24 Dreams Of You And Me

96) East North Central To South Central

"No heirloom of humankind captures the past as do art and language."
-Theodore Bikel

***

"Dad, I don't wanna talk about it." Alyssa grumbled from under her blanket.

"You should realise why I can't do what you ask me, Alyssa." John replied.

"You've given me that excuse all my life. What I don't understand is how your pride is more important than my life? They saved me, father! They're good people!"

"I never said they're bad. My sister was never bad. I don't even know what the rivalry between Lassiters and us started from so how do I abolish it immediately?"

Alyssa sat up. "You can't do it alone? Fine, get the Eastern America. Together with Levi's tribe, I'm sure Europeans will listen. And if not, I can talk to Robb again."

"What exactly did he say to you that you're obsessed with this whole unifying thing now?"

Alyssa's mind went to the last thing Robb had said to her. The goodbye speech when she was in the dungeon. Her stomach whirled at recalling how sincere his voice was, how he meant everything he had told her.

"Nothing in particular.." She said slowly.

John sighed. "It's late, we'll talk tomorrow morning. You should sleep now."

"Are you gonna travel back there?"

"Yes. I have to make sure all's fine."

Alyssa nodded. "I think I'll stay. I just don't wanna face everyone just yet."

"I understand, honey." John kissed her forehead, turned the lights off and closed the door behind him.

Alyssa was on the verge of falling asleep when her phone rang. She groaned and ignored it, but it kept ringing.

She threw the blanket off her, picked up the phone from the nightstand and saw an unknown number.

Who's calling so late? She wondered.

"Hello?" She answered it.

There was a pause. "Lisa?"

She took a sharp intake of breath. Only one person called her that.

"Levi? Is that you?"

"Yes.. Are you, are you okay?"

Alyssa walked and locked the door. She sat in the dark on her bed by the window. "I am. How'd you find my number?"

Levi glanced at Jenkins who was still in his room. Levi smiled and nodded at him as a gesture to leave.

Jenkins left.

"Uh.. had someone on it." He replied.

"Oh, well.. um, you're okay too, right?"

"Yes, of course. I'm- I'm great."

Alyssa nodded. "Good. So what did you do after coming back?"

"Nothing.. got to work."

Alyssa frowned. "Nobody asked you anything?"

"Nobody knew I was there. I just told them and right now, they're fighting amongst themselves."

"It's the same story here. The mere mention of your and Robb's name was quite offensive."

Levi looked at the plane tickets on his bed. "Hey, I wanna tell you something really important.."

"Yes?"