Matt was just a bundle of cuteness. His smile was contagious as he ran around the corridors of the school and Pippa couldn't help but let out a chuckle when he nearly slipped as he rounded a corner.
"You'll never catch me, Pip!"
Pippa chased him, trying to figure out his next move but failing miserably. Damned Mason intelligence. People moved out of the way and laughed along as Pippa struggled to catch the boy. But one person didn't move out of the way fast enough and Pippa smacked into him, sending them both to the ground. She froze for a moment before realising where she was: lying on top of Ben Mason who looked very uncomfortable.
"I'm so sorry!" Pippa squeaked.
"It's fine. Really." He didn't look fine. In fact, he looked like he was in pain. "But you can get off me? My spikes are attached to my spine and you're kind of crushing them."
Pippa shrieked more apologies as she scrambled off the teenager and stood up. "I didn't mean to run into you! I mean, you just appeared out of nowhere and I'm so sorry-"
"Oh my god, Pippa, it's fine. Why were you running anyway? Isn't there a rule about running in school corridors?"
"I was playing tag with Matt but I think it's time for me to quit. I'm never going to be able to catch him."
"Tag me." Pippa looked at him questioningly. "I can catch him but you owe me." A huge smile grew on Pippa's face and she tagged the boy. Off he went. The determination on his face was kind of adorable.
"So what do I owe you?"
They were sitting on the roof of the school, looking over everyone bustling around in the twilight. Civilians talking, playing, heading inside and away from the night that was coming. Fighters carried guns and stood menacingly at the makeshift borders.
"I want you to tell me something."
"Well, that's just a waste of a favour." She knew what he was going to ask. She knew what her answer was going to be.
"What's on that piece of paper I saw you holding yesterday?"
"Nothing."
To be fair, it wasn't much of a lie. It was a picture of nothing; just some black crayon marks on a piece of white paper to demonstrate the abyss that she felt was growing inside her.
"It can't be nothing."
"Yes, it can. Nothing is everywhere. We breathe nothing. We see nothing all the time."
"We breathe the air. Did you not pay attention in biology?"
"I was that kid who was always in trouble for reading under the table."
"Such a rebel."
Their laughter died quickly and they were left in silence again. And when there was silence, that was when Pippa's brain came alive. Suddenly, all she could think about was the boy next to her. She hardly knew him but she felt drawn to him, as though he could help. They both had their problems – who didn't in this new world – but maybe they could help each other.