"Wanda, Wanda…WANDERER!" My head snapped to attention at the sound of Melanie's shouting.
"I'm sorry Mel, I was thinking" it was the only answer I could think of.
I needed to focus, we are on a raid. "We're almost there Wanda. Are you ready?" Brandt asked. "Yes Brandt, I will be fine." As I said this, I glanced at Ian and I immediately saw the look of concern on his face. "Sweetheart, is everything ok?" I can't get him distracted, we can't lose focus. I gave him the biggest smile that I could and said "Of course everything is perfect, I was just daydreaming" and before he could realize I was lying I rushed in to kiss him. I loved the way his lips felt as I started to melt into him. It was so easy to do, all my worries disappear when I'm in his arms.
"Uh em..uh em"
"Someone please give Jared some water, his throat sounds dry" Ian said as he pulled me in closer.
I could almost feel Melanie's eyes roll "O'Shea knock it off, we got a mission to complete. Geez, really, ok you can stop now. Will you stop if I promise a hotel tonight?" Now that got my attention and I broke apart, it's funny how a hot shower can get you excited. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment. I have yet to figure out how to control this body in front of my family. Then I realized it was time to compose myself. I can do this; I've done this a thousand times before. Our last stop of the day was the pharmacy. Mel and I were going in together as we always did to make things easier.
As we entered the pharmacy we each filled up our carts with the usual necessities. I have to admit, it was nice having toothpaste and a toothbrush again and I know the people in caves were happy about that too. Deodorant was another small thing that I've come to appreciate, and anyone who has smelled Kyle after working in the fields appreciated it as well. The trip was almost done and Mel and I nodded to each other to check out. Then something grabbed my attention above Melanie's head. Mel looked quizzically and followed my gaze.
Contacts, how simple. After all the raids we have never thought about this. Different colors, as it seems vanity did not die with humanity. Mel was thinking the same thing I was. This can help us so much on our raids, or it can help me look a bit more normal and not scare the humans as they see me for the first time. The possibilities flashed in my brain. I chose a green set of contacts, almost an emerald green. Of course Mel chose the lightest shade of blue to match the silver of a soul's eyes. We checked out and Mel stopped before we got to the door.
"Hey let's mess with the guys and see if they'll notice" Mel proposed. I thought it was a great idea and we rummaged through our bags and put the contacts in. As I turned to Mel to see her eyes, I stopped in astonishment. Memories flipped through my head of me looking into my reflection. Mel's reflection.
"Melanie, this isn't such a good idea. Jared is going to be upset and he might panic" I could see my logic sinking in. "Your right Wanda, keep yours in though. I wanna see Ian's face"
We loaded our bags into the back of the jeep the guys didn't notice. Men. It wasn't until we were on the street when Jared noticed. "Hey Wanda, do you guys want to stop and get a milk-WHOA!"
"Jared! You're going to kill us! Pay attention to the road!" Mel grabbed the steering wheel and began to laugh.
"Mel, her eyes. What happened?" Jared managed to get out. At that moment Ian grabbed my jaw and forced my face to face him. Then I saw the panic and pain surface. Oh no, I've hurt Ian. "Is she..." As I started to say something to soothe him, Mel beat me to it. "Oh good grief O'Shea, cool it will ya? We found contacts" Melanie then put in her contacts to show the guys. I thought Jared was going to wreck the jeep again. Brandt actually threatened to make Jared pull over so he could drive.
" .OUT!" Wow, I didn't expect Jared to act like this. "Wanda, you too" Ian said beside me. Now I was stunned. This was not the reaction that Mel and I were expecting from these guys. Mel started to explain the purpose of the contacts, the vehicle was silent except for her voice and you could feel the tension so thick in the air.
As we pulled into the hotel parking lot Mel had stopped speaking. Jared turned the jeep off, he was shaking. Had I made his life so miserable when I was in Melanie to deserve a reaction like this or was it just simple fear of Melanie being a host again that caused this? After a few moments Jared finally spoke "Mel, Wanda I understand the logic of the contacts. I accept the reasoning and it's a good idea. It was not a good idea to spring them up on us like that. Brandt, you're on guard duty with the jeep tonight. Mel, put your contacts in. We are about to test them out. We are getting separate rooms. You go in first Mel and Wanda will be right behind you in case anything goes wrong."
"Now wait a minute Jared, we need to think this through" Brandt spoke up. "We can't risk getting caught by Seekers to test this out, think of home"
"I am thinking of home. It's not dark yet so the light wouldn't be expected to reflect as much. Melanie, you can do this"
"Oh I know I can, Wanda let's go"
Mel and I walked into the hotel lobby. We walked right up to the service desk together "Hello, my name is Crystal of Castles and this is my friend Lily of the Moon. We would like two rooms please." Her confidence was amazing.
"Of course, would you ladies be needing anything else?" The kind soul asked.
"No thank you, we are on a long journey to visit the Grand Canyon and we are quite tired. We are excited to see the beauty of the land. We have come from Tennessee and we had seen pictures. Have you been?"
The soul just smiled "Yes, my partner and I have visited many times. It's very lovely."
Mel yawned and asked "Lily are you ready for rest?"
I was awestruck and the only thing I could do was nod my head. Melanie has never spoken this much before to a soul outside our community and she was amazing.
Ian and I got one room together and of course Mel and Jared got the other. I was so happy to take a long hot shower. I took my time letting the water run through my hair and onto my back. The simple things to make me happy. I reluctantly turned the water off and wrapped myself in the soft towels. I opened the bathroom door to let Ian know it was his turn. Ian was laying on the bed mumbling again about the Souls TV programming and then he noticed me noticing him.
"Wanda, sweetheart come sit with me"
All of the sudden I felt the shyness creeping over my body as I made my way and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I wasn't mad about the contacts. It just scared me" as he spoke he gently caressed my arm and I felt the trail of tingles down my arm.
"I just can't imagine life without you." He was sitting up now and I could feel his breathe on the back of my neck.
"Please don't ever scare me like that again" I was becoming disoriented as he started kissing my shoulder.
"Ian, I'm so sorry, I never ment…" He crushed his mouth upon mine and I quickly became absorbed in him. I found my hands wrapped in his hair pulling him closer and a low growl came from the back of his throat. Then suddenly I found myself taking of his shirt and my hands found his smooth muscles. I felt as if I was on fire and Ian was my only source of water to put these flames out. My towel came off exposing my body as he pulled me under him and his lips found places that they had not found before. "Wanda, you don't have too…" I didn't give him the chance to finish. I began kissing him as much as I could.
I only thought I knew what it like to be human. I know what it is to be human. My life now felt as if it truly began and I knew that I was going to spend it with my one true partner.