by Lake, D. K.
Ok, so I associated all surprises with my mom. She was always springing things on me.
"Sit down." Pom told me and as I went to sit Lane appeared out of nowhere and stole the seat Drew was going to sit in.
"Quick. It's starting!" Pom urged and Drew scowled at Lane before taking a seat at the end of the row.
Someone pushed Josh over and parked him next to Drew. Sophie had a bottle of vodka and a carton of orange juice under her chair and she handed Pom and me a cup each.
"I really don't think I should drink anymore." I said, trying to sound as though I meant it but Sophie was already filling the cup with more vodka than orange juice.
I could see Rosie around the side of the stage helping to organize the children, and she spotted me and waved. I spotted Nick sitting with Doctor Flynn in the other row of seats opposite.
I also saw Hutch walking around the side of the stage moving a prop. Alice took to the stage and suddenly there was a spotlight on her which was actually someone holding a flashlight.
"So we are all very excited to be able to watch this performance. The children have been rehearsing all day and I happened to catch a small peek earlier and it's very exciting. I can assure you that you won't get bored...unlike our last performance." she joked but no one found it funny.
"So without further ado let the show begin."
There were a group of men with handheld drums at the foot of the stage and they did a little intro before a girl walked onto the stage. She looked about ten. Dressed in tight black pants and a hoodie that was drowning her. She had dark brown hair and it had recently been curled and she had a bag on her back and a chair leg in her hand which had scissors attached to it. It looked familiar. And dangerous.
"Is it even safe for her to have that thing?" Sophie said loudly, leaning around Pom to look at me. She was a lot drunker than she appeared to be.
Pom just shushed her and shoved her back into her seat.
"Hi, my name is Alex James and I come from a small town in Oregon where it rains a lot." the girl said and looked to the side of the stage where a woman gave her a thumbs up and told her to keep going.
"After the virus broke out I had to survive on my own and scavenge for food."
She walked over to a trashcan and started to dig through it, tossing empty packets of food out and tissue paper.
"What the actual fuck?" I muttered to myself.
"While I was still in Oregon I bumped into an old friend from high school."
Another child that appeared to be a few years older walked onto the stage. He had natural blond hair, a big smile but was missing a tooth, and he was wearing a red hoodie and baggy jeans and holding a baseball bat.
A backdrop unrolled and suddenly there was a painted forest behind the children.
The girl looked over her shoulder and gasped. "Oh, no! Someone is following me. I must hide." she said and ducked behind a cutout tree.
My eyes drifted to where Drew was sitting and he had the same what the fuck look on his face. I had to remind myself to keep closing my mouth because it kept falling open. What was this? I didn't want to watch a play about my life.
"Alice came to me and asked for some details about our life together." Lane whispered, leaning in close to whisper in my ear, too close. I had to push him off.
I had to sit through an hour and forty minutes of this. Oh, yes.
They even had a small toddler dressed up as a zombie and he had to pretend to bite mini Alex but he got a little carried away and some woman had to drag him off the stage as he latched on too hard and the girl started screaming for real.
I was just downing the cups Sophie poured for me to get me through it. I was horrified. I didn't want to be reminded of that horrible night. They even had some teenager play Jasper. It was just horrific.
Sophie was in hysterics. She was so drunk, and she nearly choked on her drink when the child that was playing the part of Nick held a large cardboard cutout needle and said, "And this one goes in your bottom". There was drink coming out of her nose she was in such a giggle fit. Everyone laughed but the woman at the side of the stage was shaking her head and wagging her finger at him. I didn't think that particular bit was scripted.
The children on stage were having a great time, pretending to chop up zombies and squirting ketchup on each other. They managed to skip the part where I was stuck in the desert with Drew. There was a boy playing Drew but he was an extra character that had no lines. It ended with mini Alex rescuing all of the people from the Blood Gang. Yay, it's finally over. I think I need therapy.
There was a round of applause and all the children held hands and did a little bow, and then all the stagehands came on and everyone clapped.
"What did you think?" Pom shouted above the applause.
"I think I'm scarred for life." I deadpanned.
"What? I didn't catch that?"
"It was great!" I lied.
Pom smiled at me and went off to talk to the children on the stage and I turned to Sophie.
"What the hell? Did you know about this?"
"Nope, they told me they were doing a musical. I didn't know it was about you." she laughed.
"They did great, right?" Lane said, looming over me.
"No. It was horrible. Why would you tell them all those details about my life?"
Lane looked confused. "You didn't like it?"
"No, Lane. I really didn't."
"Alice asked me about it and I told her you'd love it."
"Ohmigawd. Do you even know me at all? What made you think I would like that?" I tried to keep my voice down. I didn't want to upset anyone, I knew they had all worked really hard on it all but still...it was messed up, right? And I for one found it slightly disturbing.
"Oh, someone's in the doghouse." Sophie teased, prodding Lane in the chest.
"Alex, I'm sorry. I thought you'd like it." Lane said.
Drew came over to us and stood beside me.
"Am I the only one wondering why the health and safety department hasn't shut this place down? I mean did you see the kid running around with the knives?" Drew said with a blank expression.
