Republic of Omisha

Chapter 54: Clay

 She goes around the apartment explaining every gadget. He watches her, bright eyed and something seems different about her. The light in her brown eyes, the smile on her face, it's like a weight has been taken off her shoulders. In this instance she looks like a wide eyed little girl, full of wonder and hope, not weighed down by any burden or grief.

Clay wants her joy to last forever. He stops her in mid sentence, but pulling her into his arms. He looks down on her beaming face.

"You're cute as a nerd." He says playfully.

She laughs as she looks up into his eyes. In an instant he has brought his lips to hers. He can feel the warmth in her lips.

With their lips locked Clay slowly walks them a few steps over to the couch. They plop down and Eliza is practically in his lap. Her arms are on his chest and he ends up leaning backwards on the couch. His arms are around her waist.

They both sit up with a jolt as the intercom blares. Eliza lets out an exasperated sigh and replies in an irritated voice, "what?"

It's Sandra. "Were ready for you to make your address."

"Be right up." Eliza says as she stands.

Clay feels embarrassed. Why should he? No one walked in on them and he wasn't doing anything that Eliza wasn't okay with.

He walks with her up to the control room. He can't get his head around how big this place is. Two thousand people can fit in the aircraft and six thousand on the water vessel.

As he walks with her, he takes in how calm she is. This is not the girl that he first met, but this is the girl that he fell in love with.

He's glad that she's now in charge and not him. He'd never admit it out loud because it would sound cowardly, but he's not a leader. There's nothing to be ashamed about that right? He is in a constant battle with himself. He doesn't want to be a coward, but he wants to accept who he is and he doesn't want others to see him as a sissy. He looks down at Eliza. She's so petit. Clay is tall and broad. How is she braver than me? Or is being a leader more than being brave? Could stepping down from being a leader when it doesn't suit you be brave too?

His inward debate is halted as they enter the control room. Asher, Sandra, Brindle, and Brooklyn are already there. Clay is just relieved in knowing that Karma, Helena, and Liam are sitting out of the way in the brig for the time being.