Chapter Ten #3
Nora crawled back out and sat. A giggle rose in her throat, and she tried to stifle it, but the absurdity of the moment expanded.
Had Fallon been sleeping with someone else?
No, she was sleeping in the nude because it was warm.
Her shyness contrasted with Gwen’s threat was almost farcical.
And Fallon probably wouldn’t appreciate being reminded that Nora had already been exposed to her lower half.
When the word “exposed” entered her mind, she couldn’t contain herself.
She covered her mouth, but a snort escaped, and then she was laughing out loud.
“It’s not funny, Nora.”
Oh, but it was, and Fallon’s awkward modesty made it even more so. She rolled onto her side, holding herself, feeling nearly hysterical. Fallon’s head and T-shirt-covered shoulders appeared through the flap. With great dignity, she asked, “Was there something you wanted?”
“Oh. Yes.” Nora sobered as she remembered the purpose of her visit. “Yes, there is. I need to talk to you.”
“Go ahead.” Her tone cool, Fallon propped her elbow on the floor, putting her chin in her hand.
Why is she being super sensitive? “I’m sorry I laughed. I think the heat must have made me kinda punch drunk or something.”
Fallon eyed the sweats she was wearing but only said, “Is this going to take long? I’m really tired.”
Is that all? Is she really just tired? “No, I…it’s about…
” Now the lie of the phone call would come out, not to mention that Gwen might have made good on her threat to put Fallon in danger.
And what was Nora thinking? That she could search the tent with Fallon in it?
“I’m sorry. I guess it can wait till morning.
” She stood and began working the long zipper. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Fallon sighed. “Fine.”
“Fine,” Nora echoed, stumbling back to her tent. She was tired too, damn it. And now she was worried about more than goddamn Gwen.
After breakfast the next morning, she asked Jade for a few minutes to talk privately, so the others were sent on ahead. “What is it?”
Nora had just begun fumbling her way through her account of the situation when Jade stopped her.
“Fallon told us about Gwen and her threats as soon as everyone else left on break. Hal did a thorough search of all the equipment, and we sent out emails warning the crew about a tick infestation and advising them to search their belongings thoroughly. Knowing this group, I’m confident that if anyone found anything, they disposed of it. ”
Nora blinked. “Oh.” Jade waited. “I didn’t get that email.”
“No, and neither did Gwen or Tina. The plan was to search each of you upon your return to base camp.”
Nora was struck by the memory of Reva going through her duffel during the conversation about her camera. “I see,” she said slowly. “And Fallon was in on this?”
“She didn’t have any choice. But I can tell you that she was convinced you weren’t involved in carrying or using drugs.
As was I.” Nora’s throat tightened. “But I would recommend you block any further calls from Tina or Gwen.” At Nora’s nod, Jade asked, “Is that what was wrong with Fallon? Was she worried about this?”
“No, I…I was going to tell her, but I didn’t. What do you mean what was wrong?”
“She wasn’t her usual self. Kinda down, you know?”
At the rumble of the ATV in the distance, Nora pointed. “I’ll get my stuff and meet you up there, okay?”
“Sure.”
Nora hurried as much as she could while wearing her PPE and carrying her chainsaw. At the road where the Boy Scouts were to pick up their firewood, Kennedy was stacking logs. They looked at Nora without smiling. “What’s up?”
She’d been expecting Fallon but nodded cordially. “I was wondering if I could catch a ride with you?” She moved to help Kenn unload the trailer.
“Aren’t you working with Jade today?”
“Yeah. I’m going to meet her there. I need to tell Fallon something first.”
Kenn sighed, crossing their arms tightly. “Maybe that’s not a good idea right now.”
Nora wanted to tell Kennedy to butt out, but their expression made her rethink her next words. “Oh? Why not?”
“I don’t know if you’ll want to hear it.”
“Try me.”
Kenn shook their head. “Okay. It’s this.
You talk to Fallon when you feel like it and ignore her when you don’t.
Like, you’re nice to her if you want something, but that’s not what a friend does.
It makes you a user, in my opinion. The rest of us, we’ve taken the time to know her better.
We know what her life was like before Firecamp and how she felt about herself then and how she feels now.
She knows us too because we’ve shared things, each of us.
If one of us is upset about something, we talk to each other, and it helps.
Right now, Fallon is upset because of you. ”
Nora tried not to react. As much as she hated to admit it, maybe Kennedy had a point. “Then I should apologize, right?”
“And what are you apologizing for, exactly?” Kenn scrutinized her.
A flip answer like “Everything” wouldn’t do. She thought about last night and how unexpectedly hurt Fallon had seemed. Admitting she had been the cause meant she should find a way to fix it. “I guess I should ask her.”
“Bingo.” Kenn started the ATV. Looking back at Nora, they said, “Well, get on. We haven’t got all day.”