Chapter 19:Two Peas in a Pod
I felt warm and for the moment, I thought I had sex with some guy again last night. I opened my eyes to see Charon's neck. His arms were wrapped around me loosely. I nudged into his side and pulled the blankets over him. His hold tightened pleasantly.
I turned my wrist and reached for my Pipboy. Charon made it incredibly difficult but I was determined to not wake him. I turned the knob with the very tip of my index finger.
Only 10:46. God dammit. A few more hours and I would find out if there's a parasite in me for the next nine months. Charon stirred but didn't wake.
His leg shifted and lay flat on mine. Everything was so intimate when he wasn't aware of what he was doing. I nuzzled into him and closed my eyes.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't force myself back to sleep. I settled to just listening to Charon's calm breathing. His chin rested on my head and for once, I was happy again. I wouldn't change a single thing about this moment.
As the memories of the past few weeks I've spent with Charon, I realized that he made me feel human again. Like I was worth something.
He shifted next to me. "Hmm, I wake ya?"
I smiled contently. "Nah. I've been awake for awhile."
"You should have waken me. What time is it?"
"You deserved a good rest." I looked back at my Pipboy. "It's 11:58."
"I can't recall ever having such a good night's rest."
"You can sleep like that whenever you want, you know?"
He buried his face into my hair and pulled me closer. "How about every night?"
My face heated. "Why not?"
"Why do you talk to me like this?" He inhaled deeply.
"Like what?" My brow furrowed.
"Like I'm a man."
"Why do you talk to me like I'm a respectable girl?"
"Because you are one."
"You have your answer right there."
"You do realize that you won't be able to talk to me like I'm human around other smoothskins, right?"
"I'll talk to you that way in front of God and everybody. You're a person, Charon. Get used to it."
"It's dangerous for you. I can't protect you when you go doing that kind of stuff."
"I know. I just want you to know that I would if I could." I checked the Pipboy again. 12:04.
"You're too nice for your own good." He grumbled.
"I know. We have a little while longer."
Carol tapped on the divider. "Are you two hungry? I didn't want to wake you earlier for breakfast."
Charon groaned and unwrapped himself from around me. I sat up on the bed and swung my legs over the edge. I tugged my boots on and didn't bother tying them. Charon threw the divider open with a grunt.
Carol gasped. "Oh my, I didn't mean to intrude. It's just that you didn't eat breakfast and Eleanor should really eat normally. She may be eating for two from now on."
"Get whatever she will stomach." He sneered.
"Right away. And for you, dear?"
"Salisbury steak."
"Alright. Greta!"
Carol closed the divider and she hollered back and forth with Greta. Charon turned back to me.
"One day, we'll argue like an old couple." I smiled sweetly.
"Funny." He stuck his tongue out.
"I'm a clown on Thursdays. Didn't you know?"
"I thought you were just a gynecologist." He grinned smugly.
"A what?"
"Nothing. It was something before the war."
"Tell me about it when we get the chance."
Great tapped the divider with her foot. She had two plates of food. "Hey, heard you got yourself knocked up."
"You jealous?" Charon asked.
"Are you? It's obviously not yours." She shot back.
His fist balled at his side and his jaw clicked. "Just leave the food. You don't need to be disrespectful."
"Whatever." She dropped the food on the table and turned.
"Bitch." Charon muttered under his breath.
"Shithead." Greta called back.
"You're both pretty. Can you pass me the plate?"
He handed it to me. It was instamash with pork in beans. I ate it quickly. I couldn't remember the last time I had a good plate of food. Charon had finished before me so how.
I checked my clock. 1:16. It was time. I deposited the plate on the side table and dragged Charon up by the hand.
"Is it time to go?" Charon asked quietly.
"Yeah." My voice was shaky from nerves.
The walk down the stairs and towards the clinic seemed to never end. My legs grew heavier with anxiousness. I tugged the handle and slipped in.
Barrows looked up from his new clipboard sadly. My heart seemed to stop beating for a moment.
"Eleanor, I'm so sorry. You're pregnant."