Hey Red! What's got you distracted?
He shrugs and gives a small smile, though it’s equal parts sad and happy.
“Don’t know,” he says. “I space out sometimes when I’m overwhelmed and stuff. But this isn’t that. I used to be able to focus pretty clearly on right now. But now it’s like... I don’t know. I just keep thinking about different things. I guess I’m thinking more about the future. And not just about making sure everybody’s going to have enough to eat. I can just... imagine things, now, I guess. That I didn’t before. I imagine a different future than I did before.”
He scratches Noodle’s tummy, letting out a low sigh. “But it’s just dreaming.”
The door to his room swings open and he turns to smile at Blue, but it isn’t Blue there.
Trick holds his backpack to his stomach nervously, staring at Red.
“What?”
“Um. Anti told me to stay in here tonight.”
Red straightens up, blinking. “What? In here?”
“Yeah.”
“What, like, share the bed with me? Where’s Blue? And Dok?”
“I don’t know, staying in that bed, I guess,” says Trick, looking stressed.
“Anti wants you and me to stay together?”
“That’s what I said!”
They stare at each other, seeing each other’s discomfort mirrored.
“Anti’s not... taking us away from Blue and Dok, right?”
Trick shrugs, chewing on his lip. “I just got him back,” he mumbles.
