At End's Gate

UNEXPECTED SMILES

The next morning Paige woke up early. She scanned the room. Her brothers and the girls were still asleep. Conner wasn't in the room. She felt worried. Maybe he wasn't okay. Was it a wise call rejecting him when they needed to fight together? It had to be done though. It was the only way she was certain he wouldn't think crazily and end up risking his life for her. Paige wanted to survive but not at the expense of another soul. She got up and went to look for him. He wasn't in the kitchen. She kept looking for him in several rooms until she heard the sound of music on low volume coming from a room down the passageway. She recognized the beat and the rhythm of the song. It was One Republic's song Wherever I go. She knocked and entered the room. Conner was exercising doing press ups. He noticed her and got up." Morning," he smiled.

Paige was confused. His smile seemed genuine." Morning," she uttered hastily," did you sleep at all last night?"

"No." He was still smiling.

"Okay. So you're having a preparatory work out?"

"Yeah. I'm just dropping a few pounds to make my movements faster."

"Okay that's good," she responded awkwardly. She paused staring at his face for a while. His green eyes didn't exhibit any form of hurt. His smile seemed like he was in a good mood. "Okay. I'm going to make breakfast," she was now walking out.

"Paige."

She turned slowly and responded softly." Yeah."

"Don't get carried away and open the kitchen window full way. We don't want anyone to notice our presence here. It would put us at risk when we're leaving." He smiled again.

"Okay." Paige left the room feeling disturbed. She was supposed to feel happy that he was okay and cautious about their protection but she felt bothered. He was okay. She didn't want him to feel pain but the fact that it seemed like he wasn't affected at all made her mind fluctuate from one thought to another. Maybe he was just being mature. There is a probability that he was hiding his pain or maybe he just didn't care. Paige was now paranoid. She felt angry at herself. She was acting like a little girl. Paige knew she was supposed to be good. She didn't expect that she would be the one actually hurt. She cooked the food. She almost burnt it lost in thought. Paige was now acting like she was the one placed in the friend zone. She felt a spiral of emotions. Paige was angry that he wasn't affected at all. She felt happy that he was okay and cautious. Sadness touched the foundation of her heart when she considered the thought that maybe he wasn't hurt because he wasn't even in love with her. It was just a perfect illusion. After cooking she went into the shower. For now she felt secure because they knew Dukilian's explosives all over the city where linked to the explosions during the war. There wasn't going to be an abrupt explosion that would destroy the entire city. Dukilian wanted to see people fight each other running toward the gate. Paige knew that there was still a significant number of people in the city in Eastern and Western parts of Redstone. Most people in the North moved in those directions in a bid to pass through as they moved toward the gate. Paige brushed her teeth and her brown hair. She pushed her hair back and tied it. They were going to spend the day moving. She had to be very alert. She didn't want her hair to fall on her face distracting her. She then went downstairs. Lisa and Alexis were now in the kitchen. Blake and James were just waking up." Morning my weird brothers."

"Morning psycho sister," they responded in unison.

She walked into the kitchen." Morning Paige."

"Morning girls."

"You look out of it," Lisa commented." What's the matter?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Paige answered frantically.

Alexis laughed." It's Conner."

"Lexi! No. Nothing is wrong with Conner. We're friends with a common goal, protecting you."

"Keep telling yourself that," Lisa laughed.

"No no. I'm not having this discussion with you. I'm older than you. I'm not going to waste time discussing my private life whilst we're in the middle of a terrorist attack."

They laughed. Paige looked annoyed." Paige you're now our sister. We now know you. You might be older, wiser and bolder but you're still a girl," Lisa commented.

"Yeah. You are allowed to have boy trouble even in the most darkest of circumstance," Alexis added.

Paige finally nodded." Now tell us what's wrong," Lisa said brushing her hair with her hand.

Paige told the girls about what she had told Conner the previous night and how he was responding." Oh. Eish that's cold. I would be paranoid too," Alexis commented braiding her short strawberry blonde hair with her perfect red eyes fixed on Paige.

"I can't believe I even told you."

"Remember I told you you're just a girl. I think Conner is trying to keep his cool for the sake of getting us out of here but he's hurt. Right now you have to just keep yourself chilled as well."

"Yeah. I agree with Lisa. Right now it's actually you who's acting weird so chill."

"Okay."

"Paige can we ask?"

"Yeah Lexi."

"You told him you were just best friends. Is that true with you being sincerely honest with yourself?"

"Yeah," Paige lied. She didn't want them to get over excitement and not be focused on the task at hand. Young girls have a tendency of getting excited about romance and all. She set the table and went upstairs to call Conner to come and eat.