Obscurity

Chapter 63: Rattlesnake

Alma

I cannot believe she just asked us that. How in the hell did she possibly guess we're exes? I wasn't putting off any weird ex-y vibes. I glare over at Spencer. It must've been him. Whatever look he was probably giving me, that I didn't notice, set this off. I can't believe him. I hadn't told Sierra for a reason. I didn't want her being suspicious or questioning me about it. I don't want her thinking I'm after him. God knows I'm not.

The breakfast guy passes out our trays and we all set about eating. I look over at Chris occasionally and every time I look, he's still writing on his papers. I giggle to myself when I think that maybe he's keeping a diary. Is that why he's writing so much? Keeping track of his evil deeds.

Sierra seems to be racing through her breakfast. She hasn't said another word since agreeing to stay sitting with me. I glance over at Spencer. He's eating like everyone else. Nick is quietly picking at his food. No one is saying much. Not even the other tables. The only sounds in the day room right now are the random sounds of people chewing and the scribbling of Chris over at Jim's table.

Jim clears his throat and wipes his mouth with his napkin. After he throws the napkin onto his tray, signaling he's finished eating, he turns to Chris.

"When is Abigail coming back to the unit?" He asks casually.

It sounds harmless enough, but anyone who knows he and Abigail are so close, knows everything is weighing on the answer Chris gives him. This isn't a casual question. This is a major deal for Jim. It amazes me he even had the courage to ask. Not that he isn't courageous, just that I'm not entirely sure it's a good thing to ask Chris. Chris doesn't typically seem like the type to talk about the absent patients. He likes the power it gives him.

Chris stops writing and looks up at Jim who is sitting there waiting for an answer.

"You know I cannot discuss information regarding other patients." He says with a slight edge to his voice.

Jim slams his fist down on the table and Chris jumps from the unexpected bang. "When is she coming back?" His voice raised this time.

Chris reached up and rubs his ear and sets his pen down. He crosses his arms and looks at Jim. "She is not coming back to my unit." He says decisively, never taking his eyes off Jim's.

"Why the hell not?"

"She's a risk to other patients. And that's all I'm going to say at this point. I'm sorry you don't like my answer." He says apologetically.

"This is bullshit and you know it!" Jim yells as he storms out of the day room to the East Hall.

Chris looks around the room quickly and sits up straighter.

"If anyone else has something they'd like to clear up while I'm here..." He says with an air of superiority. His negative attitude radiating off him.

"Actually, yeah." Nick stands up and faces Chris. "Where's Daniel?"

"The same place you're about to end up. Solitary." Chris says arrogantly.

"Oh. Really?" Nick says. "I'll get thrown in Solitary for asking a question?"

"You'll be thrown in Solitary for insubordination." Chris corrects.

"You keep this up, and you're going to have an empty unit, Chris." He says as he retakes his seat.

"Is there something in the fucking water today?" Chris asks as he looks around the room at us. "I mean, seriously?"

I see Spencer quietly chuckle to himself out of the corner of my eye, but I don't take my gaze off Chris. I feel like I'm locked in a small room with a rattlesnake. If I take my eyes off of him, he's going to strike.

Sierra keeps her back to Chris the entire time he's addressing the room. I wonder how long it'll be before he realizes she isn't really paying attention to him.

"Anything else, ladies and gentlemen?" Chris's voice echos through the day room.

When no one responds, Chris gathers his paperwork and clipboard and retreats back into the nurses station. He doesn't so much as look back at the day room.

I look at Sierra. She has a glazed-over look on her face.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She says.

"Sure?"

"Yeah. After meds, I think I'm just going to go to our room and keep a low profile today." She says.

"Good idea. Mind if I come too?" I only ask because usually when I'm feeling like shit I tell her stay away and I don't know if she's the same way when she's down.

"You can do whatever you want." She gives me a weak smile.

A white clad nurse comes to the hallway and calls across into the day room, "Meds. Everyone prescribed morning meds, come on over."

Everyone in the day room save for Spencer, and Nick begins to migrate over to the nurses station. Sierra gets in line behind me.

"Are you gonna take 'em?" She asks.

"Nope. I need to be on top of my game today."

"But aren't you worried?" She whispers.

"Yeah, I am."

"Better take the anxiety one." She advises.

"You're probably right." I concede.

"Tongue 'em and I'll help you figure out which is which back in the room." She says over my shoulder as we advance to the observation desk to collect our meds.

I do as she says and we make our way back down to our room. In the bathroom, I drop the pills from my mouth into my hand and hold them out toward her so she can identify which one it is that I need to take.

"That one." She points to the rectangle pill.

I throw it back in my mouth and swallow it. Then, I discard the second pill into the toilet and flush it.

"Thanks, Sierra."

She winks at me.

We leave the bathroom, and I stop and stand at the window looking down. She climbs into her bed.

I leave the window and walk over to my bed and lay in it facing her.

"Can I ask you something?" I say as I lump my pillow up between my bent elbow and my head.

She nods.

"How did you know about Spencer and me?"

Throwing her head back, she laughs out loud.

"Have you seen the way he looks at you, Alma?"

I shrug. "Not really."

"He's head over heels."

"He wasn't always..." My tone somber at the recollection of the events leading up to our divorce.

"So spill." She says as situates herself and gets comfortable.

I'm unsure of how much to actually tell her. I don't know if I want another human being carrying it all around with them. I trust Sierra and know she wouldn't broadcast anything I told her to anyone else, but I still have my reservations.