the shuttle leaves earlier than usual today even though level five is closer to the capital than the last few were. several team mates of mine have asked but they won't tell us why we need to be early. they keep saying it's best to not know what to expect.
about halfway through the shuttle ride ken slides into the seat next to me. and then he holds out his hand. i stare at it.
"come on katie, after this i'll have a cure, shouldn't we savor the last few moments of physical contact. he almost weaseled my hand into his before i yank it away and stuff both hands in my pockets.
"you're still pushing me away," he says. i sigh.
"ken, sometimes you shouldn't let people get close. this is one of those circumstances," and then i pull my hood up and rest my head on the cold glass window.
i can still smell his cologne so i know he's still there but he doesn't pry more for about 45 minutes.
"my parents are both dead. luke's parents took me in, tried to treat me like a family. it wasn't the same. that's when i started being a loner. if i couldn't always depend on them, then i wouldn't depend on them at all," the longer ken talks the more i want to hear. i know he doesn't tell anyone this stuff about his life. the problem is i need to let him go and i can't do that if i feel like i'm relating to him. i have to find a way to cut him off.
"i guess what i'm trying to say is, you're not alone. a lot of alasians don't feel at home ever," there's this look in his eyes. when the ocean is being burned by the sun and the waves are thirteen feet high. that look lights his face like a fire work. he thinks this is how he's going to get his in. find out more about my family. find out where my family lives and then ultimately murder them.
"you're right about one thing for sure. no one can be trusted, not even me," and then i rest my head back on the glass.
suddenly there's the warmth of a hand on my hand. the touch is softer and more cautious than i've ever experienced. i look down at our interlaced fingers and then at his face.
"me, i am," and his face is so close i forget to breathe. he's right there. his cupid's bow carved in blossom pink. his long sandy lashes. i gulp and look back out of the window.
he can say that all he wants, doesn't make it true.
YOU ARE READING
the game
General FictionBOOK 2 WARNING: VIOLENCE/DARK THEMES/GORE/DEATH All of us come face to face with death in our lifetimes. Betrayal, lying, and the vulnerability of choosing our dreams over what others want from us. We never fit the plan, and that is what this book i...
