Apocalypsis 02 - Warpaint

lovelorn-advice-column-guy?”
    “No. I’m more like psychiatrist-with-lovesick-girl-on-the-couch-guy.”
    “I’m not lovesick,” I said, firmly believing it. “I’m just … I don’t know. Worried or something.”
    “Worried about what?”
    “Him. His past. His intentions. Our future. You. Choose any of the above.” It was depressing, really, hearing myself say it aloud. It should have been so much simpler than this. The world as we knew it had ended. There was no more high school drama, no more parents hassling us to do our homework or go to bed or stop texting. But life was even more complicated now, not to mention dangerous.
    Peter frowned. “His past … the future … me? What are you talking about?”
    “Well, first of all, I have no idea where the hell he came from.”
    “He already told us that. Germany. And West Palm Beach.”
    “Yeah, but he’s been alone for, what? Six months or longer? I mean, what’s his deal? Why was he alone that day we met him?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe for the same reason I was.”
    “He didn’t lose a sibling to the canners. He would have told us that. And a guy like him? Mr. Happy Guy? He should have had a flock of people around him, right? Or am I crazy?”
    Peter sighed. “No. You’re not crazy. It is kind of weird, but I like him. I’m sure he has a rational explanation that will make your worry seem silly.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Do you really think he has a dark past? That he did something bad? Because if you try to tell me you think he’s a reformed canner, I’m gonna slap you silly.”
    “Bigger men have tried, pipsqueak, and failed. Miserably.”
    “Yeah, well, bigger men might not resort to titty-twisting like I will.”
    I barked out a laugh. “What did you just say?” I sat up suddenly, still laughing, crossing my hands over my chest protectively. “You’d give me a purple nurple?”
    He shrugged. “I’ve learned to do whatever it takes to get a bully to leave me alone.”
    I help up my hand, hunched over and nodding. “Respect, my friend. Respect.”
    He gave me a high-five, smiling shyly.
    “I think you need to come to my next training session.”
    “When is it?”
    “Five minutes. With the girls.”
    “Fine. I’ll go. I’ve already organized our pantry eight different times. Either we need more food or I need a bigger job; otherwise, I’m going to go nuts in this place in under a week.”
    I got up on my feet and held my hands out for him to grab. “Don’t worry. I’m sure there’s plenty for you to do around here. We just need to find out what our places are in the tribe. That’ll all be figured out at dinner, I promise.”
    “Good.” He stood with my help and then wiped his hands off on his jeans. “Ew. Sweaty.”
    “Sorry.” My body was still humming in high gear, and the stifling heat and humidity sure wasn’t helping cool me down. I glanced over at the swamp, trying to figure out how desperate I’d have to be to swim in it.
    “I saw a snake in there today,” said Peter, looking off into the water. “It was creepy.”
    I guess that answers my question: I’d have to be really, really desperate.
    His comment made me think of the gator we saw before. “Not as creepy as that gator momma that was coming after you.”
    “Yeah, you’re right. Except that was more terrifying than creepy.”
    “Totally.”
    We heard someone approaching and both turned to greet our visitor.
    “Are you ready to go?” asked a scowling Coli, appearing out of nowhere, silent until she was practically on top of us.
    I rolled my eyes at Peter out of her view before turning back. “Yeah. You training with me today?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    At least she’s honest. “Good,” I said as I walked by her. “I’ve been looking forward to kicking your ass for a while now.”
    I heard Peter sigh behind me as he struggled to keep up with my pace. I didn’t check to see if Coli was following. She needed to learn that I was going to win at the intimidation game; otherwise, if I let her get away with being a pain in the ass, she was going to get herself hurt and maybe someone else too if we were really unlucky.
    ***
    I don’t know why I expected all the girls to act angry and defiant like Coli and Celia. Most of them were shy and a lot more laid-back. Some of them smiled shyly when I approached, and others just avoided eye contact.
    I wanted to ask them how Celia was doing because I was worried about her and thought it was something we all