{"id":383,"date":"2011-07-08T00:00:52","date_gmt":"2011-07-08T04:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=383"},"modified":"2011-07-08T00:00:52","modified_gmt":"2011-07-08T04:00:52","slug":"day-3-chapter-7-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=383","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 – Chapter 7 – 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was raining again by the time J.T. came to check on them, carrying a bag in one hand and a crutch in the other.\u00a0 His hair was still wet, but his clothes were dry as he tossed the bag down onto the mattress next to Thom.\u00a0 Thom blinked a little at him, frowning.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. shook his head and sat down in front of him in the grass.\u00a0 \u201cSomething we thought you\u2019d need.\u00a0 Both of them, really.\u201d\u00a0 He eyed his friend for a long moment, then smiled briefly.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you thought no one<\/em> saw your ass limping over to her earlier.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom smiled weakly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d hoped.\u201d\u00a0 His arm tightened around Marin.\u00a0 She was asleep, curled up against his chest with her arms around his waist, forehead resting against his neck.\u00a0 \u201cThere wasn\u2019t anything else I could do,\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cMatt was pissed at me, which meant that I\u2019d done something wrong again.\u00a0 So I came to her, since she wasn\u2019t coming to me.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou guys were fighting again, weren\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I hate how everyone can tell when we\u2019re fighting.<\/em>\u00a0 Thom shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cIt was stupid shit again.\u00a0 I lied to Jacqueline in front of her and she took it as a betrayal.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t have done it, but it\u2019s still a stupid thing for us to be fighting over, you know?\u201d\u00a0 He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the problem with her knowing me too well, I guess.\u00a0 She can tell from my face when I\u2019m lying even when no one else can.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cProbably why you guys are so good together when you\u2019re not fighting,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cAnyone else tell you not to fuck things up this time?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom tensed up for a moment, wincing as his ribs protested.\u00a0 He forced himself to relax, not only because of the sudden pain but because it wasn\u2019t worth getting offended by.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure which side of this is fucking things up, but if everyone thinks it\u2019s me, I guess that\u2019s my cross to bear.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cMore than one.\u00a0 Not sure which side is actually responsible for anything getting screwed up, but whenever something goes wrong, it\u2019s apparently my fault.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, can you blame them all for thinking that?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the one that abruptly hauled back on the reins, y\u2019know.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d\u00a0 Thom looked down at her, just listening to her breathe for a moment.\u00a0 I did it to save her.\u00a0 I did it because\u2026because I\u2019m an idiot, I guess.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure anymore.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot sure what the hell that nightmare you had months back was, Thom, but whatever it was\u2026was it worth all this?\u00a0 All the shit?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, J.T.\u00a0 I just feel like there wasn\u2019t any other choice.\u201d\u00a0 If that nightmare was more than just a nightmare, I\u2019m going to lose her and I can\u2019t handle that.\u00a0 I can\u2019t let that happen.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cGlad I stopped short of what I almost did, though,\u201d he mumbled.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSo are the rest of us, if running off to Chicago\u2019s what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. shook his head again.\u00a0 \u201cNever understood any of that, bro.\u00a0 You\u2019re not the running type.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some things are just too much to stand for.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDid she say no or something?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom blinked at him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. looked vaguely uncomfortable for a moment, a rare sight.\u00a0 \u201cI mean, did you propose or something?\u00a0 And she said no?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something fluttered inside of Thom\u2019s belly as he stared at J.T., struck dumb by the question.\u00a0 I almost wish that was it.\u00a0 By god, did they think we were that serious?\u00a0 Did they <\/em>know that I was that serious about her?<\/em>\u00a0 He shook himself and looked down at Marin.\u00a0 She stirred a little, then pressed her face a little harder against his neck and settled again, drifting deeper into sleep.\u00a0 Thom shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Jay,\u201d he said at last, voice quiet.\u00a0 \u201cThat wasn\u2019t it.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u201d\u00a0 He sounded relieved.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A shiver went through the ground beneath them, rattling the pinned furniture that made their cubby within the tent.\u00a0 Thom frowned.