KIDS. tmr, minho.

Chapter eight.

"Let's go AJ," Aris said, shaking the girl lightly causing her eyes to flutter open. Scratching her head, she slowly sat up to see her friends getting ready to continue walking. The sun was already high in the sky and was causing her to squint in the light. 

"How long did we sleep?"

"Longer than we should've Hermama, we need to go," Jorge said, beginning to walk with Frypan and Teresa trailing behind him. 

Newt was tying his shoes while Minho waited for him, smiling at AJ. Aris held his hands out for AJ to grab onto to pull herself off the ground which she did before looking to where Leo still lay on the ground. 

"Thanks, Aris, go- I'll catch up," She said, patting his shoulder. Aris nodded before following behind Newt and Minho who had just left, calling after Jorge to wait for them. 

"Come on Leo," She muttered, reaching her hands down to help her best friend off the ground. 

Slowly grabbing her hands, he winced as she lifted him off the ground. "You okay?" AJ asked, searching his face for a reason behind his noise of pain. 

"I'm fine AJ," 

"Leo-"

"I said I'm fine." He snapped, glaring at her. 

AJ stepped back in shock. She opened her mouth to reply but closed it in fear of angering her friend again. 

"Sorry- sorry, I don't know why I-"

"It's okay," AJ smiled, "Let's just catch up with the rest, okay?"

Leo nodded, throwing his arm around AJ, "Wait for us!" Leo called, causing Teresa and Newt to turn around smiling at the pair. 

Walking through the rows of dilapidated buildings, the group stared at the city that had been destroyed over time. People were walking through the streets, sitting in large groups, chatting loudly, but not happily. Bottles, plastic and all kinds of trash were lying in the dirt roads. 

Lightly kicking a stone, AJ spoke up from her place at the back of the group, "Where are we going, Jorge?"

"To find Marcus, not much longer now Hermana!" He called back from where he was leading the group of teenagers. Leo, Aris and Newt were behind him chatting animatedly about something AJ couldn't quite hear. Teresa was behind them in her own little group, lost in her thoughts and Minho and Frypan were behind her, whispering lowly so nobody could hear their conversation. 

Sounds of cheers and screams of joy could be heard as the group approached a large building with a crowd of people lingering outside it. Music flowed through the air as they paused outside, taking in their surroundings. 

"Is this it?" AJ asked, squinting in the sunlight.  

"This is it." Jorge nodded, smiling smugly, "Go get your friend, I'll be with you soon," 

Pushing Teresa forward, AJ led the group into the building, not stopping to greet the people who waited outside. 

"Find Thomas!" AJ yelled over the music, "Leo and I'll look for Brenda!" 

"Brenda!" AJ called, Leo gripping onto her hand as to not get lost in the crowds of people. The music blared in their ears as bodies swayed to the rhythm, crushing the people around them. 

"Brenda!" Leo pointed, the girl was seen looking around nervously, a pale look on her face. 

"Hey! Brenda!" AJ ran up to the girl who in turn hugged her on instinct. Taken aback, AJ widened her eyes before wrapping her arms around the girl. Something had obviously happened to make the tough girl she previously knew melt into a soft, scared girl that was clinging onto AJ's torso.