upon our land • s. kalivoda

two

"kate is making kids sort out drugs." i tell simon, who isn't doing his "assignment" either.

"and the babysitter of the year award goes to..." he responds. i smile at him and kate walks in.

"what happened to sorting this? and you doing the dishes?"

"well, i didn't do it because i don't want to, so," i respond.

"lights and darks, and watch for stray socks." she raises her eyebrows. "only use the pink sponge."

"remind me what's in it for us again?"

"nothing." i shake my head before going to lay in simon's lap, but notice he is still wearing the same clothes.

"jesus, are you still wearing the same clothes from last night?" i ask, slightly disgusted. i myself had changed into loose sweatpants and one of simons shirts- which somehow was way too big on me considering he is only an inch and a half taller than me. "did you wear that to the grocery store?" i continue.

"i had to work a double shift, and this was all i had in the car, so yes. yes, i am."

"that's disgusting. you're disgusting." kate finishes with a, well, disgusted look on her face. kate heads back to the kitchen, but i stay back to hang with simon. moments later, he takes his shirt off to reveal his bare chest.

i love simon's body. he doesn't really have abs, doesn't shave, doesn't care. and that's what i love. i'd be the last person to admit it, but i loved him. though too embarrassing to tell people i love anyone besides my cat.

i walk up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck and smiling into a kiss. i feel his arms wrap around my waist and him pull me in closer. immediately i feel at ease, at home. simon is my home. he'd been my best friend- or more- forever. since birth. i think that's why we're so scared to make it official, but everyone knows we're off the market.

-------

"jesus, put something on!" kate says.

"wha- make up your mind woman!" he says, making me laugh.

"i wouldn't mind him staying like this."

"that's because you're in love!" she teases. i blush a little. partly embarrassment, partly because i know it's true.

"your point?"

"she didn't deny it." kate smirks.

"oh, shut up. i only love my cat."

"speaking of your cat, how old is she?" kate asks.

"yeah, seriously, hallie is invincible." simon adds. i was about to start speaking again when we heard the sound of glass breaking.

"oh shit. girls, keep doing that and don't move," i say.

-------

"why would he break in there? i just don't understand what he was doing."

"simon, let's go get some snacks," i whisper. he nods and we go to the kitchen.

"doritos, cashews, fruit roll-ups, candy cigarettes? i want some real fuckers right about now."

"i can get some out of deena's dad's room for ya."

"yes please, my kind sir."

"m'lady." i giggle and continue to look for snacks. not much later, simon comes out with a pack and a lighter.

"ugh, i could fuck you right now, thank you."

"who says you can't?"

"the four other people in that room." he rolls his eyes and we walk back to the room.

"he was acting all shifty and shit, like going through the laundry." simon joins in, and i nod along.

"he broke into the house! he had a knife!" kate interrupted.

"wow, with the kids there? that's wack." josh responds.

"that's fucking right, josh, that is wack. thank you," she responds. blah blah blah.

"she needs to get her psycho boyfriend in check." deena says before snatching the keys.

we are in for a ride.

---------

"visiting hours are over." the front desk nurse tells us. i make my way to the front with a few "'scuse me."s

"tell nurse beddy she has a patient." i tell her firmly

"beddy, how ya been?" i smirk.

"i see you're still struggling with this moron." beddy motions to simon.

"she can't quit me, beddy, i'm too pretty." simon responds, smiling and trying not to laugh.

"yes he is," i smile. "now, listen. we need your assistance."

"i'm sure you do, but it happens to be security protocol. kept coming short on bananas and blueberries so now i need a special k-"

"i need to see a patient." deena interrupts.

---------

"blueberries and bananas?" josh questions.

"vicodin and percocet." i answer bluntly. "let's go get something from the machine, i'm starving." i grab simon and pull him with me as kate and josh follow.

"yo, si-money, cash me." kate gestures to simon.

"don't look at me, i'm- i'm broke," he responds. she then looks at me.

"i spent all my money on cat food and condoms," i say while lighting a cigarette.

"in here?" simon asks, and i nod.

"i don't care about old people."

"you got any change?" she asks josh. it was silent for what felt like forever until he realized she was talking to him.

"oh- uhh-. um no- no- but i-" he walks up to the machine, pressing in a secret code or something before all of the contents fall to the ground. "what do you want?" he smirks.

"smooth, little man," i say with a smile. i lean back into simon and he wraps his arms around my front, slowly swaying side to side. he then looks down at me and i reach up to kiss him, but he moves his head up with a smirk.

"you bitch! get back here."

"ok," he says before kissing me lightly, both of us smiling. again, we are rarely ever all lovey-dovey, so when we have these little moments we take them to heart. he knows i'm too scared to let people in close, so whenever i finally let him in, he never hurt me. he has a soft heart, and i do too, but a firm exterior and he knows that. from other people's point of view, we may just look like a couple of clueless best friends, but i think we both know we love each other.

i pull away, finally, smiling and leaning my head against his chest. this doesn't last long as sam and deena come running out of the doors.

"RUN!"deena yells. i, not an idiot, had already started running when i saw them. i also heard a clueless simon ask,

"did they get back together?" i look back to make a face ad see the skull mask killer running at full speed after u which only inclined me to run faster.

"i can't find my keys."