Electric

chapter ten

"What happened to you?" Josh snorts when I plop down across from him at the cafeteria table. I was just asking myself the exact same question. This has been quite the first day. Miles and Ty are sitting at our table too. Ryder is over sitting by Parker. Parker still has that empty seat next to him on the edge. It's tempting to go sit by him. He wouldn't ask questions. He'd stay silent until I was ready to tell him on my own.

    "Hawkins happened to me." I mumble distantly as I pick at my bread slice. Miles's fork clatters to the table. Eyes glance over at us and I notice Parker's are amongst the many. Josh shoots Miles a look.

    "Hawkins is in the building?" Miles's voice sounds in awe and I frown at him before taking a bite of my pizza. This is the first time Miles has said more than two words to me.

    "Unless I just talked to a different General of the whole Freaking army by the name of Hawkins, I'm going to have to answer that question with a yes." I retort quietly and Josh smirks. My own mouth curves into a smile.

    Stupid questions deserve stupid answers.

    "What did he have to say? I can't believe he talked to you. He's the Prominence leader. I'm surprised he had time." Miles presses and Josh resumes shoveling a heaping pile of mashed potatoes in his mouth. The steak next to the potatoes has long been forgotten.

    "Let me just say that that conversation was a blast. So much fun. I think it was the most fun I've had in a long time." I grumble and Josh chuckles.

    "Alright, but what did he say to you?" Miles persists as if he didn't just hear what I said. I narrow my eyes at him, putting my pizza back down on my tray.

    "Why so curious?" I question and his face reddens a touch.

    "This man runs the whole country and he's a few meters away me. I mean, I'd be excited if I knew he was miles away." My glare threatens to catch him on fire. "Come on Evans, it takes a lot of effort to run our deteriorating country. I kinda admire the guy."

I don't like it when he says my last name. It sounds wrong coming out of his mouth. And Miles is practically twitterpated over Hawkins, the same Hawkins that's a murderer, a despicable human being, a monster. I'm sitting with someone who actually looks up to him.

What has this cynical world come to?

    "Excuse me." I say, grab my tray, and leave Josh to sit and deal with Miles on his own. I just can't sit with someone who likes Hawkins. It's disgusting. I don't even try to be discreet as I set my tray down next to Parker's. He glances sideways at me yet says nothing. I slide into the seat grumpily.

    "No offense," I say looking at the soldiers at the table before turning to Parker, "But some of your soldiers are complete idiots." His mouth twitches at the corner but he remains silent. The rest of dinner goes by quickly without much talking. Ryder and Parker talk about the condition of the army for a while, but I stay silent during the discussion.

    Suddenly, the bell rings and the soldier get up to clear their trays. I start to do the same but Parker grabs my wrist under the table, keeping me in place. My eyes don't dare to meet him but I wonder if he can feel how my pulse jumps at his touch. I mean, he is holding my wrist so he can probably feel my pulse. If he notices, though, I'm so screwed. I keep my eyes on my tray and he only releases my wrist when all of the soldiers are out of the cafeteria.

    "What did Hawkins want with you?" Parker's voice is the most serious I've ever heard it. I can tell this question has been eating away at him for a while. I ignore it just to annoy him.

    "Why is Hawkins even here?" My voice is way more confident than I expected. By the way I'm feeling, I was expecting it to come out shaking and scared.