Chapter 59 - Eleanor

Timing is everything.

I woke up well rested. I'd almost forgotten about the monster from last night, but remembered the moment I went downstairs. The living room was spotless and smelled of lemons. Not a single drop of etgar insides to be found. Which only served to creep me out more.

I almost fled back up the stairs, but Riot was one step behind me and held me in place.

"You have to get used to this stuff, Eleanor. This is the wastelands. There are beasts everywhere. You have to live your life."

I wasn't happy about it, but I kept walking. We went outside and climbed onto Riot's bike. Hopefully, this was the last day I'd have to wear his oversized clothes. I hated the pants. I missed my dresses.

I clung to him as we rode into town, imagining the clothes he'd ordered. Would I look like Cherry and Bonnie, real wasteland ladies?

I wasn't sure if I liked that idea. I understood the necessity for more practical clothing, but not a single woman in the bunker had ever worn pants. They felt foreign and uncomfortable on my skin. Could I survive in the wastelands without them?

We parked behind Scissors Bar, like always, and went around to the general store, where Callahan had placed the original order.

"I was just going to send someone to Heathen Heights." The clerk gave us a toothy grin. The words seemed disingenuine. Riot called her out on the lie.

"Or, were you hoping to save on some gas by waiting for us to come in?"

She cackled and wagged her finger.

"You know me, Riot Ritalin. Well, here's your clothes. It should be all there. I checked myself."

She pushed the wooden crate at us. Riot took it and asked if we could use her back room. She obliged, and Riot took me back and opened the crate. Disappointment flooded me as I saw lots of browns, yellows, and white material.

"What?" he asked when he saw the unenthused smile on my face. I raised the shirt.

"It's yellow."

"So?"

"I was kind of hoping…"

"For a frilly dress?" He smirked and dove his hands deeper into the crate. "Like this?" He tugged out a pink dress, very similar to the one I wore in the bunkers.

"Yes!" I dropped the yellow shirt and grabbed for the dress. "How did you manage this? It's beautiful!" The shred of familiarity made me choke up. It wasn't all etgars and chemical rain. There was still pieces of my old life up here.

Riot stood and gently took the dress from me.

"I paid a pretty penny for this. I don't know how often I'll be able to get you these. But I know the adjustment has been hard for you, so I wanted to get you one."

I quickly pulled Riot's shirt off my body and slid his pants off my legs. I reached for the dress, but he shook his head.

"Eleanor, you can't wear this here. We're getting on the bike in a bit. Put on the wasteland clothes. You can try on the other stuff when we get home."

I blinked.

"What?" He gave me a questioning look.

"You didn't say Heathen Heights. You said home."

Realization hit his face and he nodded. His Adam's apple bobbed. "That I did. Now, get dressed, I'll put the crate on the bike and then we'll head over to the Sketchy Shit."

I did as I was told, finding new panties in the crate as well. They weren't nearly as soft as the ones from the bunker, but they were better than nothing. The pants were my size, and hugged my thighs and calves an uncomfortable amount. Everything felt so heavy, and I didn't think I'd be able to move the way I needed to. How was I supposed to outrun a creepie when my pants crunched with every step?

"I know you hate them, but you look good," Riot offered as we walked out of the store. I agreed to disagree.

"I'm so hot," I complained. "Why did this become the style?"

He ignored my whining, and instead held my hand and escorted me to Boogie's shop. It felt wonderful to hold his ungloved hand.

I still wasn't sure how to feel about the tattoo. I still didn't have the full story, and I wasn't sure if I'd ever get it, but I knew one thing. Whether or not it'd happened on purpose, I was falling for him.

After our tryst last night, I stayed awake wrapped in his arms and thought about everything. I felt like I should feel guilty, but I didn't. I understood now how Callahan felt when he'd left. Being in Riot Ritalin's orbit was confusing. I wanted to stay, but I also didn't want to give up on Callahan either. Would he understand? Would he be jealous, or angry that I'd fallen into Riot's arms while he was away?

I had so many questions but I didn't care about the answers to them. Whatever happened, happened. We were going to go look for Callahan and the others, and once everyone was safe, we'd have the conversation.

We stepped into Sketchy Shit, and Boogie came from the back.

"What are you two doing here? It's your day off."

"I know," I took a deep breath. "I—" I wasn't sure how to say what I needed to say. I didn't want to go. I loved this place. I'd only just started working here, learning the craft. I wasn't ready to give it up.

Riot helped me along. "We have to go find my sister. She and a few others went down Mercury Mile. She was supposed to be back by now."

"We? I have a room if you want to stay," Boogie said. I shook my head and dropped Riot's hand. How did I explain that I had to go because my… my what? What exactly was Callahan to me?

"Her lover was in the party. She wants to go."

"Ah, okay." Boogie nodded. I scanned his face, looking for a shred of judgement, having seen me holding Riot's hand, but there was none. "So when do you plan on returning?"

"No idea. It depends on how far they got. I'd say a few weeks at least," Riot answered, reaching for my hand again.

"You got it." Boogie slapped his hand on the counter. "Well, Eleanor, have fun, stay safe, and if you survive and have all ten fingers still, you've got a job here."

My heart exploded with joy. "Oh! Thank you Boogie!" I screamed.

He laughed and shook his head.

"Of course. I kind of like having someone here."

We left the shop and were on our way back to Scissors when Riot threw his hand out across my chest and halted me.

"Stop," he said through gritted teeth. I froze and looked around.

Oh no.

Soldiers, dressed in PARA suits, waving guns.

I knew they were going to come for us eventually, but it had been weeks already, I'd almost forgotten about them completely.

Riot pushed me behind a building and turned. "I'll come back for you. Stay put."

I nodded and watched him stride away.

"What are you bunker bros up to this time?" Riot shouted.

"We are looking for a runaway soldier and his captive. Have you seen this man and girl?"

I couldn't see what them, so I relied on what I could hear.

"Girl? That looks like a woman," Riot argued.

My tummy fluttered. He didn't see me as the little girl the bunker wanted him to. I was an adult.

"She is eighteen," the soldier admitted. "Have you seen her?"

"Can't say I have. Why do you keep losing people? First that Milton guy, now these two. I think you've got some big problems on your hand."

"We don't have time for this, wastelander. If you haven't seen them, then please step aside. We are beginning searches of properties soon."

"Searches? Does President Harrison know about that? Seems pretty unconstitutional."

"We don't need permission from the government. Bunker law overrules wasteland rules."

"I don't think that's true. Anyways, good luck with your search. I can't wait to see how busting into people's residences go for you. You better hope those suits are bulletproof."

I heard the loud crunch on the dry dirt as the men in PARA suits walked away. I stood, silent and crouched, pleading for Riot to make his return. Eventually he did, but not on foot. He came roaring over on his bike and screamed to a halt. He tossed me my helmet.

"Get on. We need to motor before they get to our place. We need to be gone before then."

"Gone?" I tugged the helmet on and hopped on behind him. His bike roared to life and he jet forward, speeding home.

"Yeah, you want to go get your man, don't you? Well, let's go."