Stay...Together

Chapter 20

The sun began to poke out from behind the sun. It turned the sea just a little bluer (and

shinier) and heated up Victorine's shoulders. The group had walked pretty far in that day (just far enough away from the grave), and by the end, Victorine's legs were fatigued enough. Not to mention that the whole time she stayed glued to Asha (unless she tried to talk to Lane) or Yolanda. So the second she could have to ability to flop down, she did.

But when Lane tried to sit next to her, she sat right back up and moved to Jacey. Victorine noticed how she still had those dark circles under her eyes. It wasn't much a surprise; no one slept during the fire. However, Jacey seemed like she was about to almost faint. A little like that time in the ambulance. Victorine tried to press against Jacey's shoulder, but Jacey pulled away. Victorine frowned and scooted away a little. She fiddled with her bracelet and didn't look Jacey in the eye.

She tried to turn her attention to someone else. But all she saw was silent mourning and solemn faces. She curled up her legs and sat on her feet. She sighed as she tried to think of something to say to Jacey. Something to gesture or insinuate. But her mind kept drawing up blanks. So the two stared into space together until Yolanda started rationing out all the food they had left. That of course, was no more than a funny, tasting circular cracker from a plastic sleeve. Victorine nibbled on it, not letting the sticking crumbs fall on her clothes.

She listened in on Asha and Lane's light chatter as she thought more about Lee. It wasn't anything specific, just her in general. Everything she said about people not deserving what happened to them. Every time she'd bicker with Yolanda just to hide her own feeling. Everything she did for Victorine...

She got up and plopped down next to Asha as the sun disappeared over the horizon thousands of miles away. No one dared to consider sleeping inside. Not after the night before. And no one had the energy to try and find a space intact enough for shelter. So they claimed an old beach parking lot and rested amongst old tires and rusted beams. Victorine didn't mind it. It reminded her of a place she'd stayed before. A place that gave her a few good memories.

Yolanda was fatigued enough to fall asleep right against a charcoaled wall. Parker pulled Jacey to close to his chest and rest his head on top of hers. Victorine leaned up against Asha, who continued to try talking to Lane.

"So...do we just sleep out here all the..." Lane asked. God, even the sound of his voice made Victorine's eyebrows knit.

"Yeah. It's kinda nice, isn't it?" Asha responded.

"It's kinda cold..." Lane whispered.

"Welp, it's that time of the month," Asha reasoned with a shrug that made Victorine's chin painfully press into her chest.

"I-I hope we get one of those random hot days," Lane muttered.

"I used t' love those! You get to take off your coats for just one day..."

"Mom said that..." Lane paused. Victorine's attention curiously perked (instead of, of course angrily).

"Your mother?" Asha asked.

"L-let's just go t'sleep," Lane blurted out. And with that, both shut up. Victorine took this chance, drifting asleep with Asha's hijab as the perfect pillow.

Victorine woke in just about the middle of the night. The moon was high in the sky, a thin blanket of clouds covering it. The light of the moon reflected across the streaks of fluffy gray. Victorine's mouth curved into a smile as she realized it looked like a cat had scratched the moon.

Victorine was wide awake. Her eyes were alert and wide. She had enough energy to get up and run a marathon. Not wanting to lean on Asha any more than she needed to, Victorine crawled towards the center of the area the group spaced off for themselves. The chill of the night sent a shiver down her spine. But for once, Victorine actually...enjoyed where she was. She crawled around the garbage and the scrap as the moon illuminated the concrete. She dragged her legs behind her, pressing her palms the ground each time.