Chapter Eleven

Two months passed. It had not taken Jay long to locate the island. Ved was there, along with other test subjects, alive, but just barely. When all of them were brought back to the city, the worse off ones stayed in a hospital that had been set up by Siva and Salene. The other had gone of to there tribes. There were no Mallrats among them. In this time Jay distanced himself from Trudy, leaving early and working late. He wasn't ready to tell her the truth.
One morning Jay walked into Trudy's room. He had forgotten his bag and was just about to grab it when Trudy stirred. "Jay, is that you?"
"Yeah"
She reached her arms out towards him asking him to come to her. "Oh Jay it's been so long." She pulled him into an embrace. It was short; Jay pulled himself away. Trudy looked puzzled for a moment but quickly smiled. "Why can't you stay with me today?"
"No" Jay looked down at the pattern on the bed. "Trudy...I" Looking up he paused. He couldn't say it. He quickly left the room.
Trudy tried to get up and go after him. She stopped dumbfounded at the door. Something was up. She turned to go back when she spotted Jay's bag at the edge of the bed. Grabbing it she smiled and ran out into the Mall. Trudy came close to the café when she saw Jay and Siria. Trudy slipped into the nearest shadow to watch them talk. "Here's a quick lunch Jay, so you won't ruin your appetite; I'm planning a pretty good dinner tonight." Siria smiled.
"Oh really, I can't wait." He said softly.
"Well you're going to have to. Is Ved coming today?"
"I'm going to try; He might still be too weak."
"I'll set a place just in case." Siria placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Jay, He be fine."
Jay lifted her hand and kissed it gently. "Thank you, Siria." There was longing in his eyes. Siria gave a weak smile and pulled her hand away. She then went back into the kitchen. Jay looked at the floor and giving a deep sigh walked out of the Mall.
Trudy stood in shock. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Actually she could. Siria had rescued Jay's life. There could be a little affection involved, but not that much. Kisses and longing looks meant something else entirely. Love, but that wasn't right... Jay was with her. Jay loved her...right? Trudy's eyes welled with tears as she continued to convince herself that Jay was faithful. She would have to ask him. But that actually meant finding him. Trudy walked back to her room. Another point against her, she sneered; bet Siria knew were he was. She threw the bag on the ground.

Later that morning, Siria stood in the kitchen. She was making soup for the kids at the Hospital. In the time that had past she had grown slightly bigger, but with every one so involved in the hospital no one really noticed. Siria had changed out her tight fitting black top into a loose pink blouse with tiny white stitching. She was quietly humming to herself when Ram entered. "Why are you so happy?"
"What do you want?"
"You know Jay and Trudy are getting married, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"I mean they might just get married tomorrow, those two love birds can hardly stay away from each other."
"Ram, do you have a purpose here?" Siria tried to compose herself.
He shrugged. "I just thought you'd like to know."
Siria whirled around. "Well I didn't."
Ram looked at Siria and smiled. "Easy now, stress is bad for the baby."
"SHUT UP"
"What's going on?" Amber rushed into the room.
"Nothing" Ram left the room, pushing past Amber.
Amber looked at Siria. "You're eventually going to have to tell."
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Well when are you?"
"Tonight at dinner, I'll tell them right after."
"And you'll tell them that Jay is the father?"
"Jay isn't the father."
"What! I've been watching..."
"Jay is not the father, Mega is."
"What the..." Amber stopped she studied Siria's face. She nodded in understanding. "Ok, if you want it that way, but I don't think it's right."

And the madness begins...