“Here,” Noah said, pushing something into his hand. An apple, similar to the one he’d just eaten after Lowenna shared out all the remaining fruit.
He blinked at it, alarmed. “What?”
“You’re still hungry. I could tell from across the room.”
Zeke shook his head, pressing the apple back into Noah’s hand. “Don’t be stupid. You’ll starve.”
“Honestly, I’m fine.” Noah dropped the apple onto Zeke’s lap. “Please. It’ll make me worry less about you if I know you’re okay.”
He sighed, taking a large bite of the bland, mushy flesh. His stomach growled, eager for more substance. He passed the apple over to Noah. “Fifty-fifty?”
Rolling his eyes, Noah took a bite, and for a while they silently passed it back and forth.
“What’s that?” asked Noah, nodding his chin at Zeke’s rucksack, where a piece of orange fabric poked out.
Zeke tried to kick the bag under the bench, but Noah grabbed it, opening the flap. He laughed when he saw Zeke’s fluffy fox toy.
“I need it to sleep,” he mumbled, grabbing the bag back. Shyly, he removed a bundle of fabric from a side pocket and unwrapped it to show Noah the fox carving he’d given him on his birthday.
Noah’s eyes widened.
“I wanted to bring this too. For luck.”
Frankie interrupted them by throwing herself onto the bench opposite them, dark bags under her eyes. Her hair was still a bird’s nest after not being able to wash properly yesterday. Zeke threw her the last bite of the apple.
“There’s a team out trying to snare some meat,” said Noah. “We’ll be able to eat properly later, if we’re lucky.”
Frankie nodded. “I just saw them haul something through the fence. Two foxes.”
Zeke froze.
Frankie burst into laughter that echoed off the walls. “Your face! Just kidding. It was a couple of rabbits. Not gonna lie though, I would happily eat anything right now.”
Brodie materialised next to Frankie, sparing Zeke from pretending to find Frankie funny. “LT, can I speak with you for a second?”
Noah raised his eyebrows. “What about? Is here okay?”
Brodie glanced around—to see if any other squads were in earshot?—before saying, “Just went outside to take a leak around the back. Queue for the bathroom is mad. Anyway, I’m going about my business when I hear Newman in a bush—literally in the middle of a bush—talking through his band. Didn’t hear what he was saying really, but then Newman notices me and goes apeshit.”
“What did he do?”
“He was proper pissed off, and maybe even a little scared? To be honest, I zipped up and got out of there so fast I didn’t give him time to do much.”
Frankie frowned. “Strange. Maybe he was calling his secret lover.”
“Who the hell would be crazy enough to be with him?” said Zeke.
“Ohhh, burn.” Frankie laughed again, and the sound of it slowly chipped away at his bad mood. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Zeke.”
“Thanks, Campbell. Let me know if he bothers you about it. Or just bothers you. We’ve only got to get through today, then we’re done with Squad C. I’ll talk to Murphy.” Noah sighed, then beelined to Lowenna, who was marching around barking orders.
Vitt, looking more ready and refreshed than any of them, jumped in Noah’s grave, smirking. “Luo owes me five mug duties when we get back. Aoife got with Bloomer last night.”
Frankie snorted. “Florence from C? When on earth did they find the time? Or place?”
Zeke’s own rendezvous with Noah yesterday made him avert his eyes.
“Don’t know, or care.”
