“It means he has a toxin in his body. Infection. Maybe meningitis.”
“Uh!”
Darius winced.
“He’s dying.”
“He’s not dying.”
“He’s dying from a Chihuahua bite.”
Darius snickered.
Bret pointed a finger. “Stop it.”
“What, Bret?” Darius asked. “He’s in a hospital. Stabilized . . .” he looked down to Blain. “Sort of. In good hands.”
“Have you any compassion at all?”
“What do you want us to do?”
“I think we should stay until we know he’s stabilized, at the very least until his mother gets here tomorrow morning.”
Darius sighed out. “You realize everyone is going to the drive-in tonight.”
Bret just stared at him and blinked.
“Not like we’d make it or anything.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“Fine. Fine.” Darius tossed out his hands. “I’ll get us a room. But the second he’s stable, we’re gone. I’ll be back.”
Bret nodded. After Darius scuffed his feet on his way out, she turned to face the bed. Her hand rested on the railing. “Until you stabilize.” Her eyes shifted from the monitor back to Blain. “Why do I feel that’s not gonna happen?”
***
It was an institution in Pittsburgh. Originally, and not many people knew it, the drive-in showed pornographic films until the mid-eighties. But it was last of the breed and Colin actually debated on opening up his own drive-in one day.
One main screen and three small ones, a concession stand with adequate food, and a semi-clean bathroom. In the later years they added a secondary concession stand, but Colin always preferred to go to the main screen.
The kids were excited. He stopped for a Starbucks on the way there, got some chicken from the chicken place, and vowed to buy everything else there, especially the popcorn. When Andi suggested they pop some, Colin was adamant about saying no. There was nothing like the bad popcorn dripping with movie theater butter. They had to get the corn there.
Colin didn’t think much about it. Actually, when he was waiting in line to pull up to the paying booth at the drive in, he recognized the man. He knew he saw him at Winslow’s house and often with Winslow. The late twenty-something man in a suit, named Guy, had an earpiece and looked like a CIA agent more than a drive-in security man.
He thought to himself as he approached and recognized him that, that was life. The poor young man had to moonlight at the drive in-to make extra money.
Colin waved a simple wave over the steering wheel, and Guy gave a nod.
“Know him?” Chuck asked.
“He’s a Winslow security employee.”
“There you have it,” Chuck said. “Rich guys don’t pay their man anymore than anyone else. Probably less.”
“Probably,” Colin looked sideways at Chuck as he lit up. “You smoke like a chimney. How many packs a day to you go through?”
Chuck shrugged. “Who knows? Who cares. It’s not what’s gonna kill me anyhow.”
“Well, you’ll have to cut down. I can’t see the cigarette market surviving.”
Chuck fluttered his lips. “I could buy cartons of cartons and my own tobacco plants.”
Colin snickered.
“Dr. Reye.” Andi tapped him on the shoulder. “Did you make the Winslow person mad?”
“No, why?” Colin replied.
Andi pointed. “He’s going to the booth now and pointing to you.”
“That he is. I wonder what’s up.” Colin pulled up to the booth. “Five please,” he told the lady.
“Sir, your tickets are taken care of.” She pointed to Guy.
“Wow. Thanks.” Colin smiled. He raised his eyes to the mirror. “Guess we didn’t piss him off. How nice of him.”
Pulling forward Guy asked him to stop.
Colin did and wound the window. “Thank you for the tickets.”
“You’re welcome,” Guy said. “Mr. Winslow paid for them. Pull down to the third row. You can park anywhere there.”
“You mean the row conveniently empty with the barrage of security men?” Colin asked.
“Yes, sir. Mr. Winslow rented the entire row for tonight for you and your guests.”
“Wow, that’s remarkable. I’ll have to thank Mr. Winslow.”
“You also have an open account at the concession stand.”
Chuck whistled. “Now that’s sweet.”
Guy smiled. “Have a good evening.”
With a nod, Colin thanked him and drove forward. “How fortunate is this. An entire row. No annoying babies parked next to us. Call Bruce and tell him.”
“Got it.” Chuck pulled out his phone. “Man, Winslow likes you.”
“Yes, I do make that impression.”
“And free concession food.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’ll take full advantage of that.”
Chuck smiled as he dialed the phone, and Colin pulled down to center of the third row.
They were the big drive-in celebrities. People kept staring at the people whose few cars took up the entire row.
Bobby used that to his advantage, giving that flirty ‘up’ of his chin when a girl walked by.
Chuck huffed when he saw him doing that. Munching on popcorn, he shook his head as Bobby passed, and at Winslow who was in his wheelchair with a portable air conditioning unit by him.
“What is your problem?” Colin dipped into Chuck’s popcorn bag.
“How is Bobby going to make it without a woman in the shelter?”
“I would say Bobby is trying to solve that problem.”
“How about Winslow with his air conditioning?”
“He wants to be cool,” Colin said.
“Unreal. People are pissed at us.”
“Why?”
“We took the whole row.”
“Nonsense, they’re jealous.”
