Isolation

Chapter Eight: Roommate

"Wha... what are you doing? Oh jeez... please don't touch."

Robert woke up when he heard the clatter of someone moving his stuff. Everything was blurry, but he could make out Walker jerking her hands back and raising them in a sign of withdrawal.

Robert let out a sigh, pulling the thick blanket off his body and swinging himself over to stand up out of bed. Fumbling, Robert reached out for the wall to find his balance and made his way over to the shelf. His various knickknacks had been moved around by Walker's wondering hands.

He hadn't even felt Walker get out of bed!

Yesterday, Trenton laid Walker down on his bed.  And Thomas threw a cot, a pillow, and some blankets at Robert. But he was too tired to set it up, so he crashed in the bed next to Walker.

Before falling asleep, Robert remembered studying Walker and thinking how she was actually quite cute and how sad those marks on her white skin looked.

A soft red colored Robert's cheeks as he meticulously arranged his things back into their proper places. Walker had stepped back to let him do what he needed.

"Breath."

"What," Robert choked out, surprised to hear Walker speak.

She was sitting on his bed, moving her hands toward her body then away. It took a moment to for Robert to realize that Walker was coaching him like he had the previous night.

"Are-- are you trying to calm me down?"

"Well, yes. Your shoulders are raised and you're almost shaking."

Robert scratched the back of his head. He realized Walker was thoughtfully watching him.

So he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. After a few times, he did feel a little calmer.  More relaxed.

"Better?"

"No," Robert lied with a small smile. "Don't touch my stuff again.  Ugh--  Without asking first, please."

"Understood. Don't touch without asking."

Robert did a small laugh. 

And Walker remained passive.

He let out a long, audible breath, swinging his arms out to snap his fingers.

An awkward silence passed between them. Robert really did not know how to interact with Walker.

She sat on the bed regarding Robert pensively with wide hazel eyes. Here was this small creature that had Robert always thought was an evil, destructive being. She had devastated many homes and taken countless lives, and now she was sitting quietly, cross-legged on Robert's bed. Just staring at him. Robert felt nervous and scared and confused all at once.

He was desperate to break the tension. He looked around for something-- anything-- to change the atmosphere.

"Do you need a bath?" Robert blurted out.

Walker took a moment to think then nodded, "That would be nice."

"You might fit into some of my clothes. It might be a while before we can get your clothes cleaned."

Robert rushed over toward his closet. Well, it was more of a hole in the rock than an actual closet. His clothes were neatly folded in the small cove.

"You can burn them for all I care," Walker replied, flatly. "They aren't mine. Jasper picked them."

"Oh. Okay. Yeah. No problem."

Robert busied himself with getting things together for Walker. He found a black shirt that looked like it could fit Walker, a pair of dark blue jeans, some pink panties with black lace and a bra, both of which he received from Javonne for Walker. Robert handed them to Walker who inspected the clothes with interest.