Hide (Sequel to RUN)

Chapter 10

"Is it?" Maki asked, feigning surprise.

"Call a tow, Maki," I mumbled loudly.

"Hold your horses. I have to look one up first." The words faded with each tick, until I was long gone.

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"Lekia?" Maki looked up from the phone. She'd curled up on the couch like a cat. Her chest rose and fell softly.

Maki smiled slightly, putting down the phone. Slowly, so he didn't wake Lekia, he walked over, pulling a blanket out of a basket as he went. His knees bent as he reached her, and he covered her carefully with the blanket. Without taking his eyes off of her, he groped at the end of the couch for a pillow. Finding it, he lifted her head and placed it softly under it.

She snuggled into the pillow, wrapping her arms around it immediately. A smile played at Maki's lips as he brushed away a stray hair from her face. He liked Lekia when she was sleeping. It was always a pleasure to see her awake. More than that. But he loved seeing her asleep. It wasn't because he thought she was too loud or confusing, he was just mesmerized whenever she was peaceful and calm. Asleep.

"Who was at the door," Curtis asked, walking into the room while dragging his feet, "at five forty in the freaking morning?" Maki stood up slowly.

"Just Lekia. Want some coffee?"

"No I don't want some coffee. It's five forty in the freaking morning!" Maki shushed him, annoyed, "She's sleeping you dumb butt!" Curtis looked around, confused, and jumped when he saw Lekia.

"You didn't tell me she was still here!" he whispered furiously, stalking after Maki into the kitchen.

"You didn't ask!" Maki snatched the coffee out of the cupboard and started scooping it into the already laid out filter. He'd been making coffee when Lekia had shown up.

Curtis tugged at his bro tank, putting the seams back into the right place, "Why is she here?"

"Her bike ran out of gas in front of the house and her cell phone doesn't have a charge. She didn't know that we live here."

"Oh good," Curtis smirked, "I thought she was stalking us." Maki slapped him in the arm without looking, "Go back to bed."

"With pleasure," Curtis groaned in reply, stretching out as he walked back towards his bedroom. "Oh!" Curtis reappeared in the door frame. "If she's on my couch when I wake up again, we're moving her to your bed."

"Will do," Maki replied without turning. Curtis disappeared into his room, closing the door softly behind him.

Maki finished the coffee with a final press of a button before picking up the phone. Walking over to Lekia, he dialed the Commander's number once more.

"Hey, Commander," Maki spoke softly, kneeling before Lekia once more. "Lekia's at my house.....I don't know. She didn't say, just showed up and crashed on my couch....Yeah, she's all dirty and wearing combat boots, a dark green t-shirt, and some cargo pants.....Well she's sleeping now. You wanna sleep in some more and then come over to get her later?.....Her bike broke down and her phone doesn't have a charge.....Right in front of my driveway, yeah....Ok. Yep. I'll see you later."

Maki clicked the phone off with the same finality as a suicide bomber before turning all his attention back to Lekia. He shook his head, trying to come out of some state of confusion.

His legs propelled him up quickly before they turned to the other couch. He managed to grab the remote and turn the television on before sneaking another look at Lekia.

The smile returned. His head shook again, this time in acceptance, and turned his gaze on the show running.

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