Lessons in Love

Chapter 28: The Gym

POV: Riley Campbell

“You said the floors are new?” Katie asked.

“Yes, what about the floors worries you?” I asked.

“There was …” Katie took a deep breath. “There was a lot of blood on the floor.”

“It was really loud in there during the fighting.” Lisa said, picking at the fluff on her sweater.

“The smell made me gag.” Shawna said, looking at her feet.

“The way Mr. Fletcher screamed,” Lisa added. A couple of them shuddered at the memory.

“Delta Rick,” May said. I looked up at Rick. He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, staring intently at a spot on the floor. At the sound of his name, he looked at May, but she was staring intently at me. “All I remember was him, covered in blood from having to protect us all. He saved our lives.” The girls all nodded.

“The bunker door didn’t close. Mr. Fletcher killed one of the Rogues trying to get to us before the Delta arrived, but the Rogue’s body fell at the door and got caught in it. The door broke trying to close and wouldn’t lock.” Shawna said. “Even after the Delta cleared the body out of the way.”

I looked at Rick. He made fleeting eye contact and lowered his face again.

“Do we have to train in there?” Kelsey asked again.

“We have no where else to train. We have to keep these training sessions between us for now, but as soon as we can, I will have us outside and training other places.” I replied.

“I’m not going in there.” Kelsey growled at me.

“No one has to go in there today.” I said firmly.

“Seeing it might help,” Shawna said, putting her arm around Kelsey again. “Maybe we need to take it back, you know? It’s our school, our gym. I want to see it.” Shawna talked herself into it.

“Okay, I’m going to open the doors. If you aren’t ready, stand over there so you don’t have to look in.” I told them. Kelsey and May moved aside, holding each other’s hands, as I reached for the door.

Shawna put her hand on the door suddenly to stop me. “Could we change something or do something to it if we don’t like it?” She asked.

“It’s your school, your gym. We’ll find a way to make any changes you all feel are necessary.” Shawna looked past me at Rick. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him give her a curt nod, confirming what I’d said. I looked back at Shawna as she slid her hand off the door and squared her shoulders.

I opened the door. Shawna was a tough kid. She marched through that door like she was going to fight the space if it acted up. She stood about ten paces in and surveyed the room. Lisa and Katie stood at the door peering in. Lisa took one step over the threshold, then another. She scurried forward and took Shawna’s hand. The two of them stood there gripping each other’s fingers, and I thought of Alice and I on the quad.

Katie stayed at the door, holding it open and crying. “It’s okay,” she said, looking to May and Kelsey. “It’s all been cleaned up, and the new floors look really nice. They painted,” she leaned in to get a better view of the walls. “Is that a garden?” She asked, wiping her tears and stepping into the gym to see the planters of herbs that we’d installed.

“It’s an herb garden.” Shawna said from inside, flinching a little when her voice echoed through the space. “It actually smells really nice in here.” She gave Katie a half smile.

May was holding the door now and peaking around it to see what the others were talking about. “I can hold the door if you want to go in.” I said gently. May gave me a nod and slinked into the room. She wasn’t ready to tour the space like the others. Shawna and Lisa had made it to the far side of the gym where the bunker was. Katie was standing by the herbs. May moved toward her and stayed between the garden and the door.

“Kelsey, would you like to hold the door open? Maybe take a peek inside?” Kelsey shook her head. “That’s okay, you don’t have to.” I said with a smile.

“Your brother fought bravely in there.” Rick’s voice was low but sturdy. I turned to see him unmoving from his lean against the wall. “He killed one of the Rogues. He saved lives, too.” At his words, Kelsey broke down crying. I was about to put my arm around her. Rick didn’t move from his spot, but I caught him wiping at his cheek.

“I haven’t seen it either.” Rick admitted as Kelsey quieted a moment later. Kelsey pulled her head up from my shoulder and looked at him. “We can do it together.” He said firmly, but I saw how he stuffed his hands in his pockets to hide that they were shaking. Kelsey wiped her face and stepped toward him. Rick planted his hand on the door, taking over the holding duties. I stayed close as Kelsey stepped forward. She looked up at Rick, waiting for him to look.

Rick set his jaw and squared his shoulders before looking up at the gym. Kelsey turned away and looked in. She stepped forward across the threshold. May and Katie came over to her and wrapped an arm each around her. I looked back at Rick. He was blinking back tears before he turned his face away, clinging to that door. I gave his arm a squeeze as I stepped in behind the girls. Shawna and Lisa had joined the others at the door. All of them had tears in their eyes.

