Could it be related to the weed? Or maybe the food shortage? The way they have the medicine locked up? Dom tried to think of some reason Del would need a big distraction that would relate to what they already knew but he couldn't place anything. The girls and Matthew sat in thought as well but no one seemed to have any answers.
"We'll just have to go to the festival and wing it" said Marie. "We're not going to be able to figure anything out during the work day tomorrow and the festival starts like an hour after we get out."
"She's right" said Diana.
"OK then," said Dom, "everyone get some good rest. We're going to need to be sharp tomorrow."
Friday morning came quickly. Tori hopped out of bed and hit the bathroom since no one else was up, hurrying through her morning routine so she could relax a little more before they left for work. Marie was next up followed by Diana about fifteen minutes later; she liked to sleep in. They met the boys outside same as usual and went off to their work days with the promise of some fun afterward. Tori kissed Diana on the lips but lingered for a second, taking a second and a third.
"You never do that in public" said Diana, although she was smiling.
"Sometimes I feel like I don't do it enough period" said Tori. "I just know that you deserve the best."
Diana brought Tori into a hug and squeezed. "I have the best, right here. Now go to work, I don't want you to be late."
Everyone went about their normal routines at work that day, except Tori was left alone by an absent Ralph. She arrived at the store and realized the door was still locked and he was nowhere in sight, so she set up herself and ran the stand as normal but he never showed up. It worried her that he wasn't around since his health wasn't getting any better, but she didn't want to stress herself out too much so she assumed that he was just at home resting up for the festival.
When they met back up at the building after work detail Dom told everyone he had worked out a plan for the evening. It was similar to the one of the day before; try to move about the festival so they could get near to key people and listen in on what they had to say. No one expected Del or Shawn to be there so they decided to try to fish out some of the Honovi guards. You would think big dark skinned guys with long black hair and guns wouldn't be too hard to miss, but these guys were great at blending in.
They each took their time setting up for the party in different ways. Matthew and Dom played a football game on the Xbox while the girls all looked through and traded clothes and did their makeup. It seemed weird to be doing something as normal as putting on makeup, and thanks to Marie actually bringing hers with them they had a nice sense of their lives before the conflict. Marie had her makeup and hair done but she was running back and forth between her room and the others in a fury, trying to find something to wear.
Tori didn't wear a lot of makeup during her daily life since she felt she didn't really need it, but on occasions like the festival she liked to dress up as much as anyone. When she came out of the bathroom ready to go Diana looked her over in awe, almost like they'd never even met. She wore dark skinny jeans and the blue top she'd bought from Sharon's store that hung slightly off of one shoulder. Her hair hung straight over the opposite shoulder that the shirt hung off, exposing her smooth neckline. She topped it off with some light blue eyeshadow and a dab of sparkly lip gloss.
"You look amazing" said Diana.
"Thank you" said Tori, giving Diana a kiss on the cheek, leaving a little glitter behind. "I don't anywhere near as good as you of course, but I tried."
"Oh stop! We both look perfect, how about that?"
"I think that's accurate."
Diana wore similar jeans to Tori's with a dark red shirt and a thin leather jacket over top, with sleeves that stopped just short of her wrists. Her hair fell in long, loose ringlets around her shoulders in the way that Tori loved and she finished it up with some dark purple eyeshadow. Tori thought she looked really inner-city chic and she wore it really well.
"God I can't find anything I want to wear" shouted Marie from her bedroom.
Tori and Diana both laughed and went in to help her, almost tripping over clothes that were scattered all over the floor.
"This place looks worse than the block by the park" said Tori. "What have you been doing in here?"
"I can't find anything that will really impre-" Marie stopped mid-sentence and continued looking through her bags.
"Impress?" asked Tori.
"Oh I get it" said Diana. "You want to look good for Matthew, don't you?
Marie blushed and ducked her head down toward the clothes she was looking through to hide it. "Yeah? So what if I do?"
