Obscurity

Chapter 42: Go Fish

Sierra

Listening to Spencer talk about all the trips he's taken and places he's traveled makes me a little jealous. I wish I could go to half of the places he's been. One day, when I get out of here, traveling will be high on my to-do list. We eat breakfast together, and I let him do most of the talking. I'm not an idiot. I know I haven't led an interesting life. I don't have fun travel stories or stories about trips I've taken with friends. I would probably bore him to death if I tried to steer the conversation in any way. I just politely nod and eat my food as he goes on and on. It's fine by me. I like listening to him talk. He's fascinating.

I sneak glances over at Alma occasionally. She's keeping very much to herself this morning. I know she's worried about Chris, but she's got to keep it together today. She looks over at Spencer every now and again and I'm starting to wonder if she likes him. I know it sounds crazy, but their body language is telling me there's definitely something there. I shrug off these thoughts as paranoia. Alma wouldn't move in on the guy I've already claimed. Would she?

When breakfast is over and all the trays are returned to the cart, the food guy takes it all away. Spencer doesn't get up to go to his room. He just sits here and keeps on talking. I'm still on the fence as to whether this is a good thing or not. He talks an awful lot. Alma goes to stand up and take off for the room but I grab her wrist and pull her back down into her chair.

"Alma. Stay, please." I say cordially. Spencer doesn't miss a beat and keeps on talking. He looked at us funny when I grabbed her but he didn't seem concerned, just curious.

"Sierra, I'm really tired. I think I just need some extra sleep." She says as she yawns. The yawn could be fake for all I know, but she's staying put no matter what. I need to keep her in sight, so Chris can't corner her. If she's out here with everyone in the day room, there's no way he can say she did or said something insubordinate. We all can serve as witnesses if we need to. I realize I should probably tell her what I'm thinking, just in not so many words.

"You really should be out here. You know, where everyone can see you." I tell her, raising my eyebrows to stress my point.

"Why?"

"Because if you're out here, Chris can't corner in our room. You need people with you today. If he's on a warpath, the last thing you need to be is alone somewhere."

"Oh. I didn't think of that." She mumbles.

I giggle and direct my attention back to Spencer, who actually stopped talking while I informed Alma of her need to be surrounded by witnesses. His face is frozen in a look of curiosity.

"What are you two talking about?" he questions with a big smile. I swear I saw him bat his eyelashes but it could just be my imagination.

"Nothing." Alma and I say in unison.

"Uhuh. You two were talking about something right in front of me and now you don't want to fill me in. I'm hurt." He grins. "That's incredibly rude, you know."

"Shut up, Spencer." Alma says rolling her eyes.

"It's just that the unit manager is pissed off because he's gotten into some trouble for being a prick and we're pretty sure he's going to retaliate any time and I think it's best if he doesn't catch anyone alone." I blabber to Spencer. Alma shoots me a look and mouths the words, "Shut the fuck up." I laugh at her and look back over to Spencer who now seems deep in thought.

"A unit manager would retaliate?" he seems dumbfounded.

"Anyone would, I suppose." I say to him as I pull my cards from my pocket and begin to shuffle them.

Spencer is looking at Alma. Alma is staring at the nurses station, undoubtedly looking for any sign of Chris. She looks like the slightest loud noise would make her jump out of her skin. I shake my head.

"Alma, when they call you for meds, take the rectangle off-white pill today." I say to her, not looking at her. I focus on my cards.

"I'm not taking any pills." She whispers, her eyes narrowed.

"Will you listen to me damn it? Alma, take the anxiety meds today. Tongue the other one if you want. You need the rectangle one. You look like you're going to come out your fucking skin. Trust and take it. Please?" I say to her as I divide my card deck again.

She doesn't respond. She stares across the hall into the nurses station. I can tell when she spots Chris because her spine straightens more. It's a typical fear response. I drop my cards on the table and reach underneath it. I slap her leg to snap her out of it. She gives me a desperate look. She looks like she wants to crawl under the table.

"You don't do well under pressure I see." I say as I resume shuffling.

"Alma?" Spencer says in a low voice. She looks over to him. "Are you okay?" He asks, a little more concerned than I think he should be, given he doesn't know her very well.

"I'm fine." She lies. She wipes her hands on her pants and tries to look natural, but she looks anything but.

I turn around and look behind me toward the nurses station to see if I can get an idea on what we may be doing this morning. The doctors do not come in every single day, so my best guess is that we're either going to have group or quiet time. Either option will make up for the time the doctors would use calling each of us back for meetings throughout the morning.

I spy Stacy zipping around the nurses station. She looks like she's trying to get something to print from the computer at the main observation desk and the printer seems to be protesting. She smacks the printer a couple of times and huffs before marching back over to the main desk and smacking the keyboard keys hard.

Looks like she's having a great morning. I laugh inwardly. Spencer and Alma are both quiet. They seem to be looking at what I am. I spin all the way back around in my chair and resume shuffling my cards.

"Are you going to deal or what?" Spencer asks.

"Oh," I laugh nervously, "I don't play. I just shuffle. It's calming." I explain.

He let's out a laugh. Not a judgmental one, but it's annoying anyway.

"So, let me get this straight. You carry cards, very worn ones, I might add, in your pocket. And you don't play cards. You only shuffle them?" he teases.

I nod. It's not the first time someone's pointed out that I don't play cards.

"Well. To be honest, I don't know any card games." I confess. My cheeks reddening slightly.

"Well why didn't you say so?" He asks. Confidence rolls off him in waves. He's awesome.

I shrug. Looking over to Alma, I notice she's just sitting there watching the exchange between Spencer and me. I'm glad she isn't staring at the nurses station anymore.

"Why don't I teach you a couple of games?" He offers. His smile beams.

"Um. Okay."

"Awesome. Let me see your deck?" he holds his hand out, and I hand my old ratty cards over to him. "Okay. So you don't know any card games at all?" He asks, mainly confirming what I just told him.

"None."

"Right. So we will start slow. Have you ever heard of Go Fish?"

I shake my head. What the hell is Go Fish? I laugh out loud at the idea of such a ridiculous name for a card game. It doesn't bother him the least bit. He shuffles a couple of times and starts passing out cards. He includes Alma, but when he and I pick up our little piles of cards, Alma leaves hers face down on the table and I see she's staring at the nurses station again.