Unnamed
I fan myself with my hand in the humid, cramped room.
“Let’s do something,” I suggest to the three other people I’ve been sharing the same living quarters with for three months now
“It’s too hot,” Kaylin whined. I’m tired of your pitching, I think towards her but refrain from speaking.
“Yes, but I’m tired of just sitting here. Why don’t we go get more food? We’re running low,” I figure I would get some fresh air and actually be able to breathe. “Matt and I can go. Right Matt?”
“Right…” he relents. “Are we going right now?”
“I was thinking we could. I mean why not?” I stand up, dust off my pants, and head towards the stairs. I turn around and note that Matt isn’t following. “Aren’t you coming?” I ask him.
“I don’t wanna get it… you know?” he stares at his fingers, playing with them shamefully.
“I’ll go by myself,” I narrow my eyes and scowl towards him mirthlessly. Turning around, I follow the stairs to the top at the door, open it, and climb out. Of course I’m going by myself. Selfish plastards. I decide to go to the closest convenience store and breathe a sigh of relief that there’s actually someone behind the counter. I pull the hand sanitizer in my back pocket out and use it before opening the door to go in. Walking up to the person behind the cash register, I ask, “Got any cigs?” as casually as I can. It takes a lot to contain the excitement to have contact with someone other than the idiots room with.
“What kind?” he asks, smiling at me. Feeling slightly dazed at actually seeing him smile- and at me of all people- makes me stagger.
“Uh- the one on the left,” I point to the selections he’s laid out for me.
“Five fifty,” he holds out his hand for the money. Careful not to touch his outstretched hand, I drop the money in his palm.
“Thanks,” he puts the money in the cash register, holding it out like I’ve got something.
“I don’t have it you know,” I say a little offended.
“How do you know?” he retorts, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Well I haven’t been above ground for over three weeks and haven’t touched anyone for four, so unless there’s another disease goin’ around that I don’t know about, I’m pretty sure I’m fine,” I smirk at him knowing I’ve beaten him at his own game.
“I heard pitch is a very common side effect,” of course he smirks back because now he has the upper hand.
“So you’re saying you’re sick?” I backlash, the smirk still present.
“No, I’m saying you are,”
“Well I’m saying you’re not quite the ball of sunshine yourself,” I storm outside opening my cigarettes on the way. I pull a lighter out of my pocket and light up, waiting for my stress to break with every puff.
“You know they’re awful for you,” he comes up behind me and points to the stick between my fingers.
“You’re awful for me, too,” I shoot back, not looking at him. He holds up his hands defensively and says,
“Just tryin’ to help.”
“If I cared, I wouldn’t smoke them,” I say before taking another drag of my cigarette.
“Touche,” he sighs, sitting down on the step next to where I stand. I roll my eyes at the annoyance next to my feet and finish off my cigarette, toss it on the ground and rub my shoe on it in front of no name then walk away.
“Hey! Wait!” I hear him call after me. I turn to look at him.
“Why should I?”
“I don’t even know your name,” he catches up with me and asks.
“My name is Chrissy,” I snap. He smiles at me.
“I’m Adam,” he responds, holding out his hand. I don’t take it but instead, I curtsey at him with a scowl on my face and walk away again.
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