We walk back to camp together hand in hand with Lola trailing behind us. We were silent after the attack and him almost kissing me. Everything is moving too fast. I want to get to know him before I do anything I will regret. Bion stops me. "Look so we might not be alone like this again and I wanted this moment to be special," Bion says and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a silver locket. "It is for you, I carved that S in it myself. The inside does not need pictures because over time you can fill it with all your greatest memories and hopes and dreams," he says and places it in my hand and wraps his hands around mine. Then he kisses our entangled fingers. I put it on and admire it. "It is beautiful Bion, thank you," I say and hug him. He smiles and we walk back to camp. When we reach our tents Mia bursts out of a tent. "Oh my gosh there you are," she cries and hugs me. "When I heard the shot and couldn't find you I freaked." "I'm sorry to worry you. It was a silencer, Bion killed him and saved me," I told her. She looked at Bion tears still wet on her face. "My God Bion you are an angel," she says and hugs him too. Bion gives her a sad look. I instantly wonder what is going through his mind. He should be happy not sad. He saved my life. I rub my locker between my fingers. "Wow that was dramatic," Mia says and wipes her face. "Well now I'm just embarrassed," she says. "I better get back to work you two enjoy the rest of your day." She walks away. I swear that girl changes subjects so fast. Mia can go from worry to command mode in a matter of seconds. "Shilo, we have only known each other for a day. And for me it feels like months but I know you feel we are moving too fast so I think we should get to know each other," Bion says. My stomach twists in a knot. If he knew what I'd done. "Sure Bion but I'm worn out I am going to rest first," I say. I want to avoid talking about my past for as long as I can. "Sure take all the time you need, I'm always here for you," he looks into my eyes as he says this. I look away, I don't want him to see the lies. I walk into my tent with Lola. I rub her ears and pull out my sketch pad. I start to draw Bion. His blue eyes lit up, His gorgeous dirty golden blonde hair. His hair reaching for his shoulders but not quite making it there. My sketch pad describes my life after they came. If Bion ever saw it he wouldn't look at me the same way ever again. "Oh Lola you are the only one who could forgive me," I say.
~~~
I dig the knife deep into his stomach. He screams. "Give me the cure," I yell over his shrieks. He smiles viciously at me, "Oh you want to save your mommy I see in that case, bite me." I slam the blade into his hand. His scream fills the abandon barn and echoes outward. "Never, your mom will die just like the rest of you naive, destructive, worthless life forms," he says. I pull out my gun and train it on his eye. "I'm not asking," I say. "I know you will still live after this, as long as your heart is still pumping so I suggest you spill." A spark of fear forms in his eye but then disappears as fast as it came. He smiles and spits on me. I don't hesitate as I shoot him in the eye. His scream is so violent. "You little worthless maggot. When they find out what you have done they will rip you to shreds," he threatens. I come real close to his face and look him in the eye, gun right over his heart. "Bring it on," I say and pull the trigger.
~~~
I wake up sweating like crazy. My notebook is on the ground, closed with my pencil next to it. Lola sits at the foot of my cot and Bion sits on Mia's across from me. My heart starts to speed up. Did he look in my notebook? Does he know who I am? I think to myself. "I didn't look in it if that is what you are thinking. I did see the picture of me though," Bion says and gives me a lazy grin. "Nice work, I knew you had the hots for me," he says. I relax and sink back down on my pillow. "Funny you are the one who keeps trying to kiss me," I say and instantly regret it and start to feel awkward. He smiles and chuckles. "Did you have a bad dream," he asks. I quote what he said when I asked that, "No just bad memories." "Of who," he asks. "Me," I say shortly. "Want to talk about it," he says. "No," I say firmly. "What time is it," I say as I hear shouts and hollers from outside. "They are getting ready for the moon festival," Bion says an I realize it is dark outside. "Why didn't you wake me?" I say getting excited. "Lets go," I say. We walk outside and head to the middle of camp where there sits a big open field. I wondered what it was for when I got here. There are torches lining the circle and I hear the music blaring. I see an IPod hooked up to big speakers. Everyone is dancing to the song "Some Nights" by Fun. "Wow this is awesome," I yell over the music. "It is awesome just like you," Bion says and gives me his lazy grin. That grin always gets me fired up. I start dancing like there is no tomorrow, like the end of the world isn't happening, like I have no worries or regrets. Bion stares at me and I start to feel self conscious as his gaze shifts to my legs. It is summer and I am wearing jean