13
The search for James has stretched over a few days now. No one has been a good help. Everyone on this ship has bigger things to worry about then a snot nosed kid, and people really don't like James. Even Tammy didn't seem to notice. I guess you could say after the first day of looking I wasn't that interested either. But I kept going. There was nothing else really for me to do. Except get drunk and cry more about dad dying. I haven't gotten the scene out of my head.
But my dad crawls to the door. I am gasping for air. Dad places his palm against the glass door. I place my hand where his was. I kneel. Tears sting the corners of my eyes. My jaw tightens.
"Daddy." I whisper. If he couldn't hear me he could read my lips. I could see the tears about to burst out of his eyes.
"Run! Run!" he yells. I am breathless. I refuse to leave him in there. My dad's eyes close and he collapses on the floor.
I shudder at the memory that feels more like a nightmare. I shake my head and continue down the isle of tents and booths set up in the Market. I hear from Shrapnel, who works with Flak at Shrapnel N' Flaks that James is a thief and steals ammunition that is lying out on the counter. He says he never caught him in the act, but he sure as hell knows that James is responsible.
Flak says that he has seen him trying to sell the ammo to some travelers. Flak says he even made a shiny cap or two off of it. Flak is pissed about it but I can see that Shrapnel liked how clever the kid was.
No one else seems to have valuable information everyone seems to have a problem with Tammy though. No surprise.
For a moment I think, if he isn't on the boat then that means he left. Ran away? Shit. Where the hell would he go? Not far I don't think he is young but he has to know the dangers in the D.C area. He has to know about the super mutants.
Most importantly who would he tell? Friends? Who was he friends with? Does he have friends? Not with an attitude like that. Hell, Butch had friends; James is bound to have them. I look around. I don't see any kids in the market. Where the hell would kids go on a ship like this?
Angela told me about how James has a crush on a girl named C.J Young. I ask her how she knows this. Honestly I don't think that James has confidence in anyone, especially Angela.
"Because," she begins. "He teases her unmercifully. And the look on his face while he does it."
I raise a brow like she was crazy. Butch definitely teased me but he doesn't have any feelings like that towards me.
"How is that a sign?" I ask. She smiles and looks down.
"Because, especially when you are younger, when a boy likes you they are usually mean and bully you. But I don't think that she doesn't feel the same way either." Angela smiles.
I push my eyebrows together.
"What do you mean?" I ask. This whole conversation makes no sense. When someone likes someone they look dreamingly in their direction from a far. I remember about a week before Amata's birthday, a week before Freddie and I had sex, Freddie caught me eyeing him when he was presenting his report on America's Weaponry History. The subject did interest me, intrigued me enough that I got up the nerve to ask him to read it, because… well I was busy while he presented.
Freddie's face was rigid but his skin was smooth and perfectly evenly toned. When he talked his jaw showed off his tiny muscles in his face. Everything was in slow motion when his smooth as honey voice traveled through his mouth.
Freddie had his Tunnel Snake's jacket off which exposed his tremendous, toned muscles in his arms. When he got nervous, this always happened when he had to be in front of the class, his hands tightened around the paper. I could see his forearm muscles contract. I let the quietest breath leave my mouth, and no one notices.
My eyes travel up his jaw again and he continue to talk. His lips are next to being noticed. They twitch in a nervous smile, which made me want to sigh with admiration. Next were his eyes that my eyes gape at. I expect them to be glancing down on his paper, but instead they are gazing at me.
My mouth opens with surprise but only a little. Tiny gasp escapes my lips. We don't stop looking at each other. Without myself realizing it, my mouth is still open. My big brown eyes look up at him, and when I blink it's like I'm batting my eyes.
I see the Adam's apple in Freddie's throat move as he gulps. I know he is turned on. For the first time, I really felt like I knew what I was doing with Freddie. I can see his chest move with every big, deep breath he takes. The corner of his lips twitch up which makes me raises a brow and glace down at his arms. They tighten.
"Uh, Mr. Gomez, I advise you stop eyeing the ladies and continue your report. Your grade depends on it." Mr. Brotch orders. When the sharp tone of Mr. Brotch's voice enters our ears, we jump. Everyone snickers. Even Freddie chuckles. He is the first to break eye contact. Freddie looks nervously down at his report and continues to smile.
Everyone seems pleased, except for Susie Mack; everyone knows that she has had a crush on him as long as I had. If not, she had one longer. Before Freddie continued, he gave me one last look and smile; and I almost melt.
I am surprised that we didn't fuck after class. During that whole week we had so much sexual tension. We weren't in class; we would be caught staring at each other in other places, the cafeteria, the gym, even in the hall. Butch would grab Freddie's attention and Amata would grab my attention. When he finally kissed me we lost control. It was amazing.
"C.J always forgives him. Even helps him out when he needs it. There is going to more than friendship in their future." Angela states. I go pale. When I look down I know she knows something is wrong. Something is wrong…
"What's the matter?" She asks. I shake my head. "Something I said?" She inquires. I wave her away and continue to shake my head.
"No, just… just sounds familiar." I say. She smiles and nods her head.
"Who?" She questions. I look at her with puzzled look. She keeps her grin wide.
"What do you mean who?" I ask. She rolls her eyes and sighs.
"What do you mean who?! The guy that you like? I presume he was a bully. But now things have changed?" she questions. I chuckle.
"None of your business." I scoff. She rolls her eyes.
"Alright, if that's the way it's going to be then, fine. But remember, I'll be here when you want to talk to Me." she offers. I nod.
"Where can I find C.J?" I ask. Angela wipes the counter with a dirty rag. She pauses for a moment before talking.
"She is usually on the Flight Deck playing with James, but I don't know if she will be there." She answers. I nod and tell her thanks before leaving to see C.J.
