight against his body, giving me no room to move.

  “I’ve been watching you grow. You and Cricket have both changed, becoming closer to women. It’s a shame Cricket is damaged.”

  I wanted to hurt this man so badly right now, but he held me so tightly that my ribcage was starting to hurt. Tears of anger stung my eyes. When movement in my peripheral caught my attention at the end of the alleyway, I let out a loud groan that didn’t seem to reach very far, and whoever it was continued past the alley.

  Jake jerked me around and slammed me against the side of the building, keeping a hand over my mouth. I hit the back of my head on the brick and squeezed my eyes shut when the pain seared into my skull. I whimpered and almost passed out.

  Suddenly, in a whoosh of air, the heat of Jake’s body left me. “Get your hands off of her.” My eyes sprung open and I witnessed Dylan throwing Jake across the alley and into the ground. “You get your thrills hurting girls?” Dylan looked back at me. I blinked in disbelief of what was happening.

  “The town will throw you out for this?” Jake tried to push himself up, but struggled to get his balance.

  Dylan reached down and lifted Jake up by his shirt. “You think I would want to live in a town that allows someone like you? Somehow, I think your days are numbered, now.” Dylan drew an arm back, but shouts from the other end of the alley stopped him from punching Jake. I would have been happy if he’d gone on and punched him.

  “What happened?” Dad was running toward us. Cricket was on his heels.

  When I didn’t speak, Dylan spoke for me. “He was attacking her.”

  Dad rushed to me, noticing for the first time the tears streaming down my face. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded. “I hit my head.”

  He felt the back of my head. I winced when his fingers found their target. “You’ve got quite a knot already.” With a set jaw, he turned to Jake. “Dylan, you mind helping me with this piece of trash?”

  “Happy to.”

  “Cricket…”

  “I’ve got Nina,” Cricket said. “I’ll check her for a concussion.”

  “Wake her every hour just in case the signs aren’t clear.”

  I risked a glance at Dylan. I was afraid he would see straight through the barrier I was attempting to build around me. I had been on my way to confess that I would, if fact, have been sad if he’d left Boone Blackston. Maybe it was good that I hadn’t gotten that chance. Now that they were staying, he might be regretting having even asked me such a question. Probably better if we just see where things go from here.

  His chest rose and fell, still breathing hard from pulling Jake off of me. He broke the eye contact first, when Dad started to force Jake to his feet. Dylan helped him and they headed in the opposite direction from where Cricket and I were going.

  “Um… Want to tell me what they hell I missed?” Cricket asked when they were out of earshot.

  I focused on her. “What are you talking about?”

  “Hello? He looked like he wanted to scoop you up and never let you go just now.”

  I watched Dad and Dylan disappear. “You’re crazy. Now, help me get cleaned up.”

  “Fine. But then you’re telling me everything.”

  Dylan

  After I helped Dr. Quinton lock that disgusting excuse for a man up in the only jail cell in the town, I went to visit Dax in the hospital. The color was back in his face, and he seemed to be content with sticking around Boone Blackston for a while. He refused to elaborate as to why, and since I wasn’t ready to confess anything, I gave him the pain medicine Dr. Quin
ton had prescribed and left him to sleep it off.

  After walking the entire perimeter of the town twice, I decided to turn in for the night. I climbed the stairs of the Inn to the second floor where I knew Cricket was tending to Nina. I had paced the hallway for ten minutes when the door to their room opened. I straightened when Cricket appeared. A smile played with the corners of her lips. She closed the door behind her. “Well, well, well. Mr. Tough Guy.”

  I quirked a brow. “Excuse me?”

  “Well, you’re quick to jump to my best friend’s rescue, but you’re terrified to knock and check in on her? That takes you down a couple of notches in my book.”

  We stared at each other for nearly a minute without a sound between us. Finally, I said, “I don’t want to start something that I can’t finish.”

  She crossed her arms. “Then don’t… start something, that is.”

  I backed up a step. “I think it might be too late.”

  “Then make sure you stick around long enough to see it through.”

  “Is that your sisterly talk?”

  Cricket stepped up close to me, rolled her shoulders back, and looked up into my eyes. “You hurt her, and I’ll kill you.” She patted my face with her palm. “That’s the sisterly talk.”

  I nodded and smiled as she continued past me toward the stairs. Just as I was about to turn the knob and enter Nina’s room, Cricket added, “Oh, and make sure you wake her every hour. She does have a slight concussion.”

  ~~~~~

  I woke her every hour, on the hour, placing ice on the injury until it melted. I tried to talk to her the first time I woke her, but she only reached a finger to my lips and said, “I can’t talk to you, yet.”

  I had no idea what that meant, but in my experience, if a girl asked for time before she could speak, you gave it to her, or you might not like what came out of her mouth.