To male readers: Sorry guys, but its physiology.
To all other readers and reviewers: Thank You!
CHAPTER 11: Red Red Red
The next morning, Janie was again uninspired to cook a big breakfast, and made a bowl of oatmeal as she settled in the sun-room yet again.
She had searched around for her Emerson book, but couldn't find it. She opted for math instead, stuck on a Pythagorean Theorem problem.
A while later, without preamble Alex said hello and took a seat next to her. He took a bite of her oatmeal, only grinning when she glared at him.
"I miss your breakfast. Zoey only makes plain eggs."
"Oh come on, you devoured her toast yesterday."
"I love cinnamon, I can't help it."
She only shook her head, putting her pencil down to rest against her calculator.
"So, you're from Atlantic City?" he asked casually, avoiding her gaze.
She took a deep angry breath.
"What the hell have you been-" her voice faltered when Alex pulled her Emerson book out of his sweater pocket.
"I saw the bookmark. Of course you're a couple chapters ahead," he added.
"You have no right-"
"You left it when you ran out on me yesterday."
She opened her mouth, and then closed it. She frowned.
She couldn't help raising her voice as she spoke.
"I didn't run!"
He raised an eyebrow. She frowned.
"What do you want, Alex?"
"Are you from Atlantic City?"
She took a shaky breath. She then shook her head.
"Alex, I'll take a detail for a detail."
"What?" he asked confused.
"I give you a detail about my life; you give me one of yours. Think of it like a game."
He tilted his head. She only stared back, still frowning. He broke, grinning and shaking his head.
"Fine. Are you from Atlantic City?"
She shook her head.
"I'm from Ventnor City. How long were in solitary?" she asked.
His jaw twitched.
"Eighteen months. Why the postcard then?"
"I snagged it when we finally reached the city. It was glamorous, so enticing. I wanted memorabilia. Do you remember your family?"
"Of course. I had a younger brother, he's thirteen now. Is Ori from Ventnor?"
"No."
"That's the only answer? We've been giving at least a few-"
"I told you I would give details about my life, not Ori's. That's her story to tell."
He frowned, but shrugged.
"How long were you in prison before you asked for solitary confinement?" she asked quickly. She blushed, and looked away, as though embarrassed she asked it.
"One year."
"But why-"
"My turn. What were you and Ori doing on your own?" he asked.
She bristled, her breath catching. She looked down, grabbed her Emerson book, and closed her math book, tucking her utensils inside.
"Janie?"
She stood up, slamming her hands on the table.
"That's enough for today," she spat out.
"Janie, what the hell-" he said confused.
"That's a huge question, and you know it."
He frowned, and his hands balled into fists as he also stood up, his posture tense.
"And asking me about my time in prison isn't?"
"How long you spent somewhere isn't a huge question-"
"I have never told anybody those things! I suppose Charles knows, but I have never let anybody else know how long or why I was there. It scared people when they knew where I came from. I don't know why I thought it would be different for you, but I guess I'm still naïve about that."
"Goddammit you do not scare me!"
"Then why do you keep pulling away?" he leaned forward, resting his hands on the table as well, bringing their faces inches apart. Her eyes looked fleeting. He leaned in more until he felt her hot breath mingling with his.
"Oh, shit," she whispered.
He raised an eyebrow, leaning in even closer, smelling jasmine which made him smile.
"Shit," she said, quieter this time.
He closed the gap, their lips brushing.
She gasped, and pulled away quickly, stumbling into the chair behind her. She gave a small string of curses that had Alex laughing, surprised she knew such language. She blushed, gathering her things in her arms.
"I'm not running… I just… I need to go," she said quickly, sounding stressed. Alex could only frown as he watched her scurry away.
"Zoey?" Janie interrupted her thoughts on the sunflowers, and she stopped.
They were working on the garden together.
Janie liked to only grow to pods, to nurture the plants with water and watch them grow. But Zoey was just enjoying the power and grew six foot tall sunflowers, big bushes of roses, and bunches of tulips. She couldn't get enough of just creating plant life, regardless of time.
"Yeah Janie?" Zoey asked, raising her hands from the grass, brushing off the dirt. She stood up and turned towards her.
"I have some… female things to ask you about."
"Shoot," Zoey said, sitting down. Janie sat down next to her.
She twisted her hands, forming vines yet again, and then stopped, blushing as she looked up.
"Alex kissed me, that morning he burned me," she said.