shorts. They are really short. And I'm talking the kinda short my dad would kill me for wearing in front of a hot guy like Bion. If he was alive anyway. "Are you going to dance or what," I say and pull him close to me. He starts to dance and just when he couldn't get any better he did. His dancing was amazing. Before the Others came I was way into dance. I competed and won almost every time. I've been dancing since I was four and in all my years I have never seen anyone dance like Bion. He moved with the music so swiftly. His movements matched the music so perfectly. It was like the music was a part of him. Bion looked like he truly was connected to it and you couldn't tell where the music started and he ended. It was so beautiful, it was indescribable. I have a great passion for dance and Bion danced like how I felt about dance. "You are an excellent dancer. Did you do dance in the other world," I ask. A confused, guilty look crosses his face. "I mean before they came," I explain. "Oh," he says and becomes relaxed. "No I was a football player and a tennis player," he says. "I was more of an athlete than a dancer," Bion says. "I was a dancer since I was four and I can't even dance like that. Is there anything you can't do," I say. "I am terrible at pool, I always lose all my money," he says and laughs. We dance for a while. Song after song we danced together. Then a slow song sounded and couples started to get together dancing. Some disgustingly touch each other. I cringe at the thought of someone doing that to me. "Hey Shilo I would like this dance," he says and flashes that crazy hot smile. He kneels before me and holds my hand. "I would love to dance with you kind gent," I say and bow stupidly. He puts his hand on my waist and holds my hand with his other hand. I hold on to his shoulder and he pulls me close. He is so close I could kiss him but I don't of course. I rest my head on his shoulder. I could die tomorrow and I want no regrets. I look up and kiss Bion. Just one soft kiss at first. I pull away and look at him. For the first time he looks like he doesn't know what to do. Has he never kissed a girl before? Then he kisses me back soft but then he presses firmly. I entwine my fingers in his hair and he puts both hands on my waist. He pulls me close, very close. Every part of me touches him. My lips move with his in perfect sink. Like they were made for one another. I feel my heart fire up. My body ignites everywhere he touches me. His lips burn hot. Butterflies beat against the sides of my stomach. He pulls away just enough to talk. "Where did that come from?" He asks. His lips brush mine when he talks. "I don't want any regrets, we could die at any second," I explain. "Let them try I will slaughter every last one if it keeps you safe." I smile and kiss him more. He moves his hand up to my head and fingers through my hair. The song ends and we separate. Every part of me screams to get back to him but I restrain myself. The music stopped and Mia stood in front of the stereo. "Alright everyone you have had some fun and I would like to propose a toast," she says and raises her glass. "To all of the fallen, the ones who got out of this suck fest. We may have lost them but I believe they have it better wherever they are. And to us the ones who still are fighting. We will fight for our life and our planet. If we don't make it I have faith we will all go down swinging. To us," she says and downs a shot of who knows what. "To us," shouts the crowd and me. The music goes back on and she walks towards us. "Nice speech," I say. "Yea, hey did you guys try the scotch we found? It is great," she says and sways a little. Her eyes start to droop. She closes them for a second and then she flicks them up to my face. "I saw you two getting it going," she says and drinks from her cup. Mia tilts the cup towards me. I shake my head. "Come on Shilo don't be shy. I know your only 17 but we are in the middle of an apocalypse, so screw laws and brain cells for that matter." "
Ok Mia I think you have had enough," I say taking the cup from her hand and handing it to Bion. "Lets get you to bed," I say and walk her back to our tent. I lay her down on her cot. "Hey now the party don't stop now too the moon, me walk in, uh," she closes her eyes and falls into a deep sleep. Well that was easy I think to myself. Lola comes from my bed over to Mia and lays by her cot. I scratch her head and go back to the party. Many people have called it a night or started another party between the two of them. I walk over and see Bion downing a bottle of scotch. "Wow you can really drink," I say. "This world is going down the drain so I'm drinking to what beauty it has left. Like you," he says. Bion gulps down the last bit of it and I take him to his tent. I lay him down as I did Mia. I brush his hair from his eyes and he kisses me softly. "Will you stay with me tonight." My face heats up. "I want a little of the beauty to hold on to," he says. I lay down next to him on the cot. He drapes the blanket over us. Bion holds me close to him. I lay one hand one his chest. My eyes shut with the memory of Bion still burning in my head.
