“Hey, what’s going on? I thought I heard voices.” A deep voice boomed from behind George and a young man entered the woman. When he saw me, he stopped talking, and I didn’t say a word. He was handsome, and very attractive. The tall, lanky boy must have been nearly 6 feet, and he was both muscular and slender, wearing only pajama pants and a t-shirt. His thick, brown hair was ruffled and his eyes looked puffy. We must have woken him.
“This is a girl,” George said gruffly, explaining to the boy who I was, although I hoped it was obvious that I was a woman now and not just a girl. “She showed up.”
“I’m Paige,” I offered. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier.” I didn’t stand or get out from under my afghan. I was still cold and scared, and I was sure I smelled bad. I didn’t want him to smell me, especially when he was so attractive. I was used to being around sexy guys, but there was a huge difference between meeting a guy at a bar when you were dressed up and meeting a guy after you’ve been walking around for days.
“Nice to meet you, Paige,” the boy said, glancing from me to George to the old woman and back again. “I’m George and Sarah’s grandson, Brian.” Taking him in again, I could see the resemblance between George and Brian. While George was obviously much older, his eyes still sparkled the way Brian’s did.
“Hi, Brian.” I said with a small smile. “Your grandparents were nice enough to let me in for the night. I won’t be any trouble, I promise.”
“Are you sick?” He queried. All business, then. There was no flirting, no beating around the bush. I must have looked worse than I thought.
“No.” I tried not to be hurt from the question. It was, after all, a valid one. Was there a reason, though, that he couldn’t have asked me about myself first? Maybe tried to make me feel comfortable? Maybe tried to flirt a little? It was stupid, I knew. I felt like my heart was dying inside from embarrassment and frustration. Why had I even stopped here? I should have just slept in the back of their pickup.
“She’s from Cedar Brook,” George offered. “Made it out in the nick o’ time.”
“From Cedar Brook and not sick?” Brian looked distrusting. “Take off your shirt,” he told me firmly.
“What?”
“Take off your shirt.”
“Why?”
“Oh, now, is that really necessary?” Sarah asked from her spot on the couch as she shifted uncomfortably. I shifted uncomfortably, too.
“Grandma, I’m not trying to be improper or rude, but the first sign of infection is a blue rash on your abdomen. Now, I’m not going to say it again. Take off your shirt, or you’re out. I’m not going to risk you getting my grandparents sick.” Brian was unwavering. I didn’t want to. I looked like crap. I’d been walking around for days. I was sweaty. I was smelly. And worst of all, Brian didn’t like me. If he was attracted to me in any way, it didn’t show, and I didn’t want to flash a guy who didn’t at least think I was pretty, who didn’t at least love me, at least a little.
“Oh, don’t be improper,” Sarah said to Brian.“You boys leave and I’ll look. You don’t need to see a young girl half naked.” Sarah nodded to me softly, as if to say she had things under control. It didn’t matter, though.
“While I appreciate that, Grandma, we both know that even if she was sick, you wouldn’t turn her out in the cold.” Sarah didn’t say a word. She just sighed, which let me know she was probably the softie of the family and they all knew it.
George turned and headed back into the kitchen, muttering something about modesty and proper standards of civilization and decency, but Brian’s gaze remained firm. I knew he wasn’t kidding, so I tossed the afghan aside and stood. I had never been particularly embarrassed about my body. I wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t ugly. I just had never really had much of a reason to get naked with anyone before. I’d grown up in church and there were some things you just didn’t do. Getting naked for boys you weren’t married to was one of those things.
I slid off my hoodie and then lifted my tank top up to my bra line.
“Take off the whole thing,” Brian demanded. “No blue rash, or you’re out.”
I closed my eyes and slipped the tank top over my head. I reached around to my back and unclasped my bra, then let it fall softly to the floor. I kept my eyes closed. Tears from embarrassment were welling up inside me but I begged myself not to cry, not now. I did not want to cry in front of these strangers, but I couldn’t help it. A single tear ran down my cheek. I felt myself blushing from embarrassment.
