Apokalypsis Book One

by Kate Morris

  “Keep the peace, distribute food and meds, that sort of thing.”

  “It’s not going to come to that,” she said and noticed his skeptical expression. So, she repeated it more emphatically. “It’s not. This will all blow over.”

  “I hope you’re right,” he conceded with troubled eyes. “I really hope you’re right, Jane.”

  They left the barn a short time later, and Jane rushed home to check on her grandmother. She found her in front of the television again. This new flu was the main topic of conversation. It did nothing to squelch her fears. She was just thankful her grandmother was healthy. Her life would fall apart the rest of the way without her.

  The electricity was on the fritz again. She wondered how many more months, weeks, or even mere hours it would continue to work. Not having light would be terrifying. She was used to a bleak existence, but she had no desire to live in the dark. Cooking would become difficult. Heat, being able to see at night, everything would be a challenge. So many things she used to take for granted that were now a stone’s throw away from being gone from her life forever. Just like so many other things, so many other people.

  Perhaps the worst of all would be the inability to light up the outside of their dwelling when they suspected one of those things was nearby. Not seeing them coming was even worse than knowing they were out there. Lurking. Lying in wait to kill you.

  Chapter Ten

  Roman knew she went dress shopping with Destiny last night because he’d texted Dez to make sure she did. He was worried she’d still cancel. He’d been to plenty of school-sponsored events and dances, but Roman had never once seen Jane at any of them.

  Both of his parents were home tonight, so he wouldn’t have to make arrangements for Connor. He actually had the night off as interim parent and could relax and be a normal high school senior on a date with a cute girl, or the cutest girl in his opinion.

  “Make sure you get lots of pictures!” his mother reminded him.

  “Yeah, I’ll try,” he said as she touched his cheek gently. “I don’t think Jane’s gonna be a big fan of picture time.”

  “She seemed pretty shy,” his mother said.

  “Yeah, she is. She’s been through a lot,” he told her.

  “I could see that about her,” she said. “She doesn’t hide it well.” Then she patted his cheek. “So handsome.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” he said and bent to kiss her cheek.

  “No drinking, Roman,” his father said as he came into the foyer with Connor on his heels.

  “Nope,” he agreed. “Not a problem, sir. You’ve got my word on that.”

  “Have fun. Be careful,” his dad reminded him.

  “Yes, sir,” Roman told him and gave his dad a one-armed patting on the back of his shoulder style guy hug.

  He left a moment later and drove to pick up Jane. He pulled in and knocked on the side door entrance. Her grandmother answered it.

  “Come in, Roman,” she said. “She’s coming.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” he said and followed her into the living room. The news was on. They were talking about some healthcare bill. It quickly turned to the story of the flu.

  “Mr. Lockwood,” her grandmother said, turning to face him directly, “I would expect you to behave like a gentleman tonight.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he acknowledged gravely. He had no intention of behaving any other way.

  “I have a shotgun, young man,” she added.

  His eyes widened, and he held up his hands in surrender. “Yes, ma’am. Hands to myself. I understand what you mean, and I promise I’ll behave like a gentleman.”

  “And no drinking or drugs,” she said.

  “No, and I don’t do that stuff,” he told her. “I promise you that.”

  “Good,” she said, her mouth a tight line. Roman didn’t want to have a problem with her. She seemed formidable.

  Jane came down the creaky wooden stairs a moment later. She took his breath away she was so pretty. Her hair was pulled partially up with a crystal encrusted clip securing it to the back of her head, and the rest hung down to just below her shoulders. She actually had on a little bit of makeup, and she wore heels. Her dress was a dark burgundy color that matched her lips perfectly and complemented her skin and light brown hair. The top of the dress was some sort of lace, and the skirt was slightly fuller and made with flowy material he thought might’ve been called chiffon. Roman remembered Stephanie wore a shirt made of the same material once when they were dating, and she’d called it chiffon. Lace, off-the-shoulder short sleeves completed the top, and he could see the skin of her shoulders and arms beneath the material. The whole dress had fine, silky strands of gold woven through it, which accented the gold in her hair. Overall it was a modest dress compared to some of the ones he’d seen the girls at school wear to dances. Jane also had a sparkly, gold belt with matching beads and crystals tied at her slim waist that called attention to the narrowness of it. The length ended just above her knees.

