Love Is Moons Away

Chapter 5- Breakfast

Books. Books line every inch of the walls. I run my hands along the spines. I have never even seen some of these titles. I enter a cove with a fireplace, and plush seating.
I grabs one of the books and read it to myself.
"You've got to be kidding me," the bouncer said, folding his arms across his massive chest.
What an interesting way to start a book. I look at the spine to gather what kind of book this is.
City of Bones.
It's sounds violent, but I decide to screw caution, and sit down in one of the many armchairs and flip open the book. Before I know it, I'm nearly one hundred pages in. It's so fascinating! No necklaces, or unfair governments, nothing from today. And it's so compelling.
"I can see you like to read," a women says. I jump from the chair, but end up tripping over my own feet, and fall on the floor.
"I didn't mean to startle you," she says, helping me up off the floor. I am greeted with President Lockhart's face. I gulp, my cheeks bright red.
"I just... I was exploring...and my hand caught on the trick door...and I was curious...I couldn't help myself..." My words die off as I try to explain.
"Dear, it was made for anyone to find," she says, picking up the fallen book, and placing it back in my hands.
"Oh." She smiles and stares at the walls. I'm not sure if I should leave or stay, when she starts to speak again.
"This was my daughter's library."
"Jailee?"
"Yes. How do you know her name?"
"Shane told me."
"Ah. Yes, her and Shane were very close."
"Miss, you keep talking about her in past tense,"
"She has passed away," she says kooky me straight in the eyes. I open my mouth, but I don't know what to say. Instead I change the topic.
"I've never heard of these books before. Where did they come from?"
"They were saved before the Great Freeze. Some saw what was coming, and make these underground bases saving everything they could. We have thousands of books, art, documents, clothes, fossils, and some things that even I don't know what they are."
"They're so different from the books I've read. We don't have any books like this,"
The president looks at me, studying everything about me.
"You know what, you can take any books you want," she says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
My mouth drops open.
"Really?" She laughs at my face.
"Really. Jailer would want someone to enjoy these books," she pauses for a moment looking around. "I need to attend to some matters, so if you'll please excuse me." I nod and watch her leave the room.
I grab all the books I want. I think I'm close to about one hundred or more when I decide to stop.
How am I going to carry these back to my room?!  I look around for anything when I see a bag on one of the arm chairs. There's a little note on it.
Your other bag was looking a little rough, so here's a new one. The bag is the newest of the expandable bags. It's the one that you can change the pattern with your phone. I smile, and open the compartment, shoving the books in. I dwindle my pile down about twenty, but end up adding it back with other books.
I leave City of Bones out to finish it.
I look around and smile. I sling the bag over my shoulder, and head out of the room.
When I get there, Shane is still sleeping. I smile, and grab my old bag, and unpack everything.
I'm almost done loading it, when my old books are the last thing. I ponder if they should come along. I look around the room and see the fire pit.
I grab the books and shove them in the fire. All these books did was remind me I was alone. Screw them, I deserve more than that.
I climb back in the bed, and close my eyes.