"Lane thought it would be a good idea and he gave Alice the go-ahead." I snapped, folding my arms.
"Naughty Lane." Sophie sang, sipping on a straw.
"Is that so?" Drew cocked his head and stared at Lane.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Lane asked, taking a step back to get away from Drew.
"Can I punch him now?" Drew asked, looking over his shoulder at us.
Sophie and I shared a look and then both nodded at Drew.
"Wh-what? No!" Lane said right before Drew shoved a fist into his face and he fell on his ass.
"You're an idiot." I growled at Lane as I stepped over him.
The music was back on and people were already spreading out and only a few had noticed the little scuffle.
"Alex, what-"
"Goodbye, Lane!" Sophie said, following Drew and me as he led me away and over to the buffet table where he made me sit down.
"You need to eat something to soak up some of that alcohol." he said and went about filling a plate of food for me.
"Drew looks nice." Sophie said, knowing full well he could hear us.
"Hmm. That's what I said." I said, admiring Drew, the alcohol stirring something inside of me.
Drew dropped a plate of food in front of me and Sophie and I dived into it like we were hungry savages, using our hands and not bothering to use cutlery.
"You two look like animals." Drew laughed, dropping into a seat on the other side of the table.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"Eweven." Sophie answered with her mouth full.
"Eweven?" I laughed.
"Shwup up." Sophie said which only made me laugh harder.
After we had finished eating Sophie pulled me off the chair to dance with her, she tried to get Drew to join in but he refused. I soon spotted Alice heading our way.
"Ugh, here come
s Miss Bossypants." Sophie groaned.
"Shh!" I laughed as she spun me around on the dance floor.
"Alex, we're just about to start on the plans for tomorrow." Alice said.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Sophie asked. "Is it the sequel to tonight's performance? Maybe you can call this one Bloodbath Round Two?" Sophie joked and I trod on her foot to shut her up.
Alice shot her a look but didn't respond to her.
"We're just going to go over the plans for tomorrow." Alice said again.
"Plans for what?" I asked as Drew got up and walked over to us to see what was going on.
"The leaving group." Alice said but I think the puzzled look on our faces said we had no idea what she was talking about.
"You're leaving Eden tomorrow. Didn't anyone tell you?"
"What?! Tomorrow?" I gasped. "Drew, why didn't you tell me?" I said, glaring at him.
"'Cause no one told me either." Drew said.
"Oh, well now you both know and we're all going to be in that green tent over there." Alice pointed and walked away.
I hadn't been expecting to leave tomorrow. It would have been nice to have been told as I wouldn't have drunk so much tonight. I didn't want to be traveling with a hangover.
"I guess we should go and find out what they want. But I don't get why it's everyone else's problem? There's only Nick, Lane, Drew and me going. We don't really need a plan." I said confused.
"Come on, let's start heading over there. See what they have to say." Drew suggested and slung his arm around my shoulders and steered me in the right direction and Sophie trotted behind us carrying her drink.
Chapter 9
We followed Alice over to a large green tent, she held the sides open for us and I ducked inside. I hadn't expected to see so many faces on the other side. Inside was like some kind of military base operation, with maps laid out on the tables, backpacks lined up on another with sleeping bags and outdoor equipment. Sully, Hutch, and Pope were sitting down at one of the tables looking at one of the gigantic maps. Duke was at the back checking the flashlights were in working order and Margo was next to him filling each of the backpacks with a flashlight. Lane was standing next to Margo with a clipboard and what looked like a list. What was all this?
Lane looked up and saw Drew and frowned. He already had a nasty bruise forming on his eye. I didn't even acknowledge him.
"What's going on?" Drew asked.
"This is the group that will be going with you tomorrow." Alice replied before going over to the table and leaning over Sully to view the map.
"Hutch? What are you doing in here?" Sophie said loudly, stumbling in behind me and crashing into a table, sending a load of waters bottles across the table and onto the floor.
"I can't believe she got so drunk." Alice whispered to Sully.
Drew sat me down on a chair at the side and went over to talk to Sully and Alice.
"Babe, how much did you have to drink?" Hutch laughed, coming over to help Sophie off the floor.
"What are you doing in here?" Sophie asked, grabbing Hutch's face.
"I've volunteered to go with the group to Washington." Hutch explained.
"You did what?!" Sophie gasped.
"Babe, it's for the good of mankind. They need all the help they can get. And if Nick thinks he has the cure to stop this virus then I want to get involved and make sure he gets to Washington safely."
"But what about me? You can't just abandon me." Sophie pouted.
"I know, but I said I'd help out. It will be ok, there's a lot of us going, we'll be safe all of us together."
"But what about me?" Sophie repeated.
"I think you need to go to bed and sleep this off." Hutch said. "Come on, we can talk about this in the morning. Let's get you to bed." Hutch guided Sophie to the exit and she waved goodbye to me.
"Night guys!" Hutch threw over his shoulder.
"Night." Alice responded and went back to studying the map.
"How many of you have volunteered?" Drew asked.
