Summary: While 10K, Megan, and Doc are busy doing their mini adventures, Addy is left wondering what they're doing or even if they're alive.
A week later, Addy finally gets to know why 10K lied to her about Jacquelyn's death.
Addy was still feeling a bit betrayed over the fact that 10K lied to her about Jacquelyn's death. He told her that she killed herself with a reason, but it turned out that he triple dog dared her to jump off a bridge.
Now she was left to put up with Murphy by herself.
"Do you think they're okay?" She asked Warren.
"Aww, you miss your little boyfriend." Murphy said in a mocking tone.
Addy was about ready to punch him for saying that.
"They're fine. Citizen Z said that he managed to find them. He said that they looked okay," Warren stated.
About a week later, that was how they managed to find Doc, 10K, and Megan. They were walking along a dirt road. Addy could have sworn she heard 10K saying, "I feel fine. Let's go do something. Let's go kill a guy!"
She heard Megan say something and then the three got in the truck. 10K was against the window, with Megan in the middle.
"Go to sleep 10K," Megan said.
"Who needs sleep? I feel fine," 10K said, before falling asleep.
Addy looked at him. He did look like he needed sleep. However, one eye looked darker than the other.
"Awake for five days isn't right," Megan said.
Addy was surprised, "five days?"
Megan nodded, "he had like two minutes of sleep."
Addy looked at 10K. "That one eye looks darker than the other."
"I punched him in the face," Megan stated.
"Good for you. I don't care," Murphy replied.
Addy guessed that Murphy was pouting over the fact that 10K and Megan had to come back or rejoined the group. She honestly doesn't know what Murphy has against Megan, but she figured that Murphy hated Megan because her best friend was 10K. She noticed something, "you're wearing a tie-dye shirt."
Megan nodded, "yeah. It was something that I picked up."
It was almost six hours later when 10K woke up, he noticed that the others were gone, except for him and Addy. He knew he had to do it, "I'm sorry, for lying to you about Jacquelyn's death."
She looked back at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"
10K looked out the window. He felt a little sick to his stomach. "I…I indirectly killed my best friend. After she jumped, Donny and Megan told me that it was an accident, but I still indirectly killed her. I even told her not to jump, but she did it anyway."
"I considered going to the police everyday, so her parent's can have some sort of justice and have knowledge that their daughter didn't kill herself without a reason. I tell people that she committed suicide, because that's easier to say then the fact that I triple dog dared her to jump off the stupid bridge."
"They found her body three days later." Addy didn't have to ask who he was talking about. "The police ruled it as a suicide, due to the LGBT kids being bullied and killing themselves. At first she was missing and then found." Addy looked at him. It was kind of sick and twisted, really.
He continued, "if I went to the police to explain what happened, I think I would've gone to juvie for involuntary manslaughter. It was an accident. If I did, at least her parents would've gotten justice for her."
Addy wasn't sure what she would do or say if she was in his shoes. He had been through some rough things. His two friends died, his uncle is part of the Zeros, his dad died, he was kidnapped by his mother, and getting stalked by his two family members.
She said, "that's…not your fault. You…didn't know about the currents like you said. You told her not to jump, but she did anyway." She didn't know what else to say to make him feel better. She was just mad that he lied to her about Jacquelyn's death but she pitied him for what he went through.
"You have a right to be pissed at me," 10K said. She truly did. "If I were you, I would be mad too." He looked around the truck. "Where did the others go?"
Addy looked out the window. "We got stopped by some other survivors. Warren was about ready to wake you up, but Megan said that you really needed sleep. She offered to stay behind and watch you, but I told her to go with Warren."
10K looked at Addy with wide eyes. "Oh, no. She could be flirting with someone." He sounded horrified as he said, "and I'm not there to embarrass her."
Addy watched as 10K went to open the door, "I think they'll be coming back soon." 10K sat back and crossed his arms. He rubbed his eyes and winced he touched the black eye. "Why do you have a black eye?"
"Megan gave it to me," 10K said. He figured that Addy knew the reason why Megan punched him or that Megan told her why he has a black eye.
Addy just nodded, as if she knew the reason. "She seems so mellow."
10K shrugged, "well…" He didn't know if he should say that she was a hippie. "I think she has a small amount of resentment towards me for leaving her behind with her abusive dad."
Addy looked at him, "it really wasn't your fault that you had to leave her behind."
10K nodded, "I know. That's why I said small amount of resentment." Addy and 10K just looked at each other. "You can tell me, does my black eye look that bad?"
Addy had to get a closer look. "No, it looks decent. She must have thrown a good punch."
10K nodded. For some odd reason, he was actually a little proud of Megan, even though she was four months older than him. "She did. It was puffier last week."
"Alright," Addy said. Things got quiet and they just looked at each other. "So…a music store?"
He found himself thinking, how does she know that? He said, "Megan decapitated a Z with guitar string." Addy wasn't sure what to say to that. "She loves the guitar string now."
Addy really wasn't sure what to say to that. "That's…good?" There was another silence. Addy wasn't sure what to say, "is there anything else you're hiding from me?"
10K wondered how she would take it if he told her about his past 'issues.' Those…issues that would make her really hate him. That would be quite a flip really. The guy that reads comic books, had braces, loved math class, enjoyed school way to much, considering joining the marching band, had longer hair that he dyed red, had past drug problems, when he was thirteen. Addy was looking at him and he said, "that's a story for a different time."
I wonder if Cassandra knew about all of this. I don't think so, Addy thought. Some part of her really liked the idea that he trusted her with this information instead of Cassandra; but it kind of made her a little sick if he actually told Cassandra that stuff. If he did tell Cassandra, it made her feel like second best. Second best to everyone, second best to everything. She was like the rebound girl. Maybe 10K is the rebound for Mack, Addy thought. Maybe we're rebounding off each other.
"Does Murphy kind of remind you of an Avatar?" 10K asked.
"No," Addy said. "I didn't really care to much for that movie."
10K nodded, "yeah. It wasn't really that good, especially Titanic."
Addy looked at him, "I enjoyed Titanic."
"We used to make fun of movies," 10K said and smiled at the fond memory. Addy moved over the front seat, sat next to 10K, and grabbed his hand. He looked down at their hands. The childish part of him was snickering and going, cooties, girl, closeness and the more 'mature' part of him was going, who holds hands now?
He never held someone's hand before? Addy wondered as 10K seemed to be fidgeting a little. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," 10K said. He looked down at their hands. It was kind of…intimate. It made him a little nervous for some reason.
"You never held hands with someone before," Addy stated.
"Not really," 10K replied. It was a lot less painful than he thought. He looked at their hands and looked up at Addy. She was looking at him. The next thing he knew was that they were kissing harshly.
He was sure that he bit Addy's lip and Addy tugged on his hair. Addy was sure that she started the make-out session first when their tongues met. She pushed herself closer and they pulled away for a few seconds to breathe. They started kissing again and something clattered onto Addy's lap. They pulled away and Addy picked up the goggles that she must have pulled off.
"She seems nice," Megan said. "We should come back."
Addy moved to sit in the front seat of the truck. About two minutes later the door opened and Megan sat next to 10K. She looked at him. "Are you mad that you didn't get to tell embarrassing stories?"
10K looked at her and punched her in the thigh. Megan squeaked and glared at him. 10K looked her in the eye. "I would've punched you in the ovaries, but I don't know where those are."
"Point taken," Megan said. Note to self, never show him where ovaries are at, Megan thought.
A/N: For some reason, this felt very awkward to write, I don't know why.