The girls dug through the pile on the bed and fished out a pastel pink sundress with spaghetti straps and a strapless bra to go underneath. Diana held it up to Marie's front and Tori shook her head appreciatively.
"Yeah, that's perfect. Go with that" said Tori.
"You really think he'll like it?" asked Marie.
"I've known the guy a while. He likes girly girls, and pink plus dress equals girly. Anyway it's a nice dress and it looks good on you, so go put it on."
They waited a few minute and Marie came out with the dress on looking as good as ever. Her blonde hair fell in ringlets over the dress straps and the green and blue mixture of eyeshadow she put on really brought out the stunning blue of her eyes. She twirled around and the dress floated up in a mesmerizing motion.
"Yeah, you look great" said Tori. "Let's go."
Tori was actually looking forward to the festival more than any of the rest of them even knew. She didn't get a chance to go to her prom since she wasn't with Jade anymore and couldn't find a date. There was a decent amount of gay kids at her school but she was still uneducated in her new sexuality, making her second guess herself when she tried to talk to other girls. She didn't know if there was some sort of code in finding another girl in a romantic way, and she worried that straight girls might think she was hitting on them even when she wasn't. All in all she really wanted to go, but fear of the unknown set her back a little ways.
After that when she started dating again she saw a girl for coffee that she had met out at dinner with her family. The girl was their server and Tori couldn't help but keep checking her out every time she came to the table, and her glances didn't go unnoticed. When Tori and her family got up to leave the girl stopped her before she walked off and handed her a scrap of paper with her number on it and a smile. Tori called her up that weekend and they went to a quiet coffee shop not far from the restaurant to talk. The girl, who's name was Ashley according to her nametag, realized pretty quickly that Tori was new to the scene and allowed her to ask all the questions she wanted. They didn't really hit it off in a romantic way since Ashley was experienced and wasn't looking to 'train' a newbie, and Tori totally understood that, thanking her for the advice and coming away with a better sense of herself.
It seemed odd that even after the world had ended, so to speak, she would be getting ready to go to a dance party with another woman. It might be years after she originally wanted to, but as they say better late than never. Tori was just happy that she was going with someone as gentle and caring as Diana, someone she could really fall into and confide in, that would really hear her and see her for who she was. She sucked in a breath and held it for a second, then let it out as she shut the door behind her.
The boys were still playing their game when the girls walked in, but they quickly shut it off when they laid eyes on the made-up ladies in front of them. Dom looked at each one of them with a smile then walked forward to bring all of three of them in for a big hug.
"I really do have the best looking family around."
Tori laughed into his shoulder and kissed him on the cheek. "Likewise. You and Matthew are two of the handsomest guys I've ever met."
Matthew nodded. "Sounds about right."
"I feel like a jerk for not doing anything to get ready for this. You all look so good and we're just a couple of skeezers."
"Don't worry about it" said Diana. "Boys are supposed to look stupid anyway."
Dom tucked his head down and scuffed his foot back like a bull and Diana and the other girls screamed, running for the door to avoid getting ruffed up. He picked up the two radios they had ready for the night and handed one to Matthew before clipping the other on his belt. Outside people were already leaving to head to the festival and the streets were getting crowded. They walked behind a few other groups of people up to the central drop area, looking around at the nice little setup the Honovi had put together. Del kept his promise with the radio stuff, since radios were sitting on tables at different points on both sides of the street. A central DJ area was up front next to the other tables with some different foods on them, manned of course by Honovi guards.
It seemed like most of the town was in place and about ten minutes after they arrived the guards went around and turned the radios on. They crackled to life and music started playing through them, inciting a cheer from the crowd as everyone erupted into dance. It seemed like it had been a long time since they had heard music and Tori already felt herself moving to the beat, so she grabbed Diana and spun her around towards the center of the crowd. They danced for the first two songs and Diana stopped them before they got lost in the party.