“We’re going kick ass for Mike and the others.” Shawna said to Kelsey. “We’re going to train, and we’re going to fight, and we’re going to do it for them.” Shawna growled, if only to keep the tears at bay.

“I’m in.” Lisa said quickly, brushing tears off her face.

“Me too,” Katie said, putting her arm around Lisa’s waist.

“I’m in.” May said quietly, pushing the hair back from Kelsey’s tear-soaked face.

Kelsey took a steady breath and took one more look around the gym. “I’m in.” She said with a shaky voice.

“Me too,” I added my voice to the mix. The girls all looked at me. They smiled despite their tears. “We start tomorrow after school.” I told them as the bell chimed. The girls dried their tears and headed out for the day. I turned to find Rick white knuckling the door as the bell sounded. He was so still I wasn’t sure he was breathing. I put my hand on his back and felt the tremor running through his body. “Take your time. I’ll be right back.” I said softly.

I said goodbye to the students while quietly corralling Claire toward my office. The second she reached the door, I turned to her. “I need Ben here, now. Can you please mind-link him? Tell him it’s Rick and he should come quickly.”

“What’s happened? Is he alright?” She asked.

“He’ll be fine, but Ben is really good at calming him down. He’s by the gym.” I said, hoping that was enough information.

“I understand.” Claire said and started to mind-link Ben as I rushed back to Rick. He was still standing there, clinging to the door.

“Rick,” I said quietly, trying not to startle him. “Everyone’s left. It’s just you and me.” I said. He let go of the door and dropped to his knees. He planted his hands on the floor and vomited. His breathing was ragged as he spat and wiped at his mouth. I gripped his upper arm and rubbed his back.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Just breathe.”

“He was ripped to shreds,” he panted. “There …” he gagged and pressed his fist to his mouth. “There was nothing …” he gagged again. “Left of him.” He threw up, not that there was much in his stomach. “Her family buried pieces.” He whispered and wretched again.

“Rick?” Ben’s voice echoed in the space. Rick’s shaking became more pronounced. He leaned his behind back onto his feet but kept one hand firmly planted on the floor while he wiped his mouth with the other.

“Hey,” Ben said softly as he got down next to Rick. Ben shot me furious glare as he put his arm around Rick, careful not to touch me in the process. I took my hands off Rick, assuming that was what had made Ben look at me like that.

“Hey, I got you.” Ben said quietly. Rick’s panting turned into quiet sobs. Ben pulled Rick toward him, holding on to him tightly. Rick buried his face in his shaking hands and rested his forehead on Ben’s shoulder crying.

“Tell me what happened?” Ben said quietly.

Rick shook his head. “I hate this place.” He choked on his words, trying to reign in his emotions.

“I know,” Ben said, rubbing his back.

“I want to go home.” Rick’s voice was so small and scared, I thought I might cry at the sound of it.

“Let’s get you up then.” Ben said, adjusting his hold on Rick to help him to his feet.

“I’ve got to clean …” Rick started to say.

“Riley will clean it.” Ben said, giving me another one of his disapproving glares. Rick started to protest as Ben hoisted him to his feet.

“It’s okay, Rick. You should go home and get some rest.” I said sincerely. I had no issue cleaning up the vomit, but I damn sure had an issue with my supposed mate giving me orders to clean it.

Rick was still protesting when they got to their feet. “I need a minute, I can’t walk back like this.”

“I brought the car.” Ben said. “We’ll drop my mom off, and we’ll go back to the packhouse. Back entrance.” Ben clarified for him. That seemed to calm him down a bit more.

Rick gave Ben a nod and started to walk away. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at me. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, gnawing a bit on his lower lip.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” I said, giving him an understanding smile. Ben gave his shoulder a squeeze and half dragged him out of there, with Claire in tow.

I grabbed a mop and bucket and cleaned up the vomit. Rick certainly wouldn’t have been able to recognize it in the moment, but what he did today was huge. Not just for himself, but for Kelsey, too. She was willing to train with the others because he’d had the guts to stand behind her. I’d have to tell him that when I saw him next.

I was putting the mop and bucket away when the front door to the school burst open, and the smell of roasted apples filled the space.

“Riley? Are you still here?” Ben’s voice echoed off the walls.

“Present and accounted for.” I smiled, locking up the supply closet. I turned and saw absolute fury burning in Ben’s eyes.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” He growled.