“It just doesn’t seem right,” Chuck said. “Not having a packed row.”
“Chuck.” Colin turned completely to him. ‘In the car you bitched because you hated being packed in. We aren’t packed in. You’re still bitching. Think of this as a pre-bonding exercise for the apocalypse.”
“I don’t know if I can get along with these people.”
“Can you get along with anyone?”
“Not really,” Chuck shrugged.
“Then perhaps like Bobby who is on a mission to have a sex partner in the shelter, then you should be on a mission to learn to tolerate people.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it’s going to be tough enough to keep your sanity without people driving you nuts.” Colin reached toward the bag.
“I’m not worried about it, because I don’t plan on making it to that phase. I want a hot dog.” Chuck walked away.
Mid-reach for popcorn, Colin grabbed air. But he also realized he grabbed on to something else, the possibility that perhaps Chuck was on a different agenda.
***
Darius grunted.
Bret moaned.
Each time he cried out, she called out some explicit word. Back and forth.
“Yes, yes, yes.” Bret cheered with excitement.
“No, no, I…have to get.…” grunt. “Fuck.” Darius blurted in frustration.
“Well, you didn’t have to throw the controller,” Bret reached for the game control.
“I didn’t throw it. I dropped it hard in my frustration. I thought I was going to finish that level.”
“I did, too.”
“But you’re glad I didn’t.”
“Hell, yeah, I want to win.”
“So competitive. Take your turn.” Darius stood up from the floor where he played the game with Bret. “Want another drink?”
“Um…yeah.” Bret focused on the game. A zombie battle appeared on her screen. “I don’t know how you made it through this level.”
“Don’t collect weapons, just k
ill them. Scotch?” He walked to the mini bar.
“Yeah, please. But let’s not get drunk, in case the hospital calls.”
“Why would they call?” He asked.
“For Blain.”
“They aren’t going to call.”
“He wasn’t…shit…doing good when we left.”
“He’s fine. Quite worrying so much.”
“That isn’t very considerate of you to say.”
“Why do you do that?” Darius asked, tossing out the tiny bottles.
“I don’t know.”
“You know…we do have to finish that invitation list.”
“I refuse.” Bret’s arms soared to the left as her fingers clicked. “You’re being ridiculous about the gynecologist.”
“Bret.” Darius sat on the floor behind her. “Yes, we have to invite doctors into our shelter. But why do we need a specialist.”
“Because we women need that. If we are a new civilization in a complicated world, we need a doctor who knows babies and birth. Not someone who is general. Besides, it doesn’t…fuck, you’re breaking my concentration.”
“Just making conversation.”
“Distracting me. We’ll work on the list after.…” Bret grunted.
“You’re doing good.”
“Thanks.”
“Besides, I can’t wait to hear Colin’s thoughts on the gynecologist.”
“He’ll think you’re wrong.”
“Doubt it. Colin wouldn’t want to be like you and build a new world of liberals.”
Darius heaved out a huff. “Bret! Why do you insist I’m a liberal. I’m neither.”
“You fight like one.”
“Oh, I do not. Colin fights like one.”
“He does not. He doesn’t even fight. Besides, Colin is as right as they get.”
“True.” Darius shrugged. “Is that why you’d pick him?”
“What?” Bret was focused even closer on the game.
“Is that why you said you’d pick him as your partner in the aftermath.”
Bret chuckled, then immediately groaned when her player died. “Son of a bitch.” She set down the control, looked at Darius and took the drink he extended. “No. I said ‘Colin’ because you guys were mentioning everyone else but him. I thought it would send you into a tail spin. Thank you,” she said regarding her drink.
“So you wouldn’t be with Colin?”
“No. But why is this important?”
“Because it is important. If everything happens as we predict, there’s not going to be many people left in this world. There’s going to be us and any other pockets that make up a survival plan. We will be responsible for starting things over.”
“So you want to secure a bed partner?”
“It’s not just that.…”
“I have to tell you I can’t believe you and Blain discuss whether or not I’d put out in the apocalyptic world.” Bret sipped her drink.
“You heard that?”
“Yes, and I know I’m the big joke. But let me tell you something Dare-Dare. This thing about me not putting out for Jess? It wasn’t me. Okay? I just got used to not doing it and I didn’t want to because it was a hassle and aggravation. Jess had problems.” She nodded. “That’s why he picked a fucking virgin. She didn’t know how it’s supposed to be.”
Darius laughed.
“Besides, you probably know how naive eighteen- and nineteen-year-old girls are and how easy they are to bed.”
“Don’t have a clue.”
“You’re a college professor. They don’t throw themselves at you? I mean . . . you’re pretty hot.”
Darius lowered his head in a blush. “I guess they do. I don’t bother. That’s my job. Plus, that’s too young.”
Bret raised her glass. “That’s good to hear. But, you realize that would be one reason I could never date you in the civilized world.”
“I thought it would be because we fight all the time.”
“That, too.” Bret winked. “But I’m very jealous. I wouldn’t be able to handle those girls throwing themselves at you.”
