"Please, please, please," Clareta begged next to me.
I had ignored her pleas all the way home. It turned out that not knowing what something means didn't stop Mrs. Turbina from blabbering. Tara had caught up with us after we'd left the kitchen and told us Mrs. Turbina told everyone there that the people I live with were atheists and I had nowhere else to pray but in the shower. I was grateful that she didn't actually know the meaning but saying that my family were atheists was distasteful.
I drew my brows together and nodded repeatedly as I turned over a page of the book I was reading. The book wasn't actually intriguing, something about a relationship between a supernatural being and a human, but I wanted to ignore her for a little longer.
"It was Alison's fault!" she exclaimed and Alison's head shot up from the tablet she was looking at.
"What did I do?! I don't even know why she's mad!"
"Who's mad?" a voice came from behind and I turn to see Cassandra and Ezra shutting the door behind them.
Ezra was carrying plastic bags that contained our breakfast and I realized I should have taken it when we were at the kitchen. Clareta and I muttered a quick 'good morning' as they walked over.
"Enny is!" Alison yelled and I winced at how loud she was.
"What did Clareta do this time?" Ezra asked as he dropped the bags on the centre table and Clareta pouted.
Alison immediately brought out the contents of the bags which were sandwiches in Ziploc bags and juice boxes. "If I say it she'll get mad again."
I rolled my eyes at her statement and closed the book before placing it on the table. "I'm not mad."
"Wait, really?" Clareta asked and I glared at her.
"Good morning, mum," Daniel stated as he bounded down the stairs.
"Hi baby." She wrapped her arms around him. "You look happy."
"Of course he is," Clareta muttered and let out a laugh before her expression froze. She smacked her forehead as her shoulders sagged.
I leaned close to her and whispered so she'd be the only one to hear me. "Die."
"That's a little extreme." She looked like a wounded puppy and I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug.
Cassandra and Ezra went upstairs after announcing that they were going to take a bath. Alison handed me a Ziploc bag and a juice box just as Daniel placed a kiss on my lips before collapsing on the couch, next to me.
"You guys are back early." He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to him.
"They were done when we got there. Caldwell is going on a scouting run today," Clareta announced.
His eyes lit up and his mouth immediately curved into a smile. "Really?"
Clareta nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. Are you going with us to the high school?"
"High school?" Alison asked.
Clareta smacked her forehead again. "Damn it!"
"You're actually worse than Mrs. Turbina," I said, sending her a grin.
I wasn't worried about Alison knowing we were going to the high school. She could actually keep a secret, unlike Clareta, thanks to my nightly escapades. Though, according to her, 'her silence needs to be bought'. Money was extremely useless right now so I tossed her my juice box and she caught it with a smirk.
I'm not a bad sister.
"One isn't going to cut it," Alison said as she smiled at Clareta who brought her finger to her lips and leaned close to me.
"What's she talking about?"
"Give her your juice box," Daniel responded as he grabbed a Ziploc bag and handed his juice box to a very happy Alison. He had gotten used to her method of blackmail due to the amount of times she had caught him sneaking into my room through the window at night.
"But... that's blackmail."
"It's business. Now... juice box," Alison stated as she outstretched her hand.
------
I was extremely bored. I had been lying in Daniel's bed for over an hour, staring at the ceiling's chandelier. I glance at the clock for the hundredth time. It's not even nine AM yet. I let out a groan as I was waiting for it to be ten-thirty so I could go to the kitchen to help make lunch.
Cassandra and Ezra were asleep since they did a night shift at the guard post. Daniel wasn't around since he had a day shift. Faye and Zeke were in the house while Hae In went to the game house with Clareta, Alison and Jack. It felt like we went there every other day, that's why I didn't go with them today. And I didn't want to find out how many people thought I was living with atheists. I was sure it was going to be brought up by some cooks when I went to the kitchen.
"Come in," I said and rolled onto my side when a knock sounded on the door.
Zeke came in and made his way over to the bed before he sat at the edge. "Enny, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot," I replied, instantly interested in whatever he had to say.
He stared at me for a couple of seconds and cleared his throat when I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"When we were kids... do you remember being sick?"
Sick? ...Like the flu? What kind of question is that?
"Uh, yes? I remember dad buying me chocolate every time I got better."
"No," he shook his head. "Not the flu or any other shit. I meant sick sick."
I was confused. I tilted my head to the side and leaned forward a bit as I waited for him to continue.
"Go on." I stated when he stayed silent.
"Sick... sick like the –" he abruptly cut himself off and shook head repeatedly as he got up from the bed. "Don't worry, forget it."
Sick like what?
"No, no, no, tell me." I quickly sat up but he was already at the door.
"Maybe some other time, Enny," he said before he stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him.