The next morning, Dionysius was at the kitchen counter on his phone, scrolling frantically and scribbling ideas in his notebook any time something related to 5496 showed up. Tristan, the only other one up, was in the kitchen, pouring cereal into a bowl. He looked at Dionysius and smiled. “Don’t you think you should calm down with the whole research thing?”
“Shut up, Tristan,” Dionysius said, writing information in his notebook before looking up to meet Tristan’s green eyes. “I know a thing or two about research. I’m obsessed with world history, remember? I managed to find some really good websites on 5496 last night, and I’m going through them now. Smart, right?”
“If you know so much about history, why are you failing in that class?” Tris smirked.
“It’s like assigned reading. It’s not fun when you’re forced to do it. Plus, the history they teach us at school is basically them praising themselves as if they didn’t try to take over half the Neo-Country.”
“There’s the history nut I know and love.” Tristan grinned wider, sitting himself next to Dio. Without hesitation, he rested his head on Tristan’s shoulder. Dionysius knew that Mrs. Swanson was accepting of that kind of stuff, so he wasn’t as hesitant as he normally was.
“After I go through this website, we should probably look through ways on how to escape.” Dionysius rambled. Normally he didn’t let himself talk too much, but Tristan never seemed to mind. “Millie and Harley said there was a potential exit. Once they tell us, we’ll find out how to take advantage of that.”
“What do you mean?” Tristan rested his head on top of Dio’s head, causing butterflies to swarm in his stomach. He was ninety percent sure his face was redder than a stop sign.
“I mean that whatever the exit is—” Dionysius answered awkwardly. “—we have to research it as much as possible. If it’s through the vents, we’ll have to study the ventilation system of the base. Maybe even memorize it. If it’s by hiding in a vehicle, we’ll have to learn which vehicle is the one to go on, and when it would be safe for us to go there. Simple stuff, you know?”
Tristan sighed. “I don’t know, actually. This is all so stressful. Two days ago, my biggest worry was keeping all my plants alive. Now it’s keeping ourselves alive.”
“Oh, so you never worried about me until now? Ouch.” Dionysius asked, grinning. He knew he was acting clingy, but it was fun to watch Tristan’s face turn red.
“I said my biggest worry, not my biggest problem.” He grinned.
Dionysius couldn’t help but snort with laughter. “You look like a tomato right now.”
“Shut up.”
“It’s only getting redder, Tris.” Dionysius laughed.
“You’re one to talk. You look like a rose, you’re so red.”
“Was that supposed to be romantic or insulting?”
“All I know is plants, Dio. Cut me some slack.”
They laughed, and Tristan’s face lit up, as if just remembering something. “Hey, I know we’re probably going to run away soon, but can you come over to my apartment sometime?”
It wouldn’t hurt. He’d never seen Tristan’s place before, and it seems only necessary that you visit your boyfriend’s home before leaving forever. An idea formed in Dio’s mind. He removed his head from Tristan’s shoulder and pulled him close by the collar of his shirt, exposing the slightest bit of freckled skin on his collarbone. He put his mouth up to Tristan’s ear, smiling mischievously. “Why? Something you wanna do there, Tris?”
Before Tristan could even respond, Dionysius let go of his shirt and leaned back into his seat, laughing his ass off. Tristan’s expression was priceless. “What’s so funny?”
“God, you should’ve seen your face!” Dionysius laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. “Were you actually considering what I asked?!”
“I literally—“ Tristan sputtered, his face a deep red. “We can’t—I don’t even—There isn’t even a bed, Dionysius! God, what is wrong with you?!”
Dionysius kept laughing. “So you did take it seriously!”
“Shut the hell up,” Tristan said, but he let a smile crack.
“Is that couple drama I hear?” Cynthia asked, smiling as she walked into the kitchen. As well as wearing her favorite oversized yellow tee-shirt, she wore black shorts underneath. Cynthia’s vitiligo also looked a bit wild, since she usually covered a small bit of it with makeup. She yawned, closing her partially pale eyelids. “Good morning, you two.”
“Morning, Cindy.” Dionysius replied, grinning widely, still repressing snickers. “How’s Sleeping Beauty?”
“Estelle’s trying her best. She had a nightmare last night, and to add to that, she and Harley had a bit of a scream-off.”
Tristan’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”
The dark-skinned girl shrugged. “She didn’t tell me. Maybe ask Harley? If he’s up, that is.”
“Heard my name,” Harley’s voice said from inside the bathroom, which he had apparently been in the entire time. “Need something?”
Cynthia laughed. “Wash your hands first, Space Boy.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t—“
“Don’t call me Space Boy,” The three said in unison. Dionysius laughed. “I’m guessing that nickname is reserved for Millie.”
“Yep, her and her only.”
“You gonna finish up or hide in the bathroom all day?” Tristan smiled. “Hurry up.”
After a while, Harely joined them in the kitchen, and Millie had woken up minutes later. While waiting for Estelle, Dionysius asked Harley what had happened the night before.
“I was a bit crabby, I admit.” Harley sighed. “I was having a nightmare of my own when Estelle woke me up. She tried to prove a point to me, but accidentally mentioned something sensitive.” For a strange moment, Harley and Millie made eye contact. Millie tilted her head as if asking a question. Harley nodded. He went back to talking.
“Since I was still half-asleep and mad pissed that she mentioned a certain thing, I yelled at her. It was just one ‘goodnight’, but it still shook her up a bit. She left.”
There was silence. Harley had never yelled at anyone before. And what sensitive thing could Harley have told Estelle? How did Millie know? The way the two had looked at each other had an odd likeness to the knowing glances they exchanged at the Exile where the man had threatened to end Harley’s life mere moments later.
“Well!” Millie clapped her hands, quickly changing the subject. “Let’s get to the reason we’re here in the first place!”
“Right,” Dionysius said. “We’ll tell Estelle all this later.” He looked directly at his best friend. “Harley. What’s the plan?”
ns 15.158.61.48da2
