Chapter 13: Happy Days Ahead?

Kym's POV

I was carrying a basketful of laundry when I saw Hal, Ben, and Maggie coming out from the meeting room They were deep in thoughts and didn't notice me. I called out Ben's name. They all turned and when they saw me, they each gave me a smile.

'Just after a meeting?' I asked. When Ben saw the heavy load of laundry I was holding, he offered to carry them for me.

'Yeah. Hal and I will be heading out soon,' Maggie said. It was one of their night duties.

'We'll see you two later,' Hal said before he and Maggie walked away. Ben and I turned to each other and walk along the hallway towards the back of the building where we do most of the washing.

'Looks like it were an intense discussion and there seems to be more frequent meetings lately. Has something happened?' I asked and turned to Ben. He looked straight ahead and hesitated a while. It's been two weeks since Ben and I had our talk about the 'awkward kiss' on the rooftop. Our friendship has gone back to how it was before and in fact, I felt that it has become better.

'A few weeks ago, some aliens' activities were spotted not too far from our camp. We just wanted to be sure thus more of the fighters have been doing more rounds lately.' A sudden fear came over me. Aliens' activities! It must be Karen.

'It's Karen,' I said out loud without realizing. The day I was captured by Karen flashed before me. I must have looked frightened because Ben looked at me and he was concern.

'Hey, don't you worry. She's not going to hurt anyone,' he tried to assure me.

'She is still not giving up on forming an alliance with us, eh?'

'We will never form the alliance with her. We are preparing to blow up whatever activities that they are doing in that area. Most of the fighters have gone to observe the place these few weeks. We are confident we can do it without being detected,' Ben was certain.

'When?' I asked. This is a huge and dangerous mission. I am worried for him and the 2nd Mass fighters.

'Soon,' was his reply.

Ben's POV

'Hey bro! You seem to have a lot on your mind,' I turned to my side and say Hal walking towards me. Both of us are on night duty tonight. Yesterday's conversation with Kym about Karen had me unsettled. I was concern about Kym. I know Karen will surely attack and the activities that we have spotted near to our camp site don't look too good. The skitters' rebels have information that whatever that Karen and the Aliens are working on will be detrimental to the human race. Dad and Colonel Weaver have been coming up with strategies and have been planning for the attack. If Kym is by my side all the time, I can be confident I'll never let anything happens to her but most of the time I am with the 2nd Mass' fighters. Although we remain as friends, I still can't deny my own feelings for her. I am just waiting and hoping that she will change her mind one day.

'Nah', I replied nonchalantly.

'Is it about Kym?' Hal's question caught me off guard. Looking at my hesitant face, he confirmed it.

'I knew it! Maggie was right!' he said sheepishly. What? Maggie also knows about it?

'What are you talking about?' I tried to brush it off.

'Oh come on. You know what I am talking about. It's Kym, you like her,' he said. This time there isn't any tease in his voice.

'Maggie saw you both the other day, at the back of our camp near to the forest. Both of you were kissing,' he said, trying very hard not to laugh. I looked at him and sigh.

'You are right that I like Kym but Maggie was wrong. We were not kissing. I kissed her!' I said. It was embarrassing to talk about this with my brother but I was glad there is someone for me to confide my feelings at the moment.

'She doesn't like you that way?' Hal asked. This is complicated and I am not too sure how to explain to him. I am not even sure I want to explain to him but I know he will not let it go.

'We both feel the same way but… it's complicated,' I was exasperate thinking about this friendship/relationship.

'What's the problem if you both like each other?' He was confused. I don't blame him.

'She doesn't want to start anything right now and she wants our friendship to remain as it is now.'

'Sucks!' he blurted out.

'Yeah. But I respect her decision.' I said.

'Whoa…my brother has finally grown up,' Hal can't help but to tease me.

'I am no longer the math geek you thought along, dumb jock,' I teased back. He smiled. Hal and I used to get into a lot of arguments when we were younger. I think this is what brothers are supposed to do – frustrate each other out. But Hal is a good brother to both me and Matt. I realized it a lot after the invasion. Maggie told me one day a few weeks after I have been rescued from the alien that Hal has been searching frantically for me. He even risks his life by wearing Rick's harness to get close to the skitters just to rescue me. When Anne removed my harness, he and the rest of my family stayed with me until I wake up. During the time when Jimmy died, he tried to get through to me too although I push him away. The time when I decided to stay with the skitters' rebellions, he was very upset but he respected my decision too. That day under the bridge when he pulled me into a brotherly hug, I knew Hal cares a lot for me. I never admitted to him before but I care a lot about him too.

'She might change her mind later,' Hal said encouragingly and pat me on the shoulder. Maybe but it's very unlikely.