  “Wow,” he stated. “You look…amazing.”

  “Destiny’s mom took us to a spa this morning. They did…” she explained waving to herself, “all this.”

  “You look beautiful, Jane,” her grandmother praised and took a series of quick pictures with her phone before Jane stopped her. “Now together, kids.”

  Roman approached her and opened the box with the flower corsage in it.

  “What’s that for?” Jane asked with trepidation as if he were handing her a tarantula and not flowers.

  “For your wrist,” he said. “I didn’t know what color your dress was, so I just got you white.”

  “Oh…thanks.”

  When she didn’t take it, Roman lifted her hand in his and slid the corsage onto her wrist. Then he stood beside her with his arm around her lower back, just barely touching so as not to upset her grandmother. He handed his phone to Peaches, and she snapped a few pics for him. Then, although Jane protested, he did the same with Jane’s phone.

  “You kids better get going,” she said.

  Jane kissed her grandmother’s cheek, which was not returned, and took a sweater from the back of the chair. Roman noticed that the back of her dress was corseted with satin strings. Whether she was going for sexy or not- which he was sure Jane was definitely not- it didn’t matter. She was working that angle, and the fact that she wasn’t trying to made her even sexier.

  She quietly followed him to his car. He rushed and opened the door for her, and Jane issued a very soft “thanks.” Even in heels, she was still a lot shorter than him. All he could see was the top of her head, which was all he ever got to see.

  “Hey, where’s Dez?” she asked when he got in. “I thought they were riding with us.”

  “Brian said he wanted to go with her to dinner first, so they’re meeting us.”

  “Oh, she didn’t tell me that.”

  “I think it was kind of a last-minute thing,” he said. “I figured you’d turn me down if I offered dinner and then the dance. I barely got you to agree to the dance.”

  “Good call,” she said and stared out her window.

  Roman took a chance as he pulled up to a red light. He reached for and held her hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll have a good time. This’ll be fun. Let’s not worry about any of those idiots tonight. Let’s just have fun, okay?”

  She squirmed in her seat, didn’t pull her hand back- which was cold and trembling slightly- and looked at him with worried, hazel eyes.

  He got to hold her hand the whole way to the school, which made him reluctant to get out. However, he did, pulling to the curb and dropping her off.

  “Let me park the car. Just wait here. I’ll be right back,” he told her, getting a nod. Then he rushed to find a parking place. The lot was packed since they were a little late, so he parked in the spot Jane always used in the back of the lot. He locked the car and hurried to the place he left her. He actually jogged to rush back to her. She wasn’t there, and he had a moment of panic that sh
e was walking back home or that someone had done something to her already. Then he spotted her in the gazebo in the side yard of the school. He could hear the music inside coming through the open gym doors. There was a blue glow from the party lighting streaming out into the yard, as well.

  “I thought you might’ve ditched me,” he said with a smile as he approached. She stood and shook her head.

  “No, I agreed to this. I’m not going to back out and leave you to go in by yourself.”

  “Wow, you are a gangster level ego killer, Jane Livingston. I was hoping for something like you were actually excited to go on this date, but beggars can’t be choosers, I suppose.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I may not want to be here, but I gave you my word. I don’t have a lot, but I do have that, and it’s important to me.”

  Her humbling words moved him. Jane had more character in her pinky finger than most of his friends combined. She had an old soul, and it was revealed every time she talked like that.

  “Good,” he said and reached out for her palm up. She actually placed her hand in his, and he couldn’t stop the tingling he felt there. “I’m glad your own moral conscience is forcing you into my company. I’m not proud. I’ll take what I can get.”

