Selected (Book 2 of the Immune Series)

Last Requests

"Where is Naomi?"

Lexi grabs me by the shoulder when I walk up to our bunks later that night. At first, I'm grateful she's speaking to me again, but then, I notice the rage in her eyes.

Her grip on my shoulder threatens to rip my arm out of it's socket.

"I don't know," I mutter, prying her fingers off me, "Why would I know?"

She glares at me, pushing her hair out of her face. It's gotten longer since we've been here, threatening to take over her small frame.

"Aren't you in charge, now? I thought you would be keeping tabs on everyone," she snaps, her voice full of sarcasm. I retreat a few steps back, shaking my head.

"I'm sure I could find out, but General Kovach went home for the night."

"We need to find her. Everything from her bunk is gone, and I worry what'll happen if she spends the night anywhere but here. Not that you have noticed, but she has night terrors."

"Of course I noticed, Alexis."

"Then, why didn't you acknowledge it?"

"Because she doesn't care about me," I snap, crossing my arms, "And I don't care about her either."

"What a load of crap, Quinn," she laughs, cheeks turning red, "Get over yourself and admit you like the girl."

"I don't like-"

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

She glares at me, until I can't handle the heat from her eyes.

"Fine," I sigh, giving in, "I like her. A lot. She smells like peppermint."

Lexi opens her mouth to say something, raising her eyebrows, but all that comes out of her mouth is a twisted laugh. Her body doubles over as the laugh intensifies, making heads turn our way.

"Cut it out, Lex," I whisper, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. She wipes tears off her cheeks, covering up her mouth with a hand. Giggles still escape, muffled.

"Maybe she went home for the night," I say, trying to get her back on topic.

"It's a start. Know where she lives, loverboy?"

I scowl at her, shaking my head.

"No, but I know someone who does."

I weave through the bunks, Lexi following behind. Near the front, in the first row is a bunk of all boys. They're all large for their age, seemingly towering over both of us in height and weight. I look like a toy around them.

"Is Toby around?" I ask the closest one when none of them acknowledge us. The older boy looks up, pursing his lips together.

"There," he grunts, pointing to the next set of bunk beds. I head that way, listening to the pad of Lexi's footsteps behind me. I hate to bring her to Toby, considering how he treated her a few days ago.

"Well, if it isn't the royal family," Toby says, smirking at me from his top bunk. I look up at him.

"I'm not here for me," I say, taking a shaky breath, "It's for Naomi. We need to know where she used to live."

Toby looks shocked.

"Now, she's a sweetheart," he says, jumping down to stand in front of me, "You ain't planning on messing with her, are you?"

"Of course not. I like-"

I stop the sentence before it even comes out, but judging by the goofy grin on Toby's face, he knows what I was going to say. I've never regretted anything so much in all my life.