"What!?" Zoey exclaimed, feeling an unfamiliar flutter of girlish excitement, something she hadn't felt since high school when she and her friends gossiped about boys. Actually, she hadn't really had a girlfriend to gossip with since.
Then she remembered the fact that Alex had burned her with his power... his annoyance when they were packing her things and he said they were to be 'friends'.
"What?" she asked again.
"Well he kissed me, and then I froze – it was my first and I was awkward and then we stopped. But then I was avoiding his talk and he grabbed me to get me to stop moving away from him and he burned me," Janie said quickly and without breath.
Zoey grinned.
"He probably wasn't too happy about you avoiding him, especially after something so intimate, hence the burn."
Janie's face fell to pure sadness.
Zoey then frowned.
"I have a feeling there's a 'but' coming along…"
Janie sighed.
"But, I told him it shouldn't have happened. I said we should be friends."
"But why? You were just saying that-"
"It scared me, Zoey. Having him kiss and hold me so tenderly, then touch me and hurt me? I know it was unintentional, but still…"
Zoey shook her head.
"Remember how I almost destroyed the house, maybe could've killed someone, when Alex came into my range? I felt that power, Janie. And it is close to impossible to control. Seeing Alex hold that power inside and not burst into a ball of red rays, is admirable."
She grinned when she noticed Janie blush deeper.
"But emotions can weaken even the strongest."
Janie tilted her head, then nodded.
"But it's also hesitation with this situation. We live together; see each other at least every day. What if it doesn't work out, and it turns out we hate each other?" Janie asked.
Zoey raised an eyebrow.
"Just the other day you were arguing the opposite. And even if Alex is being pushy when you talk, he means well. It's hard not to notice the way he looks at you."
Janie sighed, and shook her head, wincing.
"I'm just so confused. But that brings up the other female thing-"
"You can tell me anything-"
"I've got my period."
There was a beat of silence.
"What's the question?" Zoey asked, accepting the change of subject.
When Janie was ready, she would show that she was ready for Alex. Zoey hoped she could help him see the same.
"It's just I could only really shoplift… 'supplies' from supermarkets, but now that Charles isn't even letting us leave-"
"Oh, god. That's embarrassing."
Then she realized that she didn't have any 'supplies' either. That meant…
"Well, that means it's time for a field trip!" Zoey said smiling, hoping some public interaction would help her.
She was still feeling stuck. She loved being there, but she hated not being able to leave to go into the city.
"No! Charles can't know!"
"He has a Masters in Biology; I think he knows how the female body works…"
"But he would just hire some service of some sort-"
"Janie, no amount of money can persuade Frank to deliver those kinds of products. Let me take care of Charles. We're going out."
Zoey walked straight to the study after her and Janie finished in the garden, knowing he would be there. She gave two short knocks on the door and let herself in.
"Zoey!" Charles said surprised at her abruptness. She took a seat across from the desk.
"We have a problem. This might be uncomfortable to talk about though."
His brow twitched, as did his mouth; she couldn't help but notice.
"I'm sure that there isn't a topic-"
"The adult females in this house need certain sanitary supplies that can only be purchased at a supermarket, that are not likely to be here."
Charles raised a brow, obviously confused.
Zoey sighed, knowing she would have to explain further. It still felt awkward to say it aloud, so she tried some more evasive words, hoping he would get the hint.
"Janie and I are going to have monthly… episodes. We will need things for that."
Charles held the confused look for a beat more, and then realization crossed his face as he made a strangled sound and coughed. Zoey laughed.
"Now that's out of the way, call your driver. Or if you have a car, I can drive it and I'll take Janie, she could use some city life. By the way-"
"Absolutely not."
Zoey stopped, and stared.
"Charles, you need to-"
"I can send Frank out for the supplies, but in no way are you or Janie leaving-"
"Charles!" she said loudly, and he stopped.
"We are going."
She met his gaze, her eyes pleading.
"Please, Charles. Just a convenience store visit. Hell, if you want to send 'protection' with us, bring Alex, he's intimidating enough."
She then realized what that would mean for Janie, and hid a wince.
She looked into his eyes, trying to make him understand she needed this, probably more than Janie. It might be her last chance to clarify a good reason to leave the grounds. Her last time to be out in the public world before she entered a life of secrecy.
Charles sighed.
"I can't risk anything. Just write down what you and Janie need, and I'll make sure Frank gets it."
"Charles-"
"That's all I will say in the matter, Zoey."
She stood there, feeling defeated but making sure not to show it. She didn't say anything as she left.