The Outsiders

The Outsiders: Chapter Twenty-Two

Soum Menjivar

I could get used to waking up in Khristopher's arms.

            With his head tucked into my neck, he embraced me, sprawled on top of me as he slept through sunrise. His scent was soft, yet it was all I could smell as he nestled into me in his sleep. Though all I wanted to do was lay with him for the rest of my life, I knew there was more to be done today: more secrets to be disclosed and more truths to be retold. Squeezing him, I gently peeled myself from under him.

             As I quietly left the tent, I was met with Sonia and Toasheh mending the fire. With a small yawn, I greeted them as I sat beside Sonia. Cooking up some stew, my mouth watered at the scent of the decadent broth. As they cut carrots and sugar snaps, I watched the couple chatter and smile with such love in their eyes.

Before I could ask to join them, a tree not far in the distance swayed. Gulping, I found myself staring into a distinct pair of red eyes, shadowed by a cloak. As I stiffened in my seat, Spareaux simply sat beside me with a tight smile, far enough from the fire to protect his skin. Though Khristopher went to bed with a giddy smile on his face, I had no clue how their talk went. Maybe an understatement, but Khristopher was never too upfront with anything, so I couldn't assume anything. As Spareaux stared me down, I only stared into the small fire.

"Soum."

I turned towards him with a stiff smile.

"Spareaux."

             The tense silence that surrounded us only dissolved when Khristopher walked out of the tent. I couldn't help the lopsided smile that tugged on my lips. Rubbing the grogginess from his eyes, he strolled towards us. As his eyes unclouded, they fell over Spareaux and me with a glimmer of warmth. Smiling, Khristopher took a seat between us, splitting the thick tension the drowned out the world around us.

Everything was so surreal until last night. With the Snatchers, the Vampires, and Khristopher's display of power, I finally cognized our situation. His father was out looking for his son — the child he had left in the arms of another child. I knew from the way Spareaux's entire demeanor changed around Khristopher that he was a broad figure in Khristopher's childhood. Maybe less than a babysitter, Spareaux still had experience with children. It took just about nothing to get to the conclusion: nothing but parental intuition.

With a soft smile, I gently wrapped my arm around Khristopher's waist. As I pulled in into an embrace, he smiled at his brother before nestling into my side. Since our scuffle, he and I had grown closer. Maybe it was the strengthened bond or the mutual trust, but even in the midst of danger, just being next to Khristopher brought a sense of serendipity down my spine. I didn't know much about how our bond worked or the whole "mating" ritual, but for Khristopher and our future, I was willing to do anything.

"We must discuss a plan after breakfast, seeing as we know the threats that danger us."

As Sonia stirred the stew, she tightened her grip on the wooden spoon. With a wary smile, Toasheh placed a hand on her shoulder. Sheepishly smiling at us, her eyes fell over Khristopher and me in a silent apology. Though there was a lot to discuss, it wasn't enough to ruin the lightness of the morning — for me at least. Khristopher tensed at my side along with Spareaux, staring into the grass as their minds flooded with thoughts. With a wavering nod, I held Khristopher closer to me.