Survival

Chapter 49 Scavenging

Vita had thought that the boy would disappear after her first cold shoulder. The second or third hadn't worked either. She trod carefully around closing time and talked Deidra into staying with her tonight to avoid having to go total meltdown on this guy.

"Why are you running from this boy? I mean he seems a bit naive, but probably a good guy?" Deidra put on a ring heavy with Royston turquoise in the center, while Vita tried to formulate some kind of response that fit her budding persona. Deidra beat her to it. "Holding out for the baby's daddy?"

"Voice down, Deidra. Not many people know yet." She grimaced. She hadn't perfected the art of not giving a shit yet.

Deidra just laughed, her long dark hair bouncing from side to side. "You never answered my question."

"If he -- by some miracle -- lived, I would defend myself and run as far as I could."

Deidra nodded. "My first boyfriend was like that. Drinking, drugs, violence. My soon-to-be husband came into my life and showed me a different path, one I didn't think I deserved."

Vita ignored her pointed eye contact. Just because one guy had been nice to Deidra, didn't mean she needed to give this new weirdo a chance. The world wouldn't be such a messed up place if every situation offered such similar outcomes.

"But I understand you wanting to do this all on your own. Fewer complications or problems coming up. Keep it simple, especially when you'll have so much support."

"Yeah," Vita said. She should have just closed up the kitchen alone and tore the stalker a new one. The concern made her feel unsettled. Why couldn't her business stay her own?

When she and Deidra walked out of the kitchen, sure enough, the guy stood, but he shied away with one glance at Deidra. Maybe it was her height or the stern look the Navajo woman could muster up, but it sent him off in the other direction.

"I wish I could do that," Vita muttered.

"You need to find your inner strength, not this moody, scared girl who hides from what she's done."

Vita frowned and her eyes shot down to the ground. "You haven't done what I have."

"Spoken like a teenager. One day you'll see we're not all so different. Hurt, pain and mistrust are universal like happiness and compassion. But, I have to find my son before he decides he wants to play a superhero again and drown all of our 'evil' possessions. Not as easy to fix post-disaster. Rest well, Vita."

"Thanks, Deidra," Vita said before she went back to the sleeping area. Lying down would do her some good, along with sleep.

The next morning, Cynthia wanted to have a quick chat before breakfast. Mr. M had decided to take the boys on a little mission and they were all eating with him, leaving Cynthia with free time. Vita began to wonder if her plans would start to revolve around the little human growing in her belly too.

"Vita, I want to apologize. I've been so occupied with Peyton's departure and with Winston and Mr. M. I haven't had the chance to be a good friend, but I'd like to redeem myself." Cynthia wore a smile to back up her words.

"It's fine, Cynthia. I'm not someone who needs a check-in every day to keep living. I manage." If she was old enough to have a kid, she was old enough to take care of herself.

Cynthia continued to study Vita's face. Vita worked hard to make sure her passive expression didn't crack. "How have you really been?"

Vita contorted her face. "What's that supposed to mean?"