UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

Flee

(Jasper's POV)

The sound of an engine is heard outside of our house and we all stand up quickly. Soon after, a knock is heard on our door.

Lexi gives the two of us a confused look but then walks and opens it. "Hello ma'am, I'm Jay. Carlos asked me to leave this vehicle here for your ration run. Make sure to stay safe." He grins widely.

Lexi throws him a questioning look. "I'm sorry but you must have the wrong house, we never-"

I run up to Lexi and quickly cover her mouth. "WE were never expecting you, haha! Usually Carlos brings this stuff. Anyways thanks." I smile and slam the door.

Lexi rips my hand away. "What're you doing? That's not ours!"

"Remember Cooper? He went to see Carlos, so maybe they finally figured out something. Let's just wait."

She crosses her arms and nods while plopping herself onto the couch in the other room. I glance at Noah to see him just staring off into space.

Waving a hand in his face, I say, "Noah? Are you alright?"

He snaps out of it instantly. "Huh? What? Yeah of course, why?" His eyes widen. I sigh. "Well I just wanted to make sure things were okay... because of earlier..."

He shrugs, having a bland expression on his face.

"So... you are upset with me." I mumble. He raises an eyebrow. "Well yeah, a little. You taking all the blame is a bit annoying." He murmurs.

I widen my eyes in disbelief. "Wha- huh? That's why you're upset? Not because of what happened in the woods?"

Noah blinks in confusion. "The woods? I should... I should be the one apologizing for that. I was rude for no reason all because I was... it doesn't matter. I'm sorry."

"Oh..." I slump my shoulders a bit. "So you're mad I took the blame then?" He shrugs. "Not mad, I just don't want you to do that. I wanted to go too. I would've stayed in the playroom if I wasn't trying to have fun."

I smile a bit. "Yeah. Well, I'm sorry. How can I fix it?" Noah shakes his head. "You don't need to. Everything's fixed on its own. We're good."

I laugh a little bit at my own worries. "Thanks Ashwell." For once, Noah is the one who pulls me into a hug.

Never have I ever been this confused in my whole life. At first it seems obvious that he likes me, but then he acts weird in the woods and it changes my whole perspective. But now we're back to normal. What's going on?

I have to tell him. I can't keep doing this "assuming" thing. It's too confusing.

Eventually... yeah. Eventually.

I pull away while still in my awkward thoughts. Noah gives me a confused look and just plays with his hands.

"I've been needing to tell you something about yesterday..." Noah mumbles. I quirk up a brow. "What is it?"

Suddenly, the front door bursts open.

"Pack your shit. We're getting our asses out of here."

We all look over and see Cooper panting, out of breath.

Lexi is about to ramble a shit ton of questions before Cooper says, "I'll explain when we leave. Just hurry."

I glance at Noah. "Just tell me later. I'm sorry." I shrug while running to grab things.

We never had much of our own stuff to begin with but we took what we had.

After everything was loaded we quickly scurried into the vehicle. "Can you explain to us what's happening?" Lexi says.

Cooper starts the engine. "I had a talk with Carlos and he wasn't giving me any details, so I got the details my way." He begins to make his way down the road. "I threatened him, if I'm being honest, and he finally admitted to killing our people. I gave him the choice to either die... or get us the hell out of this town. So he chose the smart way. I knocked him out so he couldn't try and call for back up once I left. That's why we need to leave now, I don't know how long he'll be out. And when he wakes up, I don't know if he'll send someone after us. He seems to have a bit of sympathy for us. Okay?"

We all stare at him in awe before nodding slowly. We reach the gate and a man starts to talk to Cooper. "Ration run huh? You guys went on one not long ago right?" He says.

"Well yes, we like to help out such a welcoming community." Cooper fakes a smile. The man scans Cooper's face before nodding and preceding to open the gate.

Once the gate is open, we begin to exit. A sound is heard behind us.

A siren was played loudly across the whole town. I decide to glance at the back window.

I look back and see about three other vehicles treading our way. The man at the gate instantly knows something is up with us and goes to close the gate. Right as the man starts to close the gate, Cooper slams on the gas.

The car zooms forward and barely makes in through the gate. Noah and I glance behind us until gunshots are heard. One after another, guns firing towards our vehicle. Cooper keeps his speed at the fastest he can go while keeping a steady pace. Noah and I continue to glance back until a bullet hits the car.

More bullets fly towards the vehicle. Eventually one breaks the back window. Noah and I both duck after this and keep our heads down.

Pretty soon, there are no sounds. Only the car's engine is audible.

We lost them.

I carefully glance out the broken back window and see no vehicles behind us.

"We need to drive a while before we really lose them." Cooper states. "They'll be searching for us day and night."

"Just as I thought we had a break." Lexi giggles.

"You hear that Noah? We're good for now." I sigh. Resting a hand on his back.

An audible whimper is heard from him. "Noah? You can sit up now, they're gone."

Noah sits up and grips his wrist tightly, staring intensely at it. Is he hurt?

"Noah, what's the matter?"

Tears stream down his face. "I-I was trying to tell you earlier."

He slowly turns his wrist towards me. His hands are shaky and my heart drops to my stomach when I see it.

A bite mark.

"Oh my God." I mumble, stunned.

Lexi looks back and shrieks. "No! Noah! How did that even happen!"

"What's wrong?!" Cooper screamed, trying hard to pay attention to the road ahead.

"You were bit yesterday when those biters attacked us.." I conclude. Noah nods, still with tears rolling down his face.

"I-I'm so sorry."

And with that, the brunette next to me passes out on the seat.

"Jasper! D-Don't let him fall asleep! Don't!" Lexi shouts at me. She was now panicking with tearful eyes.

"Noah. Just stay with us alright? Just hang on."

He doesn't wake up.

Before I know it, I'm crying too. "Fuck." I grit my teeth.

I hold my finger to the side of his neck. "He's still breathing.

Lexi sobs in the passenger seat while Cooper worriedly looks back at us. "We'll help him Jasper. It's gonna be okay."

I give a worried look to the unconscious chestnut haired boy next to me and try to focus on different things.

A/N~ I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING MY HOMEWORK WHILE WRITING THIS CHAPTER BUT YOLO 💀

THIS WAS QUITE AN EVENTFUL CHAPTER BUT PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS OR ANY IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE :))