The Thing | Windows

The Body

Francesca's POV:
Superstition by Stevie Wonder blasted in the kitchen. Nauls must've been cooking or cleaning. One of the two. "Nauls, turn it down. I'm trying to rest. I got shot today." Bennings said into the comm that was in the hallway. "10-4. I hear you." Nauls replied but didn't turn it down. The dog wandered the camp. I stood in the doorway of Palmer and Childs' room. "Whatcha doing?" I asked. Palmer inhaled and said "smoking." He handed the joint to Childs and said "wanna come in?"

I shrugged and walked into the room. They were watching an old vhs tape and I said "what is this?" "The price is right or some shit. It's all that was here. And I've seen them all. It's boring." Palmer said. He stood up and changed the vhs to something different. Childs handed the joint to Palmer who took a hit and handed it to me. I took a hit and offered it to Childs.

"Can I sit down?" I asked. Palmer nodded and gestured to his bed. I sat on the edge of his bed, closer to the tv. "What're you doing all the way down there, when you could be up here?" Palmer said as he pulled me to where he sat. I smiled and was now in between his legs, which were super long since he was so tall. Palmer exhaled and said "you can lean back, you know." "You sure?" "Yeah." I nodded and my back was now against his chest. The marijuana was beginning to take effect as I watched the tv in their room. Palmer leaned his head on my shoulder and said "you're pretty." "And you're stoned." I said. "I'm trying to give you a compliment so will you just take it?" He asked. "Sure. I'll take it." Palmer nodded against my shoulder and said "good." I rolled my eyes and my attention went back to the tv. "Now that I'm actually high, I wish Caspian would blast his music." Palmer said. "No. That shit will give me a headache." Childs mumbled. "Ugh, but Caspian's music is good." I replied. "Only if you're high." Palmer said. Childs began to laugh and Palmer did the same. "His music is good. Y'all are just mean." "Whateverrrrr." Palmer said as he drug out the r. Echo said "are you guys stoned in here?" I turned to the doorway where she stood. "I am." Palmer replied. I took another hit and then stood up. "No, don't tell me you're leaving." Palmer said as he reached for me. "I decided that I need to sleep this off." "Boo, you're no fun." Palmer said. I stepped out of the room and said "bye, Palmer. Bye, Childs." Palmer scoffed and said "I'm not gonna say bye cause you're leaving." I stepped back into the room, pulling his headphones off his head. "Hey!" "Byeeeee." I said as I headed back to mine.

-

Echo said "what's up with you and Windows?" I shrugged as the two of us walked. "I don't know. I flirt with him and he's been flirting back." "Just tell him you like him already. It's so obvious he likes you back." Echo said. I shook my head and said "no way. He's just flirting." "He totally likes you. I saw what he did today. Protecting you from that big bad gun that was nowhere near you, by the way." "It scared the shit out of me. He pinned me down and all of a sudden I felt safe." Echo smirked and said "go ask him out." "No. I'm afraid it'll ruin our friendship. We have a cool friendship." I said. She rolled her eyes and said "so do you and Palmer." "Palmer is a guy who's constantly high who flirts because he thinks he can get in my pants. He's a mutual friend." I said. Echo laughed and I said "you really think I should ask him out?" "Yes! He totally likes you!" "Maybe I'll go for it." I said as I went to the radio room. "Let me know how it goes!" She said as she passed the radio room. I walked into the room and noticed Windows was sleeping. I carefully sat on his lap and he jumped from the contact. "Windows, don't drop me!" I squealed. He wrapped his arm around my waist and said "what're you doing? You scared the shit out of me!" "You saved me again." I said. Windows rolled his eyes and said "yeah, yeah." "Did you get anybody to respond?" I asked. He huffed and said "no. This damn thing is making me mad." He removed the headphones from around his neck and slung them on the desk. "Windows, MacReady and Copper found something. They need us to help them bring it in." Childs said. Windows nodded and said "I'm coming." I watched Childs' eyes move back and forth between Windows and I. He didn't say anything and walked away. "I gotta go." Windows mumbled as he reached for his jacket. I got off his lap and began walking out of the room. Windows grabbed my arm and said "meet me back here when I'm done." I quirked an eyebrow and said "oh?" "Shut up and just meet me here. It's boring in here. I'll teach you how to use the radio." He said. "Ooh a radio lesson." I said while smiling really big. Windows pulled his jacket onto his body and walked towards one of the doors that led outside. I smiled to myself and went to walk to the rec room.

-

Everyone was called into the infirmary. A body sat on the table and it looked like a freak of nature. Smoke came off it's body. It's face looked like it was two faces merged together. "What is that?" Echo asked. "Some body. We found it." MacReady replied. Norris turned his head as he couldn't look anymore. Garry gagged and Bess made a face. "It's so grotesque." Caitlin said as she started at it. Childs and Nauls didn't say anything. Blair coughed as he looked at it. "You found this at the other base?" I said. Copper nodded and Windows took off his sunglasses to get a better look. "Blair, I want you to start an autopsy. Right away." Copper said. "Windows you're going to need to report this." Garry said as he looked at him. Windows nodded, still looking at the body. "Now." Bess ordered. Windows huffed and then nudged me. He began to walk away and when he got to the door, he mouthed "come on." I nodded and then looked at Copper. "You guys don't need me for the autopsy, right?" I said. Copper shook his head. "No. You're a nurse. You can go." "Thanks." I replied quickly as I left the room. I walked down the hall to the radio room. "We're gonna have a radio lesson. Come on, I'm gonna show you." Windows said as he sat down in the chair. I stood next to him and he patted his lap. "I can't show you if you're standing over there." I rolled my eyes playfully and sat down in his lap. I'm pretty sure I was blushing like crazy. He began showing me the controls. "You need to know how to do this if you ever need to call for help." He reached over my body and explained certain things. I bit my lip as he put his hand on my waist to keep me in place. "Now you know." He said. "You're a great teacher." I said playfully. "Well thank you. I aspire to be." He replied. The both of us laughed and he said "are you going to bed soon?" "Yeah, probably." I said as I leaned against his chest. He put the headphones on his head and tried to contact someone. Nothing to no avail. "I'm not screwing with this anymore." He mumbled. "I'm gonna go to bed. I'm tired, bub." I said. Windows wrapped both his arms around my waist and said "stay here." "Come with me." I said in a whisper. Windows looked at me and I said "come on." I removed his arms from my waist and began to walk out of the room. Windows was hot on my tail. When we got to my room. I stopped him. "Clark isn't gonna miss you?" I said. Windows rolled his eyes and I opened my bedroom door. The two of us went inside and I said "why'd you follow me?" "You told me to." "What's the real reason. Give it to me straight." I said. Windows took off his sunglasses and said "look, you're the prettiest girl here. And we flirt all the time. I just figured..." "What?" "I figured you liked me back. I like you. We flirt all the time. Or did I get the wrong impression?" He said. I shook my head and said "you got the right impression. But I was afraid to tell you that I liked you." "Why? He asked. "I was afraid you wouldn't like me back. And I didn't want to ruin the friendship we had or whatever." I said. Windows reached for my hand and I let him take it. "Can I just hold you? While we sleep?" I nodded and said "sure. I'm not sure how we're going to do that in a twin sized bed." Windows shrugged and said "we'll figure it out. Won't we?" "I would think so."

The end has me like🥰🥰🥰🥰 and I apologize if this is too fast but the characters have known each other a few weeks so yeah
~skylar🪐🛸🪐🛸