JPOV
X-ray was keeping something from me, and I know it. Right now, he's in the wreck room writing a letter, but I'm not allowed to see it. He told me to go with Magnet and Armpit to the bedroom, and he'd be there in a second, but I refused to leave him alone, so Squid and some other boy stayed.
"Relax, Jodie, he's fine," Magnet said.
"Why won't he tell me who it's to?" I asked.
"Maybe he's embarrassed. Maybe he's writing to his mom?" Armpit suggested, but I knew he was lying, just trying to make me feel better. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Don't lie to me, we both know he's not writing to his mom. And you know who he is writing to. Spill,"
"Jodie, I don't know what you're talking about. I have no idea who he's writing to,"
I moved over to his cot, and put my fingers to the pulse point on his neck.
"Say that again,"
"I don't know who he's writing to?" His pulse went up a notch, and I wagged my finger at him.
"I don't like to be lied to," I said. He shrugged, and lay back on his bed. I glanced at him, and then at Magnet. They were both lying on their beds, and I knew I'd only have seconds to get out before they caught me.
I sighed and pretended to head back to my bed, then sprinted for the door. I heard springs creak before I was at the door as they leapt up, so I threw the door open and dashed out.
"Jodie!" Armpit called, but I ignored him, concentrating on running. I could hear their footsteps getting closer and closer, until a hand caught the back of my suit, and I went tumbling.
"Fuck sake!" I hissed, and stood up, brushing myself off.
"Ow," Magnet said, looking at the cut on his arm, "Thanks,"
"Anytime," I said, still annoyed. Armpit threw me over his shoulder and ran back to the bedroom. I got out of his arms once, but Magnet stopped me from running.
When we were back inside, they both stood at the door, watching me wearily. I got undressed under my blanket and lay down, waiting for X-ray.
He came in not five minutes later, thanked Magnet and Armpit. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep, but really listening to their conversation.
"Cheers, dude, I owe you one,"
"Yeah, well, rather you than me to deal with her. She's pretty pissed,"
There was a silence, and I could feel their eyes on me.
"I did it for her, you know," he said, sadly, "As long as she's always safe, I don't care if she never talks to me again,"
There was another silence, then they bid each other goodnight. I felt someone leaning over me, and I knew it was X-ray checking if I was really asleep.
He sighed, "Goodnight, Jodie," he said, and smoothed the hair off my forehead and placed a kiss there. I heard him get in his bed and a while later, the light went off.
I felt guilty and ashamed. I was angry at him for being nice to me, what sort of person was I?
About half an hour later I could hear a few snores, and I couldn't take the ache in my chest. I climbed out of my bed and slid into X-ray's.
I thought he was asleep, so I curled my cold body around his warm one. I closed my eyes, resting my head on his chest, and let a few tears fall, and jumped when his arm came up and wrapped around my waist.
"Shhhh," he whispered into my hair, "it's ok,"
"No it's not," I whispered back, "I'm sorry, I don't even know why I was angry,"
"It's ok. I don't blame you,"
"I just don't like us having secrets,"
"I don't like us having secrets either," he whispered. I knew it was the moment to tell him. Tell him everything about my past, the stuff I didn't think about. But I didn't. I just wrapped one of my small arms around his torso and kissed his chest.
"I love you," I murmured. He put another arm around my waist and turned on his side. He pulled me as close as possible and kissed the tears away. Then he kissed my lips.
"I love you too," he said quietly.
We went to sleep like that, tangled in each others arms.
"Jodie, babe, you need to wake up," said a delicious voice from beside me.
I opened my eyes slowly, and found myself pressed right up against X-ray. I smiled at him and he kissed me.
"Do we have to get up?" I said, wrapping one of my legs around his waist. He groaned softly, and didn't answer.
"Yes, you do," said Magnet from his cot. He was pulling on his suit, "If you want breakfast,"
That got X-ray up. He got dressed faster than I ever remember seeing. I laughed and got ready as well. I liked the fact that three meals were guaranteed here. Sometimes I'd gone days without food.
