The only Hope

Hope’s pov:

Nicely done.

I patted myself on the shoulder and went downstairs. I could still eat a horse, so I decided to have a better look at the food they had. I entered the backroom again and turned on the light this time. Fuck, it was cold in here.

I saw the vent. Yeah, got to fix that I’m afraid. Who knew it could get so cold out in the desert in the summer…

After I had fixed the vent I remained quiet for a couple of minutes. Hmm, guess Gerard didn’t come after me. Yes!

I looked around and found some lovely ingredients. I could make a whole meal out of this… For myself? I thought about it. Maybe the Killjoys would appreciate it too. I looked at the clock. 4:56. Meh, then I’d have to wait…

Fine.

I took a piece of pie to saturate my hunger. After that I put some of the ingredients in the kitchen and I waited. The guys were going to be really happy with me after they had my food. That’s the one thing my dad had taught me which hadn’t gotten me into trouble: cooking.

I waited until six, then I started making breakfast. I looked for a knife and started chopping up some lettuce. It was still kind of dark downstairs, but some light was coming through the windows now, so I was able to see.

I heard footsteps. Was it Gerard?

Wait, another pair. Two people were coming downstairs. I heard some whispering as they walked up behind me, but for them the kitchen wasn’t fully visible yet… Which explained the next thing that happened…

“What the…!?” I turned around to see what happened and saw Mikey and Frank pointing their guns at me.

Oh shit. I raised my hands dropping the kitchen knife. “Don’t shoot!”

Frank rubbed his eyes and got a better look now. “Hope? Oh my god, don’t ever do that again!” He ran over to me and gave me a hug. “Glad you’re back, kiddo.”

God, luckily they were dressed.

I saw Mikey just standing there, lowering his gun.

“What are you doing back here?” He looked at me.

“Long story… But I want to make it up to you guys by making you breakfast today.” I looked at the ground, wondering how Mikey would respond.

“What?” He walked over to me and looked at the kitchen.

He then turned to me. “These supplies were supposed to last for weeks and you turn them into one breakfast?” He looked kind of angry. Geez, couldn’t I do anything right?

“Hey, don’t do that man.” Frank pushed him away. “She’s trying, okay? Besides, I haven’t had a proper breakfast in years!” He smiled.

Mikey turned away. “Well, at least half the stuff has to go back, please?” He sounded nicer.

I nodded, I mean… This was their food supply. “Okay, fine.”

“Everyone gets one egg, some sandwiches with cheese and some lettuce.” Mikey said and he started taking some stuff back to the other room.

“Well there goes my breakfast… Sorry Frank.” I smiled. He returned the smile.

“It’s okay, this is more than we get on average anyway, so I’m down with it.”

Mikey walked back into the room.

“Frank you asshole, you touched the pie!” I blushed and looked at the ground. Oh shit. He looked pissed off.

“Hey no! That wasn’t me man!”

I jumped in. “I’m sorry, but I was really hungry… I only took a small piece…” I looked at Mikey. He… smiled?

“Well, you should’ve said so. I’m sorry I freaked, but I’m in charge of the supplies and this butthead is known for somehow decreasing the amount of food, so…” He pointed at Frank, who gave us an innocent smile.

“I understand.” I smiled and continued preparing the lettuce.

Frank grabbed some lettuce and ate it.

“Hey, I was still working on that!” I smirked.

“Frank, back off.” Mikey had a devilish smile on his face, like he almost enjoyed seeing Frank bullying me.

“Okaaay, but hey… Where is Gerard, he was on duty tonight, wasn’t he?” Oh thank god, he looked at Mikey.

“Don’t know, haven’t seen him.” Mikey sat down at the table.

I felt like I had to speak. “He’s in my bed.” Okay Hope, not that!

I turned around and saw Mikey and Frank staring at me. Frank was still kind of chewing on the lettuce.

“He is… In your bed?” Mikey asked. Frank laughed his ass off now.

“I... No, not like that!” I sighed. “He busted me trying to get some food this morning and he put me to bed saying I had to get some rest… But I had already slept for hours, so I wasn’t tired and…”

They weren’t listening to me…

“Hey, back off.” Gerard was walking downstairs. Thank god, he could explain.

Frank and Mikey turned to him and smirked.

“Wow dude, you just met her and you’re already…” He made some weird gestures I didn’t understand.

“No, it was nothing like that. I caught her walking around downstairs with a bloody arm. She cleaned herself and went to bed, but she wasn’t tired. Instead, I fell asleep and she’s been here all this time.” He pointed at me.

“Well how did you get into her bed in the first place?” Mikey smirked.

“I was sitting down, then I lay down and fell asleep, okay?” Oh sure, he skipped the part where I got him tucked in. Gerard walked into the kitchen and started making coffee. He didn’t even look at me.

“But uhm…” Frank was done chewing on his lettuce. “Did I hear something about a bloody arm?”

“Yeah she popped some stiches.” Gerard said casually. “You saw that dummy right? That was her doing.”

“I’m right here you know…” I muttered. He probably heard it, because he stopped with what he was doing.

Before either of us could speak, Frank jumped in. “Let me see your arm.” He wiped his hands on his pants and carefully pulled back my sleeve. “Oh wow, nicely done.”

He was talking about the bandage. “That’s his work.” I pointed at Gerard, he finally looked at me now.

“Cool, but I’ll have to have a look after breakfast, okay?” He pulled down my sleeve.

“Yeah sure.” I walked back into the kitchen, Gerard moved aside and walked towards the living room.

“What’s crawled up his ass?” Mikey asked me.

“I have no idea… But… Has he been a lot like this lately?” I put the lettuce in a bowl.

“Not that I noticed… I’ll go talk to him.” My heart dropped. Mikey got up.

Oh shit, what if he told Mikey about the touching? That it was my fault or that I was going to tell on him…

Frank walked over and stood right next to me. He was very close to my ear.

“Yes, Gerard has been off lately… I think it has to do something with the story I partly told you. When the time is there, you should ask him about it. Ask about Donna.”

I nodded. “So, Donna?” Hearing another girl’s name bothered me a bit.

“Shhh, don’t let them hear you.” Frank turned around and was leaning against the kitchen counter. He was smiling at me. “But come on, haven’t you noticed?”

His voice was low and he was almost whispering. Almost, which made his voice really deep. “What? Noticed what?” I asked.

“That Gerard over here has taken a special interest in you.” He stole some more lettuce and I slapped his hand. He smirked.

“Nothing is going on between us I assure you.”

“So you have noticed?” Frank’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“No, I mean…” God I was such a terrible liar. Frank walked away now and smirked again.

“Yeah, thought so.” I was about to respond when Gerard entered the kitchen again.

Notes