Dark as the Night

25

Odessa stayed with Tai until just before 6:00, when Liam and James arrived on an ATV, pulling a trailer. She tried to catch James alone to apologize for the day before, but he waved her off with a grumble. At her offer to help load the furniture and other of Tai's creations into the trailer, she was summarily sent away to meet Leila.

Upon arriving at the medical center, she found Leila just finishing the inventory Odessa had neglected the night before. Together they double checked their shopping list then walked to the camp garage. All vehicles owned by members of the camp were kept there, as there was really only one road through the compound. Each one was checked in upon arrival and checked out prior to leaving, with a guard on duty twenty-four hours a day to ensure the safety of all vehicles. The garage contained not only cars, but motorcycles, trailers, and the ATVs that were used in the woods surrounding the camp.

They got to the garage as Liam was hitching the trailer to a white industrial van owned by the camp. James returned the ATV to its parking spot, Tai signed it in, and Leila signed the van out.

When it was all finished, everyone piled in the van with Liam behind the wheel and Leila in the passenger seat. James climbed in first and sprawled out in the back seat, leaving Tai and Odessa to share the middle. As they started to drive off, Leila glanced back at James. "Where's Mina? She's not coming with us today?"

James's eyebrows scrunched together briefly, before he shrugged. "We broke up," he casually answered.

"What??" Leila exclaimed and everyone except Liam turned around to stare at him.

"It's no big deal," he scowled. "I gave her a shot but I just don't feel that way about her."

Odessa frowned. She suspected it was a big deal to Mina, and that she had in part been the cause of the breakup, which made her feel terrible. She was about to apologize when Tai nudged her. She looked up and saw him shaking his head slightly. "Not your fault," he mouthed. How does he know? She thought. Am I that transparent? She lowered her eyes to her lap and tried to still her unease.

Leila searched James's face then turned back around in her seat. "I really thought you two would be able to make it work. She's very... devoted to you. Always has been." Her voice had a touch of wistfulness.

"More like obsessed," he grouched. "It wouldn't have worked; she's too much like a sister to me, anyway."

"You sure were awfully touchy-feely for Mina being like a sister." Tai noted evenly.

"Yeah well, that's how I know I felt that way about her. I thought the kissing would get less weird with time, but it didn't. And don't get me started on anything actually sexual."

Odessa piped up. "I, for one, would prefer you not start on that topic. Let's talk about something less awkward, like turtles. Turtles are interesting."

James laid down and closed his eyes. "Turtles have absurdly huge penises."

Odessa sighed. "You know, sometimes I really hate you."

----------------

They arrived at the craft fair at 7:05. Tai and James had both fallen asleep almost immediately, having both had restless night, albeit for different reasons. Odessa had spent the rest of the trip looking out the window and eating some chocolate-covered espresso beans she'd bought at the bakery that morning.

Now that they were at their destination, she nudged Tai's shoulder gently. He opened his sleepy silvery eyes and smiled at her dreamily. She brushed his dark hair from his face and smiled back. "We're here," she whispered. He nodded and stretched, arching his lithe body over the back of the seat. The movement pulled his t-shirt up and Odessa glimpsed a sliver of tan skin above his waistband before she looked back out the window quickly.

Liam pulled up to the booth assigned to the Adohis, and he, Leila, and Tai climbed out of the van to set up. Odessa turned toward the back seat and looked down at James, who was sleeping with his mouth wide open.

Unbeknownst to her, James had been actually awake since the van slowed into the parking lot. However, he pretended to be asleep in hopes of letting his mind wander undisturbed.

Apparently, that was not to be. He heard Odessa stifle a giggle, but kept his eyes closed and mouth slack, heedless of the possibility of drooling. Authenticity was important. Even when the rich smell of chocolate and coffee hit his nose, he stayed motionless. As soon as he felt the bean slide into his mouth, he leaned up and closed his lips around Odessa's finger, grinning inwardly. That'll teach her, he thought smugly.

With a self-satisfied smirk, he opened his eyes, expecting to see her flustered and blushing madly. Instead, she had a peculiar expression he couldn't decipher and only a hint of pink in her cheeks. She pulled her finger away and, making a sound of disgust, brushed her hand down his chest to wipe it dramatically on his shirt. "Great. Now I'm going to catch your stupidity. Ugh." She turned back around and left the van, calling out, "Leila! Do you have any sanitizer?" Well, that was disappointing, he pouted.

Odessa scurried away from the van as quickly as she could manage while still looking casual. What the hell was that??? She tried so hard to tamp down the heat rising to her face. The last thing she needed was for him to know he'd embarrassed the crap out of her – James would never let that go.

Suddenly, he was at her side, a huge, evil grin on his face. "Sorry, I was having a good dream..."

"Oh? About turtle penises?" she asked with mock innocence as she stared straight ahead. She knew she'd won when she heard his amused snort.

"I hate you too," he said, chuckling.

**********

Author's Note: I love chocolate-covered espresso beans.  I also love putting things in people's mouths when they're sleeping.  This may or may not have been based on a true story. 

Actually, a large portion of Odessa & James's interactions are based on my husband's and mine.  Take that however you will.

Next update will be on Monday, 9/04!

-Evie