"We need to start looking around."
"You're right" said Tori. "Thanks for dancing with me."
"Anytime."
Dom and Matthew skirted the edges of the crowd, looking for anything that might be out of place while trying to make it look like they were enjoying the party. It wasn't too hard to do since they were both pretty happy to be doing something normal again instead of just working and scavenging for their lives. The music sounded good, though they still weren't sure where it was coming from, and the people around them being happy set a good atmosphere. The food tables at the front had some nice breads on them and even some desserts that Del was probably saving in the fridges of City Hall. The citizens ate and danced and some even drank, though the boys weren't sure where that was coming from either since it wasn't provided.
The sun started to go down and the party went into full swing. There was lots of dancing, singing, and most importantly, laughter. Laughter is one of those things that you don't really notice too much until it's not around anymore. Since the conflict most people hadn't had a reason to laugh and it was definitely weighing on humanity as a whole. Fact is, depression spreads under the right circumstances, and with the bad mojo from the conflict everyone was keeping each other down. After weeks of fighting, killing and stealing from your own neighbors, hearing laughter was almost funny in itself.
Tori and Diana made their way around looking for some of the guards, but they were indeed like chameleons. No one really stuck out to them as someone that would be watching the crowd, and as they circled around the back of the makeshift dance floor they ran into Cora and Sarah.
"Hey Cora, glad you're here" said Diana. "Hi Sarah."
"Hey" said Cora. "We having fun yet or what?"
"I know, right? It's a pretty awesome atmosphere out here" said Tori.
"You guys wait here, I need to go find someone" said Diana.
She ducked into the crowd and went around to the other backside, combing the edges to try and find Matthew and Dom. She picked out Matthew's white shirt from across the edge and made her way over, grabbing Dom's arm from behind him.
"Come on, I want you to meet someone."
They made their way back to where Tori and Cora and Sarah were waiting, tapping their feet to the beat of the music and watching the people in front of them dance.
"Cora, this is Dom, my friend I was telling you about."
"Really Diana?" asked Dom, running his fingers through his hair. "We're in the middle of a war with ourselves and you're playing matchmaker?"
"You should be thanking me for taking an interest in your happiness you goober," said Diana, slapping him on the arm. "I want you to be as happy as I am." She looked over at Tori and walked the few paces left between them to take her hand.
"Hi Cora. My name is Dom. I'm twenty two, single, good with my hands, an avid outdoorsman, and I like to work. I enjoy movies, late night walks and Italian food."
Diana giggled uncontrollably into Tori's neck and Cora smiled so wide it looked like her face might stay that way.
"Nice to meet you, Dom. I'm Cora. I'm twenty years old, a single mother of three children and a recovering meth addict. I used to go to NA groups twice a week before the conflict but now I'm just hoping I can stay strong for my kids."
Dom looked like he had just heard someone in his family died, and even Diana looked shocked at the news. Cora kept a straight face for as long as she could until she started cracking up, and eventually burst into laughter.
"Your face was priceless" said Cora.
Dom smirked and realized he'd been got. "That was good, I have to say."
"You have no idea how perfect you are for him" said Tori. "Really, this is already amazing."
As they talked and bobbed to the music Matthew heard a truck creep up behind them and he turned around, catching a glimpse of it right before it turned onto a side street on the other side of the building they were standing next to. John was driving but he didn't have any passengers. Matthew tapped Dom on the shoulder and pulled him aside, keeping his eyes on the corner.
"I just saw a truck pull around that corner."
Dom followed his eyes and looked around. "Did you see who was in it?"
"Yeah. John, the guard at the farm, was driving, but there wasn't anyone else in the truck with him. You think maybe he's on his way out to the fields to move something?" asked Matthew.
"I don't know, but I'd like to find out."
Dom walked down the street towards the other corner where John had turned. The girls stepped towards them but Matthew waved them back, not wanting to cause too big of a scene. The truck was parked on the side of the road but John wasn't inside, and Dom figured he must have went into the building that everyone assumed was empty or destroyed.
