Read Online Apocalypsis 04 - Haven by Elle Casey - Free Book Online Page A

Rob, coming out and tying the straps on the front of his pants. “Dude’s been up since before dawn planning with a group of other OCD kids. He’ll have our every move mapped out before lunch.”
    I smiled. “There’s a group of them?”
    “Yeah. They’re calling themselves the City Manager’s Corps or something like that. Bunch of Peter disciples. I won’t be surprised if they start saluting him soon.”
    “Peter disciples. That just sounds so wrong.”
    He laughed as we walked back to the lobby. “Tell me about it. But it seems to make him happy and keep his mind off … well, you know … stuff, so whatever.”
    “Trip, you mean.”
    “Yeah, maybe.”
    “So what’s the deal with Trip? I mean, did he say anything to you guys about Peter or whatever after we left?”
    “Nah. He didn’t say anything. But he was obviously really upset, and I think everyone knew it wasn’t over you.”
    “Why doesn’t he just admit he’s in love with Peter or likes him or whatever and get over himself?”
    “It’s not that easy. Trip’s dad was really harsh. Being gay would have been like a sin against the family or something to that guy. Trip didn’t even want to admit it to himself for a really long time. At least, that’s what it seemed like from where I stood.”
    “That’s sad.” I wanted to think that my dad would have loved me no matter what my sexual orientation was, but maybe you could never know how someone would react until you actually came out to them.
    “Yeah. Sucks. But it’s stupid, because I think a lot of people who knew Trip suspected it about him and would have been really supportive if he’d just trusted us with his secret.”
    “But if he wasn’t even admitting it to himself, how could he admit it to you guys?”
    “True. But I think based on how he’s acted around Peter that he’s not in denial anymore. At least not totally.”
    We reached the door and he pulled it open for me.
    “Don’t be so sure about that,” I said. “He sure seemed to be wrestling with the issue the way he dealt with Peter.”
    “Maybe he’ll get a second chance to make it right,” said Rob, looking over at Peter and his gaggle of followers.
    “I hope so,” I said, going over to the alcove where Fohi was still resting.
    He was still lying down, but decidedly less gray around the mouth. His lips actually had color in them today.
    Paci sat next to Yokci, both of them watching, but saying nothing. I just glanced at them once and focused on Fohi again. My brain kept telling me to look at Paci, to stare at him and try and figure out what was going through his head, but I ignored the compulsion. I’d already caused enough problems paying him too much attention.
    “Hey, Little Bee. How’s it hangin’?” I asked, sitting down next to him.
    “I’m not sure. Why don’t you check and see?” He opened his eyes and grinned at me weakly.
    “Ew , no thanks.”
    That seemed to wake him up. “Ew? You’re saying ew about my man-junk. Geez, way to shoot a guy down. Talk about shrinkage.”
    I laughed. “No offense, Bee. Just not in the mood to see the old twig and berries right now, shrunken or otherwise.”
    “That’s alright,” he said. “I’m saving myself anyway.”
    “Dude, you’re such a girl,” said Rob, sitting down next to his friend’s head.
    Fohi angled himself to look up at Rob. “Shut the hell up, dick. Just because I’ve got plans for my future that don’t include screwing around with any old girl, doesn’t mean I’m a chick. It means I’m intelligent .”
    “Yeah. Intelligent. That’s you, man. You hungry?”
    “Yeah. But I have food already on the way.” He smiled smugly at his friend, just as Winky was walking into the alcove.
    “Here you go, Fohi. Room service at your service.”
    Winky probably had no idea that she was sending Fohi’s heart into a flutter, but there was no mistaking the expression on his face; he had total goo-goo eyes for her. It was too bad that she