I'm so sorry for the infrequent updates. Ever since school started, I haven't really had time to update. I'm going to update twice tonight to make up for it though! Thank you all so much for reading!
Kiren- I hope you're not dead! :) and I'm sorry for being mean...kind of...Ghanks for the review!
Mhpropp16- I'm glad you liked it! Sorry for the late update! Hopefully you'll like this chapter too! Thank you so much for the review!
PrincessIndia- I have to drive people crazy: It's in my contract! ;) Thanks for the review!
going for the win- He wasn't in that chapter, but he's in this one! Whoops, spoiler! :) Thanks for the review!
Enjoy! -ReadLikeYouMeanIt
Nat helps me up and rushes me towards the safe room. He and I are holding hands as we run down the hallway.
"Hurry, April!" He urges as we keep running. I run as fast as I can, but I'm no match for him. I haven't run like this since I was little. I slip at one point and fall down.
Nat bends down and frantically asks, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I assure him. He helps me up and we keep going.
We finally reach the safe room and everyone runs up to us when we walk in.
"Are you alright?" Mom asks us.
"What took you so long?" Dad asks.
"We're fine, Dad." I assure him.
"What happened?" Matthew asks, putting his arm around me.
"I slipped and fell at one point, so that slowed us down a bit." I explain.
"Also, we were coming from outside." Nat says.
"Well we're glad you're safe." Mom says.
"Thanks." I say.
"Nat, why don't we look at the report?" Dad asks. He and Nat go deal with security and the rest of us go sit down.
It's three hours later, and we're still in the safe room. Matthew is reading a book, Crystal is playing cards with Mom and Sarah. Nathan is still in the hospital, and I'm just hoping he's safe. Lance walks over and sits next to me.
"Hey, kiddo." He says.
"Hey." I say.
"How are you doing?" He asks.
"Oh, I've been better." I respond.
He laughs. "Me too."
"How's Sarah?"
"She's fine. She's about ready to be done with pregnancy."
"She still has four months left, right?"
"Yeah. It seems like it should be sooner."
"She looks like she's about to pop." I say.
"Just imagine what she'll look like in four months!" He says.
I laugh. "No kidding."
We sit there for a while, then he says, "I remember the attacks when we were little."
"Me too." I say.
"They became so routine. At some points, I wouldn't even need a guard to escort me."
"I remember you getting me one time before any guard came."
"Yeah," he sighs. "I don't want that to happen again."
"You think I do?"
"No, I was just stating my thoughts. I know I can't think think for you."
"Got that right!" He and I laugh.
"So, how are things going with you?" He asks.
"Fine, I guess." I reply with a shrug.
"Everything okay with you and Matthew?"
Rough subject there, Lance. "Yeah, I guess. We've hit a bit of a rough patch."
"Ah. That'll happen."
"Yay."
He smiles. "I bet you'll get over it. How's Nat adapting to the palace?"
"He's doing well." I pipe up. "He's been a really good guard. He always knows what he's doing and he does his job with confidence."
Lance starts laughing a little. He tries to contain it, but he's not doing such a good job.
"What?" I ask.
"Nothing, nothing." He says, waving it away.
"It doesn't seem like nothing." I raise my eyebrows.
"Nothing, I'll tell you later." He says.
"Okay." I wait a few seconds. "It's later!"
He gives me a look. "I'll tell you when we're not in a safe room with about ten other people."
I smile. "Okay."
We're released from the safe rooms at nine o'clock at night. The walls are vandalized with the same thing, BAD DECISION. This is written over and over again in mud, paint, dirt, blood, it's even been arranged in debris on the floor. This sure makes me feel good about what's to come.