The Infected (Old Version)

Chapter Fifteen: Acceptance Declined

Chapter Fifteen: Acceptance Declined 

Zoe’s POV

My mind was momentarily stunned by Jonah’s sudden outburst. Did he just say was I think he just said? Oh my, God. What is Sarah thinking? Did Jonas know about Jonah’s secret? Does he really mean it or is he just goofing with us?

My brain flip flopped from thought to thought while the tension in the air cut through my goose bumped skin. 

“What?” Sarah shrieked. I looked at her to find her in her usual outraged stance. Fists balled, jaw locked and eyes of fire. I looked at the others through my peripheral. They were all shocked and stared at him blankly like a stone cherub. 

“My brother is a homosexual. He’s gay. Likes to--” Jonas stepped up but was quickly punched in the arm by his brother who was now a deep shade of crimson. 

“Why didn’t you tell us before? Like before you decided to play me like some puppet?” Sarah yelled, tears falling down her pink cheeks. Mandy tried to take her hand, but Sarah was already walking away. 

“I didn’t mean to harm you...or any of you!” Jonah yelled; his own tears falling off pathetically. All of a sudden my thoughts about Jonah turned sour. He lied to all of us and even led Sarah on. He was no longer worthy of my friendship, I decided. If he didn’t trust us enough to tell us sooner, then why the hell should I trust him. 

“Well, you didn’t do a very good job of it!” Mandy yelled, chasing after Sarah who was already across the street. 

“Yeah, man, that was kind of screwed up.” Aaron coughed. He and Alayna were standing on the side of me, their eyes locked on passing people and trees, anything other then Jonah and even Jonas. 

“I was scared. Can’t you understand what I was going through?! I was confused and embarrassed. I’m sorry.” Jonah said shakily and looked at all of us, but when he reached me, I looked away.

“Come on, lets go find Sarah. She’s the one we should be worried about.” Chris said, starting to walk away with the rest of us behind him. We left the twins standing there, helpless. 

We found Sarah and Mandy in a cafe named: “Utopia’s Finest Coffee and Pastries”. We found the food quite dull and mundane. Maybe it was because of Jonah’s recent confession. 

“I’m so mad I could rip this stupid apple friddar to shreds!” Sarah growled eyeing her friddar. We held back our chuckles and rubbed her back or gave her a reassuring pat on her hand. 

“Look, that boy did you wrong. What do you usually do when someone plays you?” Destiny asked, stirring her hot chocolate with a red coffee straw. Sarah stared back at her, I was guessing this was her thinking face. 

“Murder them.” 

“Unless you’re Jeffrey Dalhmer.” Alayna sniggered. We all cringed at the thought. 

“That’s sick, ‘Layna!” I yelled shoving her in the shoulder playfully and we all shared smiles and laughter. Sarah was looking a little less nonchalant, but not so much. “Who’s Jeffrey Dalhmer?” Chris asked, scratching his shaved head. We all busted out laughing and other Utopians nearby looked at us suspiciously. 

“Okay, so on a lighter note, let’s think about sneaking into Xeon’s office.” Ryder said, finishing his flaky treat. 

“We need to find out where it is first.” Mandy said, sipping her black coffee. For some odd reason she enjoyed the bitter taste of the blackened drink. 

“We can always get a map of the underground section of this place.” I offered up my suggestion. 

“I doubt they make maps of the underground world of Utopia.” Chris rolled his eyes.