Atom Square Party

Leah
I stood in front of the mirror, nervously running my hands down the front of my body. I had cut one of my long skirts short to stop halfway down my thighs. I eyed my newly cut, green shirt, that stopped just above my navel. I tugged on my shirt, a little embarrassed by how much of my body was showing. I took a deep breath before bending down to put my tennis shoes on. I was so anxious about going out in public dressed like this, but I refused to let my fear keep me from living again.
When I straightened back up, I rolled my shoulders back before walking over to grab the latch hook piece that I had spent hours completing that day. I carefully folded the canvas before putting it into my purse and walking out the door, heading toward Atom Square. As I walked, I kept my eyes on the ground to avoid all the naked bodies around me. An arm was draped around my shoulders, making my head snap up.
“Hey, newbie!” Rosemary sang. “How are you adjusting to being here?”
“It’s nice. Different. It’s going to take a while to fully get used to being here,” I admitted softly.
“It took me three weeks before I was comfortable enough to strip my clothes off. Now, it feels like second nature.” Rosemary squeezed my shoulders. “I’m proud of you!”
I looked up at her, startled. “Proud of me?”
“Yep.”
“Why? What did I do?” I asked.
“You cut your clothes. I know how big of a deal it was for you to do that. I’m proud of you.” She kissed my cheek. “If you need anything while you're here, feel free to ask me. Enjoy the party.”
“Thank you! You too.”
She let me go to skip over to a man her age, who instantly took her hand and pulled her close. I smiled softly as I watched them walk hand-in-hand to the square. I was ecstatic that they had each other. I liked Rosemary. She was a sweet girl. When I arrived at the square, my eyes immediately widened. There were three long tables that held a wide assortment of food and beverages. In the middle of the square, a fire burned brightly while music blared loudly. Couples danced all around while other people chatted. My eyes roamed over the crowd, searching for the only reason that I had even come to the party.
“Looking for anyone in particular? I can help you find them,” a voice murmured behind me.
My eyes fluttered closed for a moment before opening back up as I turned around. I smiled up at R.H.M.
“No, thank you. I’ve already found—oh my God!”
I took a step back when I realized that he was standing in front of me, in nothing but an apron, with the image of a muscular body on the front of it. I swallowed hard as my hand inched up to wrap around my throat.
“Princess, are you alright?” He asked worriedly.
“I-I’m f-fine…”
He raised his eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“N-no,” I stammered.
He folded his arms across his chest. “You’re staring.”
I dragged my eyes away from his body. “Sorry.”
“I’m glad you’re here, princess. I’m proud of you,” he told me softly.
“Thank-”
“R.H.M.! There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” a woman giggled, as she stumbled over to us.
I reached out to steady her, and she threw her arms around my neck before pressing a kiss on my lips. My eyes widened as I froze. R.H.M. reached for the woman.
“Nero, you know better than to touch someone without their consent! Especially a level 1,” he lectured.
Nero let me go and grabbed his arms, still giggling. “You don’t have a level. Can I touch you?” She flirted.
I turned around and walked away from them. God, did I feel stupid. I hadn’t even considered that he might have someone. I was way out of my league here. I stopped in front of the punch bowl to get a large cup of the juice with orange and strawberry slices in it. I raised it to my mouth, swallowing it down in several fast gulps. I cried out when the liquid burned my chest as it went down.
“It has alcohol in it,” someone said, slightly chuckling at my side.
“A-alcohol?” I repeated.
“Yes. That one over there,” the man I met the night before said, pointing to the punch bowl on the other table, “is non-alcoholic.”
“Oh.”
“Would you like a glass?” He asked.
I glanced at R.H.M., who was still chatting with Nero, before shaking my head. “No. I want another glass of this.”
I reached for the ladle in the bowl, but the man pulled it out before I could grab it.
“Not to be rude, Phoenix, but do you drink?”
“No,” I answered.
He sighed. “I don’t think you should have another glass. This is really strong.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “I can handle it.”
“Alright…”
I poured another glass before downing it quickly and throwing the cup away. I turned toward the man beside me, forcing a smile onto my face.
“Do you want to walk with me?”
“Sure.”
I hesitantly took the arm he offered before following his lead around the square. The first few rounds, we remained silent. I wanted him to say something to help me relax a little. On our third pass by the grill, where R.H.M. stood alone flipping burgers, I sighed.