The day is gloomy and I am almost certain it might rain. It worries me considering the radiation might make the drops tainted with acid. That wouldn't be good to the wastelanders that wonder outside. I make hast to find C.J.
walking around there are old planes and motorcycles that have broken down from age still standing all around the deck. I search each of the planes, until I see two little feet poking out of a door. They move as if she was trying to crawl into one.
"C.J?" I call. Her feet stop moving. She sits up and I see her through the window.
"C.J can I talk to you?" I call again. She nods shyly. Then she climbs out of the aircraft and stands up proudly to me. Dogmeat sits and waits.
"Whatcha want?" she asks. I smile down at her.
"I want to know where James is." I say. I kneel down to meet her on an even level. She shies away.
"I don't know." She says. I knew she was lying.
"You can tell me. I just want to help him. You miss him don't you?" I ask. She nods her head. She stays silent.
"I won't tell anyone." I repeat. She looks up at me. Her doe eyes are sad. My expression softens.
"I am not allowed to tell anyone." She says. I look down at my hands.
"You can trust me, I won't tell anyone." I say. I look down and laugh. "Especially a grown up. That would be lame." I say. She smiles and nods.
"Yeah. But I can't say anything. He made me swore that I wouldn't tell anyone." She says. She took this secret very seriously.
I look around and sigh. There is a low thunder that echoes from behind the grey clouds. The rain is going to come soon. Dogmeat whines.
"Look, C.J I know that you… care for James, maybe a little more than friends do. But he might be in danger. Take it from a girl like me. The wasteland is a scary place. Every moment there is a threat that can and will kill you. And nightfall… that's worst." I say.
I can't believe I am saying this, but I am really worried about James. He could be dead. Hell he could be enslaved by now. Let's hope C.J spills his location because his life is in her hands.
"Please don't tell him that I told you, please!" she says.
"Of course." I promise while nodding my head. She looks side to side as if she didn't want to see anyone talking, then she leans in close.
"He is at the old metro station that is real close to here." She says in a whisper. I nod.
"Do you know what the metro station is called?" I ask. She nods attentively.
"Anacostia Crossing stations, if he is really in danger, get him back here fast." She says. I nod and pat her shoulder.
"You should go inside. It's getting dark outside." I say. She nods and we leave to go back inside the boat.
I see James shivering by a concrete wall. When he looks up me, his eyes are pleading for mercy. He doesn't seem mean at all. I could see dry tears on his cheeks.
"Please… Lady I just want to go home." He pleads. I kneel beside him. Nodding, I look at him for any wounds. Then I see that his hand has some blood seeping through his fingers. I try to remove his hand but he flinches.
"Don't worry. I here to help." I say. He winces when I softly remove his hand. There was a deep cut from just below his elbow and up his upper arm.
The cut is deep, needs stitches, fast. I try to keep a calm face so he won't get concerned. That is the last thing I want. I set my bag down on the ground. He shakes.
"What… wh- is it bad?" he asks. I take a deep breath. I grab a stimpack that is buried on the bottom of my bag. I look up at me and give a weak smile.
"Nothing I can't handle." I say. He smiles, then immediately winces. I raise the stimpack slowly. I sigh. Then I look up at James.
"Now, this is going to hurt, I am not going to lie. This will disinfect and will help your body heal itself. I want you to close your eyes, and I want you to count ten, it will be all over by then." I say. He grabs my hand.
"How much does it hurt?" he asks. My jaw clenches. I look down at the stimpack. I shake my head. Looking back up me can see that James is scared.
"A lot." I say almost in a whisper. He gulps. James nods for me to continue and he closes his eyes.
"One. Two. Three." He starts. I take deep breaths. James's hand hasn't left mine. I wait until he says five and in a flash, I grab his wounded arm and quickly inject the stimpack. He stops counting and screams. I pull out the needle. He gives out a sigh.
"That hurt." He says. I chuckle. Nodding I smile. James pets Dogmeat. My smile widens. Dogmeat seems to like James.
"It does. How did you, uh, get cut?" I ask. He looks down at it.
"A mole rat. It jumped out of nowhere and clawed me. I cut it though, with my knife." He says. I nod. He sighs. "I have been eating the bastard for the last few days. Taste disgusting." He says. I smile.
"We have to get back; a doctor needs to look at your wound. It might need stitches." I say. When I am about to stand, he pulls me back down.
"I don't want to see my mom." He says. I give him a confused look. He sighs and looks down.
"You were right. She doesn't care about me. She hasn't tried to find me, like you have." He says. I sigh and look down.
"Your mom is sick. She does love you, she just troubled. She doesn't know how to show it." I say. He laughs at me.
"Look, she's a bitch. I don't think she deserves to be a mother." He says. I chuckle. I stand up and hold my hand out to help him up.
"He is going to need stitches." The doctor says. I hear a sigh come out of James's mouth. Doc looks at me. "It's going to cost fifty caps."
I look to James. He looks on the ground and feels bad. I smile, look at the doctor, and nod.
"Okay." I say. I pull out the caps and hand them to him. "I'll be right back." I say.
"No!" James yells. I look back shocked that he doesn't want me to leave. But I smile and look at Dogmeat.
"Dogmeat, stay." I order. Dogmeat jumps on the bed and lies next to him. "I won't be long." I say. I walk down to the Market and buy a few items.
I return to the clinic with a Nuka Cola and Potato Crisps. I hand them to James. He thanks me. The Doctor was almost done stitching.
"You going to be okay?" I ask. He nods and smiles. His hand is patting Dogmeat's head.
"Yeah, I will be fine." He assures me. I smile down at him, for this moment I feel better, but now with nothing to distract me from the pain of loss of dad, I think I won't be away from the bottle for very much longer.