Until Dawn

Chapter Five

The sun had finally risen and it was a few hours after dawn as we drove in a large circle around New York City. The roads had steadily gotten busier the closer we came to the major city and we had passed several police cars and army trucks making their way towards the city that never sleeps. After spending the last few days awake, adrenaline fueling my body, I could feel the strain finally starting to wear on me now that my shock had passed. I had taken the wheel when Janae's eyes had started to droop just before dawn and now I was looking for a place where we all could rest. We had more than enough time to get some sleep while it was still daylight outside and then we could start all over again when the sun went down.

I looked in the rearview mirror, smiling gently at the group of women fast asleep in the back of the car. They were sprawled all over each other, heads resting on shoulders, legs on their neighbor's laps in Poussey and Jones' case. It was absolutely adorable and I wished that I had a camera or a phone to capture the moment. I turned my head to look at Alex who was sitting behind the passenger seat. Nicky's head was resting against her shoulder and Morello's head was in her lap, while the rest of her was sprawled over Nicky and Red. Alex was fast asleep; having been completely exhausted after spending the last few days on the run, and her cheek was pressed against the window, her lips slightly parted. I loved seeing her sleep, she always looked so peaceful.

I sighed, taking one hand off the wheel to rub my eyes as I drove down a hill that would lead into the next town we had to pass through. For once, this town didn't look like it had been completely destroyed and I rolled down my window, swallowing my fear as I pulled to a stop beside a cop car that was parked in the town's entrance, a man in uniform leaning against the hood of the car.

"Hi, there, ma'am," the man gave me a gentle smile and I smiled back immediately, grateful that he didn't seem suspicious of me or the car full of slumbering women.

"Hi, I was just wondering if there was anywhere around here that we could rest?" I asked kindly, trying not to wake the women in the car. Despite my soft voice, Janae opened her eyes blearily, reaching up to rub the sleep from her eyes and freezing when she looked out of the window and caught the man's gaze. "We've been on the road for several days and haven't been able to stop yet. Is there a hotel or anything around here?"

"Honestly, ma'am, this town is pretty much deserted," the policeman said, glancing from Watson then back to me. "But, you're welcome to stay at the hotel down the road. There are plenty of beds there that aren't being used and some food too, I'm sure. You look like you could all use a rest before moving on; it'll be safer that way. Just be sure to stay in a room near the stairs; have a quick way out if you need it."

"Thank you so much, officer," I gave the man my best winning smile, which he returned before putting the car into gear and driving forward. I let out the breath I had been holding, trading glances with a still wide eyed Janae.

"Fuck, woman," Janae breathed, scratching her fingers through her hair. "That was like waking up to a nightmare."

"I told you that the cops wouldn't be looking for us," I replied softly, searching the street for the hotel the policeman had spoken of and finding it on the corner. "Plus, why should they expect that we're convicted criminals? We're just a car full of women, dressed in normal clothes, trying to escape from a world full of shit, just like everyone else. Why would they bother with us?"

Janae hummed in agreement, smiling when she looked up at the building towering over us. We were just outside of New York City, so the town we were staying in was much bigger than the ones we had passed through. The hotel looked like something I would have stayed in when I was travelling with Alex, around thirty stories high and very high class. I parked the car directly in front of the side entrance to the building, before turning around in my seat and gently patting Nicky on the shoulder. She woke up with a jerk, glancing around before settling her eyes on me with a smile, waking up Alex in the process.

"Wake up the rest of the girls," I said, gesturing with my head to the hotel. "We're going to stop for the day and get some rest."

They both nodded and I turn away to jump out of the car, putting the keys into my pocket as I grabbed one of the bags that Janae passed me, throwing it over my shoulder. We waited until the rest of the women stumbled out of the car before I locked it and led the way inside with Janae next to me and Alex and Nicky close on our heels.

"Fuck me," Watson breathed as we entered the extravagant lobby and I couldn't resist a grin. The ceilings were so high over our heads that I had to lean my head all the way back to look up at it; the room was absolutely massive. The floor beneath us was polished white marble and built into the wall was a giant fish tank, though most of the fish were floating upside down in the water. We walked towards the large desk at the front of the room and I stepped behind the counter, looking at the keys that were hanging on the wall for all the rooms.

"Dude, let's stay in the pent house!" Taystee laughed to which I just shook my head.

"The elevators are off; do you really want to climb up all those stairs?" I asked her before taking three lots of keys from the wall. They were all on the seventh floor, not too high up but it would give us a good view of the city, so we would know if anything was happening. "Plus, we don't want to be too high up if we have to make a quick escape."

"Good thinking, College," Nicky smirked as I threw her one of the room keys. I passed another one to Poussey and was about to hand the last one to Red when Alex snatched it from my hands with a smirk.

"Each room has two beds, right?" she said with a grin to my surprised expression. "I'm sure Red would prefer to stay with Nicky and Lorna. Taystee can bunk with Poussey and Jones and if Janae doesn't mind, I can share a room with the two of you."

Janae raised her eyebrow at me as I fought to keep my face blank. "Okay, I'm sure Janae doesn't mind sharing a bed with me, right?"

"Not at all, Chapman," Watson played along, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "Be good to know you're watching my back, even if I'm sleeping."