  She grinned, exposing dimples.

  “Did I tell you that you look great tonight?” he asked with a smile.

  Jane looked at her feet and said, “Yes, you did. At my grandmother’s like ten minutes ago.”

  “Well, you don’t,” he said, getting her to meet his eyes again, this time with surprise. “You look gorgeous. I misspoke before. Even with your fake boobs.”

  She chuckled. “Well, I did pay a lot for them.”

  Roman laughed loudly at her ability to poke fun of herself.

  She turned halfway and peered at the gym. When she turned back, she was frowning.

  “What is it?”

  “Can’t we just stay here the rest of the night?”

  Roman grinned. “Not a chance. If we did that, I wouldn’t have a chance to show off my smoking hot date.”

  “Is she getting here soon? Should I take off when she does?” she joked and thumbed over her shoulder.

  Roman had to resist the urge to pull her forward and kiss her sassy mouth. Instead, he gently tugged her along after him.

  “What’s with the black?” she asked as they approached the door.

  He pulled their tickets from his pocket as they waited in a short line to get in. He looked down at her. She pointed to the front of him up and down again.

  “Oh, yeah. I just like black, I guess,” he said. “Don’t you like dating the Grim Reaper?”

  She grinned, showing those dimples again.

  “No, it’s weird, I guess,” he admitted.

  “What is?”

  He took a deep breath and explained what he’d never told anyone else. Just Connor. “I got into Johnny Cash music a long time ago. He’s sort of my idol. I love his music. I kind of just started dressing like him. Now it’s a habit. Plus, I don’t have to coordinate my clothes. It’s pretty simple, and I’m lazy when it comes to stuff like that.”

  “Johnny Cash?” she asked.

  “Yeah, have you heard of him? Heard any of his songs?”

  She nodded and bit her lower lip with a deep scowl marring her brow.

  “Don’t like his music?” he prompted. He didn’t care either way. She was still pretty perfect in his opinion.

  “No, I do. I just never heard of anyone else who did,” she said. “I’ve never known anyone our age who liked old music.”

  “Do you?”

  She nodded and looked away.

  “Cash? Who else?” he asked.

  “Just old music,” she evaded.

  “No way, Livingston,” he said with a smile. “I just told you something I’ve never told anyone else. Spill.”

  “Um, Buddy Holly, Dion, The Platters, Patsy Cline, and this guy you might know named Johnny Cash.”

  “Wow, really? How’d you get into the old music? I’ve never known anyone our age into 1950s music, either. None of my friends, of course.”

  “Yeah, well, I already fit in so well around here,” she said with sarcasm. “It’s not something I’d broadcast.”

  “When did you first start listening to it?”

  She sighed uncomfortably but said, “My mom was dating this guy, Marvin, and he was really into it. He introduced me to it. I just liked it a lot better than the stuff on the radio.”

  “Yeah, that stuff’s crap,” he agreed.

  “Folsom Prison’s great, though,” she said.

  “Do you wanna’ get married?” he joked, sort of.

  Jane laughed, this time louder.

  “We could have two boys and name one Johnny and the other Cash.”

  She laughed again, a more lighthearted and carefree tone. She didn’t know it, but two of Stephanie’s friends were behind them a few couples back. He hoped she didn’t turn. It could ruin the mood, definitely hers. She deserved to have one night of peace.

  They were next in line, so he handed the tickets to their English teacher and the Gym teacher, who were working the front doors.

  “Hey, Mrs. Somers, have you heard anything about Mr. Hawkins?” he asked her.

  “Why don’t you kids just go in and have fun,” she suggested evasively.

  “Sure, but have you heard anything?” he repeated.

  She sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Roman. I know you liked Mr. Hawkins…”

  “Liked?” Jane said.

  “I’m sorry, guys,” she explained and looked around. “Mr. Hawkins died this evening. Principal Fitzpatrick just told us. We aren’t supposed to tell the kids, so don’t let this get out. I know I can trust you two.”

