Underneath (Foundation/Pre-write)

Chapter 6

After a long nap with Arey, Kota woke me up. 

"Our training schedules came in. " He whispered. I sat up and rubbed my face.  It has been a week since we found out about the attack on Quadrant 1, nobody has come.  Kota handed me my schedule and I leaned across the bed to grab my glasses. Kota was now moving Arey over to her bed. 
"Dinner is in an hour." He said, moving into the closet.  I looked up from my schedule. He looked troubled and avoided eye contact. 

"Hey, what's wrong? You really seem upset." I asked, concerned. 

"I've just been think about what you asked me... a lot." He turned at looked straight into my eyes.

"Oh Kota, it was just a thought. I was really stressed out and I really apre-" He cut me off by smashing his lips onto mine. It felt so right, so I kissed him back. He pulled away, his loving kiss still on my lips. 

"The whole reason I do all of this for you, is because I love you."

What? Now? This was all so sudden... I guess with our circumstances, this felt right. 

"You barely know me." I mumbled. 

"I've fallen in love with what I've gotten to see for myself." He didn't look away from me. I blushed, and looked away. 

"This feels rushed. Really rushed... I've never been someone... to anyone..." My chest felt tight.

"That's okay... I'll go slow. I'd do anything for you." It felt awkward to breathe. This all felt like to much. 

"Okay." I weakly smiled. "Then... Let's just talk." I let my blush die down. Avoiding eye contact. 

"Okay." He smiled. I felt a little bad for not feeling all excited about this.  

We headed into the extra room together and talked about our families and connections. I told him how the rainstorms we had in my area, were like blessings. I loved the harsh storms we would have. He told me that he personally hated storms, but enjoyed the after rain smell.

He glanced at the clock and suggested we headed for dinner. Getting up, I thought of the real questions. 

"Do you think I'll find out if my mom passed?" I huskily whispered.

"They did when my mom died on field... Did they do that with your Dad?" I shrugged. It was a big mess. He was MIA for the longest time. Then he was suggested to be POW. Until... They found him. They never told us where or how. He was important, they wouldn't share that.

We got our food from the line, with only staff serving us today. We're all training for combat now, so none of us are going to have time to work.

We sat away from the main group of people. I stayed quiet, observing the people around me. Staff were 

Another staff member had a stack of black papers. Calling out for people who knew those in my Quadrant. My stomach flipped. This felt like waiting to hear about my dad... I tried to focus more on my food. But it all seemed bland and tasteless. Kota could see the stress in me and began rubbing circles on my back. I pushed my tray forward and lay my head on the table. Burring my head in my arms. 

"Kaitlyn Wood?" I took a deep breath.

"That would be me. I said looking up at the lady.

"This is a list of all your relations. Since you were in Quadrant One before you came here, we gave you a sheet that will update itself based on the state of the person." She handed me the black, slick, paper. Though, it felt nothing like paper. 

"Thanks..." I said as she walked away. I watched her walk away, I didn't know many people in Quadrant one, so I waited to see who the next person was. She began talking to John. That boy from the bus. I watched unknowingly as John turned to catch me staring. I snap my head forward and look down at my food. I nibbled on it for a bit, forgetting the paper in front of me. That was quite embarrassing. I tapped the thin sheet of black. I lit up and showed a short list. I don't know very many people.

Shyanne Wood (Mother)- POW

Samantha Toll (Friend)- Transport to Underneath

Xavier Bud (Friend)- Vice Leader of Underneath

The rest of people were just acquaintances, but.. they were all dead. My older sister, my first crush, and most of my graduating class. I knew most of them but never talked to most of them. I still feel bad.  I wonder who had my mother... I leaned my head on Kotas arm. He looked down at me. 

"You all finished?"

I nodded and he got up and threw away our trash and gave the lady our trays. He sat down and asked me what I wanted to do. My chest felt tight, I just wanted some sleep. 

"We should probably go check up on Arey." So we left and headed back to the room. 

Arey was still asleep. I guess getting beat up by your role model can tiring. I walked over to her bed to wake her up. She didn't get the chance to eat. I place a hand on her cheek, I scrunch my face up in a knot when I notice her face is burning hot and has a thick layer of sweat.

Ask if this was almost out of habit, I lifted her up into a bridal style position. This was not a good day. 

I was sitting in the same chair I was just a while ago. I felt stressed in this room and tried to calm down.

They had stripped Arey down and medicated her well. She had wet clothes places on her frail body.

Kota was there too, but we'd been there for hours. So he was fast asleep on my shoulder. I couldn't sleep, no matter what. A nurse can up to us and told us that it was passed curfew. So I gently woke Kota up to leave. Honestly I was excited to leave. A bed was waiting for me. But as we headed towards the door, Xavier barged in, bumping into me in the process.

"Sorry, Sorry." He said, not looking at me. He scurried on to Arey. Kota, still dazed, sighed and we carried on pour way to out room.

---Chapter End---

This book is really frustrating me. Romance is one of my favorite topics, but I just don't like this. I already have it all written out so all I can do, is just keep going. 

-KAC