The next day is a long and wet one. I hate the rain. I'd rather be swimming in water than being drenched in it from above. The air is a lot cooler, though. It's actually pretty chilly, so we decide to stop by a store to buy warmer clothes.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl05sRXL6G
I browse the coat racks and come across a cute purple jacket, which is warm enough to wear over my tank top. I also buy a pair of skinny jeans and some socks to go with the purple converse I found.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMYjjMayOJ
Ash walks out of the store to me wearing a black leather jacket, which sets off his green eyes beautifully. Keagan follows him with a coveting look on his face as Ash puts his arms around me. He has bought a black jacket with turquoise accents.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLfM4GcFAP
"I could get used to this bad-boy look. It's sexy." I grin and lace my fingers with his.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSWiF7L0xG
"You look gorgeous." He presses his lips to my forehead.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmvsAJKwUV
"I love you." I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his lips.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hLZHi1HR2
"I love you, too." He hugs me tightly.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeI9N1nLOg
Keagan groans and turns to look the other way.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fFM8dvL8T
"What's wrong?" I look at him, my lips tugging into a frown.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWsIPUQlfi
"Nothing important. Why? You don't actually care, do you?" He rolls his eyes.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PuMsxVIod
"Yes, I fucking care. You know I do. What's wrong?" I cross my arms.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsaAFGupQC
"Nothing." He fakes a smile.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDO3kLoU52
I decide it's best to drop the subject. He is so stubborn.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHkqFQQ2js
Ash rubs my arm to comfort me. "Let's go before any spies see us."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lq7jTIy9v
We walk down the road until we get to a tiny cafe and my stomach grumbles from the scent of biscuits. "We need food."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡalfsFsgPUY
We walk inside and I long for Anastasia's biscuits and gravy. I won't find it here, though. A heavy-set, red-head named Renee walks up to us. "Table or booth?"copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8isgd8Jr12
"Either will be fine." Ash puts an arm around me in a protective manner. Why is he being like that? Is something wrong?copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6OYUdblux
We walk to the booth Renee puts our silverware on. "What can I get you?"copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡuivIOfAGf6
"Can I get some hash browns and a ham and cheese omelet? Oh, and some orange juice?" My voice almost goes inaudible as I notice her eyes. Anastasia's eyes. That's what was wrong with Ash.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGk6Pkvmob
She repeats what I said to confirm it and then moves on to Keagan and Ash, who both order the same thing as me, but they ask for coffee instead of orange juice.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5esD4fPV5
As soon as Renee galumphs away from our table, I look at the boys. "We need to eat everything on our plates. If you can't eat it, get it to-go. Just hurry."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MTbulGrcm
They nod in agreement, Ash being more enthusiastic than Keagan, as Renee returns with our food. "If yall need anything else, just holler."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02hDYXOnIn
We nod as we scarf down as much food as we can. The omelet is amazing and the hash browns are mouthwatering, but I can't eat it all. I still have half of the omelet and two-thirds of the hash browns when we all agree that we're full. I guess our stomachs shrank from not eating for so long.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3wxHoGWLA
"Renee, do you think we could get three large to-go containers?" I put the money on the paying counter.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvBYpJumoE
"Coming up, sugar." She disappears into the kitchen and comes back with the containers.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdxWTYLCaV
She starts to give me the change back but I tell her to keep it as a tip. She graciously thanks me and then we're on our way.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBOK8iYUYS
The sun has come out and the humidity makes the temperature skyrocket. We stop to change in the woods. As I shimmy out of my shorts, Ash sneaks peeks.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d0G9BXZLN
"Oh, stop it!" I playfully smack him and he grabs my butt.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnZkPseTD3
"I'll do what I want, you sexy thing." He laughs at me and pulls me into his arms.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzyOJQ7KJb
"Will you put sunblock on me?" I kiss him softly.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgf5SHVdvt
He grabs the sunblock from my bag and lathers it onto my skin, massaging it into my sunburn ever so gently. He kisses across my back and I can feel his breath on my neck.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡw63Dfwhmm5
The moment is over before it even began. Spies explode from behind the trees, surrounding us. I quickly get my gun and take out the tree in front of us. Ash takes out five more, leaving Keagan to take out the final two. They barely even put up a fight. Monroe really needs better spies.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7QtMpC7u1
We take off and end up about three miles from the West Virginia Territory, which is still an Ag-Ex territory. My stomach rumbles again and we sit down to enjoy a little of our breakfasts. We still don't finish our food and there's more than enough left for dinner.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTzEJAWXOq
We get up and walk five miles and six more spies greet us. Two for each of us. I shoot at a girl with lavender hair and the bullet bounces off with a metal clang. I've heard about these spies, but always thought they were a myth. Androids. Robots. They're almost impossible to kill with weapons. You have to short out their circuits.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡancCYv2At6
I look around for a water source and spy a pond about a half a mile away. I run to the edge of it and three androids follow me. I splash water at them, sending them to the ground in tremors. I look over at Ash, who continues to fight off two identical robots with sage green hair.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S4N5VteZJ
Another robot comes my way and I throw some more water, shorting her out. Ash gets free from the twins and runs frantically to me. They follow in high pursuit and I splash water all over them. They're on the ground within seconds.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBVTD3jaV8
I smile to myself, but the smile disappears when I realize that I don't see Keagan anywhere. I look at the ground, in search of his body. One sticks out like a sore thumb. This one isn't twitching like the rest. He's bleeding.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcUjQCeLMI
I run to him as fast as I can. Blood seeps into his shirt sleeve. A bullet has grazed his arm, which should be easy to treat. I've seen my uncle treat bullet wounds all the time.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvlQzNcJKU
I take the first-aid kit out of my bag and get out the spray labeled Bullet Wound. As soon as I spritz it onto the bloody graze, it clears up a little, but I spray the rest of it onto the wound so he doesn't bleed again. It disappears, leaving a small scar.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6TYB9Kelw
"Mercy?" Keagan's voice is but a croak.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAGxDP9L5A
"What, honey?" I touch his face.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21JeVSN567
"Your knee is crushing my balls." He looks down.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2kzcpTxDI
I quickly remove my knee from his groin and help him up. "Sorry about that."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w8Bcd1mPU
"It's okay." He smiles for the first time since we left home.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBHZCqATod
Tears flood my eyes before I realize it and I wrap my arms around him. "Dot scare me like that ever again. I thought you were dead."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnrFtiwzjO
His arms wrap around me tightly. "Far from it, sweetie."copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYF2Vvt2OS
"Don't call me sweetie." I push him playfully.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFd4kX8LMC
I hear footsteps behind me and I splash water on it from a puddle without even looking, thinking it's an android.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3LiRLf3wO
"What was that for?"copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVGI8r6iuL
I turn to see Ash. "My bad!" I try to suppress the rippling giggles that are burbling up my throat. Keagan is rolling on the sidewalk, laughing uncontrollably. I can't help but cut loose with an eccentric giggle.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe8BZg2m07
"Very funny." He splashes me.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡfudwIGJCC3
The water gets all over my clothes, chilling me to the bone when the wind blows. Keagan drapes his jacket around me.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDrfuuMZSL
"Keep it." He smiles.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNSfi5mebk
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