“It’s a matter of trust.”
“Yeah, but it’s also a matter of someone throwing themselves at your guy.”
“If you’re so jealous how did you not know Jess was having an affair?” he asked.
“He had that problem. I figured he’d be too embarrassed to chance it with a woman.” Bret downed her drink. “I don’t want to discuss this.” She stood up and walked to the bar.
“I’m sorry. You’re still upset and hurt. I . . .”
“No, that’s not it. I’m fine. Really I am. It was just a blow to my ego, that’s all. But . . .” she raised the tiny bottle. “With all the people we’re inviting into the shelter, maybe I’ll get my self-confidence back. I see your point about having a partner. And I’m not talking about a sex partner.”
“A companion.”
Bret nodded and returned to the floor. “Someone to lean on, depend on, talk to. That one person in the shelter that you have an alliance with that no one can touch.”
“Someone that no matter what happens is there. Your life partner. A strong couple can make it through anything as long as they have each other.”
“Exactly. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to build the morality back up in the new world. Marriage. Commitment. Start things out right again.”
“Amen to that,” Darius lifted his glass.
“Wow, so conservative.”
“There you go again.”
Bret snickered. “It gets you going. And Darius, I really feel that once we get all the invitees into the shelter, you won’t have a problem finding someone.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Ex . . . excuse me?” Bret asked. “I’m confused. I thought you just said . . .”
“Oh, I want a partner. A ‘wife’ if you must in the old world. Hell, I wanted a wife in the current world. I always wanted someone to come home to. Share my music. But I don’t want the hassle of having to worry about dating, or connecting, then you break up and have to find someone else. Under those conditions head games are bad. We’ll all be living too close to each other for partner-swapping.”
“What choice do you have?”
“Form it now,” Darius said.
“You mean find someone before we go into the shelter. Before the world goes to shit.”
“Yep.” Darius nodded. “Find someone who will be as committed as me to making it work. A bond before everything happens.”
“That’s a good idea,” Bret said.
“I want . . . I want to form that with you, Bret.”
Bret hesitated and paused her glass before her lips. “Me?”
Darius nodded.
“Darius, you don’t like me like that. You said so.”
“You heard that?”
“Yep.”
“Well, I lied.” He winked. “I actually am attracted to you, Bret. And I think you and I, if we set our minds to it, can form a fantastic partnership going into this thing.”
“We fight all the time.”
“No,” Darius corrected. “We bicker. And that will keep us strong. We’ve been together for days, slept in the same room.”
“You saw me naked.”
Darius smiled. “That, too. And at any time did it feel unnatural?”
“Not at all.”
“We click. At least on the friendship part.” He finished his drink. “I want you to think about it.”
“You’re not worried that we’ll get in there and suddenly you’ll find someone better.”
“Nope. Not at all. I’m a pretty dedicated person, Bret. You’re pretty cool. I can see when this thing happens, where we’ll be, and you know, I can see me only having eyes for you.”
“Oh my God, was that sweet.” Bret smiled.
“I’m a nice guy.”
“And hot.” Bret took a drink. “I’ll be pretty lucky in the apocalypse. Smart, hot, and talented. Colin played me your CD. You’re
good.”
“Thanks. So you want to?” he asked, pouring a drink.
“Well, we do have the friendship part down. All we have to worry about is will we click sexually.”
“Bret, I don’t claim to be all that in the bedroom. But if all you say about your ex-husband’s problems are true, I’m not worried. I’ll be a fucking stud.”
Her lips fluttered in an immediately sloppy, hard laugh, one that knocked her back. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Neither can I. I’m a little tipsy. But in control. That was a good line.”
“It was.” Bret sighed out. “So let’s do it.”
“Partnership?” Darius brought his drink to his mouth making his way back to Bret.
“Sex.”
Darius choked.
“What? You don’t want to?’
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, very. Might as well see if we click all the way around before we both make the final decision.”
“This just doesn’t sound like you. And I’m judging this on the person I got to know. Not your Virgin Mary reputation.”
Bret laughed. “It’s not like me. But you know what? You and I have been under some extenuating circumstances. I feel close to you. I haven’t . . . I haven’t in a while. I’d really like to right now feel that closeness. And I think . . . if you want, I think you’d like that too.”
Darius pulled his mouth to one side.
“You’re a scientist. Think of it as an experiment.”
He couldn’t help it. He chuckled and set down his drink.
“You aren’t attracted to me in that way?”
“Oh, quite the contrary.” He brought himself down to the floor. He reached out and took her drink, softening his voice. “I saw you naked, remember?” After setting her drink on the TV stand, he trailed his index finger through the opening of her v-neck shirt.
“Look at you being the seducer.”
“You initiated it.”
“I did. Didn’t I?” Bret smiled as Darius raised his eyes to her. “So you like what you saw?”
“Oh, yeah.” Two fingers, three, he felt the skin on her chest, lightly trailing in circles. “You said it’s been a while since you . . .” He cleared his throat. “How long?”
Torn Page 23