"Time to wake up, viper." A voice books in my head. I groan and roll over. A shove sends me on the floor.
"Hey!" I shout, throwing a pillow at Shane. He easily dodges it.
"You need to get ready. The callings in an hour."
"Calling?"
"The meeting to decide if you keep traveling on your journey. You know, to find your true love?"
I shoot up, grab my bag, and run into the bathroom. I use the bathroom, wash my hands, then start on my routine.
I start on my makeup, which consists of concealer, powder, blush, eyeliner, and mascara.
Then I grab my bag and decide on my clothes. I choose a maroon sweater dress, that goes down to my knees and has long sleeves. I pull on black tights to make it more dressed up. Then I pull on my nude ankle boots, giving it a pop.
I look in the mirror, deciding on my hair. I need to look older. So I do an elaborate braid, that look like a crown. I head out of the room, spin it around for Shane.
"Needs an accessory."  I pull out my box of jewelry and earrings. He sorts through it, giving me a simple set of gold bangles.
Then he strides forward, and pulls  my necklace out from under my shirt. My bra has a little magnet to keep it in there. He nods once he's adjusted it on my dress. Then he goes back the box.
"What the hell are these?!" Shane pulls out my earrings.
"What do they look like?"
"These are fucking tiny! Th-they... they're baby size!" 
"I have really small earlobes! If I wear big earrings, they look humungous!"
Shane walks up to me, and holds the earring up to my ear.
"HOLY SHIT! HOW THE HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN?" I smile at his surprise, and grab the jewelry and trade them for the ones I already wear.
A knock sounds at the door. Shane opens it, and mumbles to the person outside the door. He looks back, and holds out his hand to me. I gulp, take his hand, and walk out of the room.
We stride down the halls. I see people staring at me, at my necklace. Shane grips my hand when my face shows hesitance. I look at the people, and am surprised by how many kids there are. We enter the large room I was questioned in before.
There I am again, staring at thirteen people at a raised table with President Lockhart higher than the rest. Shane squeezes my hand, and goes and stands at the side of the room. I set my shoulders, and nod at the panel.
"Miss Rose, the panel has decided. You shall continue your journey to find the other half of your necklace. Shane Kooper will accompany you on this journey. And that is the final say," President Lockhart says, with a little smile at the end.
Shane whoops, and pick me up, encircling me in his arms, spinning me in circles. When he sets me down, I'm clasping my head, wondering how I got so lucky.
"We leave in the morning!" Shane announces.
...............................................................
Shane and I walk take a cab. The driver doesn't even hesitate at our fake ID's. Shane and I look like two Asians, thanks to face fakers. It's a mask that makes you look like anyone you want. We drive for hours making chit chat to appear like we're normal people.
"Here we are," the driver announce with a gravel voice. I nod, pay him the required amount of bills. It's night time, and I stumble as I get out of the car. Shane catches me in a dip, kissing me on the cheek.
I gasp a little, but he whispers to me.
"We're suppose to be a couple, just go with it," I smile along, and kiss his cheek as well. We then grab our bags off the ground, and trek into the hotel.
"Hi, we'd like a room for two," Shane tells the receptionist. She smiles and gives us a key. We walk to our room, and both let out a sigh of relief against the door.
"That...felt...like...an...eternity."  Shane coughs out. I laugh, and collapse on the bed
"I didn't know pretending to be someone else would be so exhausting!" I exclaim, peeling off the mask, making my skin tingle. Shane peeks his off, and throws it on the bed.
"Shower time!" Shane yells. As Shane showers, I take out my book, and keep reading. I hadn't told Shane about my secret stash, and for some reason I didn't want to. At least, not quite yet.
I just need some time. I've told Shane a lot of things, but I just want this for myself.
When I hear the water turn off, I shove my book back in the front pocket of my backpack and turn on the TV. It takes a few minutes until Shane comes out and flops on the bed next to me.
"Showers open," he says.
I walk in and take a quick shower, washing off the grime of sitting in a cab all day.
When I walk out, Shane is flipping through a bible. I plop down next to him, sending the bible on the floor. He leans over easily and grabs it again.
"Why are you looking at a bible?" I ask grabbing it from his hands, and even though I have short arms, it is completely out of his reach.
"I-I don't know..." Shane is stuttering and goes silent when I open to the page he is on.
"Leviticus 18:22 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as womankind: it is abomination." Shane looks away guiltily. "Shane why are reading this?" I whisper. He doesn't respond.
"Shane, why are you reading this?" I insist again
"I...knew that other religions resented my kind, but I thought this one might not."
"Shane," I grab his hand. "All religions resent you. The society resents you. So don't go looking for more people, or religions, or anything to make you hate yourself more."
Shane looks at me and smiles.
"I think it's time for us to go to bed," he says, rolling onto the floor. I smile, and start to make the bed. Shane grabs blankets and a pillow out of the closet, and makes a bed on the couch. Once we're all settled, I turn out the lights.
"Good night, Shane."
"Good night, viper."
I smile, and close my eyes.
................................................................................................................................
We head out the hotel, hand in hand, heading towards a cafe for us to eat in. We enjoy the meal of pancakes, bacon, and eggs.
"What's your favorite breakfast meal?" Shane asks, waving a piece of bacon around. I laugh, throwing a little piece of toast at him.
"I personally enjoy eggs. But not just random old eggs like the good eggs," I explain. "And with amazing toast."
"Hmph. I thought you more as a sweet instead of a savory girl."
"Salty girls are easier to fall in love with," I say, flicking salt at him.
"I'm hoping by salty you mean sassy?"
"What else does salty mean?"
"It can mean your a bitch," he explains, showing me multiple roasts involving salt.
"Damn. I need to use those more often!" I exclaim. I laugh, as he tells me more roasts. I even write some of them down, because the roasts are so...freaking...perfect.
While we're laughing, a voice stops me cold.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" I look up, to see a man dressed in the gear of cops. I gulp.
"Yes, sir?"
"I need the two of you to come with me," my heart races as we get out of the booth. How could we have been caught so easily?
We all walk and I realize we're heading towards the hotel. When we enter, the receptionist smiles at us.
"You just forgot to check out!" She laughs, seeing my panicked face. I breath a sigh of relief as Shane pays with a card.
We stalk out of the hotel, until Shane pulls me into an alleyway.
I break down crying. He pulls me into his warm embrace, stroking my hair, whispering encouragement. I don't know why it rattled me so much! I should have known this was going to happen once or twice!
"Viper, were okay," he coos, trying to calm me.
"Wh-what if the-y tried to take y-you away from m-me?" I sob. Shane pushes me away from his chest, looks me in the eye, holding my face in his hands.
"I'm never going to let that happen, okay? I am staying with you." His voice is so strong.
"What about when I find him? Will you stay with me then?" He smiles, and pulls me close to his chest
"Even then, viper. Who's going to crash your dates, plan your wedding, baby sit the kids?" I laugh. He has more hope than I do. Looks like I'm just going to have to imagine the future to get through this.
The dates, with candle light illuminating our love. The engagement. The planning of the wedding. My nephews being flower boys. My wedding dress that was elegant and old fashioned. Lace covering the entire thing. The lavender theme. Lavender flowers, ties, table cloths, centerpieces, earrings, and dresses.
The kids. Little boys and little girls running around our home. Making me smile. I've always wanted two girls and a boy, so they can have that protective bond over him.
Their weddings, and their kids. Our retirement.
But though I can imagine it, I wonder it'll happen. If he didn't want to be with me all these years, why would he now?
Shane grabs my hand, and we head out of the alley. If I loose hope now, I'll never make it in time.
So I guess all I have now is hope. And a very sassy gay man. This is going to be interesting.