Undorn: The Beginning

Part Twenty-Seven

Beo, Region of Lufe

Location: The Hospital

It was Saturday. Their second week in the compound had come to a close. Beo was starting to feel more useful around the place-- Catherine had given him the task of organizing her library and gathering some research on locations in Kastali like the one they currently occupied. Catherine had found out about the unused basement of the Hospital in an old textbook and had made it her mission to convert the space into headquarters. She had a few allies in high administrative posts at the actual working Hospital above them. They helped her secure the boundaries and manage the entryways without certain supporters of the Warden knowing exactly what was going on below them.

So, by the time Saturday night hit, Beo was exhausted. He wanted only to curl up with the latest old romance novel Catherine had given him and fall fast asleep soon after. But of course, Bones had other ideas.

"Oh get up, would you? I feel an overwhelming sense of misery just looking at you."

Beo lowered his book, only so Bones could see the displeased look he was offering in response.

"Beo, I mean it. It's Saturday night, they show a film in the rec room. Put down the book. We're going."

Beo sighed, bookmarked his page, and set the novel down on his bed. He made a very theatrical display of the whole thing, making sure to take his sweet time climbing down from the bunk. But in all honesty, the second Bones mentioned a film and Saturday night in the same sentence, his body had gotten hot all over. Suddenly, the novel was trashy and he absolutely hated it. But he couldn't let Bones know that.

"Alright, princess," Bones was smiling at Beo's performance but had clearly gotten antsy. He took a hold of Beo's arm and led him out of the dorm and down the hallway to the rec room. Beo itched for Bones to grab his fingers instead of his wrist.

When the pair arrived, Maxin was standing just outside the door, as if waiting for them.

"Hi!" He was the embodiment of sunshine, as usual. "Here for the film?"

"Uh, yeah," Beo glanced at Bones, then back at Maxin, who was still posed like a prop in front of the doors. "Are you checking ID or something? Do I need a ticket?"

Beo thought he was being funny, but apparently, humor really wasn't his thing after all. Maxin had blushed a bright pink, muttered something incomprehensible in response, then pushed the double doors to the rec room open.

But instead of the usual crowd, the rec room was empty.

An old television on a rollaway cart sat directly in front of one of the massive brown leather couches. A bottle of wine and two glasses sat on the beat-up wooden coffee table that Beo and the others usually tossed their feet onto after a long day. A bowl of popcorn sat nearby. Suddenly, Beo's heart pumped faster. He glanced sideways at Bones.

"No one else is coming to the film tonight?" Beo knew there were at least another ten or so people staying the in dorms every week. He also knew that the rec room and the mess hall were always packed full of resistors, whether they lived in the compound or not. The last Saturday night film showing Beo and Bones couldn't even walk into the rec room, it was that packed.

"Uh, surprise?" is what Bones offered in response.

And suddenly, Beo understood. The popcorn. The quaint television set. The wine.

This was a date.

Beo felt his cheeks flame. "Bones." He didn't know what else to say. He didn't know it until he saw it all right there laid out in front of him, Bones' shy smirk and all, but it was exactly what he needed. It was exactly what he had been craving.