Apocalypsis 04 - Haven

it.”
    Peter blinked a few times rapidly before coming back to earth. “You’re right. Even though I can do whatever the H-E-double hockey sticks I want right now since Trip passed up his chance. But I get your meaning. Besides, Paci isn’t my kind of guy.”
    “Meaning he likes hoo-hoos and not ding-a-lings.”
    “Yes. Ever so eloquent, as usual, Bryn. Thank you for that reality check.”
    “Don’t mention it.”
    “By the way, speaking of the-boy-in-the-swamp-who-shall-not-be-named…”
    “Do you mean Trip?”
    Peter rolled his eyes. “Yes. I mean Trip. When are you planning on going there?”
    “Is four days too soon?” I kind of said it as a joke, but as soon as the words left my lips, I thought, Why not? No reason for me to hang around here now that the bodies are buried and my boyfriend thinks I suck.
    “Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how much work we have to accomplish before everyone gets here?” He took off at a rapid clip, walking so fast it made his butt wiggle in an exaggerated fashion.
    I couldn’t help but laugh. “Slow down before you throw a hip out of joint!” I yelled after him.
    “No time! I have to get the plans together!” And then he was gone. I could see him through the glass in the lobby, scampering over to talk to his planning group. His hands were fluttering around his face as he explained their predicament and soon the whole group was up and moving around.
    I didn’t hear Paci come up until he was standing right next to me.
    “Looks like you got him all excited. What did you say?”
    I was instantly nervous and sweating, wondering if Bodo was watching us, worried I’d do something innocent that would come off as bad or cheater-like. I kept my eyes on the lobby, not looking at Paci. “I told him I wanted to leave in four days to go get the kids in Kahayatle.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “Yes. I don’t see any reason for me to stick around here right now. The remains are in the pit, and Peter has all the planning for the community started. He can handle things from here, and I trust Derek to keep the place standing while I’m gone.”
    “I don’t know him at all. You think we can trust him?”
    “Yes, I do. Him and the people he brought with him. The only one I’ve ever had a problem with was that girl, Gail.”
    “Yeah. I hear ya. She was … different.”
    I looked at him, drawn away from my attempts at seeming nonchalant by his tone. “Different? Different how?”
    “Different in that she had a chip on her shoulder, like all the time. And she said things that made her seem really harsh. Like she didn’t entirely blame the canners for doing what they do. At least in theory.”
    “You think she’s a canner?” The very idea made me sick. That plus my nervousness at having Paci so close was adding up to severe heartburn. My chest was on fire.
    “No. I wouldn’t have let her travel with me if I had. But I think she’d be easy for them to recruit, especially now that she’s been rejected by our group.”
    “She wasn’t exactly rejected.” I felt guilty about that, turning a person away in this world. What kind of jerk am I? I pretty much either turned her into dinner or added to the canner army.
    “Yeah, she was rejected. But for good reason.” He put his hand on my shoulder, forcing me to look at him. “You’re a leader now. You have to make tough decisions that are going to haunt you if you let them. Kowi always said that he had to do what was necessary and then walk away. Regret is too heavy a burden for a chief.”
    “I’m no chief,” I said, almost bitterly. I didn’t want to be in charge; I just wanted to live my life in peace. It pissed me off that a peaceful life was just a dream - a fantasy that would probably never come true for me or any of the others here.
    “Sure you are. You may not call yourself that, but that’s how everyone here views you. Don’t look so down about it, though. You’re a natural. Leadership looks good on you.”
    I looked up to his brilliant smile. He didn’t give them very often, more likely to remain stoic than anything else. I was struck by how it transformed his face. He was already gorgeous, but a smile made him beautiful.
    “What?” he asked, his smile slipping. “Do I have something in my teeth?”
    “No,” I said, punching him lightly in the chest. “I was just thinking … never mind.”
    I started walking away, but was stopped when he grabbed my hand and tugged me back. “You