  “Yeah, sure, no problem,” Roman said in a daze.

  “Hey, just go in and try to have fun tonight, okay?” she suggested. “Mr. Hawkins wouldn’t have wanted everyone to mope around because of him. Just go have fun.”

  “Thanks,” he said with a nod and led Jane into the gym. “Wow.”

  She wasn’t saying anything. The music was loud anyway, so talking would be difficult. A squeal off to their left drew his attention as Destiny approached.

  “Jane!” she called out and hugged her. “Isn’t this so pretty?”

  “Yeah, you guys did a great job, Dez. Everything looks…” Jane was saying. Destiny was about eight inches taller than Jane, even with her heels on.

  “Romantic? Yeah, that’s what we were going for.”

  Brian strolled up a second later and shook hands amiably with Roman. He was one of his few friends who wasn’t a total self-absorbed asshole. Roman had known for a while that Destiny liked him. He had a little to do with them finally connecting, and he was proud of his matchmaking skills. He hoped it worked out for them because they were both really nice people.

  “Let’s dance, Dez,” Brian stated as a slow song started up.

  They left, and Roman turned to Jane, “Dance with me?”

  “Uh…I’m not…I don’t dance well.”

  “Me, neither,” he lied. “We’ll figure it out together.”

  He took her hand before she could reject the idea altogether and led her to the dance floor. The music was slow, some of the couples were gyrating and basically humping each other in a lewd fashion, but Roman didn’t care. It was as if everyone else in the room disappeared except for Jane.

  Once he found a spot that wasn’t so crowded in a darker corner, he slipped his arm behind her back and clenched her hand in his, pulling her toward him. She sucked in a deep breath but didn’t exhale it. She glanced nervously around at the other couples. Roman reached up while still holding her hand and turned her chin back to focus on him.

  “Let it go,” he said. “It’s just us. Forget everyone else.”

  She looked up at him with frightened eyes but nodded. He pressed his hand with more force against her lower back and pulled her even closer. She was tense but started to relax abou
t halfway through the song. The song ended, and another slow one started. He kept her on the dancefloor, loathe to leave it. Looking over her head, he spotted Stephanie arguing with her boyfriend, Aaron, near the refreshments table. No surprise there. She stormed off to the bathroom with a few of her friends. Good. He hoped she stayed in there all night snorting lines.

  When the second song ended, he led her off the dance floor, figuring she didn’t want to jump around or gyrate like she was working a pole like many of the other girls on the floor were doing. He kept her hand in his, and she didn’t seem to mind or pull back. There were tables in the back of the gym, some for large groups and a few for just a single couple.

  “Want something to drink?” he asked after seating her in a dimly lit corner. It was slightly quieter there so they could talk.

  “Sure,” she answered.

  “I’ll be back,” he said and touched her shoulder before leaving. At the punch bowl, Roman poured two small cups and turned to go.

  “Hey, man,” Aaron called and rushed over. “Jane Livingston, huh?”

  “Yes,” he answered in a tone that didn’t invite further discussion of the matter.

  “We’re going out to the quarry tonight,” he told him. “Joey took a ton of firewood out. We’re gonna have a bonfire. Come out with us.”

  Roman shook his head and said, “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “If you’re worried about Steph, I just broke up with her. She was pissed, but I was getting sick of her shit and bitchin’ at me all the time. Bring Jane and come out to the quarry. Come on, man. We used to have fun out there.”

  “Uh, maybe.”

  He turned and left his friend at the refreshments stand and went back to Jane. Thankfully she was still alone in their quiet corner, which was the way he knew she’d prefer.

  “Thanks,” she said as she took the drink.

  “I ran into Aaron over there,” he told her.

  “You two are good friends, right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, he’s cool. He’s a good guy. He wants us to come out to the quarry tonight. Guess some people are going to party out there.”

  “The abandoned rock quarry, the one with the lake?”