"please don't go!" I pause outside Sunny and Kyle's cave listening briefly to Sunny's desperate pleas. It is a week after my fainting incident and Mel's birthday and Jeb has announced that there needs to be another raid. Sunny- like normal- is more than reluctant to let Kyle go. Even after two years she still wont let him out of her sight, even for a minuet. However she also understands the importance of raids.
At least I think she does.
I keep on walking because it is rude to eavesdrop, but even five foot down the tunnel I can hear their whispered argument. I am headed towards the kitchen. Jared, Ian and Jeb are planning the raid and with them nothing goes unplanned. It is also much more complicated than normal since I will not be going with them. I think that 'arguments' whether I should go raiding or not are the only times I have ever raised my voice to anyone, let alone Ian. But he was insistent that I stay behind, Jeb too, and what Jeb says, goes.
It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't tripped over Ian on my rush to the bathroom. I woke up this morning feeling really sick. So sick in fact I had to run to the bathroom. I didn't want anyone to know, after all, it just means a whole load of trouble for everyone else. I reach the big garden which is currently filled with lots of little green shoots and cross to the kitchen.
"Wanda!" Jeb exclaims as soon as I open the door. "We were just discussing you,"
"I want to come" I say, in what is supposed to be a severe tone.
Jeb, Jared, Ian, Jamie, Mel and Eden are sitting around the large wooden centre table. I shoot a curious glance at Eden and Jamie who seem to be discreetly holding hands under the table. Eden sees me looking and goes bright red, looking down and inspecting her free left fingers.
"No" I look up. It is Ian who talks, staring at me with his sapphire eyes, concerned and forceful.
"But Ian!" I protest.
"Wanda you are not well. Fainting and then puking. I don't want you to get hurt." His eyes soften, turning all liquidy, the consistency that make my legs turn to jelly. Ian stands up, walking towards me, then taking me by my hand leads my back to the table and places me like a child upon his knee. Naturally I blush scarlet, but Ian laughs, kissing me full on the lips.
"hehum" Jeb coughs and Ian and I break apart.
"yes?" Ian asks innocently.
"As I was saying, since Wanda will not be accompanying us, we will have to be extra careful." Jeb reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. "Nate managed to somehow get hold of these. Reflective contacts." He looks expectantly and the little group however is greeted by blank stares. "Reflective contacts anyone?" he gestures with his hands, as if trying to get the cogs of every one's brains moving slightly faster.
"wow!" every one stares at Jared. "were the hell did he get those?"
"I dunno. Burns most likely."
"Wow." Jared says again.
"um, sorry to be a thickie here" a small but confident voice from the end of the table pipes up. I look up at Eden, who is nervously turning red again. Eden is taller than me, about 5"4 with long straight blonde hair reaching almost to her waist. Her roundish face is hidden behind her long fringe and her large blue eyes behind thick black rimmed glasses. "Sorry, but what do they do?"
"exactly what I was wondering" Jamie says, perhaps in defence of Eden.
"well, Jeb starts to explain, these contacts have some sort of metal strip in them, meaning that when you shine light at them, they reflect."
After almost quarter of an hour of more planning, it was decided that the party should leave as soon as possible.
"Rather sooner than later," Jeb had said. "We don't have much supply, maybe enough for a week more."
And so the group left later that evening, Jared, Ian, Kyle, Brandt, Peter and a few others. Ian kisses me goodbye just before he leaves.
"goodbye, I love you." He says as we pause for breath. I can feel the heat from his lips still on mine, tingling almost.
Then they leave and every thing goes back too normal.
At least, almost normal.