Sometimes I'd gone days without anything.
"What are you thinking about?" X-Ray asked.
"Nothing, just times before this,"
"You always get that look when you're thinking about your past," he said, and I shrugged. I looked over at the staff table and was surprised not to see Mom. But then, thinking back, I hadn't seen him in days.
"Hey, where's mom?" I asked M-ray, who shrugged and asked Mr Sir.
"He's gone away for a while. You're getting a new councilor today," he said.
"Is he alright?" I asked, concerned.
"That's none of your business," he said, and I could tell from his body language the answer was no, "But the man we're getting is highly trained. Unfortunately I can't remember his name, but you'll meet him this afternoon,"
He walked away, and I joined the others to get shovels.
It was about six-ish when I found out yet something else about X-ray. It started when Squid shouted out,
"Hey, Jodie, do you wear a wonderbra?"
I blushed. I mean, who wouldn't? I was surrounded by guys, who were now all staring at me. So of course, the blood spilled along my jaw and onto my cheeks.
"Not answering," I said, and started digging.
"Hey, X-ray, does she wear a wonderbra?"
"No," he said, and I sighed.
"¿Por qué es llamado un Brasier de Maravilla?" Armpit shouted, and I stared at him. I could speak a little Mexican, but only enough to get me by. He was fluent by the sounds of him.
"¡Cuando lo quita, usted se pregunta donde sus tetas fueron!" X-ray shouted. I dropped my shovel as they laughed.
"Dude, that was my punch line," Armpit said, and threw dirt at him. I frowned, and picked up my shovel. All this time, and he never told me he could speak another language?
I spat in my hole and walked away, not answering X-ray as he asked me to wait. I walked to the shower and thanked the cold water as it hit my back. The sun was really hot here. Hotter than I'd seen in a long time.
I stepped out and got changed into my underwear, and took a long look at myself in the mirror.
My hair was slightly longer now, and my stomach more toned. I was definitely more brown, a good point to the hot sun. My eyes were green, but I could see the sadness, anger, and the slight fear that I always tried to hide.
I was getting stronger, I knew that. This digging thing was a hell of a workout, no doubt about it. I sighed, pulling my fingers across my flat stomach, glad the scars didn't show anymore.
I shrugged on my suit and jogged over to the wreck room. X-ray was already there, with Magnet, and I slid in beside him.
"Since when do you speak Mexican?" I whispered, looking up at him.
"Um, since I was a kid?" he asked, smiling, "Why?"
I blushed, not wanting to admit that it kind of turned me on, but he understood, and laughed.
"¿Es mío, usted siempre será mío, y usted nunca mirará nadie más, comprende?" he murmured into my hair. You're mine, you will always be mine, you'll never look at anyone else, understand?
I nodded dumbly and felt him smirk against my neck and turned to kiss him lips. His hand brushed over my breast, and I gasped quietly in his mouth. Then I remembered Magnet was in the room.
"So Magnet," I said, turning away from X-ray, much to his disgust. He tried to turn my head back, and even growled at me. I tapped his nose and turned back to Magnet, who was looking up, "Can you speak Mexican?"
"Nope," he laughed, "X-ray and Armpit are our only Spanish speaking amigos,"
I nodded and turned back to X-ray. He was frowning at me, and I smiled, ducking my head to whisper in his ear.
"Say something to me. It's kinda sexy," I felt him turn his head.
"Te quiero" he whispered back. I looked at him, "I love you,"
"You too," I said.
After about an hour of laughing with the guys, Mr Sir walked in. I leant away from X-ray slightly, knowing he wasn't in favour of us. He nodded, silently thanking me, though I knew X-ray was protesting from the way he glanced at me.
"Camp D," he said, walking over. The others stopped talking, "As some of you know, Mr Pendanski is no longer here. So, we have a knew councillor for you,"
We looked at the door as it opened. The man that walked in was tall, clean shaven and so familiar I swear I stopped breathing.
"Mierda" I whispered.