Whipping my head around, I faced Landon, and asked, “Excuse me?” How in the world is this stranger tied to the burning of my home? I started to feel sick, when he simply ignored the question. No one else seemed bothered by the fact that this stranger was barking orders and separating us.
“Excuse me? Did you hear me?” I tried to cut in between Danny and Landon who were planning an evacuation course or something. I angrily pushed Danny aside and grabbed onto Landon’s green shirt, which contrasted his stark blue eyes.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing here, sir?” I huffed, not releasing the clothing I was clenching.
Looking into my eyes, Landon pondered the question. He seemed to have some sort of internal fight before carefully answering, “I know you don’t trust me, but know that I would never hurt you Evelyn. As soon as I can, I will explain everything to you. I promise.” He said it with such honest sincerity I almost let go of his shirt. But then I remembered, “Why do you need to go to the store with Danny?” Eyes hardening, Landon’s response sent chills up my spine.
“I don’t know how long you’ll be in that bomb shelter, so I’m taking a precaution by grabbing enough supplies to sustain everyone for a month.” At this point I didn’t even have to freak out, because Jessica had enough fury and fear for the rest of us.
“What do you mean we will need sustenance for a month!? WHAT IS GOING ON.” Wrinkling Landon’s expensive shirt was nothing compared to the brutal treatment his ears were about to go through. Zach and I both looked at each other and rolled our eyes; Zach grabbed Jessica before she was able to start her rant and proceeded to walk away, allowing me to have a few moments of privacy.
In a moment of tender intimacy not often caught between strangers, Landon cupped my cheek. My breath caught and he pressed a feather light kiss to my forehead. Peering into my eyes once more he whispered, “Stay safe.” It was all very movie cliche, but so romantic. If I wasn’t so focused on the hunk in front of me, I might have seen Danny’s fist coming. As it was, the only thing I was capable of doing was losing myself in the electric ocean and so Danny swung at Landon’s jaw. However, moving faster than humanly possible, Landon leaned back, throwing me off balance and into the path of the furious fist. Danny connected with my right temple and I gasped. Immediately Danny reached for me, but I was already on the ground blinking stars away. The last thing I remember before passing out was Landon shouting at Danny while he profusely apologized, begging me to stay awake.
***
A throbbing, dull ache situated itself in my head, which I felt for several minutes before opening my eyes. Dim light bounced off the surrounding brick walls. Glancing about, I noticed a bed above me. Confused, I slowly attempted to sit up and was rewarded with a burst of pain reverberated through my skull. Moaning I sank back onto my pillow. Someone heard me, and dashed over, roughly pressing a clammy hand to my forehead.
“She’s awake!” I vaguely heard Zach call. Heavy footsteps approached my bunk, and the nasty hands of my brother were replaced with a gentle caress. I sighed, and ventured a look. It was none other than Landon. His face was full of concern, and I smiled. Attempting to lean on an elbow, I pulled myself up.
“What hurts?” Landon asked, already moving away to open a water bottle and pour out two pills of what I assumed was acetaminophen.
“Mainly my head, but my body feels weak. Do you happen to have any food?” I remembered I haven’t eaten anything but a small energy bar. Looking around I inquired about Danny and Zach’s absence.
Handing me the pills and water, Landon began to answer but Jessica’s annoying voice interrupted from above me. She leaned over the top bunk and watched me as she told me, “After your boyfriend knocked you out cold, Zach went ballistic trying to strangle him, I think, but this yummy man here stopped them both,muscles bulging. So he made both of them go get some supplies from the crappy general store. I’m surprised you went out so easily, I wouldn’t have. I’m tough.” Before she could say more, Landon returned the favor and cut her off with a nonnegotiable tone , “Why don’t you go out front and see if the boys have returned with anything.”
With a dramatic sigh, Jessica ungracefully jumped off the bunk and slammed onto the floor. She swayed her hips as she waltzed out of the room . Rolling his eyes, Landon reached over to help me sit up.
“Thanks,” I winced, my head lightly throbbing. His mouth turned down , and he looked concerned. I managed a small smile, and began the onslaught of questions. “ What happened after I went down? Where are we? What time is it? Is my mom okay-”
Chuckling, Landon nodded and began counting boxes on the shelf adjacent to the bed. “Before I get mauled, your mother is fine as far as I know. If she went into work as usual, then she shouldn’t have met any trouble,” facing me again, he wrung his hands a little guiltily, “ After you went down, like Jessica said, I asked Danny and Zach to go into town and do what I initially planned on doing. “
“From Jessica’s colorful retelling, it would seem that you shouted at my gentlemen, preventing a fight.” Eyebrow up, I held back a teasing smile.
Red coloring his cheeks, he acknowledged my words, continuing, “ I might have yelled a little bit. But in the circumstances it was understandable. Anyway, after they left I picked you up, and Jessica led me to this fallout shelter. We’re very lucky it’s intact, considering it’s almost seventy years old. You’ve been out most of the day, it’s about,” he glanced at his Rolex watch, “ 5 in the evening. Who knew that such a skinny kid could punch so hard?” His mouth went up into an adorable half smile, prompting me to finally release the giggle I had been holding in.
Walking to the other end of the bunker, Landon opened a faded green trunk and proceeded to walk into an open doorway, about four feet away from the beds. I took the opportunity to glance at my surroundings. Smaller than my bedroom at my house- now gone in a fire- the shelter I was in smelled faintly of earth and mildew. The walls were solid, but the flooring was dirt. As if someone literally dug a hole into the ground and filled the walls with cement . It was a wonder this old shelter wasn’t completely decimated. The one good thing about living in a small town is that it’s relatively easy to stop hooligans from destroying history, as long as you know who they are. Considering my brother was held in high esteem in the ruffian’s world, they managed to stay away from here. I heard feet on stairs? Walking into the dimly lit room came Jessica, carrying nothing, followed by the three guys. Danny slowly came forth into the room, face slightly red from holding such a large armful of groceries.
Avoiding my gaze, Danny spent extra time taking the food items out of the bag and setting on the miniscule table beside the large trunk. Landon was already on his knees, craftily transferring and arranging the food into the bin. I waited, dangling my feet on the edge of the bed.
An awkward silence pressed forth. I watched Danny’s strong back shifting under his shirt as he lifted cans of food, passing them to Landon. Finally, once all temporary food was put away, he slowly turned to face me. It was that moment that Jessica decided to break the heavy laconism, “Well, are you two going to make up or are we all going to have to suffer this unbearable silence?” Once again, Landon saved the day by whispering something into her ear, at which she seductively smiled and followed him out of the room, keeping her eyes on his tight butt. Rolling his eyes, Zach came over and kneeled in front of me.
“Are you okay?” I saw anguish in his normally sparkling green eyes. Wanting to relieve him of the unknown burden, I nodded, and hugged him. He whispered into my hair, “The house is gone, Evie.” Pulling back, he watched my reaction. I kept my face neutral, and shrugged.
“I always did want to get out of that old house,” smiling at him, I waited for him to leave. Taking a hint, he solemnly he walked out, once again leaving me.
