Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 41 - Scooter

Scooter rubbed his the back of his head, careful to avoid the small incision behind his ear. The pain pulsing in his skull was akin to being whacked in the head with a baseball bat. At least, that's what he imagined it was like. The anesthesia had long won off, and Rowan's father had not bothered to leave him with any pain relievers.

He traced his fingers gingerly along the sutures following his hairline. Rowan didn't explain go into too much detail, but from his understanding, if the surgery didn't work he could be as good as dead. In this world they were living in anyway. He wanted, no, he needed to fight back.

The fear in her eyes spoke volumes. Scooter wondered, and not for the first time, if anyone had ever told her she was an open book. Her bright green eyes were so transparent, and transfixing. It was refreshing, actually, that she held nothing back.

But what was taxing him now was the tension in the loft. Couldn't she and Gills see it? Their budding relationship was obvious to the rest of the world. They both basically screamed of it—battled with their feelings and what they ought to feel. Sure, Scooter got it. Taniel kept something from her, something monstrous. But he never would have been able to change it. He had spent every day since meeting her trying to put her first, to make up for the fact he ever had the dream at all.

Scooter could read people. He knew she was staying away because she was confused and hurt. Just as he knew Taniel was staying away to protect her. Could it really only be him that saw how much better they were together?

Scooter didn't need something like that in his life anyway. He had been fending for himself for far too long, and that was how he liked it. Sure, he had Gills throughout his time in St. Andra's. They fought the world together, but Scooter never had to worry about Taniel. And hopefully now that Scooter could be gifted, Taniel wouldn't have to worry about him either.

Twitch, maybe, he would have worried about. Twitch. Even the thought of him made Scooter nauseous. Scooter had thought he already lost everything, how could he not see Twitch's betrayal coming?

Scooter rolled out of bed, willing thoughts of Twitch out of his mind. Gills and Rowan were in the kitchen. Not feeling as cheerful as usual, he couldn't muster a greeting. "Do we have any pain medication?"

Rowan shook her head slowly, looking pensive. He hoped she was thinking about what they could use to soothe the throbbing in his head.

"So you are not a vegetable, yet. That is reassuring," she said.

"Good morning to you, too. Do you have any ice? Or something for this damn headache?"

He looked to Taniel, who raised an eyebrow as if something just came to him. A small smile reached Scooter's lips, as if he could read Taniel's mind.

"We could always go to a bar... If a strong drink won't help you, then we might be out of options for now."

Scooter glanced outside. Night had fallen. Without the lights of abandoned Fenesemere buildings, the city was cloaked in darkness. He must have slept for almost a full day.

"Done. First round of shots is on you, Gills." He grabbed his jacket and waited for them to follow him outside.

****

Rowan's face paled and tightened in a grimace as she bit into the lime following her first shot of tequila. Taniel was smiling at her, and Scooter had to smile too. The pain in his head was finally starting to ebb away. Tonight he could let go.

He raised the bottle, pouring three more shots. Laughter and music drifted up from glass ceiling next to their spot on the roof. The huddled together as close to the greenhouse as they dared for warmth. Most of the snow had melted, but it was still uncomfortable.