UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

Tough Talks

(Lexi's POV)

It has been hours since the boys had left and I'm beginning to worry. I begin to prepare a dinner with the supplies Jeanine had left me.

A sound of an engine appears out of nowhere. I sigh in relief and make my way to the front door.

The door unlocks and the boys trot in with little to no energy.

I rush over to the boys and pull them into a hug. "Where have you guys been?! There's no way it took you that long to find the camp! And... why are you soaked?"

They pull away from me. "We stumbled upon some trouble..." Cooper states. I nod while losing my angry tone. "Well you can tell us about it over dinner... it's spaghetti... again."

Cooper shakes his head while running a hand through his hair. "No, I don't think it's a good topic for while we're eating." I tilt my head confused but nod anyways.

Noah and Cooper both look exasperated eating their dinner. But Jasper, he just seemed straight up traumatized. They all seemed like they had so much to say.

Yet the dinner table was silent.

Everyone finishes their dinner awkwardly.

I start to wash the used plates in the sink. Glancing over to Cooper, I notice him looking very stressed. "Uh.. how about you guys go get some sleep?" I say to the other two silent boys. They nod and walk to their rooms.

I set my scrubby sponge down. "Cooper... what happened out there? You look like miserable." I finish drying my hands with a look of concern. He clears his throat.

"Well um.. I had said before that we came upon some trouble.." I nod my head at that. "And well... there weren't any people there."

"So... they just left us behind? They would've been gone if we went back?" I cross my arms.

Cooper's breath suddenly hitches and he turns away from me, looking to the side. "N-not exactly.." He barely spurts out his words. Cooper rubs his temples and sits down on the couch, back facing me.

He doesn't talk for a minute. "..Cooper?" I inquire. Sudden whimpers appear from Cooper's direction and his face falls to his hands. He is hardly audible but I can still tell that the big, strong, policeman in training I know as Cooper is.. crying.

I subconsciously walk over to him and hug him from behind. He cries a bit more at that but keeps quiet, I'm assuming so the boys don't hear him.

After a few minutes of hushed sobs, Cooper finally says, "Alright.. I'll tell you what went down." I get up and walk around the couch to sit beside him.

And so he told me.

I felt my eyes pool a bit and my vision went blurry. Hot tears rushed from my eyes as Cooper pulled me into a hug.

"I think it affected Jasper the worst. We both saw Delores as a mother, but he was always a tad bit closer with her than I was. I just hope he's okay." Cooper mumbles.

The two of us just stay like that for awhile, sulking in our sadness.

(Noah's POV)

This rollercoaster of a day isn't exactly helpful in trying to get Jasper to talk to me.

"Jasper?" I say while sitting on the end of his bed next to him. "Hmm?" He mumbles back, no expression present.

"I uh..." I clear my throat. "I just wanted to say-"

"That you're sorry?" He interrupts while furrowing his brows. "That it's terrible what happened? Because those are things that I already know. It doesn't do me any good to hear that."

His tone is hostile, but I know it's coming from somewhere else.

"I was gonna say... that I'd never seen you cry until today. Like really cry." I start.

Jasper finally gives me eye contact, though his expression is still dull. "And?"

"And... I didn't expect it. You're always the level headed one, who never seems to be anything but happy and strong. But seeing you like that, showing your emotions, made me think that we aren't that different after all. And that I can be the strong one for once and help you." I smile his way.

Jasper nods and his jaw seems to tighten. "And I know this isn't about me right now but... I sorta know what it's like. To lose a mom. Parental figures in general, actually. So... please just talk to me. Okay?"

Without thinking, I grab Jasper's hand comfortingly. I almost retreat my action but notice that he didn't seem to mind it. Almost like it helped.

"There's not much I need to say..." Jasper finally speaks.

I nod, letting him continue.

"I guess just... thank you. For everything." He manages a smile. I raise an eyebrow. "I'm not doing all that much, Jasper." I huff a laugh.

"Trust me, you are." He nods.

Jasper stands up and pretty much yanks me into an unexpected hug. "The one good thing to come out of this apocalypse was you."

My breath hitches at his statement. Holy shit.

I pull away from the hug and laugh sheepishly. "Haha well... I should probably get to sleep." I rub the back of my neck with a red face. "Unless you needed to say more?"

Jasper shakes his head. "No, I'm okay. Thanks again."

I nod and basically shuffle backwards towards my room. Only before I make it there, a thump is heard and a pain fills the back of my head. "Fuck, ow." I had hit my head on his doorframe.

"You good, Ashwell?" He laughs a bit. I smile, knowing that he feels a bit better.

"Yeah... Goodnight."

And with that, we both retreat to our own beds and drift off to sleep. Was the thing Jasper said swarming my mind? Yes. Was I going to ask Lexi about it and possibly regret asking later? Absolutely.

A/N~ Apologies for the angst but I really hoped you liked this chapter! I try to make them at least a thousand words so it isn't too much to read at once! ANYWAYS... stay posted for updates and give me any feedback! <3