“Okay,” Brian’s voice sounded soft and more gentle now. “Thank you, Paige. I just had to be sure.” I opened my eyes and he was gone. I looked at Sarah and she nodded for me to get dressed again. I could tell she felt bad for me, having to get naked in front of her sexy grandson, but I knew deep down that it was probably a wise decision on Brian’s part. After all, they didn’t know me. They didn’t know anything about me except that I’d come from infection valley, apparently, and that I could be carrying something that could potentially kill them all.
“Is it okay if I sleep here?” I asked Sarah. She nodded and reached to the end table. She pulled a small dangly string on the tiny lamp and suddenly the room was dark. A small light still shone from the kitchen.
“Bathroom is upstairs if you need it, honey,” she whispered, then laid her head down on her own pillow. I wondered why Sarah was sleeping on the couch, but I didn’t ask. Maybe she was too old to make it upstairs. Maybe she just slept better knowing she was close to the door and could make an escape if something bad happened. Maybe she just liked the couch. I didn’t know.
I glanced up at the picture of Jesus smiling down at the room. I tried not to be a bad believer, but I wondered if he was listening to my prayers tonight. It had been a long time since I felt religious or like there was actually anyone listening. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about all the questions I had. It seemed like I had too many questions and anytime I found the answer to one, three more popped up in its place. I wondered why this had happened. I wondered if I was going crazy, if things were really as bad as they seemed. I wonder if I was overreacting. I wondered, for the millionth time, why I had left my car on the side of the road or how I had even gotten myself into such a situation. I curled up in a ball on the chair and before I could finish whispering my quiet prayers, I had fallen into a deep sleep.
Chapter 8
The smell of bacon and eggs woke me from my slumber, and I jolted awake with a start. Who was cooking? Where was I? What was going on? For a moment I thought I was at home, that it was my mother’s cooking waking me up, but I knew it wasn’t true. It was too good to be true. I quickly remembered that I was at a stranger’s house in a strange place. I closed my eyes and wished for my mom, just for a moment. Sarah was no longer on the couch but I heard her gentle voice in the kitchen, speaking softly to someone,probably Brian.
I was covered with a tiny afghan and still curled in a ball on the chair. I stood, realizing quickly that I needed to use the bathroom in a bad way. Rubbing my eyes, I made my way to the staircase and hurried upstairs without peering into the kitchen. No one had seen me and I was glad because I was sure I looked terrible. Most of the time, I tried to make a conscious effort not to be vain, but I really wanted to prove to Brian that I could be pretty, that I could look nice when given the chance.
The walls above the staircase were covered with pictures and memories. I paused for a moment at a wedding picture of a young, happy couple. Even though it had been taken at least 40 years earlier, it was obviously George and Sarah. They looked the same. Their eyes were shining and shimmering as they held hands in front of the small chapel they’d been married in. Their hearts were filled with hopes and dreams. It was obvious. You could see it in their eyes. Even then, he had been so in love with her, and I could tell from last night that he still felt the same way about her. He still looked at her the same way.
Would I ever get that? The world had changed now, and while it had only been a f
ew days, it felt like an eternity. Would this outbreak be the start of many more, or was this it? Would everyone get better and then the world would be back to normal? Would the virus run its course and then permit humanity to resume its path? Would I ever get my own chance at “happily ever after”? Probably not. I tried not to be negative, but it was also time to be realistic. Getting married probably wasn’t in my future. I would see more peeing in the woods and less dancing in the woods. An enchanted wedding probably wasn’t going to happen. Then again, neither was an enchanted career. I brushed the thought aside. There would be plenty of time for self-wallowing later.
