Chemicals

16

The faint sound of metal clinking against metal pulled me from a restless sleep. I blinked into the dim light of the hardware store, my senses slowly sharpening as I took in my surroundings. Everyone else was still nestled in their corners, shrouded in their jackets, but the noise persisted—a soft scraping followed by the sound of something squishy being munched on.

Curious, I sat up and spotted Mohammed across the way, sitting on an overturned bucket, a can of corn balanced on his knee as he dug in with a makeshift spoon. His eyes were alert, scanning the room while he ate, but he looked surprisingly relaxed.

"Breakfast of champions, huh?" I said, a smile creeping onto my face as I made my way over to him.

He chuckled, glancing up at me. "What can I say? The apocalypse doesn't come with fine dining options." He held out the can towards me. "Want some? It's not much, but it beats nothing."

I shrugged playfully. "Why not? Canned corn is a delicacy now." I settled down next to him, accepting the can and using the same spoon he had been employing. The cool metal felt refreshing against my fingers as I scooped out a bite.

"Pretty quiet around here," I noted, glancing back at the sleeping figures. "It's kind of nice."

"Yeah, but it feels like the calm before a storm," Mohammed replied, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked towards the barricaded door. "I don't know how long we can stay here without drawing attention. It's too quiet."

I nodded, swallowing a mouthful of corn. "I get that. But I think we needed this little break. It's hard to stay focused when everything's always moving."

He grinned at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "You know, it's pretty brave of you to come along on this trip. Not everyone would have the guts to do what we're doing."

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, and I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I guess I've had to grow up fast. You don't really have a choice when the world turns upside down."

Mohammed nodded, his expression thoughtful. "True. But you handle it well. You've got a good head on your shoulders."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "I'm just trying to keep up with you guys."

As we shared a few more bites of the canned corn, a sense of camaraderie filled the air. The easy banter felt refreshing amidst the chaos surrounding us, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like this, even if they were fleeting. The world outside may have been falling apart, but right here, in this hardware store, we were just a group of friends trying to survive.

As I took another spoonful of corn, Mohammed suddenly looked over at me with a thoughtful expression. "You know, I really like your hair," he said, gesturing towards the strands that fell softly around my shoulders. "It's such a nice shade of brown. It really stands out, especially in this gloomy place."

I couldn't help but smile at the compliment, a mix of flattery and surprise warming me. "Thanks, Mohammed. I've always thought it was kind of boring, but I appreciate it," I replied, tucking a strand behind my ear.

Just then, I heard a soft rustling behind us, and I turned slightly to see Ethan stirring awake. He blinked slowly, his brow furrowing as he took in the scene—me and Mohammed sharing a quiet moment, laughter dancing in the air between us.

Ethan's expression darkened, a flicker of something like jealousy crossing his features before he masked it with a neutral look. He sat up and stretched, trying to shake off the grogginess, but I could feel the tension in his posture as he focused on us.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" I called out, hoping to lighten the mood, but I could sense Ethan's eyes lingering on Mohammed, a storm brewing behind them. I didn't catch the way his jaw tightened or the way he narrowed his eyes slightly, but the air around us shifted ever so slightly, tension threading through our small bubble.