Bliss

19 - Sky

That was close, I think. I think I might have whipped Ingrid in the face with my hair, but I'm not sure. I think about apologizing, but then again, we might get caught up in a conversation. Besides, I probably didn't. It doesn't even hurt that much, now, does it? I mean, it can't. It possibly can't. My hair isn't even as long as I would like it to be.

My mind is racing about the stupidest things.

I wait for Ingrid to disappear behind the curb before I start running again. It was such a lame excuse. I don't lie much, and especially not to Ingrid. I feel guilty.

I don't have a plan. I just feel the rage through my body as I run.

I can't believe I did that to Miles. I'm a terrible, terrible person. The chance that I finally get to actually talk to him, I blow it, and it's because of Harry. But at the same time, it's more important than that. I know what I saw that night, when the store went up in flames, and I'm not dumb. The boys have something to do with it. Absolutely.

I reach the loading dock. Most of the trucks have already rumbled off, stocking the packages in the local food center before they are to be distributed. I have a feeling that he may not be here; that he's gone. A feel mixture of disappointment and relief. The wind is cool, and it's strange watching the empty parking lot before me. A lot of things are gray here: the asphalt, the concrete building, the signs. Even the clouds have chosen to be gray today.

No matter my suspicion that Harry has left, my feet start to propel me forward again. I find myself at the cafeteria entrance of the factory, and then in the cafeteria, and then out again, stopping at the still and dead conveyor belt, all the chairs swiveled outwards and empty.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" someone calls out gruffly. I turn towards the remaining truck left. A soldier makes his way over, tall and unshaven, wearing a blue-and-gray uniform. I don't recognize him, and yet he seems all too familiar, with the buzzed hair and those cold, tough eyes. I cross my arms over my chest.

"I work here," I say matter of factly.

"Yeah, well, the work day is over. You shouldn't be here," the soldier says. I frown.

"It's not curfew yet. I can wander around if I want to," I say. "I mean, it's not like stocking the packages is a big ol' secret, is it? I can watch."

Now the soldier frowns. "You need to leave."

I scoff. "No, I don't."

"You're also supposed to show respect to the men defending your country," the soldier spits.

"But I don't have to obey your every order. This--wandering around--wasn't illegal last time I checked."

The soldier gulps. He glances over his shoulder at the truck. His comrades are all staring at us. I fear my eyes might land on Harry. The soldier turns back towards me, glaring at me with his eyes. They're blue, deep, glazed over with something pale. "I'm not going to say it again," he says lowly. I shake my head and say, "I'm not moving." He clenches his jaw.

"Exactly why are you here?" he asks. He gets close, so that his face is above mine and his shoulders are squared like wings around me, as threatening as a brick can probably get.

"I wanted to talk to someone. That's all," I say.

"Who?" he presses.

"C'mon, Seth. Leave her alone!" The voice comes from the cafeteria door. I hear footsteps, and then a slam as the door closes. I turn my head sharply, startled. The figure is a shadow first, but then he steps under the series of lights that run over the conveyor. They're the only ones on.