FREEFALLING

4

I stuck around Dylan most of the time, since I had been designated as his personal chauffer. Now Lourdes was willing to sit with us, viewing herself as no longer being the only one who felt like an outsider. She was slowly coming to terms with what happened, but I could tell that she wanted to make it through this invasion for Jamil, as if she was in this world on his behalf. It surprised me when she finally started going through his box of things that Tom had given her. She was on the floor, rummaging through it all when she finally let a tears slip.

I rushed to her side, pulling her into a hug. I looked over to Dylan, watching him as Dr. Glass gave him his daily check-up. He grinned over at me, and I couldn't help but give a genuine smile back as tears threatened at the back of my eyes.

Looking back to Lourdes, she was holding a picture of them, one that they had taken with a rare camera that we found. They looked so...happy. I couldn't help but smile at the picture, letting the tears spill. I wish I had gotten to know Jamil, because anybody who was involved with Lourdes had to be pure of heart.

I set the picture down, placing the lid on the shoebox as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"You would have loved Jamil." she whispered. "He was always really nice to Ben. He didn't care whether or not any kids had spikes on their backs or not. He just....wanted to see them alive."

I squeezed her hand reassuringly, smiling weakly down at her.

Rising from whatever darkness this was, that was associated with the harness, it was going to go away. Maybe not anytime soon, but being around Lourdes and Dr. Glass and just feeling like I was a part of a family at mealtime, it made the sun shine just a little bit brighter.

^^^

I could leave Dylan for a few moments, so I decided to walk outside. The clouds shielded the sun, and I frowned that people still weren't packing to head to Charleston. The Skitter incident, I felt like it was my fault. I sat on the floor, hugging my knees to my chest as I spanned the entire area. I let tears stream freely down my cheeks, hiding my face from the world.

Right now, there was nothing more that I wanted to do than be with my real family. I clenched my fists in anger at everything I had lost, letting it hit me like a brick wall. Ben rested his hand on my shoulder, and I looked around up to him. He saw that I had been crying, and picked me up as he wiped the tears from my cheeks. I rested my hands on his chest, feeling his heightened heartbeat. Mine soon matched as he cupped my face in his hands. I breathed in shallow breaths until his soft lips pressed tenderly against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back.

After a few moments, I pulled away, smiling up at him.

I shouldn't have, I should have been kissing Dylan. But something felt so right. I don't know what it was about him exactly. Maybe it was because the same tragedy had happened to both of us, or just the simple fact about how inviting his eyes were. Still, there was something that I just couldn't shake.

Eventually, I had to leave his warm embrace and go back to Dylan. When he was waiting there, so helpless in his wheelchair, his light expression changed immediately.

"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching up as he brushed my cheek with his fingers. I pulled it away, holding it in my hand instead.

"Nothing, Dylan." I replied weakly. My voice cracked, and he frowned.

"You're lying."

"I am not." I protested.

"Your voice always cracks when you're lying. I've known you for five years, Fae. Don't lie to me."