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“Nothing,” Saff answered, but Maddie could still feel the slight tension in her arm.
She stopped them in place. “Hey,” she said gently. “What is it?”
Saff was quiet for a few moments before speaking in a low voice. “Nothing. Just still not used to how—normal—things feel here.”
Maddie gave her a tentative smile, lifting her other hand up to her arm, giving it a light squeeze. “Just wait until you take a hot shower.”
Saff chuckled, her arm finally relaxing back to its normal state again, and Maddie’s own body relaxed with it.
“Take any room you want,” she said with a smile, finally releasing her hands from Saff’s arm. “I stayed in the one across from the kitchen last night.”
“There aren’t any empty rooms. Your dad said there’s a couch in the basement, though.”
Maddie gave her an exaggeratedly horrified look. “After all the crap they’ve put you through the last twenty-four hours, you are definitely not sleeping in some creepy basement.”
Saff chuckled again, and a new smile made its way onto Maddie’s face at the sound.
“We can share my bed, if you want?” Maddie said, a slight burn of nerves entering her stomach as the words left her mouth. “Or we could switch and I could take the couch and you take the bed in my room.”
“No,” Saff replied. “It’s not a big deal. The couch is fine.”
“Are you sure?” Maddie asked, secretly wishing, for more than one reason, that she’d say yes.
“Yeah.”
Maddie nodded, trying to keep any signs of disappointment off her face.
“But,” Saff continued, “I could definitely go for a shower.” She cleared her throat. “Is that—can I—“
Maddie smiled. “You don’t need to ask. Take or use anything you want.” She walked forward, using her cane to feel for the couch in the living room off to the left. “You’ll have to search around for a fresh towel, though. I’m not sure where they keep them.”
Saff muttered something as Maddie felt the soft cushions and sat down.
The days of travel mixed with the early morning had begun to take their toll.She relaxed into the couch, pulling her legs up and resting her head against the cushion behind her.
She wasn’t sure how long she laid there, her tired eyes closing as she drifted in and out of consciousness.
But then, suddenly she became aware of a door opening, followed by footsteps nearby. She lifted her head, yawning.
“Sorry,” Saff’s voice murmured from somewhere on her right. “Didn’t know you were sleeping out here.”
Maddie groaned softly, stretching her neck from side to side. “I wasn’t trying to,” she said as another yawn pulled its way out of her mouth. “How was the shower?”
“Hot,” Saff answered, and Maddie could hear the satisfied smile in her voice.
“You know,” Maddie began, “I kinda started to tolerate the cold showers in the bunker. They were—refreshing.”
Saff hummed as her footsteps approached. “Me too. I always liked cold showers, even before.”
“Of course you did,” Maddie said with a chuckle. “I could totally see you being one of those crazy four AM cold shower people.”
Saff snorted a laugh as Maddie stood from the couch, tucking her folded cane beneath her arm.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. “Were you nauseous at the dining hall?”
Saff grunted. “Kinda.”
Maddie frowned, but wasn’t surprised. During their time together, she’d easily caught on to Saff’s tells.
