Quarantine

Chapter Twenty

Hero's POV:

By the time we are almost packed the atmosphere is changing both outside the house as well as inside.

Outside, the sun is busy setting and casting its awesome orange and yellow hues amidst the shadows of the neighbouring buildings.

Meanwhile inside, I guess it would be fair to say we were both becoming lower ourselves in terms of our moods which were casting dark, gloomy shadows and doubts for our future.

I had told Jo I'd figured it out and sorted us somewhere.

In reality, if I'm honest.. I haven't quite told her the truth but that's because I don't want Jo worrying.

Deep down I knew I would come up with something.. Anything. I had to.

"Hero?" Jo's soft and familiar voice disturbed my inner rambling.

"Yeah?!" I immediately stopped what I was doing; raised my eyebrows and turned to face her.

She broke out into a fit of small giggles, causing me to instantly relax my eyebrows and chuckle. "What?" I grinned.

"Nothing." She looked down into her lap and shook her head.

I studied her crossed legs while trying to think of what she could have possibly wanted to say to me - but I came up with nothing.

"Well..?!" I prompted with a wry smile.

"Your.. Stomach.." She began, still laughing.

"What about my stomach!?!" I replied a little too defensively and instantly regretted interrupting her. "Sorry, you were saying.." I gestured to her to continue with a wave of my hand.

She responded by giving me a look which said "Really Hero? Your so impatient!"

"Your tummy... It's been making the most interesting noises for the best part of half an hour now.. So.." Jo raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"So..?" I jumped in again without thinking, instantly annoying myself further.

"So I was thinking.. Let's take a break? We should really eat." She shrugged.

"Oh, thank fuck for that!" I jumped up and clapped my hands; rubbing them together.

"What?!" Jo exclaimed and half laughed as I extended my hand down to her to help her up.

Oh, shit! I just swore. I try to be mindful that she doesn't like it.. And most times I do remember but sometimes I just don't think before I speak.

"I've been waiting for ages for you to say you're hungry." I informed her, shrugging my right shoulder.

"What?!?" She exclaimed even louder this time. "You could've said?! You didn't have to wait for me!" She nudged me playfully with her knuckles against my arm.

I was more than ready to respond in a playful manner, that was until I watched her mouth contort and her eyes grow wide.

"What? What is it!? What's wrong?!" I demanded to know.

"My.. My legs.." Jo rasped. I watched as she bent herself forwards while trying to massage them carefully.

"What about them?" I frowned, not understanding.

"They're dead.." She winced and half laughed.

"Then why are you laughing?" I smirked.

"I'm not!" She retorted while half laughing again.

My frown remained but I begun to smile more than ever. "Er, Jo? Yes you are.." I pointed out the obvious while trying not to laugh.

"It's not funny!" She whined sassily.

Rather than answer her I held my hands up as if to say "Ok, ok.." I then kneeled down infront of her and began to help by massaging her legs gently.

In hindsight, I probably should've thought about it before doing it, seeing as her legs were bare.

She didn't seem to mind though.. Or that is to say maybe the massage was working and the pins and needles were lessening in their intensity? Because she no longer seemed distressed..

Amused, I noticed how just one of my hands covered a large span against the back of her calves. I was amazed at the sheer size difference when measuring in comparison.

That and just how ridiculously soft her legs were.. Then again they always were soft.

"Um, Hero?" Jo interrupted my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I quickly responded by looking up at her; my hands still placed strategically against her bare skin.

"I think I'm okay now." She smiled suggestively and I'm quick to remove my hands from her and stand.

I decided to focus my efforts instead on pushing away the thoughts and feelings that were now threatening to overcome me.

One thought in particular being that I missed the feeling of her skin on mine.. That and the uncomfortable feeling of no longer being physically close to her.

The more time I spend with her, the more I notice how much I miss her.. Even when she's right there.

Was that even possible?

"So.. Food?" I shake my head and look to her for answers.

"Yeah, I was thinking maybe I could scramble something up? Maybe something with chicken?" She suggested, her Australian accent accentuating her words.

"Chicken?!" I repeat, replaying her words in my mind. I loved the way she spoke.

"Yes, Hero. Chicken." She frowned and grinned.

"Right, right. Chicken! Let's do it!" I smile enthusiastically, snapping myself out of it and leading the way out of the room.

As I crossed the hallway and bounded down the stairs, I realised no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't seem to push a certain thought away.

It was impossible.

And so I found myself at the bottom of the stairs wondering.. When would I ever get close to her again?

Hell, more to the point.. Will I ever get the chance to be so close to her again?!

Man, I've gotta snap out of this...