We're Not Alone

Chapter 12

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Tegan chants circling around me.

My eyes open in an instant. "Why! What's wrong?"

"Figure it out, honey," Paisley winks.

"It's not your birthday, it's not Dad's birthday, it not Trevor's birthday... Give me a hint?"

"Joseph, aren't you old?" Paisley looks not to my Dad but the sky.

"Christmas! Holy crap! How can I forget Christmas?!"

Tegan obviously loves food because she has set out a Christmas breakfast for us. She has dished out six juice boxes, six packets of chips, six muesli bars and six cookies. Well not exactly breakfast, but as good as.

"Oh wow! Look at this," I say complimenting her work.

Tegan is the first to start eating her chips and we all join her.

I sip the last of my juice and I am full.

"Oh, I nearly forgot," Dad says hauling his bag from the ground. "I got you this in the mall." He hands me a small box.

I look at the writing on the box. "No way! You didn't!"

"I did."

"Thank you so much Dad!" I hug him tightly.

"What is it babes?" Trevor asks.

"He got me an Instax."

"No way! I always wanted an Instax," Paisley buts in.

"If you're lucky you might be able to use it one day," I wink.

"I have a present for you too, come over here," Trevor motions me towards him. "Close your eyes."

I close my eyes in anticipation, he wraps his arms around my waist and locks lips with mine. Our lips move in motion and I feel like we're alone.

I forget there was anyone there until that sassy little Tegan clears her throat, ''can you at least do that somewhere where I can't see?!"

"Well sorry..."

"Don't use that tone with me!" Tegan says snapping her fingers in a 'z' motion.

"What are we going to do today?" I ask considering what day it is.

"We need to keep going."

"What about madame over there?" I say under my breath to Dad.

"Ask her if she wants to come with us."

"She might slow us down."

"Jamila, did you see here with that ticker?"

"Yeah, what if that was a one off?"

"We can take the chance, Jamila."

I give in and ask, "Tegan, how would you like to come with us to Maine?"

"Um, I don't know. What should I do?"

"It's completely up to you, but you need to figure it out quickly, 'cause I think we're leaving soon."

"I will miss you a lot, but I think I'll stay here."

"Alright then, come here, give me a hug."

I engulf her in a hug.

"Promise me that you'll keep fighting those infected, for me?"

"I promise, Jamila."

"Are you ready to go hun?" Paisley asks.

"Yeah, I guess so. Goodbye Tegan, I'll miss you, a lot." I kiss her on the cheek and pick up my bag.

We go out through the opening we came in.