chpt. 14

I wake up a few hours later to—whirring? I groan, rubbing my eyes, and slowly sitting up. I hear Ginger hiss.

"What's up, buddy?" I ask groggily.

I then look towards the unknown whirring sound. And my eyes widen in shock. It's the robot I saw with Ben this morning. It looks at me with it's tape hole eyes, tilting it's head. I frown.

"Hi." I say.

It's metal hands turn, "Wheeb whob weeb."

"Uh..."

"Herbie." I turn sharply. It's Susan.

She smiles at me from the open doorway, her hand on her stomach, "His name is Herbie. And good morning."

"Good morning." I reply. She keeps looking at me, her gaze sharp.

"Can you please join us? In the living room?" She asks. "When you're done getting ready." She smiles.

I nod, "O-okay."

"Did you sleep well?" She asks.

"Uh, yes, thank you. I don't want to sound ungrateful, and I probably will, "I start, pulling myself to sit cross-legged on the bed, "I don't know what to say, except thank you. Even though I have no idea what's going on." I chuckle nervously.

"There's no need." She smiles softly. I have the distinct feeling she hates me. I mean she's pregnant and that's her main priority. Not some stranger. "We'll explain in the living room." She says before walking off.

Yup, she hates me.

+

As I pull on a sweater, making my way down the stairs and to the living room—with the help of Herbie, who I think is quite adorable—I think of Johnny. Again.

I flush, my whole body going hot as I replay last—this morning's—events in my head. The way he sang to me, his hot breath on my ear and neck. His hands on me. Gosh, it'll make you think he was born with dating experience built into his DNA.

I shiver, still feeling his touch as I enter the massive living room. There is a sunken sitting area with what looks like a large set of round TVs on one wall. There is a massive couch, facing a black board.

Ben is sitting on the couch, Susan sitting on a chair, Reed writing equations on the board and Johhny—my eyes land on him and my stomach coils. I take a breath.

He's wearing a navy blue button-up shirt, a few buttons my his throat undone, with beige pants, brown shoes and a belt. His hair is combed nicely. He also has a watch on his right wrist. What happened to feeling sorry for him being famous? Huh? I scold myself.

"Y/n. Morning." Ben greets.

I smile tightly, "Morning."

Reed mumbles to himself as he continues to write on the board. I don't feel like I have the right to sit, so I stand behind the massive couch, arms crossed. I swallow.

"How'd you sleep?" Johnny asks me, standing to my far left.

"Huh?" Is what comes out of my mouth first. Idiot.

"How'd you sleep?" He repeats with the faintest smile.

"Good, thanks. You?" I ask in return.

"Good." He smiles tightly. I see Susan stare between us, suspicion in her eyes.

Reed turns, staring at me, "So, this is what we have so far. Y/n, you remember that video I showed you?"

"Yes?"

"Well, what we have so far... isn't great. At all. So far, five planets have been destroyed." He says.

My mouth falls open, "What—who, how would that happen? How could that happen?"

"Galactus. He or she or whatever destroys all these planets." Susan replies.

"The thing that silver woman mentioned in the video?" I question.

"Yes." She nods. 

"Okay, so, what does that silver woman have to do with all this? And my ex-husband?" I ask.

"Your ex-husband, we don't know." Ben replies with a sigh.

"But—" Susan looks at Johnny.

He sighs, "You saw when I flew after her, right?" He asks.

I nod, "Well, she said something to me, out there. I don't know what, but it is something." He says.

"She's also there with every planet being destroyed. She is connected to all of this, some how." Reed says.

I nod. This is all insane. Oh wow. I take a deep breath. Planets destroyed? A woman on a silver board. This is all so much. I stare at them, and swallow. They must be under so much pressure right now. I can't even begin to imagine.

"Also," Johnny starts, "We won't be here... for a while."

I frown, "Okay?"

"We'll be going to space. See what or who this Galactus is." He finishes.

"Maybe negotiate. Get answers." Reed adds.

"Oh." I try to hide my disappointment, "When will you be going?"

"Early tomorrow morning." Ben answers. Oh.

"You will have to stay here. For safety." Reed says with sigh.

Yup, they all hate me. I stay quiet. Agaib, they have bigger problems than I can ever imagine. The safety of our whole world is on their shoulders. I don't want to add to that even more.

"Anything I can do to help?" I ask. If I can.

"You can help me pack." Johnny says, almost immediately.

I smile lightly, "Okay."

+

I follow Johnny to his room, which is... very neat. My cheeks heat up. I'm in his room. Wow. I take a breath as I watch him take a suitcase from his closet, throwing it on the bed.

He turns to me, before heading to the door, closing it. He turns back to me, staring at me. For a long time.

I shift under his gaze, "What?" I question.

He sighs heavily, before attacking me in a tight hug. "Johnny—" He hugs me tighter.

I shut my mouth and hug back. After all, I don't know how long he'll be gone. It could be weeks, months— I don't want to think further. I grip onto his shirt, burying my face in his shoulder. He smells good.

He pulls away, his one arm still around me, "I used the whole, "help me pack" thing as an excuse. To say goodbye."

I nod, "I noticed." Is all I say. A lump starts to form in my throat. I swallow it down.

"I'm going to miss you." He says. His blue eyes turn glassy.

I throw my arms around his neck, "Me too. Be safe, yeah?"

He hugs me tightly, so hard I can barely breathe, but I don't complain. He's the one that helped me through everything so far and I'm grateful beyond words.

"Yeah. You too." He says, looking at me. He tucks a hair behind my ear.

He then leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. My skin burns at the contact. I blush and smile softly at him.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" He says, his hand lightly touching my chin.

"Okay." I say.

My eyes burn as I watch him go out the door.