Page 30 of All Your Days
The room is just that—a room, not that I expected much else, really. But there is a definite smell, something moist and old. The walls look like they are decorated with some sort of patterned paper, but it’s faded too much to make out with the oil lamp Jacob’s holding, and it’s peeling wherever it hasn’t been peeled away all together. A leather skin covers the window just next to the door, the shutters closed tight on the other side.
There’s a door to what I’m assuming is a second bedroom, because there is only one bed in here. It’s bigger than my one at home at least, and the faded bedding looks clean enough. I kind of wish I thought to bring the special camp blanket up. The cocoon is at least familiar.
Apart from the bed, there’s a timber chest of drawers and a small table, where Jacob sets the oil lamp.
“It’s safe enough, safest we have here at least.” As he talks, he removes his rifle, resting it against the table, and sets his emergency and gear bags on the table.
“Oh—okay then.” I’m jittery from nerves. “I guess I’ll go put my things away then and then we can—”
“Where’re ya going?” My hand is on the door and he’s halfway through stripping off his duster when he stops me.
“Going to my room to put my stuff down so we can eat?” My voice squeaks high like I’m asking a question, partially out of confusion, but mostly because Jacob has finished removing his jacket and, in one swift action, has removed his hair from the knot he keeps it tied in.
It tumbles free in one fluid motion, cascading down his back as he shakes it loose. I’ve seen him with his hair down before, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen himtakeit down. I would remember if I had. It’s a strangely intimate sort of thing.
My saliva sticks in my throat and I almost choke on nothing at all. I don’t even register the confused frown he’s firing at me, because I’m too busy looking at the almost black waves swinging behind him. His hair is so long, it almost reaches his arse when it’s loose.
“That’s the bathroom.” He doesn’t make it any easier to focus when he undoes the buttons on his cuffs to roll his sleeves up over his forearms. I watch every second like a stunned idiot. “There’s a dunny, but it’s not like back in the main building at The Facility. More of a long drop situation, like out in the mud huts. And an area to rinse off if you want to hire one of their shower bladders.”
“I’m sorry,what?” The sensible part of my brain slams together some pots and pans to get my attention. “Long drop? Shower bladder? Wait!”
I yell the last bit, looking around the room in a panic. “If there’s no other bed then—”
I don’t finish the thought. It’s too absurd to say out loud. Jacob nods slowly, crossing his arms defensively.
“You know what a long drop is, so we can skip that. A shower bladder is a skin of some kind that we can rig up like a shower to get clean. The water’ll be cold, though. And yes, we’re sharin’ the bed. If it’s a problem, I can go get Smitty to unlock our shed and get my cot outta the trailer.”
I don’t think I can breathe. I’m hyper-hyper… Fuck, I can’t remember what the docs call it. My panic is full-blown and it’s about to blow up my chance to share a bed with Jacob. Butfuck. How the fuck am I meant to sleep in the bed with him?
He’s so casual about it, too. Is this just business as usual for him? Does he sleep with Rob or Lucas or Emmy? Do they sleep together or do theysleeptogether?
“Sorry, it’s obviously a problem. I’ll go get Smitty—”
“NO!” Jacob freezes at my shout. I bet even Cale and them heard me three doors down. “No, it’s—it’s fine. I’m just tired. And hungry.”
Jacob eyes me warily. “Are you sure?”
I nod, too fast and too hard to be reassuring. “Yes. Yeah. No worries. I’m sure. It’s fine.”
“Right. Well, get your scarf sorted and we’ll head over for food.” Jacob grabs his emergency bag, strapping it tight to his chest. I feel stupid doing it, but I follow suit, buckling it tightly against me.
He extinguishes the lamp, plunging us into complete darkness. I can feel him brush against me as he walks by me to the front door. His hand skates down my arm until his fingers tangle with mine, pulling me along in his wake.
The pub is louder than I expected. And filled with more people, too. I can’t even imagine where they’ve all come from, or why they’re all here. And I can’t quiet the anxious gurgle in my guts reminding me that none of them have tested their infection levels. Every single one represents an unknown danger on too many fronts.
I was hoping to maybe have a drink tonight and relax, but there’s not a chance that’s happening. No chance of me separating from Lou or Jacob. Not at all in the latter case, because apparently we’resleeping togethertonight.
The man can’t seem to figure himself out. He avoids me for years—hanging about in the shadows of my life, forever keeping himself out of arm's reach—and now it’s like he can’t decide what he wants to do with me. It’s driving me crazy—making me question myself and what I know. Because Iknowthe way he looks at me, even if his actions say otherwise. Then before I know it, his actions change again and confirm what I thought at first. It’s maddening.
I really do want that fucking drink. Then I can unleash my confusion on him and demand answers. And if it all goes tits up, I can just blame it on the grog and move on.
A terrible plan. Almost like Jessica made it up. It’s exactly what she’d do.
I squirm uncomfortably on the hard wooden bench of the booth I’m squished into between Lou and the man running rings through my head. The pub is a mishmash of relics from before the red rains and whatever’s been cobbled together or scavenged since. The wooden top of the bar looks like it may have been a part of the original building, but the lanterns hanging from the roof definitely aren’t. And I’d guess that the rusted metal sheeting both beneath the bar and behind it are newer additions. The furniture—the tables and chairs and the booths built intothe walls—all look like they are from more recent times. They have a distinct scavenged look to them, and none of them match.
Adding to it all is the full sized, big red male kangaroo stuffed and sitting dusty in the corner and the random animal skulls and preserved remains used to decorate. It makes an impression.
Connected to the main room is a second room with three tables with a ball game on them, with lots of people gathered around with big, long, thin sticks. Kinda like spears, only blunt. Once Jacob explains the game’s called ‘pool’, Cale, Malcolm, and Ryan are more than ready to go join the games going on there.