The door to the bathroom was ajar and I walked in and closed the door behind myself. I glanced in the mirror at my disheveled appearance. I knew I smelled bad and I had imagined I looked bad, but I really had no idea until now just how bad. Dirt was smeared across my face and mixed with sweat. Worry wrinkles lined my forehead. I splashed some water on my face and grabbed a nearby washcloth to scrub away the dirt and grime. It proved easier said than done, though, and ended up taking me several minutes to get to the point where I sort of recognized myself.
I relieved myself, thankful for a real toilet that really flushed and real toilet paper that really worked. I wanted to take a shower, but I had nothing to change into and figured that it might be pushing my luck. After all, George and Sarah had been kind enough to let me inside last night which was more than most people would do.I didn’t want them to regret letting me in, especially using up all of their hot water.
I hesitated for a second as I thought about that. What would I have done if a stranger showed up on my doorstep in the middle of the night during a pandemic? Would I have been so gracious? It wasn’t a safe decision by any means. Not only could I have potentially been infected, what if I was a murderer? More importantly, what if George and Sarah were? I knew, judging from their frail and aging appearance, that they probably weren’t going to kill me in my sleep. I had a feeling. But I realized suddenly that had they not been so kind, had I knocked on the wrong door, I could have gotten myself into a world of trouble. I knew it last night, deep down. I had just been too tired to care.
I felt nauseous as I thought about the possibility of someone raping or killing me in my sleep, or the idea of someone torturing me. I had made it fairly far on my own, weaponless and female, but how far was my good luck going to get me? I needed a decent plan if I really was going to make it to my mother’s house, and it needed to be better than “walk south for a bit.”
I finished up in the bathroom and headed quietly back downstairs. It felt nice to be barefoot on the soft, thick carpet, but my feet were still sore and I quickly made my way back to my seat. I snuggled back up under the afghan and closed my eyes for what I thought would just be a few moments. I didn’t want to bother anyone while they were eating, and I could hear the sounds of chewing and morning chatter coming from the kitchen.
As I drifted back into sleep, I wondered what the day would bring me. I would just sleep for a little while longer and then I would be on my way. I’d thank George and Sarah, give a professional, businesslike nod to Brian, and go. I was thankful for all that they had done, but I knew I couldn’t stay. I wouldn’t be welcome. I couldn’t impose. I also didn’t think I could face Brian, not really. Not after last night. How terrible was it to let someone see me like that. I felt so embarrassed. It wasn’t sexy. I didn’t feel better about myself. I felt dirty and gross. I felt tainted.
Despite that, part of me wondered what Brian’s story was. He seemed so powerful and strong, so determined and in charge. I met very few men who were as self-assured as he had been, and I liked it rather well. Maybe if things were different, I would get the chance to know him, but he was on guard, and he had to be. After all, he was the protector of his grandparents. It was his job to be suspicious.
**
When I opened my eyes again, the room was dark. I blinked a few times before I realized that the room was dark because it was dark outside. I glanced around for a moment before climbing out of the chair and stretching briefly. Sarah was asleep on the sofa again, covered with a soft quilt. I heard voices from the kitchen and walked over to the entrance. George and Brian looked up from a card game they were playing at the kitchen table.
“Good evening,” Brian said nonchalantly. “We thought you were going to die.” George only grunted.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumbled. “I guess I overslept.” I bit my lip nervously, wondering if they were going to kick me out or chastise me for my rudeness. I hadn’t meant to sleep the day away. I knew that I had overstayed my welcome. I hoped that Brian would overlook it and let me stay at least until the morning so I didn’t have to go walking in the dark. My feet still ached and although I would never admit it out loud, I enjoyed the safety of being in a home with a real family. I didn’t want to go walking alone again.
“It’s okay,” Brian assured me before George could mutter what he really thought about the situation. “Gram made you some food,” he nodded toward a plate of food on the counter. “Go ahead and eat something. I’m sure you need it.”
“I’m okay,” I told him, desperate to be polite. I didn’t want to impose or to be rude. My stomach growled from hunger, and I silently urged it to be quiet. “I should probably get going. I’ve already stayed far too long.”
