RADIO

chapter 20

"Here we are, home-for-now-sweet-home" Duchess sighed, throwing her bag down on the floor and letting the heavy weight of the bag lift from her shoulders. 

"You sure this place is stable enough for a night or two?" Haze questioned, looking through the building. They had found a hotel room that fortunately wasn't locked. The room was blood ridden in a few areas and the vegetation on the brick walls outside has already started to creep inside. 

"It'll have to be" Duchess hummed. 

The walls were an ugly rusty gold color and the terrible wallpaper had started to peel. "This place really hasn't aged well" Haze scoffed. Duchess examined the carpet that was in mild condition. The blue clashing with the orange in the building. 

"Did a kids tv show host rent this place out or what?" Duchess chuckled. 

Haze smiled at her comment, "weren't you siblings obsessed with kid tv shows?" He asked, looking back at her from In front of the window that was at knee height and closed. "Yeah, don't remind me" she huffed. 

"Wanna talk about it?" Haze asked, walking over to her and turning up at her shoulder as she looked around some more. She seen a few tables and couches littered in the room. One of the desks having a mirror on top. She frowned at her reflection. 

"I look terrible, how dare you let me look like this throughout the apocalypse" she playfully teased the tall boy. He rolled his eyes, "oh please you dont look that bad" he said, walking up behind her as she brushed her hair out of her face. 

"Yes I do" she protested, readjusting her mini man bun. Her undercut had started to grow out and the green and black dye has started to fade and reveal the brown hair underneath. She pressed her lips into a line but Haze admired her.

His brown wavy hair had started to grow a bit as well but he didn't care. The apocalypse wasn't exactly the time to start worrying about your appearance. 

He set his bag on the table behind Duchesses bag and linked his arms underneath her arms. He pulled her close, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You've still got us" he comforted her, "you're not alone"

"I know, I just miss them…maybe my crazy life wasn't so bad after all" she said with a soft sigh through her nose. She looked at him through the mirror and watched as he pulled her closer and his grip got tighter. 

She smiled and turned around, "I guess this makes up for lost times then huh?" She asked, trying to keep her mind away from the fact that her family was gone. Haze couldn't help but do the same. Her arms rested on his shoulders and he pressed his forehead against hers. "We'll get through this together, I'll make sure of it" she smiled. 

"I thought you might" Haze chuckled. 

He pecked her lips softly but Duchess held it for a second. Once he pulled away she couldn't help but pull him into another kiss. Her hands slid down from his hair to his neck, cupping his face as he pulled her close. 

Duchess enjoyed the sudden lightened mood and continued to fall into Hazes touch. 

"What's going on here?" Rider asked from the doorway. Duchess and Haze broke away and looked over at her, "you're back already?" She asked. 

"Yeah surprisingly, I looks like you didn't plan on letting us know you found a place anytime soon though" Rider leaned her elbow against the wall and bit her lip in an exaggerated and teasing manner. Jane and Tris broke out in laughter. 

"Don't act like you haven't had your times" Duchess said, unzipping her bag and letting Haze go and sit down on one of the beige couches. "This room is not the best" Tris pointed out, cringing at the color coordination. 

"Tell em about it" Haze groaned. 

"Well if you guys can find a better room then go ahead" Duchess said, searching through her bag. 

"On it" Rider said, leaving the room. 

Jane decided to stay back and sat down on the dark couch that was against the wall. “I dont know how much longer I cannot do this Duchess” she whined. Duchess hummed in response, “we’ll be okay, lets just get to this sanctuary” she said, grabbing her radio out of her bag. 

“Finally” she gasped. 

She turned the radio on and heard static, “Monty, Dibbs, hows it going out there?” She asked. The room fell silent as the four teens listened for a response. Seconds passed and Duchess frowned, “boys?” She called. 

No response. 

“Is this thing working?” She mumbled, adjusting the knobs. Static then got louder and quieter as she adjusted the volume. Them it squawked, making her jump, “we’re good” Monty’s voice came from the other side. 

Everyone let out a sigh of relief and Duchess responded, “okay, respond faster you idiots, you almost gave me a heart attack” she scolded. 

Monty and Dibbs laughed on the other side. 

“Im being serious you two!” She squeaked, “i was about to go out there and get you two myself” 

Monty chuckled and ran his hands through his hair, “well you were gonna have to do that anyways because youll never believe what we found” he said with a tinge of excitement in his voice. 

“What is it?” She asked. 

“A firearm store” Dibbs said with excitement. Duchess perked up and looked over at everyone. Hazes and janes face lit up and she responded, “dont touch anything, you dont know whats explosive or not” she threw her bag over her shoulder. 

“I'm pretty sure after i almost blew myself up with fireworks that one Fourth of July id know” Dibbs said with a smile. 

“Still” Duchess sighed. “We’re on our way!” Haze butted in with excitement. 

“Got it” Monty answered, letting the radio shut off. “We need someone to stay here and wait for Rider to come back” Jane mentioned. “That wont be a problem” tris spoke up, letting brownie crawl up her shoulders. 

“Are you sure you can hold down the fort?” Haze asked. 

“Yeah, how hard can it be?” Tris shrugged. 

“Okay then lets go” Duchess said, walking towards the open door with Haze and Jane in tow.