Please Stand By

Chapter 12

Jade looked at her now fiancé and smiled, remembering their time together before the apocalypse broke out. She held her belly that was holding her and Cain's baby. Cain had fallen asleep with his arm wrapped around her. Jade smiled warmly as she nuzzled her head into his chest. His body was warm, it felt like a fireplace. 

Jade had been worried about the next monster that would break in. One of them had been nice enough to leave. One of them had killed Cain's father on their more recent runs. The other two that got into their house had attacked them, one being a flying snake-like creature with wings, and the other being a fast rat the size of an average Chihuahua that was also able to spew venom when attacked. Jade considered Cain and his family lucky that they were able to get out of these situations and either kill or dispose of the monsters properly. 

                                                                                               ***

Jade woke up one morning feeling stiff and soar, as though she had done nothing but work out the day before. She walked into the bathroom that she shared with Cain. It was not attached to the bedroom as they did not have the master bedroom that Cain's mother had, but luckily it was just on the other side of Jade and Cain's bedroom. She glanced at herself in the mirror. Her long black hair was matted and tangled, her clothes were starting to stretch over her belly, her face looked pale and tired, as though she were some kind of vampire that had not had a decent night sleep since her turn. She walked back into Cain's room, grabbing a dress. She walked back into the bathroom. She took her nightgown off and slipped the turquoise dress on. She decided to pull her hair back into a long ponytail after brushing it out completely. Jade put on some light makeup, a base foundation and blush to bring some color to her face along with some light eyeshadow to go with the dress. The dress itself was plain except for a bow around its waist and the shoulders came out a bit lower, Jade's white bra straps being exposed. 

Jade had just finished getting ready, despite knowing she would stay inside all day, when a voice said by the door "You look beautiful." She jumped, letting out a little yelp. She turned to find Cain laughing at the door. She breathed out, happy that it was only him. 

"I didn't mean to scare you, darling." Cain said.
"Sure." Jade responded. Cain walked into the bathroom and hugged her from behind.
"You alright, babe?" Cain asked.
"I didn't sleep well... other than that I'm fine. What about you?" Cain had always said that he was good, just worried about her.

They always checked in on each other's mental and physical health. After they had both graduated from college, Jade and Cain had tried to see each other as much as possible. Jade had moved in with Alana and a friend of hers. Cain had moved into his own place. Jade had tried to be honest about her mental health, but she hated admitting that she was not okay, Cain later finding that at times that she had said that she was okay when she was actually at her house, having a panic attack, not being able to leave her room. They had a long talk about it and promised to talk about their issues or give one another space, checking up on each other to know that they are doing well.

"I have a really bad headache and I feel stuffy.... Other than that, I feel alright. I might just need to take a hot shower."
"Is that it?" Jade asked.
"Yeah. I promise. Go get breakfast, I'll meet you down there."

Jade walked down to the living room, meeting Trevor at the couch. He looked up at her from his phone. They both greeted each other and responded that they were both good when the other asked how they were. 

"Hey," Jade started. "Would you be able to do something for me?"
"Depends, you need me to get you something to help with the anxiety, I've got you covered. You need me to help you hide a body and lie to the police," he pressed his teeth together and sucked in "not sure I can help you."
"I need you to do something with my hair." Jade said, smiling.
"Oh." Trevor said. "I can do that. Whatcha thinkin?"
"Not sure. Got any ideas?" Trevor walked over to her and thought for a second.
He paused for a moment, looking at her and taking in her facial features. "I'm thinking bangs, a bob and dying it... a dark orange." 

Jade's eyes widened. She considered the thought for a second and after a moment, agreed to the idea. Trevor grabbed a chair and sets it in the bathroom Jade meeting him in there. She sat in the chair as Trevor began the process.

                                                                                              ***  

As Jade sat in the bathroom waiting for her hair to finish, Trevor sat on the countertop. 

"So," Jade said "How have you been?"
Trevor opened his eyes, looking at her and smiling. "Are you that bored?"
"I can't ask how you are?"
He chuckled. "I guess so." Trevor sighed. "I've been alright. It's been weird without dad... but I have everyone else. That's what matters to me. What about you?"
"I agree, I'm sorry about your dad. I-"
"There's no need to apologize." Cain said, Jade nodding.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Go right ahead." He gestured for Jade to ask the question.
"Where do you go at night?"
Trevor's eyes widened. "How-... What makes you think I go out at night?"
"The last few nights I've heard noises outside the door and when I peek my head of the door, I see you going outside."
Trevor paused. "Can you keep a secret?"
Jade pretended to seal her lips shut and throw away an imaginary key. Trevor laughed.
"I've been going out to see my boyfriend."
Jade nodded. "How do you know you aren't infecting your family?"
Trevor looked down at his hands. "I can't be here all the time. I need somewhere to go every now and then. I need an escape."
Jade held up her hands. "I'm not mad. I was just asking because the apocalypse is right outside our door. I just don't want anything to happen to your family."
"Something already happened to my family." Trevor said darkly.
"I mean-"
"You mean the family that's still alive." Trevor interrupted. "They would have already been affected. I've been seeing him for a while since being locked in here."

The duo remained silent for a little while longer. Finally, Trevor's alarm went off and he got up, taking the foil out of Jade's hair. He helped her spin around and get her hair rinsed off in the sink. After he was done, he sat her up. When he was finished with her hair, Trevor helped Jade up as hair fell to the floor. She looked in the mirror and smiled. 

"I take it you like it?" Trevor asked.
"Yeah, this is just what I needed." Jade said, running a hand through the hair that Trevor had curled. "How did you have the materials to do this?"
"I was gonna do my mom's hair, so I brought some stuff with me. I didn't know what she wanted so I brought a little bit of a variety."

Jade nodded as she went to walk out of the bathroom. Trevor stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he said flatly. "If you tell anyone anything I told you, you will regret it." Jade gulped, a wave of anxiety washing over her the way an ocean wave washes over and crashes onto the beach. Jade agreed nervously as they walked out, watching as everyone saw Jade's new hair and complimented the job that had been done, a fake smile playing on her lips.