Suspension

Chapter 8

Cheers erupted from around us. I leant onto Reece's shoulder and bit my lip hard while I smiled. There was something about the way Reece hugged me, and the way it made me feel compared to when I hugged Alex.

I let go of him and turned around to see Carolyn standing at the door with her hands over her heart, Aedie in front of Jackson who was smiling, but scowled once I looked at him.

Elizabeth Rose and Alex were holding hands and I felt like a similar kind of thing had happened with them.

"Get a room, you four should." Jackson muttered.

"Come on, Jackson, you have to admit, they are so cute." Carolyn said. I noticed that when Jackson looked at Carolyn, his cheeks grew warmer than usual. I narrowed my eyes, but Reece squeezed my hand, and I knew that he had noticed and didn't want me to say anything.

"Carolyn, unless you want to join them in that room, I suggest you shut the hell up." Jackson snapped. I bit back a smile as I watched the two of them.

"Join them, huh?" Carolyn teased, her voice suggested something more.

Jackson fumed silently.

"Ok, well if everyone has finished with their little reunions- and while they are quite lovely- we need to talk." Jackson spat the word 'lovely' and glared at me.

We all made our way inside, through the kitchen and into the second living room, as Alex and Carolyn's mother was in the first. We were all grateful when Aedie lay a blanket down on top of her.

Carolyn and Elizabeth Rose sat on either side of Alex on the three seater lounge, with Carolyn attempting to squeeze Aedie in next to her. Jackson stood in front of the large television with his muscled arms crossed and his eyes on everyone.

Reece sat on the coffee table off to the side, closest to the door. I didn't want Jackson to feel like he had the limelight, or like he was the leader and communist leader of our tiny group, so I went to stand next to him.

Reece raised his eyebrows and tapped his head. I was rather confused at first but when he tapped his head again and pointed at me, I reached up and felt his beanie was still there. I panicked and went to pull it off but Reece shook his head slightly.

It was enough to make my stomach churn with butterflies and god knows what else.

"We need to get out of this place. There has to be other people out there and we need to find them and see if maybe there is someone else who knows what the hell is going on." Jackson stated. Reece shook his head again, but not at me this time.

"I agree with you and all mate, but for now we're safe here. We need to get in order, I know we need to get out there and see if there are other survivors, but there is a weird-ass thing out there who wants to kill us. If we are safe here, I say we stay." Reece contributed.

Jackson turned his head slowly and settled his narrowing gaze on Reece.

"I didn't realise this was a choice." He spat. I rolled my eyes and stepped close behind him, to whisper in his ear.

"Jackson, do you really need me to slap the shit out of you again?"

Jackson breathed in deeply and then exhaled fast.

"Sorry, Reecey-poo, I forgot. We aren't allowed to do anything that Lia doesn't like. Stay here if you will, I'm leaving with everyone else who wants to." Jackson said. I was the one to shake my head at Reece now, and I watched him bite his tongue and stare in hatred at Jackson, and I didn't blame it at all for it.