UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

A Place to Call Home

(Noah's POV)

The wind whips around my chestnut hair and the nighttime temperature makes my freckled face a red tint.

I cling tightly to Delores' leather jacket. I'm terrified of motorcycles. I have to be brave for Lexi though. If I can't be brave then I'll just hold everyone back and probably get myself killed.

Suddenly, the bike slows down. We pull into the junkyard. Delores stops the bike completely and tells me to hop off. I slowly do so and wait for Harold's bike to come to a stop so I can stay by Lexi.

Lexi gets off her bike and we both follow Harold, Delores, and Cooper up to where everyone else was.

We reach a chain fence covered in barbed wire. Harold opens it with something but it's too dark to tell.

As we walk further, I can see some type of bonfire ahead. I fiddle with my fingers out of anxiousness. I don't like talking to new people that I don't know. Hopefully Lexi does the talking.

We reach the fire and see around twenty people there. Some are sitting in small groups. Possibly families. And others are sitting alone. I see a few kids around my age. One of them in particular is looking at me menacingly. I can't blame him. He shouldn't have to trust us right away.

"Hey y'all." Delores started. "We came across these folks at a nearby pharmacy, no need to fear. They haven't been in contact with any zombies yet." She turns to look at a lady. "Hey Macy? This boy here had quite a panic attack back at the pharmacy, do you think you can help him out?" She must be talking to the nurse of this place or something. "Of course," she stands up and nods her head for me to follow her.

I get a bit anxious. I didn't like everyone knowing how scared and weak I was. Why did she have to announce that in front of everyone?

I stand up. As I walk up to her she asks, "Hey, can you tell me what your name is?" I nod nervously. "N-Noah Ashwell.." I clear my throat, annoyed with my stammering. Macy nods. "Follow me. We have a medical tent up this hill and I can get you some pills to calm you down and for future situations."

I just nod. As we walk away I notice that the boy who was once staring at me horridly now had a look of concern on his face. I wonder what changed. I hope no one decides to pity me here because now they know I had a panic attack.

(Lexi's POV)

I watch as Noah makes his way up the hill with a woman I'm assuming is a nurse. I hope he doesn't have another panic attack, I didn't know what to do it just sorta... happened.

I see a few kids that look to be Noah's age. That's good. I don't want him to be by himself while we're here. Now that I think about it, we might be here forever. That's so crazy to think about.

I glance over to Cooper. He was already looking at me though. Still suspicious as ever, does he really think we're gonna hurt anyone? I barely managed to kill that zombie at the pharmacy so i don't think I would be able to harm a living person.

I notice a scar on his cheek, his slightly long black hair covering it a bit. I wonder what had happened.. Is that from recently? I wonder-

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Cooper interrupted my thoughts. I wasn't sure what to say. He still looked pissed as ever. I wonder if other people weren't here, if he would kill me. "Sorry. It won't happen again." No way was I about to back talk that guy.

He walks away a bit and goes into a tent, I'm assuming to sleep. Now that I take a good look around, I see tents lined up all over. There seemed to be just enough for the quantity of people here.

"Hey, Lexi?" I turned to the voice that had belonged to Harold. "Why don't you introduce yourselves once your brother comes back?" I nod. I get nervous talking to crowds but these people, for the most part, all looked quite nice.

One was a middle aged red head who was holding a toddler in her arms. The little girl was also red headed, so I'm assuming that they were family.

Another set was what looked to be a couple. A duo that looked to be in their mid twenties. The girl resting her head on her lover's shoulder while she napped.

I notice kids as well, some are young and some are about Noah's age.

I was about to look at everyone else but I see Noah make his way down the hill, looking a bit more at ease.

(Noah's POV)

After Macy gave me some pills and a water bottle, I felt a bit better. She didn't seem to judge me at all for having a panic attack.

I walk down the hill back to the fire to see Lexi waving for me to come to her. I walk a bit anxiously. I've never liked crowds, or better yet talking to them.

I approach the fire and stand by Lexi, not making direct eye contact with anyone.

A/N- AHHHHHH BRUH IM SO HYPED FOR THIS STORY RN!! I PLAN ON ADDING LOVE INTERESTS BTW FOR LEXI AND NOAH BUT YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE 😏 SORRY FOR THAT LIL CLIFF HANGER BUT I WANT TO GET Y'ALL HOOKED!!