Apocalypsis 02 - Warpaint

back. “Hey. Looks like you had a hard day,” he said softly.
    “Yeah. You could say that.” I looked back up and tried to put on a cheery smile. “But the good news is, we have our team.”
    “Does it include Winky?” asked Kowi.
    “You bet your ass it does,” I said. Hell yeah, I want a girl like that at my back. Even if she is Bodo’s little friend.
    ***
    I was lying on my mattress thinking about getting a nap in before lunch when I heard footsteps outside the door. Peter was off making more bread and Bodo had disappeared, probably to go work with Nina. I opened my eyes and tipped my head back to see Winky standing in the entrance of the other hut. Her face looked terrible. Not only was it bruised and swollen from my attack, but her eyes were cast down in what looked like shame.
    “Hey,” she said, softly. “Can I come in?”
    “Sure,” I said, sitting up and spinning around. I motioned for her to sit in front of me. “What’s up?”
    She sat down and cleared her throat. “I just wanted to apologize.” She picked up a nearby leaf and used it to trace patterns onto the floor, not meeting my eyes.
    “For what?” The only thing I thought I wanted an apology for was something totally ridiculous I had no right to be thinking about -like an apology for being so attractive to Bodo-so I waited to hear her tell me what she was all about.
    “For losing it. For going ballistic on everyone.”
    I smiled, putting my hand on hers, stopping her distracted movements before letting her go again. “You don’t have to apologize. I can appreciate a good killer instinct when I see it.”
    She laughed once, humorlessly. “It didn’t feel good. After.”
    “Yeah. Going into a rage never does after it’s over. But at the time, it kind of feels good. At least, in my experience.”
    She looked up at me quickly. “You’ve had that happen before?”
    I shrugged. “Sure. Anyone who fights on a regular basis does once in a while. It’s bound to happen when you focus so much energy on being the last one standing. The key is to recognize when it’s coming and not let it control you. You can use that power to enhance your talents and fight better. Harder.”
    “Can you show me? Because I’m almost afraid to try fighting again at this point.”
    “No, don’t be afraid. Be proud. You’re good. Someday I can help you become great, I think. If you want. You won’t have to worry about people hurting you anymore.” I wondered if being hit in the past is what had triggered her anger at Trip’s punch to her face.
    She smiled a little. “That would be nice.”
    “So are you okay with being on the team - to go after those canners who hurt Celia?”
    “Yeah, I’m in. Totally.” She shrugged. “I mean, if I go bonkers on them, the least I could do is smash some nuts, right?”
    “Exactly. That’s awesome. I’m glad you’re going. I think you’ll be a big help.”
    She laughed. “Why? Because I can scratch their eyes out?”
    “Well, yeah. And the fact that you’re fast and small. It could come in handy for us.”
    “You have Fohi,” she said, smirking.
    “Yeah, we have Fohi. But he doesn’t have the nails.”
    “True.”
    We sat there and smiled at each other for a couple seconds before I started thinking about her being with Bodo again and my happiness faltered.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyebrows scrunching together.
    “Nothing,” I said, trying to brush off her concern, standing up and attempting to look interested at something in the distant trees.
    “Is it something I said?”
    “No, no, not at all. It’s nothing,” I said, looking back at her. “Really. Just forget it.”
    “You can tell me, you know. I won’t tell anyone.”
    How can I tell her that she’s the problem and only because she’s cute and I’m afraid Bodo will like her more than me? Or that I’m just a stupid idiot who doesn’t know how to act with a boyfriend?
    “I promise. It’s nothing. See?” I grinned as hard as I could, trying to show her how happy I was.
    “That’s kind of scary, actually,” she said, eyeing me warily.
    “What? My smile?”
    “Is that was that was?” She fake shuddered. “I thought it was your death stare.”
    I reached down and slapped her arm. “Screw you.”
    “So I’ll see you at dinner?” she asked, standing up and backing through the entrance into the other hut before turning around.
    I smiled at the instincts that subconsciously told her not to turn her back on