“So, how long have you been here?” I asked.
The man smiled at me. “I’ve been here since the beginning.”
“How long has the Garden of Eden been around?”
“Three years.”
I stopped walking to stare at him. “What?”
He chuckled as he patted my hand. “Phoenix, relax. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. How about you sit down, and I’ll go get you a burger? How do you like them?” He asked.
I looked over my shoulder at R.H.M. The movement made my head swim, and I stumbled against the man next to me.
“It’s okay. I’ll go get it myself,” I mumbled.
He helped me straighten back up. “Can you even make it over there by yourself?”
“Yes,” I giggled.
“Alright.”
He lowered his arm, and I swayed a little. I giggled again as I reached out for his arm.
“Okay, maybe not.”
He extended his arm out to me again, and I grasped it tightly again. He walked me slowly toward the grill, keeping me steady when I stumbled again. When we got to the grill, he glanced at me.
“Are you going to be okay?”
I met R.H.M.’s eyes. “Can I have a-”
I swayed again, and I reached out to steady myself on the little counter attached to the grill. My hand slipped off the edge, and I toppled to the ground. When I rolled over and saw the worried looks on the guys faces above me, I burst out laughing, pressing my hand into my stomach. In the middle of my laughter, my stomach rolled, and vomit filled my mouth. R.H.M. cursed as he squatted beside me, making me roll onto my side. My body jerked as I continued to spew vomit, while R.H.M. rubbed my back.
When I finally laid still, still giggling, he scooped me up. I rolled toward him, laughing louder, until the angry look on his face cut my laughter off. He carried me through the streets silently, all the way back to my house. When we got there, he pulled a set of keys out of one of the apron’s pockets to open the door. He took me straight to the bathroom, where he set me on the floor and gently leaned my head back against the wall, before starting the shower. He came back to kneel beside me.
“Leah?”
I giggled as I leaned toward him. “R.H.M. What’s your real name?”
He sat back on his heels, studying my face for a moment. “We don’t tell each other our real names, remember?”
“But you know mine…”
He smiled softly as he reached for my shirt. “I know everyone’s. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to tell you my name.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
He tugged my skirt up over my head, too, before gently removing my bra and helping me to stand up so I could lean against the wall, where he took my panties off. When I was fully nude, he helped me walk to the shower. I leaned back against the wall before sliding down to the floor, while R.H.M. knelt on the floor just outside the shower door. He helped me shampoo my hair before handing me a soapy washcloth. I slowly washed up before turning around and pulling my hair to the side.
“Wash my back?” I asked, holding the washcloth over my shoulder.
He took it from me before his fingers moved over the scars that lined my back. I trembled under his light touch.
“Who did this to you?” He asked softly.
I closed my eyes as my head dropped. “I did it to myself.”
“Why?”
“Because I deserved it. I dishonored my husband.”
He turned me back around before tipping my face up. “Leah, the only one who was dishonorable in your marriage was him. No matter how bad things get, you don’t abuse your spouse in any way.”
He stood up, turned the water off, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around me before picking me back up.
“Come on, princess. Let’s get you to bed so you can sleep it off.”
I wrapped my arm around his neck as he carried me to my bed. He deposited me gently onto the bed before taking the towel off me to dry me off. When he was done, he sat on the edge of the bed, brushing my hair back.
“Why did you stay for so long?” He asked.
I curled up in the fetal position, facing him. “Because, for as bad as he was, he wasn’t as bad as my father.”
He took my hand, stroking my wrist with his thumb. “You never have to worry about that again, Leah.”
“I have to leave here eventually,” I whispered.
“You can stay.”
I met his eyes. “Do you want me to stay?”
“Yeah. I do.”
I closed my eyes as his finger continued its soft stroking. “I’m sorry, R.H.M.”
“For what, princess?”
“For being jealous of Nero.”
“Is that why you drank so much?” I nodded. “You don’t have to be jealous, Leah. Nero and I are not involved.”
“Good, because I like you.”
I clung to his hand while I started to doze off, smiling a little when he kissed my forehead.
“Good night, Leah.”
“Good night, R.H.M.,” I whispered.
He tucked my hair behind my ear. “It’s Brennan, Leah.”