NOVEL NEXT [What Gus Was Up To] 30 - Days Until Rhian Arrives: 1
Feargus
The Dream:
"Which one of you was it?"
The boy side-eyed the girl.
The girl side-eyed the boy.
The girl and the boy looked to the old woman.
Silence. It had already been an hour.
The boy tap, tap, tapped his feet against each other.
"We can sit here all day," the old woman said.
The girl side-eyed the boy.
The boy side-eyed the girl.
The girl and the boy looked to the old woman.
Silence. It had already been an hour and a half.
The boy fidgeted and fidgeted,
he fidgeted until he remembered how to be still again.
But he never did.
The girl side-eyed the boy.
The boy side-eyed the girl.
Silence. It had already been two hours.
The boy felt like everything inside was on fire—he needed to go, now.
The boy found a crumb on his shirt and ate it.
"It was me," the girl said.
She still had her whole tooth then.
"And now was that so hard, miss Sinclair?"
Silence.
The boy looked to the girl.
The girl looked to the boy.
She smiled, he smiled, and then he ran.
Later:
"We're gonna be together forever, right, Rhian?"
"Aye, obviously."
Days Until Rhian Arrives: 1
I hadn't asphyxiated, and thanks to my new best friend Zacharias Vonsinfonie, I'd had the greatest sleep I'd had in weeks. And if all was according to schedule, it was almost time for Rhian. Just one more afternoon, another shift at the Gander, and one more sleep.
I didn't love the idea of traveling the underground during the day, but Zack said it'd be safe, and it was. And even if it wasn't, I was sure he'd have helped me again—I had an ally in Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, and maybe even a friend.
On my way back to the brothel, I stopped by the pawn stall and asked the man to hold on to my ceramic knife. "Don't sell it—but if someone who looks like me ever comes by asking about it, point them in the direction of the Steel Needle." I palmed the man a handful of notes, and made my way back to the brothel where I ran into Tanis at reception. Ben, the dancer who'd been with Johan the night he died, was back. He and Tanis were discussing the new service, and Tanis was doing her best to explain Everleigh Gloom.
"She's a defected Partisan," she said, gesturing to me. "A friend of this one's."
"They let you play music at Palisade?" Ben asked.
"Nah, mate, she picked it up on her own."
Everybody nodded. Neither of them had heard music before, and the same would be said for most Amali. The energy was buzzing around the idea of having something to dance to for a change. Anyhow, it was nice seeing everybody excited, and though I felt well-rested, I was still tired. I made my way to the bar for prep.
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Everleigh's big debut wasn't until next week, so that night a lass danced to nothing on the small stage alone. It was a relatively slow night—just a group of lads at the corner table and pair of lasses at the front. One of them came up to order more drinks.
"Hi," she said, and the way she leaned across the bar told me exactly where she wanted me looking. I had a quick peek, and then we locked eyes.
I grinned and drummed the accent right up. "You lasses having a good night?"
"Yeah, she's really talented—" she looked over her shoulder and waved to the one dancing to nothing. The dancer smiled and waved in return. Turning back to me, the lass tilted her head, "We thought since it was quiet you might like to sit with us."
The bar was stocked, clean, organized, tails were curled. Like I said, I was exhausted, but I really had no excuse not to sit with them, until—
A figure blocked out a shadow in the firelight when he turned the corner, and my heart dropped into my knees. Instead of stepping in front of the bar, though, Derek joined me behind it. He was dressed casually for travel, and when I gave him a hug, the lass turned and darted back to her table.
Derek gave my bicep a gentle squeeze.
"Can I take you somewhere?" he asked.
"You can take me anywhere," I answered, and the back room was an option I was willing to consider. "After my shift?"
"No, fuck that. You up for a bit of random fun?"
Was I? WAS I?
I was.
While I watched, still a bit stunned, Derek moved toward Tanis' office, knocked on the door. When she answered, they spoke quietly enough I couldn't hear. He reached into his vest, pulled out a stack of notes, and handed them over. The conversation ended with, "We'll speak soon." Finally, making his way across the theatre, Derek announced to the room, "Open bar tonight. Enjoy." He then waved me along.
My heart jumped into my throat.
We ran east for—I don't know how long, actually. I wasn't keeping track as I tended to do. Stopping in front of a ruined tower, Derek climbed the stones until he reached the highest stable platform. I couldn't help grin and follow in step. The view of the forest was incredible, and in the distance, nestled in the trees, I spotted a rickety old cabin.
"What was this place?"
"I have no idea, but I come here sometimes when I need to be alone."
"Aye, I can see why." I took his hand, and he gave mine a squeeze.
"Della loved your idea, by the way," he said.
"Aye, good, and I've spoken with the owner of the Jaskar—they're willing to negotiate."
"Wait, negotiate with Everleigh Gloom? That's who you think we should partner with?"
"Aye. Just remind her she can spy on the sex parties—it'll be fine."
"She can—wh—" Derek laughed suddenly. "Well, she's certainly eccentric, but Della and I haven't had any problems with her directly, so yeah, sure. Okay, Everleigh Gloom."
It was quiet for just under a minute, and I shifted on the platform.
"So, I—," I said. "So, I—," he said.
Normally I'd have let him go first, but, I'd had a moment of clarity after waking up from Zack's nap, and that clarity was why I was feeling so tired. I had to get this off my chest. I owed it to myself, and to the kind, handsome man I wanted to bend over the railing.
"Look, mate, I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm a bit of a mess. I think—I think it's important you understand that."
"Last night was a lot, wasn't it?" he said.
I nodded. "Aye, it was, but—it's good. It was so good. I'm just—"
"Listen, Jack—"
"See? That's not even my name."
Three and a half seconds of silence. My stomach flipped, but Derek was still holding my hand, and I was still counting the seconds. "Okay, well, whoever you are, I'm still Derek," he said. "And it's been a long time since I've felt anything new, but that's a me thing. I have no expectations of you. We had fun, yeah?"
"Aye, so much fun." I smiled, recalling a fresh memory of the four of us piled in the big, fluffy bed. "But I don't really know how to do it any other way."
Derek put his arm around me, and it felt nice, so I snuggled in.
"How about we just have a relaxing night up on this mysterious tower, and the rest we can improvise."
"No plan?"
"No plan."
I sighed, and the fire in my limbs went out.
No plan was the best plan, sometimes.