“It’s fine,” Brian told me. “You aren’t going anywhere in the dark. Eat some food and stay until morning at least. I’m not letting you go off gallivanting on your own. Not in the dark.”
Grateful, I thanked him quickly and grabbed the food. Without even bothering to sit down, I devoured the cold chicken, rice, and apple slices in record time. Sarah was a fantastic cook. I could tell, even hours after the food had been prepared, that her skills were quite fantastic. I supposed that came from years of cooking for your husband and kids. Eventually you just got good at it.
“What would you like to drink?” Brian asked me with an amused look on his face. “Water, milk, tea?” He stood and headed toward the cabinets. He retrieved a large glass and held it as he waited for my answer.
“Water would be great, thanks.”
I stood awkwardly next to the sink as Brian handed me a glass with ice in it and let me get my own water. He stood too close as I sipped it slowly, suddenly very aware of my appearance. I nervously bit my lip, not saying anything. I must have smelled horrible.
Finally, I had to break the silence. “I’m really sorry for overstaying my welcome. I’m really embarrassed. I did not mean to sleep for an entire day. Really, I didn’t.”
“It’s fine. Really not a big deal. Not something we were expecting, mind you, but I’m sure it could have been a lot worse.” Brian took a seat at the table next to George and motioned for me to do the same.
“So what’s your story, Paige? How did you end up here?”
George made a comment under his breath, but he mumbled and I couldn’t tell what he was saying.
“I uh, I was going to school when everyone started to get sick, so I went back to my dorm room and packed up. Everything was really crazy already. Most people had left, but I found my friends dead in their bathroom and then-“ I paused for a moment, trying not to picture Elizabeth’s body on my floor, but it wasn’t any use. “-my roommate died, too. I got in my car and left, and just drove and drove until I ran out of gas. Then I walked.”
“Where are you trying to go?”
“To my mom and dad’s. They live near Ferndale.”
“That’s quite a walk,” Brian commented. “Especially coming from Cedar Brook.”
“I know.” It was true and sounded stupid when I said it out loud. After all, who couldn’t make it in their car to Ferndale? And who was stupid enough to leave town too late? “What about you guys?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation going. “What’s your story?”
Brian exchanged a glance with George, who was obviously still uncomfortable with the idea of me staying in their house. They didn’t want to talk to me. They
didn’t want to share information about themselves, and I couldn’t blame them. I was a stranger. Who knew what I was doing here? Maybe they thought I was a spy or a bandit or someone who was going to bring back other people to kill them or take their stuff. Before they could say anything, I stood up abruptly. “I should go. I’m sorry. I know I’ve overstayed my welcome and I’m sorry. I really appreciate you letting me rest here, but I’ll go now. I’m sorry.”
I turned to leave the room but Brian placed a gentle hand on my arm. “It’s okay,” he told me softly. “You’re welcome here. My grandmother is thrilled to have someone she can take care of. She watched over you all day. Why don’t we get you a shower and a change of clothes? I’m sure you’re probably more than ready to get out of those.”
Brian guided me swiftly upstairs. “My grandfather isn’t one for company, so I’m sorry if he seems uncharitable. He’s not, really. It’s just been a long week for everyone, and a stranger in his house is the last thing he wants.” Brian’s words were unusually kind. I didn’t expect them, but they were appreciated it. Maybe he wasn’t as terrified to have me in the house as I had thought. Maybe I had overreacted.
“I know, and again, I’m so sorry to overstay. I was really just trying to find somewhere to rest for the night. I didn’t mean to stay so long.”
“Paige, you seem nice enough, and you’re more than welcome to stay another day. I’m not going to send you off to your parents’ house in the dark. I’m not cruel or naïve. If everything is as bad and crazy as the news reports are saying or that you’re saying, I think it would be best if you stayed a day or even a few days until things settle down a bit.”
“Thanks, Brian, but I don’t know. I don’t know you guys. You don’t know me. It might be weird.”
Never Look Back: A Dystopian Novel Page 7
