The next day while we toiled outside, I didn't ask him what was going on with Melinda. I could only hope they had just become friends, not anything more, but I couldn't help straying back to the thought that Alexander might be cheating on me. And of all people, with Melinda. And to think, in just under a month, Alexander and I would be matched, and that's when cheating is a punishable offense. The day went by slowly, and to my surprise, we didn't have nearly as many bodies dropped by through the day.
When we walked into my house and I set the tea pot on the stove, I said, "Seems as though the epidemic is going away slowly." I studied his face, searching for answers about Melinda, even though I hadn't mentioned her.
"Yeah, good thing. Our town was pretty much dwindling as fast a rabbit's town at the beginning of hunting season." He looked at me to respond, but I was too busy fretting about Melinda to notice.
"Everything okay...?" Alexander asked cautiously.
My mind drifted back to the present. "What did you say?" Again I searched his face.
"I... never mind." He got up in response to my odd behavior and stood next to me leaning against the counter. "Are you sure everything is okay?"
"Uh, I was just wond-" I was cut off by the tea pot whistling, thankful I didn't have to ask the dreaded question. I took the tea pot off the stove and poured two mugs of tea. I sipped my tea silently and prayed Alexander wouldn't ask me about the question I didn't get to ask.
