Secrets | TMR | One

0:2

Hours have passed since the pair locked themselves away in the bathroom. So much so that Alby can see the sun slowly beginning to set through one of the small slats in the wall.

He does not mind, however, for he has spent almost the entire time gabbing away about the girls new home, and what she should expect of life from here on out.

"Those big openings in the wall - I don't know if you noticed because of all the puking - but they close every night and open every morning. We've not gone out there yet. Apart from this one boy on the first day. He ran out and never came back. None of us even knew his name. Poor kid, no idea what happened to him."

Adeline falls back from the toilet, inhaling a deep breath as she throws herself against the wall.

Alby halts his rambling for a moment to hand her a fresh tissue, which she accepts with a small "Thanks" before the boy continues on.

"I think it'll be nice to finally have a girl. We might finally have some order here. Not that we're expecting you to look after us, of course. We have Nick for that. Like I said, he's our leader. Although he doesn't do much leading. Don't really think he knows what he's doing, if I'm honest. But I don't blame him, he didn't ask to be the leader - he was nominated for it, but-"

"Alby" the girl mumbles quietly. She does not look to the boy as she speaks, keeping her eyes closed while her head rests on her left hand.

"Sorry" the boy responds, immediately feeling guilty, "am I talking too much?"

"No it's not that" Adeline says, so quiet that it is verging on a whisper. "I was just wondering if you had a spare toothbrush."

"Oh! Yea" Alby replies. He pushes himself off the sink and spins around quickly. His eyes scan the area for a moment, before they land on the small object in question. "Ah, here."

He turns back around to face Adeline, sending her a warm smile as he hands her the toothbrush. "You good now?"

Adeline accepts the object gratefully before forcing herself back onto her feet and stepping towards the sink. "I think so, yea."

Alby side steps out of the girls way. "I'll go get you a towel, the showers are just behind that door. Be back in a minute."

The boy does not wait for a response as he unlocks the bathroom door and walks out. On his way around to the front door of the Homestead, he bumps into Nick who was walking out, carrying a box in his hands.

The two boys collide, causing Nick to nearly drop the box he is holding. His knees bend and he leans back, lowering himself down slightly as he tries to catch it before it falls.

''Oh'' Alby exclaims, flinching back from the leader, ''sorry Nick, didn't see you there.''

''It's fine'' the leader assures, stepping back so that the door is left ajar, and resting against his back. ''I was just coming to give Addy this box. It has her name on it. Is she still in the bathroom?''

''Yea, I think she's done being sick. She's brushing her teeth right now. I was just about to grab her a towel."

Nick lifts one leg up so that his knee can support the bottom of the box. He wraps his left arm tighter around the cardboard while he uses his right hand to open the lid. "There's one in here for her" he says, grabbing onto a fresh towel and lifting it up to hand over to Alby.

"Thanks" the boy responds, tearing his eyes away from Nick for a moment and glancing down to the left as he tucks the towel under his arm.

"What have you told her?" Nick questions as he lowers his foot back down onto the ground, causing the box to shake and the items inside to bouncy slightly.