\u00a0 \u201cI wonder when those are finally going to stop.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t know.\u00a0 Maybe never.\u00a0 Ask Matt at dinner.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cIf Matt decides I\u2019m worth his attention.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou and Marin apparently kissed and made up.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat won\u2019t mean anything to Matt.\u00a0 He\u2019s protective as hell.\u201d\u00a0 Thom rested his cheek against Marin\u2019s head for a moment.\u00a0 In some ways, I\u2019m sometimes glad he is.\u00a0 If I ever <\/em>really fuck things up, he\u2019ll be there to take care of her.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll lay off when and if she tells him to.\u00a0 You ask him at dinner when these quakes are going to stop.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe I will. Y\u2019should be the one to ask, though.\u00a0 For your sketches.\u00a0 He\u2019ll listen.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom glanced at the bag his friend had brought.\u00a0 \u201cIs that what that is?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The other man nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI chanced Kirkhof and made out pretty well.\u00a0 Leah helped.\u00a0 Not sure how long the building\u2019s going to stay standing, though.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think any of the windows are still intact.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere aren\u2019t many big windows still intact anywhere on campus, Jay.\u201d\u00a0 Thom peered at the bag, but didn\u2019t reach for it.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019d you bring me?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCouple sketchbooks, pad of graph paper, a drafting tablet, two sets of tech pencils with extra lead, some erasers, set of technical pens and a ruler.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. grinned, looking proud of himself.\u00a0 \u201cWe stowed some more of the same with the rest of the supplies.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks, man.\u201d\u00a0 Thom smiled.\u00a0 \u201cDavon\u2019ll have to help me with some of the engineering here and there, but I think I\u2019ll be able to get a start in the morning.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. waved a hand.\u00a0 \u201cWouldn\u2019t worry too much about that.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Davon\u2019ll have to coordinate building for the first little bit anyway.\u00a0 Get your sketches together first.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m pretty useless for heavy lifting right now, but the drafting I can do.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou bet your ass you are,\u201d J.T. grinned.\u00a0 \u201cAnd don\u2019t let anyone catch you pulling any stunts in that direction, either.\u00a0 Jac\u2019s liable to tether you to something.\u201d\u00a0 His smile faded.\u00a0 \u201cDo you want me to have a look and make sure you haven\u2019t done any more damage?\u00a0 Knocked anything out of true?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After a moment\u2019s hesitation, Thom nodded.\u00a0 \u201cReally would rather have some kind of splint I can walk on, but I\u2019ll have to take what I can get, right?\u201d\u00a0 He shifted with a wince, stretching his leg out toward J.T. to give the former volunteer EMT access to his injured ankle.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThe crutch should help and a splint you can\u2019t<\/em> walk on prevents you from doing shit you shouldn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cLike heavy lifting?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI see we understand each other, young Skywalker.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. gently started to unwrap Thom\u2019s ankle.\u00a0 Thom rubbed Marin\u2019s back, distracting himself.\u00a0 He really didn\u2019t want to see if he\u2019d done additional damage to his ankle.\u00a0 It already ached enough as it was.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re bruised all to hell, Thom,\u201d J.T. announced as he got Thom\u2019s ankle unwrapped.\u00a0 Thom tried to suppress a grimace at J.T.\u2019s touch.\u00a0 The other man\u2019s fingers were like ice.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou been dunking your fingers in ice water, Jay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. snorted.\u00a0 \u201cI wish.\u00a0 Your ankle feels like I just pulled it out of an oven.\u00a0 Does it hurt?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s a pretty stupid question.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. grimaced, handling Thom\u2019s ankle gently with cold fingers.\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u00a0 Maybe this\u2019ll discourage you from walking<\/em> on it again.\u201d\u00a0 He gently ran his thumb along the bones of Thom\u2019s ankle, which was swollen up to the size of a grapefruit, Thom noted with a wince.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 Maybe it <\/em>will do that.<\/em>\u00a0 Thom pressed his nose into Marin\u2019s hair again, inhaling sharply as pain shot up his leg.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin suddenly went tense against him and started screaming.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was raining again by the time J.T. came to check on them, carrying a bag in one hand and a crutch in the other.\u00a0 His hair was still wet, but his clothes were dry as he tossed the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-7","category-day-3"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-6b","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}