I threw a smirk over my shoulder at Alex, who wore an expression close to disbelief as we made our way to the stairs. I heard her mutter underneath her breath, something about God giving her strength to deal with frustrating blonde WASP's and I grinned to myself. We made our way quickly up the stairs, all of us looking forward to actually sleeping in a real bed for the first time in months and in some cases, years. I had found myself even missing my shared cube with Taystee while driving, even if the mattress was thin and dirty. It'd been days since I had been able to just close my eyes and let myself drift off without having to worry about being attacked or chased by the cops.

I watched in amusement as we opened the door to the seventh floor from the stairs and all the girls rushed past me to their rooms. I chuckled softly to myself as I watched Nicky unlock her door and uncharacteristically squeal in delight as she raced into her room with Lorna skipping delightedly behind her. I waited patiently as Alex unlocked our door, letting her and Janae enter the room first before following them inside. The room was just as beautiful as the lobby, with cream colored walls and stairs that led up to a loft that held two large bedrooms with king sized beds and separate balconies looking over the city. There was a black leather couch downstairs in front of a large plasma television and a kitchenette off to the side. The bathroom was large and luxurious, with a massive spa bath and a glass shower that reminded me of the one in Alex's old apartment, which could easily fit six people. I smiled, watching as Janae jumped on the massive bed in the room she had chosen while I dropped my bag on the floor, finally feeling the pent up tension leaving my body.

"Are you really going to stay in here with her?" I heard a voice whisper softly in my ear and I repressed the shiver that ran up my spine.

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I turned my head to meet Alex's gaze. Her gray eyes were dark and smoky as she stared back at me, and she licked her lips briefly before giving me her best smile.

"Because look how happy she is," she gestured to Watson who was now sprawled out, spread eagled on the bed. "Give the kid a room to herself for the night. Bet she's never even slept in a bed that big, all to herself."

I sighed inaudibly, squinting my eyes at Alex before turning back to look at Janae, who had her eyes closed in complete bliss and a massive smile plastered on her face. Without a word, I picked up my bag, ignoring Alex's victorious grin as I pushed past her into the other bedroom, dropping my bag next to the bed and sitting down to unlace my shoes. I felt the bed sag behind me as my ex-girlfriend crawled into it; a sigh of contentment escaping her lips as she practically sank into the soft mattress.

"This is fucking Heaven," she said, her voice muffled as she pushed her face into one of the many pillows.

"It can't be," I said, slipping off my boots and sighing with relief before pulling down the blanket and climbing into the bed beside the brunette, making sure to keep plenty distance between our bodies. "If this was your Heaven, I would be Scarlett Johansen."

I heard her chuckle as I laid my head on the pillow, almost feeling tears sting my eyes at the softness beneath my head. I let myself relax into the bed, having not slept in something so comfortable and decadent since Paris.

"Scarlett Johansen ain't got nothing on you, kid," I resisted the urge to open my eyes at the nickname, feeling my lips involuntarily curling into a smile at her words. Alex had always had a way with words.

"Go to sleep," I replied, rolling onto my side away from the raven haired beauty, hoping that my traitorous body didn't try and seek her warmth while I slept. "Enjoy this; God knows when we'll sleep in a real bed again. And no funny business, Vause."

"On my honor, my lady," I heard her chuckle as I felt myself drift off to sleep.

/

On your honor, my ass, was my first thought when my eyes fluttered open. I tilted my head upwards, still able to see sunlight through the blinds and feeling relief that I hadn't overslept. I felt refreshed and more alive than I had in days, but I didn't know if it was from the sleep or the arm that was wrapped around my body and the hand that was molded to my breast through my thin tank top. Well, at least it hadn't been my body that had betrayed me.

We had always slept like this, years and years ago. No matter where we were or how tired, our bodies always found each other in the night and I would always wake up with Alex surrounding me. I felt her warmth seep into my body after what felt like years of cold and I couldn't help but smile. Despite how right it felt to be in her arms again, I carefully begun to extract myself from her hold, remembering the harsh words spoken to me before the Christmas Pageant.

I had saved Alex life twice but that didn't equal her forgiveness and I accepted that. I could see now what a colossal fucking mistake I had made and I knew I wasn't worthy of Alex's love as Tiffany had told me before I pummeled her into the snow. I had made my bed and now I would lie in it, as my father had taught me, without Alex's comforting arms surrounding me.

"Where are you going?" I heard Alex's sleepy mumble as I attempted to pull her arm gently from my body to no avail. She tightened her grip, pulling me closer to her and burying her nose in my hair and I was helpless to stop her. It felt so fucking good to be lying in her arms.

"I was trying to get up," I replied softly, taking a deep breath before reaching down to pry Alex's hands from my body. She would have none of it.

"There are still hours left before the sun goes down," the brunette said, nuzzling my neck and giving my shoulder a sleepy kiss. "You need rest if you want to continue this badass act. Stay with me."

For once, I didn't want to argue with her, but I couldn't resist asking. "Why?"

Alex knew me well and I knew that she heard all of my unasked questions in that single word. She shifted slightly, pulling me impossibly closer to her until our bodies were practically melded together. I sighed softly, letting my eyes drift closed as she gently caressed my stomach through my tank top.

"Because it's the end of the world, kid," she finally whispered, her voice soft and husky with emotion. "And it took the apocalypse to make me finally realize that I'm not ready to lose you. Not now, not ever."

Well, it wasn't exactly forgiveness but it was a damn good start.