"I'm gonna hop in the bed of the truck and ride with him to see where he goes. You head back and keep an eye on the girls. I'll radio in if I can, but I'll have to keep it off so I don't get blown."
"You sure, bro? This is dangerous, we don't know how this could turn out."
"Well we can't just let it go at this point, and this is a good opportunity to get some usable intel. Go watch out for the girls, keep them safe. I'll be back."
Matthew jogged up the street back towards the girls and Dom hopped into the bed of the truck, covering himself with the tarp so he couldn't be seen. It was almost dark out so that was another aide in his cover. It took another five minutes before John came back out and got in the truck. He started it up and took off immediately, heading somewhere Dom wasn't aware of and could only hope wasn't that dangerous.
After they had driven for a little bit the truck pulled off onto a dirt road or driveway that dipped into a pothole, and Dom knew they were pulling into the field area. The truck came to a stop and John got out, making his way towards the barn. As he unlocked and opened the doors they creaked loudly, signaling Dom it was his window to hop out of the back and make it to cover in the tall grass where he and Matthew had watched previously. When he saw the inside of the barn he realized a car was in there already, and Del came into view seconds later. He was talking into a radio but of course the other party was unknown.
"Yes we're out at the field" said Del.
"We'll be there shortly" said a voice Dom didn't recognize, but it was definitely male.
Del moved the car from inside the barn out next to John's truck. Twenty grueling minutes later Dom saw headlights coming towards him from the road in the direction opposite town. Two vehicles, a large diesel truck, twice the size of Johns, and a luxury sedan both pulled into the driveway and the truck turned around to back into the barn. Four men with automatic rifles got out of the sedan and walked to the barn and went inside, but Dom couldn't see what was happening. He decided to risk making a move and headed closer to the barn, eventually making his way around a tree so he could see the bed of the truck.
Two of the men from the sedan and the truck driver were loading boxes onto the back of the truck, but Dom couldn't tell what they were since there were no parts visible. He watched them load box after box until an image came back to his head of the tables near the DJ center at the festival. He realized the boxes they were loading onto the truck were for food storage, and instantly Tori's conversation played back about how Del said they were set for a long time but the delivery man said they were short. Del was giving the food for Wanagi to someone else, but why?
John watched from outside the barn as the men loaded the boxes. He had the demeanor of someone that had just been defeated. Each box they loaded he shook his head and and started pacing around the driveway, and Dom realized he obviously wasn't happy with what was going on. When the men put more boxes on the truck he finally stepped inside, waving his hands and then pointed to Del.
"You can't let them take all of it, we won't be able to sustain the town."
"John you know I can't-"
"Stop whining and load the god damn food in the truck, we gotta go." One of the men interrupted Del and Del didn't look too happy about it, but any resolve he had to say something faded as his eyes rested on the gun strapped around the man's torso.
"We're supposed to be helping these people!" yelled John, flinging his arms toward the direction of town. "We told them that if they came here we would keep them safe and provide for them if they were willing to work with us, and you're standing here giving away what they're worked for...to who? Who even are these people?"
"None of your business, buffalo jockey. Alright boys, let's head back."
John's hands balled up into fists and he looked like he seriously wanted to hit the man who had just spoke to him. It was weird seeing him that enraged since he was also so calm and collected during work detail. Del walked out of the bar with the men with the guns and stopped next to his car.
"If you guys need anything else radio in."
"Yeah we got it Chief."
The car and truck both took off back in the direction they came from and John crossed the space between him and Del in an instant.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Quidel? Why would you give them everything we have?"
"Because I had no choice!" Del yelled right into John's face and the loud noise scared a flock of birds out of the tree next to Dom. "You don't know the half of it John, so get back in your damn truck and go home."
Del opened the door of his car but before he could leave John got one more word in.
