Minds: Book One

Chapter Sixteen

        After a few hours we decided to go back to the Safe House so we could be there when River woke up.

        “This morning at the meeting you said that Nick and Piper are planning something, what do you think they are planning?” Alice asked. I glanced over at Milo who didn’t seem to listening.

        “I don’t know, I over heard part of a conversation that Piper and Nick were having a few days ago.” I said. Milo turned around and looked up at me.

        “Piper and Nick have been spending a lot of time together. They sneak away in the middle of the night and are gone for hours.” He said as if that was normal. Alice and exchanged glances.

        “That’s weird because they have never gotten along.” She said. Milo nodded his head in agreement.

        “What did you hear in his conversation?” She asked. I told her about I heard Nick and Piper talking about a few days ago in the showers.

        “Hmm, whatever they are planning I doubt it’s something good.” She said shaking her head.

        “I know, I don’t know if I should tell Richard about it.” I said.

        “Don’t tell him, he won’t believe you. He barley believed me when I told him about what Nick was doing to me.” She said as she rolled her eyes. We were almost to the Safe House.

        “I guess we will just have to keep an eye on both of them for the next couple of days.” Alice said. I nodded in agreement even though she wasn’t looking at me. Milo opened to door to the Safe House and we walked inside. There weren’t very many people sitting at the tables next to the kitchen. Alice’s eyes shot up to mine.

        “What time is it?” I asked. Alice and I both sprinted towards River’s room in the hospital. We both pushed past people and ignored a nurse yelling at us that we weren’t allowed to run in the hospital. I whipped the privacy curtain out of our way and saw Doc and the two nurses standing next to his bed. I was relived when I saw that River was still asleep.

        “You guys made it just in time, he is about to wake up.” Doc said. We walked over and stood at the end of his bed. The blonde nurse removed the breathing tube from River’s mouth as the brunette nurse removed the clip from his finger. Doc carefully removed River’s IV. We waited a few minutes before he started to stir. His eyes slowly started to open. He blinked a couple times before looking around. When he saw Alice and I standing at the foot of his bed he got an ear to ear smile on his face. He slowly sat up.

        “How are you feeling?” I eagerly asked. River swung his legs over the edge of his bed and took a deep breath. He lowered himself onto the floor and let out the breath slowly. He stood up straight.

        “I feel amazing.” He said as he gave Doc a big hug. Doc hugged him back as he laughed.

        “Thank you so much Doc!” He said with the happiest voice I’ve heard him use since we have arrived at the Safe House. River let go of Doc and turned towards me. At the same time he rushed towards each other and threw our arms around each other.

        “Alice get in on this!” River said as he held one of his arms out towards Alice. He walked over and put her arms around both of us. River and I tightly sandwiched Alice between us. Alice began laughing.

        “You guys are going to suffocate me.” Alice said as she laughed. We both let go of Alice and looked down at her.

        “It feels weird being the shortest one again.” She said as she looked up at us.

        “Better get used to it, little one.” River said giggling a little. Alice punched River in the arm. I looked over to say something to Doc but he and both of the nurses had already left.

        “I’m hungry.” River said.

        “Tell us something we don’t know.” Alice and I said at the same time. The three of us walked towards the kitchen.

        After we finished eating, we all walked back to our bunks. None of us mentioned the take down of ROIM. When we got back to Alice and I’s bunk I gave River a hug and told him I’d see him in the morning. I kissed Alice and she climbed up into her bed.

        “Goodnight guys.” Milo said from his bunk.

        “Goodnight sweetie.” Alice said.

        “Night dude.” I said as I climbed under the covers. It didn’t take me long to fall asleep.

        I woke up a few hours later. I shifted around in bed and tried to fall back asleep.

        Are you awake? Alice said in my head.

        Yeah. I said back to her.

        Can I be your little spoon? She asked in her sweet voice.

        Of course. A few seconds later she climbed down from her bed and into mine. I scooted over to make room for her. I turned on my side and she fit her body perfectly into mine. I covered both of us up with the blankets. I wrapped one of my arms around her waist and slid the other one under my pillow. The sweet smell of her hair filled my nose.

        Did you have trouble sleeping? I asked.

        Yeah I’m nervous about tomorrow. She said after a few minutes. She started tracing her fingers up and down my forearm.

        So am I. I said. She turned over onto her other side and looked at me. She leaned in and kissed me. I put my hand on her lower back and pulled her closer to me so her body was pressed up against mine again. She wrapped her leg around my torso. I pulled away and kissed her just below her mouth. I slowly kissed her chin, then her neck. She sighed into my ear spending a chill down my back.

        I kissed her collar bone and looked back up at her. She placed her cold hand on the side of my face and locked her eyes on mine.

        I love you. I said. She gave me a small smile. I leaned in and kissed her again. She pulled away after a few seconds.  She turned onto her other side again and fit her body perfectly into mine again. I wrapped my arm around her waist and closed my eyes. Just before I fell asleep I heard Alice whisper,

        “I love you so much Isaac.”