I take a long, hot shower after I've finished helping James. I rub my skin with fresh soap that smells of flower petals. I don't mind the feminine scent. At the house, our faucets had stopped working weeks ago. We had to wash ourselves with drinking water, that began to run out too. James and I were barely surviving there. It was until yesterday that I couldn't bare watching James become sick with starvation and I became persuaded by Kenji's proposal to join their little rebellion with Warner.
He told me Juliette was still in love with me.
Juliette.
I don't know whether her name makes me sick with anger or sadness.
But God, do I miss her. Everything about her.
Especially her touch.
How could she forget everything we had just like that? She barely smiled when James and I showed up today.
What angers me was that I told her I'd wait until I was strong enough to withstand her touch, and she didn't even want to. Didn't even try. She would've rather sacrificed our entire relationship than wait.
But it all makes sense now.
Everytime he walks into a room, her head turns. Every time he catches her gazing at him, she blushes. Every time he so much as opens his mouth, she's staring at him like he's fucking Jesus.
Juliette was in love with Warner the entire time.
I want to smash his skull against a wall so badly. I'm twice his size, I could do it.
What the hell does Juliette see in him? I don't get it. Part of me doesn't want to know.
He's so....irritating.
He wanted this to happen. Since the day I met him when I was a Soldier, all he's ever done is mock me.
And the fact that we have the same father makes me sick.
I wish both of them were dead-
Something shifts and I look over my shoulder.
"James?" I call out.
No answer.
I turn off the hot shower and quickly dry myself in a clean towel hanging on a rack.
I tie the towel around my waist and head towards clean clothes someone had left on a shelf before I showered.
Its an extra large black T-shirt and gray drawstring pants, along with a pair of boxer briefs and black and white tennis shoes.
Before I pull the towel around my waist away, I'm distracted by another shift of movement and I look up.
"Whose there?" I say.
Suddenly a rack falls, revealing Alia, who tries to catch it but fails as it falls to the ground and scatters cleaning supplies.
"What are you doing in here?" I question.
"Uh....I uh, um...thought you could use some clean clothes. I got them from the wardrobe Warner gave to us...er um I'm gonna go" Alia stutters, somewhat distracted that I'm half naked, so I cross my arms, not that it'll really help.
She turns, whipping her long ombre ponytail as she does. Alia trips over a few supplies, cursing under her breath.
"Um...thank you" I nod.
Alia look over her shoulder and shyly smiles, blushing a little even, making her dimples stand out.
She leaves the locker room.
The clothes fit me perfectly, even the shoes. The drawstrings even go past my ankle a little bit.
Not a bad estimate at all, Alia.
I sigh at the thought of reentering the training room with everyone there after my little "outburst" with Juliette that Kenji had interrupted. Maybe Juliette won't be there at all.
First, I'll thank Alia for the clothes. Then, I'll check with James, maybe even see how Ian, Winston, Lily, and Castle are holding up.
I leave the showers.
When I reach the training room, Juliette is still there.
So is Warner.
Her arms are crossed and she's nodding her head in agreement, looking intrigued to whatever it is he's telling her.
Kenji slightly laughs at something he says as the three of them continue their conversation, until Juliette looks at me, her smile fading a little.
The room suddenly becomes quiet and I walk away, avoiding the stares from my sorta but not really friend Kenji, my ex-girlfriend, and her new boyfriend.
Castle and the rest of them are even glancing a little.
Thank God for James.
"Adam, Adam! Isn't this place so cool!?! The chocolate pudding Kenji gave me is awesome! Try some!" James smiles and dips his spoon in his pudding cup for me.
He hasn't been this excited about anything ever since the destruction of Omega Point.
He was so traumatized I thought he'd never be his old self again.
But a cup of pudding proved me wrong.
"Its okay, bud. Have at it" I wink and pat his shoulder.
"Aren't you gonna say hi to everyone?" James asks as I begin to walk away.
The room becomes slightly quiet again.
I sigh.
"I'm not really in the mood. Go give Kenji a hug and thank him for letting us stay" i tell him.
"Are you okay, Adam?" James frowns.
No, not really. Even though I know we're safe, I still feel like I'm dying.
"Talk to Kenji" I simply answer.
He slowly nods.
I can't do anything right anymore.