"Apple."
Del turned and punched John in the face as hard as he could, so hard that he knocked himself off balance in the process. John hit the ground hard and it took him a second to come around. He shook his head and stood up, not backing down from Del's rage. Del went to swing again and John countered him, knocking his arm to the side and punching him in the ribcage. Del howled out and turned back towards John, ducking in a low run before grabbing him by the waist and tackling him to the ground. He got a punch in before John flipped him over and headbutted him, almost knocking him out cold. John got up and dusted himself off, spitting blood onto the ground next to where Del lay.
"I'm doing what's necessary to secure out future" said Del, his speech slurred like he had had too much too drink.
"No you're not, you're taking the easy way out. You're siding with the big evil instead of working yourself to get what we need. The people of Wanagi go out everyday and do their jobs. Cleaning up, farming, selling food and what do you do? You sit in your office and do what?"
"I told you. I've been trying to make a permanent deal with General Calloway so he'll leave us alone and let us live in peace."
John looked at Del with pure hatred in his eyes. He shook his head and Del made a face, similar to what one would make when they smelled something unpleasant. They tiptoed around each other for a minute without saying anything until John crossed his arms over his chest and cleared his throat. Dom watched the whole seen with bated breath.
"Apple."
Del got up and looked like he was ready to row again when they heard the echo of gunshots in the air. A quick ring of shots, like a gun in burst fire. Both men shifted their attention towards the town and hurried toward their cars. Dom shot out of the tall grass towards John's truck and hopped into the passenger seat, almost having to will himself not to laugh at the bewildered look on John's face.
"You? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Doesn't matter right now, drive!"
John spun the truck around and followed Del back to the town. Del seemed to be in quite a hurry since he drove fast enough that he was almost out of sight within a few minutes. It was quiet in the truck for most of the drive until Dom decided he sort of owed John an explanation.
"I was out here doing the same as you I guess. I hopped into the bed of your truck before you headed out here so I could keep an eye on what was going on."
"At least someone besides me isn't blind to Del's betrayal" said John.
"Me and my group have been learning all we could for the past week or so. My brother Matthew and I were there the other day when Telly was talking to you about his sick plants."
John smirked. "You guys are good."
"We do okay. By the way, what did you mean when you called Del an apple?"
"It's a Native American slang term for other Native Americans, like you might call someone like you white trash or something. It means that person might be Native American but they don't act like it, or they do something against their tribe; red on the outside, but white on the inside."
Dom couldn't help but appreciate the Native's symbolism. "How long has Del been like this? Since the beginning or just lately?"
John was going to answer Dom's question but before he could they laid eyes on the scene in the center of town, and both of them were too shocked to speak. Two large Humvees blocked the road ahead of them with guards in front of each, and the same mirrored on the other three sides of the square. John parked his truck behind Del's car and they got out to walk in, but the guards stopped them in their tracks.
"We live here," said John, "we were just out at the fields."
The two guards looked at each other and the one on the right nodded. The one of the left patted each of them down and when he was satisfied they were non-combatant he waved them in. They saw another ring of guards inside, weaving through the edges of the crowd. Dom led them to where Tori and the rest of the group were when they left but they had moved somewhere else. He pulled the radio from his belt and signaled Matthew who answered right away.
"Dude where are you? You gotta get back here now" said Matthew.
"I'm here, I'm where I left you guys. Where are you now?"
"Go to the right and follow it around a bit, we're closer to the DJ center."
Dom waved John on and they made their way up to where Matthew and the rest of the group were. They all looked very surprised to see John with him but no one asked any questions. During the time he had been gone the town center area had been turned into a mini stage, the radios were all shut off and the DJ center had turned into a little platform with three people on it. A tall, muscular man in a black suit with a buzzcut stood in the middle of two men in US Army uniforms, both holding automatic rifles. Dom looked to John and then to Matthew, and they both shook their heads in disbelief.