"Um, Sully, Duke, Pope, Hutch, myself, and Margo...so six, and then there's Nick, Lane, Alex, and you." Alice explained.
"Margo? Why does she need to come?" I blurted out and Margo shot me a dirty look.
"We thought it was only right to help you guys after you helped us out with getting rid of the Blood Gang. We know there are risks and that some of us might not even make it back but we want to help. And we feel bad about Josh messing up his leg in one of our traps so you're a man down because of us." Duke said.
"The bridge here is completely blocked due to fallen trees, we'll have to go around." Pope said, pointing at the map.
I crossed my arms. My buzz was wearing off. Now I was just drunk and bored. Did they really need me for this?
"Where's Nick? Why doesn't he have to be here for this?" I asked.
"Because he's treating a teenage girl that decided it would be fun to climb on top of one of the trailers and she slipped off and they think she has a broken arm." Alice informed me.
I threw my head back and stared at the ceiling. I wouldn't have got so drunk if I'd known we would be having a group meeting. The room was spinning and everything they were saying was fading into the background. I had no idea how long I had been sitting there before Drew appeared next to me.
"I think we should get you back to the trailer." he said.
"What time is it?" I yawned.
"Quarter past one." he replied.
"In the morning?" I squeaked.
"You dozed off for a bit." Drew said, lifting me up by the arm.
I looked around the tent and noticed there were fewer people. Alice, Sully, and Pope were still sitting around the table, but Duke, Lane, and Margo were gone.
"Where is everyone?" I asked as Drew led me outside.
"They went to bed."
"So did Lane and Margo leave together?" I didn't even know why I was asking.
"Do you care?" Drew asked.
"No, she's a bitch, they suit each other. They can use each other and do what they want together. It won't last, he'll get bored of her or she'll screw someone else."
"You're such a happy drunk." Drew teased as we wandered through the empty marquee where there was a young girl blowing bubbles and a couple in deep conversation at one of the tables, and I spotted a pair of legs sticking out from under one of the tables and there was snoring coming from underneath it.
"I like it here." I said honestly.
I felt safe here and the people were friendly, well normally when they weren't trying to knock me out.
"Yeah?" Drew said, steering me over to the food table where the trays had been left out but they had been covered with foil.
"You hungry?"
"I could eat more."
"Good. I'm starving." Drew said and picked up a plate.
I took a seat at one of the tables and played with the bits of glitter that had been sprinkled all over the tablecloth. Drew returned with a plate crammed full of food and dropped it on the table in front of me and fell into the seat next to me.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Still a little drunk but not as bad as earlier, I think the nap helped. I'm probably gonna have a hangover tomorrow though."
"What were you drinking? I've never seen you that drunk before. I've seen you tipsy and then happy drunk where you get all giggly but can't remember anything, but earlier you could hardly walk."
"I can't even remember now. I remember Sophie made me do a shot every time someone came in and asked for one. And a lot of people were asking for shots. I'm amazed I haven't puked yet." I said honestly, resting my head on my arms and watching Drew tuck into his food.
"It's still early yet." Drew teased with a big grin on his face and his cheeks bulging with food.
"Shut up." I laughed. "I feel ok at the moment."
Drew picked at the rest of the food on his plate using his fingers.
"And you think I'm an animal?" I said with a smile.
; "Oh, you're an animal...just in the bedroom." he smirked.
"Hey!" I smacked his leg, not wanting the young girl to overhear him being rude. "You wouldn't know, you didn't even sleep in the bedroom last night?"
Drew ignored me to get up to get a drink. He sat back down slurping his drink.
"Well? Why didn't you come into the bedroom last night? You made me think I had done something wrong?"
Drew shook his head. "I just wanted you to get a good night's sleep and I knew that wouldn't happen if I shared a bed with you."
"And why is that?"
"You know exactly why." Drew wiped his mouth and picked up a bread roll and started breaking it into pieces and putting it in his mouth.
"Oh, really?" I smiled.
"Yeah, why do you think I slept on the couch? One look at you in any bed and sleeping is the last thing on my mind. You would have been extra tired today." Drew grinned.
"And what about tonight? Do we have to be up super early? It's already getting on for two in the morning. They can't expect us to get up at six."
"They want to leave at eight."
"Ugh. That's still way too early." I leaned on his shoulder and sighed. "Why do we have to leave tomorrow, why can't we stay one more night?"
"I dunno, Pretty. I don't make the rules." Drew said, pushing the plate away.
"No, you just break all of them." I smiled and he turned to me and kissed me on the forehead.
"We should get you to bed so you can get some sleep."
"Sleep is boring. And I'm not tired anymore." I said, tickling the side of his neck.
"So what do you want to do?" Drew asked.
"Ummm." I knocked shoulders with him.
"C'mon." Drew picked up my hand and we left the marquee and walked along the back fence. It was a lovely warm night even this late, or early depending on how you looked at it. The torches and trashcans still burned, creating a warm atmosphere and enough light to see where we were walking. Drew spun my around and twirled me under his arm. Even though he was here with me, I could tell he